Thursday, December 9, 2010

Mailing off Concordia Packet

Yesterday, I dropped off in person some paper work at PSU campus. That is done. Today I'm mailing off my Concordia application packet. That will be done. Next, I will work on Marylhurst application after Christmas break. I already have a few things together. Still several more stuff to do before mailing my packet in. So I'm ready for winter break. Next Wednesday, I will be flying out to Hong Kong for two weeks to see family. I'll be my first international flight since six years ago when I was flying back from France after a year study abroad. This trip will be the first Hong Kong trip I will remember. The first time I went, it was with my mom and my brother at the age of 2. I'm so excited. This is probably the last blog entry of this year. Tune in to 2011, a new adventure awaits me.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

One Down...Two to go

Yesterday I submitted my online application for GTEP at PSU. I was so relieved. End of last week to yesterday, it was stressful putting everything together. I'm glad I was able to submit my application on time. They extended the due date, Dec. 6th by 5 pm. I submitted it before I head off to work around 1:35 pm. Now I am gathering evidence and waiver forms to be send off to the advisors. I already taken those prerequisite classes. It took me awhile to email each advisor and make sure I know what I need to send them as well as where do I drop them off. Tomorrow morning I will be dropping off my documents at the Grad School of Ed office.

Here is the GTEP essay:


My ever present goal, the one I will carry onward after graduating from GTEP and gaining employment as an elementary school teacher, is to build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge for my students so they may become productive and lifelong learning adults. While I am teaching, I desire to earn an ESOL endorsement. Hopefully in ten years time, I will become an ESL teacher who can make a difference for ELL students to master the English language academically so they can be successful in the United States. I also will encourage the students to continue with their native languages because in this multilingual world, bilinguals are truly needed in many professions here in America and abroad. In time, I see myself being a mentor to both student teachers as well as first year teachers.

My many years of working with elementary students, has given me a strong foundation of teaching experience. Since 2007, I have the privilege to work as an educational assistant at an after school program. During this time, I have been known to be creative and autonomous. I plan and implement multicultural arts and crafts. For example, one year I put together a mini thematic art project about the Hiochuls in which the children made masks, codex books and yarn crafts. Concurrently, I gained student management experience. Having strong student management skills are important in creating a safe and fun learning environment. Before graduating Western Oregon University, I had many classroom experiences as I divided my time between school, work and volunteering. The Educational program was truly the major highlight of my undergraduate years. I gained experience in field work and beginning student teaching. First, I observed the second grade teacher instructing his students in math, language arts, social studies, and science. Second, I taught math, language arts and science lessons from the state adopted curriculum. Lastly, I aided the teacher with grading, prep work, and small projects throughout my student teacher training. At the end of my third term with the Ed program, my advisor recommended that I needed more experience with classroom management. Fortunately, my current job has given me the experience I desired to find. I now know whom I am as a teacher and have confidence in managing classrooms of students on my own.

I am a professional who is flexible and adaptable, a good decision maker and a fine communicator. I am passionate about teaching diversity because when students know about different cultures, they will be able to get along with diverse people. This will create empathy and compassion for others. When teachers and students understand different cultural experiences, everyone’s lives will be enriched. In conclusion, I believe your rigorous program will prepare a solid foundation for me to become one more amazing teacher.


One grad application is done so two more to go. I think I hear back from the school either by early or late Spring.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Great--GTEP deadline extended...But STRESS!!!

Previously, I mentioned that I gave up on applying to PSU's grad school of Ed because of the deadline, Dec. 1st for applications was not enough time. I couldn't sleep on Wednesday night so I was working on my grad stuff for Concordia. I checked my email and received an email from PSU that they extended the application for the GTEP (Graduate Teacher Education Program)to Monday, Dec. 6th by 5 pm. At that point I had almost all the documents I needed to be sent in. Friday was a day off for me. So I spend many hours that day working on my online application. There is so many things to do apply to the GTEP. So much documents to gather and send in. Today I worked on my essay portion of my application.

I'm not sure if I make sense anymore. I am going on little sleep. Last night I only had four hours worth of sleep. Earlier this week, I had two sleepless nights. On the plus side, it wasn't happening two nights in a row. Maybe my excitement of going to grad school plus the stress of putting everything together is getting to me. It's so much work try to get into grad school.

I already sent in my online application for PSU grad school yesterday. I don't like it that I have to apply twice and paid two application fees to get into PSU. With Concordia and Marylhurst, it's one application each. I don't even have to pay the application fee for Concordia since they signed off a waiver after showing up to one of their informational meetings.

I will get everything together and submit my GTEP application by Monday before 5 pm. I start work at 2 pm so I can't do anything more. So my goal is to submit at around noon on Monday.