Always ask!

Let's start the fun of this first year with my first really big mistake as a teacher (IMO):

Now, aside from teaching a subject I have never taught before and NEVER thought I would need to teach, Journalism sounded promising. And it's not as though I am unqualified, just inexperienced, so to speak. Plus, one of my favorite things to do is write, so how can teaching kids to write outside of the 5 paragraph essay be bad?

Well, that's what I thought anyway. And before I REALLY begin (and I will, I promise); I like teaching this class. Being in there puts me in the best mood on any given day. However, there were many unanticipated snags (for lack of a better word) that I have come across. To make this readable, though, I'll get to the major one: Funding.

We (switching to the royal) all know that schools aren't seeing much money coming their way these days. That's a fact. We can agree with that. Let's move on. Because of this there was scramble at the start of the year, trying to figure out where to get money to print a paper. Light bulb moment! We will sell custom silicon bracelets to the student body that encourages school pride and team spirit. Perfect, right!?

Well, fast forward a bit. Non-refundable order placed for 300 bracelets at around $260. Sweet, primed to make about $600 in profit! But wait, what's this? The message on the band is.. "questionable"? Thanks must go out to our older, more experienced, and (dare we say it?) dirty minded colleagues, for enlightening us to the fact that having a bracelet saying our team "goes hard" may not have been the best choice.

I think we just got punched in the gut.

Well, let's follow up with administration. We do, and they say they'll get back to us.

Fast forward another few weeks. Bracelets are due to arrive, and, what is this? No answer from administration. We're good to go! But, no. Again, we thank (not as sarcastically this time) our elders for suggesting we confirm that we have permission to sell the bracelets.

Again, our stomachs do flips, and our hearts race. In fact, the bracelets are in the office waiting for us to pick them up. The AP sees nothing wrong with it, another AP is persuaded, and all is right in the world! Or so we think. Somewhere in the chain of command we get the veto and a simple email stating, "I am sorry to say, but the consensus is 'no'" is what we get.

Ouch.

So, rule number 1 to my fellow new teachers: ALWAYS ask permission. Avoid a $260 mistake.

A (kind of) real introduction

After realizing that I am not the only blogger in the English department, I have decided to keep up on this blog as often as I can. If only because I'm competitive like that.

I would like to say that I am here to enlighten those in the teaching industry, but being a fresh face in my first "real" year of teaching it would be hard to do. This first year will be a roller coaster ride of emotion, a plethora of cliche. All I can promise is an entertaining year of learning and teaching.

So, I invite my fellow first year teachers to wallow in the mistakes that we will (undoubtedly) make and share the joys that make it all worth it.

And, veteran teachers, you are welcome to come along for the ride also. Cringe while reading about our mistakes, maybe even get zapped back to the time when you were in my shoes, thinking, "Oh, yeah. I did that." Or, "Really? You really did that?"

Also, I extend an invitation to those NOT in education to read along. Maybe I can be a little window into the side of teaching you do not always see: The dirty side. The AWESOME side. The side that makes the select group of us CHOOSE to be around hormone driven youth.

Whoever you are, I welcome you to "My Life in Teaching".

It's only been a year..

So, it's been a year since I've written an entry on this blog. However, now is the first time in a year things have been relevant. Let's catch a bit first, shall we?

The past year has been filled with subbing. It was a good way for me to stay inside classrooms, even if they weren't mine. Students are students, and it was beneficial to stay in touch with that. I also made extra money working at a pizzeria, working my way up to Assistant Manager before leaving.

And that brings me to relevance. I now have a teaching job. It is only part time, but it is in a great school district in Northern California. Enrollment seems to be growing, so hopefully it turns to full time quickly. I'll be teaching 2 periods of 10th grade English and 1 period of Journalism. English seems pretty straight forward and I am not really too worried about that class. It's the Journalism that concerns me. It's turning to be a lot more than I thought. With all the fundraising I'll have to do, figuring out which printer would be the most cost effective for the newspaper, and learning how to teach Journalism, I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

I think I'll be fine. I am building a support team around me with the couple of teachers I met, and I get a strong feeling that they all want me to succeed.

Well... (Lots of "I" statements)

It's been a while since I've written in this blog. But, frankly, it is because there is nothing to write about. This entry comes out of frustration and jealousy. This WHOLE summer I did not get one call, one email, let alone one interview for a job. Frustrating. I have no job. I am signed up to be a substitute at a local school district, but I have not received any calls. Even more frustrating. I am now looking for a job to work at in the evenings so I can be free to sub during the day. This search has been fruitless so far, as well. Icing on the frustration cake. I am jealous hearing about everyone who has gotten a job, whether in teaching or otherwise. I just feel so useless. After all my education, working for these qualifications, I am left here letting it go to waste.

I wish I had gone to Vietnam to teach. Hindsight:20/20? Definitely.

I know I will probably look back at this entry and realize it was just a small setback in the grander scheme, but I am disheartened right now.

First Disappointment

So, I did not get that call on Monday. I am disappointed, but in my heart I know that I was not ready for it. Something was just making me feel off about that whole situation.

I got an email yesterday regarding my credential. I am officially in the system and have paid for my credential. In about 10 days, I should receive confirmation.

The job search is still going. I have a few applications out there, so at the very least I hope I can get an interview this summer.

Bah, forget this worrying about the future. I am going to enjoy this BEAUTIFUL day in Santa Barbara.

Ciao.

Geez, I'm so anxious right now.

So, I'm stressing out right now. A lot. I got an email this weekend saying that a panel will be reviewing applications and will make calls those invited on Monday (which, looking at my clock, is technically today) for an interview on Tuesday. I have never been so anxious just to possibly get a call for a possible interview. I'll let you know what happens.

Summer

Well it is officially summer. I walked in the Master's ceremony. I finished my student teaching. I'm done, right? I'm a real teacher. Well, no, not really. I HAVE applied for my credential, but I still have about a month of work to do to finish up my Master's degree. I will be defending it sometime during the second week of July. Until then, I am revising and making changes to it, adding things where necessary. And although this is a daunting task, it is much nicer being able to wake up later and not worry about teaching anymore.

I just have to worry about finding a job. I have applied to a few school districts. One way up in Nor Cal, and two or three in So Cal. Nothing farther south than Orange County, so far. I haven't heard anything other than the bulk email stating they got my application, so keep your fingers crossed. I am not too worried yet. Talk to me in a bout a month and a half and we will see how I feel.