After three years, 20 or so classes, countless assignments, and a lot of snow… it’s time for me to leave. Mount Aloysius College says that I am a fully-qualified educator in the field of Social Studies. It sounds so strange. If you would have asked me five years ago would I be a teacher, I would have told you "No Chance." If you would have asked me three years ago if I would be a teacher, I would have said "Man, that would be cool but I don't think that's gonna happen." If you would have asked me last year, I would have said "Awww... man that would be so cool, but I don't think I'm cut out for it." If you ask me today, I would say "Yes."

That's what the Mount did for me. I don't really know how or really when it happened, but it did. All the classes and special events and being Santa, my favorite, has given me something that I can't quite put words to. After being away from campus all semester at my placements, I really don't feel much like a student anymore; but that's what good schools are supposed to do.

I miss the "carefree" days, sittin' in a history or religion class. Listening to Dr. Smith talk about cultural shifts in turn of the century America or Dr. Rolfe talking about "Ultimacy" at 9:00 in the morning bathed in the purple light of the Power Point. It's those little memories that are so special to me. Also creating a magical Christmas wonderland where I got to be Santa which kick off what came to be known in the DePiro house as "EPIC CHRISTMAS!" There's so much I have to thank the Mount for, but I have done my best to leave it a better place than when I started.

I got to help create the new PSEA chapter here and I know the girls will take good care of my baby. I also got to proctor test and tutor other students that I think really helped develop my teaching skills. I got to blog for the admissions department and hopefully, attract new Mounties that will make my stay here look like a sleepy dog at a lazy party.

I will really miss this place...thankfully, I have my student loans to remind me. Just kidding...not really. On Saturday, I'll join Van Duncan, Rena Drenning and Jess Reilly as the first, yeah NO. 1 baby, class of secondary ed. majors to graduate from this school. That's over a 150 years of history and I'm a part of it. I've studied, tested, written, and occasionally charmed my way through this institution and I'm finally breaking into the clear. The light at the end of the tunnel is so bright it's blinding me and I still can't see past it. It's strange.

To all the students who had class with me, to all the teachers who shared their knowledge with me, to everyone else who supported me, to the admissions department that got me in, and can also get you in, my deepest thanks. You don't know how much all of you have meant to me. The next time you see me, I will distributing the highest fives you've ever seen at graduation. My love to you Mount...Goodbye.

The Real World has come and I am gone, so for the last time...
DePiro Rules!

Well, I've come to the end of this road. My last day of student teaching was last Friday and it feels really strange. One day, I'm hard-wired into the rigid system of class schedule and lunch duty and all the other stuff that goes along with a high school. Then...nothing. I'm bored. I've been messin' around my house for days now with not much to do. To be honest, the house has benefited, because I've been cleaning pretty much non-stop. I think I just miss my placement.

Tyrone went so great for me, being done is almost a let down. It was so much fun...yeah fun. My last week, I just tried to keep my mind off the fact that I was done. I do have to admit a little senioritis on Thursday, but everything finished off nicely. On my last day, Dr. Smith came in and her, myself, my co-op Tracy, and Rob the teacher from across the hall just kind of sat down and had a nice discussion about my future as a teacher. Personally, I hope my "I'm going to save the world" thing fades soon, it makes me work way to hard.

Now, I'm just coasting to the finish. Tomorrow, Dr. Smith is buying all of the Secondary Ed. people dinner, all that's left is graduation. Ewwww...total yuck.....real world. No more runnin.' That's ok though, I'm not much of a runner. The Mount has given me the tools I need, now it's up to me to use them.

Well, I've got some really nice stuff to remember Tyrone by…sweat pants, some cards, a little swishy basketball…all of them hold sentimental value to me. I’m really going to miss that placement. However, it will be nice to get paid the next time I'm in a classroom. Gotta go, aliens are trying to sell me planet insurance. Something, something, impending doom from outer space...sounds like a scam to me.

Don't get huge, you can't find a good suit anywhere.
DePiro Rules!

Especially when they work…even better when you have them on tape. I now have indisputable video evidence of my teaching ability. Also, I have indisputable video evidence that my 5th period students are too wacky to get mad at. Goons... but hilarious all the same.

