I would really really find out what is needed/preferred in Georgia. My parents both had M.Ed degrees as a Master's was required when they started teaching. Then the law changed to a Bachelor's and then X number of hours of continuing education every so many years. After the law changed my mom had a difficult time getting a job with a Master's because she was too expensive for the school system.
OUR school system though prefers teachers with Master's degrees.
Additionally, Dena may need to really make a decision to either teach Pre-K or to teach Kindergarten, because I believe that pre-K is Early Education and Kindergarten is elementary education. If she wants to teach English or Language Arts and use her English degree then that's going to be Secondary Ed. which is middle through high school. (That may take less time, but not be helpful if she really wants to work with little kids.)
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4284 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
Based on what's happening here in Florida, I'd say go for the Master's degree.
Budget cutbacks here have led school districts to actually let teachers GO...there are more teachers in the state than there are positions, which is not something I *ever* expected to happen. A co-worker's wife is ~16 hours short of her Master's, and cannot find full-time work, as teachers who DO have their Master's degree are preferred.
Since Florida, as one of the more populous states, tends to be in front of the job/economic trends with Texas, California, and New York (with Ohio and Illinois in there, too), I'd wager that will start happening more and more, as teachers are able (and want to!) pursue their education, and start competing with teachers pushed out of other states.
A friend who DOES have her Master's degree but only two years' experience teaching was taken out of the classroom and offered a lower-paying job that seems to involve reading textbooks to see if they fit in the district's curriculum (I'm sure there's more to it, but that's the part she complains about the most). She took it, as it kept her employed with the same district, EMPLOYED in general, and puts her on a list to be considered for a position in the classroom next year. There really is a *waiting list* to teach. Bizarre!
Also, most Master's programs for education give you some specialization choices, so she could (in theory) pursue a Master's in Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Dena has decided not to look for work in Montana. We are still going to go to Red Lodge at the end of this month, but just to visit. The nearby fires are now 85% contained.
She has decided she wants to be a pre-K or K teacher. When she started at Brenau University she was in Early Childhood Education but changed to English mid-way (I think the education department's entrance test scared her off). She is going to go thru Georgia's TAPP program that allows anyone with a degree to train as a teacher. I think part of her decision is the desire to have a job that includes benefits. In the four years since graduation she has never had a job that included insurance. Plus, she likes working with kids and is very good at it.
She has signed up for the GACE tests in two weeks (no idea what that stands for). Once she has started earning enough she is planning to go back to Brenau's Nights and Weekend college (the Atlanta Campus) and either complete her degree in Early Childhood Education or try for a Masters in Education to go with her English Degree. Any suggestions from teachers as to which she should do?
She does not plan to ditch the Graphic Design classes. She enjoys them and besides if she quits, she will have to start paying back her student loans
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 3996 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
Originally posted by Tayhudson: [...] I have a young friend. My friend's 13 y.o. son, who has lost a great deal of weight this summer. I know he has been trying really hard, and I think part of it is probably from just growing too. I'm not sure if I should say anything to him though. His brother and sister are both thin and I know he has always struggled with his weight.
Dawn
Maybe you could just say something like "My, you're looking good these days." but don't specifically mention weight and don't gush or put him in the spotlight. Just a nice guiet compliment.
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 3996 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
I think people are at a loss sometimes for what to say. When I notice that someone has lost weight, I really want to say "Hey, you look great, you're hard work is paying off." (IF I know they've been trying.)
But then, I've seen here and on other forums, where people have said it makes them feel uncomfortable when someone notices. So, sometimes I don't say anything.
I have a young friend. My friend's 13 y.o. son, who has lost a great deal of weight this summer. I know he has been trying really hard, and I think part of it is probably from just growing too. I'm not sure if I should say anything to him though. His brother and sister are both thin and I know he has always struggled with his weight.
Dawn
"Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire." anonymous
Posts: 4284 | Location: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: March 15, 2004
Originally posted by Nbox: But you reminded me of something else. I lost weight for maybe 18 months and nobody, I mean NOBODY said anything. Whatever I've lost came off during that time (with the exception of a new pound this week). NOW people are telling me how I've lost weight and wow. Old news?!
I had this same situation with the folks at work. I am 4'6" and lost 30-35 pounds in 2003 and 2004. That much weight on a tiny person is very noticeable and I was SO bummed that no one (but my very closest buds) was saying a word.
For me, I found out that it was largely because I continued to wear the same clothes (to the extent that I could) while I was losing weight and had always tended to wear my clothes baggy. Once I started to buy new clothes that really FIT, my weight loss started getting noticed regularly, even though my weight loss had stopped long before that.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7251 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Peg, Could it be they're just trying to make conversation and grab the first subject that comes to mind? Or is it so unusual for someone to keep the weight off for any length of time?
I'm not sure if I've ever had that experience because I never managed to keep the weight off for long. But you reminded me of something else. I lost weight for maybe 18 months and nobody, I mean NOBODY said anything. Whatever I've lost came off during that time (with the exception of a new pound this week). NOW people are telling me how I've lost weight and wow. Old news?! On the other hand, I was overweight for 10+ years and nobody said anything either -- mainly out of tact, I suppose. The only people who didn't care about tact were doctors...("You know, your [insert ANY ailment here] would really benefit from weight loss.")
