Self Actualization

This is defined loosely as successful personal development and use of personal talents and abilities.   I went off to college and gained some awesome insight into myself but one doesn't need to gain that by attending college.   I know people who are extremely successful and never darkened the doorway of a college university.   I also know of several people, mainly the older generation who never had the chance to finish high school and have had extremely successful lives.  

So what constitutes sucessful personal development?   How have you made use of your personal talents and abilities?  Nows the time to shine and brag about yourself a bit.   Maybe one of your comments will help others to pursue long-sought after goals.  

For my 2 cents worth, don't ever give up on a dream no matter how far-fetched it may seem.   Do not let anyone tell you that you are stupid, that you will not amount to anything.     Do not let the circumstances of your life pull you down.   A smile, or just a few words of encouragement is so easy to give, takes just a few seconds, and can impact the life of someone else.    People in general don't want to be invisible.    I was invisible yesterday when I subbed.  Not one person said hello to me in the teacher break room during lunch or engaged me in conversation.    After 15 minutes of non-existence I went back to the classroom.   I hope I never do that to someone else -it is a terrible feeling to be surrounded by people and yet be so isolated. 

grad school- forced to drop

I was shocked upon learning today that I may not have the funding needed to attend grad school and may have to drop out.   I have been after financial aid for the last 2 months to tell me how much money I would be receiving.   I found out today, 4 days after the quarter begins.   It seems that after grad school expenses that i will only have $1200 to live on for 3.5 months, and that does not include books - which are already $300.    The above does not mean $1200 a month- what I mean that I will only have about $350 a month to live on - and I can tell you for sure - that does not include food. 

I am so upset - the amount of money that I have spent of my own money just to get accepted into grad school was nearly $800 and now to find out that I may have to drop out - I am just a thin micro line from bawling.   If I had even known this info this morning then I could have went to a company that I know is hiring a bunch of people for a new Kroger Marketplace just 8 miles south of here.  Now, I have to wait until thurs afternoon before i can apply - just in case there is a slim chance i can remain in grad school.  

I am so upset - I just don't know what to do or where to turn - my life seems to be crumbling down around me. 

Are you out of your ever lovin' mind?

Grad school has arrived with a bang.   Yesterday, Wed, was orientation, and the masters of education advisors, professors, etc, fed us pizza and brownies.  That was their way to soften the blow of "What the hell have I done - get while you still can!"   

Today was my first class.   In most undergraduate courses the professors usually hand out a 2-3 page syllabus, but this  masters of education diversity class has 9 pages.    This is just 1 class.  I have 4 more classes.  

I remember my daughter telling me "Mom, there is a lot of work in the masters program."   What she didn't tell me is that I will be having work that would cover the Matterhorn - well, not quite that much, but you get the picture.     We have some work that we must complete in class, but many of the assignments are done in our field placement.     With 5 classes and multiple  field placement assignments, I am going to probably wish i was dead.    Maybe if I don't eat or sleep, I will have the time to cram all of this in.   Well, I can look o the bright side.   Mostly likely I will lose a bunch of weight because I will be so tired and/or busy, that I won't have time to eat but maybe once a day.   Water will be my friend - whoops, no, I can't drink to much water or I will be heading for the bathroom to many times.    I gather teachers get plenty of urinary infections because they have to "hold it" until the kids go off to gym, library, recess, and so forth.  

I am at a decided disadvantage having forgotten most of what I learned in high school.  The types of books read, and even the teaching methods have changed drastically, and I am struggling to keep up.    How many can name the subject pronouns, possessive pronouns and object pronouns off the top of their head?  I couldn't, and I must re-learn and what am I to do about poetry.     When i was in school back in the 50's and 60's, we read poetry and that was it.   There was never anything taught about meter, feet, accented and unaccented, troaic pentameter, etc.   I have to know this and be comfortable with this in order to teach children.    It is all so frustrating.   

One of the professors commeted that I have set the bar for the younger students - to know that even someone my age, never gives up the dream for education (college or trade school), and that all things are possible, even to become a teacher for the first time after you pass 60. 

So keep me in your prayers - don't know when I will be able to post anything but will try to keep all of you informed as to how my journey is progressing.   I may have to ask you at some point for some ideas for future assigments. 

Kindergarten teachers are not baby sitters

For anyone who does not know this, kindergarten is not a gigantic babysitting club.   Kindergarten teachers teach, not babysit.   I just finished my first 40 hours of placement in one of our local schools.   I tied shoelaces constantly, sharpened pencils, checked for boo-boos, and then the whole class marches down to the bathroom several times a day.   Kindergarten teachers must have a SENSE OF HUMOR, but they also must teach.  Did you know they actually have tests at the end of the year like the older kids do.  

From what I have gathered, kindergarten is becoming the new first grade.   Those students have so much to learn.   Sounds such as cl, ch, sh are taught.  They must know, for example, that if the word HAT is spoken that it starts with the H sound.   This is true for every 2-4 letter word they are taught.  They have to know rhymes.  For example, if the  teacher says CAT, then on the test one of the answers/picture will have a RAT, shoe, and car.  Obviously RAT is the answer.   They must be able to distinguish between what is man made or nature made.   Apple is nature made but a chair is manmade.  

