There are 3 weeks remaining before I ship out. Perhaps it was the packing or perhaps it was the mistakes I've made in planning the trip, but I don't think I felt anxiety up until this very moment. I think perhaps my largest mistake thus far was when I purchased my tickets. I bought mine at the lowest available price at the time. One month later (and three weeks before the trip), the ticket price has gone down $350. I falsely assumed ticket prices go up as the departure date gets closer.
I suppose I can take consolation in the fact that I will be flying first class and my bags fly free :). Figure in the bag fees, overall I overpaid $200. At least I will be in luxury. I still have to figure out how I'm going to get back as tickets for the return flight don't go on sale for another week. The other difficulty is packing the bags. As it turns out, with my projector, document camera, classroom set of camcorders, wii interactive-whiteboard, laptop, bedding sheets, sleeping bag, clothes for various weather conditions, I already have 4 completely full bags (2 carry-on, 2 checked) and still more stuff to fit. The good news is that I found out this morning that as a first-class flyer, I get one more bag if I so desire. I guess, in the end it will work out. 3 more weeks.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Great Teacher
The most successful teachers I had were the ones that I could connect to in some small way. They were the ones who were encouraging, understanding, fair, and wise. They were the people I could look up to. They were people that would make time for me after school -- the ones that made me feel important. I guess if I can respect that as a student, then perhaps focusing on that model will increase the participation in my class.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Role of the Teacher
The other day, I entered into a conversation with my friend Gina discussing the role of 'the teacher'. I suppose the topic came up after I came to the conclusion that successful education is largely based upon the role parents and role-models and culture play in a student's life. More often than not, without moral guidance, a student will ultimately choose not to respect authority, will choose not to participate in learning, and will follow one's own unhealthy desires, making other poor and unhealthy choices along the way.
For those students the best education seems to be love, care, and shown how to make good moral choices. Oftentimes they just want and need someone to give them a voice and hear them out. The teacher plays the role-model figure and helps them discover how to live. Content material becomes meaningless rubbish in light of the real needs. Once those needs are met, then the teacher becomes a teacher of content, giving the student aspirations and setting the bar high. I suppose this idea really goes back to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - before a kid can truly learn and flourish, they have to feel safe, loved, and heard.
This is the tricky part that I find being an educator: how can I play both the role-model relational figure while still being the authoritative chemistry educator as well? 50% may respond to the former while the other 50% might respond to that latter. I teach the material as entertainingly as possible, throwing in punny jokes, real-life application, making in analogies to high school situations, and incorporating hands-on demonstrations. I am usually 'all business' in the classroom, rarely talking about myself or who I am and staying focused as best I can to the goal or objectives for the day. Recently I have questioned this approach when late into the school year, the kids started asking questions about ME. I guess I hadn't realized how interested students could be in their teacher and his life decisions. Perhaps this will be a change I make in future years.
So how then can I as teacher measure my success as one? Certainly there are standardized exams to help inform teaching or I could base it upon the number of students and parents and administrators who like me. But real success goes back to my goals of being a teacher - to inspire and create consciences critical thinkers and lifelong learners. Last school year I ended up with a number of students who only learned how to cheat their way through the various systems. For those students, I hope they come learn in a not so hard way that they can't cheat their way through life. As much as I disciplined, in the end for those students I failed. Other students I have come to grow a relationship. I saw a spark of inspiration. Perhaps with that they will pursue something bigger than themselves. And then there are the students with unseen appreciation. Perhaps they will one day think back and attribute something they learned from me or my class.
I will of course continue to learn and develop as I know I am far from perfect. But as I think back to my college chemistry professor's advice to me, that I will never reach everyone. But even if I can touch one or two lives and make a difference, then I should consider myself a success. If that's true, then I suppose I'm doing alright.
For those students the best education seems to be love, care, and shown how to make good moral choices. Oftentimes they just want and need someone to give them a voice and hear them out. The teacher plays the role-model figure and helps them discover how to live. Content material becomes meaningless rubbish in light of the real needs. Once those needs are met, then the teacher becomes a teacher of content, giving the student aspirations and setting the bar high. I suppose this idea really goes back to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - before a kid can truly learn and flourish, they have to feel safe, loved, and heard.
