Blog Post #1

     My name is Mary LaCoste, and I'm currently enrolled in EDM 310 in order to renew my teaching certificate. I actually took EDM 310 about eighteen years ago under the direction of Dr. Daughenbaugh, but there was no internet so we mostly used computers for word processing and to type our lesson plans. Now I'm really showing my age. I graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1994 with a degree in secondary education certified in both English and Social Studies and applied for a teaching position in both the public and Catholic school systems. It was difficult to get a job in the public schools the year I graduated, so I end up in the Catholic school system. I taught sixth, seventh, and eighth grade language arts at Corpus Christi Catholic School for three years and absolutely loved it. Then I took ten years off from teaching to stay home with my three children.When my youngest daughter started kindergarten, I was able to go back to Corpus Christi School and teach again. I truly enjoy teaching, and I especially love teaching the middle school age. Teaching, I feel, is one of the most rewarding professions one can be in. As you see your students grow, change, and learn, there is a real sense of accomplishment, and I love my job. 
     I have almost always lived in Mobile, Alabama, and I grew up in the Theodore area. I've been married almost sixteen years to my husband Chris, and we have three wonderful children. Emily is 12, Brant is 11, and Molly is 9.  Most of my spare time is spent with my busy family. My hobbies include reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with my children. I enjoy going to the movies and listening to music, and I have a not so secret crush on Edward Cullen. I am currently teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade reading and literature at Corpus Christi Catholic School. I'm looking forward to increasing my computer knowledge while taking this class, and I know becoming more experienced on the computer will certainly help me, as well as the students that I teach.

Randy Pausch on Time Management

Watch Randy Pausch's video.

     I have never heard of Randy Pausch before, but his advice on time management was very enlightening. I believe proper time management for a teacher is essential. Writing and planning lessons, grading papers, filling out paperwork on your students, and contacting parents are just a few of the things a teacher does everyday. Without proper time management a teacher is just spinning his or her wheels. I am a strong advocate of setting goals, making lists, and planning ahead. I don't think I could make it on a daily basis as a teacher or a mother without following Mr. Pausch's basic guidelines. I think many people get bogged down trying to "do the wrong things right". We spend too much of our time trying to polish the bottom of the banister when we should be spending our time doing the important tasks. Another problem I think people have is looking at a job and thinking it's just to big to tackle at that moment and then put it off.  If people could just take "baby steps" and set obtainable goals, people would be more successful with their time. I really liked the way Mr. Pausch said, "Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement" because I think we definitely all learn from our mistakes and they make us better people. I also enjoyed his analogy of eating the biggest frog first. Usually we save the ugliest jobs for last, when we should just get them over with first. We would all be better off if we followed this principle. This is one I will share with my students.