Tuesday, July 25, 2006
3, 2, 1 Contract!
As I said, it's not over until I sign a contract. well, today I did. I won't be making much more than last year--just about $600 more, which I suppose isn't too bad. And I will be doing more work, in some ways. Instead of preparing for 2 classes, I'll be preparing for 4 of them. But I'll also only be teaching 4 sections instead of 5. My day starts out easy, with prep time in the morning. My room seems decent--someone was teaching in there for summer school, so I didn't get more than a glimpse.
I'll be teaching Language/Grammar, Writing, and Literature 1&2 as 4 different classes, with some mixture for grades of students, but it will tend to go in that order, 9-12. Teaching a whole high school of kids sounds a bit intimidating, but with textbooks, novels, and set online curriculum, I should have some good help in the matter. They expressed strongly that I will need to stick to the course curriculum, though they said I could add anything I want that will help the learn the course. I just can't do things like substitute a different novel or skip a concept that seems over their heads.
So, basically August is going to be a time of major preparation. Besides settling into our new place, I'll have to get a lot of materials planned ahead and ready to go. I'll especially want the first few weeks planned, since that's a time of major adjustment to the school itself. Well, speaking of busy times, I had best get to packing more of our shit. We made a lot of progress yesterday, but there's still a butload to go. Our goal is to have a moving truck for Thursday so we can get that done before my parents come to visit Friday-Saturday. Thankfully, they'll be staying at a hotel so we don't have to worry about lodging them. And lucky us, our parents will be meeting each other Friday evening for dinner. If we can keep our stress levels down, we all should be cool, just going to a sports bar/grill. If.
As I said, it's not over until I sign a contract. well, today I did. I won't be making much more than last year--just about $600 more, which I suppose isn't too bad. And I will be doing more work, in some ways. Instead of preparing for 2 classes, I'll be preparing for 4 of them. But I'll also only be teaching 4 sections instead of 5. My day starts out easy, with prep time in the morning. My room seems decent--someone was teaching in there for summer school, so I didn't get more than a glimpse.
I'll be teaching Language/Grammar, Writing, and Literature 1&2 as 4 different classes, with some mixture for grades of students, but it will tend to go in that order, 9-12. Teaching a whole high school of kids sounds a bit intimidating, but with textbooks, novels, and set online curriculum, I should have some good help in the matter. They expressed strongly that I will need to stick to the course curriculum, though they said I could add anything I want that will help the learn the course. I just can't do things like substitute a different novel or skip a concept that seems over their heads.
So, basically August is going to be a time of major preparation. Besides settling into our new place, I'll have to get a lot of materials planned ahead and ready to go. I'll especially want the first few weeks planned, since that's a time of major adjustment to the school itself. Well, speaking of busy times, I had best get to packing more of our shit. We made a lot of progress yesterday, but there's still a butload to go. Our goal is to have a moving truck for Thursday so we can get that done before my parents come to visit Friday-Saturday. Thankfully, they'll be staying at a hotel so we don't have to worry about lodging them. And lucky us, our parents will be meeting each other Friday evening for dinner. If we can keep our stress levels down, we all should be cool, just going to a sports bar/grill. If.
Friday, July 21, 2006
So, Yeah, As I Was Saying
For all my bitching and complaining...I got a job offer today. It's for the school I mentioned in my last post. I'd be teaching at a small charter school for grades 9-12. It sounds a little intimidating since I think I might be the only high school teacher there, so it would mean four different preps, unless they mix their classes. I haven't talked to them yet about details. After talking to the the HR director, I scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to talk about the job and to see the school. They had left a message on my phone this morning while I was struggling to pound through a stack of assignments my summer school kids gave me on the LAST DAY of summer school.
Today was really boring, actually. Most of my students left at 10am since they were nice enough to let the passing students with good attendance out early. Naturally, that meant I had 3 kids left who were all passing and had little work to do but had been absent and needed to make up the time. What to do with 3 kids that doesn't involve anything I'm going to grade? Not a whole hell of a lot. I had to get grading done, so I couldn't do much that was interactive. I gave them a puzzle worksheet and turned on a movie. They chatted and kept themselves busy, so I suppose it worked.
In other news, my grandmother on my dad's side is moving from Two Rivers into a nursing home in GB. It might be hard for her to make the transition, but she's been really miserable at home alone, so I think this might be really great for her. Otherwise, she sits at home and watches CNN or maybe once in a while visits the senior center nearby. But it's different when you're just visiting vs. when you're actually a resident, a member of a supportive community. It was tough on my dad to make the decision, but it helped to see how happy she was conversing with residents when they went to check out different nursing homes. Turns out she likes the one that is a block away from my parents' church, so that will be really convenient. She'll have to give up some independence, but she'll gain more time with her family, more friends, and health services that she needs.
::sigh:: Life is so busy, and then it stands still on certain moments. At least I got a job offer before I filled out the pages of essays for a couple jobs I'm really not even interested in. I'll still keep an eye out and send a couple apps, just in case. A job's not a job until my name's on the signature line.
For all my bitching and complaining...I got a job offer today. It's for the school I mentioned in my last post. I'd be teaching at a small charter school for grades 9-12. It sounds a little intimidating since I think I might be the only high school teacher there, so it would mean four different preps, unless they mix their classes. I haven't talked to them yet about details. After talking to the the HR director, I scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to talk about the job and to see the school. They had left a message on my phone this morning while I was struggling to pound through a stack of assignments my summer school kids gave me on the LAST DAY of summer school.
Today was really boring, actually. Most of my students left at 10am since they were nice enough to let the passing students with good attendance out early. Naturally, that meant I had 3 kids left who were all passing and had little work to do but had been absent and needed to make up the time. What to do with 3 kids that doesn't involve anything I'm going to grade? Not a whole hell of a lot. I had to get grading done, so I couldn't do much that was interactive. I gave them a puzzle worksheet and turned on a movie. They chatted and kept themselves busy, so I suppose it worked.
