School
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Weary too soon
Some things I have learned about the community college:
** Unless in dire straits, do not use the restroom closest to the cafeteria.
The one at the far end of the hall on the 2nd floor is much, much cleaner, there is always an ample supply of towels and potty paper, and the locks work for each and every stall. It is hard to believe both rooms are the same age. One gets used continuously, the other is near classrooms where nerdy subjects are taught.
** The door to the Library is still in the same place as always, but you have to walk several extra steps to get to it. The Security office got re-modeled and enlarged over the summer.
** Every teacher has to show the Safety video at the first class session. It doesn’t matter if every student in the room has already seen it, the teacher must show it.
** There must have been a lecture to the Instructors about learning the names of the students. Every class had some sort of “let’s all get acquainted and learn a little something about each other” exercise which was not the routine last year.
I have to brush my teeth as soon as possible after each period.
** Due to construction of a new building, parking is a problem. Allow maybe an extra ten minutes to walk from car to classroom.
** Elementary Education Majors tend to be female, young, and blonde both in looks and attitude. A few years down the road, the poor little First Graders won’t know much about people of color.
** In my Music Appreciation class there is no one else who likes John Denver songs as much as I do.
** Playing with Rods of Tens in a study area, and making it look like the math homework it is, does not get nearly as many comments from bystanders as does crocheting in the coffee shop.
I guess I’d better get back to my WebCT assignment.
I have to make up a Personal Philosophy of Education. My old stand-by of ‘letting nature take its course’ or ‘survival of the fittest and smartest’ won’t earn teacher ability accolades.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, August 18, 2005
First Day of Classes
What a whirlwind of a Day!
Educational Psyche at 9:30am and we had to fill out little cards to say something about ourselves. The Instructor seemed a bit impressed that I have my own weblog, and smiled a bit when I raised my hand saying I know how to use the Web-CT.
Old broad knows new technology!
Then a meeting for Project Rise, which is a program to help underclass students get through college. It is provided by the Federal Government, and there are Peer Mentors, Study Groups, Tutors, Field Trips. She said we should be proud we got in, there were only 41 slots open. I gather that the main reasons I made the cut are that I am older and returning after 26 years away from school, qualify for Financial Aid, I have proven test anxiety, and neither of my parents went to college (they didn’t ask about spouse or children doing so).
Then lunch at the cafeteria. I told the clerk that better signs were needed about where the people in line are supposed to wait. Very confusing, much bumping of trays.
Math class is designed for those who want to become Elementary Ed teachers. After the purchase of two Expen$ive books, the supply list also says Pattern Blocks, Line of Ten rods, and Fraction Wheels. Another $38 at the Educational Toy aisle, but at least this is more my style than a graphing calculator.
So far, so good. DoF says he is most glad for the Project Rise. Whatever it takes to keep my spirits and grades up.
I’m thinking that Peer Mentor person should be able to give my guys and their ears a rest.
This evening is a retirement party for a nurse friend. Might be one of my last ‘going out’ celebrations for awhile before the research papers come up on deadline.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps Please keep John B. in your prayers. He had open heart surgery this afternoon, and will have some days to stay in the hospital.
His wife Evelyn is one of my most faithful readers! and both friends provide much encouragement for both Mister and MrsDoF!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Fall Schedule
The deadline has been Beat. By Two days, no less.
I sat and stared at schedules and classroom numbers until the screen was a blur. There was a bit of confusion because I am not exactly clear for what’s on the paper that has my list (from the late 70s) of transfer classes on it. Do the highlights mean I Need it, or did it Transfer?
Throwing my hands up in defeat, I decided to take my chances without an appointment at the Academic Advisor office.
That was on Tuesday, August 9.
The wait was only 30 minutes. The Advisor, who has M.S. after her name on the door of her office, took one look at the wrinkled paper and said it would be best for me to get into a Math 135/136 class if I want an actual Associate Degree. Math 131 is usually set up for students who simply need any Math class credit, and if I want to move onward to a B.A. degree, then I would have to take another math class later anyway. Having earned a B in Intermediate Algebra, I can handle the challenge. Uh huh, she has more confidence than I do about this studying and passing grade expectations. She put my name in at 2pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’ll be a zombie that time of day, but the teacher has good evaluations from former students.
