packet one is done: sociocultural implications of 3:20 AM

the face that will shape the youth of our future! wowzah.

i think one of my eyes is swelling shut. AND i just typed "eye's" at first.. nooooooooo.

anyone care about what my crazy grad school is like? (anyone read this but phil? )

here is the cover I just sent off along with 19 pages of minimally proofread, highly agonized over writing... hope i don't find any typos now.... awk.

Dear Gail,
What I’ve Done (and Haven’t Done):
For Packet #1, I have written an essay and education and curriculum history and one on multicultural education. These two essays providence evidence for most of the “essential understandings” of Competency I. Additionally, I plan to uses them as partial evidence in other competencies related to multiculturalism and curriculum.
I changed the resources from those listed in my study plan, Two of the books I plan on reading for other packets. I was unable to locate two of the books, but substituted others that were similar.
In the resources I ended up with, I also did a significant amount of reading that I didn’t write about as I’ve realized will be more relevant in other competencies, such as on child development, and culture and language. The only significant change to my study plan that I need to make is moving my essay on school reform to another packet. I didn’t anticipate how much my curriculum reading would get into reform movements. However, I still want to write about other aspects of school change that I’ve just read and as they relate to my personal philosophy of education. This will include processes of school restructuring and critical pedagogy in relation to current trends like corporate control, charter school, and NCLB and standardized testing accountability. I have decided though that it makes more sense to do this at the end of the semester, since I know the reading I do in the weeks to come (especially on learning theory and special education ) will alter how I view reform and what I value in a personal education philosophy.
I also haven’t been able to secure documentation AmeriCorps trainings, but I should have that for the next packet (after my old supervisor comes back from maternity leave). I’ve started working with kids as a nanny and math T.A. in the last couple weeks, but I haven’t begun journaling.
The last thing I am lacking is work on e-portfolio as I’d hoped to do. I also plan to work on this in the next packet.
Evaluation and Reflection
The first packet has been much more of a challenge for me than I expected – I knew I’d be adjusting to studying so independently, but I forgot about re-adjusting to studying at all since it’s been a few years since I was in school. I knew I’d be moving during the first three weeks of the semester, but I got only a very meager head start in the summer that didn’t really compensate for how busy I’ve been. So, I’m looking to the second packet with renewed and more realistic goals of time management. I am mostly satisfied with the work I’m turning in now, but I’m sure it could have improved after a couple days of revision not under the gun of a deadline. I definitely don’t want to repeat this repeat of dealing with computer troubles in the middle of the night after the deadline… I hope I learn this lesson and wrap up sooner in the future.
I found making my own decisions about what to read and write a more rewarding challenge than time management. I took much more comprehensive notes while reading than I did as an undergrad in an effort to have good material to draw from for writing the essays… and because so much I read was of genuine interest to me. The results were mixed though, I still spent lots of time re-reading in search of a particular quote. Taking the notes may have enriched my learning, but I also felt like I was overwhelmed by everything I wanted to write about, so what I did write seems too over-simplified. I’m trying to remember that this is my first packet and I already have a much greater understanding of “the process” than I used to.
I look forward to your comments!
Sincerely,
Cate