Last Spring Term!

Hey everyone!!

Spring term has just gotten started here at the Hurst! I came back up to Erie well rested and ready for Spring after spending a wonderful week in Marco Island, Florida relaxing on the beach with my friends!

We built a giant sand fort :)

As I mentioned in my previous post I am taking Clinical 2, but I'm also taking Pedagogy and Practice of Middle Level Education, as well as Language and Literacy II. The Clinical 2 class is one of my most important classes - I spend this whole term going into a local middle school two days a week and have a seminar on Friday Mornings.  Pedagogy and Practice focuses on teaching methods that we can use later in our classrooms. Language and Literacy II is a class that looks at how to teach kids to read, write and focus on how to promote literacy in all classes.

I really like my classes this term and am super excited to see what I will learn! I'm headed to dinner with my roommates shortly - it's Breakfast for Dinner in the cafe! :) Can't wait!!

Catch ya later

You're Never Too Old For Field Trips!

Hi everyone!
I hope you have had a fantastic week/weekend since I last blogged! This past week was pretty crazy busy - if I may say so myself! Classes are really in full swing now that we are heading into our third week - I have my second Environmental Problem Solving quiz tomorrow and my first project due this Thursday! Last week I went on 2 (that's right TWO) field trips - all in one day! Crazy right? Usually in High School you go on a field trip and it takes all day, it's awesome no classes, no homework, maybe a short paragraph about what you did. Don't worry friends in college (at least in some of your classes) field trips do exist. Last Thursday (the 8th), my Environmental Problem Solving class went on a field trip during our lab time to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), down on Presque Isle State Park. The TREC is a pretty cool place.

Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle

When we got there we heard had a short lecture about what goes on at TREC. We learned about water pollution, fish, plants, animals, and  a ton of other environmental issues and how TREC is helping to curb problems and inform the public. Then we went on a scavenger hunt throughout TREC. We had a list of questions that we had to answer and could only answer by going through the center and learning more about what we had just heard. We even climbed the observation tower which we thought would be a good idea to run up. Poor choice - way more stairs than expected. But the view from the top was great, you could see really far out onto Erie Lake and back into the city of Erie. It was a pretty fun field trip and it was nice to get off campus and experience more of the city!
My second field trip of the day was to the Erie Art Museum with my Aesthetic Education class later that afternoon. I had never been to the Erie Art Museum, although I had driven past it countless times! I'm glad I got to go, they had some really nice exhibits and it was fun to get to do the self tour with my classmates. Not only were we learning, but we had some fun too! Now, I have to say the museum was way bigger than I thought. I was really impressed with it, and I'm happy to check that off my bucket list of things to do in Erie.

Erie Art Museum

This week should be pretty fun/crazy. I have a ton of meetings and as I mentioned before - my first project due Thursday! So I'm off to do my reading so I can finish the project!
Later Gators.

Winter Classes - Winter Term... Here we go!

Hey Everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I blogged! But we are just getting into our second week of classes here at Mercyhurst College for our Winter Term! If you didn't know already Mercyhurst is on a trimester system. This means we have 3 terms of classes each year. Each term is ten weeks long and you take 3-4 classes each term. This is nice because you only focus on a few things at a time instead of spreading yourself thin with a ton of classes. This term I'm taking 10 credits - which is equal to 3 classes and one lab class. I am taking Applied Linguistics, Aesthetic Education, and Environmental Problem Solving - which has a lab course. So far I really like my classes! My Linguistics class is super intriguing and I love languages so this just fits perfectly! My Aesthetic Education class is all about teaching and involving the arts in regular education classroom. It is a really hands on class and from looking at the syllabus we will have quite a few guest speakers and artists come in and work with us! The Environmental Problem Solving class is pretty interesting so far. We are going to look at a wide range of issues concerning our planet - everything from overpopulation to pollution to natural resources. It is definitely a class that will make you think twice before doing something environmentally questionable like not recycling or littering.

Last night the Ambassador Club had their annual "Chrisgiving" dinner. It's a cross between Christmas and Thanksgiving and it's a chance for the whole club and the new pledges to get together to hang out and eat lots of good holiday food! Everyone dresses up in their ugliest sweaters and Christmas outfits for a fantastic time! We have a contest to see who can wear the ugliest sweater/best dressed which is always a good time!

