the hunt is on...

It’s been over a year since I updated this blog, and I think the time is right to take it in a new direction.  I have finished my graduate program at Vanderbilt with and M.Ed.  Yay!  Unfortunately, graduating in August, writing my thesis during prime job hunting time, and having no idea where I wanted to live until late July resulted in no teaching job for me this school year.  I’ve worked a couple of unrelated but pretty cool jobs to fill the year and my bill collectors’ pockets.

My first stop was in a preschool for kids with developmental delays.  I loved those kids, but apparently a masters degree in secondary English education does not help you one bit in teaching itty bitty kiddos.  They walked all over me, and in the end, I decided that they really needed someone who could do a much better job for them than I could.  Plus, I needed to retain my sanity for the kids I can hopefully do much better with.

My current job is working for the Bureau of Legislative Research at the Arkansas State Capitol.  During the legislative session, I proofed bills before they went to the House and Senate to be voted on.  Now we’re getting all the new laws edited and ready to be sent off to the publisher and checking to make sure the publishers don’t make mistakes.  There was a pretty big controversy last session in which an unintended ”not” made it legal for Arkansans of any age, babies on up, to get married.  Whoops!  That’s why they need me and my awesome coworkers.

Now I’m working my booty off trying to get a real teaching job for the fall.  I’ve had a few interviews and some great responses to my inquiries, but so far no news.  It amazes me how long schools drag this out!  One school district I’ve contacted says they won’t even start looking until June.  Come on people, you’re making my hair turn white.  I’m really ready for some certainty in my life for a while.  And so ready to use what I’ve been studying for 5+ years now.

Wish me luck!

Blog

This is a blog I’ve created for my Reading and Learning with Print and New Media class.  I’m interested in learning all I can about teaching middle school English, particularly ways to help kids become better readers.  I’d love to see any ideas you have about ways to help students develop their reading skills and anything fun you’ve come across that kids might like to read.  I’m collecting books for a classroom library and would love suggestions.  Thanks!