Cassie Pruitt's Blog
Cassie's First Blog Entry
Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Cassie Pruitt, and I'm a junior Elementary Education and Spanish double major here at Hanover. Over the past three years, HC has become my home away from home, and I'm looking forward to sharing with you some details about what college life is like from my perspective.
Since my freshman year, I've had numerous opportunities to become involved in a wide range of groups and activities. With a variety of experiences under my belt such as participating on the cheerleading squad or being a Peer Advisor, I now dedicate my spare time and energy to a few organizations that are most important to me including my sorority, Chi Omega, and College Mentors for Kids. I also work as a Library Lab Assistant and a tutor in the College's Learning Center.
My classes this term are also proving to be great learning opportunities. My favorite course is Math and Science Methods for my Elementary Education major. I'm passionate about education and am so excited to be a teacher soon, so this class tends to be one of my favorites. In addition to doing fun activities and experiments with my peers each week, I also get to spend several hours in a local fifth grade classroom. It's been a while since I was in fifth grade and I think the students are teaching me just as much as I've taught them! This is a very common occurrence for me at Hanover, because I've learned that my professors and my classmates will stretch and challenge my thinking every time I enter a classroom.
Nearly all of my classes at Hanover center on discussion and professors not only welcome, but also strongly encourage the sharing of ideas and opinions among students in order to facilitate an engaging learning environment. I'm confident that the liberal arts education that I'm receiving is preparing me to think outside the box and to be an outstanding educator in the future.
Well I suppose I should wrap up my first blog, but I have so much more to tell you. Be sure to stop by each week as I'll be writing more then!
Cassie's Blog - May 6, 2008 Updated
This past week flew by and spring term is already a quarter of the way over! People have settled into their classes and the usual routines of a new term. So far, my classes are going very well. The movies I've been watching in my Spanish class have been interesting and my education portfolio is continuing to grow as I work on that for my education course. I can't believe that in only a year, I'll search for teaching jobs and prepare myself for the real world. Time sure flies by here at school; it seems like just yesterday that I arrived and moved into my freshman dorm. Now I'm looking at the end of my third year!
This weekend was also very eventful for me! Friday night I participated in Relay for Life along with many other students. Several of my sorority sisters and I raised money for the American Cancer Society and walked for several hours at the event. On Saturday, I achieved a major goal for myself. I'm not much of a runner, but I have always wanted to do a 5K. I participated in a race held on campus called Race to the Point. One of my best friends and I ran the course that wound throughout campus. It was a great run, and I was really proud of myself for doing something new. Finally, last night my wiffleball team had our first game! Although we lost, we had another game this afternoon and won and I even scored a home run!
The infamous Spring Term at Hanover is finally here! After Spring Break, it was great to return to my friends here at school and a campus in spring bloom. Today was the second day of classes, and so far I think mine are going to be really interesting. The main class that I'm taking focuses on women in Spanish movies. Therefore, we will be watching a number of Spanish films and reading supplemental materials in order to learn about the history, culture, and contemporary society of Spain particularly in connection to the role of women there. The other course I'm taking (although the majority of students only take one class in May) is one in which I am continuing to work on and build my teaching portfolio.
The great thing about Spring Term is that, since there are less classes to focus on, I am able to push through and get my homework done so I have much more time to spend with my friends in great activities on campus. This week is Greek Week so members of the sororities and fraternities on campus have had fun things to do with that. Yesterday we had a cookout with a band and today were the Greek games. My sorority sister and I played Euchre and came in second place! Other activities for the week include a community service day, a Greek sing, and an awards ceremony. Another tradition in which I am taking part this month is the campus wiffleball tournament. Several of my elementary education friends and I are on a team and our first game is this weekend! I'm not the most talented wiffleball player, but it's so much fun to be out with tons of other students and get involved. I'll update you next time on how the game goes!
Cassie's Blog - April 14, 2008
Three days and counting and then a week and a half of Spring Break will finally be here! I don't have much to tell about the last week except that it was fairly busy for everyone with papers, projects or tests. I'm finished with my four classes for the term and now only have two exams and an interview with a professor left to go! Thursday, I did go with my friend to Indianapolis to meet the principal and mentor teachers we will have next fall in student teaching. After spending several hours at the school, we also stopped by a few complexes to go apartment shopping. Everything is starting to come together and feel so real. I'm so excited for August to arrive!
Cassie's Blog - April 08, 2008
Here I am right in the middle of Dead Week at Hanover (the week before finals). By Friday, all of my regular classes for this term will be over and I'll just have my final exams to take. Luckily, my last exam is on Tuesday, so that will give me an extra long spring break to look forward to! I'm planning to visit three of my friends from high school at IU and to spend lots of time with family and friends at home.
