Got my CSET test results back, and found that my $77x3 was not wasted. I passed all three history subtests. Suprisingly, I did the worst on the US Geography section, and the best on Civics, Econ, and CA History. As for the last of the three, I must say that being a CA Flag Bearer for a year (Rainbow stuff) probably helped.
The bad news is you almost need a PhD to figure out how to read the state web site in order to officially add history on to my credential. I spent an hour trying to figure it out on Monday. I finally realized that you use the same application as the original credential. You just have to ignore all the dire warnings about fingerprints and transcripts.
Duh News: There are some strange district codes that I need for the application. A colleague mentioned yesterday that I should call the credential specialist at the district. Duh. Totally forgot that a district of 6000 teachers would have someone whose job it was just to sort out the mess of the CTC.
Five minutes later: "You haven't filled out that application yet? We prefer you use ours and send it directly to us. We'll take care of the rest for you."
Spiffy.
Now that I've gone through all the trouble, I bet I'm gonna get shafted somewhere along the line. It usually happens in October, when they're short a class. "We'll just combine these two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CLASSES in one and give you an extra!"
What the hay! I'm only teaching six preps right now. Bring on seven!
Pessimistic, aren't I?
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Note to Self
When getting ambitious and making your own frosting from scratch, do not use baking chocolate that has sat in a box next to the cumin for a year. While cumin goes wonderfully with some things (potatoes for example) Chocolate Cream Cheese Cumin Frosting is not particularly tasty.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
The Phantom Goes to the Opera, and School Dreams
So last night, Liz and I went to Arcadia, which feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but Liz assured me was actually next door to Pasadena. That's where the LA arboretum is located, and although the only thing we saw of the place was the concert lawn, it looks like a place we might want to go back to.
After we hiked in to the park, Liz was in her "annoyed" mode, as she couldn't locate any signs. There was one guy we asked for directions, and he was trying to be helpful. He wanted to get us a volunteer to carry some of our stuff. I think this made Liz feel like an old lady, as she bristled and walked away. Undaunted, this guy started yelling for a volunteer, and sent this young girl scrambling after us up the hill. I politely turned her down, but all of it was quite awkward.
On the fringes of the lawn, there were lots of fowl wildlife, (note fowl, not foul). The cutest thing were the two baby peacocks, following after their mom, scratching in the weeds. They were drawing quite a crowd, but Annoyed Lizzie was too busy avoiding the volunteer for me to stop and join the crowd and watch for a bit.
Once we settled down on our blanket, opened the wine, and ate dinner, things worked out well. We were the envy of the blanket next to us when we pulled out the pumpkin pie. Yum.
The program was pieces of opera run through with Andrew Lloyd Webber. There were selections from Evita, Cats, Sunset Blvd, and Phantom as well as The Barber of Seville, and the Bartered Bride. The conductor was a little loopy in his explanations of the theme. He tried to explain how the US was older than Italy or Germany, and he didn't do it very well. Overall, it was quite enjoyable.
We got home and the two glasses of wine put me right to bed. Snooooooze. That's when I had my Back to School Dreams. They happen every year around this time without fail. I'm usually wandering around an unfamiliar school trying to find my classroom and students, but failing miserably. This particular one was the first day of school dream. I had no class lists, and only five minutes between periods to find my mailbox. And then I couldn't find my classroom again. But look, it's a door with my name printed on it. Ominous, but okay, hey let's go in. Oh look, it's my classroom, but it's cavernous and there are other teachers here. Wait a minute these are supposed to be ELD kids, not student council kids. Argh!
I wake up and my arm is sore because Ed has stuck his fat self in the crook of it. He cries when I readjust and looks very put out. Man, what time is it? Probably 6:00 like the time I woke up yesterday. Nope 8. That's acceptable... I suppose.
Righteo.
After we hiked in to the park, Liz was in her "annoyed" mode, as she couldn't locate any signs. There was one guy we asked for directions, and he was trying to be helpful. He wanted to get us a volunteer to carry some of our stuff. I think this made Liz feel like an old lady, as she bristled and walked away. Undaunted, this guy started yelling for a volunteer, and sent this young girl scrambling after us up the hill. I politely turned her down, but all of it was quite awkward.
