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

Fall Break

So I'm finally home! After a very busy week taking midterms and finishing up papers, it's time for some well deserved relaxation at home with my family! During our term here at Mercyhurst we get a Fall Break - which is a four day weekend right after mid-terms. I'm spending mine at home, some students go home with roommates or friends if they live too far away, while others just relax on campus and enjoy the peace and quiet. Here in Pittsburgh the weather promises to be on again off again rain and sun. I can deal with that :)
Earlier this year I made to you readers (and myself) A New School Year's Resolution to do more volunteering. So I wanted to update you and let you know I have been keeping my word! Now this was made partially easier because for my Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners class I am required to do 10 hours of Service Learning. Service Learning is when a class requires you to do some type of volunteer work that relates to the course. It helps you to really live out what you are learning. Since we are learning about teaching students who don't speak English I am doing my 10 hours at the International Institute in Erie (check out their site here!). So far I love it! I am working in an adult ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom where I am helping the teacher with English classes for refuges from all over the world. I even get to teach part of the classes sometimes! At first I was kind of nervous, but everyone there is so nice and patient, I'm not nervous at all anymore. I really love working here and I plan on staying on with them even after I finish my ten hours.  So is just a quick update of my little promise to volunteer more. And I encourage you to try and do the same! It's a great experience and really rewarding.
Talk with you soon :)

Busy as a Bee!

This week has yet again been busy! No one told me Senior year would be so... busy! Meetings class, hanging out with friends, planning things for Soccer Club. Plus the weather has been beautiful the past few days which makes going to class harder - because I want to be outside!
This weekend is looking to be a good one, some of my friends from home are coming to visit for a few days so I'm really excited to see them. However, I have two midterms on Monday and a paper due Wednesday. Therefore, I have to get most of my work and studying done before they get here so I can enjoy the weekend! Also exciting about this weekend is the Equinox Soccer Tournament! It is the first big event that the Soccer Club has planned and we are really looking for a great turn out! We are giving half of the proceeds to charity so it will be a good time for a good cause!
I'll post some pictures of the tournament probably sometime Monday night after I finish my midterms - I'll need a break to relax.
Coming up in two weeks is our first Fall Open House! If you are a prospective Mercyhurst Laker you should definitely come out! We will be giving tours, you can meet faculty from many different majors and current students as all well as talk to different clubs and organizations on campus. A great showing of what Mercyhurst has to offer! Hopefully you can make it out!
I'm off to study for my midterms and grab some lunch. I hope you have a great weekend!
After while crocodiles

Homecoming!

Hey everyone!
I hope that you guys had a fantastic weekend! Hopefully yours was a little less rainy than mine here in Erie. But all precipitation aside - it was an awesome weekend packed full of friends, fun, farm animals, inflatables, mechanical bulls and football!
This past weekend was Homecoming Weekend - which also includes Alumni and Parents Weekend - needless to say campus was bumpin'! Everyone was in to visit and it was great to see my family and a lot of old friends who graduated in previous years! On Friday night I visited with some friends who I met in Ireland as they were in visiting Mercyhurst and Erie for a few days. They included the current mayor of Dungarvan, the previous mayor, and some of the town council. It was great to see them and catch up. We went to the Women's hockey game on Friday night and watched them womp on #9 Quinnipac in a 4-0 win!
Saturday was fun filled for everyone! My boyfriend's parents came up to visit and took us out to lunch at Panera! Then we went to the Football game - where our Lakers took on the Gannon Knights (our cross town rival!). Unfortunately the Lakers ended up losing after leading the game the first 3 quarters. But on a brighter side during half-time they announced this years homecoming court and two of my friends Shane and Lindsay won King and Queen! Congrats!
I worked part of the afternoon in the rec center for "Hurst Fest" which was a ton of fun! We had food, hot drinks, a mechanical bull, inflatable obstacle courses, pumpkins just to mention a few. After I finished working I took a short spin on the Mechanical bull - about a 20 second spin! And then went outside to the petting zoo to see all the cute animals! I got to feed the Scottish Highland cow which was supper slobbery but so cute!
On Sunday my Dad came to visit and we went to see the Mens Soccer team take on Cal U - a big game for the boys because it was in the PSAC (our conference). I got to see my brother play for a bit which was great! It poured the entire game and we were soaked and cold! Unfortunately the Lakers couldn't pull out the win and lost 2-1 to Cal-U. :(

That is my weekend recap for you and I will be back later this week with more updates!
Ciao!

King Shane and Queen Lindsay!