I'm also really looking forward to spring term when I return from break! I think if you asked any student at Hanover, they would assure you that spring term is the absolute best time of year on campus. During the month of May, everyone takes one class that typically meets every day for several hours. I'll actually take two, but the second one is a much smaller course I need for my education major. The main class that I'll take is a Spanish class that will focus on women in Spanish movies.
Also, I can't wait for the incredible weather that spring term brings. The warm temperatures will be perfect for walking or riding bikes around campus and particularly for playing late night games of wiffleball at the tournament one of the fraternities holds to raise money for charity. This year I am on a team with the girls from my education class. Hopefully we'll be tough and show them what we're made of!
Many students will go on special trips off campus for all or part of spring term. For example, one of my roommates will spend May in Italy and my boyfriend is going with a class for a weeklong Geology trip to Iowa. Last spring term I had the wonderful opportunity to spend 3 and a half weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. During this time, I lived with a family there, had class with a professor and other Hanover students, and we went on some amazing excursions to various Mayan ruins and sites of the area. I've included a few pictures from this trip as well!
Cassie's Blog - March 31, 2008
I can't believe how quickly this term is winding to a close. I only have two more weeks of regular classes before finals and Spring Break! It's a nice feeling to know that a break is soon approaching, but it's also overwhelming when I look at the list of papers and tests I have coming up.
In addition to a busy time with classes and the corresponding work and studies, I've also had a chance to participate in some great activities this week. Wednesday, I went to a community center for Spanish speaking residents of Madison and read a story to children at bilingual story hour. As both a Spanish and elementary education major, this was a great opportunity for me to work with children and practice my Spanish.
Speaking of my education major, I received my placement for student teaching next fall! I'll teach in a third grade classroom at an elementary school in the Indianapolis area along with a close friend of mine from Hanover who will be in a fourth grade class there. We're both looking forward to having an apartment for several months and getting to experience life in the city and trying to cook meals for ourselves, which could turn out to be quite interesting!
Another incredible opportunity I had this week was to hear world-renowned researcher Dr. Jane Goodall speak at Hanover. In a gym packed with students, professors, staff, community members and others, Dr. Goodall spoke of the road she has traveled since her childhood to bring her to the place she is today. One critical message I was able to take from her lecture is the fact that even though I am only one individual, every action I take to protect the environment makes a difference. In addition, she reminded us that the youth of today are truly the source of change for tomorrow, especially in protecting our environment.
As if the week couldn't get much more exciting, my weekend was wonderful as well. Friday night I had a chance to go to a formal dance with two of my close friends from another sorority. Then, Saturday morning, I had the distinct honor along with nineteen other juniors to be inducted into a nationally recognized senior honor society, Mortar Board. I felt so proud to have this honor bestowed on me and look forward to the ways I can make a difference in this organization next year by continuing to work diligently at scholarship, community service and leadership.
Cassie's Blog - March 25, 2008
Hello and welcome back to my blog! This past week flew by once again, but it was a very enjoyable one. Thursday, my roommates and I had a lot of fun along with many other students at the President's house for the Junior Celebration. President DeWine invited all the members of my class to her home for an open house, appetizers, dinner and a variety of desserts. After sharing a toast with us, she challenged us as we approach our senior year at Hanover to make the most of our time here on campus. She recommended taking advantage of opportunities to experience events on campus for which we've not yet had a chance and to find something new to try each day. President and Mr. DeWine have been such an incredible addition to campus in their first year at Hanover and I've been particularly impressed with their desire to get to know students first-hand. I've had many occasions to chat with her including a Halloween party for all students at her house, dinner at my sorority and the event the past week. The DeWines have been extremely involved with activities on campus and show genuine interest in the talents, events and opinions of all students.
This weekend was also fun-filled and busy with my sorority formal and Easter celebrations at home. On Saturday, my Chi Omega sisters and our dates took charter buses to Louisville Glassworks for our formal dance. Our theme was "Midnight Masquerade," so we each had sparkly masks to complete our look. After a buffet style meal, we danced the night away before returning to campus! Not only do Greek organizations at Hanover have events such as this, but we also place an emphasis on being involved in a variety of campus groups, sisterhood and philanthropy. For instance, this week my Chi O sisters and I hosted an Easter egg hunt for the campus preschool/daycare center for the second year in a row.