I wanted to come up with a really cool lesson for the Middle East, something that the kids would remember and have fun with. Then *BANG,* like a flashbulb full of napalm to the brain, it hits me...bazaar. We recently studied the modern culture of the Middle East, which still has a number of traditional marketplaces, or bazaars. I spent the last week collecting free stuff from people all over Blair County and after about five days of begging, some in-person groveling, and a trip to the Dollar Store, I had myself a fully-functional Middle Eastern-style bazaar, complete with a cool accent and haggling.

I had the kids answer questions for play money, then they got to wheel and deal with yours truly. I had a blast. The kids really got into it, and if anything, I got plenty of laughs. Good times, good times. I don't know how many more times I could put that much effort into a lesson, but it’s nice to get a payoff after all that footwork and worrying. Plus Tyrone Tech Support hooked me up with a DVD of my 5th period. Sweet.

Well, I just wanted to tell you guys about it. If you see me around, you can ask to see the DVD, it’s awesome. Just saying. Well, I have to run, I made Fettuccine Alfredo for the 7th period tomorrow and I need my sleep. Be well.

Yes, Yes, let's make deal, very good price.

DePiro Rules

When I made the jump to Tyrone Area High School, a light just seemed to come on. The clouds parted and angels began to sing. I was in my element. Don't get me wrong, I loved Civics, but World Cultures is so where it is at.

I get to take my love of contrasting groups, themes, movements and personalities to a global level. I seriously have the two best units to work on: the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. If I can't make them interesting, I should probably find a new profession. I got to warm up a little bit with Russia, but now I'm full bore at Arabic culture, the development of monotheism and modern conflicts in the region.

I don't like to compare my experience at Penn Cambria and Tyrone, but I did have some of my best lessons during the week of the PSSAs. At Penn Cambria, I did a whole week on the Civil Rights movement and I got to do a lot of different things for the Middle East. We watched a video on Genghis Khan, read articles from both sides of the Gaza strip and even had a guest speaker.

The guest speaker experience demonstrates one of the big differences between the Mount and other schools. I was able to get Shamim Rajpar from the library to come and talk to my class about traveling and living in other cultures. She totally faced all of my classes. At first, they didn't know what to think of her, but she had such an interesting story and such an obvious love for her work it really touched the kids. Plus she brought a truckload of wicked cool stuff from all over the world. Girls in my 8th period went nuts for the ostrich egg.

There aren't a lot of schools that I know of that you could get a staff member to take a day off and come into a high school and talk for three periods. That's just the personal attention that is the Mount's signature. To any of you lazy high school seniors that have already checked out for the year, I'd give the Mount a look-see. I must retire now…many lesson plans to write, youth of America to teach in the morning. Sleep tight.

Face and/or POW!

DePiro Rules!

It has been quite a while since I've had a chance to blog. It’s just one of a hundred things that have taken a back seat to my student teaching, which has basically consumed me for the last 2 1/2 months. Weeks just fly by, I barely notice them. I resorted to my default policy in life: Just keep attacking. Deal with things as the come, things are going to go wrong, you just need to overcome them.

That could be the motto for my placement at Penn Cambria, things just kind of broke up on re-entry there. I’m not quite sure what it was that made my time there such a difficult experience. To be perfectly honest, I just don't think I'm 8th grade material. I tried really hard to be interesting, but I just came off as boring. I’m putting that on myself because Van was placed right down the hall from me and he did awesome. He's probably got a science gig lined up for this summer there and I know he's gonna do great.

I was feeling pretty down after my experience there, but the kids did clap for me on the last day so I'll call that a victory. I would like to thank my Co-op Cristy Evans and the rest of the faculty and staff at Penn Cambria Middle School who were all super nice to me. Since that mighty struggle, things have been going much better…super-sick awesome, in fact. You can read all about it in "Where have I been, Part 2: High School." There isn't any sweet choreography or big dance numbers, but it is pretty exciting. We will continue this soon Mounties, but for now, peace.

If you plan to teach 8th graders, get used to the smell of AXE, yuck city!

DePiro Rules!

