NAMES VS. NUMBERS

Hello teacher friends!

I don't have any news on that new position yet.  I thought it'd be less stressful than this, but hey-- life's never easy.  I was suppose to find out on Friday what they had decided, but now it's Sunday and I'm sitting here riddled with anxiety.  Hopefully I'll get a call tomorrow and I can breathe a sigh of relief either way.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That being said-- I have been writing up prep lists and searching through Pinterest like crazy these past few days just in case I get the call.  I would rather have everything gathered and ready to deploy instead of having to rush around later on.  It's another case of using my waiting time wisely.

As I look through photos of class behavior charts, mailboxes and "where we are" boards, I've been noticing a trend.  Every kid in that classroom is assigned a number.  It has always been something that bothers me.  I understand that it's "easy" to give a student a number so that their notebooks, shelves, mailboxes, etc all relate to the same number.  It keeps teachers from having to re-do all the labeling in the classroom.

But let me tell you who else gets assigned a number.

Prisoners.

It might seem a bit harsh, but every time I see teachers talk about the kids getting assigned a number, this is all I can think about.  You're essentially taking away that student's name and replacing it with a generic number that the kid the year before had, and the kid the year after him will take on.  Their name is a strong part of their identity and taking that away to make life easier on you, the teacher, is not something I can do in my classroom.

While numbering may be helpful for organizing test papers and preserving anonymity to your assessment documents, I don't think it should take over that classroom.  

What's an extra couple of hours each summer spent on recreating new labels? 

Okay-- I feel better.  I am happy to get that written down somewhere.  This is something that has always bothered me and I just needed to vent a bit.  I'm back off to search through the freebies on Teacher Pay Teachers!

Thanks for reading!! xx

I CAN NEVER MAKE UP MY MIND

Hello teacher friends!!

My last post made me so excited that the next morning I woke up, turned on my laptop and began working again right away.   No breakfast.  No coffee. (which is absolutely shocking!) I was just so excited to see if it was possible to move to my dream country & after chatting with a few people, it turns out that it is possible...just not yet.  I have to achieve permanent certification in any US state in order to be a qualified teacher in the UK.  This means that, in NY, I need to get a Masters and have three years experience within 5 years.  I'm only lacking the experience right now.  I could apply in another state for certification, one that doesn't require the three years.  However, after some research I discovered that most states require additional testing and it's more money to apply, so doing that right now would be a little rushed and a little out of the question.

However, once I become certified in NYS I can apply for the UK.  It's still achievable and I haven't given up on my new dream.  I think this is definitely where I want to take my teaching career.  I've never had a "teaching dream", besides maybe getting a PhD (with all the extra money I don't have).  I think I need to start a UK fund, saving up extra cash for the inevitable move.  Every time I think of this dream, I get the biggest smile on my face and my heart fills up and I know this is what I'm meant to do.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The newest development in my hunt revolves around my terrible timing.  It is that it's coming down to the "back to school" wire and I didn't make the moving decision fast enough.  I'm glad I finally decided I could do it, but it was just a bit too late.  I might be able to snag a long term sub out of state, but not necessarily a full-time position at this point. 

Here's where I need to put my ego aside and start from the bottom.  I was called about a full time position from the Catholic school where I use to sub, although I'm not sure what position or grade.  As much as I am pigheaded and stubborn and don't really want to take it (I've said before that I would never take a position there), I woke up this morning thinking "I need to take it."

Why the hell have I changed my mind?  

Because I realized that I need to start somewhere.  I realized I won't have my dream job right away and my classroom won't be perfect to begin with.  I need to crush that idea right now.  So what if I need to spend a few years in a position (an extremely LOCAL position at that) that isn't my favorite.  I absolutely love most of the kids at the school, I've known them for few years.  I'm secretly hoping it's a position for the same group of kids I was once an aide for; the principal knows how much I connected with that group.  But whatever the circumstances I hope this works out.  I need to bite the bullet and take what I can get and be happy for the experience.  I'd rather work out how I want my classroom run than sit in my room waiting for another call (that will never happen) simply dreaming of what I want my room to look like.  I'm not going to lie, I'll be crushed if it doesn't work out.  But that's not a concern I need to have right now.

I guess that I will give the principal a call tomorrow.  Maybe I can stay local to teach and can therefore still teach dance and  still volunteer with other schools and still be around family.  Just maybe.

