Yoopers Update

[yoopers]

I hope so, but I don't know for sure. He's got some pretty exciting stuff going on in his life right now.
Hi all,

I just popped in during a slack moment to see what was going on, saw some questions, so I thought I'd fill you in on the exciting stuff that Bill mentioned over in the Don't Leave thread.

I recently (end of May) endured my fourth layoff (ethanol's not what it's cracked up to be) from industry/manufacturing in the last six years. Layoffs make it kind of tough to survive let alone prepare for the future, and it sort of soured me a bit on Corporate America employment. So after much family discussion and lots of prayer, I've decided to go back to school full time. I figured two pretty safe types of employment are school teachers and mortitians. For some reason, I ended up chosing the educational field. Actually, it's something that I'd wished I'd gone into from the start.

I am pursuing my Masters degree in teaching with the aim of teaching high school mathematics soon. I'm in my first semester right now at Rockford College (http://www.rockford.edu) and expect to be done either in Fall '08 or the following spring. We're surviving on unemployment benefits, Mary's income, and my four part time jobs at the moment, well, three now that soccer coaching just ended. Unemployment benefits for me end in December so we're not sure how we'll survive next semester. But we're not worried about it. It'll happen somehow. Life is great!

Once I'm done at Rockford college, I'm eyeing the Ed.D program in Educational Administration at nearby Northern Illinois University. I'm trying to get it set up right now and pursue the doctorate while I'm working. My plans are to teach in the classroom for the next five to ten years then move into administration. Of course, that's quite a ways down the road and with my past employment history as proof, anything can happen.

I'll keep in touch, it's just that right now things are sort of hectic. You can always reach me at yoopers at verizon dottnett. I'm off to write more papers.

I'm off to school. I have my bookbag and my lunch and Mommy is going to see me to the bus.

[habbywall]

That sounds great!
Congratulations!
You seem like you'd make a good teacher.

[JJuggle]

Glad to hear from you Bruce. Good luck and regards to the family.

[Jerrick]

I was wondering what was going on in your life. Im glad you have it planned and have goals set. How far away is the school, have you rode your coker there yet?

Have fun at school!

[GILD]

To teach is to learn twice.

Good to hear from you Bruce, this place has been poorer without you.

[Borges]

I ended up chosing the educational field.
For what it's worth from this "some guy from the internet", I think you'll be good at teaching. I hope you'll like it too.
Good to hear from you.

[Jethro]

Thanks for the update, Bruce. Blessings to you and your family.

Bill

[monkeyman]

Glad to hear that you're ok, and that your absense hasn't had anything to do with health problems. Best of of luck with your goals...you'll be a good teacher.

Alex

[Into the blue]

You have been missed.

[beginnerdad]

There are a few of us in DeKalb, either riding or learning to ride, in my case.
Look us up if you get bored.

[UniBrier]

Bruce,

Good to see the beard back. You look like you again.

Wish you much success in the new career path, stay in touch.

[ivan]

Bruce! Long time no see! And sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope it all works out.

And remember: keep it wheel.

[Miss Ayelery]

My dear Bruce, it so nice to hear from you again. Your presence has been missed here in the community.

You have always been a teacher, dear, and life has now led you there. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a slow and complex path on the way. I am so glad for the high school students who will now have you as a presence in their lives.

Best wishes, and please stay in touch.

MA

[maestro8]

You have always been a teacher, dear, and life has now led you there. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a slow and complex path on the way. I am so glad for the high school students who will now have you as a presence in their lives.
MA echoes my sentiment exactly. You've been an exemplary father to your children, and similarly, you'll make a lasting positive impression on those students who are graced by your tutelage.

I am saddened to hear your time in industry left you with a bitter taste in your mouth, but it seems like this was the catalyst needed to effect a change for the better. I hope you find happiness on your new career path... I believe there are few higher callings in life than for one to devote his life to educating others.

Please do keep in touch. We miss you!

[harper]

My dear Bruce, it so nice to hear from you again. Your presence has been missed here in the community.

