La luz al fin del túnel.

Ya veo la luz al fin de túnel. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't really believe how ridiculous this entire year has been. I feel like the past couple of months have been so fast and furious that I haven't even had time to breath, but now-at last! The end is in sight! I'm almost there! This year is most definitely the hardest thing I've ever done but now that I'm almost there, I'm so appreciative for all of it. I just had my 125 page action research report printed and bound, will bind an 80 page curriculum unit this week and finished my professional portfolio. All that's left is to defend my research on the 23rd and finish out the school year. Incredible. I remember thinking back in february that there was no way I could possibly make it to this point but here I am! With time to blog and everything!

And God just keeps showering me with blessings and reminding me how much he has planned for my life! Over spring break I went on my first and only job interview. It went so well so now, as long as I get everything taken care of with my certification this summer, I have a job as a 4th grade bilingual teacher in McKinney, TX! I've been hunting for jobs (at least in my head) since last july, and now that I have one I don't even know what to do! I've got my dream job straight out of college (not even actually) and will be back in McKinney. Unbelievable.

I graduate with my Master's degree in less than a month, am going on a trip to Japan and then will finally begin preparing my very own classroom. I can't even imagine. My life has changed so much this year it's hard to even think what could be next! As hard as the MAT has been, I am almost scared to finish. I don't know what next year has in store or how to do any of it, and that makes me pretty nervous and a little terrified. But this time last year that's exactly what I was thinking then too so I know I'll make it!

Maestra Jardinera

La vida de una maestra jardinera...I haven't really had a spare second to sit down and think about my transition to kindergarten because everything has been so busy, but now I can finally see the light. It's been incredibly hard leaving my 4th graders. I knew it would be hard, but I never knew quite how attached I was. I miss those kids and my wonderful mentor teacher so bad. I learned so much and even though there were days when I was very tired and not really excited to be at school, it was still the greatest experience I could have possibly asked for. I can't imagine a more positive, fun and supportive environment for me to really dive into teaching.  It's a tough change going to kindergarten from fourth. My mentor teacher is so nice and the kids are the sweetest little things you could ever see, but still... it's a very stark difference. The dynamic is just so different, but I'm also learning a lot about myself and what I think/want as a teacher. And one of the sweetest things has been getting to be with two other awesome interns. I'm really enjoying that part because I didn't really have that when I was the only intern in 4th grade. And I'm finally getting to go on field trips, which is so much fun. I've been to the drive-through zoo, I'm headed to the botanical gardens in a couple weeks, and best of all, I get to go on a couple field trips with 1st and 4th grades! So excited to see those kids again! And kindergarten is pretty fine, not quite as intense content-wise, but it's kind of nice to come in from recess and get bundles of flowers every day :)

Tecnología

La tecnología me quiere matar. I think technology is trying to kill me. Or at least force me to have a mental breakdown. It's kind of funny really because I never thought of myself as someone who was particularly challenged by technology. Not at least in the way some people are. But lately it seems as if everything I touch malfunctions. Or it could be user error. We can't be sure. Either way, me and technology seem to be fighting an awful lot lately and I've about had it. Let me preface this by saying that I have always loved my computer. A darling little 2007 macbook. Of course we've had our differences and over the past few months complications have arisen due to its old age (5 years is a long time for a little laptop) but for the most part we have always gotten along splendidly without any real problems. However, a couple of months ago my computer revolted against me. With the monumental amount of stress placed on me due to the MAT and the even more monumental importance of these projects I've been working on, I thought it wise to purchase an external hard drive. And so it began. Somewhere along the journey of backing up all my most important files, I must have offended my ever faithful macbook. It decided to strike back, hitting me where it hurt- Microsoft Office. Suddenly, my computer refused to run any sort of microsoft office document. This really wasn't too big of a deal except, oh wait, every single important document you could possibly ever need to open or create involves office in some facet or another. After skating by using a free trial of the newest version, I finally had to accept defeat and reinstall my 2004 version onto my computer. It worked and everything went great, nevertheless, tensions were still high.

Enter microsoft excel. Excel and I have never gotten along, probably because I've never been properly taught how to use it. However, in recent months I had really begun to see its merits. Until the t-tests. Odious t-tests. When it came to data analysis for my all-important action research, excel had me beat. And my once friendly little macbook gloated.

And even when working on my actual write-up, my computer would sneakily not save pieces so that I would have to re-do them, or revert back to previous versions of the document.

Then came the onslaught of formatting issues which made finishing my action research report, professional portfolio and curriculum unit nearly impossible.

Even Powerpoint, a program which has always come so easily for me was ridiculously difficult.

Finally however, I thought I had won the battle. I finished my research report and portfolio and had them printed and bound. I had even finished the content of my research presentation. All that was left was fixing a few cosmetic issues. Easy breezy.

False. Technology had merely been biding its time. Waiting for me to become overconfident and slip up. Then it would make its move and go in for the kill. I decided to work on these issues on Ethan's new computer because he had a newer version of office so I needed to mess with the design issues on it. I didn't realize it then, but even his computer was snidely combatting my efforts.

Technology: I refuse to recognize your flash drive
Kaitlyn: No prob, I'll just email it. Problem solved in a jiffy.
Technology: Fine, I'll make changing your color scheme trickier.
Kaitlyn: Psh. I've got time, I'll make it work.
Technology: Oh just wait. I'll refuse to recognize your template.
Kaitlyn: NBD, I can change all the fonts and sizes manually.
Technology: I'm only letting you think that I'm auto-saving your progress. Heh, heh, heh.
Kaitlyn: Hooray! Nearly done! Just gotta fix that formatting for my references!
Technology: heh heh heh...(Powerpoint- not responding)
Kaitlyn: PANIC!!! (Trying to save but it won't work.)
Technology: Hahaha I'll just hide all traces of your hard work on this Windows computer.
Kaitlyn: NOOOOOO! (Curls into a ball on the couch and cries. Then finally finds the powerpoint, but it is all corrupted and unusable)
Technology: Muahahahahaha

You've won this round technology, but I'll beat you one of these days!