Today I recieved a mini bunt cake from a student and a very important note I will cherish always. This note is important to me because 1.) I never loved the way anyone taught math. 2.) I struggled with math as an elementary student 3.) This student is a high math student (she actually loves, loves, loves Math.) So, this means, my math anixety is gone, as a teacher. Praise the lord. I’ve been cured?!

Although I finish this week, I am very much on the job hunt right now as we speak. Unfortunately, I’ve heard rumors that some jobs at certain locations have 400 applicants. Yikes. I’m trying to stay aggressive, yet calm, confident and not-freaking-the-heck out just yet. The tough economy has finally hit the teaching market. The good news is that many teachers of the Baby Boomer generation will be retiring in the next five years. But until then, many prayers are going up for me to find a job. Until then:Keep calm, carry on.

The last week of student teaching is here!! I am so busy this week with things other than student teaching. I can’t believe it is over already. What an amazing time of growth. I feel secure in finding a job even though the odds are against me this year. I keep promising myself I won’t freak out until late summer. Then I’ll sub like a mad woman until I find a job.

Until then, real life, not swamped with two schooling experiences, here I come.

Genie Appeared to a California Man

One day a genie appeared to a California man and offered to grant him one wish.

The man said:” I wish you’d build a bridge from here to Hawaii so I could drive there anytime”

The genie frowned” I don’t know. It sounds like quite an undertaking,” he said. “Just think of the logistics. The supports required reaching the bottom of the ocean, the concrete, and the steel! Why don’t you pick something else?”

The man thought for a while and then said, “Okay, I wish for a complete understanding of women- what they are thinking, why they cry. I wish I knew how to make a woman truly happy”.

The genie was silent for a minute, then said “So how many lanes did you want on that bridge?”

Week one was like trial by fire. Classroom management: hardest, hardest thing. Now I’m bribing them with sticker charts and all they can do is complain about the darn stickers. Augh! New rule: complain about stickers–lose stickers.

I have been teaching poetry and today we did a poem that involved opposites and patterns. One girl decided to pick the opposites of rich and poor, because, and I quote “We’re very wealthy.” Well, GLORY BE Vercua Salt!!! I cringed but told her, that they were indeed opposites and she could continue with her Paris Hilton-inspired poem.

Here is my fake version of her poem using the pattern.  Maybe I’ll show it to her tomorrow. It might make her think.

Rich

wealthy, monied

spending, charging, splurging

carefree, luxury — not much, meager

scrimping, moonlighting, praying

value, save

Poor

So this little girl is so very “wealthy” because  her father is a Doctor of Urology. When I told this story to my co-operating teacher I had to make the joke “So, when say your family is wealthy you really mean urine the money?” Okay, lame. I’ve been reading to many knock, knock jokes.

Today begins my three weeks student teaching my class on my own. I’ve very nervous even though I feel prepared. I think I’ll leave early today and get my bearings about me. Will I be attacked by the wolves? Will they listen? Will this be a glorious ending to a already wonderful student teaching experience? Hopefully, only the last.

Actually, I’ve talked to more than one person who had such a horrible student teaching experience that they didn’t want to be a teacher right away. Sad. Instead of getting you ready to go the teacher freaks you out. I am very thankful I have a teacher who oozes grace and compassion.