Faculty Spotlight: Chaney Floyd

Sorry folks, with Spring Break last week, I wasn't able to catch any of the faculty for an interview. Chaney travels around the state a lot and his office is at the North Little Rock campus but I managed to snag him yesterday when he was on campus for our faculty meeting. Here's what Dr. Floyd had to say!

Me: How many years have you been in the field of education?

Chaney: 45 years.

Me: What made you decide to become a teacher?

C: I came from a small town and didn’t have the money to go to school. I loved athletics though and I ended up getting a football scholarship. I became a teacher because I wanted to be able to help students improve their education and make something of themselves.

Me: What is your favorite thing about your job?

C: Working with my students and helping them improve.

Me: What is your favorite class/subject to teach?

C: I really like teaching School & Community relations because it takes the whole community into account. In a lot of small towns, the community revolves around the school and you have to get everyone in the community on board in order to make things work.

Me: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you in the classroom?

C: My classes have a lot of discussion and sometimes it’s pretty funny to see my students get really fired up about something we’re discussing. I think it’s great for them to be able to voice their opinions though. I would rather them interact in class rather than sit there like bumps on a log.

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time?

C: I love spending time with my family and going to high school or college ball games (football & basketball). I like high school/college sports better than pro sports because it seems at the pro level they’re in it just for the money. At the high school and college level, they are in it for the love of the game.

Me: If you could travel anywhere in the world all expenses paid, where would you go?

C: I think it would be really neat to teach in Italy (at HUF) for a semester. Even if it was just for a 

summer semester, I think it would be great just to say I’d been there and I’d love to travel around and see the sights.

Me: What is your favorite season and why?

C: I like fall. It’s football season and the weather is so clean and refreshing. It’s a nice relief after the brutal heat of an Arkansas summer.

Me: If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

C: I’d like to meet Jesus because he was the only perfect person in this world.

Me: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

C: “Don’t believe anything you hear and only about half of what you see.” I had a coach tell me that once and I really liked it.

My Teacher Could Beat Up Your Teacher

I received this in an email forward the other day and thought it was too funny not to pass on!

A former sergeant, having served his time with the Marine Corps, took a new job as a school teacher, but just before the school year started he injured his back. He was required to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. Fortunately, the cast fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable.

On the first day of class, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in the school. The smart-alec punks, having already heard the new teacher was a former Marine, were leery of him and decided to see how tough he really was before trying any pranks.

Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, the new teacher opened the window wide and sat down at his desk. When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he picked up a stapler and promptly stapled the tie to his chest.

Dead silence.....He had no trouble with discipline that year.

Faculty Spotlight: Lauren Boone

I couldn't catch Lauren in her office but we did manage a phone interview this afternoon. Here's what our resident TESL professor had to say!

Me: How many years have you been in the field of education?

Lauren: 11.

Me: What made you decide to become a teacher?

L: It just kinda happened to me, to be honest. It wasn’t something I was initially planning on doing.

Me: What is your favorite thing about your job?

L: Meeting new and interesting people all the time.

Me: What is your favorite class/subject to teach?

L: Grammar.

Me: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you in the classroom?

L: Because I teach international students, sometimes I don’t always know what they are trying to say or what they really mean so I find myself trying to sound things out. I’m sure I sound ridiculous and it often turns into a scene that looks like we’re playing a game of Mad Gab or something!

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time?

L: Cook, bake, exercise, and watch TV

Me: If you could travel anywhere in the world all expenses paid, where would you go?

L: Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I have always had a romanticized view of that place from things I’ve read and watched. Just the old train trips through the Rockies and everything – it seems like a neat place. People have told me it’s not as great as I have built it up in my mind but I still want to see it for myself.

Me: What is your favorite season and why?

L: Fall – I like to see the leaves change and people burning fires when it the weather gets a little chilly. I also just really enjoy fall activities and pumpkins and Thanksgiving. I just love everything about the season.

Me: If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

L: It’s not exactly one person in particular but I’d like to meet someone who’s been through something completely devastating like the Holocaust or ethnic wars, etc and just interview them. I’d like to know how they persisted through it and came out in one piece. I’d love to know what kept them from just giving up in such a horrible situation.

Me: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

L: One of my old bosses told me not to sweat the small stuff and that 99% of stuff is small stuff. He said to not worry and stress out over things because most of them are going to blow over shortly and then it will have been energy wasted on nothing.

The Jammin' Classroom

On February 23, 2012, the departments of mathematics and education at Harding University along with Harding Academy will be presenting,

The Jammin’ Classroom with Debra Cave

Songs that make learning unforgettable!

All education majors are invited to participate in any of the following presentations.  In the music and movement program, all attendees will be active participants learning songs that teach math and science topics.  In the informal presentations, Mrs. Cave will share the evidence for this style of learning and the history of the program.  She is a Harding alumnus and is the creator and producer of this exciting program.

