The week in-between
This is my week in between student teaching placements, and I'm enjoying the time to relax and reflect a bit. I have worked a bit for SFUSD this week, but not too much, and I got to DJ a set at the East Bay blues venue on Tuesday night, which was a lot of fun. I met with my new master teacher on Monday, and I am really excited to get to work with her. I'm also nervous, though, because I know I will have a lot more responsibilities this time around. I will have to be teaching a *lot* more, and I'll be in her classes for three hours a day instead of two like I was in my last placement, and then in March it will go up to five hours a day. I know I can do it, but it's a little overwhelming to think about right now. Time will take care of it, though, I know, because with time will come the experience I need.
This week I've been looking into applying for teaching jobs, which I mostly can't do yet because I don't have the letters of recommendation I need. My last master teacher said she'd write one for me (YAY) but so far that's just one, and I need at least three, ideally. I've asked my field work supervisor to also write one for me, so hopefully she'll say yes and I'll have a second one. I also have some that were written for me to get into the credential program that I may be able to reuse, so we'll see. I'm hoping to be able to actually apply for jobs within the next month or so so that all the jobs for 2011-2012 don't get snapped up too quickly for me to have a chance at them.
I went down to San Jose today to check out a charter school that a friend of mine recommended as a great place to work (she has subbed there), and I really liked the feel of it, and was happy to even get to meet and talk with the principal. However, I found out that they require all their English teachers to also teach social studies. *sigh* I don't get why so many schools think that these two subjects have to go together or that people necessarily have this pairing of great skills in both areas. I absolutely don't. I never have been good at social studies. I was average or so throughout middle school and maybe some of high school, but I have always struggled with memorizing names and dates, and it took me three tries in college to get through my U.S. History course. I don't like social studies and probably never will. It's probably due to the fact that none of my teachers ever really made it that much fun, and sure, I could go and make it fun for some students today, but I really don't feel knowledgeable or motivated enough to do it. It's just not my area. So, I won't be working at that charter school, I guess. I'm hoping that there won't be too many more schools asking this of me. I'll be taking the CSET to be able to teach computer skills, but I don't even know if that will help me that much. We'll see. :/
At least today I was able to spend time updating my résumé and writing a cover letter. Hopefully soon I can make use of them. I decided while down here in Palo Alto that I'd just stay down here for the night again (I was here last night as well) and surprise Rudy by still being here when he gets back from work. :) Hopefully he is happy to see me this evening.
My spine is feeling slightly better today after a lot of time spent sitting with a heating pad, and I haven't danced since Tuesday (and am not dancing tonight to give it a rest), but I did make an appointment with a chiropractor who is close to my house and who also uses the Activator (yay) for Monday afternoon, and I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping to not have to go too many times to get this issue fixed, but I really do need to go in and get something done after all the pain I've been having lately. He sounds really nice and he said he'd give me a complimentary exam and consultation on Monday since I'm a student. Sounds a lot like what my previous chiropractor did. :)
I think that's about all for now.
This week I've been looking into applying for teaching jobs, which I mostly can't do yet because I don't have the letters of recommendation I need. My last master teacher said she'd write one for me (YAY) but so far that's just one, and I need at least three, ideally. I've asked my field work supervisor to also write one for me, so hopefully she'll say yes and I'll have a second one. I also have some that were written for me to get into the credential program that I may be able to reuse, so we'll see. I'm hoping to be able to actually apply for jobs within the next month or so so that all the jobs for 2011-2012 don't get snapped up too quickly for me to have a chance at them.
I went down to San Jose today to check out a charter school that a friend of mine recommended as a great place to work (she has subbed there), and I really liked the feel of it, and was happy to even get to meet and talk with the principal. However, I found out that they require all their English teachers to also teach social studies. *sigh* I don't get why so many schools think that these two subjects have to go together or that people necessarily have this pairing of great skills in both areas. I absolutely don't. I never have been good at social studies. I was average or so throughout middle school and maybe some of high school, but I have always struggled with memorizing names and dates, and it took me three tries in college to get through my U.S. History course. I don't like social studies and probably never will. It's probably due to the fact that none of my teachers ever really made it that much fun, and sure, I could go and make it fun for some students today, but I really don't feel knowledgeable or motivated enough to do it. It's just not my area. So, I won't be working at that charter school, I guess. I'm hoping that there won't be too many more schools asking this of me. I'll be taking the CSET to be able to teach computer skills, but I don't even know if that will help me that much. We'll see. :/
At least today I was able to spend time updating my résumé and writing a cover letter. Hopefully soon I can make use of them. I decided while down here in Palo Alto that I'd just stay down here for the night again (I was here last night as well) and surprise Rudy by still being here when he gets back from work. :) Hopefully he is happy to see me this evening.
My spine is feeling slightly better today after a lot of time spent sitting with a heating pad, and I haven't danced since Tuesday (and am not dancing tonight to give it a rest), but I did make an appointment with a chiropractor who is close to my house and who also uses the Activator (yay) for Monday afternoon, and I'm looking forward to that. I'm hoping to not have to go too many times to get this issue fixed, but I really do need to go in and get something done after all the pain I've been having lately. He sounds really nice and he said he'd give me a complimentary exam and consultation on Monday since I'm a student. Sounds a lot like what my previous chiropractor did. :)
I think that's about all for now.