Please excuse my silence of the last 37 days. As you might imagine, I've been very busy! I now have 5 weeks of teaching under my belt. It's been a bit of a whirlwind experience and a complete overhaul of my life. I now wake up before the sun every day (looking forward to the time change tomorrow night!), leave the house around 6:55am, get to work just before 7:30, and my day gets off to a start. I'm also tired by 9pm, which still is crazy to me. Lights out by 10:30 every night, which isn't usually hard because I'm exhausted, but I do feel like a grandma sometimes :)
At last report my class had 23 students in it. By the time I started my first week, they had changed that number to 17. A couple of weeks later, I had two new students show up (in one day). Last week, one boy was switched into another 5th grade class at the school because of social issues (aka fighting). Then on Wednesday this week, I found out that a girl in my class was moving and it was going to be her last day. So, I'm back to 17 now!
I don't even know where to begin. I'm loving my job, even though it can keep my every moment busy. I have to have a "cut off" time so I don't work all night. I'm happy to do most of it, though, and I love my students. Out of the 17 I have, 13 are boys. Three of them in particular keep me on my toes. Actually, they have "attitude issues" and have a difficult time not talking out and being disruptive in class. Today was probably one of the best days that one of the boys had. After I really got on them this week, I'm praying that we are turning a new leaf and that it wasn't just a fluke.
The school I am working at is pretty high academically, which is wonderful. It also means I have added pressure to keep these kids at high levels in Language Arts and Math. For the most part I feel good about it, but sometimes the responsibility overwhelms me for a moment. The other 5th grade teachers are wonderful and so supportive, anticipating my needs in some cases, and ready and willing to answer questions when I have them.
I promise to be better about updating. I also promise to take pictures of my room soon to share with you all...
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
as of now.
To anyone who is keeping up with these things, I have a few more details about my job. As in the fact I started yesterday morning. My first day as a real teacher! It was totally surreal...and since I was just observing the other 5th grade teachers, I felt like I was back in school doing observations for a class. But then reality set in a bit more today when I attended a grade level meeting, was given a class list, was told my room would be ready by Friday, and I would begin teaching Monday. This is a bit accelerated from the original timeline I was given, but it will probably be nicer to begin on Monday versus midweek. I'm busy trying to pull all the loose ends together, figure out how I'm going to run things, and my discipline/reward system. Oh, and planning a few lessons, too!
Things I still have no idea about:
-When I'll actually get in my room (as in morning or end of the day on Friday). Either way, I envision my spending my weekend in that classroom trying to get things organized and ready to go.
-What kind of supplies/materials I'll have in the classroom. I know the kids will have desks and books. I inventoried my teacher books, too. That's pretty much all I know I have for sure :)
-What my schedule will look like. They are having to fit in times for my class to do things like library, computer lab, science lab, and PE. Makes things a little more interesting!
What I do know:
-I have 23 kids in my class.
-I start teaching Monday.
-I have a job.
Oh, what an adventure!
Things I still have no idea about:
-When I'll actually get in my room (as in morning or end of the day on Friday). Either way, I envision my spending my weekend in that classroom trying to get things organized and ready to go.
-What kind of supplies/materials I'll have in the classroom. I know the kids will have desks and books. I inventoried my teacher books, too. That's pretty much all I know I have for sure :)
-What my schedule will look like. They are having to fit in times for my class to do things like library, computer lab, science lab, and PE. Makes things a little more interesting!
What I do know:
-I have 23 kids in my class.
-I start teaching Monday.
-I have a job.
Oh, what an adventure!
Monday, September 26, 2011
a crazy thing happened.
If you've read this blog at all,
Or, If you've asked what I'm doing sometime in the last year,
Or, If you know me at all,
Then you probably know I've been looking for a teaching job. The process has been much harder than I could ever imagine. I've faced multiple interviews, multiple rejections, and run the whole gamut of emotions. I had to believe that through this whole period of waiting, struggling, and testing of faith, trust, and patience, that God had something good in store for me. What's hard to know along the journey is that my definition of "good" might not look to me the same as the good God has planned for my life. Of course, that's where trust comes in and plenty of prayers for direction.
