The next semester is approaching & although I have the sneaking suspicion that I am not going to cross everything off my to do list, I am looking forward to the next challenge! I was lucky enough to be selected to join a special literacy program where the majority of my classes will be held at an actual elementary school, giving me the opportunity to work with students right away - and I can't wait to be learning in a real life situation!!
One more week of crossing off items on the 'to do' list, one more week of 'time to breathe' and then I will be off and running once again!
And, it should be noted that 2012 is almost here..........
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
December 25, 2011
Happy Christmas to all! Now I can keep up with all my student peers as I play with my new iPad2!!!
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Blowing the Curve!!
I am just so excited; kind of 'fit to be tied' that I can officially state that I got all A's for my first semester grades! 4.0 - Dean's List and all that jazz! It is such a thrill and I am very proud.
The thing that I want people to understand though, is that it is certainly not brains that got me my As! Some was natural ability - I am lucky enough to speak well in public, so although the exams were a trial, the public speaking part of Oral Comm was a much easier grade for me than most - although I worked hard to produce good citations (APA, MLA, all a foreign language to me!) and outlines. My fabulous Queen's School 'grounding' made writing easier for College Writing and Research, and the fact that I already knew how to articulate thoughts that were (mostly) grammatically correct, was a huge plus.......but here is the thing, it was all of the hours at my desk upstairs that got me those A's. Most evenings I was studying, typing or brainstorming. Weekends were full of extra study. So, even though a good portion of my classmates were more up-to-date in their learning and had as much if not more natural ability, it was the being prepared to keep working...all the time...that earned me A's - and not being embarrassed to ask for help - and understanding that professors aren't just there to help me while in class, they are paid to help me out of class too!
4.0. Cool.
The thing that I want people to understand though, is that it is certainly not brains that got me my As! Some was natural ability - I am lucky enough to speak well in public, so although the exams were a trial, the public speaking part of Oral Comm was a much easier grade for me than most - although I worked hard to produce good citations (APA, MLA, all a foreign language to me!) and outlines. My fabulous Queen's School 'grounding' made writing easier for College Writing and Research, and the fact that I already knew how to articulate thoughts that were (mostly) grammatically correct, was a huge plus.......but here is the thing, it was all of the hours at my desk upstairs that got me those A's. Most evenings I was studying, typing or brainstorming. Weekends were full of extra study. So, even though a good portion of my classmates were more up-to-date in their learning and had as much if not more natural ability, it was the being prepared to keep working...all the time...that earned me A's - and not being embarrassed to ask for help - and understanding that professors aren't just there to help me while in class, they are paid to help me out of class too!
4.0. Cool.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
One more result..
I am just waiting on one last professor - my ed psych exam from the first day of finals - and IF all my math is correct and IF that exam result went the way that I believe that it did, I will have a perfect 4.0! I won't quite believe it until the official results are posted, but hey! I am going to be so very, very gratified, satisfied and downright thrilled!
One of my friends posted on FaceBook that she was so proud of her daughter for getting straight As - and so she should be. It takes determination and hard work; which is a heck of a lot easier in your 40s, even if your brain does feel slower and sometimes you have to Google the professor's request to find out what the heck they are talking about (write a reflection paper? What is that?). I had many kids in class who could have/should have had A's, but they avoided extra credit assignments and turned in work late. That just doesn't work!
Here is my theory on getting a good grade: show up every class. Participate in every class. If you don't understand, make an appointment with your professor. Turn in every piece of work, on time, professionally presented. Do EVERY piece of extra credit. That will at least give you a strong start AND (this is important), put the professor on YOUR side!!
One of my friends posted on FaceBook that she was so proud of her daughter for getting straight As - and so she should be. It takes determination and hard work; which is a heck of a lot easier in your 40s, even if your brain does feel slower and sometimes you have to Google the professor's request to find out what the heck they are talking about (write a reflection paper? What is that?). I had many kids in class who could have/should have had A's, but they avoided extra credit assignments and turned in work late. That just doesn't work!
Here is my theory on getting a good grade: show up every class. Participate in every class. If you don't understand, make an appointment with your professor. Turn in every piece of work, on time, professionally presented. Do EVERY piece of extra credit. That will at least give you a strong start AND (this is important), put the professor on YOUR side!!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Day off?!
I thought that I would try to give myself the weekend off; after all, I really have been working my tail off and hey, isn't that what students do once finals are over? Well, I have discovered that doing nothing is exhausting. First of all, I have a pile of things that are on my 'to do' list; the list that grew beyond compare during those last two weeks of papers and exams, so the guilt was extreme. Secondly, my body just couldn't handle the strain of 'nothing' and I fell asleep on my book; no doubt with a trail of unattractive drool dribbling down my chin!!
Still waiting for grades.
Going to start working on the 'to do' list tomorrow.
There is also that 'Christmas' thing. The fact that it is just around the corner hit my radar today; guess that I should start doing something about it!!!
Still waiting for grades.
Going to start working on the 'to do' list tomorrow.
There is also that 'Christmas' thing. The fact that it is just around the corner hit my radar today; guess that I should start doing something about it!!!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Day after finals!
Day after the final final - so I thought that I would give myself a gift; be a real student! Yes, I instructed the family to let me sleep and didn't schedule myself at work until noon. Of course, I am not 19, so I woke up at 6 as usual. Did go back to sleep, but after lying there for a while pretending that I could sleep, I gave up and got up. Still a nice break, cuddled with the dogs on the couch!
I bet most of my classmates are still in bed though!
I bet most of my classmates are still in bed though!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Finals are over!
Survived my first finals week; was at one with the 19-year olds, late nights of studying and last minute cramming; with a few changes in that I also had 'stuff' to do at home and a family to share my time with! Paul and Ben were great, super supportive and helped me to keep on studying, but by today my brain was exhausted and the math exam was a struggle!
Still, it is done.
I will not, however be drinking anything but hot tea tonight!
Still, it is done.
I will not, however be drinking anything but hot tea tonight!
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