I'm realizing how little I know about history...maybe the Smithsonian museums will help correct that a little this week...
3.23.2009
whose broad stripes and bright stars...
I've been in Washington D.C. since Friday afternoon and, so far, have already seen more than I did when I came as a kid. The weather has been great (60+ and gorgeous yesterday), I've had awesome food from all over the world, reunited with three close college friends and have explored many of the districts of DC and learned a lot about the city! I'm excited to see and do more (and laugh more) this week.
I'm realizing how little I know about history...maybe the Smithsonian museums will help correct that a little this week...
I'm realizing how little I know about history...maybe the Smithsonian museums will help correct that a little this week...
3.17.2009
You better think...let your mind go, let yourself be free
~Aretha Franklin ("Think")
I'm sitting here, watching the minutes tick by excruciatingly slowly as my 55 gen chem students take their final exam. A casual observer might notice the increase in number of people wearing sweats (at SPU, students usually dress up more than your average college student for whatever reason) and the intermittent yawns, neck stretches and blank stares at the page. I think it's a good test...though, if you've been following my blog these last 10 weeks, you'll know that I've thought all my tests were fair and awesome.
Nevertheless, this week marks the end of the quarter. I have (almost) made it. My other class gives their research presentations tomorrow, and I have a beast of a paper to write myself...for which I only have a few disconnected thoughts thus far. All this (and grading these 55 finals) needs to be done by Friday morning at 4am, when I hop a plane for 10 awesome days in Washington DC to catch up with a bunch of friends from SPU and try to get a chat with Obama in about his educational policies.
Maybe I'll reflect more on my professorhood these past months in the future when I am further removed from it. Right now, I am welcoming the break, though I will miss these students, their interested spirits and their smiling (usually) faces and hope they are leaving my class with largely positive outlooks. (I guess I'll see the course evaluations in a week and know for sure.) I've attempted this quarter to encourage and foster critical thinking about chemistry and not just giving steps and saying "that's just how it is, you'll have to believe me." Learning to truly THINK for myself has been the greatest gift my teachers and professors have given me, and I still challenge myself daily to do so more.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite moments from the last week (which has mostly been a blur). When grading some take home extra credit quizzes (I'm such a nice prof, right?):
Much laughter ensued. And, no, I didn't give him bonus points (though I considered it).
I'm sitting here, watching the minutes tick by excruciatingly slowly as my 55 gen chem students take their final exam. A casual observer might notice the increase in number of people wearing sweats (at SPU, students usually dress up more than your average college student for whatever reason) and the intermittent yawns, neck stretches and blank stares at the page. I think it's a good test...though, if you've been following my blog these last 10 weeks, you'll know that I've thought all my tests were fair and awesome.
Nevertheless, this week marks the end of the quarter. I have (almost) made it. My other class gives their research presentations tomorrow, and I have a beast of a paper to write myself...for which I only have a few disconnected thoughts thus far. All this (and grading these 55 finals) needs to be done by Friday morning at 4am, when I hop a plane for 10 awesome days in Washington DC to catch up with a bunch of friends from SPU and try to get a chat with Obama in about his educational policies.
Maybe I'll reflect more on my professorhood these past months in the future when I am further removed from it. Right now, I am welcoming the break, though I will miss these students, their interested spirits and their smiling (usually) faces and hope they are leaving my class with largely positive outlooks. (I guess I'll see the course evaluations in a week and know for sure.) I've attempted this quarter to encourage and foster critical thinking about chemistry and not just giving steps and saying "that's just how it is, you'll have to believe me." Learning to truly THINK for myself has been the greatest gift my teachers and professors have given me, and I still challenge myself daily to do so more.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite moments from the last week (which has mostly been a blur). When grading some take home extra credit quizzes (I'm such a nice prof, right?):
Question: What would happen if you added some hydrobromic acid to the
final solution?
Student: "Probably something amazing. JK. But seriously I
have no clue"
Much laughter ensued. And, no, I didn't give him bonus points (though I considered it).
3.10.2009
The words that came made not a sound
~The Helio Sequence ("Hallelujah")
Wait, two blog posts in as many days? This triumphant return to blogitaciousness can only mean one thing: I MUST have a bunch of papers to write... I saw this on my friend Krystel's blog today, and thought, "hmm, finish essay or waste time?" My choice was clear and easy.
