O Canada!

Well hey there blog world! Long time no see! The past few weeks have been so hectic I neglected this blog. Sometimes I wonder if anyone actually still does read it. :-P

Two weeks ago, my friend Ronny (the other French teacher), myself and 2 male chaperones took 35 kids on a trip to Quebec Canada. Everyone kept asking me "Oh, are you flying there?!" and when I said no, they nearly choked when I said we were taking a coach bus. But we had a fancy bus! It had wifi, outlets to charge your phone and of course the bathroom (but I never use those because they freak me out).

We left Saturday, February 27 and spent most of the day traveling. We stopped once to change drivers (and score, there was a Starbucks to recaffeinate). I thought the kids would pass out since we were leaving at 6am. NOPE! They were super wired and coming out with the funniest comments. We stopped again for lunch, went through the border and then onward to our hotel. Once we got there and met our guide, Mary Grace Ho Ho. We used JumpStreet Educational Tours and they/Mary Grace were AWESOME! I cannot wait to go back in two years.

We settled into the hotel and then went for dinner. I had some type of chicken marsala dish but the chicken was a little dry. We had to ask for a bowl of gravy....just for the adults!

After dinner, we went tobogganing. What an experience! My friend Ronny (the other French teacher) has never done it in all her years of running the trip. And this year, I convinced her to do it! She is so glad she did!

This is what you sit on

Beautiful view when we got off the bus!

You go all the way up there (someone has to drag the sled thing) and then you slide down it. Essentially, it is 3-4 people per sled. You have to put your legs on the thighs of the person in front o you (except the first person) and then hold on for dear life! It's such a thrill!

We had hot chocolate after and then went back to the hotel. You would think the kids would be pooped from a 10+ hour bus ride and toboganning but no.............they took forever to calm down! Ha!

Sunday morning we started the day with breakfast at a nice cafe with croissant. They were so delicious! 

Guy making them and that's Ronny, my coworker, making a funny face taking a picture of him. #shecracksmeup

Afterwards we went on a tour of Old Quebec and did some shopping! 

That would be our tour guide, Mary Grace aka MG, in the yellow jacket. She was awesome! Our group was only her third group overall but she is an awesome tour guide. Fun fact: She is from Rwanda and learned English from movies & music. 

 Two brave French teachers with 35 kids in the cold!

 Headed to the Parliament building

We went to lunch at Chez Ashton and had poutine! It is French fries with gravy and cheese curds. Looks kind of gross when you look at it but it was delicious!

Looked at some street art.

Afterwards, we went to an ice hotel. They build it each year during the month of January and then demolish it. Every year has a different theme. This year's theme was rivers.

You can get married here! You can also stay here on an ice bed for $200 a night. No thanks!

 

We ended the night at a snowtubing park! It was all sorts of fun. One of our chaperones was the technology director so he got great videos of me screaming down the slopes. 

Monday was another jam packed day. We were in the midst of a snow storm that morning so we had to cut our visit to the falls out. We saw them while we were on a bus.

Went to a great crepe place for breakfast!

Followed by a visit to St.Anne's Bascilia. Here, (and pretty much everywhere we went during the trip), the kids pulled out their phones. Not only were they using them as their cameras but they checked to see if there was wifi. Here, one student asked "Anyone know the church's wifi password?" and some kid said "I put jesus1225 but it didn't work." #lordhelpme

Left our mark at the basilica! 

We then went on to a wood carving shop. This guy was the only English speaking person in that part of Quebec.

The falls we skipped out on because of the snow storm.

We went to an activity with the renactment of a day in the life of a British soldier. It was quite comical what they made the kids do. 

Later, we went to a mall. There was an indoor skating rink, ferris wheel, etc. The kids didn't use the vouchers because we didn't had as much time (we were suppose to have 2.5 hours and had to cut an hour out). 

After the mall, we went dog sledding! This was something I was looking forward to! 

Listening how to sit, brake, etc

 Ronny and I. Halfway through, you switch. It was absolutely freezing by the time we were done so we cut out snow shoeing but it was an amazing experience. So glad I can check this off my bucket list!

We ate dinner and there was some dancing plus making our own maple butter and maple taffy.

Overall, it was an incredible trip! The kids had a blast and I can't wait to go back in two years.