On the fringes of the lawn, there were lots of fowl wildlife, (note fowl, not foul). The cutest thing were the two baby peacocks, following after their mom, scratching in the weeds. They were drawing quite a crowd, but Annoyed Lizzie was too busy avoiding the volunteer for me to stop and join the crowd and watch for a bit.
Once we settled down on our blanket, opened the wine, and ate dinner, things worked out well. We were the envy of the blanket next to us when we pulled out the pumpkin pie. Yum.
The program was pieces of opera run through with Andrew Lloyd Webber. There were selections from Evita, Cats, Sunset Blvd, and Phantom as well as The Barber of Seville, and the Bartered Bride. The conductor was a little loopy in his explanations of the theme. He tried to explain how the US was older than Italy or Germany, and he didn't do it very well. Overall, it was quite enjoyable.
We got home and the two glasses of wine put me right to bed. Snooooooze. That's when I had my Back to School Dreams. They happen every year around this time without fail. I'm usually wandering around an unfamiliar school trying to find my classroom and students, but failing miserably. This particular one was the first day of school dream. I had no class lists, and only five minutes between periods to find my mailbox. And then I couldn't find my classroom again. But look, it's a door with my name printed on it. Ominous, but okay, hey let's go in. Oh look, it's my classroom, but it's cavernous and there are other teachers here. Wait a minute these are supposed to be ELD kids, not student council kids. Argh!
I wake up and my arm is sore because Ed has stuck his fat self in the crook of it. He cries when I readjust and looks very put out. Man, what time is it? Probably 6:00 like the time I woke up yesterday. Nope 8. That's acceptable... I suppose.
Righteo.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Hell must have just frozen over.
I think I just got a promotion.
Wow.
Still reeling.
Of course I only got it, because no one else wants the job, but hey, it makes me feel appreciated!
I get to be in charge of something, not just a lolely prawn on the food chain.
Wow.
Still reeling.
Of course I only got it, because no one else wants the job, but hey, it makes me feel appreciated!
I get to be in charge of something, not just a lolely prawn on the food chain.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
I have to go to work tomorrow.
It's depressing. I need to set my alarm for EARLY tomorrow so I can be in North Long Beach at 8:00. 8:00! Argh. You know what that means... it means that my lazy days of getting up at 9 and hanging out are over. Summer has slipped by and August is well into its cycle.
So what have I been doing? Slacking off. Hey, I work really hard during most of the year. And I seriously needed a break from the ones who will no doubt be waiting to terrorize me again in a month.
So tomorrow I get to hang out with teachers and be taught how to teach writing to kids who can't speak the language. The hanging out with teachers is the best part of it. Get my gears recharged and whatnot.
So today I decided to make t-shirts. If I can find them, that is. I bought them. They're in a Target bag around here somewhere. And I found the iron ons. I haven't looked very hard for them though. I thought I'd make one that actually spelled out ELD, as even teachers at the school reply, "Oh, special ed." Duh. I think I understand why Mel was so mad when people responded, "Oh, like where the Mounties are from!" when she told them she was from Kansas. Eye Roll.
I will again promise to be more faithful in blogging. But considering my average posting is lately is once a month, we'll see how long this lasts. Maybe in the next post, I'll tell you about my new screenplay. Yeah, that's a plan. I'd tell you know, but a certain sister of mine complained once that my posts were too long, so I thought I'd break them up a bit. ;)
So what have I been doing? Slacking off. Hey, I work really hard during most of the year. And I seriously needed a break from the ones who will no doubt be waiting to terrorize me again in a month.
So tomorrow I get to hang out with teachers and be taught how to teach writing to kids who can't speak the language. The hanging out with teachers is the best part of it. Get my gears recharged and whatnot.
So today I decided to make t-shirts. If I can find them, that is. I bought them. They're in a Target bag around here somewhere. And I found the iron ons. I haven't looked very hard for them though. I thought I'd make one that actually spelled out ELD, as even teachers at the school reply, "Oh, special ed." Duh. I think I understand why Mel was so mad when people responded, "Oh, like where the Mounties are from!" when she told them she was from Kansas. Eye Roll.
I will again promise to be more faithful in blogging. But considering my average posting is lately is once a month, we'll see how long this lasts. Maybe in the next post, I'll tell you about my new screenplay. Yeah, that's a plan. I'd tell you know, but a certain sister of mine complained once that my posts were too long, so I thought I'd break them up a bit. ;)
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