Busydom

So much has been going on lately that I don't know where to begin. Do you want the long or short of it? I'm opting for the short because I don't feel like typing too much tonight.

In a nutshell, my job searching continues. I know what I want, but have yet to get it. Basically, I am looking for a teaching position at either the Elementary level (grades K-6) or in Middle School English (grades 7-9). I am certified in both of those instructional areas. I have had a few job interviews over the last 6-9 months. However, all administrators tell me the same thing..."We have an overwhelming number of applicants." No surprise for me there. Welcome to my world of finding a teaching job in Pennsylvania.

Anyway...I continue to keep my options open to other careers and fields, as I know that I have enough job experience and professional qualities to allow me to succeed in other areas. However, finding that right area is also a challenge I continue to face.

I am currently working for an educational publisher, but it is a temp job so it's definitely not something I would want to do forever. On the bright side, between this temp job and my job as an Asst. Director of a summer camp, I have enough work to keep me busy through August. That will allow me to, at least, make money while I continue my search for a full-time job (with benefits!)

I'm tired of giving my money out-of-pocket for health insurance. It's ridiculous what I pay per month...God forbid you have a herniated disc...you'd think the world was going to end because of it. Nevermind that I exercise on a regular basis and hardly notice the good ol' HD anymore. But, I digress.

Steering back to the main point here...there are some promising leads on the job front, but nothing I'm going to talk about right now. I'm trying not to jinx myself. Plus, I said this was going to be short, but look...it's already gone way past that. I just type way too fast for my own good :o)

This was random, yes, I know...but that's how my head works sometimes!

For The Birds

I hate job hunting. Just when something was looking promising, it turns out I still have to wait...

I went on an interview yesterday for a position in the field of Education, although not teaching. Unfortunately the first training day is also the same day I have a screening interview with a very well-known (and well-paid) school district in the area. I can't miss the screening interview because it's my one shot at getting noticed in this district. So, that means I can't start the new job right away; it is broken down into project periods, so I have to wait for the first project to be finished since I can't train for it. Anyway, I have to wait about 4 weeks to be picked up for the second project. But, this is just my dumb un-luck.

When it rains it pours....It's feast or famine...Boom or bust. I've got a thousand of these lines, but they all fit so perfectly.

In the meantime, I will keep searching out a teaching job, because ultimately that is still what I want to do. This is the hand life has dealt me right now, so I just have to roll with it.

Inappropriate

So, last night at work I was tutoring a 2nd grader in Math. We were doing word/story problems and we came upon one that talked about "rock music tapes." To this, my student replies, "Cool...rock music." I said, "Oh, so you like rock music?" He says, "Yeah, but I can't talk about my favorite band."

Well this clearly piques my curiosity, so I question a little further, wondering what his favorite band is and why he can't talk about them...The dialogue goes like this:

Me: Why can't you talk about them?

Him: Well, because they're inappropriate.

Me: Oh...It's okay though...you can at least tell me the name of the band.

Him: It's the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

At this point, I'm laughing inside because it's definitely an odd choice for an 8-year-old, and I'm figuring he probably knows them from his parents.

Me: Oh, I know the Red Hot Chili Peppers...I like them too.

Him: (wide-eyed, smiling) You do?!

Me: Yes, but tell me why you called them inappropriate.

Him: Well, because in their songs they talk about girls and stuff so I didn't think I should talk about them.

Me: I guess your parents know you like them, right?...Do they listen to them too?

Him: Well, they know...and my Dad also likes them. [I think he also muttered something about listening to them with his Dad in the car.]

Me: Okay....let's get back to work.

Such is my life working with kids. They crack me up. You never know what they're going to say or connect to next, which is half the fun of teaching.

Random Bits

Did anyone see Grey's Anatomy last night? I cried like a baby when George's dad died. Of course, my sister laughed at me...I'll remember that the next time she gets but a tear in her eye.

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Back on December 12th, I talked about Pearl Jam's cover of The Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me." At the time, I only heard a snippet of the song in the trailer for the movie, "Reign Over Me." Well since then, Pearl Jam has put the entire track on their MySpace page and it is awesome...so, go listen to it right now...well, not right now...but, after you're done visiting my blog.

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In my last post, I put up the trailer for Zach Braff's upcoming film, "Fast Track." However, Mr. Braff himself recently reported in his hilarious MySpace blog that there has been a name change. So, if you go looking for the movie and don't find it, you can't blame me for not telling you! It is now called "The Ex" because apparently it had nothing to do with a track. Go read his blog though....it's quite funny...BUT (need I remind you twice?) only when you are finished here.

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I've been crazy busy lately (hence the reason for the lack of updates)...I have taken on three part-time jobs. First, I've been doing freelance writing in Education for a little less than a year and I've been doing many assignments for that recently. Also, I started tutoring back in the fall after my summer job was over. Now, I've just picked subbing back up again, twice a week.

In addition to the jobs, I've been taking steps that will hopefully lead to a permanent teaching position...By "steps," I mean this:

1. I sent in my application materials for New Jersey State Certification, after passing a required Praxis test called Elementary Education: Content Knowledge (they don't use this particular test in PA).
   
2. Plus, last Saturday I took two more tests for certification in Middle School English and Middle School Math to widen my certification area. I should have those results in about a month.
   
3. As if that wasn't enough, I am taking one more test in March, called Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge to prove my "Highly-Qualified Status" as a teacher in PA, due to requirements by No Child Left Behind.
   
4. And, no I haven't gone broke....yet.
   

Wow, I'm exhausted just writing this. I officially release you to listen to Pearl Jam and read Zach Braff's words of wisdom. But, I'll be back...

You Gotta Love Little Kids

Today I subbed a half day (PM) for a Kindergarten class. I have been in this classroom before, which was nice because I already knew all the kids. I was interested to see if they would remember me though, since I haven't seen them since January...you never can tell with little ones; it could go either way...they might remember, they might not. When I got there at 11:30 a.m., they had already eaten lunch and were out at recess. So, at 11:45 I went outside to the playground to pick them up. As soon as I walked up to their line, the first boy in the line screamed out my name with this big smile on his face. Wide-eyed, I said, "Oh, you remember me, huh?" He nodded his head 'yes' as the other kids quickly caught on and called out to me too. We then walked inside so I could read-aloud my favorite children's book "Green Eggs & Ham" by Dr. Suess (in celebration of Read Across America/Dr. Suess' March 2nd birthday). I tried not to laugh hysterically as the kids kept telling me so matter-of-factly that the main character in the story was "angry" and "upset" at Sam-I-Am because he kept pushing his green eggs and ham.

Perhaps the funniest thing, though, is how the kids feel no qualms about telling me how their teacher does things...or they tell me how to do something, as if I don't already know. I know this all too well though because my 2nd graders used to do the same thing to the subs that would come in for me. They just don't seem to understand that teachers don't have to do things exactly the same way all the time. However, I realize this is just because they find comfort in their routine...so, I just usually reassure them that everything is okay and then we move on.

I used to think that I didn't want to teach Kindergarten because it is so physically and mentally draining (I've never tied so many shoes and zipped up so many coats in my life!)...but I don't feel that way anymore. I realize how much they are like little sponges and how exciting it would be to play a part in that everyday.