I got a job!

[Shea]

:banana: :banana: :banana: Finally! I can breathe a sigh of relief! I even got the school I wanted. I'll be teaching four 10th grade English classes and one 11th grade class. I just wish I was hired earlier so that I had more time to prepare. School started yesterday, but I'll be starting Monday. (it only took me a year! :p )

Poor Bonny's going to have to spend her time on the bathroom tile until she gets bigger and can stay in the backyard.

[Idril]

That's wonderful, Shea but let me get this straight, you wanted to teach 10th graders?! ;)

[AimusSage]

Many congrats on the getting the job. :D
Now go tell all the lovely kits in your classes that if they don't pay attention and do well in class, the turnips from outerspace will come and eat them all! :nod: ;)

[Jay]

Congrats, Shea, that's good news! :D

[Shea]

That's wonderful, Shea but let me get this straight, you wanted to teach 10th graders?! ;)

:lol: I want to teach high school. 12th grade is ideal but not likely since this is my first year.

[Shea]

Many congrats on the getting the job. :D
Now go tell all the lovely kits in your classes that if they don't pay attention and do well in class, the turnips from outerspace will come and eat them all! :nod: ;)

:lol: Will do! At least it would keep them quiet for a bit as they try to figure out what I'm talking about! :goof:

[kilted exile]

Let me get this straight: You are joining the rat race and are happy about it??? I am counting the years to retirement (only 40 to go)

Just kidding....well done.

[AimusSage]

If they're smart they try to figure out everything you say, and not just the important things, I mean, nothing beats turnips in importance, but I think you maybe also want to teach them some of the less treathening things in this world? See, if you get them scared enough, you can make them believe anything. That's when you have the power to mold them into your own little soldier army, bent on fighting anything you deem as being alligned to turnips, and because they fear turnips so much, they'll do everything you say, Trust me, it's the best way to get a bigger pay check. You should try it someday, when you're all settled in. :D

[kathycf]

Agreed, you can surely learn from all the turnips and turnipey related subjects.

Seriously, congratulations, that is great news. :thumbs_up :)

[Logos]

Congrats Shea! :thumbs_up

[subterranean]

Now, where's the first paycheck going to go ? :D

Congrats, mi amigo :nod:

[Idril]

:lol: I want to teach high school. 12th grade is ideal but not likely since this is my first year.

Do you feel at all nervous about teaching kids that are, in the grand scheme of life, not that much younger than you? I've always wondered if that's weird for high school teachers just out of college. I even had a couple classmates go back to our high school to teach just out of college and I thought that must be so strange to go back and teach with those who taught you and to walk those halls as a person of authority instead of a student.

[miss tenderness]

wow ,Shea.congrats. I think then,that we are about the same age.

[Madhuri]

Congrats Shea! I am so glad you got your dream job. Well done!!!

[Virgil]

:thumbs_up Congratulations!!

[Scheherazade]

Congratulations, Shea! :)

Looking forward to hear about your preparations and lesson plans. How come the school has already started? Isn't it too early?

[Koa]

I was going to say what Scher said, I'm always amazed at schools in the USA starting in August, here the holiday season is just about to hit its peak!!!

Anyway congratulations on the fulfilling of your dream! Another thing that amazes me is that there are people who want to teach, especially to kids...sounds like hell to me :D

[Idril]

Yes, but US schools finish in May and you guys go until...what...July or something like that? So we have a whole 3 months off. Although this is a little early even for US schools, usually they start at the end of August. Are you working for a private school, Shea because I know they often start a little earlier than normal.

[Shea]

Thanks for the congrats everyone!

Idril, it is a little wierd, but one thing is, I really don't have a whole lot in common with the students. I mean in reguards to partying, I'd really rather stay home and read a book, but I was like that in high school too. I don't know... I just have to get used to it.

This is a public school (and the county that dosen't have that stupid hiring freeze). I can remember starting in late August when I was a kid. I think because of all the severe hurricanes we've been getting (though none so far this year :banana: ) they wanted to start earlier because of some schools needing to close down for repairs or even simply needing to regain power. That way, if they need to extend the year, it dosen't go so far into the summer. But it still is really stinkin' early!

