Ok, I don't actually consider it the first day. The kids were there for a half day, but they rotated through stations to get their schedules, computers, class elections, and school procedures. So today the kid's summer was over. I never considered this summer as "summer" considering the amount of endless stress I carried.
As we walked into the gym for the morning assembly, it really hit me and another new teacher really how small this school is. I have known from the beginning that it would be completely different from where I went to high school and student taught (and this was one of the incentives for me to come here), but it was really a shock to see all (or at least most) 192 anxious students on their first day of school.
For the most part the half day was particulary boring for the teachers because we did not get the pleasure of rotating. I sat through the same presentation about schedules and four-year plans four times, but I can't complain. If this is the my complaint since I have been here than things are just pretty dandy.
After our half day, I was delighted from my parents with flowers. They will sit on my desk with the flowers that the FCCLA club gave the new teachers and the coffee mug and M&Ms STUCO gave the new teachers. I guess it pays to be one of four new teachers (which is actually a lot considering there are only 5 in the district). I feel loved :)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cookies From Doris
I can't believe it's been a week since I have really had the chance to write (ok, well maybe I just forgot). It's been a busy seven days of putting my room together, my lesson plans, and getting to know the town and school (and a trip to Kansas City for the weekend).
My thoughts on the town so far can be summed up by today's nice gesture from Doris. After a busy day at work, I hear my doorbell ring and am pleasantly surprised to see an older women bearing cookies and eager to tell me about her grand daughter also starting her first teaching job. Although, I didn't necessarily need a dozen cookies, it is certainly the gesture that counts! Every one has been extremely pleasant towards me, and I have found real security within those that I know so far.
I found a group of girls who run in town and am venturing out with them tomorrow at 5:30 before the first day of school! The students only have a half day and are rotated through picking up their computers, schedules, and class elections. I can not wait for the hallways to be booming with high school students voices and gym to be filled with school spirit and pride. Isn't that what being a high school teacher is all about? Well, until their minds are spinning with knowledge and enthusiasm on Thursday when they enter my classroom.
My thoughts on the town so far can be summed up by today's nice gesture from Doris. After a busy day at work, I hear my doorbell ring and am pleasantly surprised to see an older women bearing cookies and eager to tell me about her grand daughter also starting her first teaching job. Although, I didn't necessarily need a dozen cookies, it is certainly the gesture that counts! Every one has been extremely pleasant towards me, and I have found real security within those that I know so far.
I found a group of girls who run in town and am venturing out with them tomorrow at 5:30 before the first day of school! The students only have a half day and are rotated through picking up their computers, schedules, and class elections. I can not wait for the hallways to be booming with high school students voices and gym to be filled with school spirit and pride. Isn't that what being a high school teacher is all about? Well, until their minds are spinning with knowledge and enthusiasm on Thursday when they enter my classroom.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Home Cooked Meal
Last night I realized that the veggie burgers I bought at Trader Joes before I left town, were not going to cut it. Two veggie burgers down for the day: I finally decided it would be a swell idea to head to the cook books. I only have 3, so I searched for something in "Fix It and Forget It Lite."
After a days work at school, getting my classroom and curriculum ready, here's what I came home too:
I have to say it was tasty. I am looking forward to my left-overs!
Cooking Mission #2:
Potluck Lunch at School Tomorrow: Vegetables
This overwhelmed me from the moment that I got the letter about this. I am not much of a cook, but a vegetable? I went to "my person" for this dilemma (can we guess who?). Of course, my mom came through, and I made this colorful corn salsa for tomorrow. Oh, did I mention that I only have a Steak Knife. So power to the Steak Knife for all the chopping (and of course my poor fingers).
The part I am not so used to. No dishwasher either.
After a days work at school, getting my classroom and curriculum ready, here's what I came home too:
Cooking Mission #2:
Potluck Lunch at School Tomorrow: Vegetables
This overwhelmed me from the moment that I got the letter about this. I am not much of a cook, but a vegetable? I went to "my person" for this dilemma (can we guess who?). Of course, my mom came through, and I made this colorful corn salsa for tomorrow. Oh, did I mention that I only have a Steak Knife. So power to the Steak Knife for all the chopping (and of course my poor fingers).
Home Sweet Small Town Home
(Bear with me while I try to find time to make this blog "a little" prettier). I really just don't want to miss recording any moments of my adventures in a small town.
Let me give you some background on how I got to Fredonia, Kansas yesterday:
After graduating in May with my Masters in Secondary English Education, I was on a mission to find a teaching a job even if the job market was tight and looking grimmer and grimmer every day. I initially wanted to teach in the Kansas City Area and stay close to home, but after weeks of receiving no calls or even emails, I decided that my dream of becoming an English teacher was looking somewhat bleak. I decided to turn to areas outside of the KC Metro (St. Louis, Hutchinson, Whicita, and some more), and as soon as I did this I started to get interviews! My job search was starting to go somewhere at the beginning of June. Although none of the interviews turned into jobs, I was (1) starting to feel comfortable and (2) starting to really enjoy the idea of living in a small town away from city life, but was disappointed when the opportunity fell through.
As July approached, I really was coming up with a second plan. And just as I was doing this, a few more unsuccessful interviews (even in Kansas City) broke my heart. After this, I gave up. Two weeks into July, I had given up on a teaching job and looked into subbing. I was still frustrated every day with the new problems of receiving my MO teaching certificate in time to get my Kansas one. It was a constant struggle of stress (constant apologies go out to my parents who dealt with much of the wrath). Knowing in my heart that I wasn't happy with giving up, I really thought I had come to terms with not teaching in the Fall.
One random evening in July, I decided to check the Kansas Teaching Jobs website and saw a high school English job opening in Fredonia, KS. Where? Yay, that's right...I had no idea where it was either. At this point, I was a pro at turning in apps so I decided there was no loss in applying to this "small town I had never heard of." Learning from previous experiences, I did not get excited about this job opening or even visualize it. I just closed my computer and let it be.
Two days later, I received a call from the principal. The next day: a phone interview. Two days later: a visit to Fredonia High School. After that week, I really didn't think much about it (not that I didn't want to, but I had already made the mistake of getting my hopes up too much). Some other opportunities came up in Kansas City at that time too, but I really just did not think about any of them.
That Saturday night, I received a phone call from the principal offering me the job. I have no idea what I said or really what to say. I clearly had not been offered a job before. He understood I had an interview with a very desirable district in Kansas City on Monday so he gave me some time, which is good because I was so excited when he offered the job that I sounded idiotic.
Well, Monday came and went. The interview was great, but the time frame for such a larger district was not on my schedule. I accepted the Fredonia job with so much excitement! I had already spoke to a family about renting the house next to them and had already mentally prepared myself for the adventure and experience of a lifetime.
The next day came, and I was unfortunately given news that the interview from the larger district in KC was going to offer me a part-time job. Not exactly what I wanted, but a definite foot in the door. After my head swirled around about 500 times, I finally came to my senses and realized that I didn't want a part-time job or even any kind of job in a large district. What I wanted was a full-time job in a district that, as I quoted once I got hired, "I don't want to get lost in the sea of the bureaucracy." I really wanted a small community where I can become an enrich teacher and have some of the best experiences with flexible curriculum and amazing mentors ahead of me.
So here I am sitting on my new couches in my two bedroom house just waiting for the adventures and experiences that may not always be the most beautiful. Waiting to share them with whoever cares. And if no one does, I know I will in a few years!
Let me give you some background on how I got to Fredonia, Kansas yesterday:
After graduating in May with my Masters in Secondary English Education, I was on a mission to find a teaching a job even if the job market was tight and looking grimmer and grimmer every day. I initially wanted to teach in the Kansas City Area and stay close to home, but after weeks of receiving no calls or even emails, I decided that my dream of becoming an English teacher was looking somewhat bleak. I decided to turn to areas outside of the KC Metro (St. Louis, Hutchinson, Whicita, and some more), and as soon as I did this I started to get interviews! My job search was starting to go somewhere at the beginning of June. Although none of the interviews turned into jobs, I was (1) starting to feel comfortable and (2) starting to really enjoy the idea of living in a small town away from city life, but was disappointed when the opportunity fell through.
As July approached, I really was coming up with a second plan. And just as I was doing this, a few more unsuccessful interviews (even in Kansas City) broke my heart. After this, I gave up. Two weeks into July, I had given up on a teaching job and looked into subbing. I was still frustrated every day with the new problems of receiving my MO teaching certificate in time to get my Kansas one. It was a constant struggle of stress (constant apologies go out to my parents who dealt with much of the wrath). Knowing in my heart that I wasn't happy with giving up, I really thought I had come to terms with not teaching in the Fall.
One random evening in July, I decided to check the Kansas Teaching Jobs website and saw a high school English job opening in Fredonia, KS. Where? Yay, that's right...I had no idea where it was either. At this point, I was a pro at turning in apps so I decided there was no loss in applying to this "small town I had never heard of." Learning from previous experiences, I did not get excited about this job opening or even visualize it. I just closed my computer and let it be.
Two days later, I received a call from the principal. The next day: a phone interview. Two days later: a visit to Fredonia High School. After that week, I really didn't think much about it (not that I didn't want to, but I had already made the mistake of getting my hopes up too much). Some other opportunities came up in Kansas City at that time too, but I really just did not think about any of them.
That Saturday night, I received a phone call from the principal offering me the job. I have no idea what I said or really what to say. I clearly had not been offered a job before. He understood I had an interview with a very desirable district in Kansas City on Monday so he gave me some time, which is good because I was so excited when he offered the job that I sounded idiotic.
Well, Monday came and went. The interview was great, but the time frame for such a larger district was not on my schedule. I accepted the Fredonia job with so much excitement! I had already spoke to a family about renting the house next to them and had already mentally prepared myself for the adventure and experience of a lifetime.
The next day came, and I was unfortunately given news that the interview from the larger district in KC was going to offer me a part-time job. Not exactly what I wanted, but a definite foot in the door. After my head swirled around about 500 times, I finally came to my senses and realized that I didn't want a part-time job or even any kind of job in a large district. What I wanted was a full-time job in a district that, as I quoted once I got hired, "I don't want to get lost in the sea of the bureaucracy." I really wanted a small community where I can become an enrich teacher and have some of the best experiences with flexible curriculum and amazing mentors ahead of me.
So here I am sitting on my new couches in my two bedroom house just waiting for the adventures and experiences that may not always be the most beautiful. Waiting to share them with whoever cares. And if no one does, I know I will in a few years!
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