Week 2 almost complete. I started the week by getting a new classroom, yes, I have already been through two classrooms before even meeting 1 student. When I arrived in my newly assigned classroom on my first day of teaching I realized quite quickly that there was a problem. My roster said 22 students, my quick count of the desks came up at 16.... students to arrive in T minus 5 min. I did not panic. Something I am very proud about. I simply scavenged some extra chairs, put the desks I did have into table configurations and put as many chairs as would fit around them and called it done. My saving grace is that I teach in a high school where coming to first period is not cool, so I had only 13 students on my first day, and everyone had a desk.
Another adventure in high needs, low budget school teaching this week is that I have no textbooks. OK I have one textbook... everyone kept assuring me the rest of them were in the book room, a mysterious place where books hide, it backs up to the technology closet and is kept just about as organized. But once I finally got someone to accompany me to the book room to show me where the books were hiding, they quickly caved and admitted that they were liars!- ok, they really said 'I thought they were here, maybe we don't have any other copies of that one'. (not a complete admission of lying but close enough for me) SO... maybe they can scrounge up some cash in the mid year budget to get me some books for my kids... maybe (meaning 'fat chance' based on the tone in which it was presented to me).
Lesson 2: be a squeeky wheel.
Today I got a key to the teacher's lounge, a file number, access to the supply closet where they keep things like paper and whiteboard markers and added 4 desks to my classroom (and a promise for more to arrive over the weekend). All because I have been bugging the crap out of just about everyone. I do not recommend an all out onslaught of annoying whining at your new job, it is not the best way to win friends and influence people. However a sweet email and a reminder daily that you still can not access your lunch or that your kids don't have a place to sit if they come to class goes a long way. Redundancy is key, speak to people and then send an email anyway, talk to the principal AND the vice principal. Eventually someone will listen and you will WIN!
Random happy:
I taught a class how to play Go Fish today. :)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
And the Adventure Begins
I stated last week.
On my first day I was introduced to a HUGE faculty handbook and then taken on a tour of the school. I got an office. Don't get too excited it is full of mouse droppings and has no window and is the size of your closet (if you have the kind that is NOT a walk-in). Then I got to go to the 'technology closet', which is apparently where computer's go to die. It is a closet full of working and mostly not working computer towers and monitors and more jummbled up, knotted up cables than you can imagine go to the pile of screens and towers available. It houses keyboards with not all of their keys and mice with no tails. And from there I was tasked with building a desktop computer for my new office. It took me several trial and error combinations and a few calls home to my handsome IT guy to get a setup that would power on. (I did almost cry) When I said I knew how to set up a desktop I assumed all the parts would be given to me and I'd have to figure out where they go- lesson 1: Be specific in your skill set-ask before agreeing to anything.
I spent the rest of the day trying to get the internet turned on in my office and planning lessons.
The next day, I met the technology guy (who was out the day before). He informed me that the faulty internet was the fault of my lovingly assembled desktop and promptly took it away with the prognosis that it would run just as slowly when he returned it, but it might connect to the internet. (Day 1 wasted.)
The rest of my week followed in suit, emails that seemed vague and like I was missing key facts needed to decode them; and locked doors... so many locked doors.
But the bright side is that the rest of the faculty seem genuinely nice and supportive.
Next week I meet the kids... and the adventure begins.
On my first day I was introduced to a HUGE faculty handbook and then taken on a tour of the school. I got an office. Don't get too excited it is full of mouse droppings and has no window and is the size of your closet (if you have the kind that is NOT a walk-in). Then I got to go to the 'technology closet', which is apparently where computer's go to die. It is a closet full of working and mostly not working computer towers and monitors and more jummbled up, knotted up cables than you can imagine go to the pile of screens and towers available. It houses keyboards with not all of their keys and mice with no tails. And from there I was tasked with building a desktop computer for my new office. It took me several trial and error combinations and a few calls home to my handsome IT guy to get a setup that would power on. (I did almost cry) When I said I knew how to set up a desktop I assumed all the parts would be given to me and I'd have to figure out where they go- lesson 1: Be specific in your skill set-ask before agreeing to anything.
I spent the rest of the day trying to get the internet turned on in my office and planning lessons.
The next day, I met the technology guy (who was out the day before). He informed me that the faulty internet was the fault of my lovingly assembled desktop and promptly took it away with the prognosis that it would run just as slowly when he returned it, but it might connect to the internet. (Day 1 wasted.)
The rest of my week followed in suit, emails that seemed vague and like I was missing key facts needed to decode them; and locked doors... so many locked doors.
But the bright side is that the rest of the faculty seem genuinely nice and supportive.
Next week I meet the kids... and the adventure begins.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
C's Day at the Zoo
My amazing husband along with C chronicled our most recent trip to the zoo.
All moving footage by J, narration and 'still shots' by C.
I love them both.
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Big News
I have a job.
It's in the Bronx and I am not sure how this will turn out for me. It turns out great for all of you because I will be posting all my adventures for your enjoyment. So wish me luck I start in about 2 weeks... that's right... I start like NOW and I have to still find daycare for N and after-school for C and someone to pack lunches and do my laundry and make dinner...but,
I have a job.
Some Backlog of DIY
Ok I know I said I didn't really do Christmas this year and it was absoluetly true but I did manage to craft a few items this holiday season. Like:
1. A tree skirt
it's round as you can see and when I realized I had to hem such a round thing I kind of wished it was square but now that it looks like Mrs. Clause's party-worthy skirt I'm so proud of it.
2. Floor Pillows/Ottomans
they are also round. and yet SO simple, I used this tutorial. I made my own piping for this project and discovered the cutest little mom and pop notions boutique in my neighborhood.
3. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
after this project I vow NEVER to dip anything in white chocolate again because it always turns out clumpy- I also learned that it's not real chocolate :(
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
This year we kinda didn't do Christmas. I mean there were presents, other people sent us Christmas cards and the kids and I did manage to pull a tree together just before the last minute. Although after seeing some of the pictures of my friend's trees on Facebook I kinda wished I hadn't celebrated my poorly decorated tree quite so publicly.
All the not celebrating did not leave us rejuvenated like you always want to believe.. it just left us stressed, feeling like failures as parents and children and human beings in general. I mean someone asked C is Santa came to her house this year and she looked at me... like, 'did he?, cause I kinda don't remember' (parental failure!)
And then the New Year came. It was the first year we spent it all together, C stayed up till midnight and rang it in like my husband used to when he was little like she is now. It was a relaxing time with family and friends and I'm hoping the ensuing year will be more of the same.
I am not making New Years Resolutions this year, or lists or even speculating what it might bring because we all saw how that turned out last year... I am assured based on previously collected data that it will hold surprises, adventures, tears, laughter, successes, failures, changes and growth.
And then the New Year came. It was the first year we spent it all together, C stayed up till midnight and rang it in like my husband used to when he was little like she is now. It was a relaxing time with family and friends and I'm hoping the ensuing year will be more of the same.
So Happy New Year from the Iovino's
we are glad to have survived 2012 and look forward to what 2013 is ready to throw at us.
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