~Jonnie
Monday, March 4, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The American Teacher
A teacher fried posted this on Facebook, so I thought I would share it on here. Enjoy reading.
~Jonnie
Friday, January 4, 2013
2013, A New Year for New Adventures
Happy New Year! May this new year bring you new, exciting adventures!
For the first post of 2013 I wanted to share two videos I have shared with students. If the students find the videos interesting, you should too. Enjoy! :)
Education Paradigm
What Teachers Make
~Jonnie
For the first post of 2013 I wanted to share two videos I have shared with students. If the students find the videos interesting, you should too. Enjoy! :)
Education Paradigm
What Teachers Make
~Jonnie
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Making a Difference
I was the long-term sub in a world history class at a local high school for seven weeks until the BOE decided to bring a qualified teacher into the classroom. I was given a one day notice the new teacher would be taking over on the following Monday. I am now back to relying on the sub system to call me for sub assignments. A recent sub assignment was for a teacher in the classroom across the hall from my "former" classroom. My "former" students had varying reactions when they saw me in the hall that day. Some said they were mad at me for leaving them, didn't want to talk to me and kept walking. Others stopped to give me hugs and told me they missed me. Some students mentioned they missed my worksheets. A few students complained they hadn't learned anything since I left, other students complained their grades were dropping with the new teacher, but they all wanted me to come back. I was surprised how many students said they missed me, and I was even more surprised when the trouble making students gave me hugs. If you read my previous post you would know my time in the world history class was not all sunshine and rainbows. It took a few weeks for the students and I to develop a working routine and to develop a good teacher-student relationship.
You never know the impact you have on students until they show/tell you. The students' reactions were a pleasant surprise and a confidant booster for my self-esteem. I feel as though I made a difference in their lives. To me that's what teaching is about, making a difference.
~Jonnie
You never know the impact you have on students until they show/tell you. The students' reactions were a pleasant surprise and a confidant booster for my self-esteem. I feel as though I made a difference in their lives. To me that's what teaching is about, making a difference.
~Jonnie
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Never Say Never
It's been a long time since Kelli and I have posted on this blog. Kelli has a good excuse, she's recently got married and she's working on her Master's. I'm still trying to figure out what career I want to pursue when I grow up. Which I may have stumbled upon it thanks to a long term sub position I had for one month.
I was the long term sub in a special education classroom. During the experience I told myself and others I would never want to work in the special education arena because I did not believe I was capable of working with children in the special education program, or dealing with the paperwork, the liability, and the parents. Ha-ha-ha on me, because when that long term position ended I was shifted to a long term position in a regular education classroom.
Almost every day I say I will quit, or I want to quit. I have learned I do not work well with regular education students. Or maybe it's just the students I have because if you knew what I have experienced in the past month with these students, you may be more sympathetic to my case. After two to three weeks with these regular ed students I signed my butt up for the special education GACE (Georgia Assessment for Certified Educators).
I never thought I would want to work in special education, but I have learned through experience most, not all, children in the special education program have respect for adults, sit quietly in their seats, are almost always on task, and never make me want to go home and drink a whole bottle of wine.
~Jonnie
I was the long term sub in a special education classroom. During the experience I told myself and others I would never want to work in the special education arena because I did not believe I was capable of working with children in the special education program, or dealing with the paperwork, the liability, and the parents. Ha-ha-ha on me, because when that long term position ended I was shifted to a long term position in a regular education classroom.
Almost every day I say I will quit, or I want to quit. I have learned I do not work well with regular education students. Or maybe it's just the students I have because if you knew what I have experienced in the past month with these students, you may be more sympathetic to my case. After two to three weeks with these regular ed students I signed my butt up for the special education GACE (Georgia Assessment for Certified Educators).
I never thought I would want to work in special education, but I have learned through experience most, not all, children in the special education program have respect for adults, sit quietly in their seats, are almost always on task, and never make me want to go home and drink a whole bottle of wine.
~Jonnie
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Step Back and Back to School
I haven't written here over the summer for a couple of reasons. For one, it's been a very busy, but very, very fun summer. My husband and I got married in the middle of July while I was taking graduate classes, so most of my time was consumed by wedding planning, moving, showers, papers, and reading.
