Teaching Update

This week has been uplifting. At times I feel like I am not cut out to be a teacher, but this week I have felt confident and I really feel like I am actually making a difference in some way with my students.

I think I have referred to one of my students who is, at times, a "problem student," or so the label goes. This week I feel like I had a breakthrough with him. I asked him 3 weeks ago if he would come in during lunch or another period to talk with me. I wanted to address some behavior issues and talk about maybe working something out with him. The only problem was, he would never make it to the meeting. I would see him in the halls and he would say that he forgot to come, or he had to get home after school, or he just kept forgetting. After scheduling 3 meetings with no sign of the kid I decided to call home. This attempt failed as well and I was feeling like I was losing this kid. He stopped coming to class and I was getting worried because he really is a smart kid.

Two days ago, the kid shows up in my classroom, unexpectedly, and says "I'm here for the meeting." I couldnt believe he actually came and it sort of took me by surprise. We had a really good talk and we discussed how he had been acting in class. how he needed to take his homework seriously instead of trying to just mess with me as his teacher. The work he turned in was actually pretty good with a few grammatical and spelling errors, but his creativity and ability to write with symbolism rather than just literal meaning, like most of his classmates do, was really enlightening and surprising coming from a kid who is one of those who "just doesn't care." I told him that I thought he was a good writer and asked him if he would be willing to help some of his fellow classmates, trying to convince him that he is actually bright and could potentially have a bright future. From what he said, I felt like he was buying into what I was telling him.

The next day in class, he was being a little butthead at first, making unnecessary comments and being somewhat distracting, nothing like he used to be however, and then all the sudden a kid came into class who was a little wild himself and the "problem student" looked at me and said "Hey, would it be okay if I showed Peter what we are doing today?" I was shocked. Did this actually just come out of his mouth? I responded "Yes, that would be excellent."

At first, I thought he would get this kid, start goofing off with him and not get anything done. but, to my surprise (Even more surprise than before) he took this kid under his wing and started teaching him everything we had just gone over. I was just observing this teaching experience and I couldn't stop smiling. No one has ever been able to get this kid to do his own work and now he is helping other students who are known for not doing their work to learn new concepts and vocabulary. What a good day!!!

Teaching is so rewarding.

Student Teaching

I realize that it has been a long time since I have blogged, and I have probably lost all, if I had any in the first place, of my blog readers, but I feel the need to update those who are interested about my student teaching experience, thus far. 

I am teaching 11th grade English at Olympus High. Now, I thought that teaching would be pretty hard, and in some aspects it is, but this experience has actually been pretty fun and not so bad as some of the horror stories I have heard from previous student teachers. My classes are, for the most part, well behaved... and they seem to like me as a teacher. Except for one class. This is my class from he... well, you get the point. Now, not all of them are little devils, but there are one or two who just love to cause problems, be loud, say inappropriate comments, write about gangs, violence, drugs, racial innuendos, and who just enjoy being a little brat. It is those students that make teaching hard. I have a student, whose name I will not disclose, but he is every teacher's nightmare. I feel bad for the kid because every teacher warns me to look out for him and that he is the worst person in the world. Yeah, he has done some awful things and is on the verge of being kicked out of the school for the second year in a row (don't as me how he got back in after last year) and for some reason I just feel bad for him. He tries every day to pus my buttons, and he got pretty close to winning a few classes ago, but I mostly just want the kid to know that I understand why he acts like this. 

A teacher told me that his mom is never home. She works in international business and I guess she is in China for weeks on end and leaves this kid at home with a nanny. Well, the nanny, I'm certain, has no control over this kid (he really is pretty mischievous) and so she probably just cleans the house and lets him get into whatever trouble he chooses. He has no responsibilities, no parents to guide him, and he hangs out with a bad crowd. I'm not really sure if he even has friends because he is socially weird and no one really talks to him in class. The problems he causes in class or more than just disruptions or making noise. He says and writes things that are against school policy and he is almost sociopathic in the way that he really doesn't care what happens to him or anyone else. I hope that in some way I can connect with him and let him know that I care about him. I can see that he really doesn't have many people in his life who pay attention to him and give him the love that every person needs, but I really do care about him and wish I could do something more to show him that he is a human being too. I think that if he gets transferred to Central it will just be the beginning of a new life behind bars for him. Hopefully he will get his act together before that happens. 

