Sitting here in my classroom laboratory, it's amazing to me how different it feels being on the other side of the exam. Yep, today is the final laboratory practical for all of my students. They need to prove they've learned a lot and can think through geologic ideas.
I need to prove that I've created an exam that is fair, covers all the relevant material, and can be completed in a two hour segment of time. So really, testing day is a way to test the students to make sure they have attained some knowledge, but also it's a day to test the teacher to see if they got important information to their students.
Watching my students, I wonder if it's possible to tell how comfortable they are with the exam. One student looks like they just woke up and are wearing old man glasses. I bet he lost his contacts earlier in the week because I've never seen him wearing glasses like that.
Another student of mine still hasn't taken their coat off yet. I'm in a t-shirt and I'm pretty comfortable. I wonder if he keeps the coat on as a way of saying, "Hey, if this material gets too tough or I feel uncomfortable in any way, I'm getting the heck out of here." He doesn't interact with anyone else in class and is really quiet. He's super respectful and all that, I just wish he would involve himself a little more. I think he'd get more out of it that way.
I have another student with shifty eyes, who I keep a look out for. It's hard to distinguish between nervous shifty eyes, "I wonder if that fossil is free to look at" shifty eyes, or just plain, "I wonder what answer that other person put down" cheating shifty eyes. For the most part I'd like to think my students are honest and the material is fair, but you never know. So every once in awhile I do the room eye scan, just to make sure.
All I can say is, I'm glad I didn't have an exam to take today!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Half-Marathon
Because I forgot to mention this earlier... guess what I did over Thanksgiving break?!?!
I signed up to run a 5K in Chicago in March and a Half Marathon in May.
Looking at that sentence, I'm a little bit shocked. Five years ago my mile time was literally 12 minutes. I couldn't jog, let alone run.
This past Thanksgiving break, I ran a 5K in under 24 minutes. I was running faster than an 8 minute mile. I've literally taken off a fourth of my running time. Sadly, it took me 4 years to do it, but gosh dangit, I CAN RUN!
It was the day of the 5K that I realized I can do more and try harder and be better. Accomplishing goals and breaking down barriers only leads me to want to keep breaking down barriers and seeing how hard and fast I can continue.
It's sort of a personal challenge to see how much butt I can kick this year.
So now, when I wake up in the mornings and know I have two miles to run that aren't even in my workout plan, I'll be thankful that they are there, getting me ready for May! Wish me luck, because I have a crap ton on running ahead of me!
I signed up to run a 5K in Chicago in March and a Half Marathon in May.
Looking at that sentence, I'm a little bit shocked. Five years ago my mile time was literally 12 minutes. I couldn't jog, let alone run.
This past Thanksgiving break, I ran a 5K in under 24 minutes. I was running faster than an 8 minute mile. I've literally taken off a fourth of my running time. Sadly, it took me 4 years to do it, but gosh dangit, I CAN RUN!
It was the day of the 5K that I realized I can do more and try harder and be better. Accomplishing goals and breaking down barriers only leads me to want to keep breaking down barriers and seeing how hard and fast I can continue.
It's sort of a personal challenge to see how much butt I can kick this year.
So now, when I wake up in the mornings and know I have two miles to run that aren't even in my workout plan, I'll be thankful that they are there, getting me ready for May! Wish me luck, because I have a crap ton on running ahead of me!
Dragging bootie
This morning when I woke up was the darkest yet of the year. In the summer months, I usually forget that 6am has anything BUT sunshine in December. It's the most painful way to get moving and out the door to work out.
So of course that's what I did. I ran out the door, (and then back inside because I had forgotten clean underwear for after my swim), and finally started the upward mile run to the gym. The first part of that run is always the hardest because I choose to run up the only "hill" on campus. (Thank god I don't live in the mountains.)
But then a weird thing happened today. All of a sudden, I was at the gym. I don't remember passing my old apartment or the Armory or even the complex of dorms. I literally ran 3/4 of a mile with no immediate recollection of what happened. I do remember being "in my head" though. Due to this new-found knowledge, my goal for the rest of the week is to have a lot to think about on my runs to and from my apartment so that they go faster.
Honestly the only reason I made it to the gym this morning was because I was supposed to meet Ed for our "pre-Curacao" swims. I didn't want to let him down. So I dutifully did 15 minutes of an ab workout and headed to the pool. The swim team and the diving team were practicing, so I watched as I got my cap and goggles on. It reminded me of all those early mornings of yore (high school). Once again, I was thankful that my life had changed for the better. I wasn't being FORCED to the pool at 6:45 am. I CHOOSE to drag my butt there instead.
Ed didn't make it this morning, due to his new puppy keeping him preoccupied, but his absence did get me thinking. What exactly is it in each person that keeps them moving to set goals and accomplish them?
So of course that's what I did. I ran out the door, (and then back inside because I had forgotten clean underwear for after my swim), and finally started the upward mile run to the gym. The first part of that run is always the hardest because I choose to run up the only "hill" on campus. (Thank god I don't live in the mountains.)
But then a weird thing happened today. All of a sudden, I was at the gym. I don't remember passing my old apartment or the Armory or even the complex of dorms. I literally ran 3/4 of a mile with no immediate recollection of what happened. I do remember being "in my head" though. Due to this new-found knowledge, my goal for the rest of the week is to have a lot to think about on my runs to and from my apartment so that they go faster.
Honestly the only reason I made it to the gym this morning was because I was supposed to meet Ed for our "pre-Curacao" swims. I didn't want to let him down. So I dutifully did 15 minutes of an ab workout and headed to the pool. The swim team and the diving team were practicing, so I watched as I got my cap and goggles on. It reminded me of all those early mornings of yore (high school). Once again, I was thankful that my life had changed for the better. I wasn't being FORCED to the pool at 6:45 am. I CHOOSE to drag my butt there instead.
Ed didn't make it this morning, due to his new puppy keeping him preoccupied, but his absence did get me thinking. What exactly is it in each person that keeps them moving to set goals and accomplish them?
Holiday Perfection
My very best, favorite thing about the holiday season is sitting on a couch next to a brightly lit Christmas Tree, listening to Christmas music, drinking hot coco and relaxing. Truly, life can't get much better than that.
Except that it can. If one were to share that space with a special someone (family members, friends, significant others, etc.), then life would be perfect. No worries, no concerns and someone to share that space with. Someone who understands you and loves you and loves spending time together without expectations.
And in my mental picture I always have to add a fireplace, soft white snow falling rapidly to cover the earth and silence throughout the house. Those evenings are probably my most relaxing and memorable. Usually they follow a very active day playing in the snow, sledding, shoveling, ice skating, making snowmen... you know, all the glorious outdoor activities that make living in the midwest bearable.
Then, to top off those perfect nights, a bath with peppermint bubble soap and a good book could make that fairy-tale complete.
Here's to fulfilling most of my holiday fantasies every night this holiday season!
Except that it can. If one were to share that space with a special someone (family members, friends, significant others, etc.), then life would be perfect. No worries, no concerns and someone to share that space with. Someone who understands you and loves you and loves spending time together without expectations.
And in my mental picture I always have to add a fireplace, soft white snow falling rapidly to cover the earth and silence throughout the house. Those evenings are probably my most relaxing and memorable. Usually they follow a very active day playing in the snow, sledding, shoveling, ice skating, making snowmen... you know, all the glorious outdoor activities that make living in the midwest bearable.
Then, to top off those perfect nights, a bath with peppermint bubble soap and a good book could make that fairy-tale complete.
Here's to fulfilling most of my holiday fantasies every night this holiday season!
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