6 weeks in!

How is it almost halfway through October and we already have had progress reports for the first quarter?! In some ways, this school year feels like it is FLYING by and in others, it is dragging. Needless to say, it has been an interesting school year so far and certainly has kept me busy!

Keeping busy is definitely my life's mantra/theme right now. I honestly feel like collapsing and not doing ANYTHING once I get home from school. I usually leave my house by 6:45/6:50 to help with traffic. My commute is about 30 minutes give or take...sometimes 45 if it is really bad with traffic. A week ago it was pouring and it took me an HOUR. So there's something I miss about my old school with the commute being only 20 minutes and I was driving against traffic and not with it! 

Everyone has said the first year is always the worst. You're a hot mess trying to get assimilated to everything and you're planning day by day. Second year it gets better because you're tweaking everything from year one. By third year, you've got it down. Is this really the truth? Because I feel like I am doggy paddling to keep my head above water with planning!!!

My problem was I didn't get access to my curriculum/topics until the day before school started and the first week of school. The other ladies in my department have been super helpful though! The french teacher (she teaches 7-12 and I teach the 6th graders) gave me a binder of all the topics/vocabulary she wants me to teach and said I can use that/do whatever I want. That helps because I am really on my own in that department. But at least it's the same textbook I used at my last school so no worries there. For 6th and 7th grade Spanish, we do packets and its usually a packet a week/week and a half then a quiz. They gave me the packets that they did over the summer (that they got paid to create) and then I have been using them in conjunction with things I find online or make up myself. 

What I am finding is over planning can be good. I hate when you think you planned enough and then you still have 10 minutes left. My favorite is when I over plan and then I don't have enough time to do everything I wanted because they're stuck on something. It is hard when the textbooks/workbooks are on back order until October 27th!!!!! I feel like once I have a grip on everything, it won't be that bad. A new friend at work, who is also the new FACS teacher, told me that she felt this way her first year teaching (she taught for 5 years in another district) and kind of feels it again this year so it's nice to have some company in feeling like you're paddling to stay afloat! 

I know it will get easier! I am really happy though. I have to say that I NEVER thought I would get a job teaching in a Long Island school district. It's a great district I work in and I hopefully get to become a full time teacher and not teach just a total of 3 classes. But don't get me wrong, I love it! (I do miss my other coworkers terribly!!)

Keeping in with that, I already had my first formal observation!! I chose my biggest class, my French class of 30 kids, to be observed in. Our new AP observed me and it went so well! I would rather constructive criticism then just being told there was nothing wrong. I like being able to improve because then it makes instruction smoother. He submitted his evaluation online and I got 6 highly effectives on the rubric! I was shocked! There's 15 categories and I had a lot of effectives and one developing (which is something so minor to fix) that I was so happy. That just proves to me that I am in the right profession, I know what I am doing and they're happy with me. At our new teacher meeting last Wednesday with the principal, he said they're so happy with the group they have of us new teachers (2 TAs, myself, the FACS teacher and the new speech pathologist).

The only thing I wish was I had more time to sleep! Ha ha! I am so tired and coffee is not helping right now. I had to get up early because I had a third dog trainer come meet my wild beast Lily to help me. This dog is costing me an arm & a leg with training but it'll be worth it! Right now I am off to go get my nails done and go to Kohl's. A little retail never hurt anyone! 

Back to School!

Does anyone else feel like summer FLEW by and it's a shame we're back in school? HA! I was in school with finals/proctoring/grading until June 27th and then went to AC. Granted, I had my fun this summer but with working, it didn't feel like it was long enough.

Last Tuesday was Superintendent's Conference day at my new district. I got to meet all the language teachers and everyone was super nice. There's only one French teacher and she teaches 7-12. I teach the 6th grade class. She gave me an ENTIRE BINDER of basically every lesson and said I could use whatever I wanted. I was super happy.

Wednesday was the first day of school! It was SO different than being with my coworkers from the last two years. First off, my old school had air conditioning therefore I was spoiled. This one...not so much. But hey, it's okay. I think I was so burnt by the end of the first day I went to bed at 9:30! I can't remember the last time that I did that. 

Pretty much how I felt Friday afternoon.