I can't even begin to count the number of prayers over the last year and a half (even more so over the last six months) that have been primarily focused on what God was doing in my life. As much as I hated the process, I am certain that God has taught me much about relying on Him to provide, and trusting that He would do so! It's been a time of learning and growth, and I guess I wouldn't change that part of it.
With each interview I could feel my perspective changing. Some of it was probably done out of self-preservation, not wanting to get hurt again. The first interview I had, everything seemed so perfect and to fall right into place. I beat the odds and got an interview, so I really felt like "this might be it." It obviously wasn't, because the "no" soon followed. That was the beginning of May. It wasn't until mid-July that I had another interview. Again, the circumstances that led me to the job all seemed so perfect, I again couldn't help but wonder if that was the place God was leading me. After an excruciatingly long wait (about 3.5 weeks) I finally received word that it was another "no." I didn't have much time to be disappointed about it though, because just days after I had another interview scheduled. the application was done on somewhat of a whim, feeling like I really didn't have a chance. But, after receiving a call that I had again beat the odds and had an interview, I again couldn't help but think that God was working behind he scenes for this job. And, while He was definitely working, it wasn't in the way of getting another job.
Before I knew it, school was started and subbing began. I had resigned myself to subbing, figuring that that was where God had led. It wasn't what I had wanted to do, but was willing if that's where He wanted me. I made plans, volunteered for things, and basically arranged my life and commitments based on that schedule. Fast forward to the end of the week two weeks ago, when a friend called me to say I needed to get my application in to a certain district since they were hiring about 20 or more new teachers. I updated my resume and submitted it again (I'd already applied in May), and Monday I got the call for an interview.
Like I said, though, I already had my life for the time being scheduled out, so part of me resented the timing of it all. The rest of me vacillated between being "cautiously optimistic"in order to protect myself, and slightly afraid of the school I could potentially be hired at. (This was a different situation than my other interviews because they had so many positions and a ton of schools, I didn't really know what I could be given.) I wasn't really nervous this time around, for whatever reason. It wasn't so much that I doubted God. I trusted fully that He could give me a job. What I didn't fully believe, though, was that He actually would. At least not this time. And I think there's a distinct difference there.
Sometime in between scheduling thy interview and Wednesday, when the interview took place, God really worked on my heart. It was a moment of surrendering the situation to Him, knowing that He would place me where I could best be used by Him. If that meant being placed in tough school set in a rough neighborhood, I was willing to do it.
About 2:00 that afternoon, just over 5 hours after the interview, I got a call back. A crazy thing happened and they actually offered me a job. Not just any job, though, but a job at a school that everyone says is wonderful. It was a surreal moment in my life, when I called her back to say yes (I asked for a few minutes to think, call my mom, and digest the news). This was the very moment when countless prayers were answered.
Since that moment, lots of things have fallen into place. Had my livescan fingerprints done on Thursday (for the 3rd time, I might add). I did lots of paperwork (about 2 hours worth) on Friday night. And today I went to the district office for orientation where I got my ID badge, signed my contract, and made everything official. Tomorrow's the day I report to the school site. Bright and early at 7:30am. I still don't have much information, other than the fact that it's 5th grade and I don't actually start teaching until next week sometime. I'm beyond words excited to get there and get the 900 questions in my head (and from everybody else) answered.
What a journey this has been. I feel like it's the end of a chapter in my life and the start of a much more exciting one.
Oh, and please pray for me when you think about it! I know I'm going to need it...
Or, If you've asked what I'm doing sometime in the last year,
Or, If you know me at all,
Then you probably know I've been looking for a teaching job. The process has been much harder than I could ever imagine. I've faced multiple interviews, multiple rejections, and run the whole gamut of emotions. I had to believe that through this whole period of waiting, struggling, and testing of faith, trust, and patience, that God had something good in store for me. What's hard to know along the journey is that my definition of "good" might not look to me the same as the good God has planned for my life. Of course, that's where trust comes in and plenty of prayers for direction.
I can't even begin to count the number of prayers over the last year and a half (even more so over the last six months) that have been primarily focused on what God was doing in my life. As much as I hated the process, I am certain that God has taught me much about relying on Him to provide, and trusting that He would do so! It's been a time of learning and growth, and I guess I wouldn't change that part of it.
