Remember When I Was a Real Teacher?

I didn't get the job at the daycare center. They opted for someone with an early childhood credential. They offered me a part time position (32 hours a week). My responsibilities would be feeding the kids lunch and cleaning up, supervising nap time, and supervising recess time. Basically, a job that anyone with half a brain could do. Oh, and there are no benefits. The lady said she needed an answer by Wednesday afternoon. I still don't know what to do. Part of me just wants to give up and settle. The other part of me is insulted and is furiously praying for a miracle and poring over the classifieds.... again.

Tune in later for the exciting conclusion!

Interview Review

The interview itself went well. Later that day, I was asked to tour the center, the classroom in question, and the other two teachers in that classroom (it's three teachers to 20-24 preschoolers per classroom). The center was a brand new building, a beautiful, state-of-the-art center with every kind of equipment imaginable catered to young children. The kids were sweet; the teachers were kind and professional. So why did I feel so uncomfortable? First, it's not what I'm used to. Second, my heart is just not in it.

The director said they'd let me know by the end of the week. If they offer me the job, I will take it, and pray that I'll LOVE it. There are equally as many downsides to this job as upsides. But I'm determined to be thankful for what the Lord provides. I will be thankful. I will. I will.

Internet, I Have Missed You

There was a bit of a snafoo with AT&T, and it is unknown when we will have the internet hooked up in our new place. So for the moment I am taking advantage of the high-speed internet connection on campus. Woo hoo!

It's officially been one week since we've moved into our new duplex. Let me tell you why this place is SO MUCH COOLER than our last place (you remember, the sprawling apartment complex with all the mold and drunken neighbors?)

• When I look out my window, I see trees and other houses instead of a wall.
• There are two stories, so I can do my own thing and not worry about bothering Max when he's studying!
• We can't hear any neighbors fighting.
• There are TWO bedrooms. Yea!!
• When you walk out of the house, you don't have to go through a maze of hallways and stairs to get to the car!
• We're so close to a tower here that we're getting HD signals for major channels! Hello perfect reception!
• There are cats here!

The cats have been adjusting to indoor life quite well. They love the new couch, and they love hanging out on top of our bed, and running around underneath it. They also love coughing up hairballs on our bed. Okay, that only happened once, but it was worth mentioning. And even though it happened right after I put on a new duvet cover over our comforter, I still love my cats. This must be the feeling parents have when their baby blows out a diaper....

I am still job hunting. I have an interview on Monday morning for a nationally accredited daycare place that has seven campuses around the area. They have healthcare, and they reimburse tuition if you want to earn a higher degree! It sounds promising, and I'll let all five of you readers know how the interview goes!

Moving Day

I hardly slept last night. I blame my parents entirely: I'm pretty sure it's a genetic thing not to be able to sleep the day before a move. In any case, in just a few hours we'll be driving our three car caravan out to our new duplex. Here's to hoping that Labor Day and a certain College Football Game won't cause maddeningly slow traffic!

In related news, I am still unemployed. The job I interviewed for in my last post didn't work out, which I suppose is a relief as it's 80 miles away from where we live! I'm confident that the Lord will provide something, and it's just a matter of being patient....

Speaking of being patient, not having the Internet until next Friday is at the same uh-oh level as a worldwide ice cream shortage, and instills the same kind of panic as, say, millions of teachers at the thought of going Back to School.

Yet Another Post About the Job Hunt

... are you as sick of it as I am?

As it turns out, I didn't get the job I last posted about (the one with the family connection? remember?). But I did get called back to interview at the elementary school down the road (ironically the same one my husband went to as a child!). That was on Wednesday, and that went well. They tried to make it difficult, however, by asking me to critique a taped kindergarten writing lesson, and by asking me to design a lesson plan based on a benchmark that they provided. I felt good about all of the answers I gave, and they told me they would let me know by Monday (tomorrow). So..... I wait again.

In the meantime, there have been some fun distractions: Max's grandparents from Alabama visited with us, and my sister-in-law is back from Japan! And, as always, our three cats keep me occupied ;).

Another Chance

So that middle school resource room I talked about in my previous post? I don't think I got it, because they haven't called me yet and they said they were going to make a decision "very quickly". This rejection makes me feel totally relieved.

It also makes me feel like the elementary resource room position that I'm interviewing for tomorrow is much LESS of a scary prospect. Also in my favor? The principal who called me to set up the interview is a friend of my husband's family (at least, I THINK that's in my favor!-ha ha). She called on Friday, and it's a good thing that I had the weekend to prepare for my interview because she specifically asked for my portfolio. And I haven't updated my portfolio since 2003, before I even held a real teaching job or ANYTHING! So I've been busy trying to make myself look good on paper :). We'll see how I did tomorrow!

