Tis the Season to be Jolly, Fa La La La

Today is the big day that Baylor plays Texas Tech at the Cowboys stadium. I'm praying for a miracle, that somehow the worlds shift and we are able to win. I know that we don't have a great track record this year but crazier things have happen so we shall see!

I'm enjoying my last few days from my week long hiatus from being Miss Chambers. I didn't realize how badly I needed a break from my ongoing marathon I have been running since May. After my kidney stone episode, I started at the Y then finished my last day by performing my legendary "dance off" routine for the job offer at Christie and the following Monday started learning about the ins and outs of being a fourth grade teacher. It has been quite a year, probably the craziest one thus far.

Shay and I are all moved into our swanky apartment. Last night, we decorated our Christmas tree with ornaments and lights. A Christmas party will be planned in the near future so get excited! I love our little apartment. It's cozy and comfortable, two essential ingredients needed for those long Mondays or CBA days. (CBA = Curriculum Based Assessments, 4th grade tests).

Before we know it, it's going to be December 1st. I have been reflecting from this entire year and have realized what a big year it has really been. In a way, I feel like I was shot out of a cannon up into the "real world" not knowing what to expect or what was going to happen, hoping that I would crash back down to earth with failure. This year has definitely not been easy, it's been uncomfortable, awkward and different; all three things that can leave any 22 year old wondering "what AM I doing?!?" haha. But beyond all of the awkwardness, there has been blessing laced through that has made everything else wonderful.

There has been so many milestones that have happened that I wish I had written them all down. Some of the milestones that come to mind are....

*Turning 23 (birthdays are always milestones, another year older and another year wiser!)
*Graduating (my diploma is still in the green tube. I should hang it up but haven't gotten around to it).
*4 different jobs (SLC, YMCA, J Crew, 4th Grade Teacher) My 2nd and 4th have probably been my favorite :) )
*Moving twice (from Waco to Plano, from Plano to Dallas)
*Running a 5K (true story. My dad and I ran it together this fall for the Frisco Education Foundation).
*Jobs Fairs Gallore
*Visiting schools (don't even want to remember how many I went to, too many to seem sane)
*Interviews (which are not as scary as I had imagined. If you all for the dream that you want to pursue, all you need is someone to listen to your passion!).
*Parent Teacher Conferences : feat in itself. soo many parents and sooo many questions that day. I hadn't realize that not only do I have 17 children to teach but also 17 sets of parents that worry about their precious little one and want to make sure that they are given every opportunity possible to strive for excellence.

Love Love Love

Wow! It's September 14th. Insane. Time for some life updates.

It's been such a transition season. It started this summer and has carried into the fall. Figuring out life after graduation still has some sticky areas. The new quest is: how do you meet people your own age? By not being a student any longer (although I believe that teachers are life long students), it's more rare to meet someone that is your age. I've been going to Sunday school classes geared towards the yuppies out there. So far, it's been wonderful!! Loving Jesus is always a great thing.

Speaking of Jesus, we had a Jesus moment today in class. When we were in writing, my kids and I had a discussion about what different topics you can write about for your stories. One of my students says, "Miss Chambers, do you ever wonder if someone out there is writing your story about your life?" Then one of my sweet boys goes, "Miss Chambers, God writes our story. It's like we are in a reality TV show but for our whole life." At that moment, I couldn't say, "Yes, you're right. God does know our story" but smiled at my student, felt that tingle in my heart why I adore kids so much and continue my lesson.

I am truly blessed beyond my greatest imagination with my career. Every day, something else unfolds beautifully and I thank God for giving me this opportunity to live my dream. I love standing at my door every morning and my kiddos come in with their stories. It's the best job, hands down. Harder than anything I have ever anticipated but absolutely blissful. Is blissful even a word? Who knows, haha.

Check this out.
http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/Christie_4th/index.cfm?subpage=990059

It's in the works but it's my fourth grade website that I have been elected to work on. Haha, you can even search me under the staff directory for Frisco. Holla

Dreams DO Come True

Hello, bloggers and bloggerettes.

It has been a little over two weeks since my last entry and sooo much has happened since then. I don't know where to begin.