Overall, my classes are not that bad. My Spanish 6 has 20 kids, my Spanish 7 has 26 kids and my French 6 has 30 KIDS!!!!! The principal told me that there were originally 37 kids enrolled but they had to tell kids no. I am SHOCKED!! We had 3 sections of it last year where I was working. I only see the 6th graders every other day so it is dragged out a bit. Today was my second day of seeing the French kids. 

If I am not teaching, I am in the testing center or the academic center when I don't have my lunch/prep/professional periods. The testing center is air conditioned but three periods in a row in there will FREEZE you!! If there are no tests/quizzes being given, the bright side is that I can plan!!

Overall, I am happy I got this job. I definitely would not be doing what I did the last two years this year if I was still there (they kept TAs in all classes BUT language classes) and I would have been a one-on-one. I miss my old chair and coworkers terribly but everyone in the department has made me feel welcome. 

Time to go plan for the rest of the week! 

Back to School!

On Thursday, I had my new teacher orientation for my new school district. I was excited to see who else was working in the district and meet the other newbies in my building. I'm in the middle school so there's a new Family & Consumer Sciences teacher, myself, a new P/T Speech Pathologist and a new Teaching Assistant who was there last year as a Social Studies leave.

They gave us breakfast, took us on a bus tour of the community and we stopped at Cablevision, which is the largest employer on Long Island. They took our picture there and gave us free tote bags. Went back to school and got our ID pictures taken (the superintendent made me go first! Ha! It didn't come out bad). Afterwards, we had lunch which was done by the teachers union. And then proceeded to fill out the motherload of paperwork. I am talking each new teacher got a 5 Start expandable portfolio with all the papers. I just felt like my head was swimming as I was doing this and felt overloaded with information. 

The bright side while filling out all these papers is that we were informed we get free dental & free vision plans! It's separate from the medical, which we pay for, but it's something they worked out with the district. I say that is pretty awesome!

After that meeting, we had to go meet with our principal at the middle school. Oh, might I say that they are REPAVING the road IN FRONT OF the school and it makes it IMPOSSIBLE to get to?!?!?!?! I literally parked two blocks away and walked (and by walked, I mean I ran across the street when the construction people weren't looking because I had to get there). 

At the meeting with the principal, we all got handed binders with the teacher handbook. I didn't realize it would be that huge! I started reading through it and then decided to read more of it at home. My new principal (and the brand new assistant principal who seems really nice) told us we do not have to hand in lesson plans...which can be a good thing and a bad thing. He was super impressed with my lesson at the demo so I want to make sure I maintain that. I get observed 4 times during the year (1 announced and 3 unannounced) and he gave us the charts that they use to evaluate us. I like that because then you're not left in the dark. 

Just talking about the pre-assessments we have to give the kids the second week of school makes me want to vomit a little. I feel lost there because I haven't met any of the other teachers in my department yet (I will on Tuesday) and I don't know if we all have to make our own tests or we use the same one throughout the department. That's how they did it in my last school. I have a list of questions to ask at our department meeting on Tuesday and I am praying that they give me a mentor teacher or something to help me. I see my 6th graders every other day so I don't even see my French kids until Thursday! So I am not so worried about that but in reality I am, you know? I just don't want to mess up, after thinking I would NEVER get a job in a Long Island school district. At the new teacher orientation, every department head/person kept mentioning it was a great place to work and everyone is extremely collaborative so I am hoping they will be like that when I meet them on Tuesday.

Despite feeling like I have no idea what I am doing, I am excited for the school year to start. All of my co-workers from my last school, including my chairperson, said to let them know if I need anything and they will help me. I have a feeling I will be okay (and if not, that's what a glass or two of wine is for at night!) and slowly, but surely, will feel more confident in myself. 

My Classroom

Never in a million years did I ever think the day was going to come. I have been hunting for a job in NY ever since I graduated with my master's three years ago. NY highly trains their teachers (those teacher certification exams they make us take to get our certification are such a joke) so you would figure getting a job would be somewhat easy. Oh no, it's not.

I have been on numerous interviews. I always said my dream job was to take over my middle school Spanish teacher's job (I had the same teacher all 3 years) and teach in the district where I went to school. Last year I went on three interviews for it and got cut right before the demo. I kept going on interviews and this year in 2014, I had three alone but didn't go on. It's okay because they were for high school and all my experience is in middle school (even if they say that's not why I still think that hinders me being chosen). I was ready to give up on New York all together. I had looked into what it took to get my certification in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Georgia. 