You have always been a teacher, dear, and life has now led you there. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a slow and complex path on the way. I am so glad for the high school students who will now have you as a presence in their lives.

Best wishes, and please stay in touch.

MA

As my grammatical hero I am positive that you intentionally omitted the contraction "it's" or the verb "is" in your post. It must be a test for us.

[podzol]

Hey, Bruce,
That's great! Way to turn a bad situation into an opportunity. Being an older student is kind of fun. I did it. Cathwood's been doing it, she's pobably getting close to done if she isn't already...

All the best. One of my friends, who is 40+ years old just finished his degrees and certification in special ed. Pretty cool.

When I got my MS at Michigan tech, there was a strict no chewing tobacco in the lecture hall. When the professor announced that, about half the guys in the class and a few of the girls stood up with their styrofoam "coffee" cups and headed for the trash receptacle before class resumed.

All the best!
B

[cathwood]

Hey what a coincidence, I was just going to say, I'm having a great time at big school. I'm into the last year now, finish in October.

I hope you enjoy your school as much as I'm enjoying mine. All the best and good luck for the future.

[yoopers]

Wahoo! Just finished finals for the semester this morning! I went through classes in Classroom Management, Education Psychology, Survey of Exceptional Children (special ed.), and Field Experience. Nailed an "A" in all classes. Here's to the first 4.0 semester with three more semesters to go. I haven't made straight A's since seventh grade. I may just graduate Summa Cum Luckey yet.

Now on to the honey-do list for the next month.

[maestro8]

Here's to the first 4.0 semester with three more semesters to go.

*high-fives Bruce*

Great work! This just goes to show your dedication to academia. Keep it up!

[Borges]

I told you you'd be good at it.

[BillyTheMountain]

Wahoo! Just finished finals for the semester this morning! I went through classes in Classroom Management, Education Psychology, Survey of Exceptional Children (special ed.), and Field Experience. Nailed an "A" in all classes. Here's to the first 4.0 semester with three more semesters to go. I haven't made straight A's since seventh grade. I may just graduate Summa Cum Luckey yet.

Now on to the honey-do list for the next month.

I hope the missus gives you a special treat for doing so good in school!!!

Really, great job!

[GILD]

Nice work lad.
Now be a good boy and go mow the lawn will ya?

[UniBrier]

Now be a good boy and go mow the lawn will ya?Another example of Southern Hemisphere Insensitivity. Yoopers' lawn is dormant this time of year. He could be raking leaves or shoveling snow, if that ice storm hit him he's got plenty to do.


Great job Bruce! Does your school have an honor society?

[dan de man]

damn i wish yoopers was teaching at my school

[ħǻřрέŗ]

__________________
What is the hell is nature smoking?

California.

[podzol]

Hey Bruce , congrats! I hope it continues to go well for you.

Where will you taking Spring Break?
B

[yoopers]

Hey Bruce , congrats! I hope it continues to go well for you.

Where will you taking Spring Break?
B
Hi Blake,

Well, I thought about maybe Cancun or possibly Paris, but I think Mary will have me stay home and clean the garage instead. :)

B

[podzol]

Sounds good. All my years in college and I NEVER went anywhere for spring break. I have no idea how these kids afford it.

[yoopers]

I've taken courses at nine different colleges in my life, but somehow in all that mess, I failed to take a 3rd World/non-western history or culture class. So I had to fill in that missing requirement of my Masters program by taking little rinky-dink 200 level telecourse on African Culture at a local community college. (Rinky-dink refers to the course level, not the subject of African Culture.) Telecourse means that I watch videos at home, and then take tests on what was presented. There was also a book to read (which I did not read).

I just completed the course. It’s almost ridiculous, but I was told over and over again that it was the world’s easiest course. The night at the beginning of the semester when I attended the course orientation at the community college, I also went down to the media library and checked out the set of nine DVDs that I had to watch. The two exams on the video portion were word-for-word off the presentations and all I had to do was sit at my computer and search through the DVDs until I found the right area, and then find the answer to the multiple choice exam question. All exam questions stepped through the video presentations in order. It took me just shy of two hours to go through nine hours of DVDs.