First off, I'm officially a fourth grade teacher! Insane, huh?! I'm teaching at Christie Elementary in Frisco ISD. I absolutely love it. During the job search marathon, I have a list of hopes of want I wanted my "perfect" school to entail in the back of mind. The type of school, the team that I would be working on, the students that were going to be coming into my classroom, etc. The Lord has far exceeded my greatest desires in ways I'm still trying to wrap my mind around.

Christie is the only Tier One school in Frisco ISD, meaning that our kids have low socio-economic profiles/may have free and reduced lunches/etc. In each grade level, there is a couple of bilingual teachers that teach our bilingual learners that we bus in from neighboring cities. I love the characteristics of a Tier One school. In my heart, this is where I need furfill my teaching role, to kiddos that not only need the knowledge but also the love that they might not be getting at home.

My class is filled with 17 sweet fourth grade students. They are spunky, witty and chatty. I teach them math, science, writing and spelling and they go to another teacher for reading/social studies. I love having my own kids during the majority of the day. And I love the fact that I don't have to teach Texas History. It's a dream come true! I can't wait to get to know my kids this year. I love them already.

Being a "real" teacher is far more stressful than anything that I have been trying to anticipate. There are constant meetings, emails to be read, curriculum to learn and children to teach. I start my days waking up at 5:30am and leaving the house around 6:45am, get to school, do my teacher thing and leave around 5ish. It's a crazy life but I love it. Thank you for all of your prayers.

My 4th grade teacher was right. When you do put your mind to something, anything is possible.

Passion Somehow Doesn't Get Your Foot In

Sorry that I have been lacking in the "blog" world this summer. It has flown by. If you tried to watch it zoom by, you couldn't because my life seems to move by the speed of light.

It's August 10th and still no job. This is insane. Some of you out there reading know what has gone down in the last few weeks. I don't feel like typing it out into words but it's been brutal. I've been comtemplating whether or not I should be a teacher. This seems like such a radical statement to make since all I talk about are the kids that I have taught, I would spend more money on school supplies than any other lavish gift and I love plopping down in the children' book section at Barnes N Noble. But it has been such a rollercoaster. I wanna get off but I feel like it's nowhere near being over.

Pray for those aspiring teachers out there. There are quite a handful of us. It's so frustrating not having a "plan" this fall when I have had one the last 21 years of my life. I feel like God is preparing me for something bigger than I can fully comprehend but it's so hard to stay hopeful for His plan.

Okay, back to the apps.

6 Little Things

Laura tagged me on this and I haven't written on my blog in over a month so I pondered a bit and came up with 6 little things that make me happy.

1. Walking Spencer. This summer, I have walked Spencer and it's so fun. He walks with such poise and grace, you would have thought I had taught him a thing or two. We like going up to the park to see other dog walkers and kids playing. Spencer of course tries to make friends with everyone that is up there.

2. Going to get icecream with Grace. Grace and I have gotten close since she came to Baylor. We finally get each other and understand where we are coming from. Plus, it's always a sight us singing at the top of our lungs to "Skanky Leg."

3. Holding kids' hands when you are walking somewhere. I know, this sounds crazy but I love when kids grab your hand to walk with them. It's usually the little ones (5-6 years old) but just that trust that they with you knowing that you will get them to wherever they are going safely is so nice.

4. Genuine conversations. I love people, especially getting to know them. I love learning what makes people tick and what their passions and dreams are. It's always so refreshing because people might have more common interest with you than you think!

5. Teaching kids how to cook. This summer, I have been teaching Culinary classes every other week at the YMCA. I absolutely love it. I love showing kids how to measure ingredients, going through the different conversions and making a mess every time. It's a blast.

6. Dancing in a studio. I love throwing on a pair of ballet shoes, going into an open studio, turn up the music and be in my own world. It makes my soul feel rejuvenated. Nothing better.

Dance Off Ephiphany Moments

This week, I started my camp duties at Russell Creek Day Camp. I arrived bright and early on Monday (7:30am to be exact) to gather my roster and guidelines. At nine after all of the kids were checked in, the counselors and I sang a song introducing ourselves (my camp name is dance off) and then played "Poop Deck" with the kids. We then broke up into groups and took our 14 kids to the kitchen to begin cooking! I'm the lead teacher for Culinary and Science/Space Camps.

