Tomorrow is my first day at the preschool where I will now begin working. If you take a bit of excitement and mix it vigorously with a dollop of nervousness that equals me right about now.
In preparation, I planned out my week. It's going to be a "Getting to Know Each Other" theme. I tossed around the idea of having a "Back to School" theme but figured this is the first time in preschool for many of my 3- and 4-year-olds. I also tossed around an "About Me" theme idea, but threw that one out (for now) because I think the first week should be getting to know one another and the rules, routines, and responsibilities of being a preschooler. The About Me theme is a distinct possibility for an upcoming week. It lends itself to a lot of science topics AND learning about feelings and emotions...
I've planned our first day to be something like this:
I arrive at 7:30. I will be greeting the children, helping them to find an activity they like and allowing them to free play until 9 when our actual preschool program will begin. I will also, during this time, be setting out some "School" themed books in our library area and removing the summery-themed books that are still in the library. I will also possibly be constructing a job chart during this time to post on Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll see. Maybe I'll be setting up a bulletin board during this time, too, in preparation for creating a "Our First Day of School" board for parents and children to see and remember their first day.
At 9:00 the "real" preschool program begins. We'll have circle time from (loosely) 9 to 9:30. I plan to sing:
Higglety, wigglety, bumblebee
Who can say their name for me?(Child says name)
Let's all say it (name)
Let's clap and say it (name)
Let's whisper it (name)
Reasons for this choice of song: getting to know each other/learning names AND practicing using our "whisper" voices and controlling our voices in that way.
After we've repeated the song enough times to include everyone, I'm sure most of the children will have joined in!
Next, we'll discuss some simple rules and create a rules poster. Or maybe I'll write the rules down as we talk about them and later I'll make the poster... This will be a short discussion so I keep their attention.
Finally, I'll introduce the centers they'll be visiting and we'll talk about the expectations at the centers (emphasizing the rules we've just talked about)...and including cleaning up our messes when we're finished in the center.
Next, from approximately 9:30 to 10:30, we'll have centers. I plan, at least for the first week or so, to set a timer and rotate centers so each child gets a stuctured chance to play at each center.
Centers:
1. Art center - they'll draw themselves on their first day in preschool, to later be hung up on the bulletin board (mentioned above)
2. Dramatic play - free play
3. Blocks - also free play. Ideas for the kids: build a school, build your house to show your friends...
4. Writing center: practice writing your name OR copying your name, depending on ability
5. Library - preschool book browsing
Next we'll sing a cleanup song and everyone will work together to make sure the room is all clean. Then we'll wash hands and sit down for a family style snack time.
From about 11:00-11:45 will be outdoor free play.
At 11:45 we'll head inside to wash hands and have lunch. After lunch will be potty time & brushing teeth (that is something that is emphasized by the director of the preschool) and then a transition to quiet reading until everyone is done.
When everyone is ready, we'll have a Goodbye Circle (hopefully from about 12:45-1:00). We'll talk about our day and sing a goodbye song. At 1:00 the morning-only kids will be picked up. Then I will read the remaining students a story ("The Kissing Hand") and then it'll be naptime. At 3:00 I'll go home!
Now, off to bed for me so I can get some rest in preparation for my first day with a big bunch of energetic kiddos!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Soon to come
This blog is currently in a transition to become my blog as I start my new endeavor into teaching preschool.
Check back soon.
Check back soon.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
a short short update
Wow. It's been forever since I last wrote. Things are going well at school...soo busy all the time! Monday is the start of the CMTs (Connecticut Mastery Tests)--which is basically what we've been preparing for the entire year... I hate it...I feel as if I can't really be a teacher because of the test...we have to cover so much stuff and then don't have time to slow down when needed to help understanding really grow. It drives me nuts!
Anyway, I'm thankful I have a job though. And the experience is excellent. Plus, I love my kids, no matter how much they stress me out!