Then this afternoon, I went in to the college to take the exams on the textbook. I punched out all four 50-question exams in 2½ hours without pre-reading the book. Like the video exams, the exam questions were word-for-word from the book and in order. A few questions were word-for-word from the captions of photographs in the book. So I sat at a table, leafed through the book page by page, answered the multiple choice questions, turned in all exams, then went to the bookstore and sold my book back. Now I’m home.

Whew! What a relief. Toughest course I’ve ever taken!

So in essence, I just completed a full 3-credit college course in about 5½ hours. Anyone want an easy A?

Bruce

[harper]

Bruce-

Where is Africa?

[yoopers]

Bruce-

Where is Africa?
You know, I think that was a question on my exam. I wonder if I got it right.

[maestro8]

Well, Bruce, Fall '08 is upon us... this was your projected grad. date, no? How's the 4.0 holding up?

I ask because I just started grad. school. I'll be studying for a Master's in computer engineering, to be completed in Spring 2011. 2011? Eesh!

Thing is, I'll still be working full time. They're paying for my tuition as long as I work my 40 hours each week. Books, too. All I gotta pay is the taxes on any amount above the $5.2k annual cap.

This is going to get interesting... some / most of my free-time activities are going to have to dry up and disappear.

Good news is, my college's campus is virgin territory for unicycle trials. There's everything from boulders to walls to stair sets, and nothing's seen the underside of a unicycle yet! I'll have to grab a camera the next time I head out...

[dudewithasock]

What school, Jason?

[maestro8]

Santa Clara University (http://www.scu.edu/)

Quite a lovely campus. Palm trees, large grassy areas, and lots of trials lines.

[dudewithasock]

Yeah I've heard of that school. That's cool about the trials lines, there are some here but not as much as I would've hoped. The campus is large enough to accomodate though.

[yoopers]

Well, Bruce, Fall '08 is upon us... this was your projected grad. date, no? How's the 4.0 holding up?
I received a notice of a P.M. so I had to log on to reply, and then found your new posts here. Sorry for not seeing it sooner. :)

My 4.0 has bit the dust. Last spring semester, I took a course in Math Teaching Methods, one of the required courses in my degree track. I ended up with an A- in the class so my GPA now sits at 3.967. But if the truth be known, everyone in the class received an A-. We're not sure why.

I am currently student teaching four math classes and one communication skills (basically English) class at Rochelle Middle School. I'll be done by Thanksgiving so my family and I will have to start making some quick and possibly tough choices. I already have one interview scheduled with Danville High School in Danville, IL week after next. If the interview were to be successful, we would end up relocating. Tough choices coming. But we're trusting that it will all work out correctly in time.


I ask because I just started grad. school. I'll be studying for a Master's in computer engineering, to be completed in Spring 2011. 2011? Eesh!

Once you get into the swing of taking courses again, your life will adjust and you'll find normalty again. Congrats on the decision to return to school. From what I've seen of you, you'll be on top in no time.

Good to hear from you again.
Bruce

I can be easily reached at yoopers at verizon
dot net

[Into the blue]

Yoopers still got mad skillz.

[monkeyman]

Yeah I've heard of that school. That's cool about the trials lines, there are some here but not as much as I would've hoped. The campus is large enough to accomodate though.

I'm doing pretty well here. There are a lot of benches/curb-skinny-things/stairsets around. It's pretty cool.

[harper]

My 4.0 has bit the dust. Last spring semester, I took a course in Math Teaching Methods, one of the required courses in my degree track. I ended up with an A- in the class so my GPA now sits at 3.967.


Loser.


I am currently student teaching four math classes and one communication skills (basically English) class at Rochelle Middle School.

I think middle school would be the most difficult to teach. It would take a guy like you to do it well...and there aren't enough guys like you in the world. The HS job would be a step toward sanity. Good luck in your pursuit. There are a lot of youngsters who do not yet know how lucky they are about to become.

