The very last assignment for my Masters is to develop a five year professional development plan. We are to come up with goals we want to accomplish in the next five years, and the steps and supports we will need to accomplish our goals. My plan mostly involves finding a full-time teaching job. I thought it would be fun to come up with a plan for knitting! Five years is probably a little too long to think about, so below I present my one year professional development plan for knitting (and other yarn crafts):
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Alpaca Fever
It's no secret that one day, I would like to make my own yarn from scratch. A friend in college used to make fun of me, and ask what the point of doing that would be. I equated it to baking a cake from scratch: It's so satisfying to make a beautiful product on your own. I took a short yarn-dying seminar in college, and the feeling that I could make any color I wanted was incredible. I think that knitting something from yarn that I spun and dyed would be amazing!
So when I win the lottery, I want a beautiful stone farmhouse with enough land (and a barn) for either sheep or alpaca. I just started a sweater from a merino/alpaca blend, and it's soooooo nice! Warm, soft, squishy yarn that I can't wait to wear. In honor of my obsession, here are some alpaca products:
So when I win the lottery, I want a beautiful stone farmhouse with enough land (and a barn) for either sheep or alpaca. I just started a sweater from a merino/alpaca blend, and it's soooooo nice! Warm, soft, squishy yarn that I can't wait to wear. In honor of my obsession, here are some alpaca products:
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| Knit Alpaca Scarf |
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sneak Peek: Swatching
I have in my possession several skeins of 60% merino wool, 40% baby alpaca yarn. Sooo soft and squishy! I won't share what I'm making (yet), but here's a sneak peek!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Sneak Peek: On The Needles
For some reason, I have about 3 skeins of yarn left over from my yellow cardigan. Instead of being financially responsible and returning them, I decided to make the extra yarn into socks! I finished the first sock last night (see below).
I admit, I used to think knitting socks was sort of silly. They're so tiny compared to sweaters and the basic shape is always the same. But this is my second pair of socks, and I think I might be catching sock fever!
I admit, I used to think knitting socks was sort of silly. They're so tiny compared to sweaters and the basic shape is always the same. But this is my second pair of socks, and I think I might be catching sock fever!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
What I Learned Today
Today, I learned that I am still a novice when it comes to blocking large knit items. Yes, I made a sweet fisherman's sweater last year. I blocked it by hand, and I haven't actually washed it yet (but it's only been worn twice). I just finished a cute yellow cardigan, and was excited to block it. I used Cascade 220 Superwash yarn, so I could machine wash and dry my cardigan. However, I wasn't thinking, and put it in by itself. No nylon wash bag to keep it together, no towels or anything to take up space. As a result, my sweater is now sized for... A gorilla. It's giant.
After scouring the Internet, consulting a friend, and calling a yarn store, I had a plan of attack: I am supposed to fluff my sweater down to the size I want, and let it air dry. When it is almost completely dry, I should throw it in the dryer and pray for the best! The sweater is currently fluffed and drying in the dining room... I'll let you know how it turns out! And never will I ever throw a hand knit item in the washing machine by itself again.
After scouring the Internet, consulting a friend, and calling a yarn store, I had a plan of attack: I am supposed to fluff my sweater down to the size I want, and let it air dry. When it is almost completely dry, I should throw it in the dryer and pray for the best! The sweater is currently fluffed and drying in the dining room... I'll let you know how it turns out! And never will I ever throw a hand knit item in the washing machine by itself again.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Teacher Vs. Coach
This weekend, I spent 2 days going through the USA Rugby coaching workshop. It means that I am a certified rugby coach (and that the other coaches will probably make me do more at practice now). The whole weekend reminded me of my MAT program: It stressed discussion, practicums and reflection. Umm, that's all I did between June 2010 and May 2011. Discussed what laws and definitions meant. Put our thoughts into action by doing small sessions with classmates. Reflecting on what went well, what went not so well, and how we could improve. During the rugby program, our leader asked us what the difference between a teacher and a coach is. To me, there is no difference. Both positions involve teaching, motivating and using technique to optimize learning.
