Summer of all summers, part 2

I didn't mention in my last post what was going on with my job situation--because it's a whole other bag of fun and frankly, I just didn't feel like talking about it.

So this summer, I did 13 interviews in a desperate attempt to get a job in Special Ed. Thirteen. I had a job offer at a charter school in Saratoga Springs and I verbally accepted the job. They sent me the contract--and i never heard another thing from them. All summer, I had a pit in my stomach about taking that job. It never felt right, but I had no other offers. FINALLY, the day before the wedding, Nebo School District called and said they had a job for me, and if I wanted it I would need to interview that afternoon. The job was for an elementary school position in a tiny town. Not what I had in mind, but better than taking a job I never felt good about. Short version--I interview, accept the job while still on my honeymoon, and I'm now working with 5-10 year old kids with reading and math issues (and quite a few fun behavior issues).

I'm trying to love elementary school and I'm sure I'll come around in a few weeks. The teacher before me left practically nothing to help me get started on this job, so I'm making everything up from scratch. It's been a mild nightmare and where most of my experience is in junior high and high school, I'm trying to get my head around teaching phonics and number sense.

My job in a nutshell is this: Take 40 kids with IEPs, grades kindergarten through 4th grade, all different teachers, create a schedule to have them come to the resource room where I teach them skills they lack, and keep up with 10 tons of paperwork and meetings. No Child Left Behind created a MOUNTAIN of laws and extra work for special ed teachers. Don't get me wrong, there are many parts of NCLB that are of real, true benefit to the student and parents. It's just a mixed bag with all the regulations we have to follow. My challenge this week will be to make a schedule that myself and all the regular ed teachers can live with.


One more pic of beautiful Multnomah, in case you aren't ready to let summer go.


Here, have an empty classroom and pull a curriculum out of your...head.


Girls scoping out my new adventure.


That's me--a Mrs and a Franklin!

I thought having a "real" job with benefits (crappy benefits, by the way) and retirement and a name on your door would make me feel like a grown up. All I feel is poor and stressed. With some leftover wedding glow.

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