But I have to say, in spite of it all, it has been a great, great summer. I have started to think of it as an escape into my real life, and it has been great. I planned a wedding, and more importantly, planned the beginning of my life married to my best friend. I helped teach some great kids at our church's Vacation Bible School. Even my classes weren't that much of a burden because they were fun: A Harry Potter literature class and a sociolinguistics class! They may not appeal to everybody, but this nerd had a great time. Then the Olympics started and who doesn't love the Olympics? It gave me a chance to get back to the good things in my life where subbing all school year constantly reminds me of the struggle I've had trying to start a career as a teacher. I thank God this summer let me escape that for a little bit.
Most of the school districts around here started school again yesterday, but this year I looked at it much differently. Since I graduated from college and became a certified teacher, the start of each new school year was another year I hadn't gotten a full-time job. It's not that schools don't hire teachers in the middle of the year--many of the interviews I've had have been in the middle of a school year, for positions to start immediately-- but it reminded me each year that I wouldn't be rushing in to pre-planning and doing what I had gone to school to do. That's the other reason I haven't written. Toward the end of last school year, I decided to take a step back from the job hunt, complete my Master's and maybe think of other ways in which I could use my abilities. My summer of escapism was an extension of that decision. I'm not giving up--in fact, I would gladly still take a job if I was offered one--but, just like a student, already trying as hard as possible, can't "try harder" to learn something, I can't just "try harder" to push down the wall that's stopping me. Instead, I'm going to back up and get a new perspective on the whole thing. It's been getting me too discouraged and too cynical, and I need to get out of that for a while. I took a break from writing this blog as part of my step back.
The reminder that subbing presents comes in addition to having too many let-downs from interviews like the one Jonnie describes in her last post. I have been to many interviews for many different positions, some of which I have referred to in pervious posts. I have been nervous, relaxed, enthusiastic, even apathetic. I have tried to apply all the interviewing tips I've ever gotten, even switching them up experimentally. Only once have I been offered the job, and then it was a job that I couldn't possibly take because of the location. It would have been temporary anyway. Granted, I think some of this has to do with the fact that most of my interviews have been for positions teaching Spanish, which was my minor, not my major. If any of my potential employers thought this has made me less qualified than other candidates, I understand. Otherwise, I've come to the conclusion that if there's anything I can do in the actual interview to change their minds, I don't know what it is. Hence the step back.
I'm still going to substitute teach this year, partly for the money and partly for the sake of not separating myself completely from the school systems. I will be in a different district this year, though, so I will have more stories to tell in addition to the ones from the past I have yet to share. My change in district might even make for some interesting comparisons I can write about later. I will also be taking an Educational Research class this fall which I'm sure will bring me back from the escape of my summer, but this is the first class in education that I will take while I'm all right with the fact that I am not teaching right now. I will be able to look at the field with a slightly different perspective. I don't know what will come of that new perspective, but I'm okay with whatever it is.
So, if, by chance, you're reading this and you're in the same boat with Jonnie and me, I don't want to encourage you to give up. Don't do that. Chances are, you're the type of person the education system needs but doesn't want right now. I know we all need the money, but if there's any other way you can get it or live without it, don't be afraid to give that a shot while you're waiting. You can easily lose yourself in trying to figure out how to please potential employers, but that's no good to anybody.
When I look at my experience having taken a step back, it looks a little more trivial now. That is comforting in itself, but what is more comforting is that I know things will happen when God wants them to.That's so commonly heard among Christians that it almost sounds cliche, but, you know, that might be because it's one of things we have to remind ourselves of the most.
Thank you for reading,
Kelli.
Jeremiah 29:11
But I have to say, in spite of it all, it has been a great, great summer. I have started to think of it as an escape into my real life, and it has been great. I planned a wedding, and more importantly, planned the beginning of my life married to my best friend. I helped teach some great kids at our church's Vacation Bible School. Even my classes weren't that much of a burden because they were fun: A Harry Potter literature class and a sociolinguistics class! They may not appeal to everybody, but this nerd had a great time. Then the Olympics started and who doesn't love the Olympics? It gave me a chance to get back to the good things in my life where subbing all school year constantly reminds me of the struggle I've had trying to start a career as a teacher. I thank God this summer let me escape that for a little bit.
