Tuesday, January 30, 2007

New York City here I come!

That's right folks. I am headed to New York City, the big apple. I interviewed and got a job in New York City Public Schools for next year. That means in Aug I will be headed to the big apple for my first teaching job.

The first question i have been getting is "Where in New York city?" I am not sure yet. I have passed the first round of screening for the district and been guaranteed a job but where I am not sure yet. I need to go visit the city and meet some principals before I can get a position in the district. This is to ensure that my teaching style matches with the principal, staff and school as well as me liking them.

But as it stands now the official move date will be varied. I will most likely be attending a wedding in Vegas on the 7th of July, going to camp in upstate New York on the 10th of July and then camp ends on the 6th of Aug and from there I plan to road trip to Niagara Falls and then down to the city. It looks like I will start officially putting together my classroom the last week of Aug. At some point I do need to fly to New York City to check out the school and stuffs, but not sure when that will be right now. Although a surprising note, dad said he would pay for the trip out there (since my Christmas present was gas money one way to NYC). So that will be less of a stress on my already stressed bank account.

Stressed. why you ask?!?! Apparently being an adult comes with bills. Between the car lock that has broken for a second time (two days after i got it fixed), the new air filter, oil change (paid for by mom), the windshield wipers that I got before heading to Seattle for the interview, and the money to buy bells in Seattle* expenses are killing my savings.

*For those of you who do not know, I collect bells of all shapes and sizes. Any trip that I take I must have a new bell. Most, not all, of my bells have their own stories to go along with them. After the three I got this weekend (one from Eric's mom from Hawaii) I know have 155. I think that is accurate but you never know when you get up that high.

So I am not to keen on the idea of becoming even more of an adult right now, especially on the day after realizing that the dream I have had for over two years now has actually come true. I'm headed to NYC... Watch out NYC here I come!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Future...ready? GO!!!

Ok... well... as you can see from the title, the future is rapidly approaching and I am not sure what to do about it. I got the email that finally settle some fears but stirred up even more in the process. On January 28th, 2007 I will be interviewing for my dream job. That's right, my teaching job in New York City and I will be interviewing in less than two weeks. The interview is in Seattle so at least I get out of Eugene once this term. I just thought I would announce it to the world that I am interviewing less than two weeks. omg..freaking out... o well..time to go triple check that I have things in order for class tomorrow.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

So... Fun times

Two things to talk about in todays post..way bored at work and supervisors.
Way bored at work, that's right once again I am way bored at work. When I worked in the main office I felt bad for being bored at work, like I was the only student worker who had nothing to do and I should be doing something. To most people this logic makes sense, getting paid = actually doing soemthing. Aparently this philosophy is totally wrong for student working. I have started my new job and regular hours... 7-3 on Saturday and Sundays. Man, I thought main housing was bad...nope. There is not a single residence hall student up at 7 on a Saturday morning...so it being 10:30 I have worked maybe 20 minutes of my first three and a half hours. WOOHOO!!

So with this lack of work to do but still having to BE at work, I have taken to doing my homework. This is kind of like the snow day I had on Thursday (for those of you who dont know Eugene, where I live, got all of an inch and a half of snow on Thursday and EVERY school was shut down so I had a snow day!!!). I had nothing to do so I got a jump on my work sample, getting the first major part out of the way which included the pre-test and unit plan. And since it was done I fowarded it on to my university supervisor because they need to approve it all before I can start teaching. I got an email back Friday night saying that she was impressed that I already had this done and that I was getting a HUGE jump on things. HELLO!?!?! I was bored all day Thursday, I didnt wanna leave my comfortable littel bubble to find out the city was still full of snow and soon to be ice. So I did what any rational snow day kid would do...homework. !!! Look I can lie pretty well dont you think?!!? Anyway, she's gunna be REALLY shocked to see that I have already emailed her back with changes to both documents at 8:30 this morning!!!

O well... time to go pretend like Im working while I actually write lesson plans.... maybe maybe not we shall see.