The Admissions Office recently became aware of a certain accomplishment of mine that I wasn't really talking about. However, they feel it might help you future Mounties if I blow my own horn a little. So, I guess I'll tell you the story, but I also wanna explain why I wasn't really into tellin' anybody, yet.

As it turns out, I might be smart or super lucky because I achieved a crazy great score on my Praxis tests. In case you didn't know, Praxis tests are like SATs, only for teachers. You have to take two different sections; the first is just basic reading, writing, math, called the Praxis I. The other one is the Praxis II, which tests your content knowledge in your field. You have to score well on both tests before you can be a certified teacher in the keystone state.

I took both tests. The Praxis I was more tricky than hard. I got done with everything pretty quickly, so I had time to go back and look over a lot of my answers. That was really helpful in the reading section and I was able to gut my way through the math. All those numbers still make me nervous.

The thing that helped me the most was I had gone to the website and took the practice tests. That's also where I found the "sample" essays for the test. There was a list of 75 questions and I went through the night before and thought up some details for each. Luckily, I got one of my favorite questions in the booklet. "Should teachers be required to take foreign language credits in college." I smoked that question. Thanks to Dr. Rutledge, I can come at a question like that from a couple of different angles. I got above average in all categories. Go me.

The second test is the one that people really dread. 130, 140ish questions across the different subjects within your discipline. I should explain at this time that I am unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit. I don't know how all that stuff gets up there or how it comes back out, but I am pretty well versed in just about all the main Social Studies subjects... and what I didn't know, I reasoned out. Like I said, there's a lot of luck involved.

I got a package in the mail from ETS( Praxis jerks) and it says that I have scored in the top 15% of people that have ever taken the test. Really?

I've told a few select people, but I really haven't been broadcasting it like a normal person would. Thing was that when I started student teaching, I went way over the kids’ heads right away. A few days later, my co-op and I were talking about how to reach the kids and I told her about my Praxis score. She just off-handedly said that the tests don't really measure teaching ability. I know she didn't mean it, too, but it kinda made me see that score as a handicap. People always talk about teachers that are really gifted knowledge-wise but can't instruct a class for crap. I didn't wanna be that guy.

So there, check out the big brain on this guy. Look what learning at Mount Aloysius can do for you. Now, make us happy and come for a visit to the Mount. I saw big piles of you potential Mounties on campus today. Good night, I'm goin to bed!

I am so smart! I am so smart!
DePiro Rules!

Six is a great number. Just slightly better than its ugly sister 5…and its divisible by 2. The only thing that could make the number six even cooler is by pairing it with a phrase of some kind. A name that is synonymous with the pinnacle of achievement. Of course, I am talking about the Super Bowl and, of course, I am talking about the 6th Vince Lombardi Trophy that will be in the possession of what I like to call "the greatest and most powerful team in the history of the universe," the Pittsburgh Steelers!

They're in again. I could love the match-up more. Our old coordinator and a former collegiate star that played in the city. I hear some saying blowout, for either side. I think we are going to seeing one heck of a game.

Larry Fitzgerald will get his. However, I think the Steelers are ready to go. They look nasty and they have mojo on their side. I'm working extra hard to get myself ready for class Monday morning so I can devote every ounce of my emotion to that football game. I about had a break down during my last one.

I just had to put in my two cents about the biggest game of the year, featuring the best team ever...the Pittburgh Steelers. I bet Art and Myron are sitting up in Heaven smiling down on us... and taking the points, those guys loved to gamble. So, good night everybody. Watch the Steelers O-Line early. If they can find some room for Willie, it’s on. Watch Troy on Larry, you may see Troy Polumalu commit an atrocity. Love thy Steelers! HERE WE GO!

Take a break from waving your towels so you can watch the commercials!

DePiro Rules!

Hey Mounties, how are you doing? Me, ehhh. I just experienced my first truly chaotic school day. They are the trademark of the student teacher as a species. I tried this teaching method called a jigsaw with the kids and they are supposed to teach it to each other. Well, the higher level classes could do this exercise, but some of the classes with a higher percentage of students with accommodations really struggled. I really struggled my first time out of the gate and my poor 2nd period class had to trudge through it with me. Poor 2nd period, I screw up their class up more than anybody. They’re my guinea pigs, little darlings.