I don't use other people's perceptions as my reality check (but I admit it boosts my ego to have someone notice a change!). I use my tape measure and my old clothes. I still have a hard time acknowledging both the size I was then and the size I am now.
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
Congrats Puck! I've experienced many of the same things you have in terms of eating healthier stuff just seems more normal. I haven't as much had the effect of the good stuff not tasting as good but I think maybe that's because I tend to choose higher quality sweets anyway. Fried stuff still tastes just as good as it did on 4/30/04 though! French fries are still yuuuuummmy!
quote:
You might not be aware of your difference in looks because you see yourself every day and the change as been so gradual that you don't notice it but sn old friend would be able to see the difference if they had not seen you since you started.
I wonder if other people that have lost weight and kept it off have the same experience I do. I have people I don't see very often and every time they see me, they say "you've lost a lot of weight!". It kind of makes me laugh usually but when I'm in a bad place it makes me frustrated that they only seem to remember the heavier me. I don't know if that makes any sense. I've lost weight the last few months and it's enough again that people are noticing but for a couple years there, I was essentially holding steady and this kept happening. I was just wondering if anyone else has that same experience.
[...] Some days I look in the mirror and can't see any weight has ever come off.
[...]
Congratulations on the weight loss!
You might not be aware of your difference in looks because you see yourself every day and the change as been so gradual that you don't notice it but sn old friend would be able to see the difference if they had not seen you since you started.
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 3996 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
You could say I've taken my time. I still have pounds left to lose and they look like they're enjoying their stay with me.
In terms of pounds lost, I'm pleased with my numbers. In terms of overall health, I'm not sure I feel very healthy. Some days I look in the mirror and can't see any weight has ever come off. But maybe that's my overall mood that's affecting this post - I'm having a bad week (which is also affecting my eating).
I do notice that my eating habits have never gone back to what they were before, even in times of stress. I'm also slowly noticing a preference for healthier foods - they taste better than they used to before, and the wicked foods taste less heavenly. Yesterday I had a piece of cake that by all objective standards was divine, and halfway through all that divinity I suddenly noticed how sweet it was. Did I stop eating? No. But at least I noticed what was going on. And just in case I was missing anything, this morning's weigh-in reminded me...
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
Originally posted by cate: Hey! Just a quick note from Gay Paris! I had a blast in Spain, but ended up quite exhausted. I have a little apartment for the next couple of weeks, and have been doing marketing. No real Gluten-free products, but the produce and such are amazing. Huge raspberries, and even though not organic, they don't taste like chemicals either. Its incredible how bad our food in the States is (and food for tourists too--that was a different problem in Spain...I felt like I was going to turn into a potato tortilla!)
And so much walking, both places. Its really amazing how much more civilized Europe is, in so many ways. Hope you are all having fun!
So glad to hear that you are having fun!
I'm so jealous that you have a couple of weeks in Paris with a kitchen!!!!
On Saturdays there is an AWESOME outdoor market near the Palais de Tokyo off of Rue D'Iena. The food was unbelievable - seafood, cheese, produce, you name it. They even had clothes, shoes and purses as well but I thought the food (and the flowers) were the stars.
How was the trip over?
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Hey! Just a quick note from Gay Paris! I had a blast in Spain, but ended up quite exhausted. I have a little apartment for the next couple of weeks, and have been doing marketing. No real Gluten-free products, but the produce and such are amazing. Huge raspberries, and even though not organic, they don't taste like chemicals either. Its incredible how bad our food in the States is (and food for tourists too--that was a different problem in Spain...I felt like I was going to turn into a potato tortilla!)
And so much walking, both places. Its really amazing how much more civilized Europe is, in so many ways. Hope you are all having fun!
your own veggies AND a loss of weight! double bonus!
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
This year we planted tomato seeds for the first time. It was a cold spring and June, and I kept the seedlings indoors in windowsill boxes way too long. When I finally got the contents of the first box transplanted into bigger pots and out on the balcony they were 3 ft high. The second box had to wait until after the window replacement and by that time they were four feet high and desperately cramped. Tall and rangy and practically dying. Today we took them to the vegetable garden at our allotment. I spent most of the afternoon planting them and boy did they look awful. I mean shrivel up and die awful. I'm convinced they won't make it, but at least they're no longer all over the apartment (ALL the seeds grew and we had approx. 50 seedlings or something). Anyway, we came home and I took a look at the pots on the balcony... and they have 10 tiny tomatoes on them! HA. There's mercy in this world after all. Today's bonus: we enjoyed our first taste of our own new potatoes.
AND my scale tells me I've lost a new pound... which "of course" gave me freedom to eat and eat, just because.
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
I'm very impressed with your relationship with ex-dh and his dw!
Thanks, like I said, it has not always been this way and has taken years to develop. I think for Morgan it is pretty cool to have pretty much two sets of parents who all get along and can socialize.
I also think that I have nailed a possible issue that i didn't even realize was there. Of course I have been missing dd, but I don't think I realized how much impact her being away has affected me. I have put 2 and 2 together and realized that much of my sleep problem started when she left, or somewhere close to when she left. I realized that the most important person in the world to me and was with me every single day for months was no longer here and I don't think I understood(or wanted to admit) how much impact it had on me. I better get a hobby or something because she is 3 yrs from HS graduation and then college and if I'm struggling with one month I most definitely will struggle w/empty nest syndrome!
Jill
Summer Challenge Goals: 1) Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week 2) Plan weekly menus
