Help thou mine unbelief

When I first started WGU I went through my first few assessments quickly, but they were mostly objective assessments and I was still only putting in about 10 hours a week (if I passed the multiple choice test, I passed the class). But because I did those quickly, my advisor got excited and suggested I be ready for student teaching this fall 2011. That freaked me out because it looked so big. After freaking out for a few weeks, I asked if I could push it to January 2012. Then as I entered the early education classes and their performance objectives (essays and projects), I saw how much longer they take; even though it was still review, I had to do the work). The first six classes or so had about 4 tasks per class, but the later ones had 10-13 tasks per class. I began to get stressed again about being ready by January 2012. My advisor insisted that these later tasks tend to go much quicker. I translated that to mean that although there are more, they are not as time consuming as the earlier ones. That gave me some hope and kept me going for another 5 weeks or so, but I was still stressed and increasingly so (I scared myself, I have never been that upset before). I finally decided to push it back to fall 2012. If I could have made it by January, with a little more push, then surely I could make it by August and still be able to sleep. I should have it all wrapped up by March, I thought.

But now I am into those later ones and I am not seeing them being any less time consuming than the earlier ones; there is just 3 times the work. (These classes have 10+ tasks instead of 4, and many of those require twice + the work, such as an essay AND a project AND a report on the project for each). I am only putting in about 10 hours a week, averaging 1 task a week. I have 42 weeks and 47 tasks and 2 tests. That doesn't add up. I sent an email to my advisor and asked him what was up. I tried to do that last July, but he really didn't hear me. This time he did. Maybe that had something to do with the suggestion that I might freak out and drive to his house banging on his door. He finally explained. They don't go quicker because they are less time consuming, but because people usually see the light at the end of the tunnel and go much quicker.

OH! That is very different!!

But I can't postpone anymore. I wouldn't have the credits I need for each term. I just have to make it work. I hope this new laptop will help out. So far I can only do my work on the main computer in the family/living room/kitchen, that means when everyone is asleep. Now, maybe I can lock myself in my room every now and again and get some work done without kicking everyone out of the house. Even that can not happen on camping weekends.

Sage would come up if she could, but she is grandpa sitting. Grandpa is needing constant watching now. She is taking time off of school to take care of him.

There are just too many variables to really see what will happen. I am going to begin my in-class assignments; I really have no idea how those will pan out and how long they will take. Come summer, I can let the kids play outside and work more if I am up against the line, but I have to have them all done by the end of July. I still do not have a good plan on what to do with my kids when I go into the class for these assignments, that bothers me a lot. Of the 47 tasks I have left half, of them require in class components. Not simple observations like UoP asked for, but interviews, lesson planning, lesson teaching, and planning and creating visual aids (and at least one essay to go along with each).

I know that Heavenly Father has this planned out. I have received feelings of peace and assurance numerous times. I don't have to worry, it is all fine. But I worry anyway. I wish I didn't; I loose sleep over it which is just counter productive. I KNOW the Lord has a plan, this is His plan and all I have to do is trust. Why do I worry then? I get frustrated, anxious, worried, try various scenarios, wish it was all easier, and worry some more. Why? If only I had more faith. I feel very much like the father in Mark 9:24 who brought his son to the Savior and asked Him to heal his son: "Lord, I believe; help though mine unbelief." I know it will work out. Someday, quite soon actually, this will all be behind me. Why then do I doubt?

SLOW DOWN

I finally broke. Last Sunday I collapsed into a crazy, stressed-out mess of uselessness - The closest thing I have ever come to a real emotional breakdown. I'm not sleeping; I'm depressed and overwhelmed; I am constantly getting sick. I'm not eating right or exercising; I'm not even reading my scriptures. I keep thinking it will get better as spring comes, and after I get these few classes done and get my application for my student teaching turned in. I can make it, but I can't let up; I have to keep going at the same pace (or just a tad faster). But I just cant push anymore. I'm snappy to the kids and way too impatient - it's not their fault, and they don't understand why I'm acting this way. I'm neglecting their education. I am on the verge of tears most of the time. If I keep this up for another year, I will ruin my family, or at least severely harm our relationships. So Jonny and I have decided to push back my graduation date another term; from May '12 to Dec '12. So this past week I tried to catch up on my sleep; not an easy thing to do when you are used to not sleeping. But I already feel better; the weight is lightened. I like the idea of being done with school in a year, but not at the cost. My gut tells me that I can't afford to neglect my health for another year. I feel as though I have been going at a turtle's pace already; well now it will be a snail's pace. But I will finish. There are more things I need to say no to and get them off my queue. I need to make sure I am teaching my kids the right lessons.

