I hate to sound so negative and down in the dumps with every post but it seems that when it rains it does not just pour. It's just a hurricane! Just when I thought things would be okay, I find that I was wrong.
Yesterday I posted about the possibility that I would not be long term substituting in 6th grade next. Today as I was walking to the staff lounge at recess who should stop me on my way to pee but the principal! Apparently he's been interviewing people for that position and yesterday he found someone. He told me the sob story. He feels bad, it's what is best for the kids, they have experience teaching 6th grade. Then he said it. It's what is best for them to pass the test!!!
Really? Seriously! While our fearless leaders preach to us at every staff meeting about how we shouldn't teach to the test. The test is not the reason why we work hard. Apparently everything we do is for the test. We must live and breathe the test.
I couldn't believe it! What has happened? It is sad to think that when these kids look back on their elementary years instead of remembering the fun projects they did, they will remember all the tests they took and whether or not they were proficient.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Swamped!
Dear friends,
I know I planned on blogging more often this school year however, I am SWAMPED! I completed my first long-term substitute assignment about two weeks ago now. I miss my kiddos! I felt that I was planting little seeds of knowledge about multiple meaning words, nouns, and fluency. We were also collectively making progress learning high frequency words. And then reality struck. I had to move on and head to a new group of students. I was sad and the kiddos were sad.
I am proud to say that when their teacher returned she was excited that routines were established and the classroom was "turn-key ready." Now that she's back, she is able to pick up where I left off, establish her own routines, and move them along.
On to my new group of kids. The first week was definately a period of adjustment. They had another substitute for two weeks before I was able to transition (their teacher went out on maternity leave earlier than expected). This time when I walked in I was faced with the task of restoring order to the chaos that ensued for two weeks prior to my arrival. And of course I had an informal observation by administration on my first day with this new group of kids! WTH? Seriously!?!
Now that we have been together for two weeks, things are going much smoother. Students are beginning to learn about my expectations. I am beginning to learn about them and what they need. We have restored the routines set up by their teacher and added a few of our own. I am looking forward to starting small group time with them next week. I am also learning about students with SST's and their needs.
I am very grateful to the team I am currently with. I feel that I have learned so much more about 2nd grade this year than last year. I wish I had known the things I know now about effectively teaching 2nd grade. It really would have helped me out last year. So far, long-term subbing with this team and at this school has been a positive and rewarding experience. I am enjoying my time here and soaking up all of the knowledge I can.
'Till next time.....happy teaching!
I know I planned on blogging more often this school year however, I am SWAMPED! I completed my first long-term substitute assignment about two weeks ago now. I miss my kiddos! I felt that I was planting little seeds of knowledge about multiple meaning words, nouns, and fluency. We were also collectively making progress learning high frequency words. And then reality struck. I had to move on and head to a new group of students. I was sad and the kiddos were sad.
I am proud to say that when their teacher returned she was excited that routines were established and the classroom was "turn-key ready." Now that she's back, she is able to pick up where I left off, establish her own routines, and move them along.
On to my new group of kids. The first week was definately a period of adjustment. They had another substitute for two weeks before I was able to transition (their teacher went out on maternity leave earlier than expected). This time when I walked in I was faced with the task of restoring order to the chaos that ensued for two weeks prior to my arrival. And of course I had an informal observation by administration on my first day with this new group of kids! WTH? Seriously!?!
Now that we have been together for two weeks, things are going much smoother. Students are beginning to learn about my expectations. I am beginning to learn about them and what they need. We have restored the routines set up by their teacher and added a few of our own. I am looking forward to starting small group time with them next week. I am also learning about students with SST's and their needs.
I am very grateful to the team I am currently with. I feel that I have learned so much more about 2nd grade this year than last year. I wish I had known the things I know now about effectively teaching 2nd grade. It really would have helped me out last year. So far, long-term subbing with this team and at this school has been a positive and rewarding experience. I am enjoying my time here and soaking up all of the knowledge I can.
'Till next time.....happy teaching!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Good News!
