Amanda's Journey to Education...: October 2010

Fall Festival Time!!!

I have had a GREAT day!!! Every year our school has a Fall Festival the Friday before Halloween. This is a great way for the elementary classrooms and other clubs in the school to raise money for things they might need throughout the year. It is always a huge success and is fun for the parents, teachers and students.

The way the festival works is each organization (3^rd grade, Spanish club, Junior Class, etc.) has a different booth that students can go to and play a game, buy food, get nails painted, faces painted, etc. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and students work the booths so everyone enjoys the fun and games for the day. Each grade level gets to attend the festival during their allotted times throughout the day (this way booths are not overloaded with everyone at once), and it is always fun regardless of which grade is out there!

The fall festival is just one more “perk” that students at Parkers Chapel get to enjoy every year, and I am surprised to see all of the alumni that show up throughout the day to enjoy it with their children and grandchildren. It is one of those traditions that I hope we can always enjoy throughout life regardless of how old we get!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Amanda Shoup |

Athletes Have Expectations, and Coaches Expect Them To Be Met!

Today I had the experience of subbing in a classroom full of eighth graders. The classes were large, and the kids were very rowdy. I learned after my first class to have a “Don’t Touch Another Student Under Any Circumstances” rule, and that was the only warning I would give. Eighth graders are always picking on each other, and what starts out as a tap eventually turns into a fight, so I now enforced my rule at the beginning of class.

The great thing about a small school is the coaches are always right down the hall. Today the junior high football team had a home game, and were all wearing their jerseys. This was a great benefit to me because I knew who they were and the coach came in my class at the beginning to tell them all to behave or they would deal with him, especially his football boys.

Well, everything went great until the end of class when two boys decided to jokingly hit each other, and it turned into a fight. As soon as I yelled, “Stop” both boys immediately realized their mistake, and broke apart, but it was to late. They had been warned, and that didn’t stop them, so after writing their names down (they were both football players), I sent them to their next class and immediately went to the football coach’s classroom. He assured me it would be taken care of, and I believed him.

The next day I had to sub for a different teacher and was met by both the teacher whose class I had been in previously (which just happens to be the senior high football coach), and the junior high coach. They both assured me that they had handled the matter and I didn’t have to put up with it. They also assured me that I did the right thing by telling them because they could punish them using something that mattered to them.

Apparently coaches expect more from their athletes, as teachers we can use their expectations in our classrooms and if those expectations are not being met, we can go to the coaches (if they are willing to expect this from their players). It doesn’t work for all of the students, but it sure has an impact on those it works on.

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Amanda Shoup |

HOMECOMING WEEK...

It’s Homecoming week at PC, and I have had the opportunity to sub twice this week! The atmosphere in the school is different from any other time I have been there, and to say the kids are excited is an understatement!

Each day of homecoming week has a different theme, and kids dress according to the theme in all grades from preschool to seniors! It was really fun to see how all the kids dressed, and I was there for two very fun days…costume day and decade day!

The imagination and creativity of students amazes me! After many years of the same theme days, they keep coming up with unique and fun ideas. My favorite day, come as you are day, was celebrated on a day I was not subbing, or I would have loved to come in my PJ’s!

Were the kids a little rowdy? Yes, but the excitement and the atmosphere are wonderful, and they were all still very well behaved! I can’t wait until I get to be in a school everyday and share all of the events that happen throughout the year. I love the fact that school is still fun, and you get to enjoy it, but still get a great education!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Amanda Shoup |

The Teacher Role Doesn't Stop When You Leave The Classroom...

Music Fest was this weekend, and if you are not from El Dorado, you probably don't know what I am talking about, but it is the largest event that is held in our town each year. It is also one of the largest parties on Friday and Saturday night, and is held in downtown El Dorado on the square. I know in the past there has been thousands of people come into town for this event, and you see people you haven’t seen since Music Fest the previous year and some you haven’t seen in years!

This year, however, I had a totally different outlook on Music Fest, and realized that just because you leave the classroom doesn’t mean you stop being a teacher. Everywhere I looked there were students from Parkers Chapel. Not just kids I had known for years that just spoke when I saw them, but numerous students yelling, “Mrs. Shoup” as I passed. I realized that just because I was in a different atmosphere, I was still “Mrs. Shoup” to them.

I found out that getting to be “Amanda” in public and have fun no matter where I am is over. There really are students watching you no matter where you are. The realization hit me hard, and I realized how much my life has changed. Not in a bad way, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, I just have to realize how everything I do impacts the role model I am setting for students. It is just the way you are viewed by those around you, and I have never had to worry about that before.

Believe me…I am a lot more aware of my surroundings now. Where I am, what I am doing, what I am wearing, who I am with, etc. I want my students to see a good role model in and outside of the classroom!

Read More 0 comments | Posted by Amanda Shoup |

Each student has the potential to reach higher than they expect. The way we as educators help them to achieve this potential is to expect nothing less than their absolute best!

About Me...

Hello Everyone!! My name is Amanda Shoup and I am from Parkers Chapel, a small community in El Dorado, Arkansas. I am happily married to my wonderful husband, Jeremy, and we have a seven year-old son, Trace. I have a bachelor's degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Marketing, and I am currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. I currently do not have a job, and I am certified to teach Business Education in grades 7th – 12th, but living in a small town, those jobs are few and far between. I am not giving up hope, though, because I know there is a job for me, I just hope it comes along soon! My hobbies include whatever sport my son is playing, which is currently Pee Wee Football, doing home improvement projects, hunting, and spending time with my family. I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me through the MAT program, and into the field of education!

Amanda's Journey to Education...

Fall Festival Time!!!

Athletes Have Expectations, and Coaches Expect Them To Be Met!

HOMECOMING WEEK...

The Teacher Role Doesn't Stop When You Leave The Classroom...

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