We had a few hiccups on the first day including blowing a fuse in the kitchen that cut out all of the electricity in the offices and delay in our breakfast making. No worries, being the teacher I am, I explained to my kids a lesson on how cooks always improvise when things don't go as planned.

My students are precious. They range from 6-12 years of age, both boys and girls. They have so much charisma. They ask the fun questions that I have become accustomed to including, "Are you married?" and "Do you have a boyfriend?" One of my sweet girls told me that I looked like the princess from Princess Diaries and another said that their favorite food is Hooter's Wings and was wondering if we were going to go to Hooters for a field trip.

Being with kids this week reassured me how much I genuinely love working with kids. When I'm at camp, I'm not worried about the fact that it's now June and I don't have a job yet. My worries are who has to go to the bathroom, who needs their shoelaces tied, who has a song that they want to sing to you, who drew a picture of you to give you, who wants to do the Cupid Shuffle, who wants you to play dodgeball, who needs help opening up their juice box because their 6 year old hands aren't coordinated enough. The list goes but I think explains my epiphany why I need to teach kids. It hasn't crossed my mind that this isn't something that I want to do the rest of my life.

Way Over My Head

Hello, blog readers.

I'm happy that Molly started blogging again. And Christy is blogging over in Thailand. Laura is always consistent with her blog. Blogs are fun, even the word "blog" is fun to say.

Life in Plano has been interesting, stressful at times and filled with searching for a job. I've had training at the YMCA and start next week which is nice. I'm excited to be with kids again. J Crew has been fun as well. There are some new faces that have started working there. J Crew employees are hilarious. Always decked out in J Crew wear and there is always a scandalous story to share during a work shift.

To date, I've have visited 26 elementary schools in the Dallas area. That's alot of driving, a lot of gas being sucked out of my car and lots of neutral responses from principals. It's so incredibly challenging, this whole job searching. It's constant rejection every time you feel like you are getting somewhere. There have been small glimmers of hope from schools but nothing that has shined a light at the end of the tunnel. This experience has definitely tested my faith and my patience in waiting for the perfect teaching opportunity to come.

When the day comes though when I receive my offer, I have already decided that I'm going to hug the principal (regardless of who she is and how she feels about physical touch) and we are going to have a dance off right there in her office. I will love every school day next year and adore each of my students regardless of how crazy they drive me. Because after this, I've learned that I need to appreciate every aspect of my job next year.

Haven't passed the stone. It could have dissolved by now. But who knows.

How are you?

Quarter Life Crisis

I stole my title from Laura's blog. I hope she doesn't mind but I feel that it's absolutely fitting for life right now.

These last few days, it has been total chaos at 1321, 1106 and all over Waco. Moving out is no fun. It's hard enough saying good bye to people that you are used to seeing on a daily basis and don't know the next time that you will see them but then add packing/cleaning/fixing/packing/dusting/scrubbing to the mix and it is a recipe for a stressful diseaster.

Yesterday, I went to the Emergency Room. I woke up with horrible lower back and groin pain. Rachael and Laura took me to the ER while I laid down in the back of the car. I found out that I have a kidney stone and a kidney infection. Although we spent the majority of the day there, it was nice to finally just stop my crazy life even though I felt terrible. I kept asking the nurses for drugs thinking to myself that there is no way that I will have a natural child birth. But it was good to sit with Laura and her momma. (We actually went a week ago with Laura. The nurses recognized us and everything).

I had my first day of training at the YMCA today. I'm going to be a Speciality Camp Counselor which is going to be so fun. I get to teach curriculum based camp classes to kids. I met some of the people that I'm going to be working with today and I'm totally stoked. Plus the fact that I get to sing songs, dance and play with kids makes it wonderful.

Now to continue my search for a teaching job. This task is more challenging. Super economy and super swine flu.

G-R-A-D-U-A-T-E-D

Yesterday I graduated.  It still feels weird when the "g" word rolls off my tongue.  I'm officially a Baylor alum.  

It was so surreal sitting on the floor of the Ferrell Center.  I was happy to graduate with my EC-4 girls and our two boys.  They know what it felt like to be off campus our last year, work like a real teacher but pay Baylor's tuition, survive Spanish (sometimes some of us having a round 2 in one of the classes) and loving on our kids.  I could not have asked for better sidekicks to learn how to be a teacher with.

