The joys of summer. It is a great time to have a summer job, particularly one where you sling coffee beverages to folks and have little responsibility. I'm caffeinated, I'm happy, and I get to talk to a variety of people (I'd say wide variety, but most are corporate/business types). This is the perfect time to relax a bit, let the pressure of the past 2 years release. This is the first time in 2 years that I am not working and going to school, doing each in a part/full time capacity (it worked out to a 40-10 split as far as hrs roughly). Work, at current, is a nice respite.
But I'd like to start getting ready for the year. Where do I start though? Normally I'd start digging through the curriculum sets, and seeing how the year is typically laid out, thinking about potential adjustments. This year I'd want to start setting up my classroom, as it would give me a head start- and extra hands from my wife (who has to setup her classroom too) and her family. But I can't really do that either. So what to do?
My plan right now is to start going through some of the books on my bookshelf about reading/writing/math instruction. I also want to go through some bigger picture stuff too. My wife has a book she is borrowing from her principal called Results Now, which I think I might read as well. I'll also start to go back through some of the Starred blog postings and see what other teachers have been doing (or are/were thinking). At least that's a start...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Hired
That one word says it all. I've been hired into a teaching pool. It is different than applying to a pool, since I actually have a contract in hand. Not sure what grade level, or school yet, but I should know by the time the new teacher institute starts (at least I would assume).
It isn't in Seattle, but that is ok. My motto is: have certificate, will travel. Very excited to get going, with the fun starting the 14th of August and the New Teacher Inst. Should be doing lots of tech stuff as well because of the tech resources in the district.
I had a position as a sub in Seattle lined up as a deep fallback (as I feel like jobs will open up in Aug/Sept). No need anymore!
It isn't in Seattle, but that is ok. My motto is: have certificate, will travel. Very excited to get going, with the fun starting the 14th of August and the New Teacher Inst. Should be doing lots of tech stuff as well because of the tech resources in the district.
I had a position as a sub in Seattle lined up as a deep fallback (as I feel like jobs will open up in Aug/Sept). No need anymore!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Marketability
I find interviewing to be challenging. While I am an outgoing individual, I'm a tad self-conscious and I've got that perfectionist quirk that seems to be going around. Swirl those things together and you get someone that tends to over think, wants to be thorough, and isn't all that comfortable talking about himself.
I talked with a cohort-mate who just interviewed, and her advice to me was to "remember marketing yourself." I nodded my head, but was internally cringed at the notion of selling myself. Ultimately schools, principals, and other administrators want to know why they should pick you.?. What makes you a talent that they want in their district/building? I get it, but am not comfortable with it. Time to start practicing what I might say, thinking about what I've done, and just simply getting ready to ensure they see who I am and what I can do.
I talked with a cohort-mate who just interviewed, and her advice to me was to "remember marketing yourself." I nodded my head, but was internally cringed at the notion of selling myself. Ultimately schools, principals, and other administrators want to know why they should pick you.?. What makes you a talent that they want in their district/building? I get it, but am not comfortable with it. Time to start practicing what I might say, thinking about what I've done, and just simply getting ready to ensure they see who I am and what I can do.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dreaming of Something Bigger
I work at a mammoth coffee chain in Downtown Seattle. You can likely guess which one. I enjoy the change of pace that it gives me during the summer (off-season if you will), and a chance to be away from kids. I will own up to a love of coffee, and sarcasm, two things that children don't quite appreciate as much!
What I didn't notice, until this morning, was how ambivalent people are. The charge that I see every morning walking into the school, from kids, parents and staff, is the polar opposite. The come and go, rush through to the next stop, is rather disheartening. When we talk about creating lifelong learners who can contribute to society, is that what we picture? While I understand how important having a job is, I hope that I'm not merely helping kids up onto the conveyor belt of work. I'm not sure any teacher really hopes that their students will want to be corporate worker bees (can you just imagine the student who says "I want to work for a big name corporation in a bland sounding job!"). I dream of something more for our kids, and whether they get there remains to be seen...
What I didn't notice, until this morning, was how ambivalent people are. The charge that I see every morning walking into the school, from kids, parents and staff, is the polar opposite. The come and go, rush through to the next stop, is rather disheartening. When we talk about creating lifelong learners who can contribute to society, is that what we picture? While I understand how important having a job is, I hope that I'm not merely helping kids up onto the conveyor belt of work. I'm not sure any teacher really hopes that their students will want to be corporate worker bees (can you just imagine the student who says "I want to work for a big name corporation in a bland sounding job!"). I dream of something more for our kids, and whether they get there remains to be seen...
