Somebody Pinch Me!

Seriously somebody needs to pinch me because I still can't comprehend the fact that I am no longer a "unemployed" college grad, with a teaching certification, but now a full-time, employed at a school district, have my own classroom, making money in the form of a salary college grad! But I prefer the title "Third Grade Teacher" :) Yes, I am officially a teacher! WOW! Even after three weeks of knowing that I got the job, I still can't believe it!

So while this blog originally started out as my "journal" during my student teaching and subbing experiences (not that I had many posts anyways, but it'll be more exciting with my own classroom...I promise!), it is drastically going to shift to my classroom experiences! I can FINALLY join the world of the "Teacher Bloggers"! 

As the current school year is coming to a close, I am not only super excited for summer but for the fact that I now have to start garage-salin', thirft-shoppin', and bargain-huntin' for my classroom and my future students!! EEK! So excited!!!!

 Consider this blog now under construction until further notice! Also, any survival tips for the first year teacher are greatly appreciated. ;)

Freedom Writers

Once again, I am a "Blog Slacker". Pretty sure it has been over a month since my last post, but hey I've been busy, or lazy. Anyways, I have a ton of things I could be updating the blog world on but I've narrowed it down to one topic; Freedom Writers. I have FINALLY watched the movie. And only one word can describe my reaction. Inspired. Based on a true accounts, Freedom Writers depicts the story of  how a teacher changed the lives of a group of students who were struggling to survive in the world of gang violence, addiction, abuse, and failure. Connecting the real-life situations of the students to literature, historical events and people, one teacher is able to turn the lives of the students around. After watching, and yes crying at times, I can only praise those teachers in my life, as well as in the lives of others, who have truly inspired their students to succeed and never give in to failure, rejection, or any obstacles that may stand in ones way of greatness.

In this day in age, the education system strives to achieve academic success for all students, as it should, however, that is not always the case. Some schools or educational systems have no choice but to hire people who have their teaching license, but lack the characteristics and charisma of a true educator. Anyone can be a teacher, it comes with the degree and license, but it takes a dedicated, motivated, passionate and inspirational individual to be the change in the lives of the students.

Because I love and live this career I have chosen,  I only want to be the best. I aim to be that teacher who changes the lives of students and encourages them to be all that they can be. Teaching is one of the toughest jobs in the world, but it is also the most rewarding.

So my advice to all teachers, new or experienced, as well as anyone living on this earth, be the change that you want to see in this world.

Ms. Jones=Ms. Jonas

Well subbing has officially started! I've had two fun-filled days back in the classroom. I started out my subbing experiences in third and fourth grade classrooms. I was so excited but so nervous! I've only worked in first grade so I had no idea what to expect. I must say that I absolutely loved it! It was so fun to experience different grade levels and different curriculums. One of the highlights of my fourth grade adventure was a student asking me if I was related to the Jonas brothers. I couldn't help but laugh and say "I wish!". Eventhough I am not a fan of the boy band (I'm a 90s girl...no present or future boy band will ever compare to the amazingness of the 90s....Backstreet Boys and NSYNC will forever be the best boy bands of all time) I'd hope that if I was related to the JoBros I'd be living in a mansion somewhere!
Anyways, I am glad that subbing has picked up and I can't wait for my weeks to be booked with subbing! I sure missed teaching and being in the schools.
Until next time! :)

ABC....Easy As...123! Psh...Yeah Right!

Fun (or not so fun) fact: There is a 1/100 chance of getting a teaching job immediately following college graduation. Awesome...NOT!

Flashing back to my college classroom days, I can't help but remember the infamous saying by all education professors, "It is going to be extremely hard to find a teaching job. This career path isn't an easy one but it is well worth it". Great, I am now in that situation. A college grad with no job (hey the bright side is I've found tons of time to blog!). But as I sat here and moped around about being out of college and not immediately having my own classroom, I had a sudden realization. I knew it was going to be hard to find a teaching job, especially in such a small town; however, I needed to make the best of the situation. So I thought to myself...how do I make the best of the situation?

It's easy. I need to prepare myself for the coming spring when teaching jobs will once again be available. This form of preparation will definitely help my odds of getting a job in the spring. So what are the steps that I plan on taking? A simple three letter word; sub. Yep, I need to make myself as available as possible. Most people don't realize how much money one can actually make from subbing. In my town it can be up to 300 dollars a week, and as a unemployed college student who wants to stick with the education path and not dwindle in crappy part-time/full-time jobs (that don't have anything to do with my field), that 300 dollars a week sounds pretty darn good to me.

Like I, and all my professors, said before, "This job is totally worth it". I am determined to continue working in growing as a professional and gaining that extra experience.

So I promise from here on out, my posts will no longer be me "moping" or venting my depression about being jobless. No, my blogs will continue to document the education path that I have taken and the road to getting that job that I have worked so hard for.
Here's to a wonderful year full of more experiences and landing a teaching job of my dreams.
May the odds be ever in my favor! (I told you I was obsessed!)

Third Times A Charm....I hope!

So you know the saying "Third Times a Charm", well I hope that the saying is true. Let me start by explaining the situation first. I live in a small town which is surrounded by other small towns. Basically, in a 30 mile radius there is a small handful of elementary schools. So it is extremely hard to be a new teacher, in a small community, looking, or rather waiting, for an opening spot in the districts. Anyways, today I turned my third application into the third district. (When I re-read that sentence, I couldn't help but think of District 12 and the Hunger Games....yep I think I am obsessed.) I currently have all of my fingers crossed in hopes that I will get an interview and possibly a job from this district. With only two weeks till school, the school is going to need to fill those spots as soon as possible. I just keep telling myself, "Third times a charm, third times a charm, third times a charm." Now begins the worst part of job hunting, the waiting game. This is one game that I hate playing!

Goodbye Summer....Hello Fall!!

Well it's that time of year again, summer is officially coming to an end. While the summer seemed to fly by and I am sad to see it end, I must say that I am beyond excited for the next season to arrive. I am so over the hot weather and smokey skies. I am looking forward to all the fabulous things that  autumn brings.  Such as....

*I can't wait for school to begin. I am getting antsy and inpatient to begin subbing and getting back into the routine of school. While I wish I had a contract and my own classroom, I am glad to have the opportunity to devote my time to subbing and submerging myself in the schools again!

*I am so excited for cooler weather. Mainly because I miss having hot coffee, hot chai, and hot tea. This summer it was way too hot for anything that was hot.

*I'm finally gonna be able to wear the winter hat that I purchased (on sale) at the beginning of summer. I just hope it looks as good as it did a couple months ago.

*I can't express enough how much I LOVE to spend time wrapped in a warm blanket, with a warm cup-o-something, and immerse myself in a good book. Not gonna lie, there are times when I wish I could spend the whole day in this comfortable setting. Although, it's very similar to the scene that I love so much about summer. Except in summer I am sitting beneath the heat of the sun, with a ice cold drink and sunglasses. Can you tell that I love to spend any and most of my free-time reading?? :)

*And last but not least, fall is the season of Halloween (my second favorite holiday) and the season before Christmas (my favorite holiday that I begin immediately after Thanksgiving, okay maybe a week before. To tell you the truth, I would probably begin Christmas the beginning of October if I could.)

Okay, enough of the fall talk! It's time to reflect on summer. This summer I think I have accomplished a lot of the things that I wanted to do, however, there is always more that could have been accomplished. I was able to get my teaching certificate, which I still can't fathom the fact that I have one, and begin applying for jobs. Even though my job is still underway, I am able to feel confident in knowing that I am able to sub as soon as school starts. Smooth sailing from here on out (let's hope!).

Another thing that I wanted to do this summer was read some of the books that have taken up room on my bookshelves forever! That is one thing I love about summer! I feel like I actually have more time to read. Anyways, I finished a few off of my shelf but somehow I seemed to acquire more books rather than trying to purge some. Here was my summer reading list!

• Jodi Picoult's House Rules 
• Steig Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Jodi Picoult's Salem Falls
• EL James' Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy ( I know...I know....I caved like everyone else...)
• Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl

 All of these books were good and each was different from the next. Now as fall approaches, I plan on reading some more by Gillian Glynn, picking up some Phillipa Gregory, continuing my obsession with Jodi Picoult, and finishing the Steig Larsson trilogy. All while catching up on "teacher" reading material. There are a ton of books that I would like to read that are inspired and written by real-life teachers. However, I have a feeling that this fall list will carry me into winter, which consists of some of the classics such as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, etc. There is just not enough time in a day, week, month, or year to read the books that I want to! I know that as soon as I have my own classroom, I will definitely not have as much time to read. My extra-time will consist of lesson planning, spending time on pinterest looking at activities and fun stuff for my classroom, and hopefully blogging. Honestly, I can't wait to spend my extra time doing those things :)

Now that you are probably bored senseless with my reading obsession, I'll end this post until the next.
Thanks for reading!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER WHEN...

There are a few things I have noticed about being a teacher now that I am officially done with school and am in the process of finding my first teaching job. Here is my list of you know you're a teacher when...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER WHEN....

1. It's SUPER hard and sometimes discouraging to find a job, but we all knew that coming into this profession.
2.You get excited about school supplies emerging in stores.
3. You are not so excited about school supplies emerging, only because the means the end of summer vacation. But hey the kids are thinking the same thing.
4. You already have your teacher/sub bag packed and ready to go! (Even though it's only the beginning of August)
5. You are so proud that you get a 15% discount at Michael's! Even on sale items mind you! *Only one of the many perks of being a teacher.
6.You find yourself still getting up at 6 during the summer because you are still on "school time".
7. You find yourself ready for bed around 8 but you still stay up till midnight finding random things to work on.
8. You run into a past student and it completely makes your day.
9. You are more excited about getting your teaching certificate in the mail than your college diploma. Although, both are proudly hanging on my wall!
10. You are THRILLED when you happen to stop at a garage sale and find a box of kids books that would be perfect for your classroom. Not only is it a heck of a deal but the box basically encompasses your childhood.

 Only a few of my childhood favorites!
*Junie B. Jones (My all-time favorite book as a kid!)
*The Littles
*The Boxcar Children
*Bailey School Kids
*Little House on the Prairie
*Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle


*TO BE CONTINUED: There are a ton more YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER WHEN...to come along with my many experiences as a teacher.