handwritten on August 22, 2014
This week, I participated in a variety of professional development sessions/meetings at O'Hara Elementary as well as Hartwood Elementary. I found all of the sessions to be extremely beneficial. Particularly, I found the session on the online gradebook to be fascinating. For the most part, I have had very limited experience using an online gradebook system to relay important messages to parents/record grades on activities and assignments. Although it will take some time getting used to this system, I am eager to get started. In addition, I think it is important that I become familiar with the evolving technology out there so that I am confident using such technology by myself when I am a...
handwritten on August 14, 2014
Unfortunately, in the chaos that ensued during my final Spring semester of my undergraduate career at the University of Pittsburgh, I was unable to reflect upon what I consider to be the most important experience of my time at The University of Pittsburgh. Throughout my time as a student, I spent a considerable amount of time tutoring students from inner-city Pittsburgh. After becoming a teaching fellow through Summerbridge Pittsburgh for a summer, I realized the importance of a strong tutor for students who may attend schools that are not meeting his or her needs. After working at Margaret Milliones for a semester as well as tutoring students through the Summerbridge Pittsburgh program, I...
handwritten on August 4, 2014
Currently, I am in Hilton Head, South Carolina enjoying the first relaxing beach vacation that I have had in three years. This is the first time, in a long time, that my entire family was able to come together and spend one week at the beach. It has been wonderful! Unfortunately, the weather has been slighly less than desirable. Though this would have been our first "real" beach day today, most of it has been spent either in the rain or on the closed in porch located in the back of our beach villa. Nevertheless, we are making the best of it!
This morning, my mother and I decided to brave the heavy rains and bike for an hour and a half. Within about 30 minutes, we were completely drenched,...
handwritten on June 1, 2014
This past week was my very last day of teaching flute lessons at the Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School. Lately, it seems as if I have only been writing about the "endings." Nevertheless, I have no doubt that there will be many new beginnings.
Out of all of my experiences during my undergraduate career, teaching flute lessons was probably my favorite. I have always had the upmost appreciation for my music teachers who I believe taught me everything I need to know about life and much more. My father started my brother and me out on piano at the age of six years old. In fourth grade, our parents encouraged us to try out an instrument; I ended up playing the flute and my brother played the...
handwritten on May 21, 2014
My last days and weeks at Conroy were incredibly bittersweet. I'm sure many teachers can attest to this, but it always seems like you have just built a relationship with the kids and then it is time to let them go. However, this goodbye was quite different than all the other goodbyes. It was not different because my paraprofessionals and my teacher bought me a cake and threw me a surprise party in the classroom. It was not different because I thanked all of them and began to get a bit choked up in the process. What was different was that my students did not grasp the concept that I was leaving. To them, it was a fancy day of eating cake; I would probably be back tomorrow. Some would find...
