Classes
Hi all! Here is the requested post about my classes...
First of all, because I declared my major when I applied and my program is essentially a five-year program condensed into four years, I don't have much wiggle room when it comes to choosing classes. Nonetheless, I am enjoying most of my classes so far!
Classes I am taking this semester:
1. Writing the Essay. Every freshman has to take it, regardless of major. My professor is cool and there are no tests, so I can't complain.
2. Texts & Ideas: Antiquity and the 19th Century. I think I'd rather take Latin than this class. It's pretty damn awful, mostly because my professor is (insert your favorite bad adjective here) . Luckily I don't have to take any classes like this one in the future!
3. Quantitative Reasoning: Probability, Statistics, and Decision Making. I feel like I'm probably cheating for taking this because I got an A+ in Statistics senior year, but it's nice to be ahead in math for once! My professor is also hilarious, which helps :-)
4. American Sign Language 1. This is probably the best class I've ever taken. Sign language is just fascinating, and hopefully I will become semi- or fully fluent in it by graduation. The coolest part? My professor insists on absolutely no spoken words in any class, and only occasionally resorts to writing on the board; I still haven't heard his voice or any of my classmates' voices!
I think the best thing is that math and sign language were the two classes I was most worried about (because of my bad experiences with math teachers and upperclassmen warnings about my ASL professor, respectively), and they are so far my two favorites! Guess I judged too soon :-)
The following are seminars (meaning they are once per week or every other week, but still have homework and projects):
5. New Student Seminar. This seminar helps freshman acclimate to life in New York City, and familiarizes us with NYU resources. Something nice about it is that my group consists only of other T&L (Teaching & Learning) freshmen, so I can get to know other people in my program, and is taught by a former NYPS teacher.
6. Steinhardt Scholars Seminar. This seminar is for those of us in Steinhardt (Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development) who are on significant merit-based scholarships as part of the Steinhardt Honors Program; our topic is the stereotype versus reality of the American Dream. Although there's quite a bit of reading and a few large projects, during spring break, we will travel to another country! In the past the group has gone to Greece, Ghana, Mexico, etc.!
7. Field Observations. Because my program lets me graduate with a BA and teaching certification, I have to complete two semesters of student teaching; before I can start student teaching, I have to do a minimum of 100 hours of observations. This includes workshops about teaching (I attended a great one last Friday about how preschoolers learn through play), visits to public schools in a variety of boroughs, and trips to other educational programs such as the famous Rosie's Theater Kids. It's probably my favorite part of the school week so far!
On top of my classes, I have an unpaid (but very cool) internship with a nation-wide study about child development in Head Start and Early Head Start programs (Michelle is working on this study in Colorado as well!); I am also in the process of finding a paying job. So far, I definitely prefer fewer class hours to more homework hours as well; I don't know how much sleep I'll get this year, but I'm used to having a lack of that by now, aren't I? ;)
Lastly - please comment and let me know what you'd like to know about!
And just for fun, a picture of our suite door, drawn by my roommate:
Love,
Tasch
First of all, because I declared my major when I applied and my program is essentially a five-year program condensed into four years, I don't have much wiggle room when it comes to choosing classes. Nonetheless, I am enjoying most of my classes so far!
Classes I am taking this semester:
1. Writing the Essay. Every freshman has to take it, regardless of major. My professor is cool and there are no tests, so I can't complain.
2. Texts & Ideas: Antiquity and the 19th Century. I think I'd rather take Latin than this class. It's pretty damn awful, mostly because my professor is (insert your favorite bad adjective here) . Luckily I don't have to take any classes like this one in the future!
3. Quantitative Reasoning: Probability, Statistics, and Decision Making. I feel like I'm probably cheating for taking this because I got an A+ in Statistics senior year, but it's nice to be ahead in math for once! My professor is also hilarious, which helps :-)
4. American Sign Language 1. This is probably the best class I've ever taken. Sign language is just fascinating, and hopefully I will become semi- or fully fluent in it by graduation. The coolest part? My professor insists on absolutely no spoken words in any class, and only occasionally resorts to writing on the board; I still haven't heard his voice or any of my classmates' voices!
I think the best thing is that math and sign language were the two classes I was most worried about (because of my bad experiences with math teachers and upperclassmen warnings about my ASL professor, respectively), and they are so far my two favorites! Guess I judged too soon :-)
The following are seminars (meaning they are once per week or every other week, but still have homework and projects):
5. New Student Seminar. This seminar helps freshman acclimate to life in New York City, and familiarizes us with NYU resources. Something nice about it is that my group consists only of other T&L (Teaching & Learning) freshmen, so I can get to know other people in my program, and is taught by a former NYPS teacher.
6. Steinhardt Scholars Seminar. This seminar is for those of us in Steinhardt (Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development) who are on significant merit-based scholarships as part of the Steinhardt Honors Program; our topic is the stereotype versus reality of the American Dream. Although there's quite a bit of reading and a few large projects, during spring break, we will travel to another country! In the past the group has gone to Greece, Ghana, Mexico, etc.!
7. Field Observations. Because my program lets me graduate with a BA and teaching certification, I have to complete two semesters of student teaching; before I can start student teaching, I have to do a minimum of 100 hours of observations. This includes workshops about teaching (I attended a great one last Friday about how preschoolers learn through play), visits to public schools in a variety of boroughs, and trips to other educational programs such as the famous Rosie's Theater Kids. It's probably my favorite part of the school week so far!
On top of my classes, I have an unpaid (but very cool) internship with a nation-wide study about child development in Head Start and Early Head Start programs (Michelle is working on this study in Colorado as well!); I am also in the process of finding a paying job. So far, I definitely prefer fewer class hours to more homework hours as well; I don't know how much sleep I'll get this year, but I'm used to having a lack of that by now, aren't I? ;)
Lastly - please comment and let me know what you'd like to know about!
And just for fun, a picture of our suite door, drawn by my roommate:
Love,
Tasch
Comments
Post a Comment