Early Childhood at Granite State

We had a great discussion the other night in my Child Development course.

Think for a moment about an infant. What adjectives would you use to describe a baby girl? What about a baby boy? Did you use the same words? Did you know that gender differences start right at birth with parents and others describing boys and girls differently? Research has found we use words like "sweet" and "petite" for girls and "strong" and "robust" for boys when describing infants. The discussion brought up lots of interesting things about gender differences. It was a fun discussion.

To participate in great discussions like this one, you should think about taking an Early Childhood Education course at Granite State College. There are many different Early Childhood, Teacher Training Education, Behavioral Science or Elementary Education courses to choose from, all with great discussions to get you thinking. And when you are picking course titles, think about whether they sound like courses traditionally for boys or girls.

Are you a busy person? Most people would say yes! Are you an ambitious person? Again, most people would say yes! Are you an adult who thinks college is something kids do after high school because they don't want to go to work, or they don't know what they want? To that, I hope you answered no.

What if I were to tell you that many of the people who come to classes at Granite State College are a lot like you? They are adults interested in adult education courses. They may have found a program they are interested in but most are not going to school full time. They are taking part time classes or even online adult education classes to further their education. That is pretty ambitious because they are working during the day and coming to class at night.

But classes only meet one night a week. So, just think, one night a week you could come over after work to a campus in Portsmouth, or Rochester, or Concord, or Manchester, or Berlin or Littleton and take a class instead of crashing in front of TV.  

Right now I am teaching a child development course. Two people are taking the course for their Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood, one is taking it for a degree in Behavioral Science, another for an associates degree, and one person is taking it because he thought it would be interesting to know about the theories of child development. 

There are so many reasons to come to Granite State College. I hope you will find a reason and I will see you in a class next semester.

I went to college long ago... in the dark ages... before online education became an accepted way to get an education. I often wonder if I would have liked going to college in my own living room. I think about people interested in going to college in Berlin NH, or Littleton NH, or Lebanon NH, or taking  Manchester NH Classes or Portsmouth NH Classes or Rochester NH Classes and I think.. wow.. if people from all over New Hampshire decided to go to college at Granite State College they could all be going to the same class at the same time right in their own homes. Maybe that is one benefit of online education. You would come in contact with people from other areas of the state that you might never have known. It wouldn't be the same in some ways, because you would not be going out to coffee before class with online friends, but, think of the possibilities online courses present. Maybe the idea of online education is really catching on, especially at places like Granite State because people are so busy, but they still want the benefits of making connections while getting career college training and affordable continuing education without the constraints of a particular time to be sitting in a classroom. I think I would have liked online classes when I went to school. How about you?

Every time I begin a new semester, I wonder about the kinds of students that will come through the door at Granite State College. I wonder about ages, past educational experiences, work history, reasons for coming to class and I wonder if I will be able to meet all the various needs for attending Adult Education classes at Granite State College.

This semester was no different except that I was teaching at the Portsmouth NH college campus, where I have always taught at Rochester NH college campus. I entered the Portsmouth NH campus for the first time and was greeted by a work study student. She welcomed me, assuming that I was a student. She asked if I was ready to begin classes. I smiled and thought how much fun it would be to be taking one of the many continuing education classes at Granite State College. For a moment I envied the adults that come to do an Adult Education Certificate or an Adult Accelerated Degree Program. I love teaching the courses, but what fun to take one.

I felt so welcomed at Portsmouth and so excited about the new semester. So thank you for welcoming me to my "new" campus.  Come and visit yourself and see all the course options Granite State has to offer.

What are you doing today? Maybe you are an early childhood educator. You go to your job, which you love, but you wish you could do more. Maybe you are a paraprofessional and you wish you could take on more responsibility. Then you think of how you could do more. That would mean going back to school. School?? AHHH!!  Then come the excuses. I am too old. I am too tired. I work all day. I have my own kids to worry about at night. 

But have you thought about online education classes? Maybe you knew that Granite State College had online college english classes and online classes for criminal justice. But did you know that many of the classes for Early Childhood Education are also online? Just think, you could come home from work, have your supper, get your kids to bed, put on your pjs, climb into bed and go to school. 

