The past few months have been quite busy with lots of changes for me on the job front. In May I applied for and was offered a job at Sylvan Learning Center. It's been a great part time job for the summer; however, the overall experience has not been what I expected and I don't plan on continuing my work there in the fall. I also applied for and was offered a job as a W-A-Y mentor through the main branch of our local school district. Though much of my previous work in the field of education has been with very young children, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at helping at-risk teenagers as a welcome change of pace. I start training for that tomorrow, and I'm excited to see where the job leads.
This past week was particularly busy as I interviewed for a position at East Washtenaw Multicultural Academy in Ann Arbor. The interview went well and I found out on Friday that I'll be working as a preschool teacher for them this coming school year. While I don't see myself teaching preschool for the long haul, I do want to work with young children and this is a way for me to get my foot in the door and get some valuable experience under my belt. The program for which I'll be working is a state funded GSRP program, which means I'll be servicing low income families who might not otherwise have the chance to send their children to preschool. I'm looking forward to the coming week, when I'll be able to meet the families with whom I'll be working for the 2011/2012 school year. In considering this job and my future, I've decided that if money and this horrifying economy were not an issue, my true ideal job would be to teach second or third grade in a public school setting. Unfortunately, this job market is not one which lends itself to any sort of cherry picking--a job is a job after all. Still, I think it's good for me to have some kind of idea of what I want for my future. I'm pretty broadly qualified, educationally speaking, which was an intentional choice on my part. It's not that I wouldn't be happy teaching other grades/ages, or, for that matter, using my reading endorsement and teaching language arts to middle school students, but at least if I have an area upon which to set my sights, I'm more likely to make intentional choices toward that goal.
Time will tell. There are several other jobs for which I've applied, and I haven't heard anything about any of them. I'm not exactly sure what that means...I suppose it could be good or bad. It's August now though, so I would imagine most schools will be conducting interviews and making their decisions very soon. Unless something unexpected happens in the very near future, I'll be teaching preschool for the foreseeable future. A job is a job, after all!
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching. Show all posts
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Saturday, March 05, 2011
42 Days...
...until I GRADUATE!!! I know not everyone will understand but this is HUGE for me. This is a lifetime goal that I've always held and it's been a loooong time coming. My educational path has been non-traditional in nearly every way. My journey has included many twisting, winding, sometimes bumpy roads. I was definitely not the girl who graduated from high school knowing exactly what she wanted. There was a time when, despite my knowledge that it was important, I wondered if I would ever earn my bachelor's degree. That was actually a really big factor in my decision to go back to school at the ripe old age of 32 - the knowledge that having a four year degree was something that really mattered to me in the grand scheme of my life.
There's a song by the Avett Brothers that I really love right now. My favorite line says, "Decide what to be and go be it." I love that! It speaks to me in the deep. The song also talks about, "...a kid with a head full of doubt" and I feel somehow that the kid is/was me. I wish I had been able to make those decisions when I was younger and I wish (sometimes) that I had just gotten all this done years ago. But then...if that were the case, I wouldn't be who I am and I wouldn't have had any of the rich and rewarding experience along the way either. Those twisting, turning roads have not been bad, just long at times. For the most part though, my former educational and career experiences have been value added to the person I've become.
I wonder what the next chapter holds? I wonder when/where/if I will find a job? I wonder who my future students will be? Which of those children will have "a head full of doubt" to which I may be able to add a ray of hope? Although it took me a long time to get to where I am and although the uncertainty of being a job-seeker in the worst economy since the Great Depression is, to say the least, daunting, I can say for sure that my decision to be a teacher was absolutely the right one. Gone (but not forgotten) is my head full of doubt. Although fear is definitely in the mix too, I'm now able to look ahead with pride and confidence in how far I've come. I'm also able to look ahead with hope that I may be able to make a difference in the future by influencing the people who will live in it.
There's a song by the Avett Brothers that I really love right now. My favorite line says, "Decide what to be and go be it." I love that! It speaks to me in the deep. The song also talks about, "...a kid with a head full of doubt" and I feel somehow that the kid is/was me. I wish I had been able to make those decisions when I was younger and I wish (sometimes) that I had just gotten all this done years ago. But then...if that were the case, I wouldn't be who I am and I wouldn't have had any of the rich and rewarding experience along the way either. Those twisting, turning roads have not been bad, just long at times. For the most part though, my former educational and career experiences have been value added to the person I've become.
