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Welcome to Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies blog for students. This is a place for our students to tell their stories, and for others to ask questions and connect in with our community.

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Chookiet enters the blogsphere

Hi everyone,

Fanueil-Hall

This is Boston, where I’ve decide to spend my life for the next few years, and I would like to share my real experiences with everyone who is interested in this classy city. Before I came here, what I knew about Boston was city of education, which, in the other word, a city without interesting activities, clubs, and friends. Surprisingly, the first day when I got here was amazing. Boston was totally different from my perceptions. It was not boring at all. Besides, it is greatest city I have ever been in my life, and I’ll show you how great Boston is. Personally, I really like the architectures, sports, clubs, outdoor-activities and shopping; I, fortunately, have everything here. Therefore, if you have imagined that there was nothing in Boston, you should come here and see it for yourselves. With my experiences, you will have lots of fun while you are living in Boston.

A Lesson In The Benefits of The Unexpected

When I started writing this blog, I stated that one of the things one quickly learns about teaching is that they must expect the unexpected.  I have seen this assertion reinforced in various ways throughout the last few weeks, threatening to test me and push me to my limits in every way possible.  I’ve had students underperform on tests, snow days, crazy twists in carefully planned lessons and technology break down, leaving me winging classes without a lesson plan.  Thankfully, my chaotic life paired with my unnerving ability to roll with the punches has served me well in all of these situations, proving to me again and again that I have all the tools I need to succeed in this career.  Thank goodness!  However, simply put, it has not been easy.

 I just realized that all the things I mentioned in the previous paragraph were negative.  Allow me to make this clear, not everything that is unexpected is unpleasant.  For instance, I had no idea how impressed I’d be with my students.  Every time we discuss something, they reveal a level of thought and a store of knowledge that blows me away.  BLS is a great school full of exceptional students.  I am so very lucky to have the opportunity to work with such skillful students and teachers, and for that I thank my lucky stars!

Out of body experience

Bouncing back from unemployment!

I started working at my new job this week after being unemployed for exactly one year. It was an out of body experience to be sure, but the folks are great and it will add a new dimension to my life. My job is also dangerously close to CambridgeSide Galleria and Petco! But I’m grateful to be employed after getting my first extension on unemployment and not being certain if I would get a second; scary times. There are continued prayers for those who are still unemployed.

Slowly my mind, spirit and body are shaking off the fog of unemployment; I feel triumphant – what comes to mind is the plane that was landed in the Hudson all passengers safe; a heroic crew. The plane sank but was brought to the surface a while later and it was captured dramatically on film and paraded through the streets during transport. That is what I feel like, brought back to the surface as a testament to crashing, sinking, and rising to tell the story.

A novice teacher in hot water

A couple weeks ago, I posted about my testing issue.  In response to this post, an incredibly smart veteran teacher named Patty wrote: “if you don’t follow-though with your promises, EVERY test will be a testing experience for you” and strongly suggested that I stick to my guns regarding the test. 

 Man, was she right.

Onto serious business

I’m down to one class, Seminar; independent research isn’t for wimps (my eyeballs feel like they want to jump out of their sockets) at all or for those with short attention spans. The outcome I hope for is both a thesis I can be proud of and a new understanding of the topic. Last year’s mayoral race played a huge part in my choice of topic and combined with my studies, I have some insight into a possible reason for the lack of term limits; but I need to allow for the side that is against term limits as well.  My professor, who I’ve had for 3 classes, has instructed me to keep my emotions out of my research so I’ll try and take that emotion and turn it into focus. Thankfully this class didn’t take place during the campaign!

Vacation? What Vacation?

