Goodbye Spring Semester

Wow, I really am a horrible blogger. I wonder how people who blog keep up with this stuff. Between working full time, grad school and "life" I find it practically impossible. Yet, here I am. The spring semester is almost over. The Shakespeare class with no chairs was interesting. I have a final presentation due a week from this Tuesday. The presentation is my attempt as an imaginary director to pitch a new version Romeo and Juliet to a fictitious pair of directors (my professors). With my business experience I feel more comfortable with this project. My last project I had to act out a scene with two students who were 20 years my junior. I felt awkward acting in front of the class. I know teaching is part theater, but acting while reciting Shakespeare is an extreme challenge for me. I flubbed my lines throughout worrying about my facial expressions and various physical movements. I have a whole new respect for actors. It's not easy work.

My second class was a different kind of challenge- primarily learning the discipline of writing lesson plans. I like my professor- she's a trip. Very funny and very devoted to teaching. She is really putting us through hell however-it's one of those classes you will be grateful for later on. Right now it's just painful and hard. I have taken two days off next week to devote myself to all things educational (i.e. I have to finish my homework!). I won't be taking any classes this summer, but I have 3 this fall. Lord help me. It's my last semester of classes at school. In the spring of 2011 I am scheduled to student teach the entire semester. I still have no idea how I am going to pull that off. I thought for sure I would have been laid off from my current job by now but I am still hanging on. Given the current state of the economy I know this is an extreme blessing. If I still happen to be working next spring I will delay my student teaching. It's not what I want, but I have a mortgage and student loans to deal with. Not an easy choice but it is what it is. I am sure many teachers work second jobs just to make ends meet, especially in the beginning. I hope I don't have to do that. Only time will tell.

Welcome Spring Semester

Ok, so I am a horrible blogger. I have had a month off from school and haven't written a thing. But I have been working full time and reading: blogs, journals, newspapers and books. Once school starts I won't have too much free time for lesuire reading. After the harsh cold snap we have been having in NY in the past month, the words "spring semester" warm my heart. I am looking forward to getting back in the classroom. This go around I will be taking three classes: a required adolescent health course, a Shakespeare course and English Writing for Adolsence. The health course is an accelrated weekend class. I will go for three Sundays in a row for 4.5 hours. The other two are traditional 2 hours classes that meet 2 days a week. The Shakespeare class will focus on Romeo and Juliet. It is co-taught by two professors. I am eager to see how they do. The class is meeting in a dance studio. Apparently we students will be engaged in some sort of workshop activities instead of just sitting at a desk. I am all for nontraditinal learning but if I am going to pay three thousand dollars for a graduate level class I like to have a chair to sit on. Maybe my age is showing?