Other than student teaching, the only thing that I really have going on is the PSEA. Guys, guess what? We're having a Rock Band Tournament in the Cosgrave Lounge next to the book store. Come and rock the house!!! Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. How can I join in this awesome new event? Well, come down and see us from 4:00-6:00 on Thursday, January 29th. Refreshments, prizes, and Rock and Roll.

Other PSEA stuff…I'm going to Camp Hill on Feb. 6th and 7th to attend a Regional Presidents meeting and you can check me out in the Member Spotlight on psea.org, I'm the thing at the bottom of the page that looks like a bear in a tie.

That's all I have guys. The 8th grade bled me dry. Sweet little darlings. Well, I'm calling this one a big, ugly mulligan and getting myself ready for tomorrow. The best part about being at the bottom is that you can only go up.

Get enough sleep (if you can)
DePiro Rules!
They're my favorite days of all,

Hey Mounties, how are you doing? Me, ehhh. I just experienced my first truly chaotic school day. They are the trademark of the student teacher as a species. I tried this teaching method called a jigsaw with the kids and they are supposed to teach it to each other. Well, the higher level classes could do this exercise, but some of the classes with a higher percentage of students with accommodations really struggled. I really struggled my first time out of the gate and my poor 2nd period class had to trudge through it with me. Poor 2nd period, I screw up their class up more than anybody. They’re my guinea pigs, little darlings.

Other than student teaching, the only thing that I really have going on is the PSEA. Guys, guess what? We're having a Rock Band Tournament in the Cosgrave Lounge next to the book store. Come and rock the house!!! Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. How can I join in this awesome new event? Well, come down and see us from 4:00-6:00 on Thursday, January 29th. Refreshments, prizes, and Rock and Roll.

Other PSEA stuff…I'm going to Camp Hill on Feb. 6th and 7th to attend a Regional Presidents meeting and you can check me out in the Member Spotlight on psea.org, I'm the thing at the bottom of the page that looks like a bear in a tie.

That's all I have guys. The 8th grade bled me dry. Sweet little darlings. Well, I'm calling this one a big, ugly mulligan and getting myself ready for tomorrow. The best part about being at the bottom is that you can only go up.

Get enough sleep (if you can)
DePiro Rules!

It’s me, Adam DePiro. Back for my last go around at my beloved college. The only difference is, this time I'm not going to be on campus to see anybody. I'm spending my last semester out on placement at local schools, learning the dos and don'ts, and, man, there are a lot of don'ts, in education. Unlike my other student teacher buddies, I don't have a Capstone class, so it's smooth sailing for me. My first placement is at Penn Cambria Middle School in Gallitzin. It's a sweet little place and my Co-Op, Cristy Evans, is really nice. Plus, double bonus, she has a Smart Board and let me tell you; those things are sick-awesome. I'm teaching 8th grade Civics and love/hating every minute of it.

Student-teaching is a strange experience because you are one semester removed from being a student yourself, but, now you are an authority figure that has to have all the answers. Mostly, I just put on a show, so that the kids don't know that I'm deathly afraid of them. But, don't let my whining fool you, I'm having a blast! I can't tell you how satisfying it is to make homework for other people. Hahahahahah! Suckers!

I like the 8th graders, because they are just starting to sprout personalities and have just gotten a sense of humor. They can understand a lot of what I say, but we are definitely still in the feeling-out stage of our student/teacher relationship. I did have a lot of passing laws with them, very funny. Well, other than that, join the PSEA, study hard, and if you don't go here, come for a visit and see what the Mount has for you.

1st rule for the student teacher: Don't let the shark see you bleed.
DePiro Rules!

I missed a class, I got a 100 on a test. I started losing more hair, I helped to start a new organization. I came twenty minutes late for my big final presentation in Emergent Literacy, I built a massive Christmas Village and assume the mantle of Santa, that was my favorite. Yup, I don't think I've ever been through a semester with this many ups and downs, but that's what made it so exciting.

