marathoner452 is a special education teacher at a school called "hope."

become a teacher (read all 19 entries…)
emergency teacher

Starting Monday the 26th I will be a pre-kindergarten teacher in the Recovery School District.

I will spend several days setting up my classroom, then as soon as I get a Temporary Authority to Teach from RSD I can start teaching. The education system in New Orleans is crazy: I was very upfront with the principal that I have no experience in an early childhood classroom, nor do I have any intention of getting certified in early childhood education. My certification, when I finish in two years or so, will be in elementary education, grades 1-5. She told me that by next year I could have an elementary classroom.

The situation here is so desperate that my utter lack of experience wasn’t a problem, and that continues to blow my mind. I attended a teacher in-service today and told several fellow teachers about my situation and no one seemed surprised.

Part of me is very excited about this opportunity to take on a challenge and make a difference, but another part of me knows that these students deserve a well-qualified teacher. I will do the best that I can by my students; I do have that to offer.

Nov 20, 2007, 07:31PM PST | 2 cheers


Comments:

Sordino78 is always, always doing something!

Good Luck!

Congrats on getting a job! Even if it’s not the position/grade you wanted… you may find it’s a blessing in disguise. I ALWAYS thought I wanted to teach High School, and here I am teaching 6th grade and no longer wanting those high school kids… I actually think I’m cut out for middle school, which is good, because nobody wants to teach middle school! I’ll always have a job.

RSD probably does cover your tuition. I have to prove I passed the classes first, but I do get reimbursed. Just don’t miss those deadlines! Make sure you talk to Human Resources NOW and get all the due dates you need. RSD might even pay you back retroactively for past semesters… districts like ours really, really, really want to keep teachers and will sometimes go to great lengths to do so!

ALSO, you’re probably working in a Title I school. If you stay in a Title I school for a few years, they will start paying back your student loans from undergrad.

Remember to make an excellent first impression. The first day really IS the most important day. Be prepared, organized, and ready to deal with anything those kids throw your way! Starting in the middle of the year is always tough (been there too), but after you survive it you know that you can handle ANYTHING.

One last piece of advice. Be wary of the comprehensive curriculum. I find that it does not meet my student’s needs. It is too advanced and covers content that puts them to sleep. Many cannot even read the textbook. Spend at least a week with pre-tests and light activities that allow you to gauge where they are. Fortunately, you have them at their youngest, so this may not be as much of a problem, but you never know…

AGAIN, Congratulations!

Nov 25, 2007, 08:05AM PST | Respond to this 1 cheer

marathoner452 is a special education teacher at a school called "hope."

took a different position closer to home

RSD doesn’t cover tuition at this point, hopefully that will change. I asked when I was in the office yesterday to sign my paperwork. Fortunately I have an AmeriCorps education award to pay for the spring semester, and now that I’m getting paid I can save up for future semesters (or maybe RSD will be back to paying for school at that point).

I did know about the Title I reimbursement, you have to work 5 years at the same school.

Fortunately for me, I may be starting in the middle of the year but I don’t have my own classroom of kids. I’m the computer literacy teacher and they haven’t had one all year. Behavior should be less of an issue, but they will still need to know where I stand.

Nov 30, 2007, 08:30PM PST | Respond to this


 

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