How quickly 3 weeks have flown by! I can barely look up from my mountains of reading to remember I want to keep you all updated 😳 📚
As I have told many of you, one of the parts of graduate school I was most looking forward to was being the student again. I’m happy to share it has lived up to everything I though it would be, and more! Peabody College is an phenomenal place. I can feel it in the air how much education matters here. Is that silly? Too metaphoric? Well, it really is true. To explain it more clearly, though perhaps less democratically, education is valued here in a way that I haven’t previously experienced. During undergrad, I felt that there was this almost invisible divide between people studying education and everyone else, as though what we’d chosen was somehow “easier” or less valuable. I don’t mean to speak ill of my education, because I did learn a lot from many talented professors. However, here at Vanderbilt, education is competitive, for lack of a better word. They told us over and over again throughout orientation, but we are here for a reason. We chose Vanderbilt, but Peabody chose us. It’s humbling each and every time I think about it.
I did some finagling with my schedule the first week of school to accommodate my TA class, so here’s a list of the classes I’m *actually* in now!
- Social & Psychological Foundations of Adolescent Literacies
- Advanced Social & Philosophical Aspects of Education
- Literacy Development
- Literacy Assessment & Professional Development
- Diverse & Special Needs Learners Practicum
Everything is fascinating! Class 1 is one of my electives and everyone else in the class is studying secondary education (English). These are *my people*! The class format is loose and flexible, which I’ve found to be the case with many English classes. The readings are heavy and long, but I like the discussions we have in class to solidify them. Class 2 might be my favorite class. It is co-taught by two professors who have boundless energy and are clearly passionate about the field. I always leave class with my brain hurting from all the philosophical questions tumbling around! Class 3 directly follows Class 2 on Tuesdays, which makes for an ultra long day. So far Class 3 has been mostly foundational in regard to readings and assignments. I’m looking forward to the professional inquiry project we’re beginning- my inquiry is all about independent reading and how motivation and student choice factor in. Class 4 is two-fold, which I know you can see from the name. In this class we’re particularly focused on the roles and responsibilities of a reading specialist (spoiler alert: there are SO MANY). It’s been very practical so far, which I appreciate. Class 5 is actually my practicum placement. I spend 6 hours a week at Glencliff High School shadowing their Literacy Teacher Development Specialist (LTDS), aka the literacy coach. So far it’s been illuminating!
The homework is starting to pile up, so I’m working into a routine of what classes I focus on when during the week/weekend. I haven’t found a perfect system yet, but hopefully will soon!
I’m off to take myself out to dinner as a treat for surviving the crazy week- in addition to all this, Ted died (again) 🙁 He had to have his starter replaced, but we’re back on the road again as of last night.
That’s all for now! Are there any particular topics you’d like me to tell you more about? If so, please let me know in the comments. I’m aiming to write 3 blog posts each month 👍🏻
Maggie's Musings & Moments 
Oh My Maggie May! I am so very pleased you are thriving at your new found home. Much love – Mama
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Maggie,
So glad you are thriving at Vanderbilt! Your name came up at Dining Out this past Thursday – know that we think of you often. Your studies remind me of my Great Aunt Gertrude Gill:
She graduated from Madison State Normal School (now DSU) in 1910 and taught upper elementary school in Sioux Falls. She returned to Madison in 1920 as a reading instructor and supervisor in the teacher education program at Eastern State Normal School (now DSU). Miss Gill completed her master’s degree in 1928 at the University of Chicago and returned to lead a distinguished career at the newly re-named Eastern State Teachers College where she saw the school through yet another name change—General Beadle State Teachers College—and taught until her retirement in 1959.
My great aunt passed away in 1983. She always gave us books for Christmas – some that I recall are “Little Women”, “Gulliver’s Travels”, and “The Wizard of Oz.” I found a copy of the book she wrote “How to Teach Poetry” on Ebay a few years ago. The book was published in 1936.
Educators are appreciated in my family – no one gets anywhere without good teachers! In addition to my great aunt, her sister, my grandmother Lois Jones taught 6th grade at Irving Elementary here in Sioux Falls; my aunt Mary Ellen Jones Talbot also taught 6th grade; my uncle John Jones taught political science at the college level; my mom’s mother came to SD from Wisconsin to teach – where she met my grandfather!
My niece Alison is trained as an English teacher – she is now a full-time mom, but she writes articles for several websites and is passionate about literature!
So, I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time with the family history – just know we think about you and wish you all the best!
Mary Pat
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