Life update as promised
Career stuff is going pretty well. I had a 7-week contract back in August, at a school very close by, with a delightful Year 6 class. They liked me (even the cool boys!), I liked them. The deputy principal of the school gave me a shining reference, too. I had a great time on that contract - I looked forward to going to work. I organised myself so that I did all my work at school and had evenings free. It's the most confident I've ever felt about my vocation.
This term I haven't had any contracts apart from a 6-dayer. I've been doing relief teaching but haven't really been getting as much as I would like. I thought given the schools fighting over me last term I'd be fine for work this term - maybe I need to do another drive-around, or preferably, ring-around.
The principal of the school where I do most of my relief teaching (and have done 2 contracts) told me she's very keen to have me there next year on a year-long contract. The district office has control over permanent positions, and since I haven't listed on my application form that I am willing to go anywhere in the state, I am unlikely to get a permanent position. That's fine with me. A year-long contract would be perfect. Sam is tied to Brisbane for two years with his PhD, and after that he's thinking of applying for post-doc positions overseas, so I don't know that I want to be in a permanent job at the moment.
Anyway, she says she can't guarantee anything, but she's doing everything she can. I've applied for two specific private school jobs so far, and have another couple on my things-to-do list. I'll also apply to do a Graduate Certificate in the middle years of schooling (Years 6-9 approximately) part time, in case that all falls through. I've found I really like teaching Years 5 and up, and it's an area that's becoming more common as a focus. I might do something in science or maths as well, or both, not sure yet.
I'm still weighing up what I want to do long-term. I know I want to be in education somehow, so I'm pursuing experience there (just like the beginning of the year). I have bursts of ideas often (psychology, linguistics) but I'm not ready to leave teaching yet.
Career is my focus at the moment. I'm missing socialising a bit, but that should change in upcoming weeks.
Sam and I have just booked a 6-day trek at the end of the year through the Tarkine rainforest in Tasmania. I'm really looking forward to it but have to train a bit - 15kg packs, 9km a day. I miss contact with nature and am hoping the trip will be restorative in a lot of ways. We're doing the usual family Christmas thing in Sydney, too.
This post was a bit boring. I'll try to write more often, but friends are gradually drifting away from LJ in favour of Twitter and Facebook. I have some issues with Twitter and I do a bit of cross-posting to Facebook, but I still like LJ.
This term I haven't had any contracts apart from a 6-dayer. I've been doing relief teaching but haven't really been getting as much as I would like. I thought given the schools fighting over me last term I'd be fine for work this term - maybe I need to do another drive-around, or preferably, ring-around.
The principal of the school where I do most of my relief teaching (and have done 2 contracts) told me she's very keen to have me there next year on a year-long contract. The district office has control over permanent positions, and since I haven't listed on my application form that I am willing to go anywhere in the state, I am unlikely to get a permanent position. That's fine with me. A year-long contract would be perfect. Sam is tied to Brisbane for two years with his PhD, and after that he's thinking of applying for post-doc positions overseas, so I don't know that I want to be in a permanent job at the moment.
Anyway, she says she can't guarantee anything, but she's doing everything she can. I've applied for two specific private school jobs so far, and have another couple on my things-to-do list. I'll also apply to do a Graduate Certificate in the middle years of schooling (Years 6-9 approximately) part time, in case that all falls through. I've found I really like teaching Years 5 and up, and it's an area that's becoming more common as a focus. I might do something in science or maths as well, or both, not sure yet.
I'm still weighing up what I want to do long-term. I know I want to be in education somehow, so I'm pursuing experience there (just like the beginning of the year). I have bursts of ideas often (psychology, linguistics) but I'm not ready to leave teaching yet.
Career is my focus at the moment. I'm missing socialising a bit, but that should change in upcoming weeks.
Sam and I have just booked a 6-day trek at the end of the year through the Tarkine rainforest in Tasmania. I'm really looking forward to it but have to train a bit - 15kg packs, 9km a day. I miss contact with nature and am hoping the trip will be restorative in a lot of ways. We're doing the usual family Christmas thing in Sydney, too.
This post was a bit boring. I'll try to write more often, but friends are gradually drifting away from LJ in favour of Twitter and Facebook. I have some issues with Twitter and I do a bit of cross-posting to Facebook, but I still like LJ.