And I couldn't ask for better friendship.  I have made such strong bonds with so many people over the last 4 years.  It has been truly a blessing.  I love each and every one of my friends.  They are wonderful.  

Bite My Bait

I'm at Cedar Creek Lake right now in Gun Barrel City (population a little over 1500 people).  It makes me want to save all my earnings to buy a lake house one day.  I love being at the lake and being outside.

I've been continuing searching for teaching opportunities.  I think I could actually fill Cedar Creek Lake with a fishing pole for each principal I have sent my cover letter/resume to, applications I have filled out, job fairs attended and visiting elementary schools with scarce signs of fish biting my bait.  I promise, though, it's excellent bait.  Probably the best bait you could ever come across.  It's just a matter of trusting your instincts to hire a fresh teacher straight out of college.

I do have a little bit of promising good news.  I have two jobs lined up for this summer.  I'm perfecting my tie tying abilities to gain my J Crew rock star status once again at Northpark Mall.  I'm also going to be a day camp counselor in the Speciality Camp at the YMCA at the Russell Creek location.  Speciality Camp is where I will teach lessons on different areas of interest for kids from ages 6-12.  The areas that I will be teaching are art, culinary, science/space, forensic science and wilderness survival.  It seems like the perfect fit.  I get to work with kids and be preppy too.  Life couldn't be more perfect.

Unless I had a teaching job lined up too.  Then life would be perfect.

Sweet Ending to a Wonderful Experience

Today was the last day of my internship at Spring Valley.   After 28 weeks, 112 days and 896 hours, I had completed my 4th grade student teaching experience.  It's definitely overwhelming.  I feel like it's still just the first day of school when I was meeting them all for the very first time and trying desperately to learn their names.  

Today was really special.  My students had sad, droopy eyes when they came to class because they knew that today was the last day that we would be together.  Lots of hugs were given, last few questions were asked and teary eyed Miss Chambers loved on them all.  I wrote each of them a letter expressing how much I had enjoyed working with them this year.  I included my address with the letter so we could be pen pals this summer.  After I was in 4th grade, I was pen pals with my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Meachum.  I absolutely loved her.  I thought she was the greatest.  I still have those letters tucked away in a shoe box back in my room in Dallas.  Pretty neat, huh? Maybe I will have 80 pen pals this summer.  :)

When the end of the day rolled around, 4th period was cut short and all of my students scurried out of the classroom.  I was left there confused until a few minutes later when Mrs. Humphrey called that she needed me for a minute. I walked into the hallway to find Kristina (my partner in crime) waiting in the hall too looking just as confused as I was.  We didn't know what was going on because all of the classrooms were empty (usually there is total chaos).  They took us to the AV room and find all 80 of our wonderful love bugs sitting quietly and excitedly when we come into the room.  In the middle of the room laid two giant totes filled with supplies that every first year teacher needs.  On one side of the bag had famous quotes from scholarly people in our history that understand the needs of teachers and the other side had all of the kids' signatures.  I burst into tears when I saw my kids so excited to present the bag of goodies to us. Mrs. Humphrey tried to say how much she has enjoyed working with Kristina and I but she was crying too.  Whew, lots of tears.  

After the tears were dried and mascara was cleared from underneath eyes, the kids got to tell one word of advice for us for next year when we are first year teachers.  Some of my favorite pieces of advice includes:

"Let them have recess all day when they are good."

"Go down to Austin to stop the printing of the TAKS test"

"Be strict, but not too strict"

"Always remember the golden rule"

"When a kid is bad, mark their chart"

"Treat students how you want to be treated."

"Make every lesson fun or kids will fall asleep"

Then we took one huge group picture with Miss Santen and I in the middle of our kids.  We took 3 serious pictures and then all of the sudden, there was a stampede of kids coming at us, hugging from every direction possible saying, "I love you, Miss Chambers. You are the best!"  

There is nothing better than hugs from kids that really love you for who you are.  They hold on tight, hoping that you never let go and forget them.  But how can you?  These wonderful little rascals have refined my philosophy of education in so many ways that I don't think I can fully express.  I do know that 110% that there is nothing I would rather do!!