Other than this boy, most of my students really are good kids. They do their work, they are creative, and they add to discussion in class. We are starting The Crucible in a few weeks which I am very excited for. I am going to be getting the kids involved in a lot more group work and fun activities. I am really looking forward to that! I think that reading gets kids brains functioning and working a lot more than lecture, so hopefully they enjoy the Salem Witch Trials and much as I like researching about them! haha, we will see!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! This birthday is an extra special one, and only few know why. You have been there for all of your children in all they do and we love you so much. You are kind, selfless, loving, fun, and have the greatest laugh and smile. Everyone thinks you are my sister, but that is okay because you look like it! Thank you for being my best friend and also a wonderful mother. Happy Birthday!

Little Ramblings

Jeff and I have been here and there and everywhere for the past couple of weeks. I guess that comes with being newlyweds? I don't know what it is, but we have hardly been staying at the "place where our stuff is." I would call it home.... but it just quite isn't that yet. This week we have been house-sitting for my Uncle Craig and Aunt Kimi. Their family is in Japan picking up Sister Sachiko Osterloh! They left about a week ago and will return home this week, leaving me to care for their two dogs which includes the feeding, the shedding, the playing, the whining, the fighting, the growling, everything that comes along with that.

I miss having the place where all our stuff is. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can get in the pool every day here without taking more than ten steps. And, I love being able to have the internet at the touch of a finger. But, I just feel like we don't really belong anywhere right now. I need a home. WE need a home. I miss the comfortable feeling of not living out of a bag.

My summer class ends next week. I am both so excited and so nervous because of this ending. I am so excited that it is over because that means that I am finished with all homework and classes and writing research papers and all that school entails... but I am nervous at the same time because that means that I will be starting my student teaching in just a few weeks! It is coming up so quick and I don't feel prepared! My cooperating teacher didn't even know I existed and that she was going to be having a student teacher (this is not her fault, but it makes me nervous). She said she wasn't really all about having a student teacher, and once again, I feel like I have lost that belonging. I start coaching the volleyball team on August 10th and I couldn't be more excited for that! It is the one thing I know the best and feel the most comfortable doing.

New things are intimidating.

I will take this challenge and I will do my best! I won't expect perfection, but I will work hard and I will do whatever it takes to be the best teacher I can be. I am looking forward to this new adventure!

Our very own BLOG!

I just started a blog for me and my hubby... the new address is jeffandmelissabrewer.blogspot.com

CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Am I NORMAL???

Okay, So let me tell you the dilemma I have been thinking about in my head.

Is it normal to get a runny nose, sore throat, sneezin' cold TWICE in one month in the middle of the summer????

I got this same sickness right before my wedding, only I had a cough with that one as well and now I have it again!! What is this???

I thought that you mostly got colds in the winter. I cant seem to recover fast enough before another one hits me! When I started feeling sick again I thought it was allergies because I have been sneezing like crazy, more than I ever remember.... but usually allergies don't last 2 weeks straight, do they?

What is wrong with me?!?!?!

Life isn't fair!

While my mom and dad and all 4 of my brothers are here.... cruising around Puerto Rico and the Eastern Caribbean....

I am at home writing a research paper. :(

Life truly isn't fair sometimes!

Wedding Preview

My Aunt Kimi took these pictures at my wedding and I thought I would post some of them.When I receive my cd from my photographers I will post more pictures, but here is a little preview. It was an amazing day, all day!

I love looking back at these pictures and remembering the feelings and the emotions of our wedding. It was the best first day of the rest of our lives together.

*** I realized the pictures are not in order after I uploaded them, so bear with me. It takes too long to redo it. :) ***

Dear Target,

I have a bone to pick with you. You seem to be, at first glance, a wonderful store, filled with the greatest deals and steals. However, I have been disappointed. Seriously, this saddens my heart to tell you this, but your return policy sucks. I registered at your store for my wedding being told that we would be able to return all products for their appropriate price, with or without the receipt. This was false information. Hear me out on this, I think you have darling accessories, swimsuits, frames, and other things, but when you cant return a gift and even get store credit for what the purchaser paid, what kind of customer service is that? Let me tell you something else, Bed Bath and Beyond took all of our "double gifts" back that they carried, we didn't need a receipt, and they gave us CASH BACK. Target, you have moved down a giant leap in my mind and I hope that one day you can redeem yourself.

