Shelley

This semester has been incredibly challenging for me. I constantly feel like I am missing something in my classes. At this point in the semester I haven't even taken a test but I already feel like I am failing. Now I have to ask myself why do I feel this way?? Is it the weather, or am I just burnt out?? What I have decided to do is make a list of the things that I love about going to the University of Michigan - Dearborn. I am hoping that this will get me out of my funk!! 

1. I am proud to be a student of The University of Michigan - Dearborn.  Being apart of such a prestigious institution is something that I take great pride in.
2. The professors here are very well trained in their field and they are very inspiring.   
3. The campus is beautiful especially in the spring...I can't wait.
4. I don't have to stand in line at the bookstore ever again...I just order them online and pick them up.  That is amazing. 
5. There are so many student activities...I am not able to be as involved but I take advantage of the bake sales.  It is also great to see so many students involved on campus.
6. I have a love / hate relationship with the shuttle.  When the planets align and everything goes right the shuttle is an awesome asset.  Even when I miss it or it's too full, I get to meet some really great people and we can complain together...Good Times!! 
7. As a student I get a 20% discount at the Henry Ford Estate...I love the Pool Restaurant!!
8. No matter what I need to research I can go to the library and someone will help me find what I am looking for.  Shout out to the Research Center!!   

I could go on and on about how much I enjoy attending this university, but I am starting to feel inspired so I am going to focus that energy on homework.  

Have a GREAT day!!

Shelley 

P.S. Here are pictures of my little beauties just because!!

 

When am I going to learn??

When am I going to learn to keep my books away from my children?? This is the third time that a $100 text has met its demise at the hands of one of my children. Fortunately the books have been usable, but the hope of selling them back at the end of the semester were dashed. The first incident was Standards in Education vs. a curious one year old. Most pages survived. The second was Foundations in Education vs. cup of coffee and soccer ball. The pages are still intact but some are stuck together. Finally, today I asked my four year old to hold my Educating the Exceptional Child book while we walked to the car. Of course he dropped it, but my book had a nice soft landing in the four inches of fresh snow. The book is still useable, but all the pages are wavy, as if my book got a perm.

All I have say is that my boys are lucky they are sooo cute!! If you are in the education program looking for CHEAP books and don't mind gently used books...;-) I can hook you up!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Please be safe and don't forget to thank your cook, a lot of love goes into the meal that you share on this special day.

Have a GREAT day ~ Shelley

~ Living Two Lives ~

I often feel like I am living two separate lives...school and home. When I am here on campus I am Shelley the Education Major. I get to have intelligent conversations about things happening on campus and in our society. I can also sit quietly, if I so choose, and just reflect or read. I love being on campus! I even love the God forsaken shuttle...lol!! When I am on campus I get to experience a freedom from the demands of my life. Sometimes I feel like I am just playing a student on a made for T.V. movie because everything is so different for me when I leave this peaceful campus.

When I pull out onto Evergreen I ride into another life...Shelley the wife and mother. My life literally goes from 0-100 mph when I leave campus. My thoughts and energy shift to thinking about household things like:

who needs to be picked up first - Noah and Luke then Blain, go to the store for diapers, what am I going to make for dinner - Lemon Pepper Talapia w/rice, call Shawn - remind him to go to the bank, drop off the check at pre-school - crap I forgot the permission slip for the field trip, do the boys need bathes tonight - yes, crap PTA meeting is tonight, rethink dinner - something quick - spaghetti, OMG my mom is calling again - I don't have time to talk, and so on and on and on...

I would love to complain about how hard my life is being a wife, mother and student, but I am a very lucky girl. I get the intellectual stimulation of college and the devotion of an amazing husband and some of the best hugs in the world from the cutest boys you'll ever meet. Some days I have to work my butt off to keep all the balls in the air but I wouldn't have either of my lives any other way.

Have a GREAT Thanksgiving ~ Shelley 

History is made today...

History will be made today. Make sure you take the opportunity to take part in this election. Please don't be detoured by the long lines. Think of the people in history that have made it possible for you to cast your ballot, revolutionaries, minorities standing up to discrimination, and the suffragettes. This is your privilege and responsibility of being an American, so let your voice be heard.

So just for today - step away from the computer and go VOTE!!

Have a GREAT day ~ Shelley

~Daydreaming~

As a student with children I have some extra challenges when it comes to school work. So the other day I found myself daydreaming of solutions to my unique task of finding time to do homework, help my 1st grader and preschooler. With more and more adults returning to college this is a challenge that many of us are facing.

I came up with what I think is a utopia for all students with school age children. What if there was a lab with all the "regular" lab materials but also an area that your child could receive some one-on-one assistance with their school work? This would be provided by the university and education majors could receive credit for "working" in the lab with children. This would be wonderful...I could get some work done and my kids can be engaged by something other than a glowing box!

In the Student and Child Enrichment Lab students can do homework, research and have a quiet area to study and children can receive assistance with homework and do activities to strengthen fine motor skills. This would also reinforce the importance of higher learning for your children by getting to experience college with mom or dad.

It was a nice daydream!! Have a GREAT day ~ Shelley

The day that my brain stopped working!!

Throughout my time as a student I have never been afflicted with test anxiety.  I even thought to myself "get over yourself and just relax" about classmates that were facing the dread of a test taking.  But on that fateful fall morning as I stared into the eyes of that math test I knew something wasn't right.  I was not feeling myself, I was anxious.  I recognized my uncomfortable feeling and went into action...take a few deep breathes...go to a part of the test that I am sure of the answer...get the thoughts flowing.  This worked for a little while and then other students started turning in their tests and I wasn't even half way.  I thought to myself...okay just breath...its okay you have plenty of time...relax...relax...relax...IT'S NOT WORKING!!  As I stared at the the next problem the directions seemed to be written in Greek and I was really struggling to concentrate.  This was stuff that I didn't review because I knew it so well.  I felt confident with this information yesterday and today I can not even understand the directions.  I eventually finished the test but I am very concerned about what happened to my easy going attitude.  My plan for the next test is to be a little more prepared and see if that helps.  I did pass the test but not with a grade that I feel like sharing.  I will let you know how the next math test goes.  I have learned a valuable lesson through this ordeal...don't judge what you may not understand.  I never knew that taking a test could be so difficult.

Thanks for listening and have a GREAT day ~ Shelley

A Formal Introduction!!

Hello all...it has occurred to me that we have not formally been introduced.  I am Shelley, I am sure that you have realized that much by now.  But who is Shelley??  I am a student, wife, mother, sister, aunt, friend, therapist, chauffeur, secretary, chef, soccer coach, and a diaper changing phenom.

I have been a student for at least 10 years and I am finally seeing progress...I have recently returned to school full-time (last fall).   I am in the Special Education program.  This program requires a double major so I will have a Learning Disabilities and a Mathematics certification when this journey is over.

I have been a domestic engineer for the past 4 years.  It is the most challenging job I have ever had.  Although the work is challenging, nothing compares to the rewards!!  I have three amazing boys (Blain 6, Noah 4, Luke 1) who can push me to my limits and melt my heart all at the same time.  I will be celebrating my 10 year anniversary in two weeks to one of the greatest guys I have ever met.   

I am very excited for this opportunity to share my experiences on campus and in life.    I truly am a very lucky girl!!

Have a GREAT day!! 

Thanks ~ Shelley

My trip to the Environmental Interpretive Center

Have you ever visited the Environmental Interpretive Center here on campus??  I have seen the building plenty of times but I thought it was used for teaching science classes.  I had no idea the resources I was missing out on until my visit on Friday.  My son's cub scouts had a "go see" at the EIC, so I loaded up my three boys and off we went.  I wasn't sure what to expect, so when they started with the barrage of typical questions like; "what are we going to do?", "will they have snacks?", "what kind of bugs?", and on and on and on...I told them it was a surprise.

It was a surprise alright, the staff was great with the kids.  The staff explained to the scouts about co-existing with the environment and appreciating the life around them.  We watched a Preying Mantis being released into the "wild" and we saw some huge spiders from Thailand have crickets for lunch.  Then we went on a bug expedition.  There are some wonderful nature trails behind the campus (who knew) so after a short walk we stopped at a meadow and caught bugs. 

My boys had a great time.  This was a special experience for me because I love when my two worlds collide - my family and my school.   I would encourage everyone to check out the Environmental Interpretive Center - it is really a special place.

Have a GREAT day ~ Shelley