In other news, my grandmother on my dad's side is moving from Two Rivers into a nursing home in GB. It might be hard for her to make the transition, but she's been really miserable at home alone, so I think this might be really great for her. Otherwise, she sits at home and watches CNN or maybe once in a while visits the senior center nearby. But it's different when you're just visiting vs. when you're actually a resident, a member of a supportive community. It was tough on my dad to make the decision, but it helped to see how happy she was conversing with residents when they went to check out different nursing homes. Turns out she likes the one that is a block away from my parents' church, so that will be really convenient. She'll have to give up some independence, but she'll gain more time with her family, more friends, and health services that she needs.
::sigh:: Life is so busy, and then it stands still on certain moments. At least I got a job offer before I filled out the pages of essays for a couple jobs I'm really not even interested in. I'll still keep an eye out and send a couple apps, just in case. A job's not a job until my name's on the signature line.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Um, Thanks?
So I have a little less suspense now. Less than an hour ago, I found out that we got the apartment we REALLY wanted in Minneapolis. And, our current landlord informed me that he rented out our apartment today to the two fellows that we showed it to last night.
That means a whole lot less stress on us since we no longer have to look for places or worry that we won't get new tenants in here in time for Aug. 1st and then have to pay our Aug. rent.
I still have to wait about jobs, well, actively wait since I'll be sending out applications and resumes wherever I can...which there aren't many.
So thank you, landlords, renters, and powers that be. One less thing to worry about. Now to plan dinner...
So I have a little less suspense now. Less than an hour ago, I found out that we got the apartment we REALLY wanted in Minneapolis. And, our current landlord informed me that he rented out our apartment today to the two fellows that we showed it to last night.
That means a whole lot less stress on us since we no longer have to look for places or worry that we won't get new tenants in here in time for Aug. 1st and then have to pay our Aug. rent.
I still have to wait about jobs, well, actively wait since I'll be sending out applications and resumes wherever I can...which there aren't many.
So thank you, landlords, renters, and powers that be. One less thing to worry about. Now to plan dinner...
Suspense Can Bite Me
I've had enough suspense for one day. In fact, how about many days. If I were to watch an Alfred Hitchcock film right now, I think I'd have to puke. No more suspense!
Today I had an interview for a teaching job in St. Paul. Today we are supposed to find out whether or not we have a new apartment. This week I am supposed to wait for another school to call me. Sometime soon Chris will find out if he is offered a job working for the state.
I'm just sick of it! I just want a job and want an apartment and I don't want to have to think about it anymore. And yet probably I'll end up in suspense about both for another month, just to spite my impatient self. ::sigh::
Okay, so my interview went well today. I think my only shortcomings are my two years experience and the fact that I'm very white and interviewed for an all black school. But I STILL came on strong with my other "fish out of water" past job experiences. Dang, I forgot to mention working with all Mexican women. Not that many Spanish skills would come much in handy there. GAH! At this point, I'd be happy working at an ALC in Anoka.
You know, there's a lot of things they train teachers to be, but you never see a class for "Human Baggage to Be Tossed" in the curriculum.
I've had enough suspense for one day. In fact, how about many days. If I were to watch an Alfred Hitchcock film right now, I think I'd have to puke. No more suspense!
Today I had an interview for a teaching job in St. Paul. Today we are supposed to find out whether or not we have a new apartment. This week I am supposed to wait for another school to call me. Sometime soon Chris will find out if he is offered a job working for the state.
I'm just sick of it! I just want a job and want an apartment and I don't want to have to think about it anymore. And yet probably I'll end up in suspense about both for another month, just to spite my impatient self. ::sigh::
Okay, so my interview went well today. I think my only shortcomings are my two years experience and the fact that I'm very white and interviewed for an all black school. But I STILL came on strong with my other "fish out of water" past job experiences. Dang, I forgot to mention working with all Mexican women. Not that many Spanish skills would come much in handy there. GAH! At this point, I'd be happy working at an ALC in Anoka.
You know, there's a lot of things they train teachers to be, but you never see a class for "Human Baggage to Be Tossed" in the curriculum.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Mark Your Calendars
We set a date! Yep, after much deliberation, we finally came up with venues for our wedding. As scheduled, we will be married on July 21, 2007 at the gazebo in Green Isle Park and party like it's 1999 at The Woods. It feels SO good having that arranged; one less thing to worry about in a summer full of worries.
On another fun and exciting note, we just got back from a whirlwind adventure involving 3 states, a family renunion, sunburn, lakes, and a lot of tall buildings. Just two hours ago, we got back from a mini-vacation in Chicago. The pics are fantastic, though we could have had more at the museums. Oh well. There's room for next time. Here's just one pic for a preview of others that may or may not show up later, depending on whether I have the time between job searching, apartment searching, teaching summer school, and maintaining my sanity.
We set a date! Yep, after much deliberation, we finally came up with venues for our wedding. As scheduled, we will be married on July 21, 2007 at the gazebo in Green Isle Park and party like it's 1999 at The Woods. It feels SO good having that arranged; one less thing to worry about in a summer full of worries.
On another fun and exciting note, we just got back from a whirlwind adventure involving 3 states, a family renunion, sunburn, lakes, and a lot of tall buildings. Just two hours ago, we got back from a mini-vacation in Chicago. The pics are fantastic, though we could have had more at the museums. Oh well. There's room for next time. Here's just one pic for a preview of others that may or may not show up later, depending on whether I have the time between job searching, apartment searching, teaching summer school, and maintaining my sanity.
