My name is.

Adventures in subbing have brought me to another realization: learning someone's name speaks volumes. I was subbing for IEPs at an elementary school that I frequent. I was in the last class for the day, supervising some independent work, learning and using names as I go. When the class was all packed up and sitting on the carpet, I was passing the time asking them about their hobbies and extracurricular activities. One girl raised her hand to share, and I blanked on her name for a moment. I finally remembered and said it, and her face lit up into a huge, genuine smile. What a gem.

I've received compliments on my ability to learn the names of students quickly. But I often wonder how other subs or aides get by without being able to do so. As soon as you learn a student's name, you have his/her attention. (they always ask, in amazement, "How do you know my name?" Well, it's written on your desk.) You create a connection between you and the individual because you've shown that they matter enough for you to learn something that is special about them. It's a recognition of their existance within a sea of faces (or, in this case, a class of 30 students).

Wife Swap? Who Knew?!

Okay, I'll start this out by admitting something: I'm fond of reality television. I'm finally making this statement, in a public place.

Am I ashamed? Sometimes. But it was almost as if the episode of "Wife Swap" that I watched today was meant especially for educators. The show's title is pretty self-explanatory: two families with different values and living habits trade moms for two weeks. On this particular episode, the parents in the first family home-schooled their boys and preached of the evils of conforming to what society expects. The other parents were extremely focused on success and structure, believing that a formal education was essential for their two girls.

The debate over formal vs. alternative education was the main topic of the show. The structured mother discovered that the boys in the first home could not write or do math at the expected grade levels for their age. On the other hand, as a viewer, I could not ignore the inspiring curiosity and creativity of the home-schooled boys. The amount of pressure and stress that the teen girls of the other house were experiencing also made me wonder about the education "machine".

I think it's every teacher's dream to have each student learning in a curious, creative way that is unique to their interests and learning styles. However, establishing curriculum is essential if we want to educate our youth to become citizens of our communities and the values that accompany them. Curriculum is essential, but learning should never be limited to it. The key here is Balance. We have a responsibility, as teachers, to encourage our youth to think "outside of the box," but we have to teach them what the box IS before they can do that. Does that make sense?

Progress Reminders.

Yesterday, I was reminded that, even though I don't have an actual teaching job yet, that I have made progress. I was a floating sub, and the last room I was in was being taught by a student teacher, one month in, who was doing an excellent job. The class was still a little rowdy, though, and it took me back to last year around this time, when I was receiving a crash course in classroom management in my student teaching assignment.

I want to go back and have a redo. Where's Doc with the time machine?

Rejection 101

I was declined a parapro position at a local school district. I interviewed for it and everything. It's a bummer, but my boyfriend and some of the teachers I talk to a lot have made me feel better about it. With their help, I was able to formulate a pretty effective affirmation to help me handle rejection:

[to self] "So you didn't get the job you applied for. Here's the thing: maybe you were not meant to have it. There is something else out there that is waiting for you, and you'll know when you get there. Make the most of your experience and reflect on what you could have done better, during the interview and otherwise. Don't take it personal."

I'm so anxious to start teaching or working in a school setting. I'm anxious to find out what my life will lead to. But if I knew everything that was going to happen, it would be a pretty boring life. So I'm doing my best to view my situation positively and keep on learning as much as possible. There are a million books to be read and units to plan. If I keep myself busy, things will happen on their own.

Wow. I've been away too long.

I definitely need to be better about keeping up this blog. In a nutshell, here's what I've been doing the last few months:

1. subbing.
2. serving.

I actually had to cut back hours at the restaurant so I can have more time to accomplish other things, such as filling out job applications and maybe allowing myself to start a new creative project.

I've been doing a lot of subbing at one particular elementary school in Ann Arbor. I worked for the first two weeks as a "starter parapro" of sorts, working in the special ed resource room. Most of the students in that room are Autism Spectrum Impaired. Their teacher is amazingly dedicated, and I've enjoyed the work more than I thought I would. I've been subbing at the school often because other teachers have asked me to sub for them as well, mostly because I'm familiar with the students now. They even used me as a "roaming sub" today, so I was able to meet some of the older students.

I've learned a lot in the past month, even though I'm not certified in elementary ed. I figure it doesn't hurt to expose myself to different age groups. It helps me understand where my students are coming from when they get to me.

I'm still unsure about my next step. Washtenaw County is an excellent area to learn how to become an educator. But I don't feel willing to committ to a life here. I've also got my boyfriend to consider. And grad school/post-bach stuff. Hopefully, I'll figure it out soon.