During finals & regents week, I was applying for jobs left and right. The end of the school year/summer is when a lot of jobs come about. I applied for a HS leave replacement in one district. They called me about a week after I applied to come in and do the writing sample. I thought that was odd because usually they interview you & then have you do the writing sample. A week after that, they called me and had said they had me slotted for an interview the next morning at 10:45 and could I make it. You betcha!

I went to the interview and thought it was odd that it was at the middle school when I applied for a high school position. I interviewed with the principal, the assistant principal, the technology teacher, the chair for languages and two parents. Literally 45 minutes later when I was walking out of Panera with my lunch, the secretary called me to tell me they had me scheduled for a demo that Monday morning at 9:15!! HOLY CRAP was my initial reaction!! I literally started freaking out because I had no idea what I was going to do. 

Luckily, I have been blessed with such wonderful co-workers (who are now friends) that I called and they gave me advice. I spent ALL my free time when I was not at work planning it, designing the activities, spending tons of money on ink at Office Max (I need recommendations for a printer y'all). I literally could not drink coffee (my lifeline) or eat anything the morning of. I was told there were going to be 12 kids and I had no idea how many administrators. It turned out to be only the chairperson and the principal. 

After I was done with the demo, the principal and chair asked to talk to me on the way out. I couldn't tell if it was a good sign or a bad sign. They basically told me right then and there I HAD THE JOB!!! It took everything in my power not to scream for joy. I was told my position would be .4 so I get one 6th grade class to teach Spanish/French and one 7th grade Spanish class. Then, in order to fill my schedule they are going to have me be a TA and pay me both salaries. 

I was literally so flabbergasted I did not know what to think. After they were gone talking to me, the principal had me go meet the human resources lady. I met with her, she told me what my salary would be, and then she sent me to meet with the superintendent (tip: always carry extra copies of your resume & cover letter!! I left my stack at home but the principal said he was done with mine so he gave me his copy to give to the superintendent....I didn't think all this was happening that day!) After talking with the superintendent, he shook my hand and welcomed me to the district. I think I was so not expecting it all I could say was "Thank you." HAHA!

As soon as I walked out to my car, I sent my co-worker Georgia (who taught the HS French classes where I worked) a text that said "Um.....I just got the job?!?!!!!). I literally did not know what to think. I kind of cried the whole drive home too because to me, it was like I  finally caught my break. While it's not a full load of classes, it is definitely a start. I am getting to teach my dream age group (call me nuts but I love middle school!!). 

I got my papers last week with the date of my new teacher orientation, which is August 28th (we don't start school until September 3rd in NY!), so I must be Board of Education approved. I now need to tell my chairperson from the school I have been at the past two years (I am literally so afraid to...I don't know why!) and write my resignation letter. Last Friday I got what position I would have been had I gone back there in September and I would be a one-on-one TA shadow in a special ed classroom....not using my language. 

It makes me sad to think about not going back there. I had some great students this past year in 7th grade and I got along great with all my department colleagues. I am sad to leave there but I simply cannot pass this opportunity up. My co-teachers have been so encouraging these past two years and wanted me to get something so they have all be so excited since I told them I got it (two already took me out to celebrate and one is taking me out next week). I am so excited to start planning (once I actually know what books to use or the curriculum in the district is) and start this next chapter in my life! The new Target opened in my town (you know it's bad when you've been there 2 times in one week) and has lured me in with the back to school stuff so I can start creating a stock of things I may need. 

17 Signs You Were Meant To Be a Teacher

So, I happened to stumble upon this link tonight. "17 Signs You Were Meant to be a Teacher" and I honestly could not agree more with the writer!! I had the same thoughts about every single thing she posted! It is so true. I wanted to share it with my thoughts in a different color below:

17 Signs You Were Meant to be a Teacher

Original Article by Kate Bailey 

1. When people comment that the job is “so easy,” you immediately raise an eyebrow and ask them how they’d feel about wrangling 20-30 kids on a daily basis, and not even just keep them under control, but actually teach them something.