Stickin' It Through Pays Off

Hello, Blog Readers.

What an overwhelming, doubtful and stressful Spring it has been. As you might know, I have been on the hunt for a teaching position at one of the 7 school districts that I have applied to (Allen, Plano, Richardson, Coppell, Frisco, McKinney and Highland Park). I have basically blanketed the entire Dallas area. Essay questions on applications were thoroughly answered, transcripts were sent in, resume with cover letters attached were sent to principals in these schools districts and anticipation of certification letters were sent in to Human Resources offices. The next course of action was to attend the job fairs for these school districts.

On March 28th, there were 4 job fairs from 8am-noon. Plano, Coppell, Allen and Highland Park. Because of the geographics of where each of these were located, I had to pick and choose which ones I wanted to attend. I decided to attend the Plano job fair since I am a graduate from there and Highland Park because it was the easiest one to attend after Plano because you go straight down 75.

I got to Plano early and waited in long lines with other aspiring teachers who were all various ages and different levels of experience. In 3 and a half hours, I was able to talk with 20 schools (there are 42 schools in all in Plano). More or less, each school stated the same pitch, "I'm sorry but we have no openings." It definitely put a dent my spirit. To be rejected over and over regardless of how much I expressed my love for teaching and all of the neat experiences I have had in student teaching did nothing. No worries, I still had Highland Park to go to. There are only 4 elementary schools in HP which was nice. But, when I got up to the 3rd principal, she stated how HP doesn't hire 1st year teachers because they don't believe that there are experienced enough. I wanted to yell back at her, "Then WHO GAVE YOU THE CHANCE WHEN YOU WERE 22 TO START TEACHING?!?!?!!?" but I bite my tongue, smiled sweetly and shook her hand thanking her for giving me the chance to talk to her and left. I felt defeated. Totally shook up. Trying to paddle through the mucky water I was drowning in.

But nothing dampens this girl's spirit. I continued to email teachers, went and dropped out my resume to school secretaries and continued to pray.

Then the greatest day happened.

I attended the Richardson Job fair this past weekend, April 18th to be exact. I arrived 30 minutes early before the job fair began believing that being early would give me an edge. While I waiting in line with the rest of the hopeful teachers, it started to mist. My hair that I had perfected minutes early was now drowned out like a vegetable that gets its timed mist at the grocery story. When I got inside, I checked in, received a badge that had my name and walked into the cafeteria filled with all of the school districts for Richardson.

The vibrancy of this job fair was unlike any of the others I have attended yet. Each table was carefully detailed with a theme to lure people over to come hear why their school is awesome. There were teachers dressed as fishermen "fishing for fabulous faculty", teachers walking around with milk mustaches proclaiming "moo on over to our school!" and even michael jackson's greatest hits playing. One table caught my eye. They were dressed as Harley Davinson drivers, even the principal herself had on all of the black leather and a bandanna wrapped around her hair. I introduced myself and she then proceeded to ask me detailed questions about my behavior management style, how I prepared for TAKS and how I deal with parents. I felt like I didn't have all of the right words to convey my thoughts but I must have said something right. After we talked, she gave me a card to have a formal interview with human resource people. I was escorted upstairs to a room filled with a principal who was going to do my interviewing. I was asked 35 questions dealing with all areas of education. She was not allowed to express how I was answering and add any additional thoughts. She just critiqued what I said. It was then taken to Human Resources where they were going to evaluate it and then I would hear back in the next few weeks.

When I got back downstairs, I visited more schools. The "o" word was finally said. Openings were found and they needed teachers to fill them. It was such a relief. I feel that this is where God wants me to teach! A handful of the schools are Tier One and others have ESL learners. I have a hunch that this is where I will end up. And I'm ready for the challenge. BRING IT!

I'm on going to write on my blog

I have wonderful news.  I got an A on my Teacher Work Sample (138 points correct out of 150.  If you divide that amount, it's a 92).  Teacher Work Sample is education's version of a thesis for all those U-Scholars and Honors kids out there who fingers are typing away at the moment before their big day comes.  My TWS ended up being a little over 60 pages.  I was thrilled.  A handful of my friends failed so the fact that I managed to pull off an A is miraculous.  This teaching thing is maybe meant to be.  