Sick babies are NO fun! & I have a real attitude problem

Well, I suppose I should have expected it. I am the nursery leader at church after all. He has been in the nursery with us since he was a month old. The problem now is that he is mobile. So now all the germy toys are accessible. So do I hold him the whole time and keep him from playing? Not practical or even nice. Or do I banish him and Jonny to the hall? I really do like Jonny's help before he has to run off to Priesthood meeting. But something has to change. I don't want to have a sick baby every week until he gets over the oral exploring stage.

Apparently having a nice school break for Christmas and having two weeks of no school work at the close of my last term was not good for my motivational levels. I liked it too much and now I am having a hard time getting back into it. Well that, and they stick me with two huge papers/projects right at the start. Then my mentor says something about 2 tasks a week until May, the early deadline for student teaching next. Yikes, 2 a week? I have been doing 1 maybe 1 1/2 so far, but not 2. If I didn't have anything else to do, sure!! But I don't have 3-4 hours a day to spend on school. Well, I'll do the best I can. Then there is always the What-am-I-going-to-do-with-my-children-during-student-teaching question. I need to adopt a grandma: One who doesn't mind FIVE children.

Ya know, it is actually rather interesting that I am deciding not to push too hard "after all, family is a higher priority" and then Joshua gets sick. As if to punctuate it all.

Well, either way, the time will come when it will all be behind me. I will have my BA and I will NEVER HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN. I will be able to look back and see the good it has accomplished and the beauty of the timing of it all. Enough of this pity party!

September???

Student teaching can happen one of 2 times during the year, September of January.

Well, in my weekly talk with my WGU advisor last week, he decided to totally stress me out. Not intentionally, of course, but it doesn't take much anymore. He said that I am doing well enough, that he really thinks I could be ready for my student teaching NEXT SEPTEMBER, if I want to try for it. Well, I love the idea of being done that soon. But I am not as convinced as he is. Granted, he knows better than I do what is required, so maybe it is possible.

But now I have to figure out what I am going to do with my kids again. Sage was going to come last time, but now she has made other college plans and I don't know if they will be adaptable or not, or if she will still want to. Oh and there is the hours I will have to spend in the classroom before that to get my other observations and assignments in.

Oh, I do not do well under pressure. I cannot procrastinate or I just lose sleep worrying. We will likely have to move next spring, we wanted to take a trip to CA and AZ, and Jonny is already spending tons of time with scouting. I'm sure I could do it if I wasn't also homeschooling, but that is more important. Jonny calmed me down and assured me I didn't have to rush to meet any deadlines; it's not like I have to hurry and get a job that much sooner.

When I talked to adviser guy today, he said the same thing. There won't be any penalty for trying for September and not making it and then just going for January. Either outcome is way sooner than I had hoped. So even if I finish everything up at the end of September and have to wait until January, I have decided to be OK with that. Funny how I have to talk myself into that. I am just a Gotta-have-it-all-planned-out sort of person. It is hard to go with the flow on something like this. I wonder why. For a lot of things I am very laid back, but not when you give me a deadline, then I have to do it.

So I am not going to push for September. I am going to go at my regular pace and just see what happens. I know there is an answer about child care when the time comes. I have no idea what that answer is, but I know it will present itself. Now that right there is a huge growing up I have done. Last year at this time I was really worried about what I was going to do with them. I was losing sleep over it and everything. So I think I have gained a little bit of faith, wisdom, and patience in the last year.

Update

I know, I am way behind. Let's see if I can catch up. OK, Mom died on Oct 18. Of course we expected this and I was grateful that it finally came. But I still walked around kind of out of it for a few days. Then all the kids got colds and I was up all night for several days with a baby and at least one kid at a time that wasn't sleeping. Hence I was not sleeping. Come Saturday I was not a very pleasant person to be around. I needed to kick everyone out of the house anyway so that I could take a test, so Jonny left a few hours early and said, "call us when you want us back." He is so good to me. I took my test, and called them with an the all clear, and I took a nap. It still took several days for my sleep to catch up.

