It really is hard to believe that we are already in our third week of school! (And I'm still motivated!) I have to be honest, by this point in the semester I usually have to force myself to attend class. It really is a shameful thing. However, this semester has been really refreshing, and I find that I am even more motivated. My reasoning is that I am actually in the Teacher Education Program. This means that a large majority of my classes are Education classes. Don't get me wrong, I love English/Literature, but Education is what I feel like I am really here for. The classes are great; the professors are all-new to me. While the program requires a lot of work, it is work I feel is really going to apply to my future career. One thing I am really looking forward to is my "Unit" I am planning. I am planning a Unit on Huckleberry Finn. These are the kinds of things I will be able to save and use for the future. Even one of my English classes is helping apply assignments now to the future. My "final" project for World Literature consists of teaching a novel to the class.

Mainly it is just nice to know that people aren't kidding you when they say, "Just wait until you get into your major. Then you'll really enjoy your classes." This is really what it is all about. So seriously, just wait until you get into what you really are passionate about... It makes a difference in coming to class. Granted, I wouldn't mind sleeping in a few extra hours, but I don't think that has anything to do with not wanting to go to class! Good luck and enjoy your semester! Until next time!

Labels: "Huckleberry Finn", "Teacher Education Program", career, education, English, literature, motivated, refreashing, semester

Now that finals week are well over and break is in full swing, I find that myself looking back on what I have completed. This semester was definitely a challenge; I wish I would have listened when I was warned about taking so many upper-division courses at one time! However, now that it is all said and done, I find that I enjoyed this semester and the challenges it presented. As an education student, I am required to spend so many hours observing in the classroom. This semester I had my first observation class, Field Experience 1. Going into the class, I did not have any formal experience observing in a classroom. As a high school senior, I had taught a substance abuse course at the local middle school, but that was all I had other than just being a student for 13 years. The class really reinforced all of my decisions to become a teacher. I know that is where I am supposed to be. I learned a lot about what it means to be the head of the classroom and different ways to approach the position. This is what it mean to really "get into your major." I was also challenged by my English courses this semester. At the time, I am stressed and worried, but I put everything into the course because I know I need to understand it in order for me to teach it. Definitely one of those things that takes a lot of patience!

Now that I have finished the courses, I am anxiously awaiting my grades. If you have ever waited on all of your final grades to be reported, you know how nerve-wracking that can sometimes be. I like to think of waiting on your grades as waiting on all of the precincts to report during an election. You can't call the race until all of the information has been presented. Yea, I know, this may not have been the greatest analogy, but I felt it got the point across well enough. Anyways, it has been a great ride so far. Now, I get to enjoy my month-long break and prepare for the whole cycle to start again!

Labels: break, education, English, finals, grades, semester