Graduate School and Class sizes

Recently, I decided to go ahead and apply for a graduate program that starts in the fall.  I'm super excited to be learning again, and I hope to find a mentor that will support my personal and professional growth.  I submitted my application a couple of nights ago, and I'm trying to wait patiently to hear back.  If all goes well, I'll have my M. Ed. in two years with an emphasis in Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.  Woo!  Then it's onward to my PhD.  I'm hoping that I'll eventually be able to conduct research on the outcomes of a TPRS/CI curriculum to a traditional curriculum and to have an impact on the profession of teaching a world language.  Here's Profa. P to save the WL teaching world!
In other news, I was catching up on Ben Slavic's blog today and found an interesting post. I was stunned and shocked but not really surprised at all to read that the ACTFL along with the NEA and the ADFL recommend a maximum class size of no more than 15 students.  FIFTEEN!  I have 35 in most of my classes.  Wow.  Now I realize that because of the budget constraints that my state is going through, it is likely that in the near future we won't be able to attain these small classes.  I'm able to rest easy though, because when I was talking with Blaine Ray during a workshop earlier this year, he told me that the TPRS method goes over very well with larger classes because it's more like a show is being put on with an actual audience.  I'll take his word for it as I go into my first year as a TRPS teacher in a non-TPRS district. 
I'm going to be relaxing for the next few days; but when I get back, it'll be time to get down to work for the new year!  Woo!

The next step...

Recently I've been thinking about taking the next step with my own education.  I've played with the idea of getting my masters in Spanish, Educational Technology or Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.   Early on, I threw out the idea of Educational Technology because 1) I can keep up with technology if I make an effort, 2) by the time I graduate with the degree, all my knowledge will be obsolete. 

I narrowed it down to Spanish and CIA.   I'd love to get my masters in Spanish because I had a professor in college that I really enjoyed who taught Spanish majors how to be Spanish teachers.  I've entertained the idea of doing the same myself.  However, I've recently (ie only yesterday it dawned on me...) realized that I LOVE PLANNING!  I really am interested in finding out today's best practices and how to make these even better.  I'd like to be in the classroom for awhile longer, perhaps much longer.   So my indecision here, doesn't help me decide which one is a better choice.

Therefore, I look at the structure of the programs available to me for these masters.  The trouble with these two options are that they are only offered at certain schools.  In order to get my masters in Spanish, I will have to go to UNC for three summers in a row leaving behind my life.  However, I will not have to work on my masters during the school year and I will get to travel abroad.  For my CIA masters, I will have to attend Regis for two full years in a cohort program completing a course every 8 weeks.  For this option, I have to work and go to school; but I will complete my program quicker without having to leave my life. 

I'm currently leaning toward the CIA program.  I feel like it fits my passion for planning and being in the classroom more closely than the Spanish program does.   It also isn't dragging out the process of getting the masters degree either.  I always prefer long-distance endurance to sprints.  

Thus, the last problem: if I am to get my CIA degree in a convenient setting, I'd have to start it August 30.  I'm not sure if it's a good idea during my second year of teaching to take on such a project along with planning my wedding and possibly moving.  But I do enjoy a challenge and being busy.   So I think I might just do it.

Finals!

So tomorrow starts the last week before holiday break. Ever since we returned from Thanksgiving Break, I've been working 6-7 days a week 12-16 hours a day. I've never been so worked. Preparing my finals and reviews while trying to ensure my students know their exact grades is cumbersome.

I did have the joy of reading some great projects from my third year students, however. It was refreshing to read the dreams and hopes that these young adults have for themselves, our world, and others. Many of them have hopes of traveling, and I hope they all follow through. The single most rewarding experience I have is traveling.

I'll next be traveling back to the mitten for the holidays! Or well, at least the last half of Christmas day as we arrive in Detroit at 2:30 pm on Xmas day. I'm really excited to see my family and Gus' family as well. I'm disappointed that we won't have time to really visit with everyone we'd like, but at least we have this opportunity to go home together.

I'm really excited to have this first semester under my belt. I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from my students and my colleagues, which is great to hear. I've learned so much, and I'm looking forward to tweaking a few things to improve the quality of my craft. I really can't imagine a better job. I can't imagine a job where I'm not constantly challenged by others and myself. I just hope that the "system" doesn't take from this wonderful profession any more than it already has.

Well I'm off to enjoy my first finals week! Hasta pronto.

First (half) snow day of the year!

So I didn't think I'd ever get a snowday as a teacher, but here I am! We were the only school in Metro Denver in session today, but we got let out early at 12:30. I was just really scared to drive home. It only took me an hour to drive home, and the roads were ok.
I'm bummed because now all my classes are messed up. Blah. Half of me hopes we have school tomorrow so things aren't more messed up and the other half of me hopes that we do not, so I can take a mental health day w/o taking one :) We'll see, I guess I'll be happy with either one!
The snow just keeps on coming though. It's NUTS!
I can't wait for the ski areas to start opening. I'm getting antsy!
Well, I should get down to work so that I wont have anything to do when Gus gets home...

disillusionment

That's what they call the stage of teaching that I've just sunk further into. I'm trying to straighten things out with my fourth period class which has gone haywire, and not be so tough on myself at the same time. I just need to remember that I will not let down those students who come each day to class to learn.
It's been a tough couple weeks. I'm expecting it to follow suit in the next few weeks. It's just that time of year: we've been teaching for three months straight and I swear if anyone tells me "it's not that bad, you get summer's off" they'll find themselves in a very uncomfortable position: bent over with my foot up their...
Anyway, I've done some grading tonight and I have a good feel about tomorrow. I just need to make up an exam and review for Spanish I and figure out what we're doing for Día de los muertos. ¡Uy!
Well off to bed, so I can not feel like I've been hit by a train.

What a difference...

A three-day weekend makes in the morale of a first year teacher. Maybe it was the fact that a colleague approached me because they were concerned that I may be burning myself out, but I've really felt like I've got a different take on things now.
I am so thankful that someone saw what I was doing to myself and decided to speak up. All I've heard since I started was good things, but the best thing so far has been the criticism of working too much. And they're right. I was burning myself out. I didn't look forward to going home, or to the weekend (except that it offered the "escape" from being at school... but that didn't mean that I stopped thinking about school). So I relaxed this weekend. I did nothing school related. And I feel wonderful.
I really feel like I'm starting to have fun again in class. I'm starting to enjoy the students. I have patients. I have creative ideas. I want to make progress again, not just survive. But the best thing of all is that I've realized that I owe it to myself not to burn out. I love my job. I can't love it to death because then I stop enjoying, evolving, inventing and creating.
Yep. Today was a good day. More to come.

9 weeks and counting...

Well, it's been a screaming fast, crazy ride so far. I've made it through 9 weeks with some compliments and some challenging situations. But I think I've handled it well.
I'm really looking forward to the beginning of next semester so I can structure my classes a bit differently than they are now. I'm going to have the kids make up their own rules and punishments. I had my fourth period do that today, and I hope it makes a difference. They're my little guinea pig group. woo.
But it's the weekend. Time to relax and forget about all that I do during the week. Which is tough when I wake up during the night fretting about what I messed up or didn't do. I'll learn to cope though. It's a tough job. A lot tougher than anyone that hasn't done it before knows or can appreciate. But I'm greatful for my internship which I feel prepared me pretty well and as well for my long-term sub position which gave me a taste of what it is to have my own classroom.
I'm excited to start knitting more as it gets colder out and spending more time outside. I just don't really like the hot like I do the cold. It's something about how it feels when you breathe in the air.
Well I've gotta go hit up the gym a bit today and open a savings account... so off I go.