Steven wanted to be a Obi-Wan Kenobi for Halloween. He found some good pants and a karate uniform that looked great. But he also wanted the robe. I do not have a working sewing machine, but he didn't care, he sewed it by hand. I helped guide him and did some of it, but he did most of it while we listened to a librivox recording of Treasure Island. It turned out pretty good. I didn't get pictures, cuz well, it's me and I always think of it after. I will see if I can get them all to dress up again and do a picture. We went to the trunk or treat - carnival - chili cook-off. A trunk or treat is when we go to the church parking lot, people decorate their cars and hand out candy to the kids going from car to car. It is safer and quicker, but it ends up being a lot of candy for very little work.

Mom's funeral was the 5th. It was a long time to wait for closure, but we needed the time so that everyone could come from the 4 corners of the world to make it. I went down and help dress Mom for the burial. I actually was grateful for the opportunity. Not that I would like to do that all the time, but I was glad I could perform that service for her. The funeral was good even though I had to speak. The service was in the morning in Shoreline, and then we traveled to Bremerton for the burial. That was followed by a reception at the Bremerton church building. We were able to see all sorts of people we hadn't seen in years. Actually, quite enjoyable.

This last week I was finishing up an assignment for my literature class. That is all of my prerequisites. As soon as I pass this assignment I will have finished 21 credits so far this term and I am only a little more than half way through. YAY!!! Now I can get back to the education classes. My advisor said that most people go slower through the pre-reqs and then accelerate through the education classes. It is unusual for people to make the progress that I have. So I should probably feel pretty good about my progress.

Jonny is the new scout master. He figures that this will be his job for the next 18 years until Joshua get's he Eagle. The man who called him felt the need to assure me (multiple times) that even though it will be time away from my family, we will be blessed. I had thought about the Wednesday activity nights gone, but I hadn't thought about the monthly camping trips and other trainings it would be. So our Wednesday's are crazy right now. Steven has 11year old scouts from 4:30-6. Isaac has Cub Scouts from 6:00-7. and Jonny's is 7:00 to 8:00. AAHHH (blessings, blessings, blessings). Actually I am kind of happy about it. I do think that good things will come of this and I am excited to watch the results.

Well I am sure I forgot things and I didn't even add any pictures. But I am kind of tired of staring at a computer so I'll chat later.

Subjectivity

I am taking a literature analysis class right now. One of the assignments deals with subjectivity. We all have subjectivities. This is natural. For this assignment we are asked to analyze a work and attempt to discover the authors subjectivities. We then think of our own subjectivities and apply it to the role of a teacher. What if I am required to teach something contrary to my subjectivity or if my subjectivity differs from a student in my class, how would I handle that? I certainly do not want to alienate a students or create an us verses them atmosphere is the class. So how would I go about mediating my role as teacher and my subjectivity.

The underlying premise in this line of thinking is that it is unacceptable for a teacher to expose or talk about his or her personal world view. I disagree with this assumption. Granted, I would not want to ridicule or belittle anyone just because he or she thinks differently than I do. I do not have to push my view on others, but do I really need to deny that I have any? It does not seem right to be forced to divorce myself from my worldview for a few hours each day. To do so for the years of my career, at some level would I not become divided? If I deny my beliefs, then I am separating my job from my passion. If I attempt to teach without my passion, then I cannot share my passion for learning with my students. If I cannot share my passion and love of learning with my students, then I cannot inspire them to find their own passion. No wonder students often feel that their teachers do not really care about what they are teaching. Yes, I suppose I could parrot the curriculum. But that is not why I want to teach. I want to share my love of learning with others; that requires passion.

Why are we so afraid of offending others? Yes, I disagree with others about religion or politics, but we usually have more in common than not. I believe it is certainly possible to be diplomatic; to acknowledge that there are many points of view. To even discuss those differences. I don't have to insist that Snape (Harry Potter character) really is a bad guy and alienate you just because you think he was a good guy. We could discuss it and we both might learn something new.

To take it one step further, Steven pointed out that after lessons at church his teacher usually bares her testimony about the topic of the lesson. Then she encourages the students to pray and find out if it is true. What if a teacher could bare testimony about the math principle just taught? Truth is truth after all. OK, maybe math is a little too much. But what about other topics? What about evolution, or climate change, or civil rights, or repealing the 17th amendment or...?

Maybe I am thinking too hard.

Or not hard enough.

C.S. Lewis would have been able to think this through much better than I did. I am amazed at his ability to take a line of reasoning through several steps to its logical conclusion. I am not that good of a thinker. I can follow him for about two steps. Then I just sit there with my mouth open, amazed at how well he continues for another 5 or 8 steps, long past the point of my brain getting muddled. The man was a genius. Anyway, I'll work on it. Maybe in another few decades I will be able to come back to this topic and do it right.

