Archive for May, 2009

Recommendation

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

A few weeks ago I interviewed with Liberty Middle School in Pharr, TX for a middle-school math position.  I found out this past Wednesday that the Liberty staff was putting forth a recommendation to their school board that I be their newest math teacher.  I can’t begin to explain how pumped I am about being at Liberty, living in Pharr, and teaching middle-school math.  I can’t wait. 

It’s time now for me to finish up my pre-institute work and find a Jeep.  I’ve been looking since I’ve been back in Texas for a good ‘ole Jeep Cherokee.  My first car was a 1991 Jeep Cherokee and I really want another one.  Considering I’m probably only going to be in the Valley for a few years, I just need something to get me back and forth from school.  But I’d still like that ‘something’ to be a Jeep Cherokee!

Induction week starts June 1 in McAllen.  Then we’re off to Houston for the 6-week summer institute. 

Posted in Teach For America | 1 Comment »

TExES

Monday, May 4th, 2009

 

Color me ‘Certified.’  I took the Generalist 4-8 exam on Saturday the 25th.  I was actually pretty nervous about the test since, according to the official TExES study book , the best thing you could do to study is to re-visit all the knowledge you acquired while studying to be a teacher in college.  I didn’t receive a teaching degree and had no clue about the various teaching strategies. 

However, thanks to the advice of a good friend, I checked out Barnes and Noble and found a book that specialized on Language Arts and Math for grades 4-8.  This didn’t help me out with the Science and Social Studies sections, but I figured 2 out of 4 wasn’t bad and I had no intention on spending more dough on study books.  It was an ‘unofficial’ study guide, but it definitely helped.

Long story short, I passed and it wasn’t that bad.  I’m just glad it’s done.  Now it’s time to get going on the pre-institute work, get a TB shot, and do my classroom observations (happening tomorrow).

Still no word on a principal interview, school, subject, or grade level.  Good thing I’m a pretty easy-going fellow.  Whatever happens and happens and I’ll be happy.

Side note: got to spend and incredible week in Texas with a best bro, saw a great wedding, caught an Aggie baseball game, floated the Comal River in New Braunfels, and destroyed the Swine Flu in an epic showdown.

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