Sunday, I went to church at home and had Easter meals with my family. It was nice to be at home for the day and to see my Dad, Mom, older brother and my extended family. I hope you all had a great Easter as well!
Cassie's Blog - March 17, 2008
I can't believe how fast the past week flew by! The snow I mentioned in my last blog melted and things even warmed up a bit here on campus. On Thursday, the temperature hit a high that we haven't seen in a while, so my boyfriend, Steven, and I decided it was just the right day to take a hike to one of my favorite spots on campus. (If you enjoy the outdoors, there are some great trails here or nearby!)
I also taught my last math and science lessons to my fifth graders. Although it was a lot of work, the comments from many students about how much they enjoyed the activities made me so happy. I was able to grade their post-tests the other night and see the improvement they had made. I was so proud of many students because I could tell how much they had learned and how hard they had worked!
Speaking of my education class, I'm trying to wait patiently to receive my student teaching placement letter for next year. Here at Hanover, the education department gives students the choice of living on campus and student teaching at a nearby school, or some opt to have an urban teaching experience in Louisville, Cincinnati, or Indianapolis. My roommate from my freshman year and I have decide to teach in an urban school in Indianapolis next fall and I'm so excited about the wonderful experiences I will have living in the city and working with a diverse group of children. Although I'll be sad to be off campus for nearly half of my senior year, I know that seeing new places and having new challenges will help me to grow and use what I've learned at Hanover so far.
I just relaxed this weekend, working on homework and spending time with friends and my boyfriend. Yesterday I went out with my Chi Omega family (my big sister, my little sister, and my little, little sister in the sorority) to the Cheesecake Factory in Louisville. Last night, all of my sorority sisters went for dinner at a restaurant in Madison! In case you are interested in Greek life at Hanover, I'll try to write more about it in the future because it has been an incredible part of my experience here and I'm always happy to share with people about it! Well, I think that's all I have for now, but I'll write more soon. Have a wonderful week!
Cassie's Blog - March 10, 2008 
Well, the first week back from winter break proved to be rather busy for me! I attended a reading conference in Indianapolis with a classmate and one of my education professors. Along with several interesting sessions, I gained many great ideas, and my peer, Stephanie, and I presented book posters along with other college students from Indiana.
Additionally, in my science and math methods courses for elementary education, I've been working on my largest project, my lesson series. Luckily, I had to do this last semester for my language arts and social studies methods class so I already have had some experience with it. This week I began the first grouping of lessons on my chosen themes, which are states of matter, temperature and working with data.
I gave the students a pre-test to check for prior knowledge and understanding and then taught a 45-minute science lesson and a 45-minute math lesson. This took a great deal of preparation, but it was a huge success! One of the activities we did that my fifth graders loved was making what I called "mysterious goo." The class mixed cornstarch and water together and then had to decide whether it was a solid or liquid. What's interesting about this is that it actually has characteristics of both so it made it a more challenging task for the students …. not to mention they had lots of fun rolling up their sleeves and getting messy! After getting great feedback from my host teacher and seeing how engaged students were during the lessons, it made my hard work and preparation worth it and reaffirmed how much I want to be a teacher. Although I still have a great deal of work ahead of me in teaching my lessons for days two and three, it's nice to have a great start!
Now I'm enjoying a relaxing weekend and trying to keep warm after the blanket of snow that covered campus yesterday and last night! Even though the local authorities have asked us not to be on the roads, all I've had to do was don my plaid rain boots and take a short walk wherever I wanted to go on campus. Luckily, the sun has made an appearance today and I can hear the birds chirping outside my window as I'm writing, so hopefully spring is even closer than it seems! Have a great week and keep warm!
About Cassie
Year in school: Junior
Hometown: Pekin, Indiana
Major: Elementary Education, Spanish
Wants to be: Elementary Teacher
Hobbies: Reading, working with children, Spanish, staying involved on campus, and spending time with my wonderful family, boyfriend, and friends.
Where I hope to travel: Ireland, Italy, Central and South America, and England
Where I've traveled: Mexico, the Bahamas, and various states
Favorite Movie: Father of the Bride I & II
Pet: A Westie and Beagles
Who would play me in the movies: Alexis Bledel
Favorite Hanover memory so far: I'm not sure if I could possibly choose one memory from so many great moments since I've been here. A few that come to mind, though, are campus wide snowball fights, spending time with my sorority sisters and other Hanover friends, and spending my sophomore year Spring Term with a class in Mérida, Mexico.
Facebook or MySpace: Facebook
Biggest hope or dream: To one day raise a family and to inspire and make a difference in children's lives through education.