Then she says I need another Humanities class, although two of those did transfer. She looked at the schedule with slots still open. Nothing like me waiting until the last minute, and beggars can’t be choosers. I told her that I remember Greek architecture, and Aristotle and Charlemagne and pictures of paintings from all those years ago. I’ve never had any formal class about music since high school, so I’m in for Music Appreciation 10am M-W-F.
Required by every student is Composition 102. Having had a terrible experience in Comp 101, I am not looking gladly at this necessity. I also specified I want a man teacher for writing, which was a good thing, because the only two classes with openings are both taught by males. I now have an evening class on Tuesdays from 6-9pm.
This fulfills the requirements for the basics towards an Associate Degree. Any other classes are electives.
Having not laid eyes on me before, this advisor was doing her best to get an idea of where I want to be when I’m done at the community college. I could read this of her, and I give myself credit for having lived long enough to be able to see the signs. This ability has not come easily for me, as my long history of low end jobs and disgruntled co-workers can verify.
Well, anyway, I liked being a daycare teacher much better than being an LPN. A couple Psychology credits did transfer, but she says I might like the Educational Psychology class, and it shouldn’t be as much work as the growth and development class I had been looking at. If I am worrying about homework for the math class, then I should take an easier class beside it. By this time, my head is really swimming, and I just want to get out of there. OK, Sure, I need to be full-time for the financial aid to come through.
She turns to her computer and scrolls down. She looks at the notes she had written, and within 10 minutes had me all enrolled, and the schedule, with its bill printed.
I was in awe, and I told her so, and now I tell you. She looked a bit embarrassed and said it’s her job, what she does all day long, she’s supposed to do it well.
I paid the tuition I owe with the VISA card. I’m going to get my books next Monday or Tuesday. $Aid cover$ them, apparently there is a $et-up at the bookstore.
I don’t know how it might be where you live, but the community college here sure is good for its citizens. Especially the ones like me who aren’t so good with school stuff. There are Interpersonal Communications classes, building good study habits (I am a bit lazy, truly I am), an afternoon session about writing a fine Resume (even after getting fired from a previous job), Tutors.
On the way out, I passed a table where the girl was handing out applications for Project Rise, which is aimed at folks who are the first to go to college from their family. I am not the first in the family, one sister earned a Master’s in her mid-40s, another one is an Accountant, and youngest sister already has an A.D. Husband and a couple sons have Bachelor’s degrees. On the app, I did have to say that neither parent went to college. Even for my age, it seems this is a big deal because the expectations for quality education are formed early in life.
I am still having a hard time taking it all in.
ME, a Full Time college student! Whenever someone asked what I do, I have to say I am a Student. There was awhile when I said Nurse. Janitor. Foodservice Worker. Daycare Teacher. None of those come close to the best one when I could answer MOM.
To everything there is a season. Now is the time for me. It would be better if Husband was taking classes. He actually enjoys getting educated. Maybe in another year or so, and if we win the lottery.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Algebra Final Grade
e-mail notice:
Intermediate Algebra 096
Your final exam is 138 out of 175
Your course grade is 82.8% B
Prof B
Did you hear my shout-out! WooHoo!
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
The Last Day
This is the last evening of studies!
Communications written final was Tuesday, Algebra last class was today and its Final is Thursday Noon. All inclusive, anything we have studied the whole summer semester probably might be on the exam.
Husband went to the gym, Chris is at his job, and I am supposed to have the graphing calculator, straight edge, charts, paper and pencil in full concentration mode.
I’d better get at it then.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Lunch, Algebra, Speech
Oh, my goodness! My last post was Sunday! I’m sorry I was away so long, but that’s why I left you such pretty flowers and poem, because I knew I was going to be so busy!
Sunday Noon, was a going away luncheon for my friend Sue. She’s my best friend here in town, but she’s selling her house and moving to Indiana to be closer to family (cutest grandkids ever!) and relatives.
I served in the church kitchen, and also managed to take some pictures. Husband was asked to be the official photographer, and he got some lovely shots with his OLYMPUS.