Also exciting is that this was my last semester of classes. Its student teaching from here on out. That's gonna be so fun and so terrible, I can't wait. I can honestly say that I have never had a boring day teaching in a school, and that's exactly what I thrive on. Probably not the healthiest thing in the world to enjoy but what are you gonna do?

I'd like to thank all my professors. Dr. Rutledge, who was my most excited visitor during Christmas at the Mount, Dr. Brad Hastings, who I will haunt as Santa in his mind for the rest of his life, Chuck Hamonko who taught the most laid back night class I ever had, and Dr. Devorah Bozella, who helped me overcome my fear of little kids and served as our advisor for the Student PSEA. And of course Dr. Smith who is maybe the best teacher on the planet and is helping me mold myself into an educator for the ages.

Big thanks to my PSEA officers; Sheena Yingling, our Vice President, Emily Ross, our Secretary, and Dawn Cunningham, our Treasurer and to the members that helped us out along the way.

Other people who definitely need a nod are Joan Mix, my Mrs. Claus, Shamim Rajpar, cause your extra helpful and extra cool, and the ladies in student affairs, Dr. Jane Grassadonia, Cathy Trexler, and Melissa, whose last name I don't know yet but was super nice to me during the whole Santaification process.

And to all you guys who tolerate me in class, big ups for you because I know that's not an easy job.

Last but not least, I'd like to thank myself. I can't believe you actually made it through, you're a machine. Not a very well oiled or reliable machine but a machine none the less. I'm just ready for some Christmas. I'm gonna hang out with my family, gain like 10 lbs., and catch up on all the stuff I've been missing out on in the last four months.

We did it, baby. Top o' the world ma'. DePiro Prevails. I hope everyone has a good holiday break and I hope anybody thats interested in coming and sharing my little slice of heaven calls the nice folks in the admissions office for a tour. Way to go Mount Aloysius College, you rule. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love, Big Man.

Be Well
DePiro Rules!

After that, they don't really say much. I hope everybody out there in Mounties land is having a good semester. I am kind of worn out because I have so much stuff going on. I thought it would be a good time to go through my classes and list all the stuff I have left. Turns out, it was way more than I thought. It's ok though, I've got a big Thanksgiving break to catch up with everything.

My family is in from New Orleans and I've been playing the part of "Human Jungle-gym" ever since they walked in the door. It's actually a really good work out, hits the arms, legs, and core. I just wish Eli wouldn't kick me so much. But I'm super excited for Thanksgiving. Turkey and potatoes and stuffing and gravy and pie and turkey and cranberries and turkey and turkey and turkey... Also, I'm a big sappy goof and I love to spend time with my family, which is the best part of any holiday. However, I'm still very focused on my school obligations.

Like being Santa Claus...That's right, the PSEA is now running Santa's Christmas Village for Christmas at the Mount. We don't have all the details worked out yet, but I do know that it is going to be awesome. Other than that, I've been proctoring tests, doing lesson plans, observing in local schools, and losing my mind; but just a little bit. That's one of my coping techniques for late semester stress. Well, I've got holiday stuff to deal with so I gotta run. I hope everybody out there has a good holiday and enjoys the spirit of the season. Destroy turkey and have a good Thanksgiving.

Lots of gravy on everything, I can't stress that enough!

DePiro Rules!

Well, figurative academic fire anyway. Let's go down the list. Turned in my multicultural lesson plan on Wednesday and gave a little presentation with my physical therapists in-training Joe and Dan, and they did an awesome job. By the way, elementary lesson plans are like super hard. Hope I don't have to do anymore of those. I got a 14 out of 15 on my social psychology quiz, unfortunately I talked myself out of a 15 out of 15, don't cha' hate it when that happens. I took my mid-term in Emergent Literacy and feel pretty positive about my performance. I'm thinkin' B-ish range. I also got two observations done in one shot and that was like huge in itself. Big props to Dawn and Ally for letting me come with them and colossally enormous props to Mrs. Glass down at All Saints for letting me in on such short notice. Side note: it was another deja vu experience because it was like I was back in 1st grade at Sacred Heart circa like 1988 or something like that. Finally, the big daddy of my assignments, the dreaded unit plan for methods. It took me like 8 million years and almost gave me a breakdown but I got it finished. Smith said I did a really good job just get the next one in on time. Sweet lady.

