A twenty-something student teacher college graduate; Education; Theatre Arts; Social Studies; Grades 7-12; Trying to find a school to hire me!
I didn’t get it.
“We went with a candidate with more experience. In a few years, you’ll be ready.” :-/
At least I got an interview. The first school district I applied for didn’t even interview me. They just sent me an e-mail telling me that they needed someone with more experience.
I had a job interview yesterday.
I thought it went well. I got a lot of positive feedback from the committee and principal of the school. I didn’t know for sure if I got the job or not, but I know I didn’t blow it. This morning, I logged on and checked the job sites I use. And lo-and-behold, the school district re-posted the job I interviewed for. Oh well, obviously they didn’t think I was right for the position for a good reason, but it still sucks to find out this way (they told me they would call me regardless of whether I got the job or not).
Back to hunting…
Putting together my electronic portfolio…
My electronic portfolio is making me feel really, really great about all the things I have accomplished. Seriously. I have been feeling pretty blue since my student teaching assignment came in an end…but putting it all together makes me feel happy.
One of my friends who graduated from school at the same time as me…
…got her teaching license in the mail.
*whines*
*although she did go to a different university and they had her final transcripts and degree available A WEEK after graduation (my university did not have my transcripts OR my degree available until January 17th…over a month after I graduated).
In all honesty….I will feel so much better and much more confident when I have my pretty piece of paper that states I will be qualified to teach Theatre!
Also, on an odd note, one of my college friends (who graduated with same degree as me in May 2011) told me she was given a K-12 license even though we completed a Secondary Licensure program. Very strange…so I wonder what I will get!
I’ve realized…
…that I love history and civics and sociology and geography…but I hate teaching it. Well…that lowers my job prospects…
Is it possible for a teacher to love teaching one subject (that they are very passionate about) but hate teaching another subject (that they are also very passionate about)? Perhaps I am only basing my opinion on my student teaching experiences (I liked my students in my Government class, but I hated teaching/planning/grading anything for it), but I just can’t see myself as a social studies teacher. I’m starting to wish I had done an English endorsement instead.
Thank you everybody!
Thank you everyone for your portfolio suggestions. And if you are reading this and you have a suggestion, feel free to share!! I feel like the whole “finding a job” thing is something I was not prepared for at all. So thank you everyone! I will definitely be exploring many of your suggestions!
Also, if I ever get to talk to a room of education majors/prospective teachers, I will recommend they video tape themselves teaching at some point. Why didn’t I think of that?!
Teaching portfolio
I am trying to put together my teaching portfolio (in case I get a job interview any time soon) and I am trying to figure out what I should put in it (I’m thinking lessons that include knowledge of differentiated instruction is a must). My university did not really give me any information regarding what I should put in my portfolio, so I am consulting tumblr!
So, what do/did you include in your teaching portfolio? And even better (if you can answer this), what looks impressive or what do school districts look for in a portfolio?
EDIT: I do not have any videos of me teaching. :-(
Dealing with nerves
I have been dealing with my post-application nerves by reading about technical theatre and practicing my perspective drawing techniques…
…so I will feel a little bit more qualified for this position.
Because…I’m just throwing this out there…my skills as a theatre technician are as “derptastic” as this gif:
How I felt after I submitted my first full-time teaching application…
At first I was like:
Then I realized I submitted a legitimate job application with a legitimate cover letter and resume…and might have a legitimate job interview…so then I was like…
So then I kept thinking “I’m not going to get the job…I’m not qualified to teach theatre!” And then I realized I went to college for this…so then I was like…
I submitted my first application for a full-time job as a theatre teacher!!!
Job opening part 2
Part-way through filling out an application for the job opening I found yesterday, I come to a questionnaire section. A lot of these questions are questions I expected to be asked in an interview so these are questions I have put a lot of thought into. Needless to say, I have written a NOVEL (at least two fully developed and thought out paragraphs for each question so far)!
Am I over doing it? Should I go back and edit or is this my opportunity to tell them about me (and hopefully shine)?
