Mistakes are Steps Toward Learning

It was February of 2011...

When You Need a Home Run and all you get is first base.  It was a good lesson, but what I needed was amazing.  Last Friday I was observed by the big dog, an important observation for my reapplication next year (as I am on temporary status).  Three things I took from this experience: first, teaching is about connecting with students, second, stay true to your theories of teaching no matter how difficult your situation makes it, and third, how important context is in education.

The lesson: 3rd Grade Order of Operations (keep in mind that we have 60 students)
Anticipatory set: I activated prior knowledge and connected to students' experience by using a narrative advance organizer.  I drew 6 pictures depicting three directions: pour, shake, and open and orange juice bottle.  I then discussed that sometimes order is important in directions.  Then I showed the different outcomes for changing the order of these instructions.  I then asked kids to come up with the right order.  I then introduced order of operations.

Next, we made a flip booklet on which we numbered 1. Parentheses, 2. Multiply/Divide, 3. Add/Subtract.  Under the flap we put the signs of the operations, an example and "left to right."  I then modeled how to use the tool, and students practiced how to use the tool with some guided practice on their whiteboards.  I had a worksheet to practice further, but my cooperating teacher suggested that just practicing on the whiteboard would be more effective.

The critique:

Although he thought the metaphor was very effective and the kids understood the concept, I've got to move faster.  There is just too much curriculum to cover to spend so much time waiting for everyone to get it.  So and so were drawing on their whiteboards under their desks.  He commended me on checking in on the success of so many students.

Today:

This was my first taste of the bias in the system.  What he was saying: the ones who are privileged enough to access the curriculum from the standard entryways will get it, the others may catch on eventually, or maybe not... but who cares, move on.

Even today, as I look back at this draft post from 2011 I still feel the chains of the system.  I find many creative ways to improvise and adjust, but regardless we are still pulled forward through the years of curriculum, regardless of the abilities or prior knowledge of our students.  Are students are pushed through as well.

If you are wondering, I did not get the next year's opening.  Besides being green and needing improvement in many areas, the principal and I did not agree in many fundamental areas.  He told me I have "unshakeable patience" and should be in special education.  Which I very much considered, but decided it was not the right choice for me -- God bless special educators.  On the bright side, I got hired at the perfect position for me the next fall: a 4/5 blend in Southern Oregon.

Application Secrets

I have finally landed that ideal full-time permanent teaching job!  I feel so blessed to have been teaching every year since I graduated.  It really is incredible.  I recently had a friend ask me how I manage to keep getting teaching jobs in this tough market.  So, here are all my secrets!

Honestly, I attribute most of my success to my flexibility in location.  I applied to any and all jobs in Oregon because, luckily, my husband and I were willing and able to move anywhere.  Flexibility didn't carry me through applications and interviews, though, so here is my advice regarding the application process:

Applications

• Be flexible. Maybe you have to commute for a year, or move outside your ideal area, but if you want to teach that may be what you have to do.
• Be professional.  Use nice paper (I use linen resume paper for my whole application packet), print and staple cleanly, have accurate spelling and grammar, write clearly and neatly, etc.
• Make an impact in as few words as possible.  I print the following on a sheet of nice linen paper (white or cream) and scrapbook glue it on the front of my nice linen application folder (blue or black).  I print the word cloud that follows on nice linen paper and scrapbook glue it on the back.  For applications that have an online element I include another piece that says "supplementary materials to online application."  I also include a list of highlights or "summary of qualifications" on my resume before I go into detail (below).

