Okay all you party people, here is a morsel for you.
This is the last week of our training before school starts August 1st. If you are not sure how close that really is, I'll tell you. It's this coming Monday. I just got into my classroom for the first time today, and it is bare. I put up some butcher paper for color and such, but honestly, I didn't really accomplish much today. It is interesting how much of room layout depends on the activities you will be doing in said room. And when you don't have your books or curriculum, you don't know the activities, which means you don't really know how your room will work. In the end, it's more like a machine than a classroom. A well-oiled machine.
Also, we are moving into our house this week, so that is exciting but hot and stressful. I'll be glad when we are all settled, and when there is water in our pool. Yeah, we have a pool.
I think that is enough for now. Feel free to leave a comment about how jealous you are about my pool. Or about teaching 25 first graders...
Monday, July 25, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Training and Some Thoughts
Just a quick post to let you all know how things are:
I've just finished the second day of two weeks of training for my teaching job. I've been given more information than I could ever hope to remember, but I know as time goes by, knowing what to do will become more second nature.
I've been encouraged by the teachers I've met. They are warm and caring. The district continues to impress me with their care and concern for the students and families. The families impress me with their selflessness as they pass bond after bond so we can have some extra money to improve schools and their children's education.
In this district an education is a matter of continuing a life in poverty, and having a better life. The families in this community know this, and do whatever they can to provide for their children. It is very heartwarming.
Everyday it is more apparent that there is a very human element in this district. The people I have talked to and listened to are for creating and contributing to young kids so that they might become functioning members of society. Of course there are prescribed standards to be met, but that is sort of an unspoken understanding in this district. They are only a means to an end of improving student's lives. It is a very clear vision. And when people at the head of the district have that vision, it filters down to everyone under them.
I've just finished the second day of two weeks of training for my teaching job. I've been given more information than I could ever hope to remember, but I know as time goes by, knowing what to do will become more second nature.
I've been encouraged by the teachers I've met. They are warm and caring. The district continues to impress me with their care and concern for the students and families. The families impress me with their selflessness as they pass bond after bond so we can have some extra money to improve schools and their children's education.
In this district an education is a matter of continuing a life in poverty, and having a better life. The families in this community know this, and do whatever they can to provide for their children. It is very heartwarming.
Everyday it is more apparent that there is a very human element in this district. The people I have talked to and listened to are for creating and contributing to young kids so that they might become functioning members of society. Of course there are prescribed standards to be met, but that is sort of an unspoken understanding in this district. They are only a means to an end of improving student's lives. It is a very clear vision. And when people at the head of the district have that vision, it filters down to everyone under them.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Being Bilingual
I stopped by my school today. My principal let me pick out my classroom! I picked one that faces this beautiful, shady grassy knoll. It used to be a kindergarten room, so it has it's own bathroom. That should be convenient. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some pictures soon of getting my room ready!
Something else to consider:
My mom and sister came to the school with me, and my mom mentioned that my Spanish would probably be getting a lot better in this environment. My principal said that it probably would in my interactions with the parents. He also said it is against the law to use Spanish to deliver instruction in Arizona. The kids can use it when they interact with each other, but I cannot. I can use if for clarification, but not for instruction. Can you imagine little first graders talking with each other in Spanish in my classroom? It will be sooo cute, but also a bit of trial by fire because until I can get up to par, I may be missing out on vital communications. Okay, so here's the part to consider. I've often wondered if I would ever be in a place where I actually had to use my Spanish. I've also thought what a waste it was to have invested so much time into classes and the like, if I was never going to use it. But I never could imagine myself in a setting where I would get to use it. But here I am. Isn't it amazing what the Lord brings full circle in our lives? I am in a place where I will get to and have to use conversational Spanish with native speakers! What a joy!
Es todo mis queridos.
Something else to consider:
My mom and sister came to the school with me, and my mom mentioned that my Spanish would probably be getting a lot better in this environment. My principal said that it probably would in my interactions with the parents. He also said it is against the law to use Spanish to deliver instruction in Arizona. The kids can use it when they interact with each other, but I cannot. I can use if for clarification, but not for instruction. Can you imagine little first graders talking with each other in Spanish in my classroom? It will be sooo cute, but also a bit of trial by fire because until I can get up to par, I may be missing out on vital communications. Okay, so here's the part to consider. I've often wondered if I would ever be in a place where I actually had to use my Spanish. I've also thought what a waste it was to have invested so much time into classes and the like, if I was never going to use it. But I never could imagine myself in a setting where I would get to use it. But here I am. Isn't it amazing what the Lord brings full circle in our lives? I am in a place where I will get to and have to use conversational Spanish with native speakers! What a joy!
Es todo mis queridos.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
School Days, School Days...
I just thought I'd let you all know real quick that I have chosen a school.
Smith School is where I will be teaching 1st grade for the coming year! I'm so excited. The reason I chose the school was because of the principal. I just felt able to communicate with him, and that we felt the same way about teaching.
The population of the school is mostly Hispanic, so that will be fun and interesting. The students wear uniforms so that will be too cute!
I also met one of the first grade teachers during my interview, and she was really sweet. It will be nice to have a familiar face on my team.
So, there you have it.
