teaching grade 4.
a challenge.

I will ALWAYS love you.

Nate said, "I love you Miss Brown. I will ALWAYS love you. Adorable. touched my heart. A friend called me on the way to work today and said, "the children will light up when they see me. That is Christ's reflection that they see in me." She said I am making a difference and there will be fruit from what I am doing. She was so encouraging because today ended up being a more challenging day. God knows what we need!
~~~~~~~~~

Pumpkins and storytelling

So I'm throughly enjoying teaching kindergarten! Yesterday was PUMPKIN DAY as it's the fall season and we're learning the letter Pp. I bought a book called Pumpkin Soup....it's sooo cute. My students loved the illustrations and story. I love reading seasonal-themed literature. It's a MUST in the classroom. Mrs. Zgorski came in (the teacher I'm covering for) and she interacted with the students, in order to get to know them as well as to help ease their transition from "Miss Brown" to Mrs. Zgorski as their teacher! :) She is a wonderful, energetic teacher and I know my students will love her!

I enjoy the FUN challenge of getting to know each of my students. I love when they open up and share with me about personal struggles and joys. This is the joy of teaching...this is what makes it all worth it, that I can be an influence and make a difference in each child's life! I love seeing them learn....watching the process of writing their name, learning their first letters and words. It excites me to challenge students to higher levels, and find projects, activities and assignments for my students who surprise me with their high academic knowledge! I find it a blessing that I struggled in school as a child (mainly math, hehe) but that I have the ability to break down concepts to very small levels in order to reach a student when they are struggling. That ability is a blessing in disguise!

I have three more weeks left at this job, and as my friend Jenn told me, "God already has the next job lined up.." Yes..so I don't need to worry about my career...God has a plan. "Thank God" for that!

Where I've been since March..

Well, last time I blogged I had just started a long term grade 3 substitute position! I thought I would really love it as it was my "favorite grade." It was difficult in some ways, but I must say I learned quite a bit about EIP, referring students to EIP, collecting and analizying data, building centers for more individualized instruction, writing objectives, learning how to teach various subjects more creatively, and more! I a extremely grateful for "on the job training." I am getting some really good experience. I have had many long term sub jobs IN A ROW.....special ed, music, 2nd grade, 3rd grade and Kindergarten now. I can't complain about never gettting experience in the teaching field before I get hired as a full time teacher...I have had 2 years of it so far! :)

So here's a little about my Kindergarten long term sub positions! I really love it. Some positive aspects of the job are: A) great, organized school, B) warm, genuine, organized, friendly, caring principal, C)friendly, inviting staff and D) I am in contact with the teacher I am covering for. She is very helpful. Not all schools have these three benefits! I've been to enough schools as a sub and I know when I've found a school that is run properly! (in my terms, I guess ;)

The kids in my class are really cute. They're always saying, "we love you Miss (or Mrs.) Brown....you're very beautiful...I love your hair", etc etc etc. This makes for an easier time. I didn't think I would like teaching K--thought I wouldn't have enough patience! But I've found that because you HAVE to be patient with K's...there is no choice to get upset or frazzled, most of the time! I like it. I will write more later!!

Teaching 3rd Grade

So...I got a job as a third grade long term sub that goes until the end of the year!~ I'm super excited!!!! Will tell more later....

a joy in teaching

Well hello to anyone who reads my blog! hehe...

So, I'm currently not teaching as a long term substitute. After the music position I described in the last blog, I was called by my temp agency to teach 2nd grade in East Hartford for the month of Februray. I had lot of fun!! 2nd grade is my favorite to teach, and I developed great friendships with my students. There was a student, very well behaved and cooperative, but quite mellow and didn't smile much. I made sure to respect his boundaries and let him have his space rather than trying to make him smile or laugh.

I understand that each student is different and needs different amounts of space. So...anyway! the last day he came up and gave me a hug!! I was so surprised and excited that he had finally opened up to me. I exclaimed, "WOW!!! Did _____ just give me a hug!!???" I made a big deal of it and a ginormous smile appeared on his face. It's those moments when I know I make a difference in student's lives and want to continue teaching. I'm not only teaching to their academic knowlege, but I am an aid, helper, friend to my students as they walk through life.

teaching 2nd grade!

God has been really faithful! I finished teaching music for a month as the E. Hartford district hired a certified music teacher to take on the long term position. I realize that even though I was there for a month, God used to me to show love to the kids. I see a lot of them now, as they come through Sylvan so I'm able to continue my friendships with them!

One week after my music job was over, I was requested to be a long term sub at O'Brien School in East Hartford, 2nd grade. I jumped at the opportunity to teach for the entire month of Feb (minus break). I love teaching 2nd grade, despite the challenges of a more urban school. In the two weeks that I have been there, I have really grown to love the kids. One studnet gave me a valentine as said, "this is for you because you are the beautiful teacher..in the world." so cute.

I was reminded of my students when I was in church the other day and these were sung during worship.........."Everyone needs compassion, A Love that's never failing, Let mercy fall on me. Everyone needs forgiveness,The Kindness of a savior......My God is mighty to save.." God was showing me that He wants to use me to reach the world, to give compassion to those who need it. That is what I am fulfilling as a teacher to these students who need Jesus' love.

I don't know where I'll end up next, except for the fact that I will do my part in the job search, and expect God to do the rest!!

from STEP to music

After finishing at the STEP program (Special Ed) in Manchester, where I taught for one month, taking students from severly lacking in their education, creating curriculum for them, speaking with their homeroom teachers...as well as being interviewed for a Kindergarten position....and not being hired (there were 11 candidates)......I moved on. It is unfortunate that schools and principals do not take into account the many young certified teachers (like myself) who put forth much effort and faithfulness and entrust them with a teaching job. It is very difficult to recieve a job as an elementary teacher as there are many certified teachers looking for jobs. One has to have a few long term substitute teaching jobs posted on their resume to even be considered. This can take from 2-5 years to obtain.


Having moved on, I accepted a job as a music teacher in East Hartford. I absolutely love working with grades K-5.