Most of the school districts around here started school again yesterday, but this year I looked at it much differently. Since I graduated from college and became a certified teacher, the start of each new school year was another year I hadn't gotten a full-time job. It's not that schools don't hire teachers in the middle of the year--many of the interviews I've had have been in the middle of a school year, for positions to start immediately-- but it reminded me each year that I wouldn't be rushing in to pre-planning and doing what I had gone to school to do. That's the other reason I haven't written. Toward the end of last school year, I decided to take a step back from the job hunt, complete my Master's and maybe think of other ways in which I could use my abilities. My summer of escapism was an extension of that decision. I'm not giving up--in fact, I would gladly still take a job if I was offered one--but, just like a student, already trying as hard as possible, can't "try harder" to learn something, I can't just "try harder" to push down the wall that's stopping me. Instead, I'm going to back up and get a new perspective on the whole thing. It's been getting me too discouraged and too cynical, and I need to get out of that for a while. I took a break from writing this blog as part of my step back.
The reminder that subbing presents comes in addition to having too many let-downs from interviews like the one Jonnie describes in her last post. I have been to many interviews for many different positions, some of which I have referred to in pervious posts. I have been nervous, relaxed, enthusiastic, even apathetic. I have tried to apply all the interviewing tips I've ever gotten, even switching them up experimentally. Only once have I been offered the job, and then it was a job that I couldn't possibly take because of the location. It would have been temporary anyway. Granted, I think some of this has to do with the fact that most of my interviews have been for positions teaching Spanish, which was my minor, not my major. If any of my potential employers thought this has made me less qualified than other candidates, I understand. Otherwise, I've come to the conclusion that if there's anything I can do in the actual interview to change their minds, I don't know what it is. Hence the step back.
I'm still going to substitute teach this year, partly for the money and partly for the sake of not separating myself completely from the school systems. I will be in a different district this year, though, so I will have more stories to tell in addition to the ones from the past I have yet to share. My change in district might even make for some interesting comparisons I can write about later. I will also be taking an Educational Research class this fall which I'm sure will bring me back from the escape of my summer, but this is the first class in education that I will take while I'm all right with the fact that I am not teaching right now. I will be able to look at the field with a slightly different perspective. I don't know what will come of that new perspective, but I'm okay with whatever it is.
So, if, by chance, you're reading this and you're in the same boat with Jonnie and me, I don't want to encourage you to give up. Don't do that. Chances are, you're the type of person the education system needs but doesn't want right now. I know we all need the money, but if there's any other way you can get it or live without it, don't be afraid to give that a shot while you're waiting. You can easily lose yourself in trying to figure out how to please potential employers, but that's no good to anybody.
When I look at my experience having taken a step back, it looks a little more trivial now. That is comforting in itself, but what is more comforting is that I know things will happen when God wants them to.That's so commonly heard among Christians that it almost sounds cliche, but, you know, that might be because it's one of things we have to remind ourselves of the most.
Thank you for reading,
Kelli.
Jeremiah 29:11
The Way I See It #17
I wasn't sure if I wanted to share this on the blog, but obviously I have decided I do want to share it. Here it goes...
I had a job interview this past spring for a teaching position as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at a local high school. I was thrilled when I saw the job listed on teachgeorgia.com, I immediately filled out the application and delivered it in person to the Board of Education. A few weeks after turning in my carefully filled out and reviewed application, I received a phone call from the principal asking me if I was interested in an interview. Of course I said yes and the next day I anxiously drove to the high school. I arrived almost 20 minutes early. Despite my confidence in getting this job I was a nervous wreck during the interview. Side note, I have been through several interviews in my life. Also, I've received interview tips from my university mentor, husband and former co-worker. Not only have I been the interviewee, but I have also been the interviewer. I always give short, simple answers. During this interview I kept giving short answers and the interviewers kept asking me if I had anything more to add. Asking me if I had anything else to add to my answer did not help my wavering confidence. However, I was praised by one interviewer for graduating with honors and earning a minor in Child and Family Development. I am pleased to say I did show my personality in the interview because I was able to make them laugh with my witty humor and smile (showing personality in interviews is something I struggled with in the past). When the interview was over I was ready to get home and relax.
