I am so sick of workshops. I have been to 4 I think in the last two weeks, and I just want to be in the classroom. Maybe the saddest thing? I don’t think I’ve learned more than what would fit on an index card cumulative at all of these workshops. UGH! All of my courses are getting new names (though they really are the SAME CLASSES) but because of this change, I have to go to all of this training (because I obviously can’t just read the changes!). Maybe the only interesting thing I’ve done so far is a session where we completed IT job searches so that we could see what jobs are out there right now (and thus what we should be teaching our kiddos). That I thought was interesting, but other than that…blah!
Category Archives: Education
A New Degree
I’ve put off going back to school for several years now. Finally last year I told myself that after Becka graduated (this year), I would start seriously looking into going back to school and getting my master’s degree – there’s really no excuse now that you can get a masters degree online and not have to find the time to visit a campus every week.
So I’ve decided that I’ll start looking into the GRE when our academic season is over for the year and then start looking seriously at the different options I have. What master’s degree would I want? And what college should I choose?
We have a couple colleges local if I didn’t decide to pursue an online degree. There’s even some colleges within 2 or 3 hours that have completely online program. Another program I recently found was Western Governors University. I had never heard of it until someone else pointed it out, but after reviewing it, I think it has some very interesting features:
- You pay for a 6 month period of classes instead of by the credit hour.
- WGU is a non-profit institution so prices are very reasonable.
- The focus is on the degree – there’s no physical campus, no student organizations – just a college focused on assisting you get your online degree.
- Programs are offered in nursing, business, technology, and education.
- Payment plans are allowed to help the financial obligations.
- You can start on your time. Most classes start each month instead of by individual semesters.
I haven’t decided if it would be better for me to seek an online program or a physical brick and mortar program yet, but if I do go the online route, I will be looking more into Western Governors University. I love the idea of the flexibility of an online program, but also know that I may work better and be more efficient if I have to report in every week and not allowed to work at my own pace. Life gets crazy and I might need the discipline. I’m actually getting more excited though thinking about seeking a master’s degree one way or the other.
Calling All Mom’s To Action
I’m a big believer in donating to charity – in any ways we can. I try to make a continous effort to find ways that we (my family and my classes) can contribute to causes that benefit the less fortunate. Being a teacher, I’m really excited about this latest organization I found. I wanted to share this with you since so many of you are Moms (and some are even teachers).
DonorsChoose.org is a organization that allows classroom teachers to register for items they need in their classrooms to be more effective teachers and assist their students in learning. After they are registered, DonorsChoose.org promotes their need and takes pledges to help pay for the item. While you could choose to support a teacher and purchase the entire item they are requesting, you can also make donations as small as $5.
I’ve picked three English/Language Arts teachers from a various of grade levels from elementary to high school who are looking to promote reading amongst their students, and I’m hoping you will help me help them. I’ve created a group at DonorsChoose called Mom’s Encouraging Reading. If you have it in your heart, please pledge to help at least one of these teachers. As a teacher, I can tell you that school budgets are getting smaller and smaller and the price of tools we’d like to utilize are increasing rapidly. Sometimes it’s amazing how just one new set of books or one piece of tehnology can change the dynamics in a classroom and make students more eager to learn.
If you have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews in school, browse around DonorsChoose and you may just find teachers from their schools requesting help.
Concessions, Carnival and What?
I’ve spent the last three days at this concession stand working my tail off since my “other duties as assigned” include being a junior sponsor. The end of October we will have a Halloween Fall Carnival that includes raffle ticket sales, but we also must include some other school fundraisers. It’s important to me to raise enough money this year for prom, after prom, senior trip, graduation, and project graduation. This means several fundraising ideas are needed, and we must work hard. I would rather work my rear off with the kids this year’s fundraising activities so that we cover everything for the rest of high school and can relax next year.
I try to find unique fundraisers so that the community is impressed and can’t resist making a purchase. I also want something easy for me to administrate. Every year someone sales candy and FFA always sales meat and fruit. The PTO always sales wrapping paper and Christmas goodies. Oh and FCCLA sales the cookie dough, and the athletic program sales school spirit shirts. Anything else? I think maybe that covers it. So I have to find something different than that.
Thank goodness for the Internet. I’m able to find some unique item each time I am the sponsor of some school group that lets us sale something that no one else around has sold (at least in several years). Many fundraisers now even let us set up websites where distant family members can support the group via the Internet and a credit card. Yes, the Internet has become a great bonus for being a class sponsor, and in the next couple days I have to spend some time once again browsing it and looking for a way for our class to raise money in our small community.
“I Don’t Understand”
How do many times do we, as teachers, here this in the classroom? And how many times do we as mom’s hear this as we help our children with their homework? For me, I’ve heard it so many times in the last 8 years that I just hate that phrase.
For those that live in larger cities, tutoring is fairly easy to come by and a lot more reasonably priced than for those of us that live in rural areas where high quality tutors are few and far between. While browsing the web and watching TV today, I’ve come across the Tutor company – Club Z. With the importance now put on state wide standardized tests, it’s more and more important that our students understand the lessons they are learning at school. This year my oldest daughter will take her last set of state standardized tests (TAKS here in Texas). To graduate from high school, she must pass all 4 tests (English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies). My youngest is a third grader, and she will take the TAKS for the first time this year. She is the one I am nervous about. She must pass the Reading TAKS test this year to move on to the 4th grade. And while I know she’s fully capable of taking the test, she gets very nervous. So I’m monitoring her closely this year and also doing some looking around to have a list of tutoring ideas on hand if she starts to show need for it immediately.
I’m not sure that Club Z is available in our area, but it does look like a great opportunity. If anyone has any other ideas for finding a service for me to have ready if the need arises, please let me know.