Are You Smarter Than an 8th Grader?

Here. Take this science test. It's 8th grade level, so you should know most of it. Easy as pie.

Yeah right!

I was completely ready to ace this little test. I wasn't too worried about it, considering it wouldn't affect our grade. It was just for fun, just to see where we're at. Well, I'd soon find out I wasn't "at" where I thought I was. I received a 32/47. I guessed on a good amount of questions. This got me thinking. We, as prospective teachers, might think we're ready to jump into a classroom. But the truth is, we need classes such as Life Science to refresh our memories on the subject matter we learned way back when we were kids. There's no way we could retain information for that long.

Even though these classes can be difficult, I just need to push through. Sooner or later, I need to come to terms with the fact that this is the path I've chosen in life.I need to "man up" and get my degree. One day, I'm going to be in my own classroom. That's awesome AND frightening all at once. So even though I was surprised at my great failure on this little science test, it proves that I have some room for learning- learning so that I have the ability to teach my future students the best that I can- even though it may seem daunting right now.

It also proves that I am not, disappointingly, smarter than an 8th grader.

EJ

Let's Celebrate!

What good is the beauty of nature, if we don't slow down and take the time to appreciate it? Not only that, but celebrate it! It's not every day that you get the chance to see something so spectacular as a lone loon popping up sporadically around a still blue lake.

I had the opportunity over the Fourth of July to go kayaking. My family has a camp on a small lake, in an even smaller town known as Amasa, MI. Every summer, we have a family reunion of sorts, taking place over the fourth. A little R & R, and visiting with family we rarely see. We take advantage of four wheeling, swimming, canoeing, and sitting around the campfire. In more recent years, we obtained two kayaks. Let me just say, I immediately fell in love with them. My all time favorite thing to do at camp now, is to grab a kayak, and venture out onto the lake by myself. There's something so peaceful about the breeze on your face, as your paddles slightly dip in and out of the water with ease.

It was just one of those times; I'd taken the kayak out for a spin, and a little quiet. Can of coke in my lap, paddle in hand. Solitude. But I wasn't alone. I looked to my left. Very near to me, a tiny black head was poking through the surface. I immediately recognized it as a loon. There is only, as far as we know, a family of 2 loons living on the lake. We see them now and then, but it's always from a distance. They vanish just as quickly as they appear. But this time was different. I was a mere 10 feet away from the bird. There was a moment of pure intensity where we both stared at each other, and then it was gone. Not ready to give up our time together (ha ha), I decided to wait and see where it popped back up. I probably spent a good 5 minutes spinning around in my kayak, switching direction to make sure I wouldn't miss it. Soon enough, there it was again, much farther away than I'd expected. I was fascinated by how long it could hold its breath. I paddled closer, attempting to be as quiet as possible. But again, within 10 feet, she dove. We continued this cat and mouse game for nearly a half an hour. I'm almost positive it was playing along with me.

In that moment, I felt so attuned to nature. It was just me, my kayak, and the loon. What's not to celebrate about that? It's truly the little things in life.

EJ

About Me

Ellen Marie Jarvis. That is my full name. From that, I usually get the response: "You're a Jarvis, eh?". Being from a small town, I inevitably cross paths with someone who knows my dad, mom, or grandpa, anywhere (and I mean anywhere) in the Upper Peninsula. I was raised in the 4,000 person "city" of Hancock, MI, where we are known for a big lift bridge, pasties, and beautiful fall colors. "Where's Hancock?" is the typical response to that statement, especially when I'm here at school. Usually, with a simple short reply of Houghton, I get an "Oooohhhh, so by Michigan Tech". They are most definitely not the same. I like to think I live on the smaller, quainter, and quieter side of the bridge.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have lived in a rural area of town. I was known to be gallivanting around the woods, climbing up trees, and trudging through rivers. Looking back, I'm actually surprised how much freedom my mom gave me, considering how much of a ruckus I was. My family consists of 6 people- My mom, dad, one brother, and two sisters. Of course, I did just say people. That didn't include our numerous pets. We own 3 loving, chubby outdoor cats, and 2 energetic dogs. 

You could say I've always wanted to be a teacher, or at least that's what my mother would tell you. I'd drag my sisters around the woods on "field trips" to look for bugs, or cram them in a blanket fort to teach them about Native Americans from my mom's books. My poor sisters. Considering this, it's no surprise that I'm sitting here typing out a blog for my Life Science for Educators course. I can't say I mind. It feels good to know that I have somewhat of a plan for my life. At the same time, it scares the living day light out of me. But you know what they say: if your dreams don't scare you, then they aren't big enough.

EJ

From left to right: My sister, Mary, my mom, Karen, and me at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island last summer.