I DID IT!!

I am officially done. As of 11:14 I am a certified teacher and college graduate. Unfortunately now comes the job hunt and getting together all the paperwork necessary.

I get my temporary license that next week and then I can get to send the rest of my AUSL application. I also get to start subbing. I am going into Franklin's district office Monday to let them know i'm home!

Tonight I get to celebrate my friend Chey's birthday! Yee haw! 

You Know You Are A Nerdy Teacher When...

Scholastic has downloadable books for $1. Books to make myself a better teacher for up 98% of the price!

Yes. I'm about to spend a little too much money!

:)

GO PACK GO!!!!

One More Week!!

I have exactly one more week at Manitowoc. How the days have flown! I began my placement there November 5. Through the many ups and downs I have come to enjoy the students and staff. I have one final project left!

I created a project called "Take a Mitten, Leave a Mitten." I am going to set up a box in the guidance department where students can take a hat or mittens for themselves or whoever needs them. Tomorrow I am going to create the box and Monday the newsletter with my idea goes out to all staff members.

I just hope this can go on even after I am gone. If one student who needs mittens or a hat gets one then this project was successful.

Time for figure out what game to play with my Read 180 students tomorrow! :)

I Graduated!

Yesterday I turned in my very large and very heavy portfolio. I also gave my 30 minute presentation in front of two Lakeland professors. Luckily I think it went very well! Besides showing up at Washington for the next two and a half weeks I graduated!


Back to my AUSL (Academy of Urban School Leadership) application. I haven't submitted it yet but it is currently being reviewed  by a current resident. So far she took my two short answers and completely edited them. Now she is looking over my more final draft. Luckily she knows what they want so she can help me tailor my experiences to show that off. 


The informational session went really well. It was a two hour meeting at Phillips Academy in Chicago. I was super lucky Beau came with me too. 


I learned:
- I can get my Masters in Urban Education in a year for around $12,000 with the possibility of loan forgiveness. 
- I still can receive financial aide from the government.
-There is 90% job placement and if a job is not found in a turn-around school then they will place you in a school in a Chicago Public School. 
- I will be placed with a mentor teacher for a year while I get my Masters. Student teaching all over again here I come. 
- I will begin June 13th and take full time classes until school starts in September.
- Many apartment complexes offer reduced monthly fees or no security application for CPS (Chicago Public School) teachers.
- I made a REALLY good impression. After the presentation the presenter came to me to talk to me even though she had a long line of people who wanted to talk to her. 
- I am only two out of the forty-five people there with a teaching degree. Hopefully this qualifies me more.
- Having a friend in the program is AWESOME!!!


I'm off hang out with the roommates. I have three more weeks with them until I move home.

I Think I Already Have a Bold Spot...

I will update how my informational session went when I finish this portfolio. The last thing that is standing between me and a fancy diploma & teaching certificate is this darn portfolio. It is already almost 65 pages! Yikes!

At 5 p.m this Wednesday January 12th I will officially have finished all requirements Lakeland College wants before I graduate. 


Until then it is back to proofreading, corrections, and finding my jump drive that has my portfolio rough drafts (which is currently lost at home?) just in time!


Thanks for reading! :)

I Think I Know What I Want to Do With My Life!

Since graduation looms around the corner I've started to think about what to do when I have my degree. And as quickly as I start to wonder I become friends with a teacher who works in Chicago and introduced me to a program through the AUSL (Academy of Urban School Leadership). We have talked over five hours and she has answered all my questions. Super super helpful!

If your interested here is the website: http://www.ausl-chicago.org/

Here is the AUSL promotional video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCXW-Z4EXwQ

What it is is a program where I can get my Master's degree in a year and in return I have to make a 4 year commitment in a Chicago turn-around school. A turn around school is a school that Chicago Public Schools recognized as a failing school and they turn it over to the AUSL program. Results are in and the schools are showing substantial success. 

I am attending an informational session January 5th in Chicago and on the 6th I am planning on going and visiting a turn around school I am interesting in working at. What makes it unique is that it is only 15 minutes away from Beau's house AND the school is classified as an environmental green building. 

I hope the session and tour go well! I will make sure I keep everyone updated!

As I close I would like to say...GO PACK GO! :)