Week 12 — Almost the End of Another Semester!

Posted November 28, 2019 by Peggy Hogan-Rao

It’s Week 12, which means there are only a few more weeks left of this busy semester. Although I do need to start planning for my elementary practicum, the semester is still manageable. I only have 2 big papers and one project left until I’m done with the fall semester! At this point, it can be a struggle to not take a nap once a day or every few days. I also need to remind myself that leaving the confines of my desk is important! Almost every day last week, I felt like I was trapping myself in my room with two big papers due and a wedding to prepare for.

After feeling down on Monday and being hard on myself for doing nothing, one of my friends reminded me that I need to take time for myself. After all, we are “human beings” and not “human doings.” Some ways that I am taking time for myself is writing poetry for fun and making time to read for pleasure. Reading different YA and children’s books when I am not studying helps me to take a break from writing papers, while helping me to see what is out there in the realm of literature for young people.

On Tuesday evening, I called into a virtual orientation meeting for spring practicum. Before each students’ first practicum, one must listen to a presentation going over the practicum guidelines. Melanie did a thorough job explaining all the requirements, but Wow! It was a little overwhelming. I am excited to say that I will be doing my student teaching at a school library in Waltham.

There is so much to know for practicum, but I need to remind myself to breath. I finished and passed my MTEL, and submitted my application for the final two capstone courses for students in the SLT program. As scary as it can be, I know that I am so close to being done. I have a great school placement with a really nice library teacher who I can’t wait to learn a lot from!