It Didn't Happen!

Come to find out, I wasn't the right candidate after all! Oh well! In hindsight, I would have been getting less money for more work. My next move has to be upward, not lateral.

halftime

Well, the first interview went well. I got called back for a second interview. Said school wants to see how I design lesson plans from scratch. As I'm definitely avant garde in that aspect, this shall be interesting... if it's meant to be it shall be.

Crossroads

So, I've applied to a teaching gig that I thought I wanted. However, my principal wants me to teach a different grade in the fall. Decisions, decisions. A part of me wants to see the application process due to completion. Another part of me would rather 'stick with the devil I know than the devil I don't know'. As much as I complain about the immaturity of 6th graders, perhaps teaching 8th grade will allow the type of deep, intellectual conversations that I love to occur more often than not. I want to be somewhere that values my independence and creativity. Speaking in the present, I am earning at least 50K a year, I work in my hometown, I have multiple periods off for grading, etc. I teach a reasonable load. I have the full support of parents and administration. I have all the resources I need to teach quality literature and writing skills. I have wonderful trustworthy and knowledgeable colleagues. I can easily have that where I am now... I just need to believe it (law of attraction/ positive expectations at work here).

Almost done...

Well, this has been a hell of a year! However, I do feel that change is on the borizon (soon come).

Day 1 2011-2012

All in all, today was a good day!

Highlights:

--Students seem well behaved.
--The class period went by crazy fast (went from 90 minute blocks to 60 minutes)
--Many of my class sizes are manageable

Areas for Improvement:
--Having lesson plans for next week done by Sunday
--Make a seating chart for each class
--Tighten transitions

End of School Year 2010-2011

Wow! I never thought that this day would come!! Even though I have (paid) a workshop to attend for the rest of the week, I am soooooo glad to put this school year behind me. I'm slightly worried by the teacher gossip; I just need to be me and do what needs to be done for the kids. Until next time!

January Update

In a recent school letter, my principal compares teachers to car salesmen, especially when it comes to positive thinking. This part of the letter especially stood out--"The difference between the effective and the ineffective teacher is that the effective teacher only thinks or speaks it once. They identify the problem and spend the rest of their time focused on solving it."

It's so easy to get caught in the trap of complaining all of the time. I know that I am guilty of it. However, as I was telling my husband earlier today, as __________ as my students can be at times, I still see so much potential. When I see my students making real-life connections, it makes me realize that I am teaching them way more than my subject matter. I am teaching my students valuable life skills.

I know that I may not have the answer to every one of my students problems, but I hope that by the time they leave my classroom in June, they are better speakers, writers, and thinkers.