Sunday, April 22, 2012
Graduation 2012
April 6, 2012 will go down in history as the following:
The anniversary of the day that the Church of Jesus Christ was re-organized,
the anniversary of Jesus Christ's birth
and.........
The day that Michael and Nicole Epperson graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho!!!!! That's right everyone, we are college graduates. I have a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Mike has a bachelors in Chemistry (or he will once he finishes his internship).
The day we graduated was so much fun! I had been done with school for over two weeks by then but Mike had a final just hours before the event to he was a little more stressed than I was and a little busier than me. We woke up on the morning of April 6th to snow. We had a very dry winter in Rexburg but apparently it decided to dump a few inches the day of graduation..(I could hear Rexburg laughing at us and whispering...."you're not getting off that easy") However, it did stop and the sun came out just as we were leaving for the auditorium and no one was happier about that than I was.
Doug, Me, Stacey, Joshua and Mike before commencement
Mike and I before commencement
We actually graduated at the 1st stake center in rexburg, ID. So it looks a little like seminary graduation but I like it and really that location isn't what is important.
Mike and I with my friend Jackee
Me with two of my favorite teachers...Sister Kay and Sister Hovey :)
Mike and I with Brother Dorman. He was our Book of Mormon teacher in Spring of 2009. He was the teacher of the class that we met in.
Skyler and Lisa were two of our friends. They are such a great couple to hang out with. Lisa and I were both elementary education and we graduated together and Skyler and Mike were both chemistry majors. They are both a lot of fun and we will both miss them when we leave Rexburg.
I should mention that we graduated at 8 pm and by the time it was over it was after 9 pm. Thank you to our families for being patient with the picture taking. It was a great day! Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us!
"As I prepared for this talk today, I asked for guidance to know what message our Heavenly Father would want me to share with you. The calming and assuring words spoken by the Lord to Joseph Smith came to my mind: “Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours…and the riches of eternity”
What I believe the Lord wants me to tell you is that you should replace fear with faith—faith in God and the power of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.....
My dear graduates, the purpose of my message is to help you envision your future. Have faith and hope for the bright future you face as you leave BYU-Idaho and move on to your next great adventure."
-Elder M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: April 6, 2012 BYU-Idaho Commencement Address
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Student Teaching
This semester I've been busy doing my student teaching. I'm in a 4th grade class and its definitely been a learning experience. Its a difficult group of kids and they try my patience each day. I don't think I had a teacher voice before this semester but I got one fast. At the beginning of this semester I told mike that if I don't have patience by the end of this semester then its likely that I'm never going to get it.
I only have one week left in my college career and here are some things that I've learned during the last 11 weeks...
1.My love for my students is why I do this. Some days they drove me crazy but at the end of the day I love them and I want them to succeed. This is sometimes what kept me going back.
2. The kids who frustrate me are also the ones who teach me the most.
3. Any child can learn!
4. I have one boy in my class with autism and while he challenges me on a daily basis...he is also one of my favorites. He is the sweetest boy in the class and I have never heard a more sincere thank you than when he thanks me for the help I give him. While he may not have a long attention span....he is incredibly smart and has a huge heart :)
5. I can project my voice to be quite loud when necessary.
6. You NEED a quiet signal in your classroom....otherwise it sounds like begging when you want them to be quiet.
7. Their is simply not enough time in a day to do everything I want to do....(I have good intentions though)
8. Flexibility is key to good teaching
9. If I'm happy and excited about a subject...it will likely rub off on my students.
10.Get to know your students
11. The older students get the less parents seem to visit the classroom to help.
12. Don't be afraid to try new things and take a risk
13. Everyone gets nervous when they are being observed no matter how long they've taught.
14. Teachers gossip a ton!
15. Let your students get up and move every now and then. Plan fun activities into your lessons.
16. I still love teaching and watching my students faces when they finally get it.
17. Give your students the opportunity to serve and teach each other.
18. I believe in second chances (let them make corrections and give partial credit back)
19. Love your students...its the only way to get through it sometimes
The most important thing that I've learned is that I can teach older students. I am perfectly capable of teaching older students but I am better suited to young children. I was able to do it but I didn't love it. Sometimes I had to be mean and it just wasn't me. I feel like this is important to learn though but I am curious to see if it was just this class or 4th grade in general?
Overall its been a great experience and I've learned a lot and enjoyed more days than not. I really will miss the kids....(they're pretty sad about it too)
I only have one week left in my college career and here are some things that I've learned during the last 11 weeks...
