The Master’s is over and now the Specialist’s has begun…   Since it had been soooo long since I had been a classroom and I was on a roll, I just decided to go ahead and finish out my education.  I began working on the coursework towards my Educational Specialist degree in August and am now in my second class.  The two colleges are very different and so far I am having a little trouble transitioning from the very structured rigor of the Walden program to the more laid-back atmosphere in the Piedmont classes.  This is not to mean that the Piedmont program is inferior, just that it is different.  Assignments usually have a ‘soft’ due date, so unlike the weekly requirements of the Walden program.  In addition, I physically ‘go’ to class, which is a huge adjustment from sitting with my laptop in my lap doing my week’s work.  I am currently working on my portfolio, a huge undertaking that is done all in one class.  I have been perusing my file cabinets, folders, and archived computer files for evidences of around 40 indicators that all point to an effective teacher.  We are to ‘rate’ ourselves at our current level and provide evidence supporting that rating.  We will then write action plans on the areas where we wish to see professional growth and then keep that action plan in mind as we continue through our coursework.  At the end of the program, we will then be expected to show evidence of that growth.  Very different from Walden’s ‘put the pieces together as you go’ portfolio process.  All in all, it is so far a ‘doable’ plan for the family.  Time will tell whether I can continue to juggle all the balls in my personal and professional life but for now they’re all in the air and I haven’t dropped any!  Wish me luck!