Alllll righty I figured I write a VERY brief post!
Anyway, I'm thankful I have a job though. And the experience is excellent. Plus, I love my kids, no matter how much they stress me out!
Alllll righty I figured I write a VERY brief post!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!
Big crazy different news:
I got a job!
It all happened extremely suddenly! Two evenings ago, I got an email from a girl who was in my graduating class who is at work as a long term sub in Waterbury, CT. She sent the email to me and a bunch of other people that I graduated with. She said that a third grade teacher suddenly had to take a medical leave, might be back in November, but might not be back at all. She said that the principal asked her to ask some of her friends that she graduated with if they might be interested in a long term sub position. Of course, I wrote back. At this point I am desperate (even if it is 49 miles/1 hr away!). Well, yesterday I went to tutor my student in Old Saybrook. I came home and there was a message on the answering machine from the principal in Waterbury telling me that she'd gotten my name and wanted to know if I'd like to come in for an interview for the 3rd grade long term sub position. I called back first thing this morning and she wanted me to come in TODAY at 11AM!
So I threw together a packet of information for her (resume, recommendation letters, transcripts, copy of certification, etc) and off I went at 10am. I arrived just in time for the interview at 11 and 10 minutes later, the interview was over! It went very well. They (the principal & the vice principal) asked lots of questions -- all which required me to really think... but since I was not able to "study" possible answers ahead of time I simply used my brain and it worked (instead of trying to remember what I was going to spew out). So, 10 minutes later the interview was over. I got in my car and headed out...thinking that it would be great to hear from them later today as promised, one way or the other. Before I'd gotten more than 2 miles down the road, the principal called:
"Rebecca?"
"Yes?"
"Would you like that job?"
"Yes!"
"Are you on your way home?"
"Yeah but I haven't gotten far."
"Can you turn around and come back?"
From there I was filling out tons of paperwork, answering questions, getting shuffled around town to the BOE and then back to the school....etc....finally by 2:30 I was done with paperwork, all drug-tested (I passed, by the way -- phew, I was scared! (rolling eyes!)), and on my way home.
The position is at a magnet school in Waterbury called Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School. It basically pulls in kids from the surrounding towns to try to mix up the population a bit--a worthy endeavor, I think. The kids adhere to a dress code from what I saw...looked like khaki pants & (any shade of) blue or white shirts.
The thing is, there's a downside to the situation...
I have a ton of questions to have answered tomorrow (she wants me to come back in and visit the class for a while. There will be another sub there but I will visit to see the kids, etc). But, I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the job simply because of the experience. The downside is that it only pays the pay of a regular sub--no extra amt since I'm a long term sub and basically the teacher. I need to find out tomorrow if I will have to write lesson plans and do all the things a teacher would have to do on a sub's pay. (blech!) If I was paid a beginning teacher's salary, I would make THREE TIMES the amount they're going to be paying me! So, it was a bit of weighing of the pros and cons today with Scott when I came home. But, basically, we decided to have me go in tomorrow and have questions answered. I'm really thinking that the experience is going to outweigh anything. Also, the possibility of it turning into an actual teaching job is a definite plus! (if the teacher doesn't come back, I will stay on throughout the year!).
So--all that horrible waiting and waiting and something springs itself on me! Jeepers.
So don't be surprised if I'm a bit out of touch the next few days. I do plan on keeping in touch with people as much as possible but it's going to be crazy. If you need me, give me a call. Call my cell phone, that'd probably be best during the day (8am to 5pm).
I love you all!
Becky
PS: Sorry so RANDOMLY written. I'm EXHAUSTED but wanted to let you all know!!!!!
I got a job!
