First Day of School Lessons

Today's lessons: 1. Not all short kids are second graders. 2. Second graders walk slowly. 3. 6th grade boys are not too cool to hug their 5th grade teacher on the first day of school.

A New Year

Wow. So much has happened since June. It's true that Mr. Horrible Principal left our school to terrorize a new building in the district. But not before sticking me at second grade. Second grade? I haven't taught second grade since the 1987 school year, my first year of teaching. Since then, I have been at the intermediate level. But, I optimistically hoped that something would happen to get me out of second. I had my application up to date with a few nearby school districts. I also waited to hear when a new principal was hired, as we had a fourth grade open. The end of the year came and went, and summer was upon us. Glorious summer. But I couldn't relax with second grade looming on the horizon. When a new principal was hired and he took over in July, I went into school to see him. Young and handsome and apparently with a conscience, he listened carefully as I made my case as to why I should be moved out of second and into the open fourth grade position. I asked him to consider it. A week later he told me no, that he thought his best move right now was to keep everything the way the former principal had left it. Grrrr. So, I began to actively apply to any intermediate opening I saw in our district, even though what I really wanted was to get out of our district and go anywhere else. I put in for many openings, and according to our contract the principals had to interview me. But alas, I am a poor interviewee. Throughout July and into August, I had five or six interviews in my own district for positions much like what I currently teach, but no one seemed to want me. Finally, in August, I got a call from a neighboring district to come interview for a fifth grade position. I was so excited! This was it! I knew it! This is why I hadn't been getting anything else, because I was meant to finally leave my crappy current district and move to this wonderful district next door! More money, early release Wednesdays, and easier kids to teach. I was ready to switch districts and be there until I retire in about 16 years. But I knew I had to be proactive, as I hadn't been interviewing well, and I really wanted this job. I contacted my former principal from my last school district. Help me, I cried! I told her I had been having trouble interviewing and I really wanted this job. She agreed to meet me that Saturday and we prepped. We spent 3.5 hours in a coffee shop in the very neighborhood where the school was that I'd be working at if I got the job. Mrs. Former Principal, who not only had interviewed many teachers but also worked at a local university helping education students with their interviewing skills, talked me though the basic framework for answering questions: state your philosophy, provide two specific examples, and end with a closing statement. For each question. Then she presented me with six basic questions, and let me jot notes down as to my philosophy statement and specific examples. Then she listened as I interviewed. We talked about what types of examples I could provide to fit different types of questions. She finally felt I was ready, and I was really pumped! I knew I was ready. That Tuesday I showed up with my examples that I would decide where to fit into the interview according to the questions. There were ten questions, and the first one was about building a relationship with parents. And I brought my parent letter I send in September! And I brought a sample monthly classroom letter! This was perfect! In fact, I was able to confidently deal with each question. I was ready and excited! And the principal came out to get me. She seemed nice-in her 40s. She led me back to the room, and there were three other teachers. They looked to be in their 40s and younger. I was definitely the oldest one in the room. No matter. I knew my experience and successes would blow them away. I knew that at this late date they would want to hire someone who would be able to come in and set up her room and be ready to go! Then the team told me they were allowing 20 minutes for the interview...20 minutes? For 10 questions? And all the examples I had? I knew I could not do it in 20 minutes. In fact, my most recent interview in my crappy district had been only 20 minutes long, and I didn't say anything of substance. This threw me, but I did my best. I took 30 minutes. Since they didn't really stop me, I figured they were just interested in all I had to say and offer. I thought I rocked that interview, and left confident. On my way out, the Human Resources gal asked me if I could come back the next to interview for a 3rd grade position at another elementary school. Hell yes, I could! I was walking on air. I knew I had a job. But the whole day went by and I heard nothing. The next day I was a bit deflated, but went to the 3rd grade interview. This time the interview lasted maybe 45 minutes. Totally different questions; some questions threw me. I was not as confident as I felt the day before. This time the principal was an older guy, but I was still older than the three teachers in the room. They actually had two open positions, and were only interviewing five people. I felt sure, again, that I'd be one of the top two. Why not? I'm experienced and could step in and be ready to go. Not like a new teacher fresh out of college. But, the week began to slip away without hearing a word, and I became more and more depressed. I began to cry, yell, scream, and make life miserable for my family. I felt that I was falling further into despair with each day. Finally after a week I called HR only to be told that I wasn't the "top candidate" for the jobs. I was in disbelief as the reality sank in that I was going nowhere, I'd be returning to my crappy district and my crappy school, and teaching second grade. And that is where I am right now. Yesterday was our first all staff day. I'm on a new team. The second grade team. I know nothing about teaching second grade. Plus, all of my teaching materials are in boxes in my living room. I was only able to bring two boxes of books that I felt could be used in second. I did get our union to get the district (my school) to give me some funds for buying some resources for second. My teammate is fabulous. I am looking forward to working with her. But my former teammate was moved into my grade, my room, and as I found out yesterday, she's trying to be the "new" science cadre leader. But there is no reason I have to stop being a science cadre leader just because I'm not at fifth grade, so I think I'll fight that one. No one ever asked me if I wanted to stop being science cadre leader, and I don't think I want to be displaced from one more thing. Another bright spot is that I have the daughter of the gal who was my art docent last year in my room. This mom is fabulous. If my teammate is my silver lining, this mom is the glitter sprinkled on top! The first day of school is Thursday. I don't know nothin' 'bout teaching babies! This blog will take on a new direction as I begin to learn the lessons of teaching second grade. Get ready!