When: Thursday, February 23, 2012

Where: Ganus Athletic Center North Half

Schedule:

10:00 – 10:45

The music and movement program will be presented to Harding Academy K-2 and Math 240-01 as well as any additional education students.

11:00 – 11:50

Informal presentation and Q&A session with Debra Cave for Math 240-02 as well as any additional education students

Lunch

1:00 – 1:45

The music and movement program will be presented to Harding Academy 3-6 and HU student teachers as well as any additional education students.

2:00 – 2:50

Informal presentation and Q&A session with Debra Cave for HU student teachers as well as any additional education students

Faculty Spotlight: Maribeth Downing

Well I've been trying to track down Dr. Downing for months now and never seem to be able to catch her at a good time but today I was finally successful! I ran into her today when she was getting a coffee in the break room and managed to squeeze in a quick interview with her before she headed off to class. Here's what she had to say!

Me: How many years have you been in the field of education?

Maribeth: 45 years.

Me: What made you decide to become a teacher?

MD: My 5th grade teacher - I wanted to be just like her.

 

Me: What is your favorite thing about your job?

MD: The students definitely. We wouldn't be here without them!

Me: What is your favorite class/subject to teach?

MD: I used to teach art for 4th thru 6th grade and I absolutely loved it. Sometimes my classroom was a complete mess but it was so much fun.

 

Me: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you in the classroom?

MD: One day I went home at lunch and was very tired so I decided to take a quick nap before coming back to campus for my 2:00 class. I was wearing a linen dress and jacket and didn't want to get it wrinkled so I changed into something else before laying down. I ended up oversleeping a little bit so I was rushing around to get ready. I made it to class in time but I didn't realize until class was over that my dress had been on inside out! I found it quite amusing but was curious as to whether my students had noticed and just not told me. I asked them during the next class whether they had noticed anything strange about the way I was dressed the last time we had class. No one had even noticed at all so I guess it wasn't that bad!

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time?

MD: I collect antique dolls. It's always a bonus when you can find them with their original clothes already but more often than not they don't have the right clothes so I make the clothing myself. It takes some time to research the time period and pick out the appropriate fabrics and colors but it's something I really enjoy.

Me: If you could travel anywhere in the world all expenses paid, where would you go?

MD: England. I went to HUE (Harding University in England) one semester and I have been to England numerous other times. I absolutely love it.

 

Me: What is your favorite season and why?

MD: Spring - I love to see everything coming back to life.

 

Me: If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

MD: Winston Churchill. He came from a very dysfunctional family and his father told him he'd never amount to anything but clearly that wasn't the case!

 

Me: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

MD: "Learn when to shut up." [laughs] I definitely haven't mastered that one yet!

Faculty Spotlight: Allen Henderson

Sorry folks - I did this interview early last week but somehow missed out on posting it last Thursday. Check out what Allen Henderson had to say when I met with him last Monday!

Me: How many years have you been in the field of education?

Allen: About 25 years.

Me: What made you decide to become a teacher?

A: I enjoyed school a whole lot especially high school & jr. high and I had some really good teachers.

Me: What is your favorite thing about your job?

A: The interaction with the students.

Me: What is your favorite class/subject to teach?

A: I enjoy the Biology 408/Math 298 class that I teach.

Me: What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you in the classroom?

A: When I first started teaching here, I was lecturing in a class. I was talking and talking away about my slides in my PowerPoint only to realize part way thru the lecture that the projector wasn’t even turned on so the students weren’t seeing my presentation!

Me: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: I like to spend time with my kids and I also like to read if I get the chance.

Me: If you could travel anywhere in the world all expenses paid, where would you go?

A: I would probably go back to HUF (Harding University in Florence).

Me: What is your favorite season and why?

A: I think fall just because of the weather… and football!

Me: If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?

A: I think it would be interesting to meet Lewis & Clark.

Me: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

A: I don't know if anyone has specifically told me this or not but just the idea of not putting things off.

The Faculty Bookshelves Revisited

  
 

"A house without books is like a room without windows" 

- Heinrich Mann

Back in November, I gave you a look at the faculty's bookshelves; a collection of books that the faculty recommended regarding education and professional development. Contrary to popular belief however, professors do like to read things other than educational materials! Back when I asked the faculty for book recommendations, I also asked them to include one of their favorite "just for fun" books. Here's a list of books from some of our professors that proves they do read things other than textbooks and student lesson plans! Who knows, you might even find that you've read some of the same books as your profs!

The Confession - John Grisham

Navy Husband - Debbie Macomber

The Walk and Miles to Go (series) – Richard Paul Evans

Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell

Guardians of the Lights – Elinor De Wire

Lists to Live By: The Christian Collection – Alice Gray, Steve Stephens and John Van Diest

The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver

Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe

Imaginary Jesus – Matt Mikalatos

The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains – Nicholas Carr

Sarah’s Key – Tatiana de Rosnay

If you were to make a "just for fun" reading list, what books would be on your list? Let us know your favorites in the comments!