It is just past midnight and I am not exactly sure what I am supposed to do tomorrow.
As a part of the Teaching Fellows program, I am supposed to go to a school during the summer session and observe / student teach. While I am thrilled to do both, I lack the proper instruction to do so and I think part of it has to do with me already being hired.
There are two options. People who do not have positions for the fall have been assigned a school for field training and instructions on when and where to be at the beginning of summer school (tomorrow morning). Option 2 is that people who do have a position for the fall. We are supposed to be in contact with our school and our school should give us all the reporting instructions for our field work. I am in the latter group and have received no instructions on what to do / where to go for summer session. So after leaving a voicemail last Thursday, calling today (with no answer), and an email this evening, I am hoping that someone from somewhere will contact me. If not by tomorrow morning, I will be making more phone calls and more emails to those who I find appropriate.
Needless to say, it is a bit frustrating. While I have a hard time objecting to the free time of not being in class until 1, I would highly value some classroom experiences to better prepare me for the fall. However, I think receipt of my stipend check and metrocard tomorrow will mitigate some anxiety.
[UPDATED]
In response to my email last night, the administrator who I contacted emailed me back early this morning. I was very glad to see that he indicated he would take appropriate action to ensure that I and the other person assigned to my school knew exactly where to go and what to do for summer session. I am currently awaiting further instructions before reporting to the school.
When I sent the email, I CCed the other person assigned to the school, a Fellow from my cohort who will also be working there come September. He responded saying something about how the administrator's response seemed to indicate administrators would be providing strong support to rookie teachers. I hope he's right.
Showing posts with label Stipend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stipend. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Immersion Training, Stipend Checks & Bikes
Contrary to the title, finishing immersion training and my bicycle purchase are entirely unrelated.
In training yesterday, we gave small group presentations on our evaluation of a sort of packaged lesson plan kit for various subjects. My groups subject and kit was a SEPUP (Science Education for Public Understanding Program) kit intended to be used to teach major concepts about evolution. The kit is supposed to come with everything a teacher needs to teach a lesson on different subjects including workbooks, teacher's manual and supplies. Overall, I found the kits to be rather contrived and poor quality to actually teach such subjects in an engaging way. Unfortunately, these kits are already being implemented in NYC's public schools. Maybe these work overall to improve student achievement when implemented, but real life science is not a kit, so why on earth would we teach it like that? - Just my opinion.
On Thursday, all of the science and math immersion fellows were delighted to receive the first portion of the summer stipend of $1,000. Needless to say, I was happy to have an income again. Also, a small extra perk is that the checks were from Chase, which happens to be my bank, so I did not have to wait for the check to clear.
Lastly, I've been considering purchasing a bike to either commute (probably not) or just go around town on. While it's a nice idea to be active in my self-transportation, the potential disastrous accidents while biking absolutely terrifies me. However, this fear was not enough to stop me from purchasing a bike. I went to a bike shop on 14th st near 1st ave and test rode a three of the same brand - Dahon. Dahon typically does not sell standard bikes; most of them are foldable. As dorky as it may seem to have a bike with 20" wheels being folded up at the train station, I really don't mind losing a small amount of dignity for a large amount of convenience. The bike is actually quite comfortable and convenient. There's even a tired pump IN the seat! It's about 23 pounds also, so I can carry it without breaking my back, although not much further than a few blocks. Ideally I would ride this to work, but somehow I think I would be far too sweaty by the end of my ride, which itself would be far too long for a daily commute. Maybe I'll start riding in my down time and then see if I want to step it up a bit later. If all goes well, my new bike will come with a more active and healthy lifestyle (hopefully!).
In training yesterday, we gave small group presentations on our evaluation of a sort of packaged lesson plan kit for various subjects. My groups subject and kit was a SEPUP (Science Education for Public Understanding Program) kit intended to be used to teach major concepts about evolution. The kit is supposed to come with everything a teacher needs to teach a lesson on different subjects including workbooks, teacher's manual and supplies. Overall, I found the kits to be rather contrived and poor quality to actually teach such subjects in an engaging way. Unfortunately, these kits are already being implemented in NYC's public schools. Maybe these work overall to improve student achievement when implemented, but real life science is not a kit, so why on earth would we teach it like that? - Just my opinion.
On Thursday, all of the science and math immersion fellows were delighted to receive the first portion of the summer stipend of $1,000. Needless to say, I was happy to have an income again. Also, a small extra perk is that the checks were from Chase, which happens to be my bank, so I did not have to wait for the check to clear.
Lastly, I've been considering purchasing a bike to either commute (probably not) or just go around town on. While it's a nice idea to be active in my self-transportation, the potential disastrous accidents while biking absolutely terrifies me. However, this fear was not enough to stop me from purchasing a bike. I went to a bike shop on 14th st near 1st ave and test rode a three of the same brand - Dahon. Dahon typically does not sell standard bikes; most of them are foldable. As dorky as it may seem to have a bike with 20" wheels being folded up at the train station, I really don't mind losing a small amount of dignity for a large amount of convenience. The bike is actually quite comfortable and convenient. There's even a tired pump IN the seat! It's about 23 pounds also, so I can carry it without breaking my back, although not much further than a few blocks. Ideally I would ride this to work, but somehow I think I would be far too sweaty by the end of my ride, which itself would be far too long for a daily commute. Maybe I'll start riding in my down time and then see if I want to step it up a bit later. If all goes well, my new bike will come with a more active and healthy lifestyle (hopefully!).
Thursday, May 29, 2008
T Minus
About 4 days and counting. Science Immersion training begins on Monday at City College, 9AM. While I am not looking forward to waking up with the birds for my long commute to City College, I am looking forward to meeting other science fellows and beginning training.
When it comes to science, I'm kind of a geek. I find biology thoroughly fascinating and the various other fields of science to be at the least, engaging. I am hoping that during the immersion training, there will be ample focus in biology as that is what I enjoy and what I have been assigned to teach.
On a more logistical note, I am currently trying to plough through the Guidebook given to me by NYCTF. I feel a bit irresponsible for not having completed it yet. However, I have a feeling that it will not be utilized until training for everyone begins (not just immersion fellows). This is not to say that I will be swamped with free time to read it during immersion training. I imagine quite the contrary, which is why I'm hitting it hard now.
I am definitely looking forward to receiving the extra $1,000 stipend for the immersion training after it ends, following the first two weeks. Money's not everything, but it sure it nice to pay the rent and eat.
All in all, I am very much looking forward to training. I have a few contacts from the area and out of state who are all gearing up as well. I look forward to meeting them in person and beginning a wonderfully exciting new experience.
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