1.My love for my students is why I do this. Some days they drove me crazy but at the end of the day I love them and I want them to succeed. This is sometimes what kept me going back.
2. The kids who frustrate me are also the ones who teach me the most.
3. Any child can learn!
4. I have one boy in my class with autism and while he challenges me on a daily basis...he is also one of my favorites. He is the sweetest boy in the class and I have never heard a more sincere thank you than when he thanks me for the help I give him. While he may not have a long attention span....he is incredibly smart and has a huge heart :)
5. I can project my voice to be quite loud when necessary.
6. You NEED a quiet signal in your classroom....otherwise it sounds like begging when you want them to be quiet.
7. Their is simply not enough time in a day to do everything I want to do....(I have good intentions though)
8. Flexibility is key to good teaching
9. If I'm happy and excited about a subject...it will likely rub off on my students.
10.Get to know your students
11. The older students get the less parents seem to visit the classroom to help.
12. Don't be afraid to try new things and take a risk
13. Everyone gets nervous when they are being observed no matter how long they've taught.
14. Teachers gossip a ton!
15. Let your students get up and move every now and then. Plan fun activities into your lessons.
16. I still love teaching and watching my students faces when they finally get it.
17. Give your students the opportunity to serve and teach each other.
18. I believe in second chances (let them make corrections and give partial credit back)
19. Love your students...its the only way to get through it sometimes
The most important thing that I've learned is that I can teach older students. I am perfectly capable of teaching older students but I am better suited to young children. I was able to do it but I didn't love it. Sometimes I had to be mean and it just wasn't me. I feel like this is important to learn though but I am curious to see if it was just this class or 4th grade in general?
Overall its been a great experience and I've learned a lot and enjoyed more days than not. I really will miss the kids....(they're pretty sad about it too)
Christmas in Washington
So, first of all...yes I do realize that its the middle of march but this post is more for me to remember this past Christmas. Mike and I decided to go to Washington to visit his family this year. We had a great time! Here are some of the highlights.
I finally got to see Mt. Rainier! You have to understand that every single time before this that we were in Washington, I was never able to see that mountain! Its huge so its pretty amazing that it was able to hide from me all the time but this time I was able to see it and I was pretty excited.
We also got to go up to the top of the Space Needle! Mikes dad, Tony, Max, Mike and I went into Seattle one day and our first stop was the space needle. I thought we were just going to look at it but we were surprised to go up. It was a little chilly but a great view!
Max and I at the top of the space needle!
Max wanted to look through each of these binoculars at the top of the space needle! This time uncle mike held him up to take a look.
Max and I checking out how small the cars were from the top.
Another activity we participated in was Zoo Lights! It was sprinkling a little but it was great to spend time together and it was really pretty.
Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without tons of sweets! The girls spent quite a bit of Christmas Eve in the kitchen cooking. With so many people's traditions we had a lot to make and eat!
Max and Aunt Stacey making chocolate covered oreo's!
Our family nativity :) (Mike was Mary's donkey and a shepherd)
Christmas morning was great! We had a huge sleepover the night before and went to church together that morning. Then we came home and opened gifts together. We also finally got a family picture with everyone in it!
I finally got to see Mt. Rainier! You have to understand that every single time before this that we were in Washington, I was never able to see that mountain! Its huge so its pretty amazing that it was able to hide from me all the time but this time I was able to see it and I was pretty excited.
We also got to go up to the top of the Space Needle! Mikes dad, Tony, Max, Mike and I went into Seattle one day and our first stop was the space needle. I thought we were just going to look at it but we were surprised to go up. It was a little chilly but a great view!
Max and I at the top of the space needle!
Max wanted to look through each of these binoculars at the top of the space needle! This time uncle mike held him up to take a look.
Max and I checking out how small the cars were from the top.
Another activity we participated in was Zoo Lights! It was sprinkling a little but it was great to spend time together and it was really pretty.
Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without tons of sweets! The girls spent quite a bit of Christmas Eve in the kitchen cooking. With so many people's traditions we had a lot to make and eat!
Max and Aunt Stacey making chocolate covered oreo's!
Our family nativity :) (Mike was Mary's donkey and a shepherd)
Christmas morning was great! We had a huge sleepover the night before and went to church together that morning. Then we came home and opened gifts together. We also finally got a family picture with everyone in it!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sunbeams
So as if saying goodbye to my first graders wasn't hard enough...today Mike and I had our last Sunday with our sunbeams. We will be in Washington next week and then its Christmas so we decided to have fun today. We colored a lot and we had our Christmas lesson. We acted out the story about 10 times so everyone could have a turn being everything (except our one boy who was always Joseph).