If you have a mind that works like mine... I feel for you! This constant changing of opinion is tiring and can't keep up.  I hope all of your back to school searches and setup has been going well!

Thanks for reading! xx

IMPULSIVITY

Hello teacher friends!

I know this post is late.  But I had a bit of a breakdown.  And then I had an epiphany and have given into my impulsive ways.

I have spent the night looking up how I can teach in the UK.  

Yep, I want to go across the pond to teach.  Why? Because after 20+ applications and over a month of waiting, I still have yet to receive an offer.  And if I have to move out of state, I might as well move out of the country.  What's the difference, really? (See... there's that impulsivity. Or bitterness. Whatever you want to call it.)

I looked on the UK's Education Department website and it seems as if I could be qualified to teach over there.  I would just have to do some paperwork to apply as a certified teacher.  I've sent off a few e-mails to the recruitment sites (see below) & I'm going to chat with someone from the Ed. Department online tomorrow, when they're open, to see exactly what I need to do.  There is a slight chance that since I am only initially certified I may not be eligible.  It's hard to determine what transfers and what is accepted because all the new terminology is confusing me.  (Did you know they call substitutes "supply teachers"? Who knew...)

I've found a few UK teacher recruitment websites through search engines.  

www.smartteachers.co.uk

www.timeplan.com

www.teachweb.co.uk

I'll be keeping this blog updated on my status and everything I learn through this process.  Search engines are always a hit/miss thing when trying to find websites from other countries.  Maybe I'll try searching just UK sites...

Honestly, if one of these UK schools calls tomorrow I would be more than happy to leave on Friday.  London would be amazing, but anywhere over there sounds perfect to me.  It has been my dream to visit the UK and I can't believe I am sitting here honestly considering to work there.  I really hope that I don't need permanent certification from NY first, because clearly nobody wants me here and it's going to be a very hard struggle.  But now that I know the UK can be a serious option, I've never been more excited to teach.  I finally talked myself into leaving NY last week, and now I'm ready to leave the country.  (This is how my mind always works-- fun innit?)

If you have experience teaching in the UK, or have any resources for this adventure, please leave them as a comment below.  I'll keep you updated with everything that happens.

And best of luck for this new school year to everyone blessed with a teaching position!!

Thanks for reading!! xx

STUCK

Hello teaching friends! 

 

I had plans for this post.  I had it all outlined and ready to write.  But it has been a stressful week for all sorts of reasons and since I intended this blog to be a little more conversational and relaxed, I'm just going to go with the flow.  Instead of what I planned on writing about, I'm just going to let my thoughts drain in hopes I can sleep a little better tonight.  

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We're officially into August and I'm still unemployed.  I've been waiting around for another call for well over a month now and I just can't do it anymore.  I've started to think that maybe this is a sign that my journey needs to start somewhere outside of New York state.  

Last fall I told myself that during 2013 I would find a full-time job.  I even made it one of my New Year's Resolutions.  I was sold on the fact that I might have to move at that time. I had nothing to lose.  I wasn't dating anyone, I'm not super attached to my parents, I wasn't crazy involved with dance, I really don't have a big group of friends; it seemed like it was a prime opportunity.  Then things happened in my family, which I don't plan on discussing here, which made me decide to try and stay close to home to teach.

I started sending in my applications in late May/early June.  I had one interview mid-June, but I lost the spot to someone with more experience (what's new?).  I haven't heard anything from any of the 12+ local districts.  It's three weeks until teachers in NYS "technically" start up with work and my anxiety is growing by the day.

I feel stuck.

If I were to go out of state, I would have to move fast since many schools start in August.  But if I stay waiting to hear from schools in NY and I don't hear anything, my chance to go out of state is lost.  I'm taking a gamble by waiting to hear from these local schools.

I have been absolutely sick with anxiety this weekend because I'm back to a point where I could leave.  I'm not tied down to anything or anyone.  Except my family.  That *thing* that happened is a huge factor now.  It is literally the only thing keeping me here, in all honesty.  I want to lie and say there's so much more keeping me here; things I would miss, people I would miss, blah blah blah..... but there isn't.  

I don't know what to do.  I can't decide.  

I don't know what the right decision is.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That was such a mess & I don't want to seem like a whiney girl, but I just needed to get this out before I go crazy.  If you read this and could make sense of all the ramblings.... thank you.  I hope I'm not alone in this.  If  you want to leave a comment we can chat about things.  

I love internet friends.  :)

Thank you xx