My husband, sister-in-law, former manager, and friends were confident I would be offered the job. I was confident I would be offered the job because I believed I was the best qualified-I was praised for my minor in the interview, who else would better qualified than me? Three days after the interview I sent the principal an email saying thank you for the interview and the opportunity to learn more about the school. Two weeks passed I had not heard anything so I called the principal to ask if a decision had been made. The principal did not remember me. My heart started racing because that was the first clue I was about to receive disappointing news. After reminding the principal who I was and which job I was interested in I was told with apologies the interviewers had selected someone else. Somehow I held my composure to say thank you for the interview and good-bye. As soon as I pressed the end call button I burst into tears.
I felt so crushed not to be offered my dream job, the job I went to college for, the job that required me to pass a $200 teacher certification test. I felt as though if I can't even get hired for a job I'm qualified for, how will I ever get hired? Thankfully, I am surrounded my amazing supportive people who helped restore confidence in myself. I was not offered the job because I was not good enough, I was not offered the job because they simply did not like me. Simple as that. It hurts to think these people did not like me, but it is true. I was and am qualified for that teaching position, it came down to liking me and they did not. Everything happens for a reason, and I was not meant to have that job. The job for me is still out there, and when the time is right, it will be mine.
My new addiction is Pinterest, and I found this quote that goes along with the lesson I learned from this experience.
~Jonnie
I had a job interview this past spring for a teaching position as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at a local high school. I was thrilled when I saw the job listed on teachgeorgia.com, I immediately filled out the application and delivered it in person to the Board of Education. A few weeks after turning in my carefully filled out and reviewed application, I received a phone call from the principal asking me if I was interested in an interview. Of course I said yes and the next day I anxiously drove to the high school. I arrived almost 20 minutes early. Despite my confidence in getting this job I was a nervous wreck during the interview. Side note, I have been through several interviews in my life. Also, I've received interview tips from my university mentor, husband and former co-worker. Not only have I been the interviewee, but I have also been the interviewer. I always give short, simple answers. During this interview I kept giving short answers and the interviewers kept asking me if I had anything more to add. Asking me if I had anything else to add to my answer did not help my wavering confidence. However, I was praised by one interviewer for graduating with honors and earning a minor in Child and Family Development. I am pleased to say I did show my personality in the interview because I was able to make them laugh with my witty humor and smile (showing personality in interviews is something I struggled with in the past). When the interview was over I was ready to get home and relax.
My husband, sister-in-law, former manager, and friends were confident I would be offered the job. I was confident I would be offered the job because I believed I was the best qualified-I was praised for my minor in the interview, who else would better qualified than me? Three days after the interview I sent the principal an email saying thank you for the interview and the opportunity to learn more about the school. Two weeks passed I had not heard anything so I called the principal to ask if a decision had been made. The principal did not remember me. My heart started racing because that was the first clue I was about to receive disappointing news. After reminding the principal who I was and which job I was interested in I was told with apologies the interviewers had selected someone else. Somehow I held my composure to say thank you for the interview and good-bye. As soon as I pressed the end call button I burst into tears.
I felt so crushed not to be offered my dream job, the job I went to college for, the job that required me to pass a $200 teacher certification test. I felt as though if I can't even get hired for a job I'm qualified for, how will I ever get hired? Thankfully, I am surrounded my amazing supportive people who helped restore confidence in myself. I was not offered the job because I was not good enough, I was not offered the job because they simply did not like me. Simple as that. It hurts to think these people did not like me, but it is true. I was and am qualified for that teaching position, it came down to liking me and they did not. Everything happens for a reason, and I was not meant to have that job. The job for me is still out there, and when the time is right, it will be mine.
My new addiction is Pinterest, and I found this quote that goes along with the lesson I learned from this experience.
~Jonnie
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