Kindergarten students learn math, subtraction and addition of ones and tens, can count by fives to 100 or 10's to 100.     So for all of you old timers, do not think that kindergarten is just a free babysitters club.   Those kids are prepared to enter first grade.  They know all about rules, and responsibility.  My mentor teacher holds his students accountable for their actions.  He knows if they are lying and covering their tracks.  He says "eyes on me" which is very disconcerting for the young ones as they know that he knows they are not telling the truth.    Each child is accountable for their bad behavior or bad decisions and time is taken away from recess.   He does not back down even when those  little faces show a tear beginning to form.    They know that he expects the best from them, in academics and in social situations. 

Observing Kindergarten was a rewarding experience and I would not trade anything for it.   Each of the kids made me a going-away card.  They will miss me and I will miss them. 

Derailed again

the road to teacher-land is becoming more distant by the minute.   Those in charge want me to take a second GRE exam - they cost $120 each.  And then see if my math scores go up.  Funny thing is, I am not going to teach math, just Social Studies and English.  So now I have to decide if all this added extra expense is worth it with no gurantee I will be accepted into the fall masters program.   

It is very disheartening and this news has just taken the wind out of my sails. 

He's a professor?

I was chatting with someone in the hallway one day in Morill Hall where OSU Marion classes are held.  My daughter walks by and so I introduce her.   Later that day she told me "Mom, I was shocked when you told me he was your history professor.  I thought he was one of your friends." 

I have often thought of that conversation and it always brings a chuckle.  I see this Asian professor on campus quite often and we always engage in lively conversation.  But I have the same thought every time I see him - "This kids a professor?"  In reality he is in his very early 30's but he looks like he could be 22.   Does anyone have similar stories?  

Potholes

The road to becoming a teacher has hit a small pothole.  Is there such a thing as a small pothole?   Winter quarter is almost to the 3/4 point of being finished, and finished is an excellent description.  

I have failed to understand the concepts as taught by a particular instructor for my micro-econ course.  Each instructor has their own way of teaching, and it is up to the students to find the right one.  However, one  doesn't always find this out until you are well into the course.

Anyway I have to drop the course and start again with another instructor later this year because I am completely lost and my exams show this.   I studied hard last quarter and got all A's and I have studied hard this quarter, but this one class has become my pothole.   Seven weeks of study down the drain and yet so close to the destination with only 3 weeks renaining. 

Potholes can work out, just look at it as an opportunity insread of a disaster. 

Grades are posted

It's over and I managed to survive.   The grades are posted for summer quarter.   I received a B+ for my Psychology of Adolescence, and Macroeconomics during the first five weeks of the quarter.   The last five weeks was taken up with Microeconomics.    I got an A - what  a shock.  

Now I have to turn my attention to studying for the Praxis exam for social studies which I will take in December.    I have 6 books that i must read in the next 3 weeks and I need to do major studying in the five sections of social studies - especially my weak point - civics/government/political science.  What the heck is the difference?  

Grammar Hints

I need help with shortcuts.  Whoever out there that loves grammar, let me know as I need as many hints to remember about adjectives, adverbs, predicates.  I need "markers" - shortcuts to make it easier for me to remember, and also to teach.  I write just fine, and know how everything fits in the sentence, i just can't tell you if it is an adjective, intransitive verb, or whatever.    How in the world can I teach language arts, if I don't the know the grammar.  Any and all help is much appreciated.

Grades are posted

The waiting is over - as grades are posted.  I received a B+ in macroenomics, and a B+ in the adolescent course.    Both courses were difficult -- particularly since the adolescent course covered the theories of Piaget, Kohlberg, and others.   I have always had trouble dissecting theoretical perspectives.    Only during the last week of class did we really get into the material about the older adolescent - 7th grade and up.   Now at least I can breathe a sigh of relief until I begin microeconomics in 2 days.   

Self-actualization

At the ripe age of 60 I have decided to study to become a teacher.  What must I be thinking?  Who does this kind of thing?   I am the oldest student in my education classes.  Oh there are others who are close to my age, but they were teachers when they young.   Their families are raised and now they want to teach again but need to update their skills.   I am within a few years of the offical retirement age but am embarking on a new venture - uncharted waters.  Now that is definitely thinking outside the box.   I never really thought of myself as a leader - as someone who could inspire someone else, but that has changed.   I never heard of the term self-actualization until I experienced endless hours of lecture, research, and homework.  I inserted myself into college life, and thrived in spite of everything.   Attending college opened my eyes to possibilities, that you're never to old to act on a dream.   Don't be afraid to take the first step, regardless of your age.  God is not through with me yet, and I imagine He has quite a few adventures in store for me.    

Math phobia? You may have Dyscalculia

Attending college late in life always has its little surprises.   I discovered something astounding while taking a class on Exceptional Children.  This class is to introduce students to the world of Learning Disabled children as well as gifted students.  For one of our assignments I had to choose a topic of interest, so I chose math disabilities, since that is what I suffered through as a child.  