It all happened extremely suddenly! Two evenings ago, I got an email from a girl who was in my graduating class who is at work as a long term sub in Waterbury, CT. She sent the email to me and a bunch of other people that I graduated with. She said that a third grade teacher suddenly had to take a medical leave, might be back in November, but might not be back at all. She said that the principal asked her to ask some of her friends that she graduated with if they might be interested in a long term sub position. Of course, I wrote back. At this point I am desperate (even if it is 49 miles/1 hr away!). Well, yesterday I went to tutor my student in Old Saybrook. I came home and there was a message on the answering machine from the principal in Waterbury telling me that she'd gotten my name and wanted to know if I'd like to come in for an interview for the 3rd grade long term sub position. I called back first thing this morning and she wanted me to come in TODAY at 11AM!
So I threw together a packet of information for her (resume, recommendation letters, transcripts, copy of certification, etc) and off I went at 10am. I arrived just in time for the interview at 11 and 10 minutes later, the interview was over! It went very well. They (the principal & the vice principal) asked lots of questions -- all which required me to really think... but since I was not able to "study" possible answers ahead of time I simply used my brain and it worked (instead of trying to remember what I was going to spew out). So, 10 minutes later the interview was over. I got in my car and headed out...thinking that it would be great to hear from them later today as promised, one way or the other. Before I'd gotten more than 2 miles down the road, the principal called:
"Rebecca?"
"Yes?"
"Would you like that job?"
"Yes!"
"Are you on your way home?"
"Yeah but I haven't gotten far."
"Can you turn around and come back?"
From there I was filling out tons of paperwork, answering questions, getting shuffled around town to the BOE and then back to the school....etc....finally by 2:30 I was done with paperwork, all drug-tested (I passed, by the way -- phew, I was scared! (rolling eyes!)), and on my way home.
The position is at a magnet school in Waterbury called Maloney Interdistrict Magnet School. It basically pulls in kids from the surrounding towns to try to mix up the population a bit--a worthy endeavor, I think. The kids adhere to a dress code from what I saw...looked like khaki pants & (any shade of) blue or white shirts.
The thing is, there's a downside to the situation...
I have a ton of questions to have answered tomorrow (she wants me to come back in and visit the class for a while. There will be another sub there but I will visit to see the kids, etc). But, I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the job simply because of the experience. The downside is that it only pays the pay of a regular sub--no extra amt since I'm a long term sub and basically the teacher. I need to find out tomorrow if I will have to write lesson plans and do all the things a teacher would have to do on a sub's pay. (blech!) If I was paid a beginning teacher's salary, I would make THREE TIMES the amount they're going to be paying me! So, it was a bit of weighing of the pros and cons today with Scott when I came home. But, basically, we decided to have me go in tomorrow and have questions answered. I'm really thinking that the experience is going to outweigh anything. Also, the possibility of it turning into an actual teaching job is a definite plus! (if the teacher doesn't come back, I will stay on throughout the year!).
So--all that horrible waiting and waiting and something springs itself on me! Jeepers.
So don't be surprised if I'm a bit out of touch the next few days. I do plan on keeping in touch with people as much as possible but it's going to be crazy. If you need me, give me a call. Call my cell phone, that'd probably be best during the day (8am to 5pm).
I love you all!
Becky
PS: Sorry so RANDOMLY written. I'm EXHAUSTED but wanted to let you all know!!!!!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
My Interview
My interview was scheduled for today at 12:30. I got there about 10 minutes early but found out that they were running about 15 minutes behind. I was getting so nervous I could hardly sit still. Finally at about 12:50, the principal came to the office door and apologized for having to have me wait. He walked me down the hall to the interview room. He had me sit at the end of the table. At the other end of the table were five people, including him. One was the reading specialist, one was the special ed person, one was a 3rd grade teacher & I cannot, for the life of me, recall who the other one was.
They started by asking me if I wanted to be considered for the open para position, as well. The TA position is basically a higher-up position than the para position (and pays better). The TA position would be working with students who needed help with reading (YES!) & the para position would be helping special ed students. I said yes to the consideration for para, but told them I would prefer the TA position, though.