I could not agree more. Sometimes people think teaching is just glorified babysitting and those are the people I would like to lock in a room with 25-30 teenagers hyped up on sugar for a day and see how they make it out alive! You're responsible for shaping their future in a subject matter but also helping themselves shape to be well-rounded individuals.

2. Your version of “playing pretend” when you were a kid was setting up a classroom somewhere in your house and making your stuffed animals/friends/parents/neighbors come and be your students.

I totally had a table & chairs set up in our family room when I was little and played school. It was my #1 favorite thing to do!

3. You still walk around and see cute things and think “that will go in my classroom.”

Or stuff I find on Pinterest/Teachers Pay Teachers. I have so many ideas of WHAT I want to do that I can't WAIT to actually be able to do it in my own classroom!! 

4. You know it’s a tough job, and you know it’s a dirty job (sometimes literally) but you also know that the satisfaction of walking away having honestly changed a kid’s life is more than worth it.

The best moment of being a teacher is being able to see that light bulb go off in the child's head. The moment they FINALLY realize something. The moment when they were struggling for so long and get an awesome test score...THOSE are the moments I love. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

5. You kind of don’t think you’d be able to function without a summer vacation, so.

Or any vacation from school. It's time to recharge and relax. Teachers are human...we need breaks just like any other profession.

6. You’ve always lost your mind over “teacher stores” and other craft places, and are stocking up on scented markers and stickers and pencils and things.

Yes...especially teachers pay teachers, pinterest, and amazon! So many things I want for my classroom!! Who else would get excited over a laminating machine?!

7. You’ve been practicing “grading” things for years, polishing your star-making abilities, because for some unbeknownst reason, there are few joys greater than excessively marking up a paper.

Call me crazy but I LOVE grading papers. All the teachers I work with think its nuts but love giving me stuff to grade. :)

8. You actually do care about those little shit head kids, no matter how frustrating they can be.

Absolutely. We all have those kids that tick us off to NO end or won't stop talking or make you want to rip the hair on your head out. But honestly, when you see them visibly upset about something, the heartstrings tug. We care so much as teachers because we want what is BEST for them!

 9. You have an affinity for blue fun tack, laminating things and Mr. Sketch markers.

I was super excited to get my laminating machine for Christmas!!! I cannot wait to use it. :)

10. You almost don’t know how to read something without needing to turn it around so everyone else can see it or pause and say “what do we think is going to happen next?” Let’s predict, boys and girls.”

Totally true.

11. You’ve perfected your “I’ll wait” facial expression.

Ha! My students know this!! The classic "I'll just wait until you're done talking and we can sit & you'll be late to your next class" phrase that gets them antsy. Or just this:

 

12. You’ve always know you were going to be a teacher, there were no other plausible options.

I wanted to be a pediatrician. My middle school guidance counselor told me I was too stupid to be one. So I put my heart into teaching. I probably would have been a kick-ass pediatrician...if I was actually good at science and liked it! 

13. You’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time wondering how your last name would sound as a teacher name, if you’d be Ms. or Miss if you’re a woman, if you’d take your married name if and when the day comes, etc.

My last name now is so hard for most kids to say so they just call me Ms.J or Senorita J or Senorita Jota (how you say J in Spanish). I REALLY hope I don't get a difficult or weird last name when I am married! 

14. If you ever got the chance to student teach, you were grateful for the experience, but kind of spent the whole time like “let… me….. do…….. MORE.”

In a way, yes. I had two student teaching experiences that were totally different for different reasons. One let me do whatever I want and the other gave me constructive criticism. I feel that it really NO WAY prepares you for your own classroom and you really fly by the seat of your pants the first year. 

15. You have, by demand, had every social media account on public lockdown, have used your first and middle name as your profile name and know that no photo is safe in the world of education.

Yeah...that awkward moment when the kids go "You have facebook?!" I know they can't find me because I have made myself unsearchable! 

16. You’ve been stocking up on “teacher clothes” and no vest or holiday brooch is off-limits.

90% of the clothes I buy now is related to school. The days of shopping at Forever 21 are over.

17. You understand that there is loving kids and then there is loving kids so much that you honestly want to be around them all day and deal with their issues and teach them things and watch them grow. You are the latter. You are a teacher.

