Nature in a New Light

Last night, some friends and I went on a nice hike to the well known 'Living Room' that starts right by Red Butte Gardens. Well apparently, it was the night to go to the go. TONS of people were there, both going up and coming down and once up there, we were in on a party. Food, drinks, wine in pouches, these people knew how to do it.

Anyway, last night just so happened to be one of those nights where the sun and moon are in line with each other and as the sun was setting, the full moon was rising. It was really cool! But, this all came to our attention by a friendly man who said,

'Look! The moon is rising and the sun is setting! You can see them both! That is [expletive] amazing! Do you see that? That is [expletive] amazing!'
(It reminded me a little of the double rainbow youtube sensation)

 This stirred all those in attendance to cheer and marvel at some of natures best. It was a joyous event made all the more enjoyable for those party goers due to their 'just a little more than juice' drinks. Oh the people you meet. From approximately 10 feet above, we, naturally, cheered right along. It was an awesome, communal moment. After the whoops and hollers died down, the expletively excited man then went on to explain the geometry (...that's what he said?) in how this phenomena happens. He was a very nice, earth loving guy.

After the sun set, we left the party attenders to do as they pleased and we headed back down and finished our pleasant hike before it got too dark. I hope in their circumstances, they all made it down alright too...

Going from Student to Teacher

As I prepare some materials for my forthcoming student teaching I am realizing a couple things.

I love sitting in my chair, smoothie by my side and movie and/or music playing in the background, typing up literature based questions in packet form. As well as project assignments, tests and lesson plans.

Also, all those times I was so stressed out about my pathetic answers in those awfully thick packets we were assigned in school were in vain. I had answers and I am sure that is more than what some of my teachers could have hoped for.

After being a grade-conscious student my entire life, I am having a fantastic and slightly frightening awakening. As I go through the curriculum I will be teaching, I realize I can change anything I want and teach it however I want. Sounds simple and obvious, right?

But really, I can change it (weird). I can keep, add or improve on anything and all those little seventh graders will (hopefully) blindly follow.

Lesson materials a teacher (my superior) gave me along with the freedom to use or not use whatever I choose. This kind of liberation is not something I am used to. I am the quintessential student. I like directions. I like to use creativity, but I also like my creativity to fit within the assigned rubric. Basically I am an admittedly grade driven person... I really like good grades. Anyway, now that I have what I would have once completed 100% as a student and never questioned (though would have complained about) and can change it to fit my teaching preferences, I am in a bit of a quandary and I love it. All those things that I would hate doing but would do anyway, I can now, with no consequence, change. And to me, an English nerd with a deep love of grammar, office supplies and school, this is very exciting.