I have an announcement to make. Drumroll please...I have a long-term substitute teaching position in a 2nd grade classroom! While it is not the contracted position I was hoping for, I am very excited for this opportunity. I will potentially have a long-term position for the entire school year and that is something to be excited about. I get to continue teaching, gain more experience, and do what I love. This year will be trying because of the decrease in pay but I am still hopeful that it may lead to a contracted position. In the meantime, it will be consistent work and that is very important. I'm looking forward to blogging about my adventures this year!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
So Stressed My Hair Is Falling Out!!!
If you had told me three years ago that I would be in the position of being an unemployed teacher, I never would have believed you. Naive, I know. However, this is the current position I am in and it saddens me. And stresses me out. In fact, I am so stressed that my hair is falling out and I now have a small bald patch on the top of my head! My hair stylist says it's because of stress. In fact, she had a client last week who is going through the same thing and in the same profession-teaching. Crazy!
I have absolutely NO FRIGGIN' IDEA what is going to happen next or how I am going to pay the rent come September 1. That is also a huge source of stress for me. So now what? Where the hell do I go from here? I know I'm a good teacher. I know that I care about my students and that it shows in my teaching. I know that I do everything I can to help my students develop into good citizens and academic scholars. Teaching is taking a huge hit everywhere...every which way. It's absolutely ridiculous the things we have to go through and the crap that gets talked about us. But where would ANY of those people be (who are making crazy decisions and the crap talking people) without a teacher-public, private, or parochial?
This is the first summer in a long time that I have not enjoyed. I spend my time combing the Internet looking for jobs, writing cover letters, writing several drafts of my resume. I never thought I would be in this position...but here I am. I cannot wait for school to start in August so that I can get as many substitute jobs as possible so that I can pay my rent and bills. It's an exhausting and depressing process.
I have absolutely NO FRIGGIN' IDEA what is going to happen next or how I am going to pay the rent come September 1. That is also a huge source of stress for me. So now what? Where the hell do I go from here? I know I'm a good teacher. I know that I care about my students and that it shows in my teaching. I know that I do everything I can to help my students develop into good citizens and academic scholars. Teaching is taking a huge hit everywhere...every which way. It's absolutely ridiculous the things we have to go through and the crap that gets talked about us. But where would ANY of those people be (who are making crazy decisions and the crap talking people) without a teacher-public, private, or parochial?
This is the first summer in a long time that I have not enjoyed. I spend my time combing the Internet looking for jobs, writing cover letters, writing several drafts of my resume. I never thought I would be in this position...but here I am. I cannot wait for school to start in August so that I can get as many substitute jobs as possible so that I can pay my rent and bills. It's an exhausting and depressing process.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A Glimmer of Hope....I Hope!
Today I received an email from my school district's human resources department. It seems that on Monday, there will be a 5 day window of opportunity to apply for a spot on the eligibility list for a teaching position for the upcoming school year. While I welcome this opportunity with open arms, I am also thankful that I got my lazy butt off the couch and checked my district email which thankfully still works! Can you imagine if I had missed this! It's not like they call all the teachers who had contracts and no longer have contracts to alert us to this window of opportunity! So, I have been making sure that I have my paperwork in order, especially my letters of recommendation.
On a side note, I went to Target last week and saw from a distance that the beautiful, shiny, new school supplies are out. Today, some of them went on sale. This is only something a teacher would understand. I do feel sad that I am unable to partake in the festivities of purchasing new school supplies for my students. This is my favorite time of year. It's a fresh start and a chance to try new ways of teaching. I'm hoping I get a call and a chance to teach full-time again.
On a side note, I went to Target last week and saw from a distance that the beautiful, shiny, new school supplies are out. Today, some of them went on sale. This is only something a teacher would understand. I do feel sad that I am unable to partake in the festivities of purchasing new school supplies for my students. This is my favorite time of year. It's a fresh start and a chance to try new ways of teaching. I'm hoping I get a call and a chance to teach full-time again.
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