The end of my first term is in sight! I can't believe how time has flown! Even though the term is almost done according to the calendar (my last class is Thursday night!), I have a lot of work ahead of me. Each of my two courses is assessed by one, and only one thing--a 5000 word essay.

I would have loved to start on these essays from the very beginning, but the topics weren't even assigned until after half-term. I am a bit disgruntled about this as I had hoped to at least have the first drafts done by Christmas break. But, alas, the Institute of Education's procedures don't function on my timeline. The typical coursework scheme here is to have an essay topic halfway through the term, complete a rough draft or outline by the end of the term and turn in the final draft at the end of the next term. In other words, the essays I am working on right now aren't officially due until mid-March! It's nice to know I have plenty of time, but I'm hoping I won't need to use it.

I have set goals for what I would like to achieve before I leave for Christmas break, but right now I am not entirely sure I will meet those goals. The whole preparation stage to writing these essays is quite time consuming. Tracking down books and journal articles in an unfamiliar library is the first hurdle. Then, once I actually possess the materials, it's exhausting to read through it all. It has been a long time since I've read academic books and journal articles and many of them are constructed of 30-word sentences using words I don't understand. I have to read the same paragraph four times before I (maybe) get the gist. Thankfully I actually like to read; otherwise this stage of the process would be torturous.
After reading for a while on both topics, I decided to focus my attention on my math education essay. I met with my tutor and discussed a few things and finally this past weekend started to get some words on paper. The stimulating topic: assessment and homework in mathematics education. I KNOW all of you are dying to read it!

One of the things I love about studying full time is that I have a chance to read about new things happening in the educational world. When I'm teaching I am so caught up in day-to-day planning and grading that I feel I don't have a chance to grow as a teacher. I can attend all the faculty meetings, in-service days, and conventions there are and hear about all the new teaching and learning theories and methods, but if I don't have the time to contemplate the things that were presented, there's no way I'll actually be able to implement anything new in my classroom, even if I really want to. There is only so much time a teacher can spend on job-related issues, and unfortunately, that time is often spent on the immediate tasks at hand, such as writing a test or grading papers. Any reading that teachers do have time for will most likely be novels or magazines because it's entertaining and gives them a break from their demanding job.

In the months that I've been here, and particularly in the past few weeks that I've been doing some in-depth reading, I've had the opportunity to actually learn about and consider how certain practices will make me a better teacher. I have come across so many things that I am excited to try in my own classroom. I can't remember the last time I've had this attitude--I wish all my colleagues could experience this. I propose mandatory sabbaticals for all teachers. :) Hooray for learning!