Senior Ambassadors with plenty of Chrisgiving Cheer!

Later Gators!

Hockey Night at Mercyhurst College!!

Hey Everyone!

Hope you've been having a great week! I just wanted to let you know what I've been up to lately! This week was our last week of classes. So I turned in my portfolio, and my curriculum this week. Now this weekend I'll be finishing up my Geology paper, and studying for my Geology final and Promoting Literacy final. Both my finals are on Monday - but I'm not too worried, I've been studying this week and I feel prepared for both!
Tomorrow is Open House here on campus! Because I'm an Ambassador I will be working Open House tomorrow giving tours to prospective students and their families! Open House is always a lot of fun, there are tours, talks given by admissions, you can meet faculty and staff from all the different majors and departments on campus and there are even some of our student clubs represented too! Maybe if you are coming I will get to meet you! If you see me feel free to come up and say hi! I'll be in my spiffy green Ambassador jacket.
Now, on to what is really exciting - HOCKEY!! Last weekend our Men's D1 team had two huge Hockey games against UConn here on campus! It was so much fun! A bunch of students got together on capus and decided to theme the Saturday night game "Classy" night - so we all dressed up super nice and went to cheer our boys on to Victory for a sweep! :) This weekend we had two games, again and tomorrow's game is themed Mustache night. My roommates and I are just going to make paper mustaches and wear them, haha! But it should be a good time! I'm off to finish working on my paper now... but tomorrow night is a Hockey Night at Mercyhurst!! GO LAKERS!

Classy Night at the Hockey Game! (That's me in the front row, 2nd from the left!)

Looking at Graduate Schools for Education

Hey everyone! I hope you guys are having a great Halloween Weekend!
I just wanted to give you a quick update on what's going on here with me :) I just finished up a crazy week here. I spent my whole week working on my presentation, lesson plans and paper for my Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Learners class. Last time I wrote I told you guys about my long nights in the library and it definitely paid off! I was really happy with my lesson plans and I think presentation turned out really well! For my third lesson plan I found this great experiment to use and I thought you might like to see it here!
So what I really came to write about is that I am starting to look at graduate schools for education. So right now I am looking at graduate schools that offer programs in English as a Second Language (ESL). I had thought about this kind of program before, but my Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Learners class and experiences at the International Institute of Erie have really confirmed that this is definitely something I want to do! I've enjoyed going down to the Institute so much that I'm going to continue going even though my required classes are over. I have been looking at schools like University of Pennsylvania, Duquesne University, Findlay University in Ohio, and Pitt, just to name a few :)

Dream Grad School for ESL!

U Penn would be my dream school because it's a great school, and it's out near Philadelphia. On the other hand Duquesne and Pitt are both great universities right in Pittsburgh, so I could live at home and save money. Lots of options to consider, but for now I'm looking at the programs, how they are structured and what kind of classes they offer. I've got a lot more research to do, and I'll definitely keep you updated of what I'm doing :)
Happy Halloween!

Dear Library...

Dear Library,
I'm sorry I have not been in to see you much lately. I hope you can forgive me for doing homework in my apartment. You see, I hadn't had too much work to do earlier this term, but now all my projects are due in these next 3 weeks, so I'm back once more to use you. You see, you are so much quieter than my apartment, and far less distracting. I can't clean you if I don't want to do my homework. I remember the good old days when I would sit here for hours, writing papers, studying and checking Facebook a little too often. I'm here for the long haul - I've got quite a few things to accomplish.

For my Promoting Literacy PreK-8 class, I am writing my Philosophy Essay. This is a 2-3 page, single spaced essay explaining my philosophy of teaching and how as an educator in an inclusive classroom I will ensure that my students are literate. I will have to apply all the different teaching strategies we have learned over the term. I will also discuss how, no matter what subject I am teaching, I will work in many different kinds of instruction that will promote reading, writing, comprehension and vocabulary. Yeah that's a lot of thinking.... and it's due Monday the 24th!

Some of the Curriculum kits we have in our Education Library!

For my Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners class I have several things to do. First I have to write an essay on my experience at the International Institute and how I used and observed some of the techniques I learned in class there. Second, I have my Curriculum project due next Friday the 28th. This entails creating 3 lesson plans for my subject area and grade level, that provide accommodations for students who are English Language Learners (ELLs). I will also have to accompany this with a 3-6 page paper talking about ELLs, state standards and good, tested practices for classrooms with ELLs. Again, this is a cumulative project that will require me really to look at what I have learned this term and apply it. Not to mention that I have to present all this to my classmates on the 28th when I turn it in!

