Last night, I got a call to substitute for a full day today. I immediately took the job for several reasons:
1. The school/teachers at the school prefer to use the same subs over and over because they learn the routine and the students and the students get to know the sub. Basically - the better sub you are, the more exclusively they call you.
2. The teacher calling has a pretty varied day and only works with small groups of children in Kindergarten and 5th grade - good variety.
3. Better pay day the more sub jobs I take.
4. It's the Friday before Valentine's Day and it's known that there is almost always a party - hello candy and treats!
So I got up early and got ready for the day ahead. The morning started off really easy. I had about 4 kids in a reading group and I really felt like a teacher. I used multiple strategies to try to teach the kids about autobiographies and biographies. I had a good handle on behavior despite the fact that the kids were very excited about their upcoming party. Next, I had a group of 8 or so for math. We talked about patterns and I really think I taught them something! It was a really good feeling.
After math, I went to a Kindergarten classroom. We colored and passed out Valentines. I watched 2 of the cutest little girls in the world read a story to me. They were almost reading better than some of the 5th graders I had earlier that morning. Some of the little ones gave me little valentines treats and sweet little hugs. 5th grade science came after Kindergarten. I just had to walk around and check their notes to make sure they were able to study them for their test on Tuesday. More candy and treats were passed out - yum!
My day ended at 11:30 when the big kids went to lunch. Their holiday party was after lunch and then they go to special area - neither of which I had to be present for. Sweet - still got paid the full day.I took advantage of the free afternoon and made my way over to the elementary school where I'm doing my 80 hours of observation. I made it just in time for them to pass out their Valentines and have their party. I helped the 2nd graders decorate cupcakes and passed out the other party treats. This class is just about the best behaved group of kids I have ever seen. They were so polite to each other and so excited about all their goodies. We played heads up 7-up and 4 corners to get some of their sugar-energy out and then my day there was over. I didn't log those hours as observation because it wasn't really academically informational. I mostly just wanted to see how a good teacher runs her class on a holiday.
I headed home to have a late lunch with Ryan before he headed off to work. We played our computer game for an hour and then I took a nap after he left. At 6:30 I had to go to work at Target. boo. It wasn't terrible though for a change. I was in a good mood from my sub job and observation. I felt well-rested after my nap.
I absolutely cannot wait to become a teacher and have my own classroom. For now, I'll settle for the mini-highs of teaching as a substitute and observing a great teacher in action. Overall, today was busy but very fulfilling.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Why I'm marrying him - Reason #925
Most weekend nights Ryan and I are working. We've been trying to avoid eating out just for the sake of eating out, so I regularly pack our lunches. So the other day I was getting my lunch and Ryan's lunch together. I made our sandwiches as usual and gathered all the fruits and granolas bars that serve as sides/snacks as we go through our night. I poured some light sweet tea into a bottle for Ryan and added it to his lunch. He's been trying to stay away from diet sodas lately and has replaced soda with lots more water. I know water isn't his favorite drink so I threw in the sweet tea. Upon noticing the new addition to his lunch, he looked down at me, held me in his arms and said, "This is why you're going to be a good mother. You're so conscientious when you pack my lunch. Our kids are going to have great lunches. You're gonna be a great mom." I swear to you, I was positively glowing! I have always wanted to be a mom and have also always worried (like most moms) about doing a good job. Hearing the man I love tell me that I'm going to be good was just about the sweetest moment in our engaged lives.
Most people I work with have asked me about my relationship with Ryan. Several of my co-workers have been through a divorceor two. When I tell them that we have been together for over 5 years and our engagement means the world to me, the response is usually "you guys are doing it the right way, so many people just rush into it and get it wrong." I know this and have known it for quite some time. Too often these days, people aren't taking marriage seriously. Marriage has almost become the modern version of "going steady". People rush into marriage and rush into divorce and hop right back into another marriage like they're replacing their car. Ryan and I are getting married because we literally want to spend the rest of our lives together. We thought carefully about what it means to be married and thought carefully about future together. We did things our way such that our relationship is strong and trusting. And moments like when he tells me I'm going to be a good mom solidify in my mind and my heart that, yes, we are doing it the right way.
Most people I work with have asked me about my relationship with Ryan. Several of my co-workers have been through a divorceor two. When I tell them that we have been together for over 5 years and our engagement means the world to me, the response is usually "you guys are doing it the right way, so many people just rush into it and get it wrong." I know this and have known it for quite some time. Too often these days, people aren't taking marriage seriously. Marriage has almost become the modern version of "going steady". People rush into marriage and rush into divorce and hop right back into another marriage like they're replacing their car. Ryan and I are getting married because we literally want to spend the rest of our lives together. We thought carefully about what it means to be married and thought carefully about future together. We did things our way such that our relationship is strong and trusting. And moments like when he tells me I'm going to be a good mom solidify in my mind and my heart that, yes, we are doing it the right way.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
New semester, new year, new attitude
(Yes, I know it's been awhile...)