Desperate Times...

When I was in college, I had three different student teaching semesters as part of my program of study. The first one was in a resource room, and I decided then and there that I would NEVER do resource room because I really hated it. Well guess what? I just interviewed for a resource room position. Not only is it a resource room position, but it's a MIDDLE SCHOOL resource room position. Just shoot me now, will you?

The fact is, I'm terrified of getting this job, and I'm terrified of NOT getting this job. I officially have no more interviews lined up.

Square One

Well, I didn't get the job. I just found out on Saturday when I was still in New York. The lady said that I was "phenomenal" at the interview, but they decided to go with another candidate who had done some long-term subbing for them. Oddly, this news wasn't surprising to me, and I didn't feel disappointed about losing this specific job--I felt more disappointment about being back at square one. I just keep thinking that maybe this was the Lord protecting me from a bad team-teaching situation. I'm choosing to believe that there is something better out there for me, and I just need to wait and be patient for it... So thanks for your prayers!

In other, more happy, news, my little sister is officially a Mrs.!! We just got back from New York last night... The wedding was beautiful, the food delicious, the company pleasant. We had a great time!

Can't Wait Until the Wait is Over!

Yesterday I had my interview for the oral deaf program. I was really nervous! The interview lasted about an hour, and I think I did well. I'm happy with my answers. They said they would interview four or five more people today, and then there might be a second round of interviews next Monday (but maybe not, they weren't sure). Either way, they will let me know their decision within the next seven to ten days! I'm anxious to find out...

I found out a little more about the position while at the interview... it's a 4th/5th grade combined classroom with TWO teachers. So, if hired, I would be team teaching with another person. That could be fantastic, or it could be awful, depending on how well I would get along with the other teacher. We'll have to see what happens. Thanks for praying, everybody!

Send Me Your Prayers and Happy Thoughts

You know that teaching job that I was REALLY hoping to get? The director of the program called me yesterday, and I'll be interviewing on Monday (in two days!)!! Yes!!!!!

But I don't WANNA Go to Bed!

I didn't sleep a whole lot last night, so I've been pretty tired today. Even so, it's nearing one o'clock in the morning, and I can't bring myself to go to bed yet. My eyeballs hurt from staying open, and I'm swallowing bugs with my interminable yawns, but I'm a teacher on summer vacation and I OWE IT TO MYSELF to stay up as long as I can stand it!! One of these days (hopefully if that one job pulls through) I'll have to be asleep by ten and up by six and I'm going to think longingly of my summer freedom...

So here's to living it up! *Yawn*

Uncontrollable Hope

Back in early June, I interviewed for the only job opening in the oral deaf field in the entire state. It was for a middle school position, and I wanted to teach within my specialized field so badly that I convinced myself that I wouldn't mind teaching middle school. I did a great job at the interview over the phone (if I do say so myself), but when I found out that I didn't get the job, I didn't know whether I should cry from relief or disappointment. It takes a special person to teach middle school. I am not that person.

Since this hoopla has ended, I have made my peace with the thought of using one of my other credentials as a teacher (mental impairment or elementary general ed). I currently have over twenty applications out there... But this past week, I stumbled across another job opening in the oral deaf field (Kindergarten or preschool, not sure which)--this was big news, as there are only five oral deaf programs in this entire state (which is fortunate; some states have none), and two of them are way too far for a commute. This particular opening is in the perfect location. I sent all of my materials via express mail to meet the deadline, and emailed the director of the program. I told myself to breathe, and not get my hopes too high, but it was too late. As soon as I saw the posting, my hopes were HIGH. Higher than the clouds above.... there was no controlling it. You can't tell hopes to be realistic and to come down a little. Hopes won't listen to reason.

I thought that I had made my peace with teaching other types of kids (as opposed to deaf ones) but I suppose that this job posting has revealed my true desires. The deadline closes tomorrow afternoon, and I am HOPING and PRAYING that I get a call to interview this week. I know that the Lord is in control of everything... and I try to cling to that in the face of all of my anxiety and anticipation!

City Slicker

Yesterday, I learned that girl dogs pee by squatting, as opposed to lifting a leg (which I thought all dogs did). The wonders of country living never cease to amaze!

Back to School???

Well, it's officially happened. Stores have started their "back-to-school" advertising campaign, effectively taunting every teacher out there enjoying their summer vacation. Last summer, I felt dread at the thought of going back--I wouldn't have felt so much dread at the end of August, but in the middle of July?!? Next thing you know, they'll start advertising on the first day of summer vacation in June. Come on, people.

