What the hell is a teaching philosophy and where do I get one?
I already pooped out on writing everyday! But, that does not mean I have been slacking off ...
On Tuesday, I went to FedEx to make copies of my resume in preparation for Wednesday. I studied a little, but not enough to really get anything done. I'm kind of at the point now that if I don't know it now, I'm not going to be able to cram it in to my head by Saturday. All I can do is pray I have a good enough foundation to pass.
On Wednesday, I went with Mlifford (remember, names changed to protect the innocent!) to the SA Teachers Job Fair, or what I like to refer to as one of the circles of hell ... not sure which one, but a circle of hell none the less. Seriously, there were about 15 districcts and charter schools there, each having maybe two positions open. And of course, those positions were for High School math or science! So, the circle of hell opened began at 9 (Mlifford and I met at Starbucks to make sure we had coffee breath for any potential interviews) and I rolled on out by 10. The lines for the two districts everyone wants to work at snaked up and down stairs ... I refused to stand in them ... like they were going to hire an uncertified teacher when they have everyone and their grandmother trying to get in to their districts ... sure ...
But, as if that were not enough, I got called for an interview! One of the charter schools I applied to called on Wednesday and I went to an interview today. The job would be solely for high school, which is exciting and scary all at the same time (11th grade US History and 12th grade economics freak me out), but I have no doubt that I can not only do them, but do them well. I think the interview went well, but who the heck knows for sure. The principal and the human resources lady sat on opposite sides of the table with me in the middle, so it was a little awkward. I kept swinging back and forth to answer whomever was asking me the round of questions. The seemed to be writing furiously, and it seemed like they were nodding to everything I said, but you never know with interviews ... and you definitely never know with charter schools!
Anyways, the job search continues ...
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Not a lot
A break is needed ...
I didn't do a whole lot today, other than cook a really good dinner. My Sunday of watching the Food Network was useful for dinners this week.
Otherwise, I searched online for a little bit and found a job to apply for on the workforce site, but you have to be an exact match to see the info. So, I e-mailed my workforce guy to see what I needed to do to be able to apply.
Also, I keep checking the alt. certification site to see if UTSA's transcripts made it. I tried to call, but after 10 minutes of holding, I gave up. I'm going to call as soon as I get up tomorrow, but I fear that I put in the wrong address. So, I just requested another one be sent and was extra careful on the address. One day, I will find out.
Anyways, Family Guy makes me laugh ... the news people crack me up all the freakin time ... "And when we come back, we'll talk about that big yellow thing in the sky and what you can do to please it!" Hilarious!
So the job search continues ...
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
I didn't do a whole lot today, other than cook a really good dinner. My Sunday of watching the Food Network was useful for dinners this week.
Otherwise, I searched online for a little bit and found a job to apply for on the workforce site, but you have to be an exact match to see the info. So, I e-mailed my workforce guy to see what I needed to do to be able to apply.
Also, I keep checking the alt. certification site to see if UTSA's transcripts made it. I tried to call, but after 10 minutes of holding, I gave up. I'm going to call as soon as I get up tomorrow, but I fear that I put in the wrong address. So, I just requested another one be sent and was extra careful on the address. One day, I will find out.
Anyways, Family Guy makes me laugh ... the news people crack me up all the freakin time ... "And when we come back, we'll talk about that big yellow thing in the sky and what you can do to please it!" Hilarious!
So the job search continues ...
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
Little Spikes of Depression
"He just wants to be left alone ... talking on his phone ..." - as written by Miju ...
I'm blogging early today, so you have to trust that I am actually going to do what I'm saying I'm going to do ...
It's about 10:30am, and I've gotten 5 phone calls. Over the last several days, every time the phone rings, I anxiously run to the phone to see who is calling. It has yet to be a possible employer ... Never in my life have I been more depressed by a ringing phone. Every time it rings and isn't a school calling for an interview, I get a little punch in the gut of depression.
I'm not saying don't call me, because I the little spike lasts only a second. It's just a weird feeling.
Anyways, today's list of things to do: 1) Find a school to send a resume to. 2) Go to Barnes & Noble to screw XAM.
So the job search continues ...
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
59
Attending Barnes and Noble daily ...