Don't get me wrong this calling wasn't easy and every sunday was not fun. However, I was sad today but happy that my little girls were in a cuddly mood today.
Every Sunday these kids wiggle, whine, not follow instructions or listen, and a few occasionally cry! (No- we're not mean teachers...) But so many times these kids will just melt my heart the way the care about one another when they hear one of the kids isn't there b/c they're sick. Or when they seem to not be paying attention at all to what we're trying to teach them & then they give me an answer that leaves me realizing that we adults just make the gospel way to complicated.
Example: Easter lesson and I ask "why did Jesus die on the cross for us?" Aeris:"Because he loves us a lot" (Well she is right and we really could just end it there)
And most of all I'm going to miss their sweet spirits and loving smiles each Sunday. Because even when I'm having a bad morning and I'm a bit down b/c I don't have my own children yet (for some reasons Sundays seem to be the most difficult days in regards to this)... they give me this BIG SMILE or HUG and it truly makes me feel better, even if just for a minute or two.
Just the girls (Aeris, Samantha, Abigail(very cuddly today :), Me, Jocelyn and Sophia)
-Skyler joined us for this picture
I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!! Thanks guys for teaching me too!
Don't get me wrong this calling wasn't easy and every sunday was not fun. However, I was sad today but happy that my little girls were in a cuddly mood today.
Every Sunday these kids wiggle, whine, not follow instructions or listen, and a few occasionally cry! (No- we're not mean teachers...) But so many times these kids will just melt my heart the way the care about one another when they hear one of the kids isn't there b/c they're sick. Or when they seem to not be paying attention at all to what we're trying to teach them & then they give me an answer that leaves me realizing that we adults just make the gospel way to complicated.
Example: Easter lesson and I ask "why did Jesus die on the cross for us?" Aeris:"Because he loves us a lot" (Well she is right and we really could just end it there)
And most of all I'm going to miss their sweet spirits and loving smiles each Sunday. Because even when I'm having a bad morning and I'm a bit down b/c I don't have my own children yet (for some reasons Sundays seem to be the most difficult days in regards to this)... they give me this BIG SMILE or HUG and it truly makes me feel better, even if just for a minute or two.
Just the girls (Aeris, Samantha, Abigail(very cuddly today :), Me, Jocelyn and Sophia)
-Skyler joined us for this picture
I LOVE THESE KIDS!!!! Thanks guys for teaching me too!
"It's Time to Say Goodbye"
*Warning: Long post
The end of semester is only one week away which means that I am finished with my senior practicum. My last day in Mrs. Brinton's first grade class was Wednesday and it was the saddest day ever. I had to say goodbye to 24 6 year olds, several of whom were crying and asking me to stay.
This has been the busiest and hardest semester of my life. I have never worked so hard in school. However, it has also been the most fun and the most rewarding semester so it balances out. I had the privilege of spending the last three months in a first grade classroom and I swear these kids taught me more than I could have possibly taught them. Thanks kids for teaching me patience and that you are the most successful teacher when you leave your personal problems at the door and get to know the students and love them by putting them first always.
I decided to teach on my last day at Rimrock. So taught reading in the morning which was great. The kids were very aware all day that it was my last day so every time I started to help someone new in the morning the conversation began with "Mrs.Epperson this is the last time you'll ever help me"...well that just made me want to cry. We go through the teaching in the morning though and after lunch it was party time. We spent the afternoon (except a 30 minute math lesson) playing games. We started by sitting on the floor in a circle and making a web with yarn. Each child had to get a turn to hold the yarn and throw it someone else to make a web. The catch was that when you got the yarn, the student had to say one thing that they would miss about me or one thing they learned from me. I was surprised at some of the comments. Some remembered specific lessons that I had taught and activities we had done. I guess they were listening after all.
Some of the comments from the kids were:
"I liked when we learned how to tell time"
"I'm going to miss reading with Mrs. Epperson"
"Thank you for always helping me"
"Thank you for teaching me how to read"
"I liked when we played bingo with our math facts"
"I'm going to miss Mrs. Epperson because she is a great teacher and she is always really nice to me" (comment by one student who I didn't think liked me much)
"Mrs. Epperson taught me that I can read by myself"
"I like when Mrs. Epperson teaches reading because she lets us read with a friend"
"My favorite lesson was when we went on a treasure hunt"
"I will miss always having Mrs. Epperson help me with my math but not just giving me the answer"
After that game, the children presented me with cards they had made for me.