Last Wednesday, my kids took yet another practice TAKS Reading test.  The big day for these two tests is April 28th and 29th.  Tuesday we took a practice TAKS Math and somehow forgot that we were taking a practice TAKS Reading so when they came into the room and saying it on their assignment board, they let freak out screams.  Not going to lie, I would let them out too.  I do not enjoy TAKS at all.

Students were given their test, a quick pump up about remembering to use their strategies and to read every story twice if not three times.  While I was working on grading papers and job applications, one of my students raised their hand.  I walked over to him and stated that he was done.  It had merely been an hour and I thought he couldn't possibly be done unless he had done his very best work which for this one, he is notorious to racing through his work because he has it wrapped around his head that there is still a prize waiting at the end of the finish line for completing first.  I did not take the test from him until 11, 3 hours after the test was given.  He let out a grunt and I stated, "Do you want an A on this test?" And he apathetically stated, "I guess."  2 and half hours later, I picked up his test. 

This student made a 98.  The first time that he took it this semester, he got a 50.  A 48 point increase, not too shabby eh?

Lots of my students made A's.  It was beautiful.  Mrs. Humphrey and I were so excited.  I love when my students do well.

Next weekend is big.  I will be heading to Dallas for Teaching Job for Coppell, Plano, Highland Park and possibly Allen (if times permits).  This is where I will be meeting numerous principals from each elementary school in the districts there.  I'm nervous, not going to lie.  I'm crossing my fingers and toes for job interviews.  

Okay, that is all for now... I'm going to work on sending more cover letters and resumes to principals.  Enjoy today's beautiful weather.

Really, REALLY?!!?!?!?

Hello all you readers out there that read the latest and greatest of my blog entries.

It is March 5th.  Scary thought, I know.  I'm sitting in my apartment relaxing, such a foreign word to this year.  I feel like I never really stop.  Even when I'm sleeping, I'm running through in my head what I have to do the next day.  

There are a stack of papers staring at me right now (my kids would say I found SMAPHO.  And I would receive a penny for that last sentence), waiting anxiously to see if they will receive any purple ink marks. (side note.  I don't like grading in red. I would rather grade in purple or green).

It is FINALLY Spring Break.  Today was the longest of days.  My kids had the jitters.  Nobody could sit down.  They received their progress reports for this nine weeks this week.  A good chunk of them aren't doing too hot.  Due to the fact that they never turn in their assignments.  Even daily assignments (you would think daily assignments would be easier to do.  We do it together in class.  The only task that they have is to follow along, ask questions when needed and turn it into the tray for their class period.  Apparently that is a hard task for a nine year.

The task of writing your name on your paper is hard too.  It's two words you have heard from day one and somehow we can't get the pencil on the top of the paper to write these down.  On average, when I'm grading 78 papers from them, I will have 14 that don't have names.  Having 78 students, there is no way that I can decipher their hand writings.  Especially when they are circling letter choices.  But o do they have attitudes when their work is missing.  These last two days, I would read off who had missing work and my kids would run up to me accusing me that I had lost their work or thrown it away. Then I would ask them to check their purple folder and wha-la, there it is, perfectly placed there as if the homework fairy had placed it there herself.  If the fairy didn't give them fairy dust, I run off extra copies for them to do.  They complain doing the same assignment twice but my statement is, would you rather have the zero or some credit?  

Next week, I'm headed to Seattle slash Vancouver with the roommates plus Jenny and Melissa.  I am SOOOOO EXCITED!  It is going to be so much fun traveling to another country together.

Favorite Quote from today

Miss Chambers asks student: "Where are you going for Spring Break?"

Student: "I'm going to Memphis to see Elvis."

(puzzled look on my face)

Student: "You know, the King of Rock and Roll?"

Love Bugs

I wasn't full teaching this week.  It was a nice break from the hectic life of me trying to rally in my 4th graders from changing classes, marking charts of kids that aren't prepared/talking/throwing objects across the classroom/forget their homework.  So I decided to brainstorm how to describe each of my class periods and this is what I came up with.

My 1st period are my Patty Procrastinators.  I race the halls every week trying to gather all of the assignments that they haven't turn in on time.  Their behavior charts resemble a mosaic of colorful "2's" and "3's." 