With each interview I could feel my perspective changing. Some of it was probably done out of self-preservation, not wanting to get hurt again. The first interview I had, everything seemed so perfect and to fall right into place. I beat the odds and got an interview, so I really felt like "this might be it." It obviously wasn't, because the "no" soon followed. That was the beginning of May. It wasn't until mid-July that I had another interview. Again, the circumstances that led me to the job all seemed so perfect, I again couldn't help but wonder if that was the place God was leading me. After an excruciatingly long wait (about 3.5 weeks) I finally received word that it was another "no." I didn't have much time to be disappointed about it though, because just days after I had another interview scheduled. the application was done on somewhat of a whim, feeling like I really didn't have a chance. But, after receiving a call that I had again beat the odds and had an interview, I again couldn't help but think that God was working behind he scenes for this job. And, while He was definitely working, it wasn't in the way of getting another job.
Before I knew it, school was started and subbing began. I had resigned myself to subbing, figuring that that was where God had led. It wasn't what I had wanted to do, but was willing if that's where He wanted me. I made plans, volunteered for things, and basically arranged my life and commitments based on that schedule. Fast forward to the end of the week two weeks ago, when a friend called me to say I needed to get my application in to a certain district since they were hiring about 20 or more new teachers. I updated my resume and submitted it again (I'd already applied in May), and Monday I got the call for an interview.
Like I said, though, I already had my life for the time being scheduled out, so part of me resented the timing of it all. The rest of me vacillated between being "cautiously optimistic"in order to protect myself, and slightly afraid of the school I could potentially be hired at. (This was a different situation than my other interviews because they had so many positions and a ton of schools, I didn't really know what I could be given.) I wasn't really nervous this time around, for whatever reason. It wasn't so much that I doubted God. I trusted fully that He could give me a job. What I didn't fully believe, though, was that He actually would. At least not this time. And I think there's a distinct difference there.
Sometime in between scheduling thy interview and Wednesday, when the interview took place, God really worked on my heart. It was a moment of surrendering the situation to Him, knowing that He would place me where I could best be used by Him. If that meant being placed in tough school set in a rough neighborhood, I was willing to do it.
About 2:00 that afternoon, just over 5 hours after the interview, I got a call back. A crazy thing happened and they actually offered me a job. Not just any job, though, but a job at a school that everyone says is wonderful. It was a surreal moment in my life, when I called her back to say yes (I asked for a few minutes to think, call my mom, and digest the news). This was the very moment when countless prayers were answered.
Since that moment, lots of things have fallen into place. Had my livescan fingerprints done on Thursday (for the 3rd time, I might add). I did lots of paperwork (about 2 hours worth) on Friday night. And today I went to the district office for orientation where I got my ID badge, signed my contract, and made everything official. Tomorrow's the day I report to the school site. Bright and early at 7:30am. I still don't have much information, other than the fact that it's 5th grade and I don't actually start teaching until next week sometime. I'm beyond words excited to get there and get the 900 questions in my head (and from everybody else) answered.
What a journey this has been. I feel like it's the end of a chapter in my life and the start of a much more exciting one.
Oh, and please pray for me when you think about it! I know I'm going to need it...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
making changes.
There are some things in life you have to accept. Like not getting hired for a job.
But, there are also some things in life that when you aren't happy with them, you change them. That's the place I'm in. Making changes in my life to make it a little bit better and a little more productive. I've finally been working on cleaning my room and closet. It's been in various stages of disarray since I moved home, oh, you know, almost two years ago. Yeah, you might remember me mentioning it way back here. And over, and over. Friday I hit my breaking point, put everything else I had to do aside, and just started cleaning. I started with my desk since that's where I spend most of my time. I'm proud to say you can see over half of the top surface of the desk. It's a wonderful sight! I also went through the mountain of papers I needed to sort through, actually filed stuff away, and threw away the rest.
But, the room was put somewhat on hold while other cleaning has happened. Saturday it was the attic. Mom and I attacked it in just a few hours that morning. We hauled a lot of stuff out to get rid of, organized some stuff that was staying, and put a few things away that hadn't made their way back to the attic. The living room is the collection point in the house. Let's just say it looks like a garage sale vomited in there. I'll spare you the picture.
