For those who aren't aware, as of February 4th I'm teaching full time at Washington High School, my alma mater. A teacher missed the first semester due to injury and had one long-term sub, and then he decided to retire so they brought me in for the second semester. It's just like I'm an actual teacher - I'm responsible for everything. Assignments, points, tests, activities, what's going on in class...everything. It's a bit daunting but I am loving it so far. When I got the call for the job I thought it would be a good way to have consistent work while I looked for an HR job but after about a week of teaching I was convinced it is the career for me.
I'm enrolled in a Teacher Credential program - one class online per month (4.5 units/month so it's full-time). I will be qualified to have an Intern Credential by the Fall, and my best-of-all-possible-worlds outcome would be keeping the job I currently have as an intern next year. I doubt that will happen but it would be awesome. I'm hoping if that doesn't work out I'll at least be able to intern for the Fremont Unified School District. That means I'd teach in a classroom for the 2008-2009 school year and at the end of that year I'd have my teaching credential. With the budget cuts and whatever else going on right now it's a little sketchy...but I'm hoping to do as good a job as possible and hopefully I'll make enough of an impression with the students, parents, and faculty that they'll do what they can to keep me around next year.
So far the other teachers have been very helpful, offering me any assistance I need in figuring stuff out, making assignments, etc. I'm working basically from 7-5 every day but I'm thoroughly enjoying it and leave feeling like I'm doing something that matters.
Just thought I'd throw that update here. I am now Mr. Perdue, teaching US History and Sociology. Oh yeah - if you can remember any assignments you did in school that you thought were useful/fun let me know and maybe I can incorporate them into the classroom. I am definitely in need of ideas and creative ways to teach.
4 comments:
Awesome- you will be a great Teacher!
Tells us about your "problem" students- and the fun ones.
JDP
Who is still on the faculty from when we were there? 10 years is a long time.
That's good times. I'm excited for you Jackson and I'll be praying for some sweet ministry moments in the public school world. We so need more teachers with your heart. You're the man!
My only assignment encouragement would be to get a subscription to time and newsweek or borrow the one from the library and parooze it every week. Then take the one page articles that make you think and read them in class, getting their agreements/disagreements. I think it's so sweet to have students wrestling with present day sociology/history pieces and a lot of the one minute opinion pieces are good for students to interact with and think through.
I do the same thing in youth group sometimes and it leads to some of our best discussions.
Thanks Brian, I'll give that a try. I've been looking for good sources to do that sort of thing with.
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