Yowling from the Fencepost

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Happy dance!

I fell off the radar a few weeks back, but I will soon be back on it.

Over that time, I took a number of very tough subbing assignments. Since I am one of those subs who insists on getting things done in the classroom so a teacher can return to a classroom that is still in order and he or she can pick up on the lesson plan they left for their students. It is not an easy thing to accomplish, since I usually have to fight my students' notion that my presence and their teacher's absence somehow means that the day is a "free day." Heh... No such luck.

My method of "conscientious subbing" has finally borne fruit. I have accepted a position at a middle school that needs a person to take over their media center. The person who used to work there took another high-tech position in the district and, when it came to figuring out who to put in her place, my name came up as a person who might be suitable. It's a part-teaching, part-techie sort of position, which is right up my alley.

Even better, the school will be getting ready to participate in our state's History Day (think Science Fair for our young historians). With a combination of my academic knowledge and know-how combined with my new job's duties, I have a great opportunity to guide students and assist teachers in preparing for the event.

Best yet, I will have the bonus of being able to go to one place to work, establish working relationships with people that will last longer than a day or week, and get to know one school and its student body well. This is much unlike subbing, where every day is much like a first day at work; getting to know names, the work culture, written and unwritten protocols, and even where the staff washroom is located.

The only downsides to this are that the job is not in my field and it will most likely end when the school year ends. But, hey, this is definitely a step up and is on the path to my eventual goal, so I count it as a win in my court.

So, in the near-term, until the new job dust settles, I will not be posting regularly. But stay tuned...

Labels: education, Minneapolis, teaching