Friday, June 19, 2009
Speculating a Gold Rush
I am not sure I want to read the newspaper anymore. I used to think it was a great place to find out what was happening in the world, and see what people were thinking. Well... I am not sure I want to know what people are thinking anymore.
At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all pipsqueak, I found myself (again) befuddled by a story in the Seattle Times. Two things bothered me in particular:
1. They had spoken with a teacher protesting in front of Seattle Public Schools HQ. At the time of the RIF, around the 10th of May, he said: "I wish they could have waited a little longer, to see if they could find the money," Jarosz told me then.
2. "They say stimulus money, but they don't tell you how much. And did they know about it before? You go through a lot of stress when you lose your job. Was it all really necessary?" To which Nicole Brodeur chimed in I wondered the same thing.
I am not a fan of RIF's/Layoffs/Job Losses. It is awful for all parties involved, and if I had graduated last year I would likely be in the RIF pool. If I get a job this summer, then I may find myself in that same position next May 15th. But this was something the district needed to do, for two reasons:
1) it is a state mandated deadline that they need to notify people of RIF's. There's no waiting, no "maaaaaybe if" scenarios.
2) you can't speculate on the money you will get. They didn't have the stimulus money, so they needed to RIF. You can assume you have certain pools of money, but you don't really know until it has been allocated.
I get the notion that the man was upset. I can't imagine losing my job via RIF, but I have lived through my wife having her contract non-renewed due to budget issues. It makes for a stressful time! But yes, it was necessary. The district doesn't want to create stress. As a journalist (or columnist), Nicole Brodeur needs to a bit more research. It was an issue of timing and budgeting. Maybe there are guidelines that the school board and superintendent could have followed regarding budgeting. I don't know, and I would imagine Brodeur doesn't either.
At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all pipsqueak, I found myself (again) befuddled by a story in the Seattle Times. Two things bothered me in particular:
1. They had spoken with a teacher protesting in front of Seattle Public Schools HQ. At the time of the RIF, around the 10th of May, he said: "I wish they could have waited a little longer, to see if they could find the money," Jarosz told me then.
2. "They say stimulus money, but they don't tell you how much. And did they know about it before? You go through a lot of stress when you lose your job. Was it all really necessary?" To which Nicole Brodeur chimed in I wondered the same thing.
I am not a fan of RIF's/Layoffs/Job Losses. It is awful for all parties involved, and if I had graduated last year I would likely be in the RIF pool. If I get a job this summer, then I may find myself in that same position next May 15th. But this was something the district needed to do, for two reasons:
1) it is a state mandated deadline that they need to notify people of RIF's. There's no waiting, no "maaaaaybe if" scenarios.
2) you can't speculate on the money you will get. They didn't have the stimulus money, so they needed to RIF. You can assume you have certain pools of money, but you don't really know until it has been allocated.
I get the notion that the man was upset. I can't imagine losing my job via RIF, but I have lived through my wife having her contract non-renewed due to budget issues. It makes for a stressful time! But yes, it was necessary. The district doesn't want to create stress. As a journalist (or columnist), Nicole Brodeur needs to a bit more research. It was an issue of timing and budgeting. Maybe there are guidelines that the school board and superintendent could have followed regarding budgeting. I don't know, and I would imagine Brodeur doesn't either.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Don't Read the Newspaper
Reading newspaper articles and op-ed pieces on education can be infuriating. This morning I read a Seattle Times Op-Ed that I couldn't make heads or tails of. At best I disagreed with her assessment that our kids are thriving in schools. At worst I was confused by comparing education to being science-based like medicine.
Personally I believe that education needs reform of some sort. Does it need to scrapped in favor of charter schools? I don't think so, particularly as the data comparing charters and public schools don't support the huge gains that charter school supporters champion. But I do believe that we need an education system that isn't a slave to assessment. Assessment should inform instruction, and help teachers target instruction at appropriate levels. I am not quite sure what is so science-based about education either. Perhaps it is the number of case studies that eventually lead to best practices. Then again, hasn't a case been made for virtually all of the "best practices" that have been in education, many of which competing against each other?
