Spring, kid funnies, Recognition, Rock of Ages, etc. :)
Hey all!
Sitting outside to do homework? Check yes! 
Only one more week until graduation… I’m counting down the days and wandering where they’re going all at the same time! The weather has been fickle lately, but on the warm, sunny days we have been taking walks and playing outside… one day I could only find two mitts (no softball), so we tossed a lime back and forth until our neighbors playing hockey with their trashcan in the street offered theirs. Then, we were all set! I’m ready for summer days!
Since this is my last full week of student teaching, things are winding down, and I am doing much less actual instruction. As my teacher begins to take back subjects, I am left with more time to observe my students, enjoy their theatrics, and get stuff done on my every long To-Do List. Here are two conversations I overheard yesterday:
During inside recess “Guys, watch out, I’m bout to turn into an operatic ninja who wields numchucks.”
“What’s operatic?”
“What are numchucks?”
“What do you sing?”
“I rather meet Batman.”
“Jeesh, guys, Miss Savage would’ve been impressed at least.”
During a language game:
“What’s a synonym for old?”
“Elderly! I called my mom that once.”
“I called my mom that once, too, and she slapped me!”
“Wow, my mom just said it’s because I give her gray hair.”
I adore third graders, even if sometimes I feel like they’re giving ME gray hair!
On Tuesday my parents came down to attend my Elementary Education Recognition Banquet. My favorite part about the banquet was seeing all my professors and fellow students that I hadn’t had the opportunity to connect with in awhile. You know that, despite it’s size, the Teacher’s College is a close-knit group of people just by the way they interact with each other. My professors from my introductory classes were still calling me by name and congratulating me on a successful four years. I am so incredibly grateful for the Department of Elementary Education and all it has done to invest in my life during my college years.
After the banquet, there was picture-taking and merriment until I left for Dr. Stedman’s class with my parents in tow. Dr. Stedman is the Director of National and International Scholarships at Ball State as well as an Honors Fellow. She teaches a class that I took my freshman year that led to exploration of national and international opportunities such as grants, fellowships, internships, and travel. It is in this class that I learned about the Fulbright Commission and what they do to support young global diplomatic enthusiasts. Dr. Stedman asked me to speak to her class about the Fulbright application and interview process, detailing what things were challenging and how I had grown. This informal presentation of information reminded me of just how much work it takes to apply for a national or international scholarship, but it also reiterated the ideal that I had learned plenty from the process. Whoever reads this, you, yes YOU, should apply for a scholarship or fellowship. It is a refining process, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be grateful (awhile afterwards) for the challenging, yet rewarding experience! If you want to learn about some of the other scholarships and fellowships students can apply for, visit this link.
Such a great soundtrack and cast!
To surprise my parents (and because it will be their 25th anniversary soon), I got tickets for all of us to see Rock of Ages, the musical! Emens always has fantastic seats, no matter where you’re sitting, you’ll still see everything, hear everything, and be part of the action! From the very start, I knew that it was going to be a great show, and it kept us laughing and singing along the entire way through. It was neat to sing every song with my parents, realizing the classics that have transcended generations. I’m so glad we were able to see the show and grateful that Ball State provides such low-cost, amazing opportunities for its students!
A funny for you for the rest of the day:
Today, we read non-fiction literature about ants in my class. The word “fungus” came up, and I asked which students knew what that word meant. One student raised his hand and said he had seen it at the grocery store. Assuming he meant mushrooms, I then gave a general explanation for fungus. At the end he exclaimed, “OH, Miss Savage, I was wrong! I don’t know what fungus is… I was thinking of Funyuns!”
