I've been conducting an incredibly informal poll for months now.  It goes like this:  I say, "I've found a program where my county will pay for me to become a certified teacher, and maybe even help pay for my Master's degree."  And then, the responses just flow in.  On this poll, there has yet to be a single "don't know/indifferent" response.  The ( Read more... )

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042702019.html

Our local politicians are once again trying to convince us that economic prosperity lies in robbing our children.  Give me a break.  There just isn't that much room in the education budget to begin with.  Our county seriously underfunds its schools when compared to other ( Read more... )

Well, it's over.  I woke up late, scarfed down some leftover quiche for breakfast, hopped into my trusty wheels and podged off to the nearby university to take a standardized test.

And promptly got lost.  The university's online map has many nifty things about it - it's 3-D, it's color, but it's a pain in the behind to actually read.  Great design ( Read more... )

My paperwork is all in, except my Praxis II test scores.  I have an appointment to observe in a local high needs school at the beginning of next month, and have been diligently writing my essays for the first day of classes - I've written my outrage at the institutionalized racism and classism that infect our educational system, my fury at the ( Read more... )

I've arranged for my official transcripts to be delivered.  I've asked a few people to write letters of reference for me.  I've signed up for the Praxis II, and have forwarded my SAT and ACT scores to get out of the Praxis I ( Read more... )

Pedro is dropping off my official enrollment, and I'm getting together the last bits of paperwork - written recommendations, fingerprinting (though I probably won't have to get this done - I already volunteer in the schoolsystem.) official transcripts, and of course the dreaded standardized tests ( Read more... )

... just what I've got myself into THIS time, I've applied and been accepted into a non-traditional teaching certification program.  I'll be working in an underserved school in Prince George's County for two years, at the end of which I'll have my certification and tenure.  And I'll be eligible to begin taking the intensity of my cert training ( ( Read more... )

I got my acceptance letter today and have sent off for the official transcripts that the program will require.

Three letters of recommendation and a standardized test and I should be ready to go!

Whee!

 My sister is asking for origami flowers, butterflies, and cranes, so I'll be doing origami for the next week or so, including (if we're better by then) bringing paper and a willingness to teach to Wednesday night.  Donations of origami flowers are welcome.

Ceej, I'm working on getting a mailing address for you.  And if you could also do origami? 

The only words I can find right now are thank you - to everyone who has left a message here, or on email, to friends who have been generous with their time and hugs, to my sister's church which has been so very supportive through this, to the anonymous crafter who knit a beautiful pink preemie outfit and donated it to the hospital, so little P. ( Read more... )