I wonder what the next chapter holds? I wonder when/where/if I will find a job? I wonder who my future students will be? Which of those children will have "a head full of doubt" to which I may be able to add a ray of hope? Although it took me a long time to get to where I am and although the uncertainty of being a job-seeker in the worst economy since the Great Depression is, to say the least, daunting, I can say for sure that my decision to be a teacher was absolutely the right one. Gone (but not forgotten) is my head full of doubt. Although fear is definitely in the mix too, I'm now able to look ahead with pride and confidence in how far I've come. I'm also able to look ahead with hope that I may be able to make a difference in the future by influencing the people who will live in it.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
This is the big one...
...this is the one we've all been waiting for!
OK well maybe we haven't all been waiting for it, but I certainly have. I've been doing snow dances every time any kind of system moves through our area and this time, it seems to have finally worked!
This is what greeted me on weatherbug dot com a few minutes ago:
BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST WEDNESDAY
• A Blizzard Warning Means Severe Winter Weather Conditions Are Expected Or Occurring. Falling And Blowing Snow With Strong Winds And Poor Visibilities Are Likely. This Will Lead To Whiteout Conditions...Making Travel Extremely Dangerous. Do Not Travel. If You Must Travel...Have A Winter Survival Kit With You. If You Get Stranded...Stay With Your Vehicle.Urgent - Winter Weather Message, National Weather Service MI
Impacts...
• Heavy Snow...Strong Gusty Winds...And Widespread Blowing And
Drifting Snow Will Make Travel Dangerous Tonight And
Wednesday.
• White-Out Conditions With Visibilities Of One-Quarter Of Mile
Or Less Due To Intense Snowfall And Blowing Snow.
• Quickly Accumulating Snow And Blowing And Drifting Snow Will
Make Roads Very Hard To Clear.
• Untreated Roads Will Become Slippery...Snowpacked...And
Dangerous.
• Heavy Snow And Strong Winds May Cause Power Outages.
Hazardous Weather...
• Snow Will Spread North Into Southeast Michigan Late This
Evening And Become Heavy Overnight Into Wednesday.
• Northeast Winds Will Gust In Excess Of 35 Mph Tonight And
Wednesday Morning...Creating Areas Of Blowing And Drifting
Snow...And Widespread Blizzard Conditions.
• The Heaviest Snow And Strongest Wind Gusts Are Expected To
Coincide Between Midnight Tonight And 10 AM Wednesday.
• Heavy Storm Total Snow Accumulations Between 8 And 12 Inches
Are Expected.
• Wind Chills Are Forecasted To Range Between 0 And 5 Degrees
Below Zero Tonight.
I've also already learned that Eastern Michigan University has closed for tonight and tomorrow, which is VERY rare and the public libraries in our area have all closed for tomorrow. Obviously my first and most important concern is for everyone to stay safe and warm...and to stay OFF the roads if at all possible. Bearing that in mind, bring on the snow! I'm guessing the preschool where I'm currently student teaching will close for two days, based on what my CT and other veterans had to say this morning. Two days of unexpected time off? That definitely works for me!!
I'll be sure and post pictures and updates later, assuming I'm not buried under the white stuff!
OK well maybe we haven't all been waiting for it, but I certainly have. I've been doing snow dances every time any kind of system moves through our area and this time, it seems to have finally worked!
If you didn't already know, teachers (including student teachers like me) LOVE snow days!!
This is what greeted me on weatherbug dot com a few minutes ago:
• A Blizzard Warning Means Severe Winter Weather Conditions Are Expected Or Occurring. Falling And Blowing Snow With Strong Winds And Poor Visibilities Are Likely. This Will Lead To Whiteout Conditions...Making Travel Extremely Dangerous. Do Not Travel. If You Must Travel...Have A Winter Survival Kit With You. If You Get Stranded...Stay With Your Vehicle.Urgent - Winter Weather Message, National Weather Service MI
Impacts...
• Heavy Snow...Strong Gusty Winds...And Widespread Blowing And
Drifting Snow Will Make Travel Dangerous Tonight And
Wednesday.
• White-Out Conditions With Visibilities Of One-Quarter Of Mile
Or Less Due To Intense Snowfall And Blowing Snow.
