The Best and The Worst

Today in Education Psychology we had a discussion about the qualities of our best and worst teacher. What I found especially painful about the discussion was I couldn't remember a best or worst teacher from my elementary, jr. high, or high school. Am I getting too old to remember or were all of my teacher so mediocre that I remember nothing special about them? I remember names and what they taught but nothing more than that. None of them were inspirational or took any kind of interest in a loud and outspoken girl. (That would be me.)

I remember I was always the one that asked a lot of "why" questions. I think I really was interested in the answer but I think the teachers thought I was trying to disrupt the class. I recall a teacher telling my mom I asked too many questions. When I got into high school I just kept my head down, did the minimum, and asked fewer and fewer questions. Another spirit squashed by the Utah school system.

Sweaty....

I have to take this awful philosophy class; it gives me such tired head. After a 3 hour lecture this is what I learned--My philosophy professor only sweats under one armpit.

Schedule please

Last night I printed some blank monthly and weekly calendars to write down my reading and exam schedule. I had four syllabus (syllabi?) and was feeling really overwhelmed about the amount of work I see coming this semester but now that it is all written down I realized it is a lot of work! However, it seems more manageable because it's written in little blocks and I can see what is due and when. I'm freaking out about all the reading I have to do. Back in the Community College days, I had reading but not like this! I also had enough general knowledge so I could bluff my way through many of my classes. I think I need to get through the first round of tests, then I'll know how hard I need to work but for now I am busting my ass!

Opportunities

So in my Educational psychology class we don't have test or exams but "opportunities." Three opportunities to be exact and no final opportunities. The professor is also the author of the book we are using; I wonder what kind of kick back he gets.

Did I mention I live in Texas and it is hot as hell! I mean really hot! As people say around here, "It's not the heat, it's the humity." Whatever, it's hot! I was hot while cooking dinner, hot eating dinner, hot driving to class, (school is only 5 minutes away so my car didn't have time to cool) hot walking across the campus across on the heat reflecting concrete, and hot while walking up four flights of stairs to my classroom. Damn it, I was dripping with sweat! I flopped down in the closest seat to the door and was just about to bitch about how hot and sweatyI was. I turned to the girl next to me and realize she is wearing not just a headscarf the muslim girls wear but she is coved pretty much head to toe in black! Well, I certainly can't be as hot as her! I kept my mouth shut about how hot I was but what do you small talk with someone but the weather. Damn it, it's hot.

Miracles Do Happen

I got my THEA scores today....I passed! I simply can't believe it. I didn't think there was anyway I was going to pass the math section but somehow I did. I don't have to take the evil developmental math and I scored high enough to be formally admitted to the Teacher Education Program. I am doing a happy dance like you can't believe! I was really dreading the scores because if I didn't pass the math section I would have to wait one more semester to be admitted into the teacher program, that would mean 4 1/2 years of school instead of 4. Woo Hoo!

My First Day!

My first day at my big new school. I was so excited I didn't sleep well last night! I got there early so I could get a good parking spot and find my class on time. I was a little worried because the professor hadn't turned in a book list to the bookstore so I didn't have a book but then I figured that no one else would have one either. I found my classroom, was just about to open the door, looked the right of the door and saw a sign....."Volcanos and Earthquake class with be canceled today." What!!! It's the first day! How can you cancel a class on the first day! Whatever! I was a little peeved so I left the campus to run some errands and have lunch.

I had another class at 2:00 so I had to return to campus, once again I go through pretty much the same routine of getting to class and I find some guy in a baseball cap in the classroom. He says, "I'm not your teacher. He is out of the country until Monday." He does go over the syllabus and is clear that attendance really counts. I'm wondering if I get a free day like the professor because I can't make it. I was really deflated and a little pissed off. I have spent a lot of money for school and not one but two teachers not to show up on the first day was aggravating.

I did a little math and figured out it cost me about $25 a class a day, so I think I'm owed a $50 refund! So much for my first day, maybe tomorrow will be better.

THEA Later

Part of the reason I decided to attend community college two years ago was I didn't want to do any standardized testing to enter. I hadn't done any kind of school in years and I didn't want to start with some big scary test. Well, it has caught up with me. I had to take the THEA test to enter into the Teacher Education Program and to place into a math class at UTD.

THEA is broken into three parts, Reading, Math and Writing. There are a few problems with this test....It can take up to 5 hours to complete, it doesn't start until 11:00 a.m. and there are no breaks unless you have to pee; needless to say, I was starving when I was done three hours later. The good thing is if you need to retake part of the test, which I will have to, you can do so. I think I did fine on the Reading and Writing portions, the math is another matter. I was so foolish not to do my math in the community college setting. I really didn't want to take developmental math; unfortunately I'm having to do it now and that sucks.

I'll have my results of my test next week, so I'll post my results.

Two Weeks.....

School starts in two weeks and I'm a little freaked out about that. I went to orientation last week (it was boring, I brought my knitting) and I almost couldn't register because I haven't taken math or a math placement test! Here in our great state of Texas you have to either take the SAT or THEA for English or Math placement, well since I'm old and took classes ages ago I have been exempt from THEA at the community college level but not at the state college level; I sure wish someone had told me that, oh lets say, six months ago when I was excepted! I was allowed to register because I have not transferred all of my classes yet, I am going to take the THEA, and when I did register, I had to take developmental math. Now, if I pass the THEA I can drop the math class; somehow I don't think I'm going to pass.

I'm taking a science class, Volcanoes and Earthquakes, intellect of inquiry or inquiry of intellect, it's one of the two (not sure what that's all about), American public schools (with 20 hours of classroom observation), Education psychology, and the dreaded math class. 14 hours total, I've never carried that kind of load but if I'm going to finish in two years I'm going to have to buckle down.