This semester started off at a running pace! I was so relaxed and stress-free during the Christmas/New Year break, so I was completely unprepared for the break-neck speeds of my classes! I was thinking that since 2 of my 4 classes are hybrid (some classtime, but mostly online work), it would be a breeze. Not!
This semester I am taking a Math class which has completely tedious, "busy-work" type of assignments. My teacher is very sweet, but wants a lot of hands-on work from us. It took me a couple of weeks to get into the groove, but I think I am caught up at last.
I'm also taking an ESOL class with another very sweet teacher. This is the second class I've had with the teacher, so I thought I knew what to expect. However, since its the sequel class it is much more in depth (read: more work!). But after getting through the tough weeks, I am back on track!
My third class is Classroom Management/Organization. We had a pretty big paper/presentation due in the 3rd week which is the cause of most of my disorganization and poor planning. This class was sort of the wake-up call that told me, "Get organized!". The teacher is very nice and we only have to actually go to class once a month. The rest is discussion board posting and responding. We have another major project due in April and I am already planning ahead!
The last class I'm taking is strictly observation in the field. I have to spend a total of 80 hours observing and writing about my observations. It sounds like a lot, but I'm looking at it as the constant reminder of how rewarding my future career will be. This is just the little step that I have to take to get there.
Today was my first observation day and I almost completely dropped the ball. I've been working really hard to go to bed early and get up well before Ryan so that I have time to do my homework. This morning Ryan had to be at work at 10:00, so I rolled out of bed just before he left to get his lunch together and then get my day started. I was lounging around in my pj's, eating breakfast and checking the usual websites before doing homework. Ryan texted me at 10:18 asking what my plan for the day entailed. As I'm detailing my lovely quiet morning at home, I suddenly realize that I'm supposed to be at the school for observation at 10:30! Fortunately, the school is about 4 minutes away from the apt, so I knew I could make it with some serious rushing. Also fortunately, my wake-up call from the rough start of the semester had prompted me to get prepared ahead of time. I brushed my teeth, got dressed in record time, grabbed my notebook and ran out the door. I made it right on time, but my teacher was held late in a meeting. The 10 minutes of waiting gave me time to collect myself and slow down again.
It must be my lucky day today because I ran into one of the girls in the program. I had been trying to get in touch with another teacher at the same school with no luck. She introduced me to the teacher and voila! I have my observation hours ready to go with the 2nd teacher! I'm positively glowing from my frantic yet very productive morning. Being around amazing teachers and working in their classrooms makes it very hard to go back to the retail job, but it's a means to an end and I'll get where I need to be eventually.
This semester started off at a running pace! I was so relaxed and stress-free during the Christmas/New Year break, so I was completely unprepared for the break-neck speeds of my classes! I was thinking that since 2 of my 4 classes are hybrid (some classtime, but mostly online work), it would be a breeze. Not!
This semester I am taking a Math class which has completely tedious, "busy-work" type of assignments. My teacher is very sweet, but wants a lot of hands-on work from us. It took me a couple of weeks to get into the groove, but I think I am caught up at last.
I'm also taking an ESOL class with another very sweet teacher. This is the second class I've had with the teacher, so I thought I knew what to expect. However, since its the sequel class it is much more in depth (read: more work!). But after getting through the tough weeks, I am back on track!
My third class is Classroom Management/Organization. We had a pretty big paper/presentation due in the 3rd week which is the cause of most of my disorganization and poor planning. This class was sort of the wake-up call that told me, "Get organized!". The teacher is very nice and we only have to actually go to class once a month. The rest is discussion board posting and responding. We have another major project due in April and I am already planning ahead!
The last class I'm taking is strictly observation in the field. I have to spend a total of 80 hours observing and writing about my observations. It sounds like a lot, but I'm looking at it as the constant reminder of how rewarding my future career will be. This is just the little step that I have to take to get there.
Today was my first observation day and I almost completely dropped the ball. I've been working really hard to go to bed early and get up well before Ryan so that I have time to do my homework. This morning Ryan had to be at work at 10:00, so I rolled out of bed just before he left to get his lunch together and then get my day started. I was lounging around in my pj's, eating breakfast and checking the usual websites before doing homework. Ryan texted me at 10:18 asking what my plan for the day entailed. As I'm detailing my lovely quiet morning at home, I suddenly realize that I'm supposed to be at the school for observation at 10:30! Fortunately, the school is about 4 minutes away from the apt, so I knew I could make it with some serious rushing. Also fortunately, my wake-up call from the rough start of the semester had prompted me to get prepared ahead of time. I brushed my teeth, got dressed in record time, grabbed my notebook and ran out the door. I made it right on time, but my teacher was held late in a meeting. The 10 minutes of waiting gave me time to collect myself and slow down again.
It must be my lucky day today because I ran into one of the girls in the program. I had been trying to get in touch with another teacher at the same school with no luck. She introduced me to the teacher and voila! I have my observation hours ready to go with the 2nd teacher! I'm positively glowing from my frantic yet very productive morning. Being around amazing teachers and working in their classrooms makes it very hard to go back to the retail job, but it's a means to an end and I'll get where I need to be eventually.
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