The Hamster Wheel

Maybe from the title, you thought I was going to tell a funny tale about a hamster getting lost in a class I subbed in, instead I am going to tell you about my hamster wheel, otherwise known as: dun, dun, dun: The Job Search. I fill out application after application, write paper after paper and to what end? At the end of the day I have just written one more paper about my philosophy of education and written about how I am such a great teacher. Well, I would like to stop thinking and writing about my philosophy and actually DO IT!
I know its only been a few days since school began, but I am beginning to grow impatient. I really thought for sure that by being willing to substitute ANYWHERE that I would get a sub job soon, yet I am still sitting at home not subbing. So I decided that maybe I should expand my horizons. I began searching other school districts and found that a couple of them still have positions open.
So here is a maxim that I was reminded of Monday and Tuesday: Finding a job is a lot more work than actually having a job. In order to apply for an open job, in a district where I already applied the year before I had to: fill out the application, print out several forms to sign and take in, resend forms to my references to fill out and send in, write a narrative statement about a current issue facing education, write a letter of application regarding my instructional practices I value, my philosophy of classroom management, and my commitment to education.
Ok, so now that I spent a day crafting a letter to the principal of the school where I am hoping for a position, and another day writing the narrative statement and the letter of application, I am not really that much closer to having a job. Maybe I will get called for an interview, now that would be something. Then I wouldn't feel like I had wasted my time. Chances are they will never even call me and I will just have to write some more papers or letters about my philosophy of education tailored specifically to whatever the next application asks for.
Back to the hamster wheel for me!

The Icon of All Substitute Teachers

Today is the first day of school, and as school begins, I am also beginning a new chapter in my life: substitute teaching. After having my own classroom in an elementary school for a few years, I know all too well what happens when the teacher is away and a substitute takes her (or his) place. The kids go crazy! And all sorts of things that students would normally never even try, all the sudden seem like a good idea. Knowing this makes me a little hesitant...no, very hesitant to be one of these substitutes. However, I am going to use it to my advantage. I figure every day is bound to be interesting and completely different, so why not write about it? I asked my friend, Amanda, to help me think of a title for my blog on substitute teaching and she suggested "Confessions of Miss Viola Swamp". For those of you who don't know, Viola Swamp is a character created by Harry Allard and James Marshall in a children's picture book called Miss Nelson is Missing. The story is ironic because the students act crazy with their teacher, Miss Nelson. However, when Miss Nelson goes missing and the students get a substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, the students think she is so strict, that they are begging for their real teacher to come back. Viola Swamp is the icon of all substitute teachers. I can't think of a single other example of a substitute teacher who had such an impact on their students. Although I am not going to dress in an ugly black witch-like costume, I do hope to have an impact on the students I come in contact with, maybe its a lot to hope for, but you never know what may happen. And at the very least, I will have something interesting to write about.