This is the tricky part that I find being an educator: how can I play both the role-model relational figure while still being the authoritative chemistry educator as well? 50% may respond to the former while the other 50% might respond to that latter. I teach the material as entertainingly as possible, throwing in punny jokes, real-life application, making in analogies to high school situations, and incorporating hands-on demonstrations. I am usually 'all business' in the classroom, rarely talking about myself or who I am and staying focused as best I can to the goal or objectives for the day. Recently I have questioned this approach when late into the school year, the kids started asking questions about ME. I guess I hadn't realized how interested students could be in their teacher and his life decisions. Perhaps this will be a change I make in future years.
So how then can I as teacher measure my success as one? Certainly there are standardized exams to help inform teaching or I could base it upon the number of students and parents and administrators who like me. But real success goes back to my goals of being a teacher - to inspire and create consciences critical thinkers and lifelong learners. Last school year I ended up with a number of students who only learned how to cheat their way through the various systems. For those students, I hope they come learn in a not so hard way that they can't cheat their way through life. As much as I disciplined, in the end for those students I failed. Other students I have come to grow a relationship. I saw a spark of inspiration. Perhaps with that they will pursue something bigger than themselves. And then there are the students with unseen appreciation. Perhaps they will one day think back and attribute something they learned from me or my class.
I will of course continue to learn and develop as I know I am far from perfect. But as I think back to my college chemistry professor's advice to me, that I will never reach everyone. But even if I can touch one or two lives and make a difference, then I should consider myself a success. If that's true, then I suppose I'm doing alright.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Why Honduras?
So why Honduras?? I suppose the short answer is that 'it just felt right.' I have never been an impulsive person to commit to something on a whim. I'd rather sit around and analyze the pros and cons, much like Ben Stiller's character from Along Came Polly (terrible movie BTW in case you're planning on seeing it). Yet, when I came to a career trail-head earlier this year, all of the pieces of who I am just seemed to click into position.
Since high school, from my time as a swim instructor for younger kids, I have felt inspired and encouraged to pursue teaching as a career. Part of the benefits include imparting skills and knowledge of a subject you're passionate about, seeing a student flourish and grow, and being relational with people. In college I received my chemistry degree and later got my teaching credentials. I entered the education sector and found that 'things' were different than what I had envisioned. Long story short - I burned out around November this past school year when certain drama unfolded.
I guess I was considering a career change for a while after that. It was really quite disheartening to be aiming to summit a mountain for so long but when you get to the top, it's nothing like you had imagined it in a bad way. But this is where it gets cool. I now have my teaching credentials with experience (they say it takes three years to really get the hang of it and five years to become great), I have a developed AP Chemistry program, I have very few possessions, I have a desire to experience new culture and expand my worldview, and I believe even the culture-shock of teaching in rural Klamath at a Christian school has helped prepare me for the environment in which I may be immersed. Essentially, everything up to this point has helped prepare me for this trip, including finding a church support group with only 5 weeks remaining until my departure. That said, it seems to be more than mere coincidence that a friend suggested this school to me during a late-night facebook chat session (shoutout to you Missy!). The puzzle pieces fell into place. The door was wide open. All I had to do was take the step.
That's not to say I still don't have my fears. Will I be an effective instructor with the language barrier? Will the Honduran culture enable the students to be more respectful? Will I fit in with the organization and mission in which i'm participating? Will I be able to be relational with students and be a testimony of Christ? I cannot answer these questions with any amount of certainty, but I do know that God can use us wherever we are.
Since high school, from my time as a swim instructor for younger kids, I have felt inspired and encouraged to pursue teaching as a career. Part of the benefits include imparting skills and knowledge of a subject you're passionate about, seeing a student flourish and grow, and being relational with people. In college I received my chemistry degree and later got my teaching credentials. I entered the education sector and found that 'things' were different than what I had envisioned. Long story short - I burned out around November this past school year when certain drama unfolded.
I guess I was considering a career change for a while after that. It was really quite disheartening to be aiming to summit a mountain for so long but when you get to the top, it's nothing like you had imagined it in a bad way. But this is where it gets cool. I now have my teaching credentials with experience (they say it takes three years to really get the hang of it and five years to become great), I have a developed AP Chemistry program, I have very few possessions, I have a desire to experience new culture and expand my worldview, and I believe even the culture-shock of teaching in rural Klamath at a Christian school has helped prepare me for the environment in which I may be immersed. Essentially, everything up to this point has helped prepare me for this trip, including finding a church support group with only 5 weeks remaining until my departure. That said, it seems to be more than mere coincidence that a friend suggested this school to me during a late-night facebook chat session (shoutout to you Missy!). The puzzle pieces fell into place. The door was wide open. All I had to do was take the step.
