Birgit Preuss

  Today I had both Culture and Conflict blocks first. The students worked on their projects for innovation night. I mostly walked around and helped whoever needed it. I then went to senior seminar at 11. I had a quick lunch and headed to Athletes in Lit. During that block we watched Saltwater Buddha the movie. This was important to jog students memories on the book so that they can succeed on their final projects. I got to learn a little about grading freshman tests before dinner. With about 3:30 hours of work, it was a good day!  

My second week of Senior Project was a success. I have learned many things both as a student and a teacher. This week I got to focus more on the teaching aspect of being a TA. I got to help create tests for Intro to Lit as well as create questions for a harkness in Culture and Conflict. However, I mainly helped Mel by making sure everyone was on track with their final projects for all five classes.  I have really started to connect with all the students in the classes, even the freshman. This week, Athletes and Lit was pretty normal and so easy to manage, we even got the opportunity to go out for ice cream during one of our blocks and simply have a conversation on our book. I have finally started to get used to both Intro classes, they are full of wild freshmen, but have been making sure they are getting their work done and am excited to start grading the tests Mel and I created for them. My favorite class this week was definitely Culture and Conflict, where I simply got to sit, listen

I had a nice and slow morning today since I didn’t have a class till 10:10. The first class was E block Intro to Lit. It was a day for students to catch up on work for their capstones. I walked around and made sure everyone was on track and if not, I helped them get there. I went to lunch and then got vaccinated. During Culture and Conflict we listened to Kelly present on her winter final, and she did amazing. Mel and I then walked over to F block Intro, where the students took the 57 Bus test. It was good day! I worked about 4 hours.  F block Intro to Lit 

 I started off my day by attending Culture and Conflict, where the students engaged in an interesting harness for American Spy. I created some of the questions with Ellie on Monday. For the second C&C block, students spent time in the library working on their final projects. After this I went to senior seminar at 11. Mel picked me up at the meeting house with her Athletes in Lit class to go on a little field trip to get ice cream. During the drive we talked about Saltwater Buddha and created clay figures related to the book. I ended my day by making sure the Athletes in Lit class students have been writing their journals for homework. It was a lovely sunny day with about 4 hours of work completed. :) 

Today I went to E block Intro to Lit, where the students took the test Mel and I created for them. While I made sure no one was cheating, Mel and I started creating the F block test for Friday. Because Mel was not teaching any other blocks today, it gave me a chance to catch up on my reading. I read Saltwater Buddha the most, because it is such and inspirational book. After seminar this evening I helped Mel crate a gimkit for one of tomorrows Culture and Conflict blocks. Overall I completed 3:30 hours of work. :)

 I started off my morning by attending Intro to Lit E block. During this class we clarified a few things on the end of term project and the students did the gimkit I created. After lunch we did the same thing for the F block Intro to Lit class. I then attended Culture and Conflict, where we listened to Ayla's concentration presentation. Once that was over, although it was our plan to simply work on our final project, we instead had a conversation about current events, which was quite interesting and I loved hearing all the students inputs on this. After senior ball Mel and I met to create the E block Intro to Lit test on 57 Bus . A great day with about 4 hours of work once again.