In these next few weeks I'm going to start moving things into my room and coming up with my classroom rules and discipline plan.
I'm really excited to teach for this district, they have a lot of support built into their schools for new teachers, and are well funded.
That's the news on my end. I'll catch you all on the flip side.
Smith School is where I will be teaching 1st grade for the coming year! I'm so excited. The reason I chose the school was because of the principal. I just felt able to communicate with him, and that we felt the same way about teaching.
The population of the school is mostly Hispanic, so that will be fun and interesting. The students wear uniforms so that will be too cute!
I also met one of the first grade teachers during my interview, and she was really sweet. It will be nice to have a familiar face on my team.
So, there you have it.
In these next few weeks I'm going to start moving things into my room and coming up with my classroom rules and discipline plan.
I'm really excited to teach for this district, they have a lot of support built into their schools for new teachers, and are well funded.
That's the news on my end. I'll catch you all on the flip side.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!
Well folks, today I had a screening interview with Glendale Elementary School District. From my previous experience I knew that this was just a preliminary step to the process, and it would take a principal's recommendation for the district to hire me.
The screening interview went really well (much better than the one I'd done before). I felt my answers were better and more thorough. The man who was interviewing me was also more personable, so I felt more at ease in discussing my thoughts on teaching. After the interview he took me into the assistant superintendent's office, and introduced us. I didn't really know what I was doing in there, he had mentioned setting up interviews with principals, but to be honest I wasn't expecting much. As soon as I was introduced to the superintendent we sat down and she said, "Well Rachel, your screening interview went so well that we would like to offer you a contract right now." I was dumbstruck. The normal procedure is like I said before, the principals make the hiring recommendation. For a district to offer me a contract means they want me in their district so badly they don't want to wait on a principal to hire me.
So, I took the contract. I am now going to be a teacher for Glendale Elementary School District! My first day is July 18th and it's some sort of staff development or training. And school starts August 1st! AUGUST 1st!
I think I'm going to barf.
Okay, but it gets better. Before I'd even walked out of the district office, a principal was calling me and leaving a message on my cell phone that he wanted to set up an interview. I listened to the message and called my dad to tell him the exciting news. While I was on the phone with my dad another principal called and left a message about an interview. By 11:30 this morning I had two interviews set up. While I stopped and had a quick lunch break I got another call and set up another interview. So, by the end of the day I'd had four interviews, and here's the clincher: all four offered me positions in their schools. (Here would be a good time to ask for your prayers that the Lord would lead me to the right school, where I would have support and be able to play an integral part in where the school is going, and be a witness to Him if even in my teaching)
Also, later this evening we were out celebrating (and my uncle was in town on business, so we went out to dinner with him), and I got another phone call from a principal for an interview tomorrow.
Up until last week I had lost all hope I would ever be a teacher. I had started thinking preliminarily about finding a job that had a benefit package so I'd at least have insurance. I mean, it was bad. Doesn't it just go to show you how God provides? And blesses? I mean here I was with no prospects, and suddenly I have schools vying to have me, begging me to choose them. And I am not exaggerating. Two of the principals today begged me to consider their school.
How He richly blesses! What abundance! What undeserved provision! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
The screening interview went really well (much better than the one I'd done before). I felt my answers were better and more thorough. The man who was interviewing me was also more personable, so I felt more at ease in discussing my thoughts on teaching. After the interview he took me into the assistant superintendent's office, and introduced us. I didn't really know what I was doing in there, he had mentioned setting up interviews with principals, but to be honest I wasn't expecting much. As soon as I was introduced to the superintendent we sat down and she said, "Well Rachel, your screening interview went so well that we would like to offer you a contract right now." I was dumbstruck. The normal procedure is like I said before, the principals make the hiring recommendation. For a district to offer me a contract means they want me in their district so badly they don't want to wait on a principal to hire me.
So, I took the contract. I am now going to be a teacher for Glendale Elementary School District! My first day is July 18th and it's some sort of staff development or training. And school starts August 1st! AUGUST 1st!
I think I'm going to barf.
Okay, but it gets better. Before I'd even walked out of the district office, a principal was calling me and leaving a message on my cell phone that he wanted to set up an interview. I listened to the message and called my dad to tell him the exciting news. While I was on the phone with my dad another principal called and left a message about an interview. By 11:30 this morning I had two interviews set up. While I stopped and had a quick lunch break I got another call and set up another interview. So, by the end of the day I'd had four interviews, and here's the clincher: all four offered me positions in their schools. (Here would be a good time to ask for your prayers that the Lord would lead me to the right school, where I would have support and be able to play an integral part in where the school is going, and be a witness to Him if even in my teaching)
Also, later this evening we were out celebrating (and my uncle was in town on business, so we went out to dinner with him), and I got another phone call from a principal for an interview tomorrow.
Up until last week I had lost all hope I would ever be a teacher. I had started thinking preliminarily about finding a job that had a benefit package so I'd at least have insurance. I mean, it was bad. Doesn't it just go to show you how God provides? And blesses? I mean here I was with no prospects, and suddenly I have schools vying to have me, begging me to choose them. And I am not exaggerating. Two of the principals today begged me to consider their school.
How He richly blesses! What abundance! What undeserved provision! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
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