My Current Standing

My first legitimate post about something relating to my journey to become a teacher!

I wanted to share what I've been up to in my own education and really talk up my school and student mentor as well.

I'm currently attending Western Governors University for my B.A. in Middle Grade Science (Secondary Science, Science 5-9, or whatever it may be referred to...it counts as Science 4-8 in Tennessee where I will teach). When I first started out in January 2014, my student mentor was very receptive to my goal of student teaching in January 2015. She gave me my timeline - full of background checks, exams, liability insurance, and more. And I basically got to it. My student mentor has been unbelievable and I know that I could not have done this without her help. She is always available for my millions of questions and goes above and beyond to make sure any questions or issues I have are answered and resolved. The course mentors have done the same as well...one even spoke with other departments trying to find resources for a Praxis exam that had nothing to do with her course or field of study.

The terms are six months in length and continuous. I have a little over a month left in my first term and I am done with everything I could do right now. The only thing I'm waiting on is my fifth and final Praxis exam scores which should come through in the next two weeks or so. But in the past 5 months, I've accomplished so much and I'm really excited and proud.

 [My term 1 results prior to last Friday before I passed my last two classes]

My first term was pretty science heavy and it's really made me excited for the future. I did a few labs in my first term and it was a lot of fun. Here are my circuits I did for physics with some paper clips, flashlight bulbs, electrical tape, and a 6 volt battery :)

I am now on a "break" before term 2 starts in July. I'm actually working on my last two classes with objective assessments (multiple-choice) and the last two prior to preclinical experiences (also known as in-class observation). With WGU, you can basically access the resources/book/materials for the class without enrolling (with the exception of labpaqs). So I'm not enrolled, but working through the course work, so that I can take my two exams at the beginning of July.

I am lucky enough to have been able to set up my own preclinical with a school of my choice successfully and I'm also very lucky to be able to do my observation in my old middle school with my 8th grade science teacher, who is now the head of the science department. I'm also crossing my fingers that it all goes over well and I may be able to do my demonstration/student teaching with her as well.

Honestly, I'm really just in absolute shock at how far I've come in just 5 months and how I'll be in the classroom in August...it's insane to me. It's also coinciding with a very large life transition, as my kiddos and I are leaving Fort Drum, New York in July and will be followed shortly by my husband as we start our transition from military family to civilian family.

I'm just so shocked and excited and ready to do this! I've had such an amazing support team (my family, friends, WGU student mentor, all the course mentors, etc.) through this journey so far and I'm extremely happy with my decision. Also if anyone ever wants to talk WGU, I'm game. I am enamored with my college. My dream would have had way more hoops to jump through and been a slow, discouraging process. I'm actually already considering going back for a Master's degree with WGU and I'm not even done with my first term with them!