I think there are some great things happening at schools, but by no stretch of the imagination are they thriving. If they were thriving, and preparing all students for higher ed and the great beyond then we wouldn't have programs like Rainier Scholars. There was a great article about RS in the Seattle Times as well. What kills me are the comments, which show a complete lack of understanding for why a program like Rainier Scholars exists.
Personally I believe that education needs reform of some sort. Does it need to scrapped in favor of charter schools? I don't think so, particularly as the data comparing charters and public schools don't support the huge gains that charter school supporters champion. But I do believe that we need an education system that isn't a slave to assessment. Assessment should inform instruction, and help teachers target instruction at appropriate levels. I am not quite sure what is so science-based about education either. Perhaps it is the number of case studies that eventually lead to best practices. Then again, hasn't a case been made for virtually all of the "best practices" that have been in education, many of which competing against each other?
I think there are some great things happening at schools, but by no stretch of the imagination are they thriving. If they were thriving, and preparing all students for higher ed and the great beyond then we wouldn't have programs like Rainier Scholars. There was a great article about RS in the Seattle Times as well. What kills me are the comments, which show a complete lack of understanding for why a program like Rainier Scholars exists.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tossing Water Balloons
Field Day came and went. Ohhh how I love Field Day. It was a childhood favorite when I was in elementary school. When I started working at an elementary school 7 years ago I was reintroduced to Field Day. I played soccer and kickball all day, and had a great time running around outdoors with the kiddos. That continued for the next 2 years then off I went to other endeavors. I went to another 1 or 2 in my after school programming days, and continued to have a blast- sack hop relays, world cup soccer (teams of 2, and 5 balls and goals), good times.
Today I got a chance to help out at Field Day yet again. This time it was back at the school where I had been student teaching. This was my second time seeing the kiddos since I ended student teaching, and it was the second time I was mobbed (re: giant magnet attracting all things with metal). They were surprised to see me, which tells me quite a bit about their memory (they knew I was coming back for it). It was great to see the kiddos, and a great time.
The funny thing about Field Day is that you need to have a vision for what you are going to do. The overall day was awesome, and very well put together. Now at my station it was rough going the first time or two through, largely because of patience and crowd control. Give a kid a water balloon and what will they do? Squeeze it, toss it, lob it, essentially anything but what you want them to do. Add to that the K-2 element, and we had a little malfunction at the start. Thereafter I was able to get my bearings, and use my teacher skills to get some order and make the station work. 10 at a time (5 pairs), everyone else in a waiting line, give water balloons AFTER doing directions.
The highlight for me had to be tossing a water balloon with a student at the end. It was the last balloon and she wanted me to be her partner (2nd grader from class). We went back and forth about 6 times, and had to be about 20-30 apart. Eventually I took it on the shoe, but it was good fun. Plus we had a constant line, and no one chucked a water balloon intentionally at their partner. Job well done! It was likely my last day seeing the kiddos, and I will admit to being a little sad. I got hugs on the way out and everyone get my customary high-five. But onward and upward....
Today I got a chance to help out at Field Day yet again. This time it was back at the school where I had been student teaching. This was my second time seeing the kiddos since I ended student teaching, and it was the second time I was mobbed (re: giant magnet attracting all things with metal). They were surprised to see me, which tells me quite a bit about their memory (they knew I was coming back for it). It was great to see the kiddos, and a great time.
The funny thing about Field Day is that you need to have a vision for what you are going to do. The overall day was awesome, and very well put together. Now at my station it was rough going the first time or two through, largely because of patience and crowd control. Give a kid a water balloon and what will they do? Squeeze it, toss it, lob it, essentially anything but what you want them to do. Add to that the K-2 element, and we had a little malfunction at the start. Thereafter I was able to get my bearings, and use my teacher skills to get some order and make the station work. 10 at a time (5 pairs), everyone else in a waiting line, give water balloons AFTER doing directions.
The highlight for me had to be tossing a water balloon with a student at the end. It was the last balloon and she wanted me to be her partner (2nd grader from class). We went back and forth about 6 times, and had to be about 20-30 apart. Eventually I took it on the shoe, but it was good fun. Plus we had a constant line, and no one chucked a water balloon intentionally at their partner. Job well done! It was likely my last day seeing the kiddos, and I will admit to being a little sad. I got hugs on the way out and everyone get my customary high-five. But onward and upward....
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