My second period class are my hardest workers.  They are good at following directions the first time and still "aim to please." If they could receive a TAKS score for their effort, they would have commended performance.

My 3rd period class are my frequent flyers.  IF they earned points for how many times they came up for help, they could earn a trip to the North Pole to if Santa is real.  Ironically, this is the cream of the crop group.  They constantly question everything.  You name it.  They will ask it.

Attention Getters.My fourth period class is filled with class clowns.  They are the quirkiest and most theatrical group.  The class ratio is 13 boys and 7 girls.  I often find the boys desperately trying to to get my my attention

One of my favorite parts of my career is the statement of fashion trends.  In our 4th grade, we have it all.  We have the t-shirt/jean short trend, we have the sunday dress and running shoes look, we got the more barrettes in one's hair than someone can count look, we have the socks that are pulled up to the calf look and even the argyle sweater and wind pants look.  I love it.  They are so confidence in their own fashion ways that they could care less what everyone thinks one of 4th graders.

One of my 4th graders yesterday asked me if my boyfriend's name was J Crew. I told him yes.

Snippets

I can't remember the last time that I wrote a blurb about my whereabouts so before I hit the hay, I will give you brief snippets of my life and what it entails.  

On Friday, I turned in my Teacher Work Sample.  62 pages double spaced with charts.  Probably the most strenuous and insane project I have done to date.  I had to write a unit covering either Science or Social Studies (I taught about Early Colonization in Texas) then devise learning goals that covered TEKS that also related to the Contextual Factors that were found in my class, teach the unit itself, produce a pre and post assessment to see what the raw scores of each of the learning gains were and after teaching the unit if they were any learning gains out of the students (I'm proud to say that all of my students had positive learning gains. I must be doing something right, eh?) discuss any changes that were made during the unit.....I think you get the idea.  I'm glad it's done.

O yes, I have come to the realization that my favorite subject to teach in school is science.  I love doing experiments with my kids.  Next year, my goal is to have a garden somewhere at my school where my kids and I can learn about the growing process of different plants (ie. fruits and vegetables) and have a garden of our own.  Wouldn't that be neat?

I have the Teacher Job Fair on March 4th.  It's just around the corner and I haven't even begun thinking about it.  Part of me is freaked out because all I hear about is how awful our economy is and how there are no jobs to be found and then the other part of me knows that I will find a job at the perfect little elementary school and will begin the great adventure of refining my teaching tactics to be one of those teachers that kids talk about at their high school graduations and how they made an impact on their lives.  That's what I want to be.  Pretty neat dream.  You should jump on the band wagon. I'm pretty psyched.

Okay, that's all for now. Until next time...

My Heart and Soul Poured Out Into Words

In my senior year at Baylor, I have the opportunity to work with a group of incredible fourth grade students.  During my experience in the classroom this year, I have begun my lifelong journey in becoming the educator that I dream of being.  An interaction with a student that touched my heart was with a boy who has Asperberger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism in which the student lacks appropriate expression and has difficulty interacting with peers.  One day in class, I was searching for an overhead sheet with math vocabulary and he came up from behind me.  I asked him if he needed anything and he stated that he just wanted to give me a hug.  As he was running back to his seat, I realized why I had chosen this profession as a career. 

 My philosophy of education is to develop children's faith within themselves.  I believe that in order for a student to be successful, he or she must have the confidence to accomplish their dreams.  As an elementary teacher, I have learned the depth of children's vulnerability.  They cannot have faith in themselves if we don't have faith in them as educators.  Regardless of what learning styles a child possesses, I do believe that each student is capable of reaching his or her potential.  It is up to us as teachers to instill students' full capacity and celebrate their unique personalities while inside the classroom.  My goal is to teach with authenticity.  Faith in my students is an expression of my love for them.  Each child has something to offer.  It is up to a teacher to allow students to explore their gifts.  

New Year, Goals are in Place, Dreams Waiting to be Reality

Today is my last day in Plano. I leave for Waco tomorrow. It's has been a superb Christmas break. Confession. I was a little apprehensive at the beginning of the break. I was technically done the Tuesday before Thanksgiving so I thought it was going to move slow like pond's water (that's a common phrase that comes out of my mom's mouth. Something moving as slow as pond's water. I've never personally sat by a pond to see how slow the water actually moves but I'm taking my mom's word on it. She's usually right about things).

