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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Saturday Word Wall - Wild Card




Saturday Word Wall - Wild Card

 

Wordle: Things I like

Here's a new meme starting up over at Momma 'Tudes.  Every Saturday she's going to have a topic for you to create a word wall using any program you want.  The one I used is from Wordle.  Today's topic is Wild Card, and you can choose any words you want.  When done, head back to Momma 'Tudes blog (see previous link) and link up to your word wall on the McLinky she has posted on her blog.

Edited to add:  For some reason I can't get the words to look clear on my blog.  If you click the pic it will take you to a larger, clearer picture over at Wordle.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Trudging Along

Since my last post, I have only worked two half-days.  Originally I was only suppposed to work this past Wednesday morning, but on Tuesday morning, the school I'd be working at on Wednesday called and asked me to come in that afternoon.  Apparently, the teacher I was replacing (I know him from church), had made a verbal agreement with one of the other supply teachers, who frequents his school, for Tuesday afternoon.  However, that morning he asked her about it again, and she said she was going to substitute for one of the other teachers.  Dave quickly had the office call me, and I agreed to come in.

The classes weren't overly bad.  There were behaviour issues, of course, as there is with every supply teacher.  I think with new supply teachers, the kids will tend to press their luck, push the buttons, etc. to see what they can get away with.  Once they know how a supply teacher is, and what is acceptable or not, then I think it might get a little better - though I could be wrong.  So far all the schools I've gone in to have been a one shot deal.  I haven't had any more calls since.

I think tomorrow I will go down to the school district office and have them make a registered copy of my teaching licence for my file.  This way I will now get paid the wages of a teacher who has a license, as opposed to one who only has a permit.  It will also give me more money.  While I'm there, I might get them to change the list of grades and subjects I will supply.  I think I will get them to add high school history, and maybe some English or social studies classes for middle school, as well as possibly teaching some ESL classes (any age/grade).  I must admit, though, I really don't like teaching middle school kids, but right now it might help me to get more work.

Things have been going along pretty well with my walk.  I've been reading the Bible daily now for about a month, and praying for my two friends (this is a daily thing we are doing), and I've kept up with the accountablilty with them as well.  I must say that I've been feeling better about my relationship with the Lord, but I have had a bit of a bump recently which put me in a great spiritual battle.  Thankfully, that seems much better.  I just hope I can overcome it again if it rears its ugly head!

I will admit, however, that I am struggling still with certain areas.  For example, I know all Christians are given spiritual gifts; I just don't know what mine is/are.  I've taken those little tests that tell you what they are according to how you answer the questions, and mine always lists Crafts as being my big one (I know it's not called crafts, but it's along those lines).  See, my problem with that is I see anything craft related (whether it's being able to build a house or knit socks) as being a talent, allbeit God given, rather than a spiritual gift as mentioned in the New Testament.  I really struggle with this (though I don't stop doing my knitting for the Lord).  I know I should pray and ask God to reveal my gift, and I have, but I just don't seem to be getting any answers.

There are other struggles in my walk that I am going through, but I'll hold off discussing those for a later post.  I guess I know that I should take this to the Lord, but it's hard when I feel as though He doesn't hear me.  Maybe this is an issue (as all of them are) that I should keep praying about, and listen for His answer.  I just want to feel as though I have a purpose, which I know I do but again I don't feel as though I do have one, and I want to know what that purpose is right now.  And no, I don't want to pray for patience because then I'll be put through situations that make me need to be patient...lol.

Maybe my walk isn't as good or as smooth as I thought it was...

Monday, November 09, 2009

Good News

Last week was a great week.  It started out pretty normal, but by Thursday, things started happening.  That morning, I got a call from the school district to tell me my info had finally been entered into their system and they had a temporary employee number for me.  From there, I had to log onto the subfinder system (what they use for supply teachers to get their calls for work) and make sure my info was correct, and basically let the system know I was now ready to get calls.  Within 30-45 minutes, I had my first call to supply at one of the local schools!

I ended up getting a little less than four hours of work because I was filling in for a teacher who had just received a call that morning that there had been a death in her family.  I was in a grade one class of about 16 students, and it turns out one of the little boys in the class is also in the Sunday school class I co-teach at church!

Thursday evening around supper time I got a call to supply for a full day at another school.  The school I was at has a bad reputation amongst supply teachers (and teachers and the public in general).  I was informed from Subfinder that I would be doing phys. ed., and so I dressed appropriately for that; however, when I got to the school on Friday, it turns out that they didn't want me for phys. ed., but for a variety of classes (basically I was floating around).  I was in a kindergarten class for two periods, a grade one class for two periods, helped in a grade two class for one period, and then had a grade six class for one period.

After teaching a day and a half, I felt drained.  I haven't felt that tired in so long.  Working with kids all day is definitely takes a lot out of you! 

Oh, I should add that Friday around supper time I got a call to work again for this week.  I had figured they were going to ask for today (Monday), but it is for this coming Thursday.  Here, there is no school for students on Tuesday because of parent-teacher interviews, as well as a PD day for the teachers.  Wednesday is Rememberance Day, so there is no school that day either.

Satuday was my big day.  I finally graduated from the Bachelor of Education program - I am finished with my schooling now, woo hoo!  It really feels great.  However, after I've been working a few years, which I'll need to do in order to get some money, there is an advanced literacy program that I would like to take as well.

As for the graduation, there were only about 38 students at the fall convocation.  There were some who didn't show up, so there were less than that for actual graduates.  For the education program, there were five of us graduating, but only three showed up (including me).  My mom and brother came, and that was nice.  I really wish my dad had lived long enough to see me graduate.  He was proud of me for getting into the program, and I know he would be proud of me for graduating it and getting my first supply jobs last week as well.

This morning I was up bright and early - ok, so it was actually dark when I got up (a little after six), but you know what I mean, hehehe.  Anyway, we can start to get calls at six in the morning until twelve, and then again from about 4:30 until 11:00 PM.  If we are going to work that day, we would get the calls typically between six and seven.  If the calls come later it could be because a teacher needs to leave early.  If we work the next day or later on in the week (or even in the month), we are supposed to get calls starting at 4:30. 

So, because I didn't know if I'd be getting a call this morning, I got up and took a shower and got ready just in case.  With about two and a half hours left to get a call to work today, should I get called to come in during that time, I just have to change and get a lunch (or snack) and leave.  I am finding that I am really tired though - I didn't get a lot of sleep last night from tossing and turning for awhile, and not falling asleep before midnight.  If I don't get a call in the next few hours, I am most definitely going to lay down for a nap!

Well, I've talked long enough for now I think.  I'm going to head off and see if I can get some photography practice in, or maybe do some knitting.  I'll try to get on here again this week (or maybe even tomorrow) and update you on how things are going in my walk with the Lord!

Have a blessed and Christ-filled day!