Outside of class, the PSEA was approved by the student council so now all we have to do is make this thing happen. A good general knows when to retreat and that's what I did to our meeting. In the best interest of the club, we pushed it back to Oct. 23 at 3:30, in case anybody wants to come. This will give the officers and I the chance to make our meeting the greatest thing since Woodstock, the cool peaceful one not the burn everything one. Total bonus: refund check. My bills are pleased and my gas tank is full. I'm probably missin' something but it's getting to be about my beddy-bye time. So until next time, charge forward with abandon, show no fear, and take no prisoners.

And, wake up a little earlier so you don't have to fly up the mountain.
DePiro Rules!

Classes, Social Psychology, yes, Microeconomics, yes, Multicultural, lesson plan due next week, Emergent Literacy, sorry Dr. Bozella, Intro and Methods are what they are. I am excited to meet my Co-Op teachers next week, that will be the rebeginning of the beginning of the end of the beginning. Get it?

Now as for PSEA, my officers and myself have been running around like crazy people trying to get this bird in the air. We have to get our constitution written and present it to the Student Government. Let's hope that goes better than the real government's bailout thingy. If any of you Ed. majors are reading this go sign up at PSEA.org for the new Mount Aloysius chapter, I've heard it's the super greatest thing ever. It's like Voltron's Blazing Sword only in student club form. Get it?

Now you got it, use it.
DePiro Rules!

Wicked bummer No. 2. I got straight Bs in class this week. I'm fallin apart. It ok, I'm working hard to shake off the blues. I took a learning style test this week. As it turns out, everything is close to normal except that I got the highest rating possible in intuitive learning. Basically, I look at the big picture, survey the scene, then react like a Burmese Tiger...or that I'm disorganized and spacey. Not the best of traits you know.... for a president.

Oh, yeah. I was elected President of the brand new chapter of the PSEA right here at beautiful Mount Aloysius College. What is the PSEA, you ask? The Pennsylvania State Education Association, think teacher union. Yeah, its a branch of the National Education Association, only has something like 3.2 million members nationwide. Nothing big. Long story longer, The MAC education program is starting to take off. We really need the 1 million bucks worth of liability insurance, but there are a ton of other resources available through my new best buddies. Also we have to give it up for the rest of the officers, VP Sheena Yingling, Secretary Dawn Cunningham, and Treasurer Emily Ross. And while were at it, congratulations to all the new education majors about it make the Mountie PSEA chapter a shining example of educational achievement... For America! DePiro 08' USA, USA, USA!

Come on, it's an election year! I had to do it once. Quickly, next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15 at 3:30 if you can't make it let one of the officers know. We got you covered. Umm... Steelers-ouch, do your homework, eat lots of fruit, register to vote, be good. I find myself in need of better organizational skills, Jess suggested getting a nice accordion folder, I'm gonna get one, but I'm gonna call it a Trapper Keeper(sweet). In your face maturity.

Dress well if you have a meeting, you never know when you may be elected president,
DePiro Rules!

Now, if I can go non-meathead for just a few moments I can tell you about the week in education. I gave a presentation in Multi-Cultural class about the history of race in education. I could tell I was starting to lose the class, thanks to Adele, Jess, and Dr. Rutledge for asking me questions at the end, you guys are sweethearts. If you ever have trouble with an audience during a presentation, do what I do. I just think to myself, "Well, the worst thing they can do is rise up against me and overthrow my speech," which would just be fun to be a part of to tell you the truth. It might be like, I dunno, some kind organized melee where action comes from every angle and glory is just a few yards away. They really do need to think of a game that has that.

Just one last thing real quick. Anybody that is struggling in History needs to come see me in the Academic Hall 211 on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30. I am an awesome tutor and can make you brilliant at everything. Come on, give me some business or they'll kick me out. Or you can go visit or other open tutoring sessions in the Learning Center and the Library throughout the week. We make brain smart.

I can't hold it anymore. Football, football, football, football, football...FOOTBALL. Ok, I'm good, go do your homework.

Seriously, Football,
DePiro Rules!