There are some days when I just want to jump out the window because it is so frustrating that you explain something 239580934624 times and you still get that one kid that goes "WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO?" Or the psycho parent that contacts you. Or the kid that constantly cries. Then, you have the days when you crack open a bottle of wine when you get home. Or take a nap because of a long day. There are some days that are just not worth reliving. But honestly, as whiny as it sounds, teaching is hands down a truly rewarding profession. I don't think there is any other job I would rather do (other than trophy wife maybe haha!). My students may have interesting issues (like kneeling every time he has to ask me a question) or just need someone to be there for them and it's satisfying to watch them grow as individuals and learners. 

 

    

 

Busy as a bee!

I feel like all my blog posts have been lately are link ups. Well, that's fine and dandy because this is my blog and I can do whatever I want!

However, now we are into the second full week of school and settling into routines. I went back on September 3rd. I am back working as a TA where I was last year only this time, I am in BOTH Spanish & French classes! Talk about confusing, haha. My schedule is something along the lines of this:

Period 1 A Days - French B
Period 1 B Days - Spanish B
Period 2 - Off
Period 3 - Spanish B
Period 4 - Off
Period 5 A Days - French A
Period 5 B Days - Spanish A
Period 6 - Off/lunch
Period 7 - Spanish A
Period 8 A Days - French A
Period 8 B Days - Spanish A
Period 9 A Days - French A
Period 9 B Days - Spanish A

Confusing, much?!  They have a lot of kids this year with needs in French so since it was my minor, I am in those classes as well. It's great because as the kids are learning, I am relearning as well! They did have a job posting for a French TA so hopefully there'll be one soon.

Its going to be a challenging year between remembering what day it is and what class I am in with which teacher. I work with 5 different teachers! I also have some students who have a lot of needs so reading all the IEPs has been daunting. And I don't just read them to find their testing mods. I literally read all 8-11 pages of them.

I am still on the job hunt for my own teaching job/classroom. I applied to a bunch over the summer but NOTHING is more frustrating then applying, writing a cover letter, and not even hearing from them. At least getting the acknowledgement email from some districts that they got my resume is better because then I know it's not lost somewhere in the online system. It's a really hard job market where I live for teachers and I am doing my best to not give up. I am starting to read more into the requirements out of state. Anyone from Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia or South Carolina have any suggestions? I really have nothing tying me to New York so Lily, the pup, can come with me wherever I move. I am turning 27 in 2 months and I thought by that age, I would have my life in order (a job, a house, engaged or married). I am sort of there with the job but want a more permanent one.

Tomorrow is open school night. It's the first time I get to experience it! I am not sure what the parents are going to think of a TA in the room (I didn't go last year because I started in the beginning of October) but we shall see!

And just for fun, here's a picture of my adorable Lily. I tired her out by taking her on a long walk after I got home from school the other day on my night off!

One year down...so many more to come!

After going back to school yesterday for a Superintendent's conference day and being dismissed early, I can officially say SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!!! It was not cool that we had to go back yesterday in order to make up the number of days in attendance according to NYS rules for schools but at least we were let out early!

That being said, it's one year down and so many more to come working in a school! I was originally hired as a permanent substitute for Spanish but when one of the teaching assistants left, the chairperson switched me over. I worked in 6 classes of 7th & 8th grade students (three of each grade level) and co-taught with the teachers. It was definitely an experience in itself because I got to see a variety of teaching styles. When it came to testing (each quarterly exam, etc) I gave the Special Education students in the classes their testing mods. 

But this year has definitely taught me a lot. As a teacher and about myself. As a teacher, you ARE going to have days when you just want to RIP your hair out of your head. You're going to have days when you can't do anything but just laugh at how ridiculous the day is or your students are acting. You will have the days when you definitely lose your cool (I have seen that on many of occassions). 

But then there are the days that make you realize how completely rewarding this profession is. People deem teachers to be glorified babysitters. To anyone that says that, I would love to leave you in a room for 40 minutes with 25-30 hormone-enraged teenagers or 25-30 little kids and see how you can get content in a subject across. It definitely is not easy and it takes someone who cares a lot about kids to be able to be a teacher. At the end of the year, three of my students in my 9th period class gave me letters of appreciation. Reading them just made me smile. (The spelling/grammar can improve but it's the thought that counts!)