So, I was semi-productive today. I say semi because I filled out an application, but since we don't have a printer at home, I asked Mana to print it and bring it home. She is going to re-print it tomorrow (since I apparently lost all sense of grammar when writing my personal statement) and will fax is to the Academy of Careers and Technologies.
In case you did not know, this blog has been brought to you by the number 59. The reason is because that is how much the TeXes study guide by XAM costs ... Seriously ... $59?!?! So, I'm going to stick it to the man for the next 9 days: I will be attending the school of Barnes & Noble daily to study. For real ... taking a notebook, sitting in one of those comfy chairs, and studying like my life depends on it ... for free! Take that, XAM!
Anyways, the job search continues.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
So, I was semi-productive today. I say semi because I filled out an application, but since we don't have a printer at home, I asked Mana to print it and bring it home. She is going to re-print it tomorrow (since I apparently lost all sense of grammar when writing my personal statement) and will fax is to the Academy of Careers and Technologies.
In case you did not know, this blog has been brought to you by the number 59. The reason is because that is how much the TeXes study guide by XAM costs ... Seriously ... $59?!?! So, I'm going to stick it to the man for the next 9 days: I will be attending the school of Barnes & Noble daily to study. For real ... taking a notebook, sitting in one of those comfy chairs, and studying like my life depends on it ... for free! Take that, XAM!
Anyways, the job search continues.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
The Beginning of Preparation
Test-prep is never any fun ...
So, my unemployment activity of the day was not really related to the job search. I am taking the Social Studies TeXes exams in order to be "highly qualified" for all social studies and eventually become a fully certified teacher.
On the TeXes website, there were study guides for the exams and sample tests. I will be taking 2 exams on June 21: Social Studies 4-8 and Social Studies 8-12. The only part I did today were both of the practice exams, which although were not full practice exams, they include the types of questions that will be on the exam.
I went to Starbucks to take the practice exams and tried my hardest. I went ahead and graded them, but just taking the tests was nerve racking! I definitely, before even grading it, know what areas I need to study. I had almost no trouble with the world history stuff, but Texas and US history were subpar and the economics was flat out scary. I did reasonably well, scoring an 84 on the 8-12 and an 89 on the 4-8.
I now am armed with the information of what I need to study. I am going to do that over the next week.
As for the job search, I will be applying to another school tomorrow.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
So, my unemployment activity of the day was not really related to the job search. I am taking the Social Studies TeXes exams in order to be "highly qualified" for all social studies and eventually become a fully certified teacher.
On the TeXes website, there were study guides for the exams and sample tests. I will be taking 2 exams on June 21: Social Studies 4-8 and Social Studies 8-12. The only part I did today were both of the practice exams, which although were not full practice exams, they include the types of questions that will be on the exam.
I went to Starbucks to take the practice exams and tried my hardest. I went ahead and graded them, but just taking the tests was nerve racking! I definitely, before even grading it, know what areas I need to study. I had almost no trouble with the world history stuff, but Texas and US history were subpar and the economics was flat out scary. I did reasonably well, scoring an 84 on the 8-12 and an 89 on the 4-8.
I now am armed with the information of what I need to study. I am going to do that over the next week.
As for the job search, I will be applying to another school tomorrow.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
Journey to the Unemployment Office
I officially hit rock bottom.
This day is depressing. Not a whole lot of activity, which means I have time to sit around and regret.
I went to the workforce commission so I can start to get unemployment benefits. I've heard that the movies are known as the "great equalizer." I would argue that the unemployment office is closer to that. I spied every type of person: from a lady in braids drinking a canned coke from a straw, to a businessman in a suit and tie, and everything else in between. I guess this unemployment thing can happen to anyone. The class leader got yelled at by this classy lady who brought her infant and two year old for not knowing just how secure the application website was. She gave him a stern talking to and continued to berate him from the back row for the rest of the hour. Upsetting ... yet mildly entertaining.
I checked my alternative certification website. They have received the transcripts from SFA, but not TCC or UTSA. I find this infuriating since I requested SFA's a day after the others by fax rather than electronic request. you would think an electronic request would be faster than a handwritten fax request that happened a day later, but that just shows how much SFA rocks. I just want to be in this program already! When I do, I can start applying to school districts rather than just charter schools. I'm not expecting that a district is going to hire me, but it would at least give me some more forms to fill out so I feel like I'm doing something.
I understand that I have only been unemployed for less than 5 full days, but I want to find a job already. I'm impatient. I now have a new version of hell.
Well, I think that's it for today.
Cross our fingers, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle, and/or say a little prayer.
I will get a job.
And so goes the life ...
This day is depressing. Not a whole lot of activity, which means I have time to sit around and regret.
I went to the workforce commission so I can start to get unemployment benefits. I've heard that the movies are known as the "great equalizer." I would argue that the unemployment office is closer to that. I spied every type of person: from a lady in braids drinking a canned coke from a straw, to a businessman in a suit and tie, and everything else in between. I guess this unemployment thing can happen to anyone. The class leader got yelled at by this classy lady who brought her infant and two year old for not knowing just how secure the application website was. She gave him a stern talking to and continued to berate him from the back row for the rest of the hour. Upsetting ... yet mildly entertaining.
I checked my alternative certification website. They have received the transcripts from SFA, but not TCC or UTSA. I find this infuriating since I requested SFA's a day after the others by fax rather than electronic request. you would think an electronic request would be faster than a handwritten fax request that happened a day later, but that just shows how much SFA rocks. I just want to be in this program already! When I do, I can start applying to school districts rather than just charter schools. I'm not expecting that a district is going to hire me, but it would at least give me some more forms to fill out so I feel like I'm doing something.
I understand that I have only been unemployed for less than 5 full days, but I want to find a job already. I'm impatient. I now have a new version of hell.
Well, I think that's it for today.
Cross our fingers, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle, and/or say a little prayer.
I will get a job.
And so goes the life ...
Umemployment
Cringe-worthy ...
S
o, I open my mouth to ask questions and I get fired. Well, not exactly ... I get my contract offer withdrawn. Whatever actually happened, I am officially unemployed. Enough to file for unemployment and take a little bit of my tax money back ...
But, rather than groan about what happened, I'm going to chronicle my adventure in my blog. There unfortunately is not a whole lot I can do to get back at the dumb dumb that decided I wouldn't be needed, but I can start the search for a better job.
Sadly, I am not quite sure I am going to have a whole lot to write about over the next couple of months, but I'm definitely going to write every weekday. If nothing else, I will write who I applied to, what I did for unemployment, or how I was productive on the job front ... just to keep me really working towards the next great job.
I have been productive already. At the very least, this setback has pushed me into action. I have signed up to take the certification tests. Although I can't get certified through them yet, they will make me highly qualified for all social studies, rather than just history. I also applied for a teacher certification program. I'd been putting it off due to the high price, but there is no time like the present. I screwed myself over by not having done it already, which significantly cuts down my options for possible employment.
I have already applied for two teaching positions already: one at Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering, the other at Southwest Preparatory Academy.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
S
o, I open my mouth to ask questions and I get fired. Well, not exactly ... I get my contract offer withdrawn. Whatever actually happened, I am officially unemployed. Enough to file for unemployment and take a little bit of my tax money back ...
But, rather than groan about what happened, I'm going to chronicle my adventure in my blog. There unfortunately is not a whole lot I can do to get back at the dumb dumb that decided I wouldn't be needed, but I can start the search for a better job.
Sadly, I am not quite sure I am going to have a whole lot to write about over the next couple of months, but I'm definitely going to write every weekday. If nothing else, I will write who I applied to, what I did for unemployment, or how I was productive on the job front ... just to keep me really working towards the next great job.
I have been productive already. At the very least, this setback has pushed me into action. I have signed up to take the certification tests. Although I can't get certified through them yet, they will make me highly qualified for all social studies, rather than just history. I also applied for a teacher certification program. I'd been putting it off due to the high price, but there is no time like the present. I screwed myself over by not having done it already, which significantly cuts down my options for possible employment.
I have already applied for two teaching positions already: one at Brooks Academy of Science and Engineering, the other at Southwest Preparatory Academy.
Keep your fingers crossed, do whatever pagan ritual you can think of, light a candle (or seven), and/or say a little prayer ...
And so goes the life ...
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