The little boy who wrote this one, couldn't write his name at the beginning of the semester. He wrote this all by himself and if you look close you can see where he erased and started over. He told me that he wanted it perfect for me.
Just a few others :)
As if this wasn't enough to make me never want to leave they also gave me a sign with all of their hand prints on it. I felt so very loved and spoiled.
At the end of the day we had a huge group hug but of course a few had to give me personal hugs. I don't think I've ever received so many hugs in one day before. I was receiving them all day long but many of them had to get one on the way out the door. I am going to miss them so much. I had the best students and the best cooperating teaching ever. I learned so much and I am a much more confident teacher because of this semester. I'm grateful for all I have learned and the experiences I have had and especially for those hard days that I just wanted to throw in the towel and give up. Thank you for the hardest and more rewarding semester ever. I hope that I get to go back and visit these kids very soon.
These kids taught me that the only people whose approval I need is the kids. If they learn from me and think that I'm a good teacher then I don't really care what anyone else thinks of me.
The end of semester is only one week away which means that I am finished with my senior practicum. My last day in Mrs. Brinton's first grade class was Wednesday and it was the saddest day ever. I had to say goodbye to 24 6 year olds, several of whom were crying and asking me to stay.
This has been the busiest and hardest semester of my life. I have never worked so hard in school. However, it has also been the most fun and the most rewarding semester so it balances out. I had the privilege of spending the last three months in a first grade classroom and I swear these kids taught me more than I could have possibly taught them. Thanks kids for teaching me patience and that you are the most successful teacher when you leave your personal problems at the door and get to know the students and love them by putting them first always.
I decided to teach on my last day at Rimrock. So taught reading in the morning which was great. The kids were very aware all day that it was my last day so every time I started to help someone new in the morning the conversation began with "Mrs.Epperson this is the last time you'll ever help me"...well that just made me want to cry. We go through the teaching in the morning though and after lunch it was party time. We spent the afternoon (except a 30 minute math lesson) playing games. We started by sitting on the floor in a circle and making a web with yarn. Each child had to get a turn to hold the yarn and throw it someone else to make a web. The catch was that when you got the yarn, the student had to say one thing that they would miss about me or one thing they learned from me. I was surprised at some of the comments. Some remembered specific lessons that I had taught and activities we had done. I guess they were listening after all.
Some of the comments from the kids were:
"I liked when we learned how to tell time"
"I'm going to miss reading with Mrs. Epperson"
"Thank you for always helping me"
"Thank you for teaching me how to read"
"I liked when we played bingo with our math facts"
"I'm going to miss Mrs. Epperson because she is a great teacher and she is always really nice to me" (comment by one student who I didn't think liked me much)
"Mrs. Epperson taught me that I can read by myself"
"I like when Mrs. Epperson teaches reading because she lets us read with a friend"
"My favorite lesson was when we went on a treasure hunt"
"I will miss always having Mrs. Epperson help me with my math but not just giving me the answer"
After that game, the children presented me with cards they had made for me.
The little boy who wrote this one, couldn't write his name at the beginning of the semester. He wrote this all by himself and if you look close you can see where he erased and started over. He told me that he wanted it perfect for me.
Just a few others :)
As if this wasn't enough to make me never want to leave they also gave me a sign with all of their hand prints on it. I felt so very loved and spoiled.
At the end of the day we had a huge group hug but of course a few had to give me personal hugs. I don't think I've ever received so many hugs in one day before. I was receiving them all day long but many of them had to get one on the way out the door. I am going to miss them so much. I had the best students and the best cooperating teaching ever. I learned so much and I am a much more confident teacher because of this semester. I'm grateful for all I have learned and the experiences I have had and especially for those hard days that I just wanted to throw in the towel and give up. Thank you for the hardest and more rewarding semester ever. I hope that I get to go back and visit these kids very soon.
These kids taught me that the only people whose approval I need is the kids. If they learn from me and think that I'm a good teacher then I don't really care what anyone else thinks of me.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Refreshing
About a month ago I decided that far too much of my life was being spent on useless and mindless entertainment. I decided it was time to get rid of the things and in some cases people, in my life who were bringing me down and causing me more harm than good.