Sincerely,

Melissa Ann Brewer

Honeymoon

Jeff and I just returned from our honeymoon to Los Cabos, Mexico! It was quite the exciting trip and we had such a fun time together. Thanks so much to Don and Juanita for setting us up in an amazing resort, Raintree's Club Regina! It was seriously beautiful and such a fun place to honeymoon for a week! We went to lots of beaches, visited the arch and Lover's beach... as well as Divorce beach which I'm not sure why they call it that because it is just as beautiful as Lover's! We swam with Dolphins, went snorkeling, went mini golfing, ate lots of mexican and seafood, and we hungout at the many pools at our resort. It was so relaxing to spend a week in the sun with the love of my life! I am so thankful for all the blessings that we have been given since our marriage. It is definitely an adjustment coming home and moving out of the place you have lived your whole life. I know we will get used to the many differences, but we are so thankful and feel so blessed to be where we are.  Here are some pictures from the trip! 

This is us at the Marina just after church. We had an interesting time finding the mormon church because the Taxi driver dropped us off at a Catholic Church on the completely wrong road, even though we told him exactly where it would be. haha! It was an adventure, but we ended up finding the church through the help of some locals and it was really an awesome sacrament meeting. I am so glad that we went!

This boat that we are on is called a Glass Bottom Boat. All the companies down there advertise these glass bottom boats like they are the most amazing things ever. Really, there are two glass panels that you can barely see through on the bottom of the boat. It was pretty awesome going out to the arch though. As you can see, we are having a blast! It really was fun!

Lover's Beach

Jeff and I went snorkeling here at Lover's Beach. There were SO many fish. We saw this awesome fish that was the brightest blue I have ever seen. It had blue spots that seriously glowed in the water. It was so awesome!

Jeff had so much fun playing in the waves. They dont look that big, but they were strong! We saw many people, mostly older women, get taken out by these waves... it always gave us a good laugh. 

more of... Lover's beach and Divorce Beach

Dinner at La Cascada

This restaurant was in our resort and was so fun! They played old movies at night and had theme nights where they would cook different foods with different themes. 

Raintree's Club Regina

This is a view of our whole resort... pretty much. The volleyball courts, five pools, mini golf, it was paradise!

We designated this our own private beach in San Jose. There was no one in sight, a few surfers walked by, but we had the whole beach to ourselves. It was fabulous. 

The Tropicana -- San Jose

We ate at the Tropicana and got some delicious margarita's... virgin of course. 

This is us in San Jose. We had been at the beach all day long and then played volleyball with some people from Oregon. We had a really fun day, and even snuck into the Grand Mayan, as much as they tried to keep us out. :)

Santa Maria Beach

We went snorkeling here too... but there was HUGE schools of fish. Seriously big fish. I got scared because these things swim right up to you. They arent the normal fish that swim away when you try to get close to them. They get up close and personal and I swear they almost swam right into me a few times! Maybe they are blind? haha, I dont know what it was but they scared me right out of the water! Jeff was much more brave than myself and he snorkeled for a bit longer and had a great time! It was a fun beach!

Us in San Jose del Cabo. We loved it here. It was much more calm than Cabo San Lucas, and there was a lot of fun stores and restaurants. We went to the beaches and did a lot of fun things in San Jose. 

Priceless!

This is the picture of Jeff riding the dolpin that I snuck a picture of. The lady got mad at me for doing it, but I couldnt help it. The picture was too good! The dolphin was serious hauling with Jeff! SO FUN!

We had lunch at the Margaritavilla in Cabo San Lucas. It was so yummy! Jeff and I discovered that you have to be careful what Mexican food you order because some of it is not what you expect or what you would get in the states. We shared a mexican combination dinner here and I swear neither of us could finish it. I dont know how one person could eat all of that food! It was delicious!

Our last day living in our suits. The resort had so many colorful walls and buildings. Our building was yellow. There was bright green, red, pink, orange, blue! It was beautiful!

Saying goodbye to our home for the week.

At the top of our resort, Club Regina. What a fun trip!

Our last Day

As much fun as we had here at the Club Regina, we were happy to be leaving Mexico. We had such a fun time and loved spending a week together with no worries and nothing on the agenda. I am so glad we got to go on such a special honeymoon. I just love Jeff more than anything in this world and I cant wait to start "real" life with him! Eternity babe!