Graduation!

Here are some pictures from Graduation in May. UNLV gave us the option of walking in the May commencement or waiting until December so we opted for May. We will not officially be done with our program and "graduated" until August but it was such a big step to be able to walk during graduation!


My kids with their "big hands" to cheer me on during the graduation!


The fabulous four waiting to walk through the tunnel for our big day!


Me and Lorena waiting for our turn to "walk"!


Sashel, Candace, and myself bored on the floor during the graduation.



My wonderful, supportive family after graduation! Don't they all look so spiffy! =)

I'm almost there!!

I can't believe that it is almost the end of my program. I just came back from my initial interview with the school district. I still don't know how it went but I believe that I will be able to start interviewing with principals soon. It seems like I would never get to this point and I don't know what to think. I have worked really hard and I have a family that has gone through every single bit of it with me. I love my husband and kids for their support and love! They have been through a lot during this program as well, not being able to see mom very much, not getting a lot of "lovin" due to late nights typing papers, and just the overall stress of mom going to school full time!

I've definitely been busy!!

As you can tell by the gap in blogs, I have been quite busy with school!!! I have finished one semester and am currently in the process of completing another. I am currently doing my pre-student teaching at a local high school and I am actually enjoying it. I'm still not sure if I want to teach in high school but I am enjoying the time I am there so far! I still have the remainder of the Spring semester but after this semester I will be walking at the UNLV May commencement and I can't wait!!!!!!!! After we walk in May we have to complete our student teaching during the summer and then we will have officially graduated in August. It seems like forever away but I'm sure it will be here sooner than I think!

Until I can find time to write again...

Cohort 11

I have started school and I am loving it. This is my classes bulletin that we get to look at for the next 12 months or so. In the cohort program we complete a 16-week course in one week. That's right...we do the same amount of work that regular 16-week classes do but we complete it all in one week!!!!! I am at UNLV from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday for the next year. The positive side of that is I will have my bachelor's degree in one year!! Seeing how we can finish a 16-week class in one week, I find it hard to believe that professors can stretch the material out into 16 weeks. Why not allow all students the opportunity to fininsh a class like this one and get their degree in a years time?

The first week was rough...only 3 to 4 hours of sleep each night with the exception of Thursday night, which I only got 2 hours of sleep. The work is intense and the "no sleep" this is rough but I've gotten through four weeks so far and I've survived so I think I'll be fine for the duration of the program. (To be honest, the sleep thing has gotten surprisingly better...plus I have the whole weekend to recover!) Keep in mind, I am getting paid to go to school full time so there is no slacking off here either...either I do the work and pass or I look for a new job in the school district. After school I will have my special education degree and be able to work as a full time special education teacher! I am so excited to finish FINALLY!!!!! I am extremely nervous to finish as well, that means I will be out in the world teaching my own students.

Last Day at Katz

Friday was my last day at Katz Elementary School. I have been working at Katz Elementary School for approximately a year and a half and I absolutely love it. When I got to the school Friday, on my desk was a huge basket with every kind of school supply you could think of from my co-worker Nicole!! I was so surprised she did something for me. I also received a book at the end of the day that all the students and teachers signed. I hope that when I am done with school I can go back to Katz or find a school that has the same type of caring staff and fun students. I loved working there and will miss going there everyday.





I had one more surprise around lunch time. I recieved a dozen roses...at first I thought from the school to say goodbye. Then I actually read the card and found out that my husband sent me flowers to wish me luck on my upcoming program. I was shocked that he sent me flowers because I don't get flowers from him very often. My mom helped him as well, she works at the flower shop where he ordered them. He is THE BEST!!!



~Melina~

School

I am getting ready to start school on Monday, August 6th!!! I am getting nervous, but more than anything I am anxious to get started. I am more anxious to finish school though! My husband has been encouraging me to finish school ever since we met and I think he might be more anxious for me to finish than I am. I have been going to school for about 11 years now, usually one or two classes a semester, so I am looking forward to finally finishing school!

~Melina~