Semester 1 round 3 February 18, 2010

DONE!

I just finished my first semester of trying to become a teacher.  This next endeavor involves taking some state licensure exams so that’s why I used the term “trying” to become a teacher.  I’m still a little unsure of my ability to actually perform when the rubber meets the road.  But we’ll see.

The grades are in and there’s A’s all the way around.  I’m good like that, but have trouble retaining the information that I used to get those A’s.  Time will tell.

I’ve had to bite the bullet and start applying for student loans.  The Cop is going to school as well, and it’s a little tough to make our world go around with both hefty expenses looming over us.  So we’ll just put mine off for a little while ~ or something like that. 

Anyway, in 2 weeks I start the wonderful world of Math for Elementary Teachers, and Fundamentals of Instruction… ooooh the nitty gritty.  Lesson plans, and word problems.  Can’t wait!!!  I’ll keep you posted!!   And by you, I mean me.

So It’s been a long time… February 1, 2010

And the last time I was on here, I had great ambitions to start a new blog somewhere else.  Yah, that’s not going to happen.  I’m kind of impulsive like that – I found a better blog address somewhere else so I thought I’d run with it.  Eh.   I’m just not feeling it, why mess with an OK thing.  That particular portion of my personality leaves me standing in the return line at Target more times than not.  *Sigh*  I am who I am……

 

So anyway.  Where have I left off in my degree journey??  Currently I am 2 classes away from completing my 3rd session and finishing Semester numero uno.  I’m taking Psychology which is somewhat entertaining with the help of a fabulous professor that keeps it upbeat and light, and then there’s Special Ed for Inclusion which is just a little more detailed than the last one.  This week I’m working on modifying a lesson plan, and technically I haven’t learned how to do lesson plans yet.  So we’ll just have to see how that all works out.

 

Up next… it’s starting to get exciting…. as if it wasn’t already.  I’m taking Math for Elementary teachers (Numbers & Functions), now I’ve already completed a degree in Business Finance, so needless to say I’m the only one looking forward to 3 math classes in a row.  The first one is coupled with Foundations of Instruction, which includes the purchase of 3 text books and the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.  Yeee Haw..  It also is instructed by the professor that taught my very first EDU. class.  And to that I give a big… #$%T^$@ .  I liked her enough, but she was a smidge nit picky, and with a group of adults that are doing this voluntarily, one need not be so picky, really.  But that’s just my 2 cents.

 

So that’s all for now.  If this were a blog about my life, I’d have much more to add, and I may yet, but right now there’s homework to do. 

Pathetic… January 5, 2010

Yah so that last post sounded familiar as I was typing it… I already begged for no one’s help in the previous post.  Whatever.  It’s my blog.

And since I clearly haven’t exactly taken off yet with this whole bloggy thing… I’m thinking about moving, just to try something sorta new.  Check me out at www.theteacherspet.edublogs.com

Thanks.

Welcome Speech… January 5, 2010

I need to write one, and I’ve never really thought about it before.  I need to come up with something that will spur a sense of community and cooperation in an inclusive classroom.  I know no one reads this but I would love no one’s advise on what should or absolutely should not be said!    Many thanks!! 

So It’s Been A Long Time December 30, 2009

I am now 4 classes down… and too many more to go.  I finished up on the 19th of December, just in time for Mr. Man’s 4th birthday, and then to be thrust full force in to holiday catch up duty.  The last 2 classes I took really kicked my butt, and consumed every ounce of spare time I had, hence the lack o’ blogging.  I didn’t even have time for my beloved soccer team and I missed that terribly.  That keeps me sane – and saves me from having to buy new clothes because I’m fat – hey whatever works for you, right?!?!? 

Anyway….  I finished up Intro to Special Ed with a project on Dyslexia, and ended up with an A-.  I’m THRILLED with that because I really bombed the quizzes every week, and one isn’t bad, but it happened EVERY week, so I started to worry.  But all was for not, and I did fine.  I also finished Children’s Literature with a project on Katherine Paterson and the Bridge to Terabithia (get me some Kleenex PLEASE!), and walked away with an A in that class.  Woooo Hoooo – all A’s so far!!  I might be a smidge of an overachiever.

Now I start in a week and a half taking Intro to Psychology, and Special Ed and Inclusion.  I’m eyeball deep in notes for the Special Ed. class already, and working on my “welcome speech for the first day of school” – no idea how that’s going to go… any advice would be helpful (assuming people read this).  As for the Psychology class, still no syllabus posted, so it’s a guess.  I suppose when I finish up the Special ed. work, I’ll read the first chapter in the Psych book… seems like a good place to start.

 

I hope everyone had a great holiday, and here’s to a Happy and Healthy 2010.