• Quickly Accumulating Snow And Blowing And Drifting Snow Will
Make Roads Very Hard To Clear.
• Untreated Roads Will Become Slippery...Snowpacked...And
Dangerous.
• Heavy Snow And Strong Winds May Cause Power Outages.
Hazardous Weather...
• Snow Will Spread North Into Southeast Michigan Late This
Evening And Become Heavy Overnight Into Wednesday.
• Northeast Winds Will Gust In Excess Of 35 Mph Tonight And
Wednesday Morning...Creating Areas Of Blowing And Drifting
Snow...And Widespread Blizzard Conditions.
• The Heaviest Snow And Strongest Wind Gusts Are Expected To
Coincide Between Midnight Tonight And 10 AM Wednesday.
• Heavy Storm Total Snow Accumulations Between 8 And 12 Inches
Are Expected.
• Wind Chills Are Forecasted To Range Between 0 And 5 Degrees
Below Zero Tonight.
I've also already learned that Eastern Michigan University has closed for tonight and tomorrow, which is VERY rare and the public libraries in our area have all closed for tomorrow. Obviously my first and most important concern is for everyone to stay safe and warm...and to stay OFF the roads if at all possible. Bearing that in mind, bring on the snow! I'm guessing the preschool where I'm currently student teaching will close for two days, based on what my CT and other veterans had to say this morning. Two days of unexpected time off? That definitely works for me!!
I'll be sure and post pictures and updates later, assuming I'm not buried under the white stuff!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Three Weeks In
Well vacation came and went, school started, routines changed, tears fell, summer ended...and that brings us to now.
I've been officially student teaching for three weeks now. So far things are going well. I am more exhausted than I've ever been, perhaps with the lone exception of the weeks prior to being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, several years ago. In case you didn't know, keeping pace with 24 six-year-old children and then coming home to a 16-month-old toddler on a daily basis has a tendency to deplete your energy!
Overall my placement is good. I mostly enjoy my time at school and am happy to (finally) be applying some of the knowledge I've been spending the last few years accumulating. Today I got to do some real teaching, which consisted of reading the children a book and going over some math and grammar worksheets with them as a whole group. Up to this point, I've been feeling rather like a (slightly) glorified secretary. Not that I mind doing some of the prep work when that's needed but it was becoming quite excessive for a minute. There have also been some scheduling issues, which are completely out of my control.
There's been a lot of stress surrounding the time of day the children are slotted to go to their "specials," which are subjects like art, gym, music, technology and media. They go first thing in the morning, which means all the academic subjects have to be crammed into one long afternoon...NOT a good arrangement for first graders! Since I'm required to do two student teaching semesters--one for elementary education and one for early childhood education--I'm currently at the school for three full days and two half days each week. These (along with daycare arrangements, my husband's work schedule and our car sharing arrangements) have been in place since late August. It's not logistically feasible for me to make any major changes to my schedule at this point, which basically means I end up missing out on a big chunk of the academic schedule with the children on two days of my work week. Granted, this is a bummer but it's not something that will be detrimental to my placement and my learning this semester. I'll still have plenty of opportunities to observe and teach all of the subjects, not to mention the fact that I will be working five full days during the two weeks when I'm teaching my unit. There has been so much stress surrounding all this and it's very frustrating, for all parties involved. With the support of my college supervisor, I finally had to directly state that a schedule change was not possible for me. It was tough for me to speak up like that, since I want to shine in my role as a student teacher but it was essential. Once that conversation was over, some of the stress eased. It's still a daily challenge but the stress is no longer directed at me and my schedule, which is a huge relief.
Whew! That was unintentionally long-winded. I'm required to keep a paper journal as part of my student teaching experience and of course, I've been writing about all this (and then some) in that. I didn't expect to have so much to say about all this here but it just kept coming. Stream of consciousness I suppose. In any case, I'm done for tonight. Time for me to go get ready for tomorrow and then get some much needed sleep. All the stress and exhaustion aside, I do love getting up in the mornings, knowing I get to spend my day with youngsters. I feel that my time is valuable and purposeful now, in a way that it really never has been before. I can't imagine how great I'll feel when I reach the point where I'm actually getting paid to do something I love so much...hang out with children. First graders are so very sweet!
