My journey through Graduate School to earn a Masters of Art in Education. I was on track to become a teacher, but now everything has changed, and I'm on the job hunt with a Bachelor's in Liberal Arts and a Master's in Education with no teaching certificate.

 
I sat down with the help of my wife and revamped my literature review. Part of the problem was that I had three simultaneous ways of organizing my notes. We got them organized into a relatively straigtforward progression. I'm off to find more information.
posted by Josh English at 3/27/2004 03:08:00 PM

 
So far my "My wife is home and I can't screw around all day" theory is bust. Yesterday we did manage to get our taxes filed and went to both Universities to apply for financial aid for this year. My loans have been in default for years and finally a new loan system kicked in and my loans have been consolidated and a new deferment has kicked in. THe $11,000 and change I've paid in tuition has been through personal loans, and the one class I took at the other university costs about $1000, and they say I can't apply for aid because I am not taking enough credits in one term. They did say that I could get a consolidation (or something) with my other University to include the tuition costs in my main loan. WE drove to my Main University and was told that we could only get a loan for the $4000 and change my classes costs there, and we can't add the tuition from the other university. Damn and blast. If I don't pay these off I may not be able to get my Masters degree.

Other than that, I'm not pulling through as much as I should. I sat down Monday and typed up one assignment that was late, and I'll get that back tonight and hopefully have a chance to revise it. I also typed up a unit plan due next week, so I've got one item checked off early. Now I need to get back to my research paper.

posted by Josh English at 3/24/2004 11:04:00 AM

 
A good friend of mine had to drive to a city about 160 miles away to do about two hours worth of work. I try to eat lunch with this person about once a week, to keep in touch, and I hadn't seen him in three weeks or so (bad Josh, no biscuit). He called me Thursday and asked if I wanted to tag along, telling me that if I went to keep him company and catch up on life, I would have to keep myself busy for a couple of hours. Hello? I'm a grad student. If I can't find enough stuff to get done for 40 hours a week I'm not trying hard enough.

So I went, had some good long talks with him about life, and sat down at an unused desk to get some of my work done while he got on with his. He is the IT guy, and yesterday was the day that everything broke. Viruses introduced into the system ("But nobody here does e-mail or web stuff! Honest") timecard systems down, phone and fax systems on the fritz. He worked for about five hours before we headed home. I got home at 9:30, instead of 6:30, and he had to go back to work at the local office that night. I made a reminder to feel sympathy for him in the morning.

I managed to get a lot of writing done, and now I just need to sit down and do the typing. NOrmally I try to get work done by sitting down at the computer and writing, which usually doesn't work because of all of the attractions on my machine.

I'm feeling a little better about the workload.
posted by Josh English at 3/20/2004 10:06:00 AM

 
I finished my CIPE class on Monday. I really struggled with that last assignment which was 30% of the grade. I had earned 65 out of 70 points (I think) so far, so I think unless she absolutely hated it I will pass the class.

Tonight in Personal and Professional development we started writing a mission statement for ourselves. It was helpful, but it may have been more helpful a few weeks ago. So far all I really have for myself is a motto: "Knowledge and Wisdom." It really fits me but doesn't help me find a job. Now to be snobby all I have to do is translate that into Latin. A quick web search and I think I can use 'conscientia' (knowedge shared with others) and 'sapientia' (wisdom, good sense, discernment).

We had a two week break and I lost the folder for my diversity class. I think there is an assignment due tonight and I don't have it ready. I can only find a few papers relating to this class, the whole folder is missing. I'll be tearing my office up tomorrow looking for it.

posted by Josh English at 3/17/2004 06:28:00 PM

 
I spent the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in a new class about quantitative research. I'm not exactly thrilled to repeat a class that I've already taken, but it will be nice to have class time dedicated to writing my research paper. I'm doing a qualitative paper and I need to schedule more interviews. I also have to finish this completely while everyone else in the class only has to focus on their introductions, literature reviews, and methods, I also have to write up my results and conclusions.

On the other hand, I get to help out other adults who aren't stats-friendly, and I get to play the tutor. If I had my druthers, I'd go back to one-on-one tutoring, but I don't think I could make enough money at it. I do like the idea of teaching in adult education settings, however. One of the students said that she was impressed with my authoritative attitude, and guessed that that was what caused the problems with my uncooperative cooperating teacher. She was surprised to find out that I really choked in that classroom.

So why am I blogging this? Because I have an 8 page paper due in 26 hours and I haven't started it, and I don't want to start it. It's the last assignment and 30 percent of the grade. I figure I've earned 65 out of 70 points in this class already, so I'm not worried about my final grade, assuming I can write this final assignment.

Ugh.
posted by Josh English at 3/14/2004 03:13:00 PM