I complain about this, YET... I walk into the local Wal-Mart with their big "back to school savings" signs, and their middle aisles full of glue, crayons, pencil cases, etc, and I start to feel an almost uncontrollable urge to buy class sets of everything. I find myself wandering in the office section, wondering how I could justify buying a five hundred pound pack of colored printer paper, or my eye catches a pocket shoe holder and I think about all of the classroom supplies that thing could hold...

And truthfully, knowing that there's a chance I could NOT get hired as a teacher this fall actually makes me long for the first day of school. Life is a paradox.

Newcomers

Lots of excitement over here. The arrival of my parents from France has resulted in a frenzy of cleaning, bug bombing, shopping, and more cleaning. We picked them up from the airport last night and they are looking forward to going to the store today and getting all of their favorite American food (Taco Bell! bagels! oreos! frozen yogurt!). I anticipate they'll be wanting to see what new movies are out now... and mom and I will for sure be heading out to the mall at some point this week. Yay for summer vacation!

Application Woes

I am still looking for a teaching job in Michigan. Today, I filled out my 1,503rd online application. Each application is slightly different than the last. I'm beginning to think that California had the right idea with "EdJoin"--submit one application for all districts in the state! To annoy me even further, many of these applications I've been cranking out are asking for ridiculous information in the form of essay questions. And they don't ask for one essay question per application, they'll typically ask you about twelve questions. For two districts, I even had to fill out a type of "teacher personality/style" survey (timed! multiple choice!). Furthermore, even the little questions that I often encounter can be SO nit picky. Example: High school GPA (who remembers?), or University Student Teaching Supervisor's phone number, or Name of Your Ninth Grade History Teacher, or Principal's Social Security Number... To make matters even more frustrating, I have to upload all kinds of attachments to each application--and with the slooooow connection out here, it takes seven minutes PER upload!

I'll be SOOO glad once this is all over!

Nearing Our Five Year Anniversary

Recently, Max (my loving, loving husband) remarked that he could kill me once, or he could kill thousands and thousands of bugs for me over a lifetime. He asked me which I thought was more efficient.

He was smacked.

There Were None in California

Dear bugs,

Here in rural Lapeer, there is ample room for everyone. Behind our house, you will find a big barn that you are welcome to, as well as the corn fields, soybean fields, the pond, and the forest beyond that. In fact, as bugs are generally supposed to live outside, I feel that this is a more than reasonable amount of space for you to roam/fly in.

As we are being so generous in sharing our land with you, the following would be much appreciated:

1. Stop dive-bombing us on our daily walks (that's you, horseflies!)
2. Bees, stay clear of my husband
3. STAY OUT OF THE HOUSE! Buzzing around lamps, crawling on walls and window sills, and sleeping on MY pillow will result in your immediate and swift destruction

In conclusion, I believe that we will all get along fabulously if you stick to the outdoors, and adhere to the rules outlined above. If not, we will continue to use bug spray, ant traps, fly swatters and even tissue to live in peace.

Thank you.

You Can't Take the Teacher Out of Me

I've been wanting to go the local library for about a week now, and I finally borrowed my mother-in-law's card, and headed to town today! It was 11:15 when I pulled into the parking lot, and to my dismay, it was deserted. I thought "of course, today would be the day it was closed...". I was a little annoyed, because it's about a five hundred mile trip into town and I didn't want to have to come back tomorrow. Fortunately, when I checked the library hours, they were going to open at noon so I headed over to the book store/teacher store to kill some time. Standing there, in the midst of bulletin board trim, die-cut letters, teacher resource books, and various charts and posters, I felt absolutely inspired... if only I had a classroom that I could go to and decorate and plan and organize! I'm not saying that I'm ready to go back to school yet, but it would be nice to know that I had a teaching job lined up for the fall and that there was a classroom somewhere out there waiting for me...

When I finally got inside the library, I found a delightful book called "Village School" written by a "Miss Read" (pen name). It's about a little school in the 1950's in the English countryside. I've read a few chapters already and it's unbelievable how differently they taught back then! I would be fired if I started the school day with my students each morning with a hymn and a prayer! Anyways, I feel a little weird about reading a book about a school on my summer off, but oh well.

Introducing....

Gizmo (our calico kitten) and
Mrs. Hufflepuff (our gray and black kitten)

Ironically, we named our cats before anyone could suggest cat names on my previous posts, but I enjoyed hearing your ideas anyway (Mom: next time we have two pets to name, Mona and Lisa will be in the running!). I wish I had a great picture to post of them, but since this internet connection is mind-numbingly slow, it was out of the question. So just picture two adorable kittens, and that will have to do.

Other than that, there is not much else to report! Still waiting on a job.... still sleeping in and lazing around the house doing nothing :).