the curious teacher

2008-12-17T20:02:00.007-05:00

Yikes

I am limiting my viewing of the local news. That is a promise. The proposed budget cuts in New York State are so scary and depressing. Every school district would lose millions of dollars. Is it going to mean larger class sizes? I don't see how it couldn't mean even less job openings than there are now. Watching and worrying about it doesn't change the reality of the situation. So, I will try to watch less and worry less.

On the job search front I am applying to substitute in my own school district. Hopefully by being on two lists I will receive a call every day. The up side will be paying my bills, the down side is a lack of health insurance. I wonder if I work part time at a doctor's office or hospital if I could get partial benefits? I will keep you posted.

2008-12-14T13:16:00.003-05:00

Single-Sex Classrooms

This is a really interesting article on single-sex classrooms and brain-based research that was published in the The New York Times last spring. It expresses both sides of the coin of course, the relevance of brain-based research, and the legality of single-sex public schools. I would like to read more about the different sexes in the classroom just have more information that could possibly help my students connect to the material. Being a female teacher I am always on the look out for ways to better understand boys and how they learn. I do not want to be that teacher that is always on a kid's back, "Do this, do that! Yack yack yack!" I am very conscious of making my classroom boy friendly and of course to not, in turn, forget about the girls. I just know that my sensibilities are naturally femine in nature and may not appeal to half of my class. That is why the books “Boys and Girls Learn Differently!” by Michael Gurian and “Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need to Know About the Emerging Science of Sex Differences" by Leonard Sax will be added to my reading list.

2008-12-11T19:27:00.018-05:00

Frantic

I received a lead on a mid-year teacher replacement position. The deadline is next Monday. As I mentioned in my previous post I do not have all of my paperwork necessary for a full application. Tomorrow and Monday will be a mad dash to gather, scan, and upload all my documents in order to apply to the position. I have two worries. 1. The icy weather is going to make all the hunting and gathering more difficult. 2. I am dependent on someone else to write a letter of recommendation for me over the weekend. Not only did I ask someone who probably gets asked for these letters often, but I am now giving him a deadline. I did not expect to have to ask him. I feel like needy pest, and this is a somewhat uncomfortable feeling. If all went according to plan I would have had my third and glowing recommendation weeks ago. However, when you are dependent upon others things don't always go smoothly.

I am also rewriting and fine tuning my philosophy of education. I have so many ideas. How do I briefly and articulately express only my key thoughts that will also appeal to future employers? How do I sum up my teaching strategies in one page? Will my ideas sound like every candidate's philosophy? Should I write it in the first person or third? It should be child-centered of course. I want to encompass my philosophy in one overarching idea. I want the reader to feel my energy and enthusiasm. I want it to be accessible and a true expression of who I am as a teacher.

This is what I'll be doing this weekend. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? I'd love to hear from you.

frantic
Pronunciation: \ˈfran-tik\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English frenetik, frantik
Date: 14th century

1. archaic : mentally deranged b: emotionally out of control <frantic with anger and frustration>
2: marked by fast and nervous, disordered, or anxiety-driven activity <a frantic search for credential qualifications>

Take the second definition, subtract the "disordered" and we have a winner!

2008-12-10T20:17:00.008-05:00

Job Market

I decided to start this blog in order to organize and share my ideas about teaching. I am a recent graduate and I am really going to miss academia. I am not currently employed in a school district. I thrive on communicating and sharing ideas with my fellow students and teachers. For this time, between being the student and being the teacher, I wanted to create a forum where I can share my ideas. I hope that my friends and fellow teachers will also use this site to share their views, experiences, and opinions. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

In order to stay busy, and get the job search ball rolling, I attended an event at school hosted by its career center. There was a presentation from an OLAS representative. She explained how to use their site. I have already registered with this NYS job search site. There is so much paperwork required from any education job application. I found out I am missing one letter of recommendation (three required) that I thought was coming my way (time to be a pest and go to plan B). I also have to wait for my degree to be listed on my transcript (required) and of course I'm waiting for my certification (required). It's kind of like being in professional limbo right now.

The event also featured a principal from a local school district and an area superintendent. They had good advice about interviewing. Some of it was interviewing 101, more appropriate for kids right out of undergraduate school. The useful basics were presented like researching the district and school you are interviewing in and the sorts of interview questions a committee would ask of a teacher candidate. But, the superintendent shared an interesting idea from when he was first starting his career. He suggested that after our first interview we write down as many of the interview questions as we can remember. Then, take the time afterward to craft our ideal answers. This will enable us to prepare for future interviews. This is just the sort of organized and thoughtful approach that will work well for my own preparation.

Of course, the state of our economy and how it is effecting the school districts was also discussed. The job market for elementary school teachers in this area has always been competitive. Now it is even more challenging to find a job. But, there are always going to be students in our public schools that need teachers. People resign and retire every year. One of my fears is that applying to jobs cold, without knowing someone that can directly recommend that I receive an interview, will be like throwing my needle into the haystack. The area principal assured me that 1. the amount of resumes for every opening is not nearly as high as urban legend would have it and 2. He has found outstanding resumes in those haystacks and called those candidates for interviews. I was very relieved to hear this. For every person that makes the job market sound hopeless there is someone else that says that with persistence and passion I will find my job.

This is a scary, but exciting time in my life. I know I will have a career as a teacher. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. I just can't wait to meet my students!

2008-12-09T17:12:00.006-05:00

Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure
Date: 14th century

1. made carefully; precisely accurate
2 marked by desire to investigate and learn; marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns
3: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected
odd - curious coincidence

— cu·ri·ous·ness noun

synonyms curious , inquisitive a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know curious about everything.
inquisitive suggests habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing. *

*edited for positive connotations only.

Thank you Merriam Webster!