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!