Well, I have finished my Action Research Project :)
I am so glad to be done, just the PowerPoint left to do now and then everything will be done related to this course.
I'm ready to graduate on May 9 and not have the weight of coursework hanging over me... it is really hard to keep working full time, fulfilling coursework obligations and trying to raise a family at the same time. I will be glad to be done so I can finally start reading books for pleasure again, as I haven't had time over the last year!
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Phew! Big sigh of relief...
So, this morning I finally typed up the last part of my Action Research Project and it feels like a great weight has been lifted off of my shoulders! I can quit yelling at my kids to be quiet while playing because I can't concentrate :)
This is my last major assignment for my Master's as I'm due to graduate on May 9th, so really the only thing left between me and graduation is some revisions to my project and creating the presentation to submit via PowerPoint. Again, I can't tell you how big the relief is! I know my kids will be glad when I don't have homework in the evenings or on the weekends and can play with them instead.
I've enjoyed the process of the Action Research Project and it had opened my eyes to the need for this kind of research on behalf of the teachers. Too often the research is conducted by outsiders who are looking in and don't have the insights provided by working with the population they are assessing, so action research fills a gap. However, most teachers are incredibly overloaded as it is and do not have time to dedicate to this kind of research. I dream of a time when the American education system adopts foreign practices that allow for teachers to spend more time in professional learning situations with colleagues, and are able to observe peers, and consult with them. We are kept working hard in seclusion and do not have time to consult with others and find out their best practices, or are encouraged to keep our practices to ourselves because we will be evaluated on our progress, in comparison with others.
Alright, I've rambled enough for today and my eyes are crossing from staring at the computer screen for so long! Time for some lunch with my boys.
This is my last major assignment for my Master's as I'm due to graduate on May 9th, so really the only thing left between me and graduation is some revisions to my project and creating the presentation to submit via PowerPoint. Again, I can't tell you how big the relief is! I know my kids will be glad when I don't have homework in the evenings or on the weekends and can play with them instead.
I've enjoyed the process of the Action Research Project and it had opened my eyes to the need for this kind of research on behalf of the teachers. Too often the research is conducted by outsiders who are looking in and don't have the insights provided by working with the population they are assessing, so action research fills a gap. However, most teachers are incredibly overloaded as it is and do not have time to dedicate to this kind of research. I dream of a time when the American education system adopts foreign practices that allow for teachers to spend more time in professional learning situations with colleagues, and are able to observe peers, and consult with them. We are kept working hard in seclusion and do not have time to consult with others and find out their best practices, or are encouraged to keep our practices to ourselves because we will be evaluated on our progress, in comparison with others.
Alright, I've rambled enough for today and my eyes are crossing from staring at the computer screen for so long! Time for some lunch with my boys.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Slacking!
So... I've been slacking over the last week as it was Spring Break. The kids and I went down to Myrtle Beach and stayed in a great hotel just down from the boardwalk. We had a wonderful time playing on the beach, in the pool (indoors thank goodness!), eating too much ice cream and going to Family Kingdom, the theme park down there.
Now, however, it's back to reality tomorrow. School starts again (with Composite Functions and Combinations of Functions... not pretty!) and baseball practice starts for my youngest, plus I have to finish analyzing my results to add them to my project.
It's quite strange to think that in less than a month all of this will be over and done with, to be honest I'm happy and sad. Happy because I will get to spend more family time with my boys without having to think about homework, and sad because I will miss all the learning that I have experienced over the past few years.
Alright, time for an early night as tomorrow will be a long day!
Now, however, it's back to reality tomorrow. School starts again (with Composite Functions and Combinations of Functions... not pretty!) and baseball practice starts for my youngest, plus I have to finish analyzing my results to add them to my project.
It's quite strange to think that in less than a month all of this will be over and done with, to be honest I'm happy and sad. Happy because I will get to spend more family time with my boys without having to think about homework, and sad because I will miss all the learning that I have experienced over the past few years.
Alright, time for an early night as tomorrow will be a long day!
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