Like others, I have tried to make a list of New Year's Resolutions to accomplish before I'm doing another countdown and wondering who is going to be the lucky man to receive a New Year's kiss. Here is what I have come up with so far.

1. Graduate - I feel like this is a given. Something that is sitting on a silver platter that I will pick up on May 16th. But it's not! I still have 15 weeks of my internship, science seminar, Teacher Work Sample and evaluations done by mentor teachers.

2. Find a Job-this is one of my resolutions that is dicey. I know, there are so many teaching jobs in every district, you have nothing to worry about, blah blah blah. But mind you, there are thousands of college graduates doing the exact same thing I am doing right now. Fighting for the same jobs that I am. Everyone dreams of having their perfect job. Being in an elementary school that feels like a hand in a glove. But you have to stand out a little bit more than the rest. That's what I've been picking my mind at during Christmas break. What can make me, Claire Chambers, stand out a little bit more than the others?

I think the fact that I have had a year long internship at a elementary school for student teaching will get the ball rolling for being unique in a line-up of college graduates. Many education majors only work with a class for merely 15 weeks. But Baylor seeks to have college graduates from the school of education to work with a class for a school year. While in my internship, I have worked with 80 kids (4 different homeroom classes rather than one), and also have taught different subject to another 60 kids (the other 3 homeroom classes at Spring Valley). This makes teaching 140 kids (soo many names) and working alongside 7 different teaching styles. Pretty neat, eh?

Since I've been at Baylor, I have working in every area of my degree. Freshman year, I worked with a 1st grader named Stephanie Nava, Sophomore year, I worked in a kindergarten class at Bells Hills Elementary, Junior year I taught 2nd grade (the best grade) in the Fall, and 3rd grade in the Spring. And this year, I'm teaching 4th grade. So my EC-4 degree will show evident that I've dapped into each area.

Whew, maybe one of my new year's resolutions should be to move onward. Not freak out but take what I have and run with it.

Sounds good.

O, something yall can think about. In an elementary class, there is a theme to the room. When I think back to what I enjoyed in elementary school, I think of ballet, the color pink and American Girl dolls. Not too great for a class theme. Do you guys have any ideas on what could be fun for an elementary school class???

Getting Through The Growing Pains

Happy 2009!!

I cannot believe it's 2009. I'm still in a state of shock. I remember being a senior in high school and saying, "Yes, I DO know where I'm going. Baylor University, class of 2009!" And here we are, in the last semester of college. I can't believe it and I don't think I will ever be able to believe it.

I'm heading down to Waco on Friday. My little sister, Grace, is transferring to the best place on Earth that day and has transfer orientation so I'm going down to help her move into Collins. (Yes, she will be a Collins girl. Let's see how she does, eh?)

I've applied for Certification over the break and got fingerprinted as well. I've been working on job applications for Plano, Frisco, Richardson and Highland Park. It's so surreal though. It's definitely exciting because I'm getting closer to achieving one of my dreams but also it's closing a chapter of my life that I have loved so much and beginning the next.

I've also began working on my Teacher Work Sample. It's a project that as Education majors we have to turn in and get a particular grade on it before we graduate. If the graders do not believe that we have earned the grade that is needed to pass, we have to write another one. Lame, I know.

There are 7 steps to the entire project.

1. Contextual Information and Learning Environment Adaptations. Here, I need to explain relevant factors nad how they may affect the teaching-learning process. Include any supports and challenges that affect instruction and student learning (ie. gender, achievement level, racial backgrounds, etc.).
2. Unit Learning Goals and Objectives-listing the learning goals (which are TEKS, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) that will guide planning, delivery, and assessment of my unit. Objectives for each goals, types/levels of goals, how they are appropriate with pre-requiste knowledge, skills and other student's needs.
3. Assessment Plan/Rubric
4. Instructional Design and Implementation
5. Instructional Decision-Making
6. Analysis of Learning Results
7. Reflection and Self-Evaluation



And they say education is the least amount of work when it comes to majors. Bahahahahaaha