Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The one time I went to Brooklyn

Yesterday was our Superintendent's conference day at school. The last two years at the school where I previously worked, we went in and did work on our finals or worked on websites. At my new school, I assumed I would be doing the same thing. Nope, totally different.

My chairperson wanted us to attend the AP college board conference for either Spanish or Italian (the only ones the kids take in my school even though we also offer French). I took a look at the link he sent us and laughed because I figured there was no way the district would approve it at $185 a PERSON. Well, sure enough they did. We had to lay the money out at first but they reimburse us for it.

Let's just say I was super happy to get home yesterday. I woke up at 4:30 because I was afraid I would oversleep for my train at 6:39. I took the train by myself and met up with everyone around the corner from the school. It was about a 15 minute walk from the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn to the school.

The conference was definitely different than I expected. It was 6 hours of STRAIGHT LECTURE....all in Spanish. A lot of the other teachers teach or have taught it from other schools but only one teacher in my district teaches it. It was definitely interesting as someone who TOOK the test 10 years ago to be able to see how they make up the curriculum that is on the test. And how they score the tests. I liked seeing the different levels of writing. However, my attention span was weaning by the end of the day. You know its bad when even your chair looked like he was losing focus.

It was a long day for all of us but it was definitely interesting. However, I came home to plan and get ready for today. I feel like I NEVER stop working. I guess that is suppose to be how I feel my first year of teaching,. A lot of creating materials and then the power points. Next year it will be easy!

I need to make sure all my lessons are well planned because I have a feeling my chair will be popping in soon to do an observation. He has been trying since the beginning of October and when he did it two weeks ago, I was giving a test. Whoops.

One of these days I hope to have a more interesting life other than school. However, I bought this last week at Target and I am OBSESSED. Now my only complaint is WHY WHY WHY is she not doing a show in New York?! Especially with a song Welcome to NY! My friend Shannon and I plan on going to Pittsburgh because that is the closest (other than Philadelphia but we want to try a new city)! Maybe she will add a new one like she did last time.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

That one time I had a blog...

It has been awhile since I last blogged and that was not intentional. I have just been super busy that blogging got put on the back burner for awhile.

The first quarter is almost done and over with. Wow! In some ways it is hard to believe that it is already November and it feels like we just started school. I honestly have to say, I do love where I work. If you can find the combination of that plus good people you work with, it is priceless. Don't get me wrong, I terribly miss my other co-workers from the last school I worked in. But to be working in a school district on Long Island when I NEVER thought that would happen is just icing on the cake!! 

I teach a total of 3 classes but only two a day. I teach 6th grade French, 6th grade Spanish and 7th grade Spanish. My 7th grade class is every day and my 6th grade ones are every other day. I don't remember taking my language in 6th grade every other day but I guess I did. When I am not teaching, they either have me in the testing room (which is great because I get to do a lot of my planning!) or the academic center. 

However, my principal came to find me the other morning. I thought I was in trouble when he asked if he could talk to me...ha ha! He asked me if I would like to teach a 9th grade Spanish class over at the high school. The teacher is going out on maternity leave and the rest of her classes conveniently fit into all the other language teacher's classes except for one period. He said he would arrange coverage for the testing room for me during period 3 because that is when I would be teaching over at the HS. I said absolutely yes!! I met with the high school principal on Thursday and the teacher. Next week I am shadowing her to meet the kids, see how she runs her class and then hopefully get the materials. She already gave me her class contract and curriculum outline. She said she wants to make a Google folder to share with everyone who is covering her classes. I am really excited because I have never taught high school before and I am also getting paid more!! HOLLER!

When I was in school, I used to be excited about having election day off. As a teacher, not anymore because we have to go to school for a conference day. Boo! Except my department is going to an AP College Board conference in Brooklyn. Its $185 to go to the conference but we get reimbursed. I am just not looking forward to that long day. I have to drive all the way to work to take the train in with everyone, to take the subway to meet at the conference. I gotta ask what we're doing because as of right now, we haven't discussed it as a department. Might wanna since its on Tuesday! 

And on another note, I feel like God cursed me when I got my dog. I know so many people who have gotten a dog...or even two..around the time I got my Lily. They have not had issues like I am having training. I cannot understand what provokes her to bite! Seriously, I am on my third trainer and just ready to LOSE my mind. I am hoping this works (we are using a 'shock' collar and my mom swears that it is making her worse). Say a prayer for me...I feel like I am always asking about that but I desperately need it.