A Blogging Moment....

...as I must quietly oversee my current visitor as they work.

My eyelashes are twitching from lack of sleep.

My stomach is growling because all I had for breakfast was two donut holes and coffee.

My head feels a little fuzzy from insufficient sleep and food.

I'm weary from carrying a squirmy kid down the hall and from lack of sleep and food.

But I do love my job.

And I believe the children are our future.........(smirk)

While that thought may be true, the song still makes me giggle. In all it's sincerity and 80's-ish-ness.

I'm Old...

...but not that old!

I was supervising a seven or eight year old boy who volunteered to wash tables after lunch.

A lady came over and said, "you have good helpers!"

"Yeah!" I said.

"Is he your son?"

(Mental Gasp) "Oh no, kids just volunteer to help."

*sigh*

Encouragement

God has been sending special moments of encouragement my way through my job. The other day I got to talk to another teacher whom I discovered is vaguely associated with CBC and believes much the same I do.

Today I spent some time being trained by another woman who mentioned the Baptist church she attends. It was encouraging to hear her endorsement of the discipline/intervention system I am working through with kids. She was excited about the opportunity to influence the lives of children even though I can't really share my personal beliefs.

Of course I enjoy getting to know others who have different background/worldviews than I, but sometimes it's nice to have a moment of familiarity.

It has been fun to work a little bit with the two ladies in the front office, which is right around the corner from my room. They are so funny and very gracious to answer all my questions and teach me all the procedures and protocall of the school. There are also so many other quality teachers/administrators/faculty that are teaching me lessons about working with children, handling different types of situations, etc., as I watch them interact with their students. They are wonderful people.

It is an exciting learning experience, and I know at this time in my life that this is where God wants me to be!

At School

At the end of lunch time, while I was taking his tray, a five year old boy said to me, "You look beautiful today." How cute. : ) I think kids like bright colors.

Deep Breath

The last two days have felt like two weeks! Yesterday I received a call about a special ed para position at an upper elementary school. That evening I went to the open house to meet the teacher and see the school. There was also another applicant there to get the tour who also happened to be a student's mom, so I figured she would probably get the job.

I waited today to hear back, but in the meantime, I got another call for a job at another school. They were actually offering me the job, so I took it! Unlike the one from yesterday, this is full-time, salaried, full benefits, etc. And it's lower elementary, so I'm happy about that. I have probably even met some of the students before, because I helped with a Good News Club there a year ago.

The job is referred to as a Focus Room Facilitator. That actually means that if a child can't concentrate on their homework or they are upset about something, etc, they might eventually get sent to my room to cool down, concentrate, talk about what's wrong, etc. At first it sounded a little detention-ish to me, but I talked to a couple people, and it's more like kids that need extra help focusing. Thus, "focus room." ; )

I will be working some with the school counselor and helping kids be ready to go back to their regular classroom that day or in a couple days. It is exciting in a way, and I'm also thinking someone is going to walk in the back of the room, point an accusing finger at me, and shout "She doesn't actually know what she's doing! She shouldn't have been hired!!" : )

Since they are behind on hiring non-certified staff, I still have to get a background check, physical, TB test, insurance, even though I'm already starting to work. But that should all go smoothly.

Anyone have insight into 8 year olds in public schools these days? I guess kids are kids. They all have concerns, some more serious than others, and they are all very different too. It makes things interesting. : )

Monday

I hope the interview goes well tomorrow. I really want this job! I know God is sovereign over the outcome, but that doesn't mean it will end up the way I want it to. : ) It also doesn't mean I don't have to do as well as I can. I was told they are having all the para positions interviewed at the same time, so I have no idea how that works either. Interesting.

End of Summer

This has been a rather slow week. The three of us girls are looking for jobs and my parents are getting ready for their responsibilities for this year. I'm still waiting to hear back about my job applications. I went into the district office today and confirmed that the positions are still available. They just have a good number of applications still to go over I guess. So I think I will probably have an interview next week if they are not appalled by my lack of experience and skill. If so, I wonder how I would do in retail?

My new room in our house is half the size my dorm room was at Calvary. On the bright side, some of my furniture is pale green oceany looking, so sometimes it feels like I'm in a cottage by the sea. Kind of cozy. I am not sure about the peach window blinds, but they can be pulled all the way up and hidden with curtains. Just a few more hours of work, and all my books and papers will be sorted through and I will be done moving in!

Yay!

For the first time in my life, I have completed job applications for organizations where I am not already going to school. After receiving all the reference letters I needed, I finished filling out my online applications, and they should see them on Monday. I hope it's not too late, but I know God has something for me to do this year that won't involve sitting on the couch all day. : )

I hope to get a job as a paraprofessional, maybe special ed, at one of several schools in the area. I decided not to pursue full-time classroom teaching just yet.

Whatever happens, it feels like everything from here on out will be an adventure!