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Birth: Wide-eyed wonder
Lancaster, Pennsylvania -
Learned to read on grandmother's lap
My grandmother was my very best friend and teacher. She taught me to read around age 3, by pointing out words in the newspaper and other books she was reading - and by reciting my favorite children's books with me.. -
Montessori Preschool
I was lucky enough to attend a Montessori preschool, which is the first place that I remember loving to go to school! -
Kindergarten - Rude awakening
During my kindergarten year, my dad became unemployed and our family moved to a new community when he found a new job. I also changed schools mid-year, and my new school was the first place I remember hating school. -
Homeschooling - First taste of distance education
During my early elementary years, my family experienced another move, and my parents also discovered that traditional classroom tracking was not a great fit for me. After our move, they decided to educate me at home - a first for our school district! I experienced a blend of educational methodologies, including a bit of what is now known as "unschooling," combined with a structured, self-paced correspondence curriculum. -
Back to School: Middle School
After a few years of schooling at home, my parents decided it was time for me to go back to a more traditional setting. Due to my self-paced learning, I was placed a year ahead of my same-aged peers. Unfortunately, though, I was much less socially advanced than my peers. There were more than a few laughs at some of my idiosyncrasies. I had never even heard of the game of soccer - but I learned quickly! -
Off to High School - With the plain people
My parents' desire for me to keep me in small classes and a structured setting landed me in a small high school run by "plain" Mennonites. Many of my classmates finished their education at age 14 so that they could work on their family farm. I was the only person in my class to go on to university education immediately following high school. Another experience with distance education: I took an "independent study" correspondence physics course because my school did not offer it. -
Undergraduate Education: Which way do I go?
I skipped a year of high school, graduating with a class of 19 students who were 2-3 years older than me. From there, I entered a local state university - which was definitely a culture shock! At such a young age, I was very unsure of my direction in life, and had a wide range of interests. -
M.S. in Psychology - And entry into teaching
At the urging of an undergraduate professor, I enrolled in graduate school and earned my M.S. in psychology. Along the way, I learned that I loved to teach and became interested in educational theory and research. -
Learning and Teaching in Alternative Schools
In graduate school, I had the opportunity to do research in a variety of early childhood educational settings, including HeadStart programs and alternative private schools. After completion of my master's degree, I had the opportunity to found a small, alternative "learning community" that became a hybrid educational space for homeschooling families and full time students. -
Self-Diagnosis - A turning point
I took a break from educational institutions to help form a community nonprofit. During this time, a years-long struggle with a mysterious illness led me back into studying science research, and inspired me to return to school. At the same time, I learned that my dear grandmother was dying of cancer - so I was off to Florida to be with her as she finished her life. -
UCF - Science Education
Here I am at UCF, pursuing a second master's degree - my M.A.T. in Science Education, Biology Track! http://education.ucf.edu/prog_page.cfm?cat=2&ProgDeptID=32&ProgID=136&pid=G
