High Five

Hey Everyone,

#1 Viva Las Vegas

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Last week I left for Vegas with a group of friends and had a blast. The real kicker was seeing people's reactions when I told them why I was going to be in Vegas that weekend. Many of them had just assumed I was going for the Electric Daisy Carnival, but my favorite reaction came from one of my girlfriends who cracked up when I told her I was actually going for a card tournament. She of course was thinking along the lines of Poker or Blackjack (and rightfully so) so when I revealed that it was actually a Magic the Gathering tournament she darn near fell out of her chair in tears laughing. Anyway, one of my buddies placed 161 out of over 4000 people that participated. Way to go and a literal high five for him!

Galleta Meadows Estate

Hey Friends,

No callbacks or update on my job status yet. I'm starting to grow a little weary of all the waiting but have resolved to enjoy my summer vacation in the meantime. A couple of weeks ago I managed to convince two of my friends that walking in 100 degree heat in the desert would be a lot of fun - and it was!

Life is Not Unfair

Hey Friends,

Thanks to one of the two Teacher Appreciation Days offered by the San Diego County Fair last Friday (the other one is this Friday), I got to spend a lovely day wandering the fairgrounds at Del Mar, pigging out on greasy overpriced fair food.

Father's Day

Hi Everyone,

I drove up to LA with my boyfriend over the weekend to spend some quality time with my family for Father's Day. Last year I treated my dad to a baseball game at Dodgers Stadium, but being on a much tighter budget this year, I opted for a cheaper and equally as fun outing - hiking at Eaton Canyon.

Well Done

Hey Friends,

Long time no post! I so badly wanted to post some end-of-the-year updates in the last couple of weeks but time really escaped me during that home stretch. I'm pretty excited to announce however, that I finished my first year of teaching on Friday, June 7, 2013. That's right I'm no longer a "first year" teacher! Don't worry, if you're wondering, I don't intend on changing the name of this blog. Instead, it will serve as a little keepsake and reminder that every year of teