Thanksgiving Is Soon Approaching...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner guys! With the anticipation of turkey, family, and football in the air I just wanted to take a moment out to spread the importance of being thankful this year. The last few months for me has not been the easiest and it made me think about what and who I am really thankful for this year. Sure I am excited about all the food I get to consume and be surrounded by but I am more excited about spending time with some close friends and my family. Now I am the first one to involve food in pretty much everything in life lol. I am a self proclaimed foodie so A LOT of tomorrow will be centered around what I am cooking and what I can eat lol but it is not the most important thing to me this year. I will be going to my high school's annual turkey day football game and be cheering on kids who I do not even know while having a mini h.s reunion in the bleachers. Some of the most important people I am thankful for this year are my older sister and a few very close friends. I feel as though it is important to let them know this while eating ourselves into a frenzy. To me the written word is one of the most if not the most beautiful things that people fail to do. In the age of text messaging, twitter, skype, email, and facetime many forget how touching a personal hand written note can actually be. This year I am going to be sending the most important people letters along with some flowers telling them how thankful I am for them this year in my life and what they have done for me. I have had some really good people around me so far this year and I do not want to wait for Christmas to acknowledge them for all they have done so on Thanksgiving Day I will let everyone who I am thankful for and I encourage you all to do the same. Don't just eat and be merry give thanks to the people that mean the most to you :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!!!!!

Teacher Education Information Session!

Interested in becoming a teacher? Join us for an on-campus information session!

Whether you want to teach pre-kindergarteners or 12th graders, ourTeacher Education Program (TEP) can get you on track to certification. 

Through a commitment to social justice and urban education, TEP prepares prospective teachers to transform students and schools. You can read more about the program on their extensive website: http://www2.gse.upenn.edu/tep/.

Read through the website and want to learn more in-person?
Join the Urban Teacher Education program for an on-campus information session on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-noon ET. RSVP here. (Please note only the Teacher Education program will be represented and discussed at this event.)

Blues!

So last week I went to an amazing BBQ place for food that is not to far from GSE. Baby Blue BBQ is great. I really do not like to go out to eat that much but the members of my group really wanted to go out and just have a few hours to not talk about work. Since it was cold and late we did not want to go somewhere too far away. We also did not want to spend a bunch of money on food and drinks either. Baby Blue BBQ is right on Sansom which is about a 2 minute walk from GSE. It is a cute little restaurant with a really good homey vibe. There are 2 dining rooms and a bar for people. There are also flat screen TV's with sports playing. I am a major sports fan so to be able to watch 3 different games at one was something that made me VERY happy. Another thing was the food. I am a bit of a selective eater but the menu was really good. They serve some really good BBQ and sides as well. A friend and I split 10 wings and sweet potato and regular fries. I got a pink lemonade with free refills and my friends all got mixed drinks which were not badly priced. The food was amazing and the sauces were really good too. I was very full at the end of the night and when the bill came and I saw it was only a little over 10 bucks!! I was sooooo excited. All in all this place was a lot of fun and I recommend people really check it out :)

If It Makes You Happy...

So it is getting to the time in the semester where things are getting a bit more hectic. Between term papers, inquiry projects, power points, fieldwork, AND all the readings my brain gets a little bogged down. Granted there are only classes four days a week but with all the work and final projects it feels like I am always doing work. It never seems to fail that every night I spend with my new boyfriend Microsoft Word 2010 lol. It is easy to work yourself into a frenzy with trying to make sure that everything is perfect. Well for me it is easy to fall into that routine. I have started to get sick a lot recently and am now realizing that it is important to take some time for myself. Yes school is important but if I am not taking care of myself then I will not have enough energy to do school work properly and to my fullest potential. I have started to do things that make me extremely happy and conformable. Even if it is not something that other people will understand or even agree with, if it makes you happy then go for it! I am an old soul at heart so I adore being at home with a good book or an old movie and some tea. I also take bubble baths to relax. I do love to dance but once it starts to get cold outside going out is not my thing. I also write poetry to help me relax and debrief. It also helps because for a few moments I do not have to worry about grammar, punctuation, and making sure I have sited my sources correctly lol. I love the Hallmark Channel, OWN Network, Food Network, Syfy, and a slew of others. I think it is important to find some personal time to refill your emotional tank so that you can forge ahead with all the work. Here are some things I do:

1. Read good books. I am currently reading 2 different series. I love all romance, action, and drama novels. GoodReads, Amazon, and Google helped me find a lot of the books I am reading now. I just typed in a book or an author that I liked and searched for books similar to it. Voila I know have a very long but exciting reading list awaiting me.
2. Good Movies. I have already said this but I love love love old movies. Gone With the Wind, Great Expectations, A Street Car Named Desire, A Clockwork Orange, Orlando and so many others. I also love funny movies and comedy specials The Best Man, Love and Basketball, The Wood, Katt Williams, Aziz Ansari, Anjela Johnson, and so many others. I try to watch at lest one thing during the weekend that will make me laugh.
3. Good Music. I am an eclectic person who loves all types but I try to save the dance music for more during the week to keep me going. On the weekends I like slow soft music that helps me to relax.
4. Good Drinks. A good tea or a nice hot cup of cocoa always helps me. I have tried different concoctions to see what is best for me. I love hot chocolate with milk and a little but of coffee for a zing. I also put nutmeg, cinnamon, and marshmallows to make my cup really rich.
5. Spa Day. This goes for guys too. I think it is very important to take care of your body inside and out. Taking vitamins and drinking lots of water and eating veggies is great. A good massage or a hot bubble bath with epson salt is even better. If you can't afford a spa treatment like I can't then DYI's at home are always good. Give yourself a nice leg massage with warmed oils. I use lavender, jasmine and coconut oil. If you have back problems there are loads of massage chairs and pillows that work great as well.
6. Working with your hands. Doing something with my hands has always been something that has relaxed me. Cooking, baking, building a shelf or even working on my car are all things I do to help me wind down. 
7. Do It True.. No matter what you do to relax even if it is one of my suggestions or not just make sure you do it true. As long as you enjoy it then that is ALL that matters. That and nothing that breaks your budget. We are in grad school people got to ball on a budget as I say :)

My Mirror Starring Back At Me....

It has been about three months of my first semester in Grad School. A lot has happened, changed, and remained the same. Looking back at things I have noticed that many of my previous assumptions and fears I had about Grad School did not even exists. When I came in I had this idea that I had to know everything  and that if I did not that I would be deemed stupid or something. There were a bunch of things running through my brain when I came in and it made me feel very intimidated. It was not until I actually sat in my first class that I was like "oh okay I can do this." Yes things were a little difficult but a lot of the material I knew. There were some words, theories, and books I did not know but many of the things were really just building on things I already knew or things that were just common sense. I am glad that I am learning new theories and ideas to work with children and new ways to look at reading and writing itself. In the short few months of being here I have also learned a lot about myself. I came in with a lot of ideas and my own teaching philosophy. Although many of my ideas have not changed and neither has my philosophy of teaching, I got to read more things that made me look at my ideas a little differently. I got to see things from a different lens and see how other people's ideas, theories, and practices fit into and help to develop my own views. While I am not saying all my ideas are 100% correct, I do not think anyone's ideas are, the things I have learned so far have helped to really solidify why I want to work with children and why I do what I do. I have also learned that there are a lot of people willing to help. In my program all the classes try to provide a safe space for people to freely speak their minds without feeling bad about it or being judged. I think this is a great idea because it opens up the class to discussions that would not otherwise be had. I get to learn and observe people and how they think and why they think the way they do and there is ALWAYS a debriefing after it. This helps everyone to express their opinions and sometimes gain empathy. I did this a lot in my undergraduate classes but not to the magnitude of how it is done at Penn. I thought that my ideas and mindset would be seen as childish and was intimidates to speak up but the conversations flow from what is seen in the media, politics, religion, gender, sexuality, movies, and books that most people are reading today. I have learned to appreciate everyones opinion and not get too upset when they say something that baffles me lol. I have also learned how to work in groups in a graduate school setting. For me it has been very different and challenging more so than being in undergrad. Here many people are full time teacher or are commuting from different states. It is a little more difficult to just meet up in the library during lunch to do a group assignment. Now a lot of things are done using google doc, skype and email. I had to let go of all the bad assumptions and be confident that I am smart and what I have to say. Reflecting back on how I first came into grad school until now I have grown a lot, gotten use to the cold weather lol, realized street meat is AMAZING, and met some great new people that I can see myself being friends with for a long time. I am hoping that I can learn something new and face new challenges every week from now on.

Don't Forget!!!

REMINDER!

The deadline to apply for all Ph.D. programs for Fall 2014 enrollment is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013!

This means ALL materials must be received by the admissions office by that date.

All applications received by that date are guaranteed a faculty review of all materials.

If you have not yet taken the GRE, you must do so no later than NOVEMBER 22, 2013 or your test scores will not make it to us in time.

We always recommend that you submit your application and materials earlier rather than waiting until the absolute last day!

Any questions? Please email admissions@gse.upenn.eduor give us a call at(215)898-6415.

Oh The Weather Outside...

It has been starting to get extremely cold outside and although I LOVE snow I hate being cold. I am originally from New Jersey but I spent the past 4 in a half years in the south. Winter was not a real season down there. It never really got below 65 and if it did it never stayed that cold very long. Even when it did snow it would melt within a few hours. Being back up north where there are REAL winters  hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought I had a little more time before this cold front hit. I was very wrong lol. I found myself scrambling to prepare for this drop in the temperature while not blowing my budget on things. There are some essential things that I feel everyone needs in order to survive the change.

1. A Coat! This may sound like the most simplest thing to get but my coat and jackets are by no means warm enough to keep me nice and toasty. A thick and long coat is sooo important to have. Along with a nice pair of gloves, a hat, and a warm scarf.
2. New Tires. If you have a car it is important to get good maintenance on it. Tires for the snow and rain, a new oil change and new windshield wipers. I am in serious need of a pair of those. 
3. Thermal! Many people do not know what these are but they are like insulated under armer. There is pants and long sleeve tops that help to keep you warm when you layer them under any clothes. 
4. Sweaters, Sweaters, and more Sweaters. I did not have many sweaters anymore and none that were warm enough. It is also important to have good thick sweaters that are also soft and comfy.  
5. Hot Chocolate & Tea! I am in love with there two drinks and I made sure to stock up on them to keep me nice and toasty throughout the day and at night. My favorite tea is Jasmine Green Tea with Citrus. It is soooo good and does not need a lot of sugar to make it taste good.
6. Boots. It rains a lot out here and a good pair of rain boots are key. Also a good pair of snow boots and regular walking boots are also good. They keep you warm, dry, and have good traction.
7. Heated Mattress Pad!!!! This has to be one of the most important things that I feel everyone needs to get. Along with a nice comforter a heated mattress pad is really important and it also saves money. It goes on top of your mattress and under all the sheets. There is a small adapter and a plug that goes into the wall. The one I got was about $25 bucks and it has a controller attached to it as well. After 10 hours of being on it automatically shuts off so you won't burn yourself. The controller goes up to 9 and it is the best thing. I have not had to turn on my heat once because of this. Not only does it heat the bed, pillows, and sheets since I keep it all the way on high it heats my room too! 

So there are my essentials things that I feel everyone needs to get through this fall and winter. I still need to get a few more sweaters but I am getting there. Hope these all help :)