The Final Week Draws to a Close

Very Sad Actually! Have just had a busy week presenting our Inquiry Projects which were really incredible and very inspiring. I learnt heaps and have been able to compile a folder of resources which will be really useful for my teaching.

I mentioned in a previous post that my goal was to have the CV together by the end of this week. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!! Just didn't happen what with tossing and turning about my presentation and my final teaching practice - heaps has to be done this weekend to prepare for that - and putting in quite a few extra hours at work. Such is the life of a student, eh.

I want to take this chance to say that my peers at College have been such a wonderful inspiration to me this week. What amazing presentations and what fantastic information I have now! I feel really lucky.

A new student approached me today about how the programme is........I took her over to talk with Char, Bridgie, Esther, Lance, Emz and me, of course. It reminded us all of how bewildering our first week was at College but also that it was a mere 12 months ago and what a difference a year makes!!!!!! We talked about how the jargon was so strange, how tired we all were and how we got well and truly thrown in the deep end from the beginning.

I think we have been so busy for the last 5 weeks that (thankfully) we didn't have time to think about the fact that some of our mates will be moving on to other parts of NZ and the world. These are the same people that we did placements with, group work with, projects and the odd night out on the grog with. This is very sad and it will hit us tomorrow because it is the last day we have class together! We became a really close unit and relied on each other alot when things were really stressful.

But! How proud are we of ourselves? I know that I had many moments where I was sure that I could not (bloody well, did not) want to finish my training. Crying, heart paplatations, fights with my precious daughter, late nights, frustration - you name the emotion, I felt it! But we had each other and we shared and laughed and hey! here we are at the end! Bittersweet.

I will remember the laughs, the insane discussions in the computer labs, the panicked texts, the love and support............

I love you all and will remember this last year always.

Sue

My Last Week of Teacher Training College

I guess I am a little sad that I am at the end of this part of my journey. When I came into College today, all the new students undertaking the Grad Diploma were here for their first day and that was ME, exactly one year ago....I have come so far! When I think that for the first week I really did not know what on earth was happening, to be confident teaching a class of kids is quite stunning. I am very proud of myself because there were times when I didn't think I would make it through. Mind you, it was a common feeling especially over winter when we were very busy with assignments and most of us were sick with colds....but hey!!!! WE DID IT!!!

This week is a very busy one for me. I am part of a panel that will be discussing with the newbies, the realities of the course, I am presenting my inquiry on the Creative Classroom on Thursday, need to be finding resources and getting my integrated unit together for placement which starts on March 2 AND I will be working both my part-time jobs and of course, being mother to my daughter - PHEW! I am exhausted just reading that.

I know that this is a really pivotal time for graduating teachers - moving on from the reasonable security of the training to getting into the real world to find a job!!!! I am really excited about that now and not nervous at all. I know what I have to offer and I am keen to show it off!!!

BRING ON THE NEXT PHASE!!!!!!!

Have a happy week, all.

Excited........

Have had a fantastic week really.......my final placement is with a fantastic school and my associate is brilliant! I am being given alot of opportunities to teach things I haven't taught before such as German and Drama........I am so excited I can't tell you!

Am well over being scared of applying for jobs now. Had a really useful workshop at Teacher's College yesterday on CV prep. Looked at some really good examples so am feeling jazzed about putting mine togther.

Have a busy day today finishing off my Inquiry Presentation - it is called the Creative Classroom and looks at how we need to be encouraged to teach creatively. There is a beleif that we are educating the creativity out of our kids and I see that there is such value to integrating the arts into the core curriculum to enhance learning.....I have seen it happen. Your thoughts and comments on this would be really welcome!

Bye for now...

Such a Scaredy Cat!

I can't beleive how I am resisting starting to put my CV together. I think I am quite scared that perhaps I will fail somehow...even in my past life I have found the CV a pain! What to put in, what to leave out..! I suppose if I am to be honest, I am being very hard on myself and feeling that I don't have ENOUGH to offer - not that I have nothing at all to offer, just maybe not enought of it. I really hope that this is a normal way to feel for new teachers....it must be, right?

Having now got that off my chest, I have set the goal of having my CV together by Friday. It should be a really exciting time and it is - just call me a scaredy cat. As I said in my opening post, I am glad that the application process allows me to rock on up to the schools in person as I know that I am very, very good at the face-to-face thing....thank goodness!!!!

Wish me luck!!

Let's Get Going with the Applications Then

I have found two jobs that interest me and so have decided to get over my nerves (and to push thru the comfort zone) and apply for them. This process will be different than what I am used to in my past life....I am nervous about it but also know that the process of applying for teaching positions enables me to utilize my skills with people...I can go directly to the school and expect to spend some good time there. In my past life, it was not so face-to-face until you got to the interview.

It is encouraging to know that I can present myself in person and talk myself up....

I am beginning to realise that the idea of having my own class comes with it's own nerve-inducing components - I have to actually talk the talk every day by myself. Of course, I can do it!!!!

Any tips on the application process would be gratefully received!!!!!

Well, I have been inspired by a classmate to document what is going on with me via a Blog. This is a new area for me but I imagine it will be a fun trip.....

I want to document my entry into the world of teaching as a newbie and want to hopefully inspire others to get into teaching or to simply give me feedback on what I am doing.

College has been full-on and we are coming close to finishing and getting into the real world. I will begin by documenting how my job applications go and how releiving is.......

Feedback, advice and comments in general will be gratefully received!

Cheers