I learned how some kids get a concept so easily while others, no matter how many times you teach it, can't get it until it is broken down into very simple steps. I learned that kids look at you like their personal Staples store and are always asking for pens & paper! As a teacher, you take collateral in order to make sure you get your pens & pencils back. The faculty room can be viewed as a form of cheap therapy where you vent all your frustrations on your off period(s). As a teacher, you learn how one lesson can COMPLETELY flop and others go so well. It's all about trial & error. You learn you can't please every kid and there'll be kids that don't care...those are the ones that make you work harder.

Some people go into the field of education thinking it's a piece of cake. They student teach and either are happy in the end or want to give up. Teaching isn't for everyone, just like every other job isn't for everyone. This year, working as a teaching assistant, taught me a lot of things. I wouldn't change my profession for anything. No one may have hired me yet to have my own classroom but this district took a chance on me and I am grateful. I was able to make connects to students and enjoyed my classes. I was sad at the end of the year. 

I am in the field of education because of my middle school Spanish teacher. She had such a love for teaching and she was my inspiration to study two languages in high school. My high school language teachers furthered my love of this subject and I knew in 10th grade I had to major in languages and education in college. I have had so many obstacles thrown in my way to get to where I am today but I am forever changed because of it. If I can make the impact on one student the way my teachers had on me, it will be worth every frustrating moment, long nights of grading, etc. 

 

Being a teacher

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when people make comments about teachers. They say that we have one of the easiest jobs, we're always off, we have summers off. They claim teachers are doing "glorified babysitting." Which, any teacher will tell you, IT IS SO NOT!

I always knew I wanted to be a foreign language teacher since about 8th grade. Thanks to having one awesome teacher who inspired me into pursuing this passion (my entire college admissions essay was about my middle school foreign language teacher) I never really regretted my decision. I did my undergraduate degree in education, but had to drop it two weeks before graduation because they weren't going to let me student teach (long big stupid story about the department having a student teaching requirement for the foreign language teachers and no one could pass it). Eventually, I pursued my masters in education (when I originally wanted to go for Teaching English as a Second Language). I completed it in 1.5 years and in May 2011, I graduated!

However, I feel so frustrated with it. I know every state has different requirements for a teaching degree. In NYS, we have to pass a bunch of different certification exams: Liberal Arts & Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Elementary teachers take a multi-subject CST for their degree. All these tests are $89 a pop to take and if you miss by one point, you have to retake it. Some people have had to take their CST 3 times (me and other friends included) because they test you on the most RANDOM information. Then, it's $100 to get fingerprinted (at least that is good for life!). Then, you have to take a child abuse workshop, safe violence workshop, an autism workshop if you're getting a special education degree. Also, applying for your certificates is $50 a certificate and every 5 years you have to renew them (that part doesn't bother me so much). The amount of money I have spent becoming a teacher disgusts me.

I have my degree in Adolescence Education Spanish for grades 7-12 with an extension for grades 5 & 6. I also took four classes, a Students with Disabilities CST and the autism workshop after I did my masters to get my Special Education generalist degree. Only NYS likes taking forever to review your transcripts. I applied in APRIL, my transcripts were "ready for review" in AUGUST, and they just got reviewed in NOVEMBER! I got my letter the other day telling me I am deficient in 6 S.H math credits. So basically, I have to go back to school and take 2 math classes....and I haven't taken math since I was a senior in HIGH SCHOOL! It' just annoys me that you have to go through all these hoops and hurdles to get the degree. They don't even tell you what kinds of math classes you need to take. I want to take the easiest ones possible! Math was probably my worst subject in school (I detest it with a passion!) 

I am going to try to take it at the community college. I figure it would be way cheaper taking it there then where I got my masters (a private school). This just pisses me off because now its more money to add to the debt that I am trying to pay off! It is just never ending. And, I think I am going to wait until the summer to take it because there is way too much on my plate right now. There is no way I could factor in taking classes while working 3 jobs, one of which being in a school all day. My other option is to take it online, which I may also do but somehow I feel I would learn the math better in a classroom.

I didn't originally go to school to work as a special education teacher. But in a job market where the teaching jobs are far and few, ANYTHING that can make me stand out is better. And just for some laughter, here are a few of my favorite teacher e-cards: