On Teaching Part II

 

and yet (see partI).... There are minimal to no teaching jobs in New England.
This is very very frustrating.
And the jobs that are available require multiple hoops to jump through in order to land the job.
That's good, we should require teachers to be able to jump through multiple hoops.
But to those seeking a teaching job it just says: there are too many applicants.
If there isn't a need for me then I feel discouraged, ambivalent, and frustrated.
I'm not a particularly competitive person and if the next person has similar qualifications - should I "take" that job from them? I feel like the school is missing out when the choose someone else but I'm sure the next person will be competent.
Because there seem to be an overabundance of willing and able teachers.
Yes, I have observed several that make me cringe... but it is what it is.
At one interview I was on I was told I was one of eight-hundred applicants. 800!! If there are 800 people who want (need?) this job... and then was told that the position I would get would be equivalent to the Teach for America candidates coming in. Now TfA definitely seems to train it's teachers well - but they get 7 weeks of training - I had 18months. And not just 18months - but 18months that ended in a master's degree with a dual certification. That's got to count for more than 7 weeks of training, right?
And part of my frustration is towards the institution that marketed to me (a teacher-wannabe) and claimed it was career school - meaning a career would follow. And yet, there are no shortages of teachers... definitely shortages of jobs.
I'm told over and over by those who are teachers (those that majored in education as an undergrad, older relatives, etc) that teachers are being laid off at an alarming rate and when teachers retire their position is eradicated.

And life moves on. It feels like a waste in ways because I have this awesome training - and I'm not teaching. But I have a job that's going well and when I work up the courage to scan School Spring again... I'm always discouraged, frustrated, angry - all over again.
So I'll sit tight.
Something will happen when it's supposed to.
Even if that doesn't include teaching.
I'll just enjoy the moment
And start organizing weekly teaching themes to subject Ark Boy to.
He's really excited. Don't worry.

On teaching part I

The Background Story

 

I used to pretend I was teaching an imaginary class on our enclosed front porch in Syracuse.
I did.
I wrote up class rosters and relished calling on different students to read aloud.
I wrote up pretend quizzes and graded different student's responses. Some students I praised, some I scolded.
In upper elementary school I tutored younger students.
In college something happened where I didn't know if teaching was really for me.
So journalism+psychology...
Sure, I took an ed class
it counted as a liberal arts requirement.
Did I love it?
Absolutely.
But I didn't go to college to major in education.
I was majoring in journalism (emphasis on photography) (psychology was thrown in the mix when journalism was not keeping me busy enough - or I just wasn't interested in it enough to put more time in to it).
In the ed class - "Schools and Society" the professor was shocked I wasn't an ed major and tried (with no success) to convince me that I was wasting my talent if I opted not to switch to an ed major.
I opted to stick with what I had set out to major in: journalism.
but post graduation that major wasn't doing it for me.
So master's degree.
In elementary education.
And elementary special ed as frosting on the cake.
I'm very very good at what I do.
Or so they say.
Really, for me - it's just fun.
It's fun to figure out how to light the fire in each kid so they are motivated to learn.
That's fun
satisfying
amazing.
and yet...
Part II to follow...

sub wrap up

I subbed all week.
My throat is very ouch-ed.
I'm not sick... I don't think... just have a very tired throat.

Here's the funny/quirky/interesting story wrap up:
....
k, evidently my memory is gone too.
well here's a couple I remember:
kindergartner shared in circle:
*big grin* my dad lost his job yesterday! *big grin* *lots of wiggles* There were too many people in his office so he lost his job! *more grinning*
Not sure how to respond to that...
In PE:
the other PE teacher smacked a third grade girl's butt playfully as she ran past dressed in a purple sweats.
He teased a lot of the kids in a fun way
but this went too far
felt very uncomfortable but didn't know how to ask him about it until...
"are one of your daughters in this class?"
"Yep! That's her, over there in the purple"
quickly recover
"Oh! is that weird having her in your class?...."
Waking up EVERY morning:
alarm goes off
cat meows
and meows
and meows
Try to walk to stairs
cat blocks way
try to walk down stairs
cat stops every step to check that I'm coming
end up essentially kicking the silly cat down the stairs one at a time in order to get down the stairs to feed the silly thing.
mention all this to Ren Man.
"That may be because I used to get up when he meowed and he'd run down the stairs and I'd get back in bed," he says "so now he's probably just making sure you're really coming."

ahhh!

I know.
I know.
Del needs a letter.
8 months was Thanksgiving day.
We were in VT.
Me and dial up.
not going to happen.
It's on my to-do list I swear.
I am up to my eye balls editing pictures but the pile is getting lower and lower.
Want to see?
Check out Brown Eyed Photography blog.
In the mean time...
two pictures from Thanksgiving.
In the end I took over 400 pictures but only about 10 were of Ren Man or the kids.
Here's a funny one- Ren Man was helping me figure out lighting.

And here's Del with her Great Grampy.
I regret we don't have any pictures of the kids with their other Great Grampy- so I made sure to get some with this one while we were up.

In other news:
I have an interview in about an hour.
I'm half talking myself out of it... I'm not positive what it entails (it's for a "teaching partner" position) and I'm reasoning that if the pay isn't more than I make an hour subbing then I'll say no.
I think it could possibly put me in a good position for next year too... maybe have my own classroom!

Another sub position

Sent resume to another local school.
Talked with them today.
Their rate is higher.
It's an all girl school.
Looks promising.
One funny thing:
"We're not... what do they call it?... progressive. We're not progressive at all."
hmmm- okay.
Never knew that could be a good thing.