Back to School......

This time I am the STUDENT!

That's right! After facing budget cuts for four years straight, I decided last spring that I needed to go back to school to get my K-8 classroom endorsement added to my current teaching license.  You see, back when I was an undergrad at St Cloud State University (95-99), dual majors in special ed and regular ed were not offered.....I opted for a degree in special ed because that is what I thought I really wanted to teach at the time.  After teaching bad-ass kids with learning disabilities for just two years, I went back and earned my Masters degree in Gifted and Talented Education at the University of St Thomas (00-02).  I am considered an expert at both ends of the educational spectrum.   This will now be my 7th year of teaching GT kids and as much as I love it, I felt that I would greatly benefit from getting my classroom license as well.  Not to mention this will be my back-up plan just in case I am unable to find GT jobs in the future (we are always hit hard by budget cuts).  Since I already had all of my graduate work done at St Thomas, that is where I decided to go again.  There are five methods classes in the core content areas, and then since I will be specialized in communication arts/literature for grades 5-8, I need one additional literature class and one class specifically for this licensure.

I am taking three classes this semester.  Yes, I am totally effin crazy!!!! Two of the classes are on Wednesday nights, back to back.  They are "Teaching Math & Technology" and "Teaching Science and Health" .  Last night was the first night of what is bound to be a LONG semester! I almost crapped my pants when these four books came to $350!!!!

The third class that I am taking meets all day on Saturdays this month and is focused on my 5-8 content area.  Tuition has gone up 75% since I graduated five years ago too.  This is not going to be cheap, by any means.  It was interesting to see how the Minneapolis campus of St Thomas has changed in the five years since I last attended.  They have added an entire Law school with a state -of the-art building and also remodeled and expanded the cafeteria.

The classes are going to be great, but there is a TON of work.  Hopefully this will not be the end of my social life!!!!  I am expecting to have everything I need completed by the end of next summer, so it is going to be a very, very busy year.

Wish me luck!!!

Comments

[sarah]

that's great kristi!
sending you lots of good wishes!!!
xo. :)

[Kayla]

Ugh...I am at the point of college where it's getting real that in a short two years I will have to actually be a teacher and in the professional world instead of just thinking that I will "be a teacher someday." I am feeling so stressed out about not knowing the ins and outs of how certifications and licensing actually works and what i'll need, and all of that fun stuff. Sorry, I am rambling and offering you nothing with this comment, but I think you can understand why I am confused and stressed at this point...let alone continuing with education once I get my undergrad and a few years of "getting my feet wet" before I move onto my Masters...good luck with your classes! I see you have a health ed book in there--that's my minor :-)

[Michelle Sauer]

Wow, didn't know any of this. Good luck and have fun! I hate school!

[Jeff Sauer]

St. Thomas = Best. School. Ever.

[Andrea Haenke]

Good Luck Kristi!!!

[Dana Sterner]

Kristi, you never cease to amaze me with your dedication and efforts to yet another facet of your life. Good luck with the continued education. You are committed and I know it will be stressful, but you will do great.

[Adrienne]

Good luck Kristi!! you will do wonderful!!!

[greta]

good luck girl and i am so proud for you...glad you decided to bite the bullet and get it over with...

[Kelly]

That's awesome that you taking classes this fall! I wish I had the motivation to go back and finish my degree. Good Luck! I'm sure you'll do great!

[simone]

Good luck Kristi!
So sad to hear that spec. ed teachers are always the first to take cuts when they are the ones who are needed most!
We have been lucky to get the best spec ed teacher this past year and went from the bottom to the top, without him, we woulda still been struggling.
So thanks for spec ed your first choice and good luck on your backup plan!

[Julie]

Congrats on going back to school.

[Julie]

LOL, I wasn't done up there... hit post on accident. DOH!

Congrats on going back to school! Going back to school is tough and the expense of it it what kept me from going back for so long but it's one of those things that will be well worth it in the end. Good luck Kristi! I could feel your enthusiasm and drive just from reading your post, you're going to do fine. =)