I Graduated!

I finally graduated with a B.A. in History Education from good old BYU-Idaho on Dec. 19th, 2009.

Can you find me? I am to the left of this lady's head.
Sit down!


Graduating with all my fellow historian nerds.

Waiting to walk.

Mom, me and dad. My brother, Dave, came up to see me but I don't know what happened to the pic with him and me.

Jason (Lauren's fiance), Lauren, me, Mike, Greg and Catherine

Yay!!!!!!

I can't believe college is officially over. I honestly made some of the best friends of my life. Thanks so much to my husband, parents, in-laws, roommates, and professors who helped me along the way. I love and appreciate you all.

P.S. More blog posts to come since I have a life again!

Counting Down the Days....

First of all, I sincerely apologize for the boring blog posts the past few months. Student teaching is consuming my life. Mike is a busy bee with his classes and his two intramural teams. We did finally take a trip to visit Mike's mission in Oregon last month though. I will post those pictures as soon as I find time. (psst...the last three blog posts I have done have been at my computer at Highland High School, so that's why I haven't put pictures with them. Keep that on the DL though.) We also took a little weekend getaway to Breckenridge, CO for a McCabe family vacation. Again, another item I need to post. I am so behind.

As for student teaching.....I have 20 days left and then I am DONE-ZO! I am not going to lie...I am worn out. Getting up at 6am, driving an hour, teaching all day, driving an hour home, cooking dinner, working out, and finding quality time with Mike and our friends, is spreading me a little thin. Plus I am not getting paid a dime. Actually I am paying for more for this learning experience than I would be if I was taking 15 credits at BYU-I. I don't know how women teachers with young families do it. The last thing I want to do when I get home from a long day of work is do my domestic responsibilities. I simply don't have the energy. It's hard enough keeping the up with the household duties between Mike and me, let alone children. Those women must be superwomen or something.

Enough complaining though. In all actuality, student teaching has been a great experience. Better than I ever expected. It's funny how BYU-I totally over prepares education majors before entering the teaching field. I mean, I would rather have it the way it is than the other way around, but it's just interesting. My perception of teaching before this experience was that it is extremely intense, you are always monitored by the school administration and district, and you have to create 2-3 page lesson plans every day. Man was I wrong. At least in the case of Highland High. The government teacher next door shows movies every other day. Most teachers text all day long and frequently check their facebook. Class preparation takes about 10-15 minutes before school starts, depending on how long the teacher has been working. Some teachers are big time gossipers too. They talk about everyone including students, other staff members, the administration, all the while dropping an F bomb here and there. Now, this is definitely a generalization because there are quite a few quality teachers here, but it has really changed my perspective.

Well, I bet the next time I do a post I will be completely finished with college!!! I can't wait.

OK, I know I have been terrible at updating the McCabe blog this last month. It's mainly because I haven't had time. Student teaching is consuming my life. I love it though....everything but the two hour drive (to Pocatello and back every week day). I am teaching three senior level American Govt. courses and a current events class that has some immature sophomores in it. I have to throw down every now and again but it's all good. They have to know who is boss. I really do enjoy working with high school kids though. I can get them involved in some really good discussions regarding govt. policies and what not...so makes my job enjoyable. My cooperating teacher, Edgar, is the bomb. Seriously. He just lets me teach and only gives me input if I want it. Real chill and low key guy. We just chat all day long about life, politics, and whatever. No offense girls but I am really thankful I didn't get paired up with a high strung, gossipy woman for a cooperating teacher. I have heard some horror stories from a few fellow student teachers and and I always thankful how cool Edgar is.

One uncool thing about my student teaching experience is when the faculty, always women, assume I am a student. I guess this is a complement because I am short and look young. Usually when they find out I am a student teacher they say, "Oh I am sorry! I thought you were a student! Ha ha!" However, one teacher in particular chewed me out for using the faculty bathroom. When I told her I was a student teacher she exclaimed, "well then you need to wear a name tag!" Mind you this is the second time she has gotten all huffy-puffy about me using the bathroom. There were a hundred things I wanted to say to her but I just walked away. She needs to take a day off or something.

Mike has started another semester at BYU-I and is enjoying being back in school and not selling alarms in the hot California sun. He is playing on two intramural football teams and one co-ed soccer team with me. Because I am gone so much he has been really good about taking over some of the household chores like laundry and straightening up the house. Thanks babe! We don't get to spend tons of quality time together which always bums us out, but what can you do? His family came to visit two weeks ago so it was good to see them for a few days.

Other than that nothing is really new with us. I am counting down the days until I graduate! Student teaching ends Nov. 23 and I can't wait for it.

P.S. Thanks for the advice you all gave me before I started student teaching! I needed the boost!