Wow! Wouldn't that be great. Just think, you can take online classes at Granite State College in so many areas. You could get your whole Associate's Degree without ever leaving your room. Or maybe you just need a course or two. Check it out. The online courses at Granite State are designed for working professionals just like you. 

Now that you have eaten the Thanksgiving turkey and all of those pies, you may be thinking about enjoying December and then making the regular New Year's Resolution to go on a diet. Well, how about something more lasting this year? A resolution that will really change your life?

How about enrolling in Adult Education classes at Granite State College. You have debated taking a class, finishing a degree or maybe getting an Adult Education Certificate. Now is the time. Granite State College has face-to-face and Online Classes in many areas. Maybe you are interested in an Adult Accelerated Degree Program, or Online Classes for Criminal Justice. Maybe you are interested in Childhood Education Classes or Behavioral Science Classes. Check out all the offerings at Granite State College and then make a New Year's Resolution to further your education. Classes at Granite State are offered in the evenings and people like you are coming from work to learn more and further their careers. The people are friendly and ready to learn. So, make a move and make a New Year's Resolution that you will enjoy keeping. You can register on line today.  And, as for that diet, just watch that third piece of pie! 

What are you thankful for? We hear that phrase a lot each November. And people respond with things like family, friends, health. Those are all such important parts of our life. But sometimes we are also thankful for the opportunities we are given in life.

I have to say that in addition to my family and friends, I am thankful for the opportunity I have to teach Early Childhood and teacher training education courses at Granite State College at the Rochester NH college campus. I have met so many wonderful people at Granite State. College I have met students who are excited about their work with young children. I have met people who have been in the field of childhood education for many years, but need a course or two to maintain their professional position. I have met people who have had a career in business but have always wanted to teach.

One man comes to mind. He was nearing retirement in the business world but had always wanted to teach. He was working his way through a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. He has since graduated from Granite State College. He called me recently to tell me that he was now almost through a Master's Degree in Education. Another woman was pursuing a degree in Behavioral Sciences. She wanted to work with special needs children. Now she is in a position where she can impact the lives of young special needs children. Yes, when I think about the opportunity I have had to play a role in the further education of so many people who are now teaching young children, I am very thankful.

Did you read my last post about Online courses at Granite State College?

Did you think about how being an older adult, maybe this online adult education idea is not for you?

Well I have good news for you. I am an older adult. (Not that I like how that sounds!) And as an older adult involved in the Early Childhood and Teacher training education programs at Granite State College, I have found out that managing the online education system really isn't all that difficult. I have almost finished putting an entire course online. I have had excellent help from faculty at Granite State College and I have also used the online tutorials. I have overcome my fear of this new system for the younger adults and I actually am having fun mastering an online course. So I want to encourage you, if you are interested in an adult education diploma, or online college English classes or any form of online education courses at Granite State (and check out all the offerings) and you are an "older" adult, I am telling you that you can do it. Go for it! You will find that it is lots of fun.

If you are thinking about taking a course online, but you are not sure you know how to navigate a whole course online, just realize that as a student at Granite State College, whether you are looking for online classes for early childhood education or online classes for criminal justice or online college English classes, you are not the only one who has to learn to navigate the online system.

I am currently creating my first online course and I will tell you it was a bit of a challenge at the beginning. My first look at the Blackboard system was almost enough to scare me away from online classes at Granite State forever. I thought, there is no way I am going to be able to put a whole course onto the computer. But with the patience and assistance of the Blackboard resource people at GSC, I have almost finished writing my first online course. I have been teaching for a long time, at Granite State and in other places but I guess I am still not too old to learn new things and neither are you.

So be brave, step out of the familiar and into the new and exciting world of online adult education classes at Granite State. See you online!

Has anyone said to you, "So, are you going to vote next week?" What have you replied?

Maybe you said "Yeah, sure," but meant, "No way."

Maybe you said, "I would but I am busy that day."

Or maybe you said, "It's not worth it."  

