University Classes – Spring 2009

I figured that I should probably post the classes I'm taking this spring before I get too busy and the semester is over. I have been in school for a month now and the work load is definitely starting to pile up. It's always more challenging when I have multiple papers to research and write. My favorite format of cramming before an exam seems to be over as I head into more education classes. I keep telling myself that I will lighten up, but it never seems to happen. Last semester was the 4^th time I've made the Dean's list in the last two years. My friends and family tell me I should stop being so competitive and I think I should start listening to them!

This semester I am taking my final core class - Western World Literature and three education classes – Children's Literature, Cultural Diversity and Teaching and Learning in Elementary School.

I have been learning so much in the children's literature class and I really wish I had taken this when my own children were younger. At least I'll be able to pass all this great information on to my newest niece – I can hardly wait to spoil her with all these good books!

My cultural diversity class comes with a required community service project and after much searching; I have decided to volunteer at a daycare center that hosts refugee children. I just recently discovered that our area is an International Refugee Center and I am interested to learn more about the refugees here in our area. I have learned that there are 96 different languages currently spoken in our community.

Teaching and Learning in Elementary School seems to be an introduction to lesson planning and familiarity with State content standards. Most of this material has been a review as we have been homeschooling now for about ten years. This class also requires a student teaching component in a local school. I have been placed in a 7^th grade Language Arts class in a middle school and it has been a wild experience. This experience reminds me of yet more reasons why our family chooses to homeschool. I think the most shocking thing I discovered was how little work actually gets accomplished in a class period. From what I have seen in this particular class, I would estimate we are able to cover about four times the amount of material in an hour at home as compared to a traditional classroom.

It's hard to believe that after returning to college two years ago, I still have about five semesters left. I might be paying back student loans until I am 99!