[yoopers]

My 4.0 has bit the dust.
This was really buggin' me so I had to come back and correct it. It should be, "...has bitten the dust." My apologies to the English crowd. Where is MA when you need her? I've changed my avatar in her honor.

[uni57]

May I make a suggestion?


My 4.0 bit the dust ...

... reads much more smoothly without the stilted "has bitten"

... aligns itself with the expression "bit the dust"

... has fewer words

... is more abrupt and hard-hitting (adding to the humor, in this case)

I am amused by your discomfort arising from an improperly worded post. I've been there myself a few times.

[Miss Ayelery]

I have to agree with Dave on this one, Bruce dear. I think Strunk & White would support this as well. If not eliminating needless words, at least eliminating needless syllables.

As it gets harder and harder to check in on this forum, I'm glad to see the community has picked up the slack. You go, Dave dear. And you too my Maestro.

MA

[yoopers]

If not eliminating needless words, at least eliminating needless syllables.
Dave,

I like your suggestion. Consider it accepted and my ways mended.



Miss A,

Wouldn't the words quoted above qualify as a sentence fragment? Gee, I must be learnin' sumpthin' in the C.S. class I teach.

Just trying to be a blessing.

Bruce...but that would be Mr. Edwards to you younglings still in school!

[uni57]

Wouldn't the words quoted above qualify as a sentence fragment?If you are well-respected as a writer and you clearly know the rules, I think you are allowed a bit of artistic license on occasion.



P.S. - Thanks, Miss A. Coming from you, that's quite a compliment.

[BillyTheMountain]

gee, i must be learnin' sumpthin' in the c.s. Class i teach.

cs?

[yoopers]

cs?

Communication Skills. Basically, English and writing for everyday use.

[yoopers]

I am wrapping up my student teaching semester...done and over with the week after Thanksgiving. Next comes a job. After a year and a half of no employment or income, I thought finding a job might rank fairly high on the list of things to do.

So last night, I traveled two hours to Bradley, IL and had a great interview for a Title 1 (at-risk students) math teacher position at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (BBCHS). This afternoon, I received a call from the principal of BBCHS offering me the position. I thanked him for the offer and told him that I would speak with my family, then call him back tomorrow afternoon. But as it stands now, we see absolutely no reason to turn him down. Bradley, IL is a great place to live with lots of amenities and BBCHS is a fairly well-rated high school. Looks like we're going to be Boilermakers. Brad is excited about playing soccer at the new school. (Bradley Edwards is going to Bradley, Illinois.)

The job will actually start in mid-December or sooner as this is a new program and there is much to set up before the next semester begins on January 5. The plan is for me to find a room to rent this next semester in Bradley, stay there during the weeks and come back to Rochelle on the weekends. That will give Mary a chance to finish out her job at Rochelle Township High School and for Brad to finish out his sophomore year. As we move through this next semester, we will be preparing our house to sell and will relocate to Bradley area next summer.

Olivet Nazarene University is also located in Bradley, IL, about a mile from the high school. I've already talked to them about their Ed.D. (Doctorate of Education) program. It all looks good and BBCHS has a tuition reimbursement program.

So, after almost 20 years here in Rochelle including a year and a half of career-switchin' skoolin', off we go to new and exciting adventures.

Bruce

[BillyTheMountain]

Communication Skills. Basically, English and writing for everyday use.

Appreciate you taking a to think long and hard about that answer, instead of just flipping one off.

You're going to be a teacher soon! You go!!

[maestro8]

A new job, relocation, and the possibility of a doctorate? Dr. Yoopers? An adventure, indeed! You seem quite fearless about this whole endeavor.

I'm glad your family is as excited as you are.

I'm imagining Bruce as a white Mr. Escalante from Stand and Deliver (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094027/). A very moving film, I'd recommend you check it out if you haven't already.

Jaime Escalante: [to Chuco and Company] I am *El Cyclone,* from... Bolivia. One-man gang. This classroom is *my* domain. Don't give me no gas, or I'll jump on your face and tattoo your chromosomes... If the only thing you know how to do is add and subtract, you will only be prepared to do one thing: Pump gas.