I've been officially student teaching for three weeks now. So far things are going well. I am more exhausted than I've ever been, perhaps with the lone exception of the weeks prior to being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, several years ago. In case you didn't know, keeping pace with 24 six-year-old children and then coming home to a 16-month-old toddler on a daily basis has a tendency to deplete your energy!
Overall my placement is good. I mostly enjoy my time at school and am happy to (finally) be applying some of the knowledge I've been spending the last few years accumulating. Today I got to do some real teaching, which consisted of reading the children a book and going over some math and grammar worksheets with them as a whole group. Up to this point, I've been feeling rather like a (slightly) glorified secretary. Not that I mind doing some of the prep work when that's needed but it was becoming quite excessive for a minute. There have also been some scheduling issues, which are completely out of my control.
There's been a lot of stress surrounding the time of day the children are slotted to go to their "specials," which are subjects like art, gym, music, technology and media. They go first thing in the morning, which means all the academic subjects have to be crammed into one long afternoon...NOT a good arrangement for first graders! Since I'm required to do two student teaching semesters--one for elementary education and one for early childhood education--I'm currently at the school for three full days and two half days each week. These (along with daycare arrangements, my husband's work schedule and our car sharing arrangements) have been in place since late August. It's not logistically feasible for me to make any major changes to my schedule at this point, which basically means I end up missing out on a big chunk of the academic schedule with the children on two days of my work week. Granted, this is a bummer but it's not something that will be detrimental to my placement and my learning this semester. I'll still have plenty of opportunities to observe and teach all of the subjects, not to mention the fact that I will be working five full days during the two weeks when I'm teaching my unit. There has been so much stress surrounding all this and it's very frustrating, for all parties involved. With the support of my college supervisor, I finally had to directly state that a schedule change was not possible for me. It was tough for me to speak up like that, since I want to shine in my role as a student teacher but it was essential. Once that conversation was over, some of the stress eased. It's still a daily challenge but the stress is no longer directed at me and my schedule, which is a huge relief.
Whew! That was unintentionally long-winded. I'm required to keep a paper journal as part of my student teaching experience and of course, I've been writing about all this (and then some) in that. I didn't expect to have so much to say about all this here but it just kept coming. Stream of consciousness I suppose. In any case, I'm done for tonight. Time for me to go get ready for tomorrow and then get some much needed sleep. All the stress and exhaustion aside, I do love getting up in the mornings, knowing I get to spend my day with youngsters. I feel that my time is valuable and purposeful now, in a way that it really never has been before. I can't imagine how great I'll feel when I reach the point where I'm actually getting paid to do something I love so much...hang out with children. First graders are so very sweet!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Big Wheels Keep on Turning
I could have given this post a title about the winds of change blowing because they are around here, big time! A little over a week ago, I closed the books on my last on-campus class at Eastern. All that's left for me before I graduate is two semesters of student teaching, the first of which starts in a little over two weeks! There is one short year between me and my bachelor's degree and I absolutely can't wait for that achievement. I know the year will fly by, which is a good thing on one hand and a bad thing on the other since it also means I will have a two-year-old by then. It's unsettling to want the time to fly by so desperately and at the same time want it to slow down so I can hold onto my baby a little bit longer.
Student teaching is called the "capstone experience" of my degree and I can understand why. There is so much resting on my performance during this one semester in the classroom, it's a little intimidating. At the same time, I'm very excited and very ready to put everything I've learned into practice. I've already gotten my feet pretty wet with my substitute teaching experience but this will be different. I will actually get to know these children and I will feel like more of an influence in their lives. That's what it's all about for me anyway--this career choice I've made. I want to be able to make a difference in the lives of children. I hope this coming year is the first in a long line of opportunities for me to do that.
But oh I am terrified! I'm not even sure exactly what I'm scared of. I guess just the change. I'm nervous about being a guest in another teachers' classroom. I've met her and so far I really like her, but what if we don't get along? What if I don't agree with her teaching philosophies? What if I overstep my boundaries in my efforts to be self-motivated and independent? What if she doesn't like me? And I'm worried about my feet too. I need some good shoes but money is very limited for us at this stage of the game. I already have issues with my ankle and I know standing on my feet all day every day is going to exacerbate that.