Our Children's Literature section in the Education Library. 

Finally for my Historical Geology class I am writing my final term paper - about 6 pages - on a topic of my choice. Our professor is really pretty cool (in the quirky, nerdy, I love geology and make bad rock jokes in class kind of way). We were allowed to choose our own topics - as long as they had to do with geology. So some people chose super volcanos, and underwater vents, I chose to write mine on the formation of the Giant's Causeway. When I studied abroad (See my study abroad blog here or the tab up top!) I visited the Giant's Causeway and thought it was pretty awesome!

So that's what I've got to do. Now Library - I hope you'll forgive me for my absence, because I have to get back to work now!
Love,
Monica

Senior Year - Ready, Set - Go!

So we're back at it again - new school year, new classes, new apartment, new people... you get it - lots of new! But don't worry - there are still plenty of old friends, some of the same professors, and as always good ole Mercyhurst! I'm back for my Senior year here at Mercyhurst and pretty darn excited about it! It's been a great year so far too! I mean we have only been in classes for a week and a half now, but I've been super busy already! This year I am taking 3 classes and 1 Lab. My classes are Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners, Supporting Literacy Pre-K-8, and Historical Geology which has a Lab. I like my schedule so far - I have 3 classes Monday/Wednesday, my Lab on Thursday morning, and one class on Fridays. Not too shabby eh? Plus I have a 15 hour practicum to do for my Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Learners, my Ambassador hours, working as the Soccer Club Secretary, and I am going to try to get a tutoring job at one of the local Middle/High Schools. Have I over booked myself? I don't think so!
This summer I decided that I was tired of "New Years Resolutions". No one ever keeps them past February, so why bother? I decided that instead of "New Years Resolutions", I would make a "New School Year Resolution". As a student that is when the year really starts for me. Which is why I think making the Resolution in January is so hard. I am already about half way through the school year, and pretty set in my ways. Now I'm not saying I won't make a "New Years Resolution" after singing Auld Lang Syne, but I am saying that I'm making my first "New School Year Resolution". Right Now.
This year I want to volunteer more, and be better at being on time.
So there you go readers - that is my first ever "New School Years Resolution"! You are welcome to join me in making one for yourself if you want! You can comment below and let us know what you decided or keep it to yourself if you want! I'm making mine here - because you all can hold me accountable for it!
So I hope you are having a great start of the year :) Because I am! I will blog again soon about more things going on here at the 'Hurst!
TGIF! Have a  great day!
PS Here are a few pictures of my Apartment! :)

Our Kitchen - with our Tree!

Living room... and lots of shoes!

Other side of the living room

Kitchen! I bought a portable Dishwasher on Craigslist over the summer and brought it with me :) (The apartments don't come with dishwashers.)

It's the Last Week of Classes!!

That's right folks! It's officially the LAST WEEK OF CLASSES!!! WOO HOO!!
This week is crazy busy with presentations, papers and getting ready to go home for summer! This week I have 3 presentations, one paper, one portfolio and a final due. I have done one presentation already - 1 down 2 to go! I am taking my Problem Solving final early on Friday. Which leaves me with only one final to take next Tuesday. One of the great things about college is that not all your classes have a 'final' - some have a paper or presentation due instead. I also am finishing up my practicum I have one day left tomorrow morning! I will be sad to not see the kids everyday, I have to say I've grown a bit attached!

Your basic EMTA bus

Today, we took a break from studying and went to see Thor (which was awesome) at the movie theater. One of the nice things about Mercyhurst is that even if you don't have a car you can still get off campus and do lots of fun things! There is a shuttle run by the Erie Metro Transit Authority (EMTA), the public bus service for the City of Erie, and you can take it anywhere! We have a special bus loop that runs from Mercyhurst up to the mall, restaurants, movie theaters, and grocery stores. You can also ride any of the EMTA buses for free when you show your Mercyhurst ID! This is especially great for freshmen who aren't allowed to bring cars to campus, or students who don't have car. It's also nice when you just don't want to spend money on gas.
So that friends is my little blip for now.... Goodnight!