School Report

Well, I am almost finished with my 2nd class (not counting the 2 week introductory class) with Western Governors University. So far I am really liking it. My first class was a communications, public speaking class. I needed to do research on a topic of my choice and prepare a 5 minute presentation. Once the outline was approved, I taped the presentation and submitted the file. As soon as I was done with that one, I could move on the class #2.

My second class is a Health Wellness and Fitness class. This course has an objective assessment instead of the performance assessment like the oral presentation. As soon as I felt ready I took the pre-assessment. I passed that so now I am ready for the real test.

My next one will be a US constitution and government class. I did a study on that on my own two years ago. So this should just be a review. Seems almost a waste to by the $50 dollar book for the course when I already have the resources at home (just not in the order of the class) especially when I would only need it for about 3 weeks. (It's only a 1 credit class). Oh well.

But it is going well. I meet with my "mentor" by phone weekly for the first term and the less often after that. But he is a decent fellow and I enjoy talking with him.

My new projected graduation date is May of 2013. I could do it quicker if I really wanted to, but I think I like the casual pace. I can spend more time with my children and their education. It drags out the pain, but the pain is not as intense.

Catch up

Well, I got behind. Allen came to visit the last weekend in July. Satoko didn't like him gone, but it was good to see him again. Our church meetings are in the afternoon, so we skipped church and went down to see him. Sam was still in town so we were able to spend more time with him, Emily and Abby. I visited Mom while I was there. Wow! just not the same. I don't think I really want to remember her like this. Hyrum left this week for boot camp- he is going into "military intelligence" - one of my father's favorite oxymorons. So I actually said good by to all of my brothers that day. I am excited for Hyrum; this should be a great experience for him. I will miss him, Tawni, and the girls though.

And I started my first class. Actually it is kind of an orientation, get-use-to-being-back-at-school sort of class. I think I could actually go through this school pretty quickly since it is so self paced. But right now I am leaning towards going slowly and casually. It will lengthen out the pain, but that pain won't be as intense for me or my family. We will see how it goes. I can always sign up for more classes if I have time during the term, but if I sign up for too many and can't finish, I will have a "not passed" on my transcript. This would be equivalent to failing the class one term, but passing it in the next. So I will opt for the cautious route, especially with Mom's cancer. I have an appointment with my mentor latter today to schedule my classes for the term. I like to have things planned out; I feel more secure that way. Yet, at the same time, I don't like being stuck to schedules. I am so confusing to myself.

Back to School (do I have to?)

Well, I have two days of freedom left before I go back to school. I cannot tell you how much I have both loved and desperately needed this break. Although I was not happy when it came and it still upsets me to think about. If you missed that saga it is here, here, here, and here


I have transferred to Western Governors University. I am actually looking forward to the new experience. This University doesn't have "classes" it has "assessments" and is competency based. If you can pass the assessment, you get the credit without sitting through a class. They take into account you background and what you currently know. Then with my mentor, we decide what resources would be best for me to prepare for the assessment (text, audio lectures, video, a class, etc.). As soon as I am ready I take the assessment, I can and move on. Some assessments are exams, others are projects or presentations. At least this is the sales pitch. It is an intriguing set up and I want to see how it actually works out.

I was actually scheduled to begin at the beginning of July, but I postponed it a month. In dealing with Joshua's eating issues, I had lost a whole month. I don't remember June happening at all.

So August is the month. But I am not getting enough sleep as it is. WHAT AM I THINKING?!?

Well, for one, I will have to start paying back my loans if I do not return. I looked into deferment due to unemployment, but I would have to be actively seeking employment to qualify.

So do I really HAVE to go back? No I really don't. I could just say no and focus on my family and the other things I have been wanting to do. But I also know that I will forever regret it if I don't. So here I go (full of trepidation)

It's Official

Well, my appeal was denied. I am officially kicked out of school for residing in the wrong state. I received no further explanation other than the BS Education program was restricted in Washington. Now I get to go through the hassle of exit interviews, loan paybacks, and applying to new schools. And I was so close.

At least it is a beautiful spring.
It will work itself out somehow.

Using my School Break

The appeal process takes about 4-5 weeks. By then I will not have enough time to complete my classes before the winter 2011 semester starts, so I will not be able to do my student teaching until the next fall. So what ever happens, my May 2011 graduation date will not happen.

