Q and A

Questions and answers from student inventory

(My favorite) Besides teaching what are your other hobbies?
What I love about this question: This question implies that in the first day this student not only saw that I take teaching seriously, but that it is a hobby not a job. The fact is teaching is not only a job for me, or a hobby for me, it is a passion. I LOVE IT.

(Another favorite) Are you awesome?
Well that depends on how you define awesome.
If awesome means: Do I strike awe in some people then no.
If awesome means,  do I make some people say awe, then also no, that is a dentist.
But if awesome means: That I am awe-kward some times, then yes.

What types of books will we read?
I have 4-6 book options for each unit. Most are historical fiction that go with what you are learning in history, So most are historical fiction but not all. I try to pick good books, some classics, some easy, some for boys, some for girls, some short, some themed on relationships and some on action. I am always looking for more books and I buy new ones to add every year.

My favorite and kids favorite books by the unit:
Immigration: my favorite Ashes of Roses  - kids The crossing
Great Depression: my favorite Seabiscuit  - kids Of mice and men
Holocaust: my favorite Until We Meet Again and Book Thief - kids the same
Civil Rights - no book
Montana Literature: my favorite A River Runs Through It - Kids The Big Burn and A River Runs Through It

How long have you been rock climbing?
7 years

What is the farthest you have swam?
9 miles, the length of Lake McDonald in Glacier
I have also swam:
Whitefish Lake 6 miles
Width of Flathead Lake 8 miles
Logging Lake 6 miles with a 17 mile run
Two Medicine 2 miles with a 16 mile run
Foys 1 mile (lots of times)
Old Man .5 miles (very, very cold)
Dickie Lake down and back 4 miles
Finger Lake down in back 1.5 miles
Bowman 7 miles
Next Kintla Lake 6 miles

Are you a triathlete?
Sometimes

How old are you?
34 most of the time

Do we do projects?
Yes, we do a lot of writing projects and a really big Montana Museum Project at the end of the year.

Why do you ride your bike to school sometimes?
It saves on gas, I get exercise, and it wakes me up better then coffee. I also swim a lot of mornings before school. I use to get to school after a swim and people would say, "you look really tired." I finally figured out that I looked really tired because of the impression the goggles left on my eyes. So if I look really tired, with bags under my eyes it may just be that I just got out of the pool, or my daughters had nightmares, got sick or otherwise could not sleep, which also happens. Then I look tired because I am actually tired.

Why do you wear ties?
I wear a tie to remind me of my job as a teacher. I take this job very seriously, and when I put on the tie it reminds me that I am a professional and that this job is one of the most important things I can be doing in my life, because I am a role model for you.

Is this class going to be hard?
hmmm, It is going to be one of the hardest classes you have ever had, and I am going to try to make it seem easy.

What is your favorite sport?
Any game or challenge that involves moving and thinking
Team: soccer and track
Otherwise: lake swim races

What annoys you most?
The sound of the pencil sharpener. I have thrown several annoying pencil sharpeners away.

Do you like complete sentences?
Yes, I like complete sentences, unless a student is brainstorming. But I like complete paragraphs more.

When did you start your teaching career?
I started teaching at Somers eight years ago. Before teaching here, I was an aid in a school in Bozeman during the day, while I went to college at night for three years.

How many books do we read?
At least 6 but many will read up to 20.

What writing activities are planned?
Thousands, more then I could possibly list or even name, but here are a couple highlights.
Ghost stories, Faith in Humanity Essay, Montana Museum Project, Memoir Scrapbook

We write for three purposes.
1. To convey experiences (narratives, fiction, nonfiction and personal)
2. To inform
3. To entertain
4. To think
I have a hard time counting sometimes.

Are we going to have a good year?
That is up to you. I am strongly leaning toward YES!

What is your favorite movie and actor?
I don't have a TV and I do not watch many movies, but my favorite movie is probably "Lord of the Rings" I can only think of about 5 actors, my favorite maybe Tom Hanks. (I know I am old)