That afternoon we were making photo adjustments in shades and cropping on two computers before putting them all on a CD. I walked it over to her house on Sunday evening, and I explained about taking it to WALGREEN’s to get prints.
Ever since then has been study and homework. Algebra is graph and algebra for Systems using The Harvest Model, the Business/Market Model, the Growth Model and their applications. Tuesday’s test came back with an 83 of 100, which is a low B. I’m holding my own at a B since mid-term grades were issued.
Homework takes about two hours for me each evening. I’m not yet real quick with the graphing calculator.
One of the girls in my study group had her homework done before she left the classroom today. Plus she got a 10 of 10 on her quiz. I got an 8 of 10, but I asked if I could take a picture of hers just so I could know what it truly looks like.
Then a Persuasive Speech was due Tuesday. When I announced over doing dishes in the church kitchen that my chosen topic is LEGAL PROSTITUTION there was utter and complete silence. I think even the machine had just finished its cycle.
I explained that my job was to Persuade, not fully Agree. Although I do believe that services provided for money should be Legal so that health regulations, zoning codes for brothels, business taxes and income taxes can be assessed. A hairdresser has to have a license, other health care workers have to be Certified, why not prostitutes?
The Speech was due Tuesday, and I was about 60% ready for it then, and I might have bluffed my way along, but I asked if I could wait until Thursday.
My excuse was I had a bit of a problem within my mouth, with something caught under a gold crown and swollen and bleeding gums. If I could not floss or rinse it out, there might even have come a trip to the dentist. Wednesday morning, finally dislodged a bit of pineapple, you know the little stringy bits….feeling so much better.
For my Oral Presentation, I led off with the old family story about one of my paternal relatives being a Madam, one with a good reputation in her business, and the cops often looked the other way when cruising down that street. A personal story which got their attention and a few smirks, but when I explained this knowledge had clouded my perspective as to what is Legal, Criminal, Moral, a few heads were nodding.
Let me tell you, doing Research for 5 credible sources on the Pro side of Legal Prostitution was time-consuming. I really wanted to go about it from the health perspective. Where prostitution is legal such as the Netherlands, sex workers have a labor union, condoms are mandatory. The only place in the USA where legal prostitution is practiced are certain counties in Nevada. Health violations are punished fully for all parties involved. There are no streetwalkers where brothels are zoned. No one has to climb into a car with a stranger and be abused or even murdered. There were a few chuckles when I said that the equivalent of Bouncers work in legal brothels.
About halfway through my presentation, when I was reading a quote full of statistics, my mouth was very dry and I stumbled a bit, but the Conclusion came out fine.
I fielded 6 questions at the end, and my thorough research had brought up the answers.
I did have a cool drawing from the Chicago Tribune newspaper to put on the overhead, and I handed out copies of
Steve Chapman’s column from Thursday July 14. There’s a reason he gets paid to write, he is damn good at it.
At the end of the class time, as I was putting my papers into my carryall bag, I asked the Instructor if I had done okay, what with the mix-up of words. She said I did better than average, and on the Question-and-Answer I “kicked butt.”
When I got home, Husband asked me all about it, said he had confidence in me. Then he went off to the gym and I came over to tell all of you about it.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Drained at Dinnertime
I’ve been home about a half hour and have finally stopped fidgeting.
Today, June 28, is three weeks into my summer classes.
At Noon, in Intermediate Algebra class, there was a 3 chapter test, with use of a graphing calculator.
It went as close to alright as I could make it, considering the first time I even turned on the calculator was one week and three trips to the Tutor Center ago. Most of the problems dealt with a hot air balloon, its time aloft, how many feet altitude, when would it land.
All to do with slope and points on a graph. I filled in every blank, with what seemed like a reasonable answer. Even when I label each axis of the graph, I still get the x and y points mixed up. They look good on the line, but which one is time and which is about how high in the air? At least I was not the last one to leave, there were still two working when I opened the door to exit.
At 2pm, in Oral Communications, there was a 5-7 minute Speech with Visual Aid. I chose Crochet, its history, its importance in industry, who is famous and has it as a hobby (Vanna White), and contests with monetary rewards.
The visual aid was a poster board with different sizes of squares crocheted with various hooks and weights of yarn tacked to it, and an edging from an old pillowcase that had outlasted the fabric.
