My reflections for week three..

What? It’s been a crazy three weeks. I‘ve felt all sorts of emotions happy, sad, frustrated, confused, inadequate and overwhelmed. I’ve been given so much information all at once that my brain hurts. Managing my household of four busy boys, a husband and my 78 year 0ld father that lives with me, two cats and twelve chickens it’s been quite interesting. Trying to keep up with four different schools, sports and scouts schedules it’s had its challenges. Oh, did I also forget to mention I’m trying to go school for myself and keep up. I’m not sure I’ve been able to manage my time wisely. But then again I only have 24 hours like everybody else. I’ve probably gained a few pounds since I ate a whole bag of cinnamon chocolate bears and I had bowl of ice cream (which I never eat since I’m lactose in tolerant) and my caffeine intake has increased, but boy it sure tasted good. So besides that it’s been a great week.

So What? To all this madness. I’ve actually enjoyed a couple of my classes this week. My art & literature class was very calming and enjoyable. Yes, there was a lot of busy work I had to turn in but the concepts taught in our lecture were very beneficial. Our professor taught us how movement is so important to integrate in teaching that I felt the benefit personally. Dr. Escalante had us pair-up and do an exercise called “mirrors”. It’s where one of you can be the leader or follower of movements without speaking and your feet have to be in place at all times. You take turns being the follower or the leader. I enjoyed this activity because it made me feel calm and focused after an intense weekend of homework. I see how that could help a class after a frustrated math session or a concept that is not being accepted well. Also, in my curriculum design class with Dr. Simmerman it was very enjoyable since she clarified backward design lesson planning. I really like Dr. Simmerman’s ability to explain in a calm and honest way. I also liked reading in my Physch Ed book that our “brain remain adaptable throughout life” so there’s hope for me and my brain.

Now What? Well I’ve decided that I’m going to have to learn to delegate some of my tasks to my children starting with helping mom make schools lunches and have my eleven year old read to my eight year old. My eight year old loves to read but he still loves to be read to. Overall, just communicate better with my family so they can help me more. In regards to my school, I’ve joined the UVU-Wasatch Cohort facebook site to help me keep my assignments straight. Most of all try to keep the Scout Motto: Be Prepared.