Have you thought about how your vote might influence the future of education? There are candidates out there who would willingly cut the funding for college scholarships, for HeadStart programs, and for every other education level in between. There are also candidates out there who want to add to federal funding for schools and colleges. Adult Education Certificates, Adult Education Diplomas and undergraduate education in New Hampshire can easily be impacted by what happens on November 2.

If you get out and vote in favor of education you will be taking part in an opportunity to improve and protect education from preschool to college. See you at the polls.

 Have you ever thought about teacher training education? Have you wondered how people become teachers at the early childhood or elementary levels? Childhood education classes are what makes it possible for teachers to become teachers. If individuals do not take education classes they are likely to just copy what they saw in school themselves. So look back at your own learning career. You probably had some great teachers and some ordinary teachers. Unfortunately you may have had more ordinary teachers. Yet if you want to teach, you want to be one of the great teachers. And that doesn't just suddenly happen. You need to become involved in childhood education classes that challenge you to think and to expand your knowledge. You need to be equipped to change with the times. 
Classes at Granite State College make that possible. The classes are scheduled in the evenings so you can work during the day and expand your skills at night. You can enroll in just one class, at a local campus such as  Portsmouth NH classes or Rochester NH classes, or you can take online classes. 
Recently a student at Granite State College observed in an elementary school classroom and saw the teacher handing out worksheet packets while students got into trouble. She decided that the lesson was a good lesson until she was challenged in her evening class at Granite State to think about what could have been done differently to reach the many needs and learning styles in the classroom. Her thinking was challenged and with her classmates she discussed other options. Now and in the future her own students will have the benefit of her learning and experience. That thinking and reflecting is what makes ordinary teachers great.

Recently Harvard University announced that it was doing away with final exams. They stated that students do not really learning anything by taking final exams. They are better off showing what they know in projects, quizzes and hands on experiences.

This announcement raised an interesting discussion in the Early Childhood Assessment course at Granite State College, Rochester. Should students take final exams? The class members recounted their own experiences at Granite State College. They reported that in most classes in the Teacher Training Education department faculty relied on projects and papers to assess understanding. Most of the students had taken few final exams at Granite State College. They agreed that using projects and papers assessed their understanding of the material they were learning. They realized that final exams were appropriate in some courses but they felt that the faculty was responsive to the material being taught and they were happy that final exams were not always the only way to assess learning in the classes at Granite State College.  What is your opinion of final exams in college? 

Do you have career plans? Do your plans include college education courses? Have you thought about obtaining an Associate's Degree or a Bachelor's Degree or maybe an Adult Education Certificate or an Adult Education Diploma?

Granite State College may be just what you are looking for. Did you see the September 2010 issue of "U.S. News and World Report?" It compared the best colleges in the country. One of the criteria was class size. Another was availability of the faculty. Affordability and the availability of grants and loans was another criteria. Granite State College has a low student to faculty ratio. Many courses only have 10 to 15 students in them. This allows you to really get to know your professors. The professors have a chance to get to know you as well. And, what you may not know, most Granite State professors are working in the field that they teach in. This means that what you are learning is current and what you need for your career.  Granite State also has a wide range of available student financial aid.  
As you consider your career plans, whether you are right out of high school, or an adult interested in adult education programs, consider Granite State College.

I am fortunate enough this summer to be working as a mentor for a student interested in teacher education at Granite State College. She has been thinking about teaching and learning. She recently wrote a paper on critical thinking. Hmm.. you are saying.. so what?  What is that and why would it be something on a blog about adult college education?

Well, it is important because it is all about how you learn. Do you think when you have to read text books for an evening college course or you read the books late at night when you are hurrying to get to bed so you just highlight everything without really thinking about it? If you do, you may have just missed out on a great lifelong learning college experience. When we think about what we are reading and apply it to what we already know, then we remember the new information and can use it in the future. 

So while you are planning on taking courses at Granite State College this fall, also plan on really thinking about what you are reading and hearing in each course. The experience will be so much more meaningful for your career goals. 

I want to post a thank you to a great class in the teacher training education program at Granite State College in Rochester. It was a great semester filled with lively conversation, great questions and some fun activities.