I had a good birthday though. We went to the Cub Scout Blue and Gold dinner and had wonderful food that I did not have to cook. I did have to live through some cub scout skits though. Not the best floor show, but all in all, a good evening.

I have enjoyed my break so far. For some time now, I have had this nagging feeling that I need to improve my health and nutrition. About four years ago I came across the School of Natural Healing founded by Dr. Christopher. I was very tempted to enroll in their Master Herbalist's program. Dr. Christopher's own story is very compelling and he spent his life developing herbal formulas and teaching others. I do believe he was inspired. This was when I first read about the mucusless diet. This diet avoided foods that caused mucus in the body that causes disease. For example, wheat is very healthful, but when you turn it into flour and back it at a high temperature, all of the good stuff is killed and the chemical composition of the wheat becomes mucus producing. If on the other hand, you soak the wheat berries and cook them at a temperature below 130 degrees, the wheat is still alive; It will still grow. But Dr. Christopher's guidelines were very vague and I didn't know how to really do it. I found other sources for healthful food not quite as extreme as Dr Christopher's but better than what I was doing.

But that nagging feeling was coming back. I am beyond thinking that I stumble onto things. I firmly believe I am lead to sources of knowledge that I need at the right time. A couple of weeks ago, I began to look for recipes for the mucusless diet. I was not having a lot of success until I found Traci Seller's website. She was faced with health issues and needed to make the mucusless diet work for her. She too was faced with the limited information that Dr Christopher had given and decided to not only figure out how to live the diet, but to make it taste good. I have been reading her book and learning so much. I know this is what I am needing right now and Jonny is even not too opposed to the changes. I will go slow though. I have been sharing some of what I have been learning with Steven too an he is getting into it. He got so excited when I told him about all of the desserts in the cookbook. I had to laugh.

Anyway, I am keeping myself busy.

Happy Birthday to Me: school update

Well, I was emotional for two days, then I wandered around in a confused slump wondering what I was supposed to be doing. Now I am enjoying the idea of no school for a while. I am determined to use this time (however much time it is) as wisely as possible.

I have been unenrolled from all my classes. I will have to return my financial aid money. My program is officially on hold. I am appealing to the student appeals department. We will see. I contacted Washington's certification department. They said they would be fine with the UoP program. Their policy is that as long as the program is regionally accredited and leads certification in the state in which it originates (in this case Arizona), Washington will recognize it. So the problem is some policy of the University of Phoenix.

If they refuse my appeal, that will be OK too. I will get a bit of a break and transfer somewhere else. UW and WWU will not work for me, they have no online options and I cannot leave my kidos full time. I have found another promising online program that I can transfer to though, so my work won't be totally lost. It is even less expensive.

Yep, I'm out!

I have continued to ask questions just so that I will understand it enough to explain it. UoP should have told me when I first contacted them about moving that I could not complete the program in Washington. Somehow I slipped through the cracks. I should never have been allowed to take the last three classes.

I have tried to explain that we still have an Arizona home, bank account, registered cars, voters registration and driver's license in AZ; I can return to do my student teaching there and apply for an AZ teaching certificate. I could then apply to Washington with an out of state Certificate and get a Washington one. But apparently that won't cut it. Despite the fact that these classes are online and I am capable of completing the work, they can not allow me to continue in the program as long as "I rest my head at night" in Washington. Financial aid may become an issue and they are risking their accreditation by allowing me to continue in a program that is not recognized by the state in which I am residing.

One of the first things Jonny said was maybe it is OK; if we had known back in August that my school would be interrupted, we would likely have not moved. Maybe we were kept in the dark because we needed to make the move. I hate to sound negative (Allen seems to think that I should not have bad days and feel negative) but I cried most of yesterday. I just was not expecting this; it was not part of the plan.

Now I have to see if I can transfer to Western Washington (their campus is an hour away) or if the University of Washington has some extension programs here I can do. I have made calls and left messages; now I need to wait for the answers. I don't know if I can manage an April 1 deadline for applying to one of these schools or not. I sure hope I can make it work somehow. My biggest fear at this point is that life or school requirements would get in the way and I not finish. I have plenty of loans to worry about too which just are not justified without that piece of paper.

A change of plans is in order

Oh, my goodness. I am in shock.

When we were debating whether or not to take this Washington job, one of the big considerations was if Washington would recognize the University of Phoenix Education degree program. I was assured that it would.