Why I Haven’t Been Blogging? December 3, 2009

Brace yourself for the list of excuses…. They’re good, I promise…. well good by my standards and it’s my blog so think what you want.

1. I needed to make this happen…

2. Christmas shopping….

 

3. A little sweetheart tradition that The Cop and I do every year…

4. A much needed week off from school left me not much to blog about really.

5. A much needed week off from school to catch up and dare I say slightly ahead on homework.

6. A much needed week off from school to start hacking away on the bevy of projects due on someone’s birthday.

7. My child is going through some nasty growing pains…

8. I’ve been focusing on him more than blogging.  Somethings are way more important than blogging. 

9. This little boy….

10. …Is going to be 4 in two weeks, and it makes me cry just to think about it.

Overwhelmed. November 15, 2009

I was warned that this would happen. I’m usually pretty good at keeping up with things, and just getting them done when they need to be that I wasn’t too worried about this little venture. But here I sit. Sunday – thinking back on yesterday and last week and I want to light fire to all my books and notes and spend next Saturday on a plane to a tropical island by myself. My fingers hurt from the 25+ pages of notes that I took from my Special Ed. reading last week. I’m literally trying to find new ways to hold my pen because my middle finger is sore. I have NO CLUE what is to when anymore. Both classes are so intense in note taking and projects that my head is spinning. I’m on the bridge, but more than likely I won’t jump off. My grades are still where I like them so no need to panic yet. I’m just holding my breath for the next 5 weeks. AACK!!

Semester 1, Round 2 November 10, 2009

So Saturday was my first day with 2 new classes. The morning was Introduction to Special Education, and the afternoon was Children’s Literature. Both will be very intense classes, but I only have 5 more classes of each. So bring it on – not too much though. The special ed. class is fun, I’m there with nearly everyone from my previous EDU class, and a few from my American Gov. class (hack, cough). So I know the majority of the people, and that is good… very good. Because….. My Children’s lit. class is full of strangers. Six of them to be exact. They have all taken classes together, and with this professor – but I haven’t. I don’t know anyone, and I don’t know the professor. Poohey. Seriously. But….. come what may, I’m gonna be a teacher some day, and a bunch of catty strangers aren’t going to stop me. OK, I added the catty part myself, but I kinda got that vibe from them. I hope they prove me wrong. So far I have done all the reading for the Lit. class, and taken copious notes on it because I loathe literature. I showed up to my Special Ed. class, and she announced that we were having a quiz on the notes we took on our reading. DOH! I was so sick of taking notes when I started reading the special ed stuff that I didn’t bother. See – literature always ends up biting me in the back side! MAN! And… may I interject (strong teacher word there!) who is this woman who 5 min. after meeting each one of us feels the need to slap a quiz in front of us. The absolute NERVE! Well, next week will be better. It’s tuesday, and I need to find a book to write a 2-3 paged paper on. Hmmm…. Plenty of time.

Answered Prayer November 10, 2009

I just read the most encouraging blog post in a long time. For quite a while now, I’ve been following Stellan’s story. He’s a little one year old who yesterday nearly died. He is in the most capable heart surgeon’s hands and this doctor worked a miracle on this boy’s tiny heart. Little Stellan may never know what it’s like to have the trouble he’s had until now ever again. He still needs much prayer, as there are several issues related to his recent surgery that are wreaking havoc on his little body, but as his mommy put it, he won this battle, and we’ll continue to pray as he fights the war.

Round 1 Finished!! October 29, 2009

So last Saturday was my last class in the first session of this semester.  Each semester consists of 3 6 week sessions in which I take 2 classes, so that’s 6 classes per semester which is full time and then some.  I passed in my final projects for both classes.  My EDU class I had to make up a pretend school and make a brochure and a poster to advertise it which was extremely fun.  My GOV class I had to lead a discussion that lasted at least 15 min. on crime in the late 20th century.  That was hardly fun if not a little painful.  But the Cop felt very useful and he was sure to weigh in with his 2 cents on various portions of it.

So anyway, I got my grades for both classes yesterday, and I’ll thank you very much for my A-‘s in each one!  I was very happy with those grades since my first couple papers in the EDU class were B’s, I finally got my groove after week 2.  And the GOV class ranked right up there with a colonoscopy in terms of holding my interest – actually the colonoscopy might even win.  So needless to say, I spent much of the class texting Scott or whoever would listen to me, but I still managed to eek out a 100 on the final exam – I’m sure that helped! 

So no on to EDU 230 – Introduction to Special Ed. and ENG 210 – Children’s Literature.  Both of which I’m totally excited for, and both of which I’m already up to my eyeball in homework for.  I have this Saturday off to go Trick or Treating with the Monkey and the Lion (there will be a picture or two to come), and back to the grind next Saturday the 7th.