Sunday it was on the the hall closet. Since we've lived here, that closet has been the catch-all "room" for things we didn't really want to get rid of, but didn't really want to deal with either. Now we are dealing with all of those years of "laters." We cleaned out bin after bin of various holiday decorations, sorted through tons of pictures, and have organized what we are keeping. After a couple or three trips to Target, we might have all the storage and organization tools we need to whip the closet into shape. We are making it more of "craft closet", which will allow me to move the stuff that has been in my own closet. This is the critical step to finally getting my room and closet into shape!
We are aiming for a garage sale in just over a month. It's a pain in the process, but we know that the end result will be so nice!
Other changes I've been making:
-Eating better
-Working out more frequently
-Losing some weight
-Thinking about selling the cards I make
-Accepting that I'm subbing again this year and slowly being ok with it
It's like it's January or something...
But, there are also some things in life that when you aren't happy with them, you change them. That's the place I'm in. Making changes in my life to make it a little bit better and a little more productive. I've finally been working on cleaning my room and closet. It's been in various stages of disarray since I moved home, oh, you know, almost two years ago. Yeah, you might remember me mentioning it way back here. And over, and over. Friday I hit my breaking point, put everything else I had to do aside, and just started cleaning. I started with my desk since that's where I spend most of my time. I'm proud to say you can see over half of the top surface of the desk. It's a wonderful sight! I also went through the mountain of papers I needed to sort through, actually filed stuff away, and threw away the rest.
But, the room was put somewhat on hold while other cleaning has happened. Saturday it was the attic. Mom and I attacked it in just a few hours that morning. We hauled a lot of stuff out to get rid of, organized some stuff that was staying, and put a few things away that hadn't made their way back to the attic. The living room is the collection point in the house. Let's just say it looks like a garage sale vomited in there. I'll spare you the picture.
Sunday it was on the the hall closet. Since we've lived here, that closet has been the catch-all "room" for things we didn't really want to get rid of, but didn't really want to deal with either. Now we are dealing with all of those years of "laters." We cleaned out bin after bin of various holiday decorations, sorted through tons of pictures, and have organized what we are keeping. After a couple or three trips to Target, we might have all the storage and organization tools we need to whip the closet into shape. We are making it more of "craft closet", which will allow me to move the stuff that has been in my own closet. This is the critical step to finally getting my room and closet into shape!
We are aiming for a garage sale in just over a month. It's a pain in the process, but we know that the end result will be so nice!
Other changes I've been making:
-Eating better
-Working out more frequently
-Losing some weight
-Thinking about selling the cards I make
-Accepting that I'm subbing again this year and slowly being ok with it
It's like it's January or something...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
gentle reminders.
I don't know about everyone else, but I often have a song stuck in my head. Usually it's one I've heard recently, but not always. Case in point: Last week, I had White Christmas running through my head. Subconciously wishing for cooler weather? Probably.
Monday morning, when I was feeling pretty down about not getting the job, a few lines from the song "Safe" (Phil Wickham) ran on repeat through my mind from the instant (literally) I woke up. It felt like God's gentle reminder that I'll be ok. Because, even though I know that, a reminder every now and then doesn't hurt.
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Listen to it here
Monday morning, when I was feeling pretty down about not getting the job, a few lines from the song "Safe" (Phil Wickham) ran on repeat through my mind from the instant (literally) I woke up. It felt like God's gentle reminder that I'll be ok. Because, even though I know that, a reminder every now and then doesn't hurt.
You will be safe in His arms
You will be safe in His arms
Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with you always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms
Listen to it here
Monday, August 15, 2011
holding on.
I'll spare you all the details, but mid-July I had an interview for a teaching position. Said they would let me know by the end of July either way. I was in Washington at the end of July and when no call came, I suspected I didn't get it. But, I was still holding slight hope since they said they would let me know if I didn't get it, too. I arrived home from vacation, and after a very long 3.5 week wait, I got my answer in the form of a rejection letter. It's hard to read even though you are expecting it.