Even though I had contests mentioned in my outline, and the word CONTESTS on my poster board, and I had a card in my hand with contests underlined, I totally forgot to mention them. When I got to the Conclusion, it seemed a bit short, and all because I had forgotten the contents of a whole notecard and to point to the visual aid.
When I sat down, the girl beside me said I was very interesting, that I had looked up at the audience often enough. The guy behind me liked the squares and how I explained their differences.
At the potty/smoke break, I asked the Instructor about points off for not even mentioning what was obvious on my poster, but she said to let it go, be done, the grade is set now and that if my average needs to be raised, just make sure the next Speech is better. She’s good with the “don’t sweat it” ideas.
So, I got home just drained. To find a note from DoF saying he was going to a certain store, and when he comes back, we should get away from the house and go out for some din-din.
Sounds like a great Plan to me. It’s been many hours since my bowl of Cheerios with a banana sliced in.
Tomorrow is hump day for the week. And an anniversary of sorts. One year ago, on the next to last day of June, I was Fired from my job as a daycare teacher. There was no way to say, back then, that in a year a graphing calculator and crochet squares would be so important.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Update: 9:30pm same day
For supper, Husband and I went just up the street to DENNY’s, where I ordered my usual fish and fries and cole slaw and he had some kind of turkey and bacon club sandwich.
For the last few days, he has been cleaning the outer walls of the house in preparation for a much-needed paint job. Both of us are tired as it gets.
Right now, I have my spoon in a dish of butter pecan ice cream, while waiting for the laundry in the washer to get done so I can transfer it to the dryer and then off to bed.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
I say It’s Over
I’m saying the semester is over. I went up to HCC to fetch my composition portfolio.
There is one comment from the Instructor which states “Lacks the ability to look at both sides of issue/topic/concern.”
My husband gladly would have told her that without me going through all the writing and processing assignments.
Earned a C for it, then a C overall for the semester, which is passing and means no money down the drain. Tuition gets expensive, and the rate is going up—Again!
Then I went over to the Basic Assessment Test Lab. According to my Algebra Instructor, if I passed his class, then passed the test well enough, I could skip the next level which is Intermediate Algebra. I thought this would be great. The BAT is multiple choice, I can use my own calculator, there is not a timer.
And I did what I thought was fine. The answers I figured out were within the list of choices! Why can’t they all be like this?!
For once, I was not the last person done.
The proctor got my printout from the computer—another cool thing. Instant gratification. I got a score of 55, which she says is right at the average, having just finished the course.
I will have to take Intermediate Algebra.
Okay, I am already signed and paid for the summer.
On the way out, there was a girl sitting in a study area and looking over her own Portfolio for the next level of Composition, which is 102. She had the same Instructor I did, but a class further along.
Just being friendly old me, I asked if she did alright. She said she Passed, which was all she had hoped for. She said she never understood how writing could be so hard. She said she is going to make sure she never gets another class with this teacher.
My grandma angel was grabbing ahold of my shoulder and whispering “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything” so I just nodded and said “We can put it all in a drawer now, and make sure tuition is paid for next semester”.
On the way to the car, I was thinking that I probably should cause some kind of mess within the english department bureaucracy, but there was one girl in my class who thought that this Composition 101 was a breeze, got an A on her portfolio, could not understand why I found it so hard to get a research paper done.
I have come to the conclusion that there are different strokes for different folks.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, May 16, 2005
Almost done
The chair at the coffee shop got three hours of my warm bottom this afternoon. I studied Algebra and wrote up my note cards with the formulas and equations from each chapter.
This evening there is more studying to do, and I am still not real sure what will happen when the final exam is sitting in front of me on Tuesday morning. The brain will hopefully get into a working groove.
After I turn in that paper, the Spring semester is done for me. Summer session begins June 6.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
All energy is gone
Today is the day the Composition Portfolio was due. I didn’t even have the Revision of Paper 3 back, the Instructor forgot to leave it in her office box.
I took the 3-hole punch tool with me to class so that I could do the last minute put-it-together. Out in the hallway, 6 other students borrowed it while we waited for the Instructor. She had overslept, 20 minutes late, on the last and most important day.