Here are 12 pictures that "describe" me somewhat... Who am I kidding? It's just fun to look at pretty pictures and pretend to be all existential or whatever:
Here's how you do it:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (or if you're not a member of Flickr, do your blog name or email name or something like that)
(I didn't post my pictures in order...I feel it adds a layer of mystery to me. And we ALL like mystery.)
Wait, two blog posts in as many days? This triumphant return to blogitaciousness can only mean one thing: I MUST have a bunch of papers to write... I saw this on my friend Krystel's blog today, and thought, "hmm, finish essay or waste time?" My choice was clear and easy.
Here are 12 pictures that "describe" me somewhat... Who am I kidding? It's just fun to look at pretty pictures and pretend to be all existential or whatever:
Here's how you do it:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (or if you're not a member of Flickr, do your blog name or email name or something like that)
(I didn't post my pictures in order...I feel it adds a layer of mystery to me. And we ALL like mystery.)
3.09.2009
It's like someone spilled a beer all over the atmosphere...
~The wonderful lyrical stylings of Mr. Jens Lekman
I've been mute for a while. Things have been happening, but busyness has trumped blogging. Here are a few random selections from the past month:
1) I just drove my sister and brother to the airport so they can enjoy a week in sunny Hawaii. It's March, snowing and freezing in Seattle. Where am I going for my well-deserved spring break? DC. So much for lounging on the beach :)
2) When discussing my non-existent love life and possible interest in a certain boy with my good friend Amanda a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to hear "it sounds like you should probably just kiss him, Katie." Hmm...not exactly my style. But, seeing that my style has never produced anything but diminished self esteem and bad memories, maybe it's worth a shot!
3) I ran into a random youth group kid from yester-year while in the grocery store last week. He told me what he has been up to: biking. And then proceeded to lift a pantleg to further make his point by showing me his "mean calves" and bike socks. Nice.
4) The moustache has made a return to Seattle, and I'm just now jumping on that band wagon. I mean, of course, not personally, but my brother's interest the past few years in "expressing himself" through unique and sometimes shocking facial hair at winter's end resulted in a long handlebar moustache last week. This prompted a good ol' nostalgic perusing of the family photos to a time before I was on the scene: a very jovial, little curly haired boy named Alan, a knockout with long brown hair, and dad, with his curly semi-fro and amazing 'stache! Seriously folks, this was a masterpiece, and it only took me 24 years to realize it. Photo to come.
5) Teaching, of course, has been up and down, but mostly up. I still love it, but I'm ready for a break. Makes me wonder how long I'll be teaching at the high school level. I've learned how to deal with staying up late or getting up early to plan lectures, answering 20 emails at 1am before a homework assignment is due, not being very confident that I'll teach something well, worrying that I have massive pit stains when I teach, the extreme backlash (from under AND upperclassmen) when papers or tests are handed back, and, perhaps to a certain extent, even the tears. One thing I still can't bring myself to deal with is students who say things such as:
"You know, I DO have other classes too." (Yes, thanks, I'm fully aware of that)
"It's not like you're a bad teacher, it's me." (Yeah, that's not what I was thinking)
"I just wanted you to see my schedule for the next two quarters. If I don't pass this class I'll be a beggar on the street." (!!!!!!)
"What are my chances of getting an A? Could you estimate this on a 4.0 scale?" (No, actually, I can't)
6) We had Bowling with the Professors a couple of Fridays back, which was quite fun. It was great to have a couple of my students come along and chat with them about things other than science...which ended in one of my girls confessing a crush on one of my other students... I bowled a 160 or something like that. It would have been much higher, but I seem to have a propensity for gutter-balling directly after a strike. My thumb was sore the next day.
7) I bought my ticket for Day 1 of the Sasquatch festival (May 23rd) last weekend. DeVotchKa, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective, and many other bands that sound legit...who are these "Kings of Leon" guys? Oh well, I'm sure they'll be a better headliner than NIN or Ben Harper. I just can't believe I didn't go last year...
8) When researching my probable Basal Metabolic Rate (BSR) on Friday, I was informed by mypyramid.gov that I am "overweight and should probably try to lose some weight." No kidding. It's not enough to think self-deprecating thoughts daily when I look in the mirror or remember how 3/4 of my clothes don't fit me anymore, now I have to hear it from my computer too! Fun. Interestingly, my weight and height apparently dictate I can eat close to 2500 calories a day and maintain my current weight...not so sure about that. BUT, I did my dad's profile to see if the human trash-compactor was justified in his insane eating habits, and turns out he probably burns between 4500 and 5000 calories a day. WHAT THE HELL?