[Pensive]

That's really wonderful, Shea! Congratulations!

[Idril]

I can remember starting in late August when I was a kid. I think because of all the severe hurricanes we've been getting (though none so far this year :banana: ) they wanted to start earlier because of some schools needing to close down for repairs or even simply needing to regain power. That way, if they need to extend the year, it dosen't go so far into the summer. But it still is really stinkin' early!

Well, that makes sense, I hadn't thought about that but I'm sure with a hurricane season like you had last year, they are thinking about little else. Here's hoping you won't have to go through anything like that again this year.

4 days to go...are you ready? ;)

[Shea]

4 days to go...are you ready? ;)

I sure hope so! I've got a rough list of rules going. Things like no bathroom breaks except in the first 10 minutes of class, or what I expect from the assignments (they are to keep a portfolio throughout the year). I also realized that my grammar graveyard idea (from the lesson plan thread) needed a little tweaking. If I assign a paper for homework, they won't have that poster to look at. I'll have to make a handout of empty headstones and it will be their responsibility to copy down the items from the poster. Maybe I'm making it too easy for them...

You were probably asking that rhetorically Idril, I guess I'm just antsy. I could barely sleep last night because my head was spinning with all my ideas again. At least I don't have to worry about clothes! Leo (amazingly enough) told me to go shopping. I didn't even hint that I needed some new tops! I always seem to have plenty of pants and skirts, but my tops disappear sometimes :confused: ! (maybe I forget that I've stained them *stupid coffee lid*)

[Virgil]

You sound like you will be an excellent teacher, Shea.

[mono]

I wish you belated congratulations, Shea - what an accomplishment for which you have worked so hard and diligently! Let us know how the job goes once it begins. :nod:

[Shea]

I spent a full day at the school yesterday, but I haven't seen my classes yet. I am VERY lucky to have been hired here. I can't believe how helpful everyone is! Here is a good example: I'm floating (in other words I don't have my own room) as most first year teacher do. But my principal hates to have her first year teachers float because she wants to retain them. The only reason I'm floating is because I'm replacing a teacher who recently resigned. So she is trying to accomodate me with my own room soon!

But I definately have my work cut out for me this weekend as far as prep goes! I'm just taking a break at the moment, but I'll be back later.

[thevintagepiper]

Congratulations Shea! That's awesome. I hope it goes well for you, and I'm sure you'll be great. You seem like someone I'd like to have for a teacher (and I'm even 10th grade).

[Logos]

Sounds like you're off to a very good start Shea, good luck this weekend getting organised. You know we're all rooting for you! :D

[Idril]

It's so important to have the support of the principal and the other teachers, you can get through almost anything, I hear, if you have someone behind you and it sounds like you do. Good luck, Shea and don't forget to have some fun as well. ;)

[miss tenderness]

I could barely sleep last night because my head was spinning with all my ideas again. At least I don't have to worry about clothes! Leo (amazingly enough) told me to go shopping.

Though it's a bad habbit but I was glad to see someone share with me that very unpleasant habbit!



But my principal hates to have her first year teachers float because she wants to retain them. The only reason I'm floating is because I'm replacing a teacher who recently resigned. So she is trying to accomodate me with my own room soon!

You lucky, Shea, the most important factor is the environment of the work. I can simply leave an opportunity if the environment is not helpful or trustworthy. I remember I taught in high school where the principal prohibited her students to drink Cokes or other drinks of the sort,bad for their health she says,this is good so far but I saw her once shouting at one teacher telling her not to drink a soft drink in the school ,if it's not allowed for students then, it's not allowed for teachers too! she was kinda strict and every mornoning I stepped into the school I see her shouting at a student or even worse a teacher, well,it was like a daily breakfast for her staff. I don't know how she reached her educational place!!I taught like one month in that school and then ran away with my heart full of pity for the people under her command!

[Admin]

Congrats Shea...

[adilyoussef]

Congratulations shea, I'm happy for you.