Go get 'em!

[GILD]

Nice one Bruce.

I trust it'll all turn out better than you expected.

[harper]

Bruce-

Best of luck to you. I can't think of any hands better than yours in which to place the future of our youth. You will be an outstanding teacher. You are an outstanding teacher.

[yoopers]

For those who are interested...

I am firmly ensconced in my new position at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (http://www.bbchs.org) in Bradley, IL, except that I don't have any students yet. I am the Title I math teacher but the Title I program has yet to be put in place. Title I is a federal gov't program where the fed funnels money through the state to schools who have at-risk children...failing, or at risk of failing due to low income, truancy, behavior, or a handful of other things. There were some snow days in December that pushed the end of the semester to after Christmas break. Final 1st semester grades could not be posted so all the at-risk students have not been identified yet. Should have everything straight in the next week or two at the most. So I have just been doing a lot of observing in various classes.

I am staying in Bradley, IL (about two hours from Rochelle) throughout the week and coming home on the weekends. I'm home right now because yesterday and today are presenting us with -15 to -30 degree temps and the schools are closed. So I came home early and have a 4½ day weekend. Monday is Martin Luther King day and the schools were originally scheduled to have a day off. I stay with a friend in Bradley. Maj. Creek is the ROTC commander at a local college, Olivet Nazarene University. I had hoped to be staying in a house that we're buying there but we had a little problem. Mary and I were all set to close on the house when our realtor called us the day after Christmas to say that the seller had left the heat off in the house, a water pipe under the kitchen sink had frozen and burst, and the house flooded. The house had been beautifully decorated including the full basement and had completely upgraded electrical and plumbing. Now the seller's insurance has kicked in and contractors are in the house doing repair. It's pretty frustrating. We had hoped to have taken possession of the house before I started my job there on January 5. Now I'm living out of a suitcase and imposing on a friend. I guess that's what friends are for, eh? Mary and Brad will finish the school year at Rochelle, then we'll move as a family to Bradley this summer. Ben is staying in Rochelle and will live in our house here, take in some college friends, and pay rent. Besides, he has an interest in nearby Dixon, IL. :)

There are photos at http://community.webshots.com/user/yoopers98

The house was built in 1910 but is solid. It has a big yard and backs up to an alley, which is important because I have to have a place to park our three cars and my three trailers...or as Mary says, my toys. Mary is excited about the beautiful kitchen and I am excited about the awesome garage. It has the best workshop! I now have a stick welder as well as my MIG so I'm looking forward to doing some great work in there. Sometime this year, I'll run a gas line to the garage, put up some insulation, and install a furnace so I can work out there in the cold.

A very nice feature about the house is that it has a full basement with separate entrance, complete bath, and a kitchenette. Mary and I figure that when Brad moves out in a couple years, we can take in a tenet from Olivet. Brad will live in the two bedrooms upstairs (which he affectionately calls Brad's Kingdom). If you notice, the kitchen has cathedral ceilings with an upper window into Brad's room. We call it the "Mom make me food!" window where Brad can stick his head out and yell down into the kitchen.

All in all, after 20 years in Rochelle, we're ready for a new adventure. BBCHS is a great school and there is a lot to offer in the local towns. Can't wait to get completely settled in our new life.

[kevinalexandersmith]

That first term teaching will be tough.

Never give up!

[UniBrier]

Bruce, great to hear from you. Does your son have any issues with now being known as Brad of Bradley?

[yoopers]

Does your son have any issues with now being known as Brad of Bradley?
Interestingly, the town of Bradley was founded by a David Bradley in the late 1800's. Brad is Bradley David. Then across from the big Northfield Mall is a street called Bradley Edward Dr. I think Brad will fit right in.

[sarah.miller]

Best wishes to you and yours for the house move bruce.
Best of luck with your new class once you get them.

[habbywall]

Wow, very rarely does a street sign anywhere read the first and last name of a person. In fact, it's tough to even get seperate street signs of a persons name within driving distance. Do you guys plan on stealing it? (: