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.

First Grade=Fun!

Here it is almost the end of summer and I have yet to officially have a teaching job. While I am still waiting to hear on the part-time 2nd position, I have to say that I am starting to get impatient. Luckily, a few days ago a first grade position opened up at a different school! As soon as I saw the posting I began dancing around with excitement. Not only is it another opportunity to apply but it is in the first grade. I can not be more excited! I have grown to LOVE first grade and I can't imagine teaching anything different (although I would because I can and because I'm so desperate at this point-I would even teach 5th...and that's stretching it!).

After I looked at the posting and re-read it to make sure it was legit, I immediately began throwing all my application stuff together. It was much easier the second time around! And with already one interview under my belt, I can go in to an interview and know what to expect. Let's be honest....interviews the second worst part to job hunting...the first being being the newbie and that first day...I dunno about you all but I hated being the new person and I absolutely hated the very first day. Although I don't think I'll feel that way as a teacher....the first day as a first year teacher may be a little scary but it's going to be so exciting.

Now my application and all that other good stuff is on it's way to the desk to the superintendent. Can I get a WOO HOO! Now once again I am a contestant in the waiting game.BLAH! (signal jeopardy theme song....)

Fingers Crossed!

Phew! I officially survived my first teaching interview! While I was so nervous, I felt that I completely knocked it out of the park. Now for the waiting game (definitely the worst part of job hunting). I am WAY too impatient to sit around and wait for either the most exciting news which would sound like this,
"We would love it if you would be interested in becoming part of our team and accept the position as a second grade teacher" or more depressing news,
 "I'm sorry to inform you but the position has been filled". Yeah, I would rather hear the good stuff. With crossed fingers and lucky pennies, I hope that I will be hearing the great news rather soon!!

"As One Door Closes...Another One Opens"

Once again, I have failed to make weekly (or even monthly) posts. I blame it on the insane amount of work that came with student teaching and graduation. Well since my last post (which was nearly 4 months ago), I completed my student teaching experience and graduated from college (FINALLY!). I am now a college graduate, a unemployed certified teacher :) However, I received some exciting news today that I just can't wait to share! I have my first teaching interview tomorrow! Not only is it in the school where I did my student teaching experience, it happens to be the same school in which I was once a student myself. The position is a part-time second grade teacher but I couldn't be more ecstatic to be returning to the school! Only a month after graduating college, earning my degree, and obtaining my teaching license I have been chosen to be interviewed for a position. Now, I am trying not to get my hopes up because it's only an interview but it's one step closer!

Since graduation, I have found that being done and out of college can be rather depressing! I look back and think, "Wow, those were some of the best years of my life and now I'm sort of in after-college limbo!". If I could go back and do college again, I would! Even when I think about the times I stayed up all night to study the night before an exam or worked all weekend to complete a project, I would go back and do it all again. That brings me to the title of this post, "As One Door Closes, Another One Opens". There couldn't be a better saying out there for this time in my life. My college experience has come to an end but it is now time for the door of future teaching experiences to open. I am so excited to begin this new journey as an actual teacher (no longer a student!!!!). I'm crossing my fingers that tomorrow's interview goes well and that I will walk away with a job. Everything happens for a reason and I can't wait to see what the future holds for me.

Happy Birthday (Week) Dr. Seuss!!!

Oh what a week this has been in the first-grade classroom! All week we have been celebrating the amazing works of Dr. Seuss in honor of his birthday this Friday. Last week I had the students make portraits of themselves as Dr. Seuss characters. These turned out so cute and oh so adorable! With the help of a wonderful parent, we were able to make the cutest Dr. Seuss bulletin board, which was inspired by "Oh, The Places You'll Go!", to display our Seuss characters.

Tomorrow will officially be Mr. Seuss' birthday so we have dedicated the ENTIRE day to celebrating him! Of course through fun, engaging, and oh-so seuss-tastic activities the students will have no idea that they are actually learning, rather than just having fun :)

Here are a few pictures of our bulletin board and the "green egg" cupcakes that I have made for our celebration!

To leave with some of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes:

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go"~Dr. Seuss

 Oh, The Places You'll Go!

"Today you are you, that is truer true. There is no one alive, who is youer than you!" ~Dr. Seuss
 

Green Egg Cupcakes!

First-Graders Know The Direct Line To A Teacher's Funny Bone...

Okay I guess since I can't keep up with my blogging, a blog-a-month is going to have to do!
So much has happened since I last blogged (which I believe was about a month and a half ago...geez!) that I am hoping I'll remember all the fun things I wanted to share!
First off, student teaching is amazing. I honestly can't believe I have been in the first-grade classroom for 7 weeks. With only 7 more weeks to go, I am both super excited but super depressed! I am SO ready to be a college graduate and finally hold a degree (one that I literally worked my ass off for) but I am so not ready to be unemployed and no path to head down. That, quite frankly, scares the bejezus (spelling?!) out of me! However, that being said, I would love to move back to my college town (truth be told, living back home in the valley is just not my cup of tea) and find a teaching job, but word through the grape vine is that there are going to be job openings at the school, that I am teaching at, within the year. I will gladly take any job! Anywhere! (Okay not anywhere....but I'm not going to be too picky!)

Enough of the exciting and nerve-wracking post! Now, the real reason I remembered that I even had started a blog about 6 months ago was so that I could post all the hilarious things my first-graders do and say. Today, as I was the teacher for the day, I was reminded of my blog and thought of some very cute and funny first-grade comments. So I titled this blog appropriately.

Taking it back to my first couple of weeks of student teaching, I had a student (random student mind you, not one in any of my classes) come up to me and ask if I was a new teacher. Replying with a simple nod, the boy continued to stare for a few seconds. As I was just getting ready to walk away he yelled out "Your really pretty!" Now let me just tell you, at least first-graders know how to give nice, not offensive, comments to women! Pretty sure many, not all, men need to take note! Okay that was my cute "kid-comment", now it's time for the funny ones!

I began my morning routine, like I do everyday, with a cup (or two) of coffee in my hand. I usually drink it pretty fast because with out it, I would definitely be one of "those" teachers. Coffee=LIFE! So anyways, I had finished my coffee and continued on with our morning work. Next thing I know, the bell has sprung to life and it is time for recess. One thing that should be known about teachers is that they seriously have little if no time for bathroom breaks! This day I was in need of a break, and had planned to go during recess but I couldn't break away from getting ready for our next lesson.

So like clockwork, I realized I needed to pee as soon as the bell to end recess rang. Most days I could hold it,but that day was a "two-cups of coffee kinda-day!" I couldn't hold it so I briskly walked to the nearest bathroom. As soon as I walked in to the bathroom, I knew it was going to be impossible to be back into the classroom before all the kids arrived because there was a line of girls waiting to use the restroom. Noticing that one of my own students was next in line, I told her that I had to cups of coffee and that I really needed to go. Asking her if I could jump ahead of her, she just looked at me with a very serious face. The next thing that she said to me literally almost made me pee my pants. Okay....I know a lot of people may not think these "kid-comments" are funny but let me tell you, when your a teacher some of the things kids say can make your whole day better! Okay back to the story.....where was I...oh! So this student of mine, just gave me a very serious look and proceeded to say....

Student: "Ms. Jones...you drink too much coffee...Your an alcoholic."

I just stood there, laughing and thinking to myself..."I dunno what you think coffee is but it definitely isn't alcohol...trust me kiddo your spelling and reading lessons would be a lot harder to teach if my coffee was alcohol"
HAHA! I just couldn't help and laugh and tell her that while I am addicted to coffee, the two beverages are completely different. Not to mention that one of them helps me show of my oh-so-awesome dance moves. ;)

So there you have it! A few short-stories of my many, daily conversations with my amazing group of first-graders. Never boring, never dull, and always putting a smile on my face :)

A New Year and a New Beginning

The months have come and gone and I have once again slacked on my blogging! I had planned on blogging more during my final semester, before student teaching, but with the insane craziness of it all I never seemed to get around to it. But I have made it one of my new year resolutions to blog more, especially now that I am officially about to begin student teaching!!

In only a few days time I will be setting out on the wonderful journey of student teaching! I would be lying if I didn't say my nerves are getting to me, but I know that it is going to be an amazing and worth-while experience! I can't believe it is finally here, and I truly can't believe in only 4 short months I will be graduating from college with a degree in Elementary Education. Wow! Where has the time gone?!

So with my many resolutions (the first one being to actually complete more than one of my resolutions:) ) and the exciting adventure of student teaching I am prepared to take on 2012 and begin with a fresh start!