Then there's the incomprehensible balance between work and home. I know people do it all the time but I'm not sure how. I wrote about my feelings on this a little bit in this post but they are still largely unresolved. I've been dreaming about leaving our son in daycare. All the dreams have been affirming ones but still, I am very nervous about this change. I know that the only way for me to make peace with it is for it to happen and for everything to be fine. I know that I just have to suck it up and get over the fact that someone else is going to have almost as much time with my son every week as I have with him. That is much easier said than done though. Even knowing I really like the woman who will be caring for him, it's so difficult for me to let go and trust the fact that he will be fine and he will adjust to the new situation.
To add to the mix, we also have major car problems on our plate. Buying a car, even an old one, is simply not an option for us at this point. We really need tho old ones to hold out for this one final year, until I can find a job. The current chariot of choice, meaning the one that gets us where we're going, is our '99 Ford Taurus. My parents gave us this car when it was old but still in relatively good shape. Now though, the transmission is in the advanced stages of certain death and there is a hole in the exhaust line such that the car literally roars from place to place. How in the world am I going to maintain my dignity and put my best foot forward at my new school (which, by the way, is also the school that I would really love to work at someday) when I'm arriving in that junker every day? The other option we have is to fix our 2001 Toyota but it's in need of repairs that are likely to run in the thousands and that is not something we can even consider. It just is what it is. Luckily the school is not far from home and both of Michael's jobs are relatively close so the driving we will need to do is minimal. Still though, there is only so much coaxing and praying that can be done before all the wings and prayers run out.
To end on a positive note, we have a much needed family lake vacation coming up next week that will, hopefully, be a relaxing closeout to summer. We'll be staying in a cabin right on the lake with my whole family, which should be lots of fun.
Student teaching is called the "capstone experience" of my degree and I can understand why. There is so much resting on my performance during this one semester in the classroom, it's a little intimidating. At the same time, I'm very excited and very ready to put everything I've learned into practice. I've already gotten my feet pretty wet with my substitute teaching experience but this will be different. I will actually get to know these children and I will feel like more of an influence in their lives. That's what it's all about for me anyway--this career choice I've made. I want to be able to make a difference in the lives of children. I hope this coming year is the first in a long line of opportunities for me to do that.
But oh I am terrified! I'm not even sure exactly what I'm scared of. I guess just the change. I'm nervous about being a guest in another teachers' classroom. I've met her and so far I really like her, but what if we don't get along? What if I don't agree with her teaching philosophies? What if I overstep my boundaries in my efforts to be self-motivated and independent? What if she doesn't like me? And I'm worried about my feet too. I need some good shoes but money is very limited for us at this stage of the game. I already have issues with my ankle and I know standing on my feet all day every day is going to exacerbate that.
Then there's the incomprehensible balance between work and home. I know people do it all the time but I'm not sure how. I wrote about my feelings on this a little bit in this post but they are still largely unresolved. I've been dreaming about leaving our son in daycare. All the dreams have been affirming ones but still, I am very nervous about this change. I know that the only way for me to make peace with it is for it to happen and for everything to be fine. I know that I just have to suck it up and get over the fact that someone else is going to have almost as much time with my son every week as I have with him. That is much easier said than done though. Even knowing I really like the woman who will be caring for him, it's so difficult for me to let go and trust the fact that he will be fine and he will adjust to the new situation.
To add to the mix, we also have major car problems on our plate. Buying a car, even an old one, is simply not an option for us at this point. We really need tho old ones to hold out for this one final year, until I can find a job. The current chariot of choice, meaning the one that gets us where we're going, is our '99 Ford Taurus. My parents gave us this car when it was old but still in relatively good shape. Now though, the transmission is in the advanced stages of certain death and there is a hole in the exhaust line such that the car literally roars from place to place. How in the world am I going to maintain my dignity and put my best foot forward at my new school (which, by the way, is also the school that I would really love to work at someday) when I'm arriving in that junker every day? The other option we have is to fix our 2001 Toyota but it's in need of repairs that are likely to run in the thousands and that is not something we can even consider. It just is what it is. Luckily the school is not far from home and both of Michael's jobs are relatively close so the driving we will need to do is minimal. Still though, there is only so much coaxing and praying that can be done before all the wings and prayers run out.