We started the semester in the Child Development class learning a little about our own learning and thinking styles. We watched some great videos on prenatal and infant development. We learned all about the way kids learn as they grow. But what really made the semester was the conversation. Members of the class shared their experiences with children of all ages. We learned a lot about growth and development from the stories classmates shared with us. And finally, we ended the semester with our own version of Jeopardy. The class members created great questions and a fun competition followed.

It was a great semester and I hope to see many of you again in future classes. Thanks for making it a great semester.

Have you ever waited for something? You imagine what it will be like. You weigh the pros and cons of what it might be. You may even form preconceived notions of what this new thing will mean for you.

Well, that is what happened with the new Granite State College campus at Rochester, NH. The new campus opened two weeks ago. We were told from the beginning of the spring semester that Granite State College would be moving to a new location. It was a bit further from the seacoast, but it was a building all of its own. It was the former Cabletron building, if you knew what that was, which I didn't.
So in my head I imagined a college campus in an older building. I imagined the extra travel time. I imagined getting lost the first time I went there.

But I was so amazed! My preconceived images were so wrong.  The new campus is only about 8 minutes further from the seacoast than the old campus. (So commuting is still easy for those of you from the Portsmouth area.) The building is large, very new and set out on the top of a hill like a college campus should be. The classrooms are large and have all the latest technology available. There is even a large entry area with computers available for use!

The new Rochester, NH campus is a beautiful site. It gives the feel of a college and it is a place worth visiting!

So, if you are looking for a great college experience, stop by the new Rochester campus of Granite State College.

Did you know that there are teachers at Granite State College who will help you get the courses you need? Even in the summer, faculty at Granite State are willing to mentor students who might need a course that isn't offered.

Did you realize that opportunity existed?

In addition to online classes and face-to-face classes, you might do an independent study to meet your requirements. So are you wondering what that might entail?

You figure out the course you need, check to see if it is already offered, and if not, meet with your advisor to help figure out what faculty member might be able to help you out. Then you talk to that person and find out what to read, and what assignments you will need to do. You work on your own and check-in weekly with your advisor. It is a great way to get to know a faculty member and to complete your course work. 

Are you an early childhood professional, a paraprofessional, or a classroom teacher about to be out for the summer? Have you thought about what you are going to do? Maybe you are going to sit on the beach and read a good book, or just sleep late and relax. Have you thought about taking a course at Granite State College? Maybe you are interested in furthering you teacher training education, or maybe you are just thinking about improving your skills or pursuing an area of interest with a fun course or two. Well, I may have an answer for you. Try an online college course at Granite State College, or maybe a classroom course in Portsmouth, or Rochester or Concord. So many choices. So don't just sit on the beach with any old book, instead get college credit for all that reading you will be doing anyway! See you in class!

Faculty members at Granite State College want students to succeed.

I bet you didn't know that. Maybe you never thought about that before.

In some New Hampshire colleges, and in fact colleges throughout the United States, faculty members expect students to fail. They create impossible tests, assume that most of the class will fail, then scale the test on a bell curve. This creates frustration and fear in students. But at Granite State College this is not the case. Yesterday a student went to a math professor concerned about a test he had taken and not done well on. The professor immediately said, "you may take the test over if you like." The student persisted and said he needed to take the test out of the classroom, and again the professor agreed. This is encouraging success rather than failure.

As a group, faculty in all disciplines at Granite State want students to be successful. After all, you will be heading out into the working world and your understanding of the work you have done in college should help you to be prepared for your career goals. Your success matters to the faculty at Granite State.

 Have you ever thought about genetic research? Well the students in my night college course of Child Development class at the Rochester NH college campus hadn't really either. We were studying the development of the embryo and began to discuss genetic disorders. The genes that determine who you are can become mutated and cause problems at birth or later. We also discovered that people are studying genetics to see how traits like eye color and hair color are determined. The question of whether individuals should know that and be able to choose the traits they want for their child arose. Can you imagine if you could shop for the characteristics you wanted in a child, what the world would be like? Do you think it would be a good idea for people to decide what characteristics were right for the next generation? The discussion was very interesting. It is always amazing where discussions lead in a classroom at Granite State College.