Student parents support thread

[Lenni]

I used to come on this topic a year or so ago and post on the general hand holding support thread but it seems to have gone so I'm hoping there might be enough of us to start a new one.

I'm in my final leg of a M.Ed in Education and am currently writing my thesis which is going very slowly okay but am struggling to find time, motivation or energy to study. It would be nice to know others are in the same boat and have a place to handhold, moan, swap tips and motivate each other.

Is also stopping me procrastinating on MN

Posting my word count while writing my dissertation kept me motivated.

Thought I was all finished but spent ages today doing those niggly little things like contents page and tidying up references.

I always expect those things to take a few minutes but I've been fiddling around with it all morning.

Still need to piece my appendices together but I will definatly be handing in the first draft of my dissertation this afternoon.

Are you almost finished now Lenni? Are you happy with the finished product?

15 662

Yes, I am almost finished. Have about 300 words of my conclusion left to write, just a little summing up type of paragraph really so probably more like 150-200 words. I also have a section on the relationship between national policy and local practice to write that will use about 500 words i think. I can't go over 16 500 without penalty.

Not sure if I'm happy. I would like my tutor to tell me how to make it better, but she is not being forthcoming. Damn!

I know what you mean about the fiddly bits. Thankfully I have done most of those now, just need to check I have referred to the appendices with the right letters as they have changed so often as I have dumped things and gained others. Am hoping to hand it in tomorrow. Am ridiculously excited at the mere thought.

16 191, eek, getting dangerously close to my word limit now.

Just handed my first draft in.

I will get feed back for it next Wednesday. Hopefully there's nothing drastically wrong with it because I've only allowed myself 3 days to make amendments.

I have to take the day off tomorrow to go to the registry office and give notice. I'm getting married in six weeks and still haven't given my notice yet. Procrastination is not limited just to my studies.

Then come Friday I have to start a 3000 word essay on alternative education

at your procrastination Mia!

16 509 and just sent it to my supervisor so will get amendments hopefully tomorrow and then printing and binding either tomorrow afternoon or Friday. Yay! Need to lose nine words somewhere as well

How exciting Lenni.

Do you plan to celebrate?

Well I've had a glass of wine and some of my Easter Egg that was waiting unconsumed after my holiday. I think we might celebrate once it is handed in. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off, so invigorating.

I really need to find some motivation to start my alternative education essay today.

Need to write 3000 words by Tuesday and can't get started.

Afternoon all. I finaly finished my law report today. Did my exam yesterday.
which leaves me

the handouts for my presentation to write.
a 5000 word assignment and a supporting evidnce.
the handouts need to be done by weds, the assignment etc by thurs! So am going to do the handouts now, I have an hour to do them before I have to collect dc and go to asda for the weekly shop.

MAnic weekend as I am having the stair carpet laid and the laminate flooring through downstairs. Am also hoping to buy a new cabinet so can finish unpacking the living room. So not much pressure

Mia what are your plans for your education essay, what age are you focussing on?

Well done on finishing your report dylsmum.

I've got nothing done today. I'm going to go to the uni library tomorrow and stay there till I've written the essay.

We have to use two examples of alternative education that we have covered in the module. I'm using montessori and accelerated christian education.

I have another essay for the module which requires another two examples. Will be using Steiner and democratic education for this one.

mia that is what i had to do this week to get me going. Sounds interesting topics for your essay, what is accelerated christian education? not come across that one before?

i have just made my 2 page handout to support my presentation, which leaves me my 5000 word assignment and supporting evidence to do by thursday

I went to visit an accelerated Christian education and it freaked me out.

The children have to sit at desks with partitions between them to prevent any talking amongst them.

They have workbooks that they just have to systematically work through with no teaching, just the books to guide their learning. If they get stuck they have to raise a little flag to gain the attention of the 'teacher'. Once they complete the workbook they have to mark the work themselves with an answer book.

They also have weekly tests to prove what they have memorised. They also have to memorise large sections of scripture.

What really upset me while I was there was the headmasters obvious passion for paddling the children and his disappointment that it was now illegal to do so.

Mia that sounds really horrific. I had never heard of ACE before either, off to google now. Will make for a really interesting contrast with Montessori.

Dylsmum are you finished for the year apart from your 5000 word essay? Good luck with that this week.

What are everyones plans for next year? I'm still waiting to hear about the second round of funding, should get an interview date next week if I've got an interview. Plan currently is to do the MSc anyway and hope I get a post as an RA. May be wishful thinking though!

Oh my goodness Mia that sounds awful

Lenni yes thats it for this course once i have done the essay.

My plan for next year is to do my PGCE primary. would ultimately like to do my PHD, but need to get through this first!

Hope you get some funding this time round Lenni

I hate this essay. I'm really stuggling with it. I've only managed 1200 words so far.

Plans for next year is to do my primary PGCE I will be specialising in early years.

Long term goal is to become an educational psychologist. Really need to get a first for my degree though to stand a chance of getting funding.

Mia how you getting on now?

Am trying to make an essay plan for mine, am getting there its rather slow going though as I have lots of distractions; my uncle is laying the laminate floor= lots of sawing noise and banging.
my cousin has come to stay for the night so have 2 11yr old boys playing remot econtrol cars which only work in the kitchen where I am sat trying to work at the table.

That said I am managing quite well and it could be worse- I don't have dd sat on me telling me which letters I m typing as she is at her dads, she will be home soon

Sounds like you are making more progress than me dyslmum and I have no distractions.

I've now done 1700 words but it's like pulling teeth. I have a total mental block on this essay and I know what I'm writing is rubbish.

Just need to get it done though, has to be handed in tomorrow.

oh, i lost you all for a bit, and you've been so busy!

well done lenni - i've got my fingers crossed for the next funding round for you. and the rest of you seem to be ploughing on well!

i've been totally maxed out, but i've got this week off work, so hope to make considerable headway. (heard that before?!)

I've now done 2550. Need to finish it off tomorrow because my brain is about to implode.

I have till 4 pm to finish it so hopefully after a good nights sleep I can get it done.

Sounds like you are making good progress Mia, it'll come together when you get going again in the morning.

Madwoman, good to hear from you. What are your plans now for next year?

hey lenni - it looks like we will probably stay here, (on friday received our shiny new resident visas ) so i seriously need to rethink phd app. torn between being gutted about not being able to what i wanted to do in the uk, and being excited about new possibilities.
u of c closest, but i need to be thinking about 2011 start now - so it gives me lots of time to re-organise.

part of me wonders if a small white lie to the ou would be the best of both worlds

Mia you are nearly there with it. good luck getting it finished today.

I need to get my essay finished today as I don't have any other days I can do it in. I didn't get any done yesterday as dd is home and I can't work when she is about cos I get no piece. Back to school/nursery today so am heading into the lib to get done.

Just handed in my essay. It was really rubbish but just wanted to get it over and done with.

I need to redraft my dissertation when I get it back tomorrow.

Then got a 5000 word essay to do by the 24th.

Finally got a presentation on the 14th June.

The end is in sight. YAY!

well done for getting it done. The end is definately approaching. .

I am at 2,412 words. need really to get to 5000 before bedtime. Am aiming to do the majority of it before I go and collect dc as I do not work well in the evenings. Also need to go to the woods to collect sticks etc for my supporting evidnce to go with the essay. then get some coloured card and some photos printed. I think the making of the evidence will be easy once I have got the bits and bobs, just wish I could write the essay with as much enthusiasm.