Happy Belated Thanksgiving!
I'd imagine many of you are still scattered all over the country at this point, spending time with (or avoiding) family members and probably still working on digesting your turkey day meal.
I'm currently propped up on my huge green couch in Northport loving the feeling of being home. However instead of sitting next to my mom or girl friends watching a movie...I've covered the couch and myself with text books, plays and various syllabi, all of which need to be dealt with before I go back to the city monday morning. There is so much work to be done over this break! Yesterday, I couldn't quite tell if the pain in my chest was heartburn from the inhuman amount of stuffing I ate the day before or pure anxiety of not finishing all of this work in time. The good news is, final papers will start being handed in pretty much the week we get back meaning that this semester (however lovely) is coming to an end and christmas break/peru/paris/amazingness will be soon to follow. The bad news is, final papers will start being handed in pretty much the week we get back and I actually have to write them.
At the moment I think I'm on top of it, however the anticipation of having to craft "the perfect first sentence" (not to mention the rest of the text) for all of these different assignments is getting me worked up. Anyway, enough gloominess... it is post thanksgiving weekend for goodness sake! I'd like to share some positive things that are going on in the Ed Theater/Drama Lit academic world these past two weeks.
1. Brain + Behavior is amazing. Although there was only a sprinkling of us in lecture on Wednesday, Glimcher videotaped his lesson and posted it on the internet for those who left NY early. His already animated persona reached new heights as our TA's recorded his every zany move with a video camera.
2. We had our Resource Roundup a few weeks back in Dramatic Activities in the Elementary School Classroom. I walked out with about 25 different lessons, lists upon lists of great books to use with students and for my own reference, a packet of Cultural Institutions in and around NYC to use, not to mention a packet on classroom management (heaven)! Desiree uses Processfolios as an assessment piece for our class and mine at the moment is looking a bit like my self actually... stuffed to the brim.
3. Education as a Social Institution has wrapped up our countries projects. We spent a few weeks presenting lessons on the educational systems of different places around the world. Unfortunately that section came to an end and we're back to normal lectures again. The readings have been really interesting now that I'm focusing in on the effectiveness of private schools. Most of us are terrified about our final paper though as we don't really get much guidance when it comes to assignments. I hate "winging" it on my own.
4. Human Development. We're past our second exam and on the home stretch. For a class that follows the development of humans from conception to death, we're on young adulthood so I guess it's all down hill from here (ha).
5. Beginner's Playwriting is really moving along at this point. Our next class meets tuesday night and the first group will present their final 10 minute plays. Equity actors are coming in to do a staged reading of our work. The class has a large number of grad. students in it so the level of professionalism as well as sheer talent in the group is immeasurable. I cannot wait to see what genius they're able to sew together. I love listening to their pieces simply because it gives me hope that my work will sound like that once I'm in their position as well.
6. Scholars is in full swing as well. We're still getting ready for our trip to Peru, which is one of the major thoughts getting me through this hellish finals period. The Health & Wellness group is interviewing our contact at God's Love We Deliver early next week and thankfully we'll be able to complete our protocol and papers before the due date. Yeah scholars!
Anyway, that's life in a nutshell pretty much. Any questions, comments or rants...you know how to reach me :)
Enjoy!