Back in the Dreary East... and Loving It!

I just spent a couple of days visiting my friends in Breckenridge - where I was not shredding the gnar, even though there was a lot of great pow-pow to be had out there. Instead, I did way too much driving. I went out to Carbondale, CO, and back, then off to Denver Airport, where I had just dropped off a couple of friends a few days before. 

I had an interview at a boarding school out in Carbondale - called the Colorado Rocky Mountain School. After a few days of reflecting on the visit, I don't think the "teaching fellowship" I applied for would fit for me. Bummer. Not enough teaching, and too much work in the dorms. After being an RD at Warren Wilson and then working in the dorms at Eagle Rock, I am over that. Plus, I really want to hone my skills in teaching, and could probably best accomplish that at a public school. 

So, now the doors are wide open - and after a day back on the East Coast, I am already missing it. The coziness of the fog and humidity, and the lush green vegetation. The West is quite vast - maybe a little too vast. I can't get that comfortable there. A great place to visit for adventure. But I don't need adventure all the time. 

I am out in the farmlands of Maryland, at the homestead of my friends Emily and Loran. Loran has got himself a bunch of pigs and chickens, and Emily works in the city with a non-profit, managing their affordable green housing initiative. A great mix... can't wait to see the kids they pop out. 

In a few days, I will head up to the northeast for a visit with the fam. Christmas in Connecticut! Oh goody!

Winter has come at last

Tonight's forecast (from weather.com):

"Bitterly cold. Some clouds. Low -11F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph."

Mmmm. Delightful.

Counting Down...

5...4...3...2...1...

Five days left before my first trimester at ERS is finished. I've got a lot to say about it - but as a summary, I have really loved my time here.

I have great friends within my group of teaching fellows, and just finished reading a feedback form from a student who considers me to be "a really great friend here." I have the same feeling about a number of students. Which is great, because it was only a few months ago that students were lamenting the loss of the last group of teaching fellows.

After watching a number of "POLs" (again, that is short for Presentation of Learning), I came away with a new understanding of how much personal growth our students undergo here. For some of the new students, there is only so much that I can expect from them in class, because they still have a ways to go in other aspects of their personal lives. Seeing the growth that many of the "veteran" students have gone through gives me a LOT more hope and patience for our newer students.

I am in need of a break, but at the same time, am also looking forward to getting some good planning done for next trimester's classes. I am also realizing hat there are a number of students I am going to miss - especially some of our upcoming graduates - luckily, one of them, Hutch, lives in Boulder, less than an hour away, and my friend Henry (the teaching fellow for the HPC, "Human Performance Center" aka G-Y-M, or physical edcucation) and I have already scheduled a burrito "date" with him at Illegal Petes - arguably the #1 burrito joint in Boulder.

As a parting shot, here are some pictures from the evening we hosted the Eagle Rock graduates-to-be over at our house for dinner and games (3 hours of Rock Band).

Me coaching Sarah on drums - my new favorite Rock Band instrument

The Aerial Shot of Rock Band
The Band - Edwin on Drums, Sarah on Vocals, Hutch on Guitar

Hutch taking a crack at vocals with Edwin on guitar (I think this was "White Wedding")

What a Day

The Last Day of Classes for "ER-46" (that is an abbreviation for "the 46th trimester of Eagle Rock School). Next week is when students give their Presentations of Learning (that is the long way of saying "POL"), so no more lesson planning or classes for this trimester.

Babies were born, families became naturalized citizens, and marriage proposals were made. At that was all before lunch!

My classes ended fairly successfully, in that more than half of the students will be receiving credit for the courses (we have an all-or-nothing system here). The best thing I have realized as I look back on the first 3 months here is that it has taken very little time to get assimilated into the school culture, and I love working with all the students at the school. I came in really wanting to learn how to be a teacher, to the point that I was a little disappointed at the degree to which we were expected to focus more on our role as all-around mentors. But it recent weeks, that has subsided. I value my role as a mentor, and am excited that I also get to teach a few courses each trimester.

Next trimester, I am going to focus on developing a curriculum that focuses more on depth, rather than breadth. In this way, I can focus more on how we gain an understanding of a subject, instead of just trying to make sure that I cover a number of topics within that subject. I will be co-teaching an astronomy class - Star Search, an ecology/telemark skiiing class - From Deserts to Mountains, a chemistry class - Cooking with Chemistry, and a science/societies & cultures class on Environmental Racism.

Now I am sitting on the pillows in the hearth of the Lodge (the main community gathering space and cafeteria), anxiously awaiting the original production of "Hamlet in the Hood." Can't wait!

Where I Live

So it is time to share some photos of the crazy little mountain town I call home: Estes Park, CO.
(This post goes out especially to you, Mom)

A view from one of the big rocks at Eagle Rock School:

Eagle Rock School property:

The center of town (the bighorn sheep statue - frequent place for elk to congregate):

A view of Estes from the park in town: