So, I've been thinking about this whole take an econ class idea, I think I may have rushed into it. I have a lot of irons in the fire right now, and I don't think I really want to have one more thing on my to-do list every day. I think this is one that really needs to be put on the back burner until I'm not working on so many things. As a mom, I sometimes end up in ruts where I feel like I'm not progressing on much. Like I'm in a holding pattern and not learning anything, just taking care of other people. I'm not in one of those right now. I feel like I have a lot of things to work on and I'm really enjoying those things. I think that the extra classes might be something to hang onto until I need to get out of a rut. So, we'll put that away for a while.
I spent some time sending emails about teaching credential programs. I had great hopes because there are a bunch of programs designed to help people who already have a college degree get a teaching credential in about a year. But these programs work with programs where you know a bunch about the subject material, and just need to take a few education courses. Music doesn't work that way. Teaching music is kind of a different beast. Even wanting to focus on elementary music, there are choral methods courses, additional conducting classes, practicum classes before you go to student teaching, elementary music methods, etc and the education courses you take from the education department. So, what I was hoping to be able to do in one year will probably take two. And I probably won't be able to get a master's degree doing it, just a second bachelor's. But, again, we'll see.
The program at University of Washington is a three year program if you want to get the master's degree, and I just don't feel like I can commit to that. We only have three year order's here, so there's a good chance we could be transferred before I could finish. You can put in for special circumstances to stay an extra year, and we know people that have been in one place for 10 years, but I'm not willing to risk it. But the second bachelor's degree is still an option there. I don't like that idea as much because it is a 2 hour commute. It might not be too bad, because most of that would be on the ferry and the bus, so I could do school work during the commute, but it still means that any time I need to go on campus it's at least 4 hours of my day. One class? 5 hour day. Lesson today (if I need to take them)? 5 hour day. That's a lot. But the other option is a smaller private school in Tacoma. It would cost more, but it would be a much shorter commute and the fact that it is a smaller school might mean that they would be more willing to work with me. It might still take me two years, but I may be able to start sooner and still get a master's degree in the end. I don't know what the master's degree would get me as far as employment is concerned, and it might even be a detriment, but I kind of feel like if I'm going to go back to school I would really like to have an advanced degree to show for it. (I find this this particularly interesting considering the fact that everyone in my family that has an advanced degree, aside from the MD's, have told me that it's a trap to get my money.)
I've sent my transcripts to the people at these schools who know what they are looking at and I hope to hear back from them this week about what we can do. I know there will be classes I have to re-take and/or test for, but I hope that's limited. If I end up needing to completely redo my bachelor's degree it's just not worth it.
Something I did this week that I hadn't mentioned wanting to was I was able to practice a little. Practice time is really hard to come by. I end up practicing in short bursts in between times when short people need me to help the get something to eat, or drink or wipe. It's not the best, but I feel like at least it's something. I collected a pile of repertoire, and I'm working through it, remembering what I've learned in the past and what I need to spend a little time learning. It's kind of fun. I want to take some lessons, get a little guidance and what not, but first I need to teach some lessons.
- Which brings me to the first item I did not do from my goals for the week. I still have not contacted any of the local teachers. Turns out I hate making phone calls to people I don't know unless I absolutely have to. So, I'm going to adjust that goal and send an email instead. If nothing else, it lets me write one email and then copy it out to a bunch of different teachers. (By the way, reporting my slacker-ness in public every week is making me very self conscious of what a flake I can be.)
- I did send emails about a teaching certificate. See above.
- I got Make it Stick, about how we learn and how to learn more effectively. It is really good, but for some reason I'm moving through it really slowly. I'd complain that they didn't write it to read very easily, but as I read the book I think they did it on purpose. One of the things they've mentioned is that information you have to fight to understand is better retained than information you understand readily. There's this myth of learning that makes us think we understand concepts when we understand all the words used to describe the concept, but it doesn't work like that. So, I'm going to take the fact that I'm moving through it more slowly to mean that I am understanding it more. I highly recommend the book by the way. I think it may be one that I purchase further down the road. I haven't gotten to Rough Stone Rolling yet today, but that's next on my list after I finish this fine post.
- Still haven't been blitzing. J got home this week, but the bug that chased him while he was traveling caught up to him so I'm still kind of single-parenting it. (I hesitate to use that phrase because I know there is a big difference between having no other parent around and having one that is temporarily unavailable, but I'm not sure how to phrase it.) And J is helping, the kids like his bedtime stories better than mine so I get a little extra time, but I can't seem to deal with the whining that comes with calling them in from playtime to clean up the house.
Also, we had our first mostly cloudy week this week and I think I kind of understand better what we're in for as far as Pacific Northwest Weather is concerned. With the clouds I just didn't want to do as much. I just wanted to be left alone to read or watch TV or take a nap. So, I need to figure out how much Vitamin D I need and pick up some supplements. I know we're going to need them later in the winter so we might as well get started on them now. (Don't worry, I'll be careful not to take too much.)
So, things I will be working on this week:
- Write emails to local teachers. I will write the emails tomorrow.
- Finish Make it Stick and read something light.
- Practice three times, working on scales, etudes and repertoire
- Contact music departments in Seattle and Tacoma. This one will wait until Thursday or Friday so that they have time to look at my transcripts before I start breathing down their necks.
- At some point run 10 Kilometers.
- Find out appropriate dosage of Vit D for each family member and purchase the pills
Oh one more thing. I found a half marathon I can run in December. I don't run on Sundays and it is really really hard to find races that are not on Sundays. But, there is one in Tacoma on a Saturday in December, so I think the timing will work out well. It give me enough time to train comfortably, with out being too far away. The one thing that I'm worried about is that one blog recommended that you not do a half marathon as your first race. This will be. But, like I said most races are on Sundays and that is my day off. I found a couple of 5k's between now and then on Saturdays, but they were a few hours drive away, and it just feels silly to drive for longer than I'll be running, just to get the experience.
Runners, what do you think? Worth the experience to know what is going on? Or should I just not be afraid to ask questions the day of and look a little like an idiot?
So, no. 7 is register for aforementioned half marathon. It doesn't sound super appealing right now as I've discovered Blue Bunny Peanut Butter Panic ice cream, which is incredibly good, but the next morning I don't feel like I really want to get out of bed and run. So, maybe take a break from the delicious ice cream, then register for a half marathon.
That's kind of a lot to do this week. :/
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