This morning I received a call from my education counselor at University of Phoenix. Yes, Washington does recognize the Masters Education program but not the Bachelors Education program. I can either switch to a major other than education, move back to Arizona for the next 15 months, or transfer my credits to a Washington school. A different degree major makes no sense at this point; it sure wouldn't save me any time. I do not like the idea of leaving my family for a year. So I will have to transfer to a Washington school. Either way I am done for now.

I will try to appeal, but I am told there is no one to appeal to. I do want to make sure of all of this though before I just accept it. Though I am not holding out a lot of hope.

I just received a hefty financial aid check and paid off our moving expenses on the credit card. I'll have to figure out how to get that back. That will be a huge headache. Maybe our tax refund will cover that.

Now What?!?

18 down, 8 to go

Yippy, Yippy, Yahoo. One more done. This class I enjoyed very much. It was about techniques for teaching English language learners. I liked it because it was so holistic. They stressed making connections to other subjects and building on past experiences and such. One of my big complaints about school is the tendency to compartmentalize everything and not make those connections to other subjects, past, future, and life. But this one was right up my alley.
Now I get to take a whole entire week off.

I know I am talking education a lot, but that is my life right now. I would much rather be learning about using and growing healing herbs. Maybe I will pull out a book or two on that topic this week.

17 Down, 9 to Go!

Yippee, Yippee, Yahoo! One more down! I'm on the down hill side now. This class was a wonderful introduction to "the exceptional child." Now I get to focus six weeks on one demographic of those exceptional children, the English Language Learner. This next one is the only 6 week class, the rest are all 5 weeks. So they are pretty special.

A Little Announcement

Well, I am not quite ready to announce this yet, but as it is starting to leak, I probably should. It appears that we will be having a new baby sometime mid May (I am hoping for the 12th-my sister's birthday). I honestly did not expect this one to last, which is one reason we haven't said anything for so long. After miscarrying twice as many children as we have kept the odds were not in our favor to begin with. Last time I lost the baby at 16 weeks, but there had been signs that something was not quite right all along. I have reached the 17 week mark with this one, and all seems to be going well.



With my, and my children's education as such a big focus right now, I really did not think that this would be asked of me until I finished my degree. Maybe I am a stronger person than I thought I was. But I do know that a way will be provided and that I will receive the help I need. The knowledge that I desperately need that help, and the assurance that it will be provided, has humbled me more than I care to admit. I am awed that the Lord trusts me this much to give me so many responsibilities.

12 Down, 14 to go!

12 classes down and 14 to go! (plus 12 weeks of student teaching) I do like taking classes one at a time. I am scatterbrained enough, that this really helps me focus a bit. I’m almost at the half way mark. I will be all finished with my classes by Christmas of 2010 and finished with this degree thing around spring of 2011. I wish I were done now, but it is closer than it was.

So why did I choose University of Phoenix? Well the first reason is that I am so rural. The local community college does have a partnership with Northern Arizona University, so I could have done it through them. But for one, they didn’t like my transfer credits. The biggest reason I decided against them is that it is all evening classes. I decided that three years is just too long to be gone in the evenings with such little kids. Now I am glad that I decided against this route. They need a certain amount of students to begin a program. They didn’t have the numbers, so they won’t be starting another group until fall of 2010; I will be almost done by then.

So I started to look at online options. There are a few, but not as many as you would think. Most online Education programs are for Masters Degrees. There are actually very few online options for Elementary Education Bachelor’s Degrees. Of the 5 I found, in only 2 did I not have to deal with two different schools. Grand Canyon University and University of Phoenix looked to be my best options. University of Phoenix was slightly less expensive and provided me more flexibility if I needed to take some time off. They also took all of my Olympic College credits. So that is why I ended up there.

I am a full time student and the classes are 5 weeks long. This way I can check them off of my list relatively quickly. I finally finished my prerequisites and am in the Education part. The classroom is set up like a discussion board. In order to get credit for classroom participation there is a minimum number of postings required each week on assigned discussion topics; usually from the textbook readings. There are individual assignments and team assignments; usually these are either papers or powerpoint presentations. No typical tests. The team assignments have been the most frustrating for me. Now that I am in the Education core classes, I have found a great team. Since most of the education students take the same classes in the same order we should be able to stick together for a while.

I will be glad when I am done. I am putting a lot of my other interests on hold simply because I do not have the time. Mark Twain said, “I never allow school to interfere with my education.” In a lot of ways I feel that I am putting my education on hold so that I can get a degree. I know it will be worth it in the long run; it is just frustrating right now.