As a teacher, I want to motivate my students. I want them to try, and I want them to want to learn. I want to reach every student, and not shut down the students who don't succeed right away. Motivating the students who struggle is most important. I want to teach them that effort pays off. I want to teach them that you don't always have to get the right answer right away. I want to teach them that trying a problem you don't know can still yield success. I want them to put effort into both my tests and the standardized tests that my school is judged on. As a coach, I want to motivate my students. I want them to try rugby, and I want them to learn the game. I want to reach every player, and not shut down the players who don't succeed right away. Motivating the players who don't excel right away is most important. I want to teach them that effort pays off. I want to teach them that practice makes perfect, but games won't always go perfectly. I want to teach them that going against a bigger, stronger, faster team can still yield success. I want them to put effort into the games that their season and team are judged on.
As a teacher, I want my students to learn. Yes, I want them to learn how to do math. But more than that, I want them to learn how to approach problems, how to apply what they've learned to new problems, how to persist, how to work with others, and how to express their thoughts clearly through writing. As a coach, I want my players to learn. Yes, I want them to learn how to (safely) play the game. But more than that, I want them to learn how to approach situations and make good, quick decisions. How to persist. How to work with others. And how to express their plays and positioning on the field.
As a teacher, I spent a year (and still spend time) learning how to teach. I learned that exploratory learning is better than lecturing. Activities with meaning and purpose will create memorable learning experiences. As a coach, I spent two days (and still spend time) learning how to coach. I learning that incorporating games into practices will enhance learning. Games involve making quick decisions in rugby-like situations. They conceal conditioning, and make it fun. Basically, games are better than drills that work the same skill.
As a teacher, I feel that I can translate many of my skills over to the rugby field. I'm excited to see how my girls do in the spring. There's a lot of skill in the vets, and potential in the rookies. Let's ruck, maul, pillage and burn!
As a teacher, I want to motivate my students. I want them to try, and I want them to want to learn. I want to reach every student, and not shut down the students who don't succeed right away. Motivating the students who struggle is most important. I want to teach them that effort pays off. I want to teach them that you don't always have to get the right answer right away. I want to teach them that trying a problem you don't know can still yield success. I want them to put effort into both my tests and the standardized tests that my school is judged on. As a coach, I want to motivate my students. I want them to try rugby, and I want them to learn the game. I want to reach every player, and not shut down the players who don't succeed right away. Motivating the players who don't excel right away is most important. I want to teach them that effort pays off. I want to teach them that practice makes perfect, but games won't always go perfectly. I want to teach them that going against a bigger, stronger, faster team can still yield success. I want them to put effort into the games that their season and team are judged on.
As a teacher, I want my students to learn. Yes, I want them to learn how to do math. But more than that, I want them to learn how to approach problems, how to apply what they've learned to new problems, how to persist, how to work with others, and how to express their thoughts clearly through writing. As a coach, I want my players to learn. Yes, I want them to learn how to (safely) play the game. But more than that, I want them to learn how to approach situations and make good, quick decisions. How to persist. How to work with others. And how to express their plays and positioning on the field.
As a teacher, I spent a year (and still spend time) learning how to teach. I learned that exploratory learning is better than lecturing. Activities with meaning and purpose will create memorable learning experiences. As a coach, I spent two days (and still spend time) learning how to coach. I learning that incorporating games into practices will enhance learning. Games involve making quick decisions in rugby-like situations. They conceal conditioning, and make it fun. Basically, games are better than drills that work the same skill.
As a teacher, I feel that I can translate many of my skills over to the rugby field. I'm excited to see how my girls do in the spring. There's a lot of skill in the vets, and potential in the rookies. Let's ruck, maul, pillage and burn!
Friday, October 7, 2011
New Blog Design
I've been playing with a free version on photoshop, teaching myself some handy tricks and editing. I've wanted to design my own logo for a while now, and I'm happy to introduce my new design! It still needs some refining, but I couldn't wait any longer. Keep an eye out for buttons soon.
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