Fast forward to last week. I had basically resigned myself to continuing subbing next year, really against my wishes, but having no other options. Tuesday I'm sitting in safety training for one of the districts I work in (which went 40 minutes longer than they said it would!) and feel my phone vibrating against my foot in my purse. I check it when they finally release us and it is a couple of missed calls, no voicemail, from a number I don't recognize. Gathering my courage to make that call, I call the number feeling a little dumb when I have to say I don't know who called me, what they wanted, and still not really knowing where I was calling. All I heard when she answered the phone was "Mmmfiuenbstuia School District." The secretary transferred the call to the woman who had called me and I found out they wanted to interview me for a 3rd grade I had applied for (only then did I figure which district it was). That was Friday afternoon. They told they would contact whoever got the job "shortly." I'm not exactly sure what shortly meant, but I know it meant before today because that would have been when I started. No call. I mean, no surprise there.
But the problem is, every time I get that call for an interview, I get so excited. I start imagining the possibilities. What it's going to be like to have my class, how I'm going to do things, etc. And the disappointment of not getting the job seems to crush me a little bit more each time. I'm trying not to be discouraged, but I can't really stop. In some ways, I think I would have rather not had all those interviews. At least then I wouldn't have had my hopes trampled on. And again, and again.
So, I find myself in the exact same place I did last year, only now I'm even more disappointed because I don't have the excuse of school to fall back on. I know that those jobs went to great teachers. There's a lot of people out there and they are all just as qualified for the job. I get that. But it still is disappointing. And it's much harder than I ever imagined it could be.
Fast forward to last week. I had basically resigned myself to continuing subbing next year, really against my wishes, but having no other options. Tuesday I'm sitting in safety training for one of the districts I work in (which went 40 minutes longer than they said it would!) and feel my phone vibrating against my foot in my purse. I check it when they finally release us and it is a couple of missed calls, no voicemail, from a number I don't recognize. Gathering my courage to make that call, I call the number feeling a little dumb when I have to say I don't know who called me, what they wanted, and still not really knowing where I was calling. All I heard when she answered the phone was "Mmmfiuenbstuia School District." The secretary transferred the call to the woman who had called me and I found out they wanted to interview me for a 3rd grade I had applied for (only then did I figure which district it was). That was Friday afternoon. They told they would contact whoever got the job "shortly." I'm not exactly sure what shortly meant, but I know it meant before today because that would have been when I started. No call. I mean, no surprise there.
But the problem is, every time I get that call for an interview, I get so excited. I start imagining the possibilities. What it's going to be like to have my class, how I'm going to do things, etc. And the disappointment of not getting the job seems to crush me a little bit more each time. I'm trying not to be discouraged, but I can't really stop. In some ways, I think I would have rather not had all those interviews. At least then I wouldn't have had my hopes trampled on. And again, and again.
So, I find myself in the exact same place I did last year, only now I'm even more disappointed because I don't have the excuse of school to fall back on. I know that those jobs went to great teachers. There's a lot of people out there and they are all just as qualified for the job. I get that. But it still is disappointing. And it's much harder than I ever imagined it could be.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
home again.
I'm home! You might have noticed my absence, but July was pretty sparse as far as blogging goes, so maybe you didn't. Where did I go, you might be wondering. Well, I went up to Washington to be a part of the wedding of my dear friend, Caitlin. I went up on Sunday, July 24 and the wedding was on Friday of that week. We had a couple of days to hang out, do a few wedding preparations, pick up her dress, and just have fun before everyone else arrived into town on Wednesday. The rest of her bridesmaids are such sweet girls, but I don't really know any of them that well, so it was really special to have a couple of days to spend with Caitlin, her family, and of course, Nick, her now husband. Having only met him once before about a year ago, I also really enjoyed getting to know him a bit more. I definitely approve and am looking forward to getting to know him more in the coming years. One fun highlight was that his mom is a dance instructor and taught everyone a few dances. Being there a few days early, I was given an advance lesson. Nick also taught me the hustle, which we ended up doing practically as a solo on the wedding dance floor (only his parents were on the dance floor with us). It was such a blast, though! After the real reason for the trip was over on Friday night, my parents and I went on a little vacation up to Vancouver, British Columbia for a few days, and then down to Seattle for a couple days. I arrived into Burbank around 6pm Thursday, Mom and Dad got in around 10:45pm, and we got home about 12:30am on Friday. Back to real life now...
(I'll get the photos off my camera and my mom's camera, see what I've got, then share with you all soon!)
(I'll get the photos off my camera and my mom's camera, see what I've got, then share with you all soon!)
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