Yes, over a month has passed and I have finally learned who our new principal is going to be! Actually it hasn't been officially announced but I found out on the sly. I had an idea it was between two people but didn't know for sure who it was.
I get a message today from one of my coworkers who found out the name from our custodian. The new principal stopped by the building today to check it out and met our custodian. Our custodian then started to tell everyone who it was. Now let me remind you I was on the interview team and spend over four very full days in interviews. Do you think they had the courtesy of telling me before our custodian? Nope. At first I was a little ticked, but I have to say I am happy because he was my number one pick.
The thing about principals is, you never know who they are or what they are going to be like, until they step into the building. Someone can be so good in interviews, but bomb in the actual situation. I am hoping that this one is a keeper!
Now I can relax the rest of the summer!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
In My Blood...
I have been out for summer break for a week now. I always find it so hard to leave school behind and take a few days without thinking about it. Being a teacher just runs through my blood, head to toe, I can't help it.
The past two days I have actually been at a workshop/seminar our district hosted. The guest speaker was Ralph Fletcher, who I might add is a great speaker. He is so personable and relates to the audience well. He came to talk about Writer's Workshop and the stages of it. I have to admit I didn't learn anything new. I have been doing the correct version of Writer's Workshop for quite a few years now. I say correct version because I think a lot teachers say they do Writer's Workshop but still make their kids write what they want them to write, not give them creative license. The workshop did however confirm the fact that I am on the right path and that the way I view teaching writing is on target.
I said to a co-worker that attended with me that the sad thing is that the teachers in the audience are ones that are probably on the right path when it comes to teaching writing. It's the teachers that weren't there, that probably needed to be.
So I am starting a list of things that I want to do next year. I figure if I write them down here, I am more likely to remember them.
1. I want to do more cooking. I used to do some fun cooking activities with the kids, back in my primary teaching days. Like applesauce, Shamrock Shakes, Cowboy Cookies, Dirt/Sand, Dixie Cup Recipes, Snow cones. I didn't do it often but as a little treat here and there. I think feeling like you have time to do a little fun stuff is why I haven't done it in a while.
2. Bring back my Space unit. Apparently it is a big thing on our fourth grade state standards for science. I miss teaching it (when I did it with my 2nd and 3rd graders). I am going to bring it to fourth next year. We would spend nine weeks learning about Space, NASA, rockets, astronauts. At the end of the unit, students would make a space shuttle console out of a empty paper ream box. We would take a simulated trip to space, eat applesauce out of baggies using a straw, eat trail mix while watching a DVD on the views of earth from the space shuttle. It was so much fun!
That is all I can think of right now, but will post more as I think of them. We have some NASTY storms about to roll in, going to sign off now!
The past two days I have actually been at a workshop/seminar our district hosted. The guest speaker was Ralph Fletcher, who I might add is a great speaker. He is so personable and relates to the audience well. He came to talk about Writer's Workshop and the stages of it. I have to admit I didn't learn anything new. I have been doing the correct version of Writer's Workshop for quite a few years now. I say correct version because I think a lot teachers say they do Writer's Workshop but still make their kids write what they want them to write, not give them creative license. The workshop did however confirm the fact that I am on the right path and that the way I view teaching writing is on target.
I said to a co-worker that attended with me that the sad thing is that the teachers in the audience are ones that are probably on the right path when it comes to teaching writing. It's the teachers that weren't there, that probably needed to be.
So I am starting a list of things that I want to do next year. I figure if I write them down here, I am more likely to remember them.
1. I want to do more cooking. I used to do some fun cooking activities with the kids, back in my primary teaching days. Like applesauce, Shamrock Shakes, Cowboy Cookies, Dirt/Sand, Dixie Cup Recipes, Snow cones. I didn't do it often but as a little treat here and there. I think feeling like you have time to do a little fun stuff is why I haven't done it in a while.
2. Bring back my Space unit. Apparently it is a big thing on our fourth grade state standards for science. I miss teaching it (when I did it with my 2nd and 3rd graders). I am going to bring it to fourth next year. We would spend nine weeks learning about Space, NASA, rockets, astronauts. At the end of the unit, students would make a space shuttle console out of a empty paper ream box. We would take a simulated trip to space, eat applesauce out of baggies using a straw, eat trail mix while watching a DVD on the views of earth from the space shuttle. It was so much fun!
That is all I can think of right now, but will post more as I think of them. We have some NASTY storms about to roll in, going to sign off now!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fuzzy...
My classroom and the room next door is separated by a dividing curtain, not a real wall. The teacher next door and I like to keep it open a crack in case we need to step out of the room or have emergency stories to tell. We call it our "drive thru window."
I hear a little, PSSSTTT, which is code for come over here now. I go over there to her pointing to something on her desk. I look down to see fuzzy handcuffs, not kid like ones, the real metal one embellished with red fuzz around the cuffs. I almost died!
She proceeds to tell me that little Miss brought them to share today. When asked where she got them she proceeded to say her dad. They were confiscated quickly and the parent called to come pick them up. Ahhh, it is things like this that make my day a little brighter and more interesting!
I hear a little, PSSSTTT, which is code for come over here now. I go over there to her pointing to something on her desk. I look down to see fuzzy handcuffs, not kid like ones, the real metal one embellished with red fuzz around the cuffs. I almost died!
She proceeds to tell me that little Miss brought them to share today. When asked where she got them she proceeded to say her dad. They were confiscated quickly and the parent called to come pick them up. Ahhh, it is things like this that make my day a little brighter and more interesting!
Where in the World is Miss M?...
I have been gone for a month! I look back and it has been a whirlwind of a month. I was the "lucky" person who volunteered to lead the interview team for our new principal next year. This whole process was LONG and draining. We had to do 21 initial first round (40 minutes each) interviews, then nine second round interviews. I was out of my classroom for four full days! It was way too crazy!
Being on the interview team was a great experience, I know what I should and should not say in case if I was ever going to interview for a pricipal position.
Point in case...
Question: Could you please describe for us some educational programs that exist today based off your creativity and initiative?
Answer: Well, chess club could be one of them. Another would be I implemented communication with staff via email and started our school webpage.
And yes folks, that is exactly and all that was said!
So now I am on pins and needles waiting to find out which of the finalists are going to be our principal. The super makes the final decision. So we shall wait and see...
Being on the interview team was a great experience, I know what I should and should not say in case if I was ever going to interview for a pricipal position.
Point in case...
Question: Could you please describe for us some educational programs that exist today based off your creativity and initiative?
Answer: Well, chess club could be one of them. Another would be I implemented communication with staff via email and started our school webpage.
And yes folks, that is exactly and all that was said!
So now I am on pins and needles waiting to find out which of the finalists are going to be our principal. The super makes the final decision. So we shall wait and see...
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