The end of February vacation is almost here and my blissful week of catching up on sleep, schoolwork and kitty time is drawing to a close.  This break came just in time, as I needed some extra hours to grade book reports and tests as well as reading A Raisin In The Sun, the next book in the curriculum.  Also, since Northeastern’s schedule doesn’t correspond with the Boston Public School’s, I had a ton of work to do for graduate school.  Believe it or not, I just finished up and sent out an ENTIRE year of curriculum AND a five page paper.  I know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but it doesn’t make me any less grumpy while gaining that well-earned strength.  I’d be willing to bet that my students were with their families on sandy beaches, catching rays and sipping (non-alcoholic) pina colada’s.  However, who am I to complain?  I got to spend almost the entire week hanging out with my kitty, Luna.  After this week, he’s forgiven me for all my recent neglect and decided we can be friends again.  Next week? That’s another story…

Mardi Gras and a final exam

The Cake

Since I supported the Saints and read about Mardi gras and King cake on Twitter, I picked up a King Cake for Mardi gras. When I got on the train, a woman from New Orleans was like “wow” what a coincidence. This took place in the middle of a slushy snowstorm and I was grateful to get home a little damp but in one piece. I am also not feeling too well and hope to shake off this bug soon.

On Tuesday, two people asked me to speak to their groups about job searching in this economy and my term limits thesis. Whoa! I wasn’t expecting that but that is how opportunities happen when you don’t expect them or when others see something that you can bring to the table even if you don’t see yourself in that way; God’s always got a plan!

Testing, testing…1, 2, 3!

Things have been going surprisingly well in my placement.  My students appear to be reading, they are engaged and they have respect for me.  I’ve certainly had some classroom management issues (who doesn’t?) but I’ve been working on them and gaining more respect and authority every day.  Then, last week I decided to give them their second and final test on Great Expectations.

I told them on Monday that the test would be on Thursday.  Then I told them again (you have to repeat these things a million times, fyi).  Then everyone started talking about how we might have a snow day on Wednesday, the day of our scheduled review.  I was very clear and said that, if there was a snow day, we would still have a test on Thursday.  Well, Wednesday came and there was indeed a snow day.  No snow, but a snow day nonetheless.  I spent the day doing laundry, grading book reports and proofreading the test I was going to give my students the next day.  I didn’t realize that teachers love snow days just as much as their students!

Hitting the ground running…

It’s very early on a Monday morning and I have so much to do today so I’m hitting the ground running…at least that’s my mind set for today. Post office, laundry, homework, doing my mobile day (trying to figure out where). This week in my Social Problems class we are discussing issues that hit home; our troubled urban centers and racial and ethnic equality; our country is so far behind other industrialized countries and still far behind in terms of racial relations and equality. So when I hear why can’t “we” put racism behind “us,” I’m wondering who is “we” and who is “us” I’m still here in the present confronting and being bombarded with it daily.

I received a call back for a second interview today and I’m feeling very grateful to God and upbeat about what this could mean. I’ve been out of work for a long time.  Need to focus more on my thesis and submit an outline and other stuff tomorrow after the interview. Officially, I’ve hit a wall but I plan to work through it…

I’m Not a Comedian, But I Play One At School

I’ve always fancied myself a pretty funny gal. I like to break tension with laughter and keep people engaged with humor. I don’t know why, but for some reason I assumed that this facet of my personality would be left outside the classroom. As I spend more time teaching, I am starting to realize that this job is a very personal thing. All of your personality quirks, your idiosyncrasies and (hopefully!) your talents come out with full force when you take your spot at the front of that class. If this freaks you out, I completely understand. It freaks me out too, but it’s true. All of the current research urges teachers to show students who they really are and connect with them on a personal level. For me, this is the easiest and most natural thing I do…and the funniest.

Okay, I realize that I keep asserting that I’m funny, but haven’t made one joke or attempted to prove that I’m not deluding myself. Allow me to go into some of the things I’ve said in the past week. My class is reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens right now, and this has offered me several opportunities to show off how “punny” I can be to my students. The first thing I did was start calling Magwitch, Pip’s convict and benefactor, “Manwich” because, as I explained, “he’s messy like a sloppy joe and I have trouble remembering names.” I got some laughs, and I’m convinced that my students weren’t just laughing for grades. At least, I hope…