I began with music. I got rid of any music that didn't uplift me and make me feel good. Then I went through my phone and email contacts and deleted everyone who I haven't ever talked to but for some reason I have their contact information. The last step was to delete facebook friends. However, as I was doing that I realized that my friends on facebook weren't the problem....I was. I was spending too much time on facebook and it was distracting me from the important things in life and in some cases it was upsetting me to read some of the things people were posting. To be honest no one talked to me on it so it was pretty pointless. So I decided to have mike change my password so that I couldn't log on.
I am happy to report that it has been a month since I logged on and it feels so good to distance myself from it. I am happier and more productive than ever. I went on for a few minutes tonight but I had no desire to stay. I realized that all the people who I love and would want to talk to I can see, call, text, email, skype, facetime or follow on their blogs (including family). It is so refreshing to get rid of useless distractions. I highly recommend it!
I began with music. I got rid of any music that didn't uplift me and make me feel good. Then I went through my phone and email contacts and deleted everyone who I haven't ever talked to but for some reason I have their contact information. The last step was to delete facebook friends. However, as I was doing that I realized that my friends on facebook weren't the problem....I was. I was spending too much time on facebook and it was distracting me from the important things in life and in some cases it was upsetting me to read some of the things people were posting. To be honest no one talked to me on it so it was pretty pointless. So I decided to have mike change my password so that I couldn't log on.
I am happy to report that it has been a month since I logged on and it feels so good to distance myself from it. I am happier and more productive than ever. I went on for a few minutes tonight but I had no desire to stay. I realized that all the people who I love and would want to talk to I can see, call, text, email, skype, facetime or follow on their blogs (including family). It is so refreshing to get rid of useless distractions. I highly recommend it!
Smallest and Strangest Thanksgiving Ever
For Thanksgiving this year Mike and I traveled to Billings Montana to join Mike's mom and Doug. I'm really glad that we went otherwise Kate would have had an even smaller Thanksgiving of one. Doug spent the day in line at Best Buy....more on that later in the post.
We began Thanksgiving with the Huff and Puff. It was a beautiful day and such a difference from last year (freezing, cloudy and 2 feet of snow last year). It was 50 degrees and sunny with no snow.
Then the three of us went home and began cooking dinner. We decided to make two Cornish game hens this year and way more food than three people could possibly eat but its Thanksgiving and having way too much food is kind of required. The food was delicious though and we enjoyed having dinner...just the three of us.
Preparation
It was a great Thanksgiving!
So remember how I said Doug wasn't at dinner. Well here is the story. Best Buy was giving a 42 inch tv for $200 for black Friday and a ps3 for $200. So Doug got in line at 6am on Thanksgiving so he could get both. Don't worry, we took him food after we
ate dinner so that he could enjoy all of the wonderfulness and deliciousness. Anyway, Doug was the second person in line but Mike kind of wanted to get one of those 42 inch tv's for us. (When I say kind of I mean that he really really wanted it and was asking doug how many people were in line every 30 minutes and pacing as dinner got closer).
So first Mike and I planned and strategized......
Then around 3pm Kate dropped dinner off to Doug and Mike stayed with him and waited in line for about 9 hours until midnight when he and Doug were victorious and got exactly what they had waited in line to buy. (This picture was taken at about 11 pm)
So strange, so small but a lot of fun!
We began Thanksgiving with the Huff and Puff. It was a beautiful day and such a difference from last year (freezing, cloudy and 2 feet of snow last year). It was 50 degrees and sunny with no snow.
Then the three of us went home and began cooking dinner. We decided to make two Cornish game hens this year and way more food than three people could possibly eat but its Thanksgiving and having way too much food is kind of required. The food was delicious though and we enjoyed having dinner...just the three of us.
Preparation
It was a great Thanksgiving!
So remember how I said Doug wasn't at dinner. Well here is the story. Best Buy was giving a 42 inch tv for $200 for black Friday and a ps3 for $200. So Doug got in line at 6am on Thanksgiving so he could get both. Don't worry, we took him food after we
ate dinner so that he could enjoy all of the wonderfulness and deliciousness. Anyway, Doug was the second person in line but Mike kind of wanted to get one of those 42 inch tv's for us. (When I say kind of I mean that he really really wanted it and was asking doug how many people were in line every 30 minutes and pacing as dinner got closer).
So first Mike and I planned and strategized......
Then around 3pm Kate dropped dinner off to Doug and Mike stayed with him and waited in line for about 9 hours until midnight when he and Doug were victorious and got exactly what they had waited in line to buy. (This picture was taken at about 11 pm)
So strange, so small but a lot of fun!
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