• • Highly proficient in technology integration, instruction, and application including building websites, SMART Board use, instructional websites, blogs, and more. (Example websites)
• • Experience teaching 60 third grade students with a team of two co-teachers.
• • Over 1,200 hours volunteer experience in eleven schools in six cities with students from grades kindergarten through college including a grade-blended classroom, as well as additional experience working with children and adults in bicycle motocross.
• • Trained in instruction for diverse learners including Talented and Gifted students, students with Learning Disabilities, students who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and English Language Learners.
• • Trained in the use and/or administration of DIBELS, running records, GLAD, SIOP, and many reading and writing programs such as Lucy Calkins, Phonics for Reading, Read Naturally, etc.
• • Skilled at visual and performing arts, trained in visual and performing arts instruction and integration.
• • Trained in differentiation, project-based learning, the Storyline method, and open-ended questions.
• • Some American Sign Language and French.
• • First Aid/CPR certified.
• Stand out.  I go over and above and try to stand out in every way possible, I begin with the cover and word cloud.  I also include copies of a narrative writing sample and educational philosophy statement that demonstrate my writing ability.  If you write songs include sheet music, if you're an artist include a picture of an original work, etc.  When I really want to go over and above I include an edited DVD of myself teaching.
• Demonstrate your organizational skills.  I'm not sure that this makes a difference but I always put the items in my folder in the order they are requested on the job posting.
• Make everything you've done sound amazing.  Under book store job duties, instead of "cashier:" Assisted people of various ages from all over the world in the finding and purchasing of textbooks and other supplies. 

Interviews

• Prepare, prepare, prepare.  Have your mom, your significant other, co-workers, etc. drill you with interview questions.  After any interview write down the questions they asked and take notes about the good and bad of your answers to prepare for the next interview.  I go over interview questions in my head as I drive to the interview (especially the ones that come up most often: Tell me about yourself, describe your behavior management system, how will you develop your classroom climate, and how can parents and volunteers be utilized in the classroom?)
• Leave early enough to give yourself extra time to drive around the city in which you are applying.  Find good things about the city for that inevitable question about why you want to teach in that area.  This also is helpful in the dreadful case that there is an accident, construction, etc. etc.
• Dress appropriately. Duh.
• Come overly prepared.  See Application Portfolio.  You may not always use the items in your portfolio, but preparing the portfolio helps to organize your thoughts and is proof of your dedication and organizational skills.  Also, I use my portfolio as a last minute cram session before the interview.
• Relax.  These are normal people just looking for the right person to come along.  Laugh, joke, smile, and be yourself.  It sounds hard but I just try to think about the different zany/mellow/creative/kind/caring teachers and principals I've worked with before and imagine these to be the same.  It's more about the connection than all of the pedagogical strategies you can regurgitate.

So, there it is.  This is all the "secrets" I can think of for getting a teaching job as a beginning teacher.  Hope you find something useful :)

Teaching Portfolio

Finally, I got that ever-ellusive permanent teaching job!  I contribute my success largely to the building of my portfolio.  I used this to illustrate important points of my interview, to organize my thoughts, and to demonstrate my organizational skills.

Contents:

• 3-5 Copies of my resume
• 3 Copies of my letter of intent/cover letter
• 2 Copies of each letter of recommendation I've ever gotten in clear protective sleeves
• 2 Copies of my education philosophy statement
• 2 Copies of my teaching license
• Test scores
• Transcripts
• Examples of classroom expectations, ground rules and behavior management steps
• A six-week curriculum overview (fifth grade because that's my ideal)
• Pictures of my budding classroom and professional development library
• Business cards in business card sleeves
• Copies of my tutoring fliers

Additional:

• Example interview questions to practice
• Two work sample curricula (one first grade poetry unit and one fifth grade landform unit)

Yearning

I know you know the feeling...  I have never wanted anything more than having my own class.  As my current temporary position soon ends I've begun the applying process again...  I just hope I can find the right place for me.  My goal: turn my longing into the most persuasive interview ever witnessed.  It's a long road ahead, and previously well trodden.  It's like that stretch of I-5 I know so well.  It's familiar and yet not a place I want to be...  I simply pray for the chance to have my own space to make a difference.

HUMOROUS BIO!? WHAA?

I am in the process of applying for a job that required a "humorous, creative, informative bio."  First I hastily left my computer, instantly overwhelmed with the thought and underwhelmed with the number of ideas I had.  Too cliche...boring...childish.  Turns out, I'm not funny.  But, I still managed to scrape up an ok humorous bio (or so I think).