[Nightshade]

so your starting tomorrow? or am I a week late??
oh well congrats and good luck:D

[Scheherazade]

I also realized that my grammar graveyard idea (from the lesson plan thread) needed a little tweaking. If I assign a paper for homework, they won't have that poster to look at. I'll have to make a handout of empty headstones and it will be their responsibility to copy down the items from the poster. Maybe I'm making it too easy for them... Good luck on your first day, Shea! :)

Your graveyard poster idea is great, I think and it wouldn't be making it too easy for them if you have the poster where the students can see. You can just put short notes on the stones (eg 'No capital letters in mid sentences.'). In this way, they would still know the right usage even though they are reminded the mistake (which is a good thing, I believe).

Let us know how it all goes! :)

[Shea]

Whew! First day done! :banana: I already need to change my lesson plans for the week. :p It went really well though. The sub who started the class had given them a pretest on chapters 1 and 2 of their grammar book. Their scores stunk! (not surprised) So the plan was to go through both chapters this week and test on Friday. Well, after today, I think that's too much. They're pretty slow on just the first chapter (it's only the parts of speech for crying out loud!). I guess I'm just surprised because I remember learning these things long before high school. Well, anyway... I'll just test on chapter 1 on Friday.

I really like it though! :nod: I feel very comfortable (though I was still very nervous), even more so than when I was a nurse or even a nursing student. I just felt like this was where I should be. My best class was the last one. They kept asking me to clarify. Not that I felt that what I was saying was confusing, but they just honestly had a difficult time grasping the concept of some noun types. I just loved the fact that they were asking me questions about the material! :banana:

[subterranean]

We have different grading system here, as in we don't have 1st to ...grade. We have 6 years of elementary, 3 years of junior high, and 3 years in high school. So, I guess 10th and 11th grade would be first and second years of high school here.


By Shea The sub who started the class had given them a pretest on chapters 1 and 2 of their grammar book. Their scores stunk! (not surprised) So the plan was to go through both chapters this week and test on Friday. Well, after today, I think that's too much. They're pretty slow on just the first chapter (it's only the parts of speech for crying out loud!).

So, I'm kind of wondering about the "stunk scores" and "pretty slow", as I think students should have learnt a lot in the previous grades. I'm not saying that all first and second year students here are all good in their grammars and structures, but in here generally students only got their first English lesson in first year of junior high school (that would be 7th grade, I think). Just curious :)

[Shea]

So, I'm kind of wondering about the "stunk scores" and "pretty slow", as I think students should have learnt a lot in the previous grades. I'm not saying that all first and second year students here are all good in their grammars and structures, but in here generally students only got their first English lesson in first year of junior high school (that would be 7th grade, I think). Just curious :)

Many of these students (about the age of 16) don't know what a singular or a plural noun is! :eek2: They don't even know how to read script! I haven't printed with lowercase letters since about the 6th grade. When I write something to put on the overhead projector, it takes them forever to figure it out. I refuse to write in print. Oh, and the word that stumped them today, dexterity. As much as I'm loving teaching, this may turn into a looong year.

We've spent the last three days on parts of speech and I'm testing them on Friday. I feel like I'm more nervous about the test than they are.

[Idril]

It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, Shea. It seems sometimes like schools are just concerned with passing the kids and moving them in and out of the school system, they don't seem to be too concerned with whether or not they actually learn anything. My brother teaches 6th grade and his first year he flunked a lot of kids and got so much flak from the parents of course, but also from the principal. He was so upset that he was expected to pass kids that didn't know the material, that hadn't learned what was required, it was a very disillusioning experience for a first year teacher and something he still struggles with 10+ years later. He stuck to his guns though and I think he still flunks kids when he feels it's called for, he's just developed a thicker skin so the complaints of the parents and the principal doesn't bother him as much.

[Shea]

I know better than to not have sanitizer on hand. I woke up sick this morning and I still have a huge stack of papers that I have to grade. I do believe I gave too much homework. But they just didn't seem to know their parts of speech. So I gave them a ton of exercises to do. Most of them still failed the test. I showed them where to find everything in the textbook, just crack it open people! Is that so difficult?!

I did play a fun grammar game on Thursday to reveiw for the test, but only with 2 classes. Most of the students in the other three did appear to be trying at all, so I make them redo the homework where they didn't follow directions. The game was a lot of fun. Leo and I came up with it, I'll post it in the teaching thread.