I got a C on the Revision, up from an Incomplete. I started punching the holes and she said I could have an extra day to do more Revisions. Nope, I said, a C is passing, I did have a clean copy of that exact paper, the Portfolio is together now.
Then she checked it, page by page, as if I couldn’t read the list of contents. She said I have to re-do Paper 1, that was not a B paper. I said, hey, there’s a B written right there at the top, I’m done with it. The Revision Plan has a checkmark at the top. There’s no way she can lower something already done, is there? If she tries to, I’m going over her head. Then she says there has to be a clean copy of another paper. I can put it into her box in the morning.
There is a Course Reflection paper to be written and placed within. For that paper, I wrote that I am quite grateful just to be done with the course. Yes, I have learned about how to do Research papers, but I found the whole process frustrating. Someone with less innate talent would have given up long ago, and I worked way too hard just to pass with a C.
It is most regrettable that all my energy is so sapped that I cannot do what I truly like to do, which is to write here on the weblog.
Maybe next week, after Algebra final, and before I go back to the Valley to see my mother.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Report of Grade
Dear Ones,
The chapter 7 test in Algebra came back with a 40 / 100.
Two missed were because I went too far—I put the real answer over the other number and made it into a fraction. Three were because I misunderstood the directions and did a graph with points rather than lines—he only took 1/2 off each answer because he said the point was in the correct place, but I was supposed to draw lines according to the slope.
One question I had no idea and simply wrote Undefined. The answer was Neither.
My grades so far say I need at least an 88 on the Final to pass the class with a C average.
It’s gonna be a rough couple weeks.
Husband says if I have to take the class all over again, we can do that. There are three students in my current class who are on their second go round. It looks like one of them is about the same place I am with the points needed. I sure hope she makes it, that we all make it.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, March 28, 2005
Still in School
Goodness, my hand is aching. Algebra homework
“Solving Quadratic Equations using Factoring”
To do this, the Zero-Factor Property must be memorized.
If ab = 0, then a = 0 or b = 0
There were 21 problems on the practice pages, each has four lines of figuring before getting to the answer.
I cannot do much in my head. Sometimes I even skip use of the calculator because I can’t see the route I have taken when I get to the conclusion.
I began at 2:45pm, took a bit of a break around 4:15, then finished soon after Husband got home at 5:30pm.
The main problem right now is the sore hand.
Duty called before hobby.
I wanted to crochet a cross marker tonight, but the knuckles can’t take holding onto another long, skinny tool.
Sleeping with my splint on tonight, I can tell you….
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Back at classes
Well, Folks, the great Spring Break is done and we are getting back into the ruts of routine.
Algebra is at Chapter 6 Factoring Polynomials where X is not equal to 1. Homework practice problems took almost two hours, and the Instructor was dropping hints that a quiz could be coming next time.
Composition I is the First Draft of Paper 2 ready for Peer Response. That’s four pages due at 8am Wednesday. College research papers are not nearly as much fun as writing for a blog.
Husband made cables with connectors for something in one of the computer labs. He is so entertaining, sitting and watching reruns of THE SIMPSONS, yet doing work for his job. He says his salary covers these little extras, and I know he likes working with his hands this way.
Chris is typing even more than I am for a paper, so I know his schedule is catching up with him.
Seems like what goes around comes ‘round again.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, February 21, 2005
Doing Homework
There’s a buddy from the old college days who lives in Ft. Myers, FL. When I saw the page in the Algebra book, I just had to send off a note to her. This is a great way to postpone the inevitable and study for the Quiz coming tomorrow morning!
Dear Cindy,
In my Algebra book is a picture with a word problem.
Banyan Tree
The largest banyan tree in the continental United States is at the Edison House in Ft. Myers, Florida. The circumference of the aerial roots of the tree is 390 feet.
Find the diameter of the aerial roots to the nearest tenth of a foot.
On the facing page is a picture of Tom Hanks as he appeared in CASTAWAY (as my romance novels say he is “naked to the waist.” Sigh) and the problem wants the student to find the circumference of the volleyball.
I’d like to just stay right here and not go on with the homework.
~~love and Huggs, Diane