You know that adult woman you see buried in the children’s section at the bookstore laughing out loud as she reads and keeps sorting and resorting books into the “to buy” and “save for later” piles?  That’s me, nice to meet you.  What you don’t know about me:

I had a thirty-minute conversation with a student about the history of videogame consoles this week.

I once read an entire professional development book in a day, when my husband asked what class it was for I was confused.

I think talking to oneself is a very efficient strategy for many things.

I’m an ounce of clever a pound of quirky (which I find comes in handy when working with children).

My motto: Will sacrifice sleep for success.

I truly know everything (according to my husband) but, of course, modestly disagree.

I watch kid movies and call it research.

Rumor has it on the day of my birth the world did not change, though I like to think otherwise.

I race bicycle motocross.  (No, that one’s serious).

I collect post-its, bins, totes, and any other item that could be confused with an organizer.

I enjoy astonishing those with limited perspectives.

If list making were an Olympic Sport I would for sure be at least a bronze medalist (see, modest again).

I take serious joy from working with over 60 kids every day.

I got the interview for this job, but had already accepted another!

Keep at it, your time will come!

After submitting well over 150 applications in cities all over from tiny to huge, low income to high, desirable and undesirable, I finally landed my first teaching job.  And while it is not the traditional first year teaching position, I am excited about the possibilities.  (In case you are wondering, I will be team teaching a third grade class that has 56 students).  For next year's application process, as interview questions go for behavior management, it can't get much better than describing a behavior plan for 56 students.

Learning from experience... Interviews

Some important advice that I think got me the position I am in today.

Go the extra mile (and a half): One reason I was selected for the position is because I made it extremely clear that I was not lazy.  I had two fully developed units from two different grades with pre- and post-assessment data and analysis organized in binders, a binder portfolio with normal interview materials (resume, letters of recommendation, letter of application, business cards, transcripts, my teaching license, assessment scores, etc.) plus photos of my classroom library, examples of my classroom expectations, behavior plans, a plan for the first six weeks of school, and a lesson plan I had designed.

Pull out all the stops: Part of the interview process was teaching a lesson in the classroom.  Besides the obvious part of being overly prepared, I also planned to include nearly every teaching tactic I had learned in my training to show off my skills.  This included: positive reinforcements, clear expectations, think pair share, hand signals (when I raise my hands it means think, when I lower them say the answer and point to your temple if you are thinking the same thing), cooperative learning, etc.

Have examples prepared: While I had only student taught I still scraped up examples for every possible interview question I could think of to illustrate my opinions and ideals.  I followed the format of: think, answer, example(s), project to future experiences.

What I could have done better:

Thorough answers:  As a first year teacher it was hard to give thorough answers to questions such as: "What kind of assessments are you prepared to use in your classroom?"  Make sure that you have prepared yourself as much as possible to answer questions such as these.  Read up on new assessment techniques, teaching practices, authors, programs, etc.

Transitions:  I taught a math and a writing lesson and it was brought to my attention that I should have done some sort of physical activity to transition between the activities and get the students ready to switch gears.

Know the school you are applying for:  While I had done a lot of research on the school I hadn't realized the extent to which they depended on direct instruction, which was in contrast to the training I had received.  While I don't think you should lie about your theory of pedagogy, what you say can be adjusted to incorporate both your theory and the theory of the school.

Getting your name out there!

I love the new commercials from Vistaprint, they are so right.  If you want to make a great first impression, the business card makes a big difference!  I know I've judged companies based on their business cards before (for my wedding, for instance).  I've handed out tons of business cards for substituting, we will see if it makes a difference!

I chose to use a Wordle.net "word cloud" on the back, hoping maybe someone would recognize the technology reference. 

This design was made by my husband, a graphic designer and screen printing wiz.  If you are interested in a custom business card design contact Black Box Industries.