Then, they jumped right into the questions (which they took turns asking). They asked me things like: what do you know about balanced literacy, what would you do to help a student who struggles with reading, a few other equally "good" questions which I, unfortunately, cannot remember though I know they were good, and finished off with asking me a "fun" question. The principal asked me to pick three adjectives to describe myself. (I said smart, organized, and creative -- I couldn't think of a good third one! darn it! i guess i'm creative...) I answered all of the important questions professionally and well. They even said "good answer" a few times. I wish I had been able to be more thorough about the balanced literacy question, though I do think my answer was adequate. My answer to the struggling reading question was thorough because I had just recently looked stuff up for tutoring the struggling reader that I've been working with! :) I smiled a lot and made tons of eye contact--they all made me feel welcome. The principal was very nice. I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time but I don't think they noticed. Hopefully they didn't notice my shaking hands and slightly twitchy nervous lip (so annoying!!!)
They told me that they were interviewing all day today and they also had a few tomorrow morning. There were sixty applicants (hopefully they're not interviewing all of them! Yikes! that would be crazy!) The principal said that they would call me tomorrow afternoon to let me know and hopefully call me in for a second interview.
They started by asking me if I wanted to be considered for the open para position, as well. The TA position is basically a higher-up position than the para position (and pays better). The TA position would be working with students who needed help with reading (YES!) & the para position would be helping special ed students. I said yes to the consideration for para, but told them I would prefer the TA position, though.
Then, they jumped right into the questions (which they took turns asking). They asked me things like: what do you know about balanced literacy, what would you do to help a student who struggles with reading, a few other equally "good" questions which I, unfortunately, cannot remember though I know they were good, and finished off with asking me a "fun" question. The principal asked me to pick three adjectives to describe myself. (I said smart, organized, and creative -- I couldn't think of a good third one! darn it! i guess i'm creative...) I answered all of the important questions professionally and well. They even said "good answer" a few times. I wish I had been able to be more thorough about the balanced literacy question, though I do think my answer was adequate. My answer to the struggling reading question was thorough because I had just recently looked stuff up for tutoring the struggling reader that I've been working with! :) I smiled a lot and made tons of eye contact--they all made me feel welcome. The principal was very nice. I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time but I don't think they noticed. Hopefully they didn't notice my shaking hands and slightly twitchy nervous lip (so annoying!!!)
They told me that they were interviewing all day today and they also had a few tomorrow morning. There were sixty applicants (hopefully they're not interviewing all of them! Yikes! that would be crazy!) The principal said that they would call me tomorrow afternoon to let me know and hopefully call me in for a second interview.
*crossing fingers & hoping now*
Monday, August 25, 2008
INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!
I applied for a teacher assistant position at Deep River Elementary. They called me this morning and asked if I would like an interview! I am scheduled for Thursday at 12:30. FINALLY an interview. Yay! Now: HOPING HOPING HOPING!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
It's official: I'm a teacher :)
I received my certification today..check it out. :-)
(Sorry about barely being able to read it--that's not me, it's blogger!)
Still waiting for a job though :|
(Sorry about barely being able to read it--that's not me, it's blogger!)
Still waiting for a job though :|
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Completed a Lizzie Kate cross stitch project
Click to see larger version...
My initials...above the Y... (RIL) :)
Monday, July 14, 2008
More Wedding Stuff
So, I perfected the centerpieces. Color was what it was lacking. That's why I didn't like it! I was thinking of putting the blue candle in there instead of the white but wasn't sure...so I did white. That didn't look quite right. Then, Kim came over and said something about adding blue ribbon... and Scott said, "maybe the blue candle would have looked better." So, we went out, got a few ingredients, came home, and I changed it up a bit... Ta da! Much more satisfying!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Bachelorette Party!
I had SOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!! This one says it all--us with the biker guys hehehehe! LOL!To view the photos from the Bachelorette party, click here: My Bachelorette Party (They're on my Facebook page).
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