That's not to say I still don't have my fears. Will I be an effective instructor with the language barrier? Will the Honduran culture enable the students to be more respectful? Will I fit in with the organization and mission in which i'm participating? Will I be able to be relational with students and be a testimony of Christ? I cannot answer these questions with any amount of certainty, but I do know that God can use us wherever we are.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Packing
Today I've been packing and cleaning all day in preparation for my trip. I guess you don't realize how much 'stuff' you've accumulated over time until you try to pile it all up in your living room. It's a bit of a mess. In other news, it is also my LAST week of teaching in Klamath Falls, a bit of a bittersweet end to chapter in my life. I've grown fond of the students I've had over the past couple of years - a feeling that became evident while conversing with a few at the high school graduation ceremony. I've also felt like I had finally begun to plug into certain areas of the community. I was pretty connected with the swimming community in town as well as starting to feel welcomed with the church ministry at Klamath Christian Center. It's really a shame I couldn't have found my niche sooner. However, I am excited to explore the world a bit and work to expand my worldview.
This mentality is really my basis of my teaching philosophy - that is, I teach to promote the analytical mind, one that can see things from multiple perspectives and use critical thinking to understand and make sense of the world. The idea is that the analytical mind will use discernment in all aspects of life pushing away from egocentrism and leading to cultural understanding and prevention of conflict.
Lately, my teaching philosophy is shifting as I consider my work as it pertains to making relationships and promoting Christ. My students have taught me that they value my relationship with them, but I more often than not put up walls. My hope is that I will learn to embrace this new idea and find ways to be a testimony of Christ's love. I'm not quite sure how this will work yet, so please be in prayer as I continue to learn and develop.
BTW - NBA Finals round 6 tonight in Miami though I'm actually switching between that game than the Portland-Colorado MLS game. I figured it was good cultural training to watch the game. Still 0-0 with 10 mminutes left, but here's to hoping! The lumberjack is warming up his chainsaw :)
EDIT: Embarrassing fact - The MLS game was a tape delayed rerun. I could have just looked on Twitter to find out that the Timbers had lost in stoppage time. Oops.
This mentality is really my basis of my teaching philosophy - that is, I teach to promote the analytical mind, one that can see things from multiple perspectives and use critical thinking to understand and make sense of the world. The idea is that the analytical mind will use discernment in all aspects of life pushing away from egocentrism and leading to cultural understanding and prevention of conflict.
Lately, my teaching philosophy is shifting as I consider my work as it pertains to making relationships and promoting Christ. My students have taught me that they value my relationship with them, but I more often than not put up walls. My hope is that I will learn to embrace this new idea and find ways to be a testimony of Christ's love. I'm not quite sure how this will work yet, so please be in prayer as I continue to learn and develop.
EDIT: Embarrassing fact - The MLS game was a tape delayed rerun. I could have just looked on Twitter to find out that the Timbers had lost in stoppage time. Oops.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
New Adventures
And here's to another attempt at a blog (cheers).
Hello!
The purpose of this blog is to post pictures and stories for my friends and family in the US to follow my journey as well as give me some sort of record by which I can record my own development and growth. The purpose of this particular post is to introduce my story.
Of course, most people reading this know me already, but for the few of you who don't I'll do my best to catch you up. I am Josh - Science Teacher Extraordinaire. My students call me by other names such as Mr. J, Dr. J, M.J., and of course my personal favorite, J²; that's pronounced 'J-Squared' -- not to be confused with 'J-to-the-second-power'. I am currently one week away from completing my second year of teaching! After this year, I am leaving the US to teach chemistry abroad at La Academia Los Pinares, a bilingual private mission school located in the hills of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. More will be posted later. In the mean-time, enjoy this aerial view of the school.
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Hello!
The purpose of this blog is to post pictures and stories for my friends and family in the US to follow my journey as well as give me some sort of record by which I can record my own development and growth. The purpose of this particular post is to introduce my story.
Of course, most people reading this know me already, but for the few of you who don't I'll do my best to catch you up. I am Josh - Science Teacher Extraordinaire. My students call me by other names such as Mr. J, Dr. J, M.J., and of course my personal favorite, J²; that's pronounced 'J-Squared' -- not to be confused with 'J-to-the-second-power'. I am currently one week away from completing my second year of teaching! After this year, I am leaving the US to teach chemistry abroad at La Academia Los Pinares, a bilingual private mission school located in the hills of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. More will be posted later. In the mean-time, enjoy this aerial view of the school.
View Larger Map
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