9) I am so ready for freedom. Or Europe. How about both?
10) This just in: three more gen chem lectures this quarter. The final is almost written, and the other classes are winding down. The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming more intense. First, I have some mean papers to write for my classes....
I've been mute for a while. Things have been happening, but busyness has trumped blogging. Here are a few random selections from the past month:
1) I just drove my sister and brother to the airport so they can enjoy a week in sunny Hawaii. It's March, snowing and freezing in Seattle. Where am I going for my well-deserved spring break? DC. So much for lounging on the beach :)
2) When discussing my non-existent love life and possible interest in a certain boy with my good friend Amanda a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to hear "it sounds like you should probably just kiss him, Katie." Hmm...not exactly my style. But, seeing that my style has never produced anything but diminished self esteem and bad memories, maybe it's worth a shot!
3) I ran into a random youth group kid from yester-year while in the grocery store last week. He told me what he has been up to: biking. And then proceeded to lift a pantleg to further make his point by showing me his "mean calves" and bike socks. Nice.
4) The moustache has made a return to Seattle, and I'm just now jumping on that band wagon. I mean, of course, not personally, but my brother's interest the past few years in "expressing himself" through unique and sometimes shocking facial hair at winter's end resulted in a long handlebar moustache last week. This prompted a good ol' nostalgic perusing of the family photos to a time before I was on the scene: a very jovial, little curly haired boy named Alan, a knockout with long brown hair, and dad, with his curly semi-fro and amazing 'stache! Seriously folks, this was a masterpiece, and it only took me 24 years to realize it. Photo to come.
5) Teaching, of course, has been up and down, but mostly up. I still love it, but I'm ready for a break. Makes me wonder how long I'll be teaching at the high school level. I've learned how to deal with staying up late or getting up early to plan lectures, answering 20 emails at 1am before a homework assignment is due, not being very confident that I'll teach something well, worrying that I have massive pit stains when I teach, the extreme backlash (from under AND upperclassmen) when papers or tests are handed back, and, perhaps to a certain extent, even the tears. One thing I still can't bring myself to deal with is students who say things such as:
"You know, I DO have other classes too." (Yes, thanks, I'm fully aware of that)
"It's not like you're a bad teacher, it's me." (Yeah, that's not what I was thinking)
"I just wanted you to see my schedule for the next two quarters. If I don't pass this class I'll be a beggar on the street." (!!!!!!)
"What are my chances of getting an A? Could you estimate this on a 4.0 scale?" (No, actually, I can't)
6) We had Bowling with the Professors a couple of Fridays back, which was quite fun. It was great to have a couple of my students come along and chat with them about things other than science...which ended in one of my girls confessing a crush on one of my other students... I bowled a 160 or something like that. It would have been much higher, but I seem to have a propensity for gutter-balling directly after a strike. My thumb was sore the next day.
7) I bought my ticket for Day 1 of the Sasquatch festival (May 23rd) last weekend. DeVotchKa, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Animal Collective, and many other bands that sound legit...who are these "Kings of Leon" guys? Oh well, I'm sure they'll be a better headliner than NIN or Ben Harper. I just can't believe I didn't go last year...
8) When researching my probable Basal Metabolic Rate (BSR) on Friday, I was informed by mypyramid.gov that I am "overweight and should probably try to lose some weight." No kidding. It's not enough to think self-deprecating thoughts daily when I look in the mirror or remember how 3/4 of my clothes don't fit me anymore, now I have to hear it from my computer too! Fun. Interestingly, my weight and height apparently dictate I can eat close to 2500 calories a day and maintain my current weight...not so sure about that. BUT, I did my dad's profile to see if the human trash-compactor was justified in his insane eating habits, and turns out he probably burns between 4500 and 5000 calories a day. WHAT THE HELL?
9) I am so ready for freedom. Or Europe. How about both?
10) This just in: three more gen chem lectures this quarter. The final is almost written, and the other classes are winding down. The light at the end of the tunnel is becoming more intense. First, I have some mean papers to write for my classes....
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