Monday, January 08, 2007

First Day

That's right... today was the first day of the rest of my life. Lets see...today I started a new job, not too bad in all, tonight I signed up for the interview in Seattle (for NYC) and tomorrow I officially start my student teaching.

So the job is significant because it is new and it is the job that will last me though student teaching, hopefully not there spring term as I want to return to Janice who I LOVE!!! the job is good although like I said I hope not to be there next term as it seems to be a job for more of the sophomore and junior crowd rather than grad students. But we shall see, maybe the young people around me will help me to relax on weekends.

Tonight I officially signed up for the Seattle interview. Hopefully I get one and if I do I need to do is to get a letter from the school saying I will be certified this summer. Then I head to Seattle in three weeks and FREAK OUT because I am interviewing for my first real job. OMG!!! The rest of my life seems to hinge on this interview...is that bad?

And last but not least, student teaching. I officially start student teaching tomorrow. In the state of Oregon you need to pass student teaching (among other things) to be able to apply for your licence to teach. Although that requires me to not to murder myself over my special education class that I have this term. It looks as if it is going to be an introduction to special education which none of us has EVER taken before...cant you tell!?! But student teaching should be a breeze as long as I get enough sleep.

Well, its time to hit the sack so I can get up nice and early to get ready for the second day of the rest of my life. Wish me luck!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Getting Ready

It's that time again, time to get ready for a new term. This will, although, be my most unique term..student teaching. I will be teaching 40 hours a week (like a real teacher) for the next 11 weeks. I will take over the class entirely for 5 of those 11 weeks. But, the only difference between the real teacher and I is that she gets paid. I will be doing it for college credits. My worksample (state requirement) is based around a colonial American simulation where the kids colonize North America. It should be lots of fun for the students this year. We did this same thing last year and using it as my worksample gives me the freedom (to an extent) to do it how ever I want. We shall see if my way messes it up royally or is something that in implemented in the future.

When it comes to the rest of my life, I am also starting a new job. I will be working at the LLC (new residence hall)'s area desk. I will be working weekends, 7-3, both days. So thats right..for the next 11 weeks I have two days off. I figure if I can survive this I can make it anywhere. Thinking back I usually worked 6 days a weeek at least in high school and did bad at the same time. I can handle this.

On the job front it looks like im headed to Seattle in three weeks to interview of New York Public Schools. They will be in Seattle on the 28th of Jaunary so I think I am gunna head up on Saturday after work and pick up Eric on the way up. The Career fair is Sunday morning starting at nine am. To make sure that I do not have to worry about getting back, I am going to stay Sunday night and make my way back down on Monday, taking Monday as one of my two personal days from student teaching. Wish me luck y'all. O and I ordered business cards today so if you want one (if anyone reads this) let me know and it will be all official.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Addicted to Books..is this bad?

I have come the realization that I am addicted to books. Ok, so I might not read like there is no tomorrow and I may not be reading the classics but dang... I think I am addicted to books. Las week in three days at work (being the holiday season I am working a lot with little to do) I read an entire Harry Potter book, book 5 for those who are wondering, and today I read an entire book at work.
Today's adventure, for those of you who care, was "Naked in Death" by J. D. Robb, aka Nora Roberts. This book was awesome. I fell apon J. D. Robb this summer when I picked up a book randomly at a store and bought it (being the teacher that I am and aparently addicted to books). I happened to read 7 books this summer in the "in Death" series this summer. All are murder mystries that include cop drama and no so children friendly scenes, but none the less good books. "Naked in Death" is the frist book of the entire series. This made the book even more interesting to me becaues I am seeing the character development of characters I already know and love. For instance, Dallas, the cop, in this book starts out thinking that the billionare Roarke is the main suspect, and by the end, lets just say he's cleared of all suspisions and is madly in love with Dallas.
But the only issue with this book...I'M DONE!!!! Now I am forced to go by another J. D. Robb book at the local bookstore tonight to see how the fabolious Roarke pops the question to Dallas who obviously says yes. I love it because it is like a time portal back to the beginning of these characters.