To end on a positive note, we have a much needed family lake vacation coming up next week that will, hopefully, be a relaxing closeout to summer. We'll be staying in a cabin right on the lake with my whole family, which should be lots of fun.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Undergraduate Symposium & Student Teaching - Opportunities Abound!
Well the wheels are beginning to turn a bit faster for me where school is concerned. I'm finally, finally just about done with my course work and ready for student teaching! This is my last mainstream semester (it's been a rough one) and then I have four (or hopefully only three if I get my waiver for speech) classes to take this spring/summer and I'm on my way to student teaching!
I met with my cooperating teacher on Friday and she seems really nice. I'm going to be working with her from September-December of this year so I hope the relationship continues to go well. She teaches first grade in the district that was my first choice so I'm pretty happy about my placement. :) It's going to be a lot of hard, exhausting work for NO pay, which is pretty stressful but I hope it will also be a good experience that will lay the foundation for me to be a strong teacher when I finally get a job.
Speaking of getting a job, I've potentially got another great thing to add to my resume! Last week, a professor asked me to stay after class to see her. Of course I was a tad nervous but it turned out to be a very good thing. Based on some of the work I've done this semester, she wants to nominate me, along with two other students, to take part in the undergraduate symposium at EMU. I still have to gather some information and talk with the other two students to figure out exactly how this all works but I think being nominated is a pretty strong, positive statement. There are usually only 300 presentations per annual school year. With an approximated total student body of 23,000, I must be doing something right. :)
It's so nice to finally be seeing some of my hard work beginning to pay off. For such a long time now I've been in school with a seemingly insurmountable pile of classes and requirements to wade through but now, almost out of nowhere, the end is in sight and is, I think, very much an attainable goal. How thrilling!
I met with my cooperating teacher on Friday and she seems really nice. I'm going to be working with her from September-December of this year so I hope the relationship continues to go well. She teaches first grade in the district that was my first choice so I'm pretty happy about my placement. :) It's going to be a lot of hard, exhausting work for NO pay, which is pretty stressful but I hope it will also be a good experience that will lay the foundation for me to be a strong teacher when I finally get a job.
Speaking of getting a job, I've potentially got another great thing to add to my resume! Last week, a professor asked me to stay after class to see her. Of course I was a tad nervous but it turned out to be a very good thing. Based on some of the work I've done this semester, she wants to nominate me, along with two other students, to take part in the undergraduate symposium at EMU. I still have to gather some information and talk with the other two students to figure out exactly how this all works but I think being nominated is a pretty strong, positive statement. There are usually only 300 presentations per annual school year. With an approximated total student body of 23,000, I must be doing something right. :)
It's so nice to finally be seeing some of my hard work beginning to pay off. For such a long time now I've been in school with a seemingly insurmountable pile of classes and requirements to wade through but now, almost out of nowhere, the end is in sight and is, I think, very much an attainable goal. How thrilling!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Some Days...
...It's official, some days I'd rather be a dog. Our dogs have all the creature comforts they could dream of in our home (OK I admit it, they are spoiled) but they don't have to pay the mortgage or lift a finger around this place! I guess I do like my opposing thumbs, but seriously...sometimes it would be nice to just be, which is an art our dogs have certainly mastered!
Lately my life has been plagued by Murphy's law. Yesterday at school I got a parking ticket b/c I didn't have my $75 hang tag properly displayed. Luckily they waved the bulk of the fine and I only had to pay $5 to clear the record, but still...I was miffed. I've also been trying to get my schedule figured out for next semester. This is always a huge chore, but in my case it's getting much worse because I'm getting to that point in my course work where several of my classes are only offered on one day and time. No night classes, no Saturday classes...NO flexibility! I'm not like the more traditional "college kid" where school is the only agenda on my list. I have a life and a mortgage and bills and and...well A LIFE. I don't have the luxury of going to school four or five days a week - I need to be able to work. With the degree I'm earning there is NO WAY it coule be done while also working full time. Even if you were a warrior and tried, it simply wouldn't work. Whatever...I'm complaining I know so I'll stop. I think I've got it all figured out now where I can attend classes three days per week, leaving two open for subbing. I'll probably also need to get a supplimental weekend job but I'll deal with that later.
Speaking of subbing...I've come to the disconcerting realization that some days I'm nothing more than a pawn on someone else's playing field. Today when I walked into the office of the school where I was supposed to be subbing in a 1st/2nd grade combined classroom, I was instead told I would be working with the 4th/5th grade "impairment class." Apparently there was a filed trip for the class I was supposed to sub in and they didn't think it would be "fair" to send a sub. The teacher who was trying to explain all this to me was horribly distracted. She couldn't figure out which end was up, much less try to inform me of what in the world I was supposed to be doing and when. In the back of my mind I'm always aware, as a sub that I may encounter a classroom with no plans or a situation for which I am not prepared. Today was that day and it was certainly a harsh learning experience. To sum it up, I basically felt inadequate and incompetent all day long. I did the best I could with what little support I had, but I'm stll left with the feeling that I failed miserably. Those kids need stability and consistency first and foremost. Having a sub is hard for them, much harder than it is for non-impaired kids. Having a sub who is completely unprepared and minimally supported...well that's a whole different level. One thing is for sure, and that is that I'm learning. Subbing has taught me tenfold what I will ever be able to learn in my theory-based college classes, great though they may be. I guess there is nothing to do but roll with the punches on days like today. I certainly had no choice in any of what was thrown my way...and I did make it through the day, along with the kids. Maybe that's all that matters.
Lately my life has been plagued by Murphy's law. Yesterday at school I got a parking ticket b/c I didn't have my $75 hang tag properly displayed. Luckily they waved the bulk of the fine and I only had to pay $5 to clear the record, but still...I was miffed. I've also been trying to get my schedule figured out for next semester. This is always a huge chore, but in my case it's getting much worse because I'm getting to that point in my course work where several of my classes are only offered on one day and time. No night classes, no Saturday classes...NO flexibility! I'm not like the more traditional "college kid" where school is the only agenda on my list. I have a life and a mortgage and bills and and...well A LIFE. I don't have the luxury of going to school four or five days a week - I need to be able to work. With the degree I'm earning there is NO WAY it coule be done while also working full time. Even if you were a warrior and tried, it simply wouldn't work. Whatever...I'm complaining I know so I'll stop. I think I've got it all figured out now where I can attend classes three days per week, leaving two open for subbing. I'll probably also need to get a supplimental weekend job but I'll deal with that later.
Speaking of subbing...I've come to the disconcerting realization that some days I'm nothing more than a pawn on someone else's playing field. Today when I walked into the office of the school where I was supposed to be subbing in a 1st/2nd grade combined classroom, I was instead told I would be working with the 4th/5th grade "impairment class." Apparently there was a filed trip for the class I was supposed to sub in and they didn't think it would be "fair" to send a sub. The teacher who was trying to explain all this to me was horribly distracted. She couldn't figure out which end was up, much less try to inform me of what in the world I was supposed to be doing and when. In the back of my mind I'm always aware, as a sub that I may encounter a classroom with no plans or a situation for which I am not prepared. Today was that day and it was certainly a harsh learning experience. To sum it up, I basically felt inadequate and incompetent all day long. I did the best I could with what little support I had, but I'm stll left with the feeling that I failed miserably. Those kids need stability and consistency first and foremost. Having a sub is hard for them, much harder than it is for non-impaired kids. Having a sub who is completely unprepared and minimally supported...well that's a whole different level. One thing is for sure, and that is that I'm learning. Subbing has taught me tenfold what I will ever be able to learn in my theory-based college classes, great though they may be. I guess there is nothing to do but roll with the punches on days like today. I certainly had no choice in any of what was thrown my way...and I did make it through the day, along with the kids. Maybe that's all that matters.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
First Subbing Job…
So I just accepted my first subbing job! Actually it’s a job for a teacher’s aid, and I realized after the fact that it’s only for 4 hours…but it’s still a job! In some ways it might be nice to have my very first large classroom experience under someone else’s wing. Hopefully tomorrow will be enough to get my feet wet and give me a little more confidence for the subbing jobs that come along next week!? Since I’ve been in the system, which is about a week now, I’ve gotten calls for jobs almost every day. This is the first one I could actually accept, and I was afraid I wouldn’t get another one for tomorrow if I didn’t go for it. But hey…you’ve gotta’ start somewhere! This may not be ideal from a monetary standpoint, but it is a step in the right direction.
I’m off to lay out my clothes, print some directions, and get some sleep!!
I’m off to lay out my clothes, print some directions, and get some sleep!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