How many people have heard of Dyscalculia (dis - cal - q - lee - ah)?  I never had until taking this class.  This syndrome is practically unheard.  It affects the brains ability to process and understand numbers, and often is a life-long disability, to which I can readily attest to.   Students can be gifted, have had some kind of head trauma, or no reason at all, like me.   Both of my children get straight A's in math, which I am extremely thankful for.

There are warning signs for pre-school children such as difficulty learning to count, poor memory with numbers and trouble with perception - as square objects in round holes, and so forth.  School age children have great difficulty remembering all the math vocabulary, such as divisor, dividend, quotient.  They have trouble with strategy games like Battleship.  Learning to tell time with an analog clock is extremely difficult because it requires the student to caculate (cognition) the time.  Half past one or "I'll meet you at 15 till means little. 

Teenagers and adults have trouble with mental math, higher math concepts like algebra, even a poor ability to budget.  Some are absent-minded, and get lost easily.   Common mistakes made in math for all ages are substituting phantom numbers, transposing, or reversing numbers.  Zeroes in a substraction problem like 100010 - 8 is extremely difficult.  Multiplication tables are hard to memorize.  It is not that they are not trying, the cognitive side of the brain just cannot process it quick enough.  Those with dyscaluclia need lots of time to work out problems and do better when there is no time limit, like there is when it test time. 

Students and adults will often lack confidence in themselves even if they get the correct answer, often ending their answer with a question.   Math problems are tedious as each step, however simple to the average math student, must be written down.  

Dyscalculia only affects 5-6% of the population.   It is typical for students,young and old, to spend 4-6 hrs a night Monday through Friday working on just math problems and then an addtional 6-10 hrs on both Saturday and Sunday.

Adults and kids with Dyscalculia feel like failures, have been called stupid, worthless, and are just ashamed.   How many people do you know who have avoided taking certain jobs because math is involved? How many people have avoided college because of math phobia?  It affected my life drastically as I never ever considered attending college until my children were in their mid 30's.  How might this syndrome affect those that you know?  I can tell you it was crippling for me.  

Spread the word, let others know about this, and teachers as well.   Get on the website and go to dyscalculia.org.  You will find a wealth of information.   My finding out that I am at least borderline Dyscaluletic has set my mind to rest in a way.  I know that my not understanding math concepts while I was a child and as an adult was not due "to not trying hard enough."   

whats the difference between an adjective and a adverb

Trying to remember grammar facts from 50 years ago is a nightmare.   I am confused over what I consider the same thing but obviously is not.   According to Hands-on English an adjective modifies, or describes a noun or pronoun. It answers one of these questions: What Kind? Which one? How many?  Okay that sounds reasonable.   However, an adverb answers one of these questions - How? When? Where? How much? or To what extent?    So I am confused, how do you tell the two apart.   An adverb is supposed to describe an adjective - but the two are so similar in nature, is there something I am missing? 

Its official!!!

It's official everyone, I received my acceptance into grad school today.   The wait is finally over and I can now be in awe, that at the age of 61,  I am entering graduate school to become a teacher. 

Another big screw up

If you are attending Ohio State University this summer then you and anyone who reads the Columbus Dispatch will know that OSU screwed up big time.    They have instituted a new computer system and it was to come on-line fully for summer quarter.   The main reason for changing is that beginning in the year 2012, OSU is changing from quarters to semesters.   The old computer system was not set up for this new configuration.

However, there is a huge glitch in the system.    For those students who attend summer quarter, including me, there is a debacle going on that is being reverberated far and wide.   It seems the new system cannot get our financial aid packages to us for summer quarter.    Summer quarter begins on June 22 and fully 2/3 of the students will have no money to pay for the classes, no money for books, and nothing to live on.    Ohio state is saying that students can petition to have fees dismissed from their accounts.   Good grief, it is not the student's fault the money is not going to be disbursed on time.  

 There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch today that said that students may not get their money for 3 weeks beyond the start of summer quarter.     Half of the classes that are offered in the summer are accelerated classes.  That means that a class that is normally 10 weeks long during fall, winter, and spring quarter will now be completed in just 5 weeks.    What are those students supposed to do with no books for 3 out of those 5 weeks?      I am lucky in that i have one of my books, but others will not be that well off.  My macroeconomcis book cost $130 brand new and a used one is $105.      

In addition, most students get financial aid to live on as well, so what are they supposed to do?   Normally I would say find a job, but millions are out of work, so what chance do they have, and i am in the same predicament.     There are five satellite campuses and those students must drive 20-40 miles to school one way.  What are they going to do for gas?    Accelerated classes generally meet every day or Mon - Thurs for 2 hrs a day, so driving 40 -80 miles a day .  So if your financial aid does not come through for 3 weeks how are students who drive to teh satellite campuses supposed to get to school.  

The system cost OSU $50 million dollars .   Yes, I know that new computer systems have minor glitches but this is ridiculous.