New Job...sort of

Two weeks ago as I was wandering through the Springfield, Missouri Bass Pro Shop my cellphone rang. Caller ID indicated it was my boss...well former boss as he's switched schools for the coming year...anyway, he asked if I'd gotten my assignment letter. Of course I hadn't. My last letter from the district indicated I could "potentially be laid off." so he proceeded to give me the news of my new job assignment. This year I will be teaching social studies...at the middle school! That was a bit of a surprise.

I made a trip out to school this week to pick up textbooks and to check out my new space. Now I just need to figure out what to do with it!

Classes, classes and more classes.....

I know, I'm a teacher so classes are kind of the norm for me. I'm in class all day, everyday, but it's different when you're the student rather than the teacher. I like being a student. I love to learn, but these ESOL classes have been going on for four months now, and I'm tired. Today was our last Saturday class. Two more Monday evenings and final assignments to go. I'm wishing it was already over.

Mosaic - Little bits about Lots of stuff

The end of the month is in site and, looking back over 2010 so far, I haven't had much to blog about. Between work and classes, I've had little time or inclination to do much else. It feels like I'm sort of suspended, yet time is still progressing.

My ESOL classes are going pretty well. Much of what we discuss/work on is stuff most of us already know. Like many of the professional development things we do, I think the collaboration is most useful.

So, I got the word yesterday that I'll be working full time for the rest of the school year. That's a good thing, but now the real work begins to put meaningful lesson plans together and to ramp up my role a little bit. Until now it's been sort of like subbing. That's got to change.

And speaking of work, today was conferences. I admit to having an intense dislike for secondary conferences. On the whole, turn out is low. I don't know if parents don't find them important, or if they believe no news is good news. It's really interesting. Anyway, for this round of conferences the district implemented "conference calling." We had to log so many calls to parents during our time. This worked really well for me since I (maybe) see one or two parents during the hours of sitting and waiting. Today I actually spoke with four, doubling my average! I also sent a couple of emails for those parents I know will respond. During this time I came to the realization that if I could email progress to all my parents, I'd do it much more regularly. I think that's going on my goal list for next year.

Haiti has been the big news for the last couple weeks. I haven't blogged about it on purpose because I wasn't sure what to say. If you haven't overloaded, check out Lisa's blog. Her dad's a doctor who spent some time with a medical team there after the earthquake.

I guess I wasn't busy enough....

I've been teaching half time this school year, and while I wasn't thrilled with the idea of fewer hours and less pay, I was thankful to have job, a regular paycheck and benefits. It took a couple of months, but I got used to the routine: Up early, work, run by the main office, hit the gym and home by early afternoon. I had time to put in on a DAR project, I scrap booked,read, cooked (sometimes). It was kind of nice. But, those of you who know me, know I like to stay relatively busy. I should be careful what I wish for.

Change of Pace #1 - Last month I answered an email from our curriculum director about some graduate level courses toward an ESOL endorsement. I don't have many second language kids, but the courses are grant funded (free is a very good price!) so I felt it was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. I came back from our break on January 4, to an email that classes were starting on January 5. Okay. We've had two meetings. I've seen the syllabus. I'm going to be busy for the next few months.

Change of Pace #2 - On Wednesday I had a message to call our human resources director. "Hmmmmm", I thought, but I made the call. Another teacher in the district had made a request to reduce her hours and I was being offered the second half of her day. Again, it was an opportunity too good to pass up. I'll be tackling some new material. Of course I accepted. I've spent the last couple afternoons getting to know the kids and coordinating with the other teacher. On Tuesday, I'll officially be flying solo.

So, what does this mean? Up early, detour past the main office first thing in the am, teach my classes until noon. Eat in a hurry and jump in the car to drive to my new pm classes. Squeeze in the gym afterwards (hopefully), and on days I have class, I'll rush there for three hours of school work, working in dinner/snacks as I can. I'm having a feeling of deja vu. Didn't I do this schedule once already? Oh yeah, but I was a few years younger then. :)

Oregon State Hospital

Teachers are always learning. Oregon requires so many professional development units (PDU's) to renew a teaching license. Most of those units are acquired through staff development activities throughout the school year. But, occasionally, teachers will take some summer workshops or college classes and earn a few more. This week I'm doing a workshop call Summer Institutes. I attended one in 2003 and there were about 20 participants. This week, there are almost 160.

Part of the Summer Institutes curriculum is community interaction. Today my group toured the Oregon State Hospital. For those of you who don't know, the hospital's main building was built in 1883. It's been crumbling for decades, and now the hospital is going though a major demolition and renovation project. It was an interesting tour of a facility that has a long and interesting history. I'm glad I got a chance to see parts of it.