It's been a long time. Too long. But so much has happened.
In three days, I'll be 50. How the heck did that happen? The PhD was on significant hold because I was chauffeur for the Big Sister to her high school a half hour away (in the wrong direction from the college). She graduated last year. Little Girlie sister had her own needs to attend to( which requires it's own blog post), but she is in her own school now, and doing OK.
I knew that I'd be required to go back to the university this year. At some point last fall, I had a shower epiphany. I didn't belong in the department that I have been studying in. I knew I was supposed to be switching to special-education. I told my husband. And he said: "I told you so." And he was right.
So, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, blah, blah, blah, phone calls, application... And now I'm a PhD student in the special-education department. And I love it, so far. One course last semester. Two courses next semester. The plan is, after that three courses, and I will be full-time. This, in addition to working. I must be out of my mind. But I need to finish. It's time.
I started this process 10 years ago. I'm really glad side of this block to start with so I could see where we all have been and where I'm going. I'm looking forward to turning 50, although it's a little scary. But in my 50s I will get my PhD and hopefully be able to change more lives of kids with hearing loss and autism. To be continued...
Friday, June 3, 2016
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Saturday, September 10, 2011
What was so important, isn't right now...
Ok - now it's been a REALLY long time! But my family has come first. K started high school (!!!) last week. We decided the local public high school was not the best fit for her. Massachusetts has "school choice" where other districts allow students who don't live in that town to enter the school. K found the school she really wanted to go to. She started last week and loves it! I don't love leaving the house at 6:40 to get her there, ha! E is starting 5th grade - her last year of elementary school! Where does the time go?
So with this new bit of work on my plate, the PhD is on hold. I'm spending the fee every semester to hold my place, so when I want to go back, I won't have to reapply...I can just jump in again.
The PhD can wait. Watching my girlies grow up can't. I love this decision. We're having a great time!!
So with this new bit of work on my plate, the PhD is on hold. I'm spending the fee every semester to hold my place, so when I want to go back, I won't have to reapply...I can just jump in again.
The PhD can wait. Watching my girlies grow up can't. I love this decision. We're having a great time!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Oh wow, it's been a while. School, teaching and work are still going on. K & E and knezdad are still fabulous. I'm babysteps closer to the PhD. K & E both decided to leave karate. K is planning to be "triple threat" - began taking dance and voice lessons - where did the opera voice come from? She's getting ready for high school next year (gah!). She's in her first community theater production: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. E is my snuggle bunny. Always reading and has a fascination with space and computer games. I am one fabulously lucky person.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Oh what have I done?
Today I started a Facebook account, then proceeded to spend the day "working" on that. Everyone says it will die down soon enough so I won't spend so much time on it...I hope so.
Last semester's course was GREAT! LOVED IT! This semester I'm taking a class on autism spectrum disorders. It has the potential of being a great class, however the majority of students are undergrads (even though it's a graduate course).
Last semester's course was GREAT! LOVED IT! This semester I'm taking a class on autism spectrum disorders. It has the potential of being a great class, however the majority of students are undergrads (even though it's a graduate course).
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Back to school...
K, E, and I all started back this week. K started middle school (6th grade), E started 2nd grade, I went around to what seemed like a bajillion school districts getting them ready for their first days of school, and now it's the long Labor Day weekend. Since it's a beautiful day, it would be great to take the munchkins to a nice New England fair...
Just an update...I did really well in my second stats class, and am a little sad not to have that professor again. This semester I'm taking SPED law that starts next week. No, I haven't done anything more to change programs. If I make a change, I want it to be a thoughtful one. There is still time, but let's see where this semester takes me...
As far as the independent study...Dr. P and I met again a week ago, but it was much too noisy to do the recordings, so another bust of a recording session. We'll try again after class one evening (oh yay, it's going to be my favorite thing in the world to do two hours of recordings after working a full day and taking a 2 1/2 hour class, sigh...but it's necessary to get it done). I can't believe I started this IS in June 2007 and still have not done the recordings yet. During lunch, Dr. P indicated that by this time next year, the IS would be completed. When I indicated I didn't think so, she said she would "push me along" (who is she kidding? I feel as though I've had to push HER along!). I don't want to be bitter, but I've still had some issues with her ignoring e-mails this summer. Sigh...I need to just see how things go then make a decision that I either suck it up and keep going or make a change.
What I just realized I didn't mention is that I met with the head of the Special Education Administration program after the last blog, and she was not encouraging about changing programs (since I didn't neatly fit into their mold - I need to try to do that better). I've also been in contact with a program at a very well-known university nearby, whose special education coordinator was very interested in talking with me. That meeting didn't take place because it was the end of the school year. It is a full-time 3 year program, however for students who are accepted, tuition is free. KnEzdad and I did the pro- and con- list (which we did as I was getting into my Master's program) and while we feel this is not the best option because it would really impact our ability to be a family, I still want to meet with the coordinator of that program. I need to set that up in October, when the New England leaves are beautiful and take a gentle afternoon to have a meeting with a famous special education author. Ahhh...there will be more to come on this subject.
I'm going to play with my girlies...have a wonderful day and happy Fall!
Just an update...I did really well in my second stats class, and am a little sad not to have that professor again. This semester I'm taking SPED law that starts next week. No, I haven't done anything more to change programs. If I make a change, I want it to be a thoughtful one. There is still time, but let's see where this semester takes me...
As far as the independent study...Dr. P and I met again a week ago, but it was much too noisy to do the recordings, so another bust of a recording session. We'll try again after class one evening (oh yay, it's going to be my favorite thing in the world to do two hours of recordings after working a full day and taking a 2 1/2 hour class, sigh...but it's necessary to get it done). I can't believe I started this IS in June 2007 and still have not done the recordings yet. During lunch, Dr. P indicated that by this time next year, the IS would be completed. When I indicated I didn't think so, she said she would "push me along" (who is she kidding? I feel as though I've had to push HER along!). I don't want to be bitter, but I've still had some issues with her ignoring e-mails this summer. Sigh...I need to just see how things go then make a decision that I either suck it up and keep going or make a change.
What I just realized I didn't mention is that I met with the head of the Special Education Administration program after the last blog, and she was not encouraging about changing programs (since I didn't neatly fit into their mold - I need to try to do that better). I've also been in contact with a program at a very well-known university nearby, whose special education coordinator was very interested in talking with me. That meeting didn't take place because it was the end of the school year. It is a full-time 3 year program, however for students who are accepted, tuition is free. KnEzdad and I did the pro- and con- list (which we did as I was getting into my Master's program) and while we feel this is not the best option because it would really impact our ability to be a family, I still want to meet with the coordinator of that program. I need to set that up in October, when the New England leaves are beautiful and take a gentle afternoon to have a meeting with a famous special education author. Ahhh...there will be more to come on this subject.
I'm going to play with my girlies...have a wonderful day and happy Fall!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Ok, so I made a mistake...
As usual, there's only limited time to write, so here it is in a nutshell. I'm not intellectually stimulated by Dr. P and have been extremely annoyed that she frequently cancels meetings. I am taking the second stats course with the same professor and still love it (just turned in a 25 page take-home exam last week, which I think I did well on). And I've been soul-searching...
In the interest of time, here is a copy of the e-mail I sent to Dr. A (my on-line mentor, who has been extremely helpful during this mentor issue I've had).
As you know, with how difficult things have been, I've been doing a great deal of thinking and soul searching this semester. Recently I attended the national Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) convention (for special education professionals). There I attended several wonderful presentations on deaf education and special education law and policy. I had some very intellectually challenging discussions with several of the professors (one from Harvard) about the availability of research on the education of deaf and hard of hearing children. It was a wonderful experience and I really learned a lot in those two days.
When I got home, I really started to think about my priorities and what I want to do. Before I ever started applying, I researched whether I should get a PhD or an EdD (all of my PhD friends said it was more prestigious and that's the route I should go). 5 years ago, I even posted on the ASHA blog on PhD education about which degree was better (responses were that the research experience should be what I'm looking into, not the letters). When I looked into programs, I wanted a program that would combine ComDis, special ed administration and deaf education, which I thought I had.
What my original plan was, was to get the PhD but also be certified as a special education administrator (which would have required 5 courses in addition to the required and elective coursework). Because of that, I would not have had time to take courses in the deaf education consortium program. I'm also having extreme difficulty finding ComDis courses that I'm interested in and the ones I am are held Tuesday/Thursday at 10-11:15 (which I could negotiate for one semester with work, but all of them are held in the middle of the day...this is a change from when I was looking at the program).
What I realize that I've been most frustrated about (as evidenced by the CEC convention), besides the issue of her cancelling meetings (which she's done again), is there is absolutely no intellectual stimulation from this mentor.
I am in the process of meeting with the Director of the Special Education department to review requirements, but I seriously considering applying to the EdD program for special education administration. I've already taken 2 stats classes in the education department, and I believe my one ComDis course could be considered an elective. And there might be electives I could take in the deaf education program. I really think this is a better fit for my personal interests. While a ComDis department may not be interested in hiring me as a professor (or they might, depending on the quality of my research), I could always teach in a special or deaf education department.
I should know more when I meet the Director of the SPED department (who is also, by the way, an SLP).
I realize it's probably never good to "jump ship" and I will probably be blackballed in the ComDis department. It's not just the advisor (though it doesn't help), but I'm more interested in the whole education of the child, not just the educational audiology piece (but already having the audiology knowledge, I could do that research myself). This feels much better to me.
I also realize that I'm rambling. OK, I'll stop now, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for listening.
In the interest of time, here is a copy of the e-mail I sent to Dr. A (my on-line mentor, who has been extremely helpful during this mentor issue I've had).
As you know, with how difficult things have been, I've been doing a great deal of thinking and soul searching this semester. Recently I attended the national Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) convention (for special education professionals). There I attended several wonderful presentations on deaf education and special education law and policy. I had some very intellectually challenging discussions with several of the professors (one from Harvard) about the availability of research on the education of deaf and hard of hearing children. It was a wonderful experience and I really learned a lot in those two days.
When I got home, I really started to think about my priorities and what I want to do. Before I ever started applying, I researched whether I should get a PhD or an EdD (all of my PhD friends said it was more prestigious and that's the route I should go). 5 years ago, I even posted on the ASHA blog on PhD education about which degree was better (responses were that the research experience should be what I'm looking into, not the letters). When I looked into programs, I wanted a program that would combine ComDis, special ed administration and deaf education, which I thought I had.
What my original plan was, was to get the PhD but also be certified as a special education administrator (which would have required 5 courses in addition to the required and elective coursework). Because of that, I would not have had time to take courses in the deaf education consortium program. I'm also having extreme difficulty finding ComDis courses that I'm interested in and the ones I am are held Tuesday/Thursday at 10-11:15 (which I could negotiate for one semester with work, but all of them are held in the middle of the day...this is a change from when I was looking at the program).
What I realize that I've been most frustrated about (as evidenced by the CEC convention), besides the issue of her cancelling meetings (which she's done again), is there is absolutely no intellectual stimulation from this mentor.
I am in the process of meeting with the Director of the Special Education department to review requirements, but I seriously considering applying to the EdD program for special education administration. I've already taken 2 stats classes in the education department, and I believe my one ComDis course could be considered an elective. And there might be electives I could take in the deaf education program. I really think this is a better fit for my personal interests. While a ComDis department may not be interested in hiring me as a professor (or they might, depending on the quality of my research), I could always teach in a special or deaf education department.
I should know more when I meet the Director of the SPED department (who is also, by the way, an SLP).
I realize it's probably never good to "jump ship" and I will probably be blackballed in the ComDis department. It's not just the advisor (though it doesn't help), but I'm more interested in the whole education of the child, not just the educational audiology piece (but already having the audiology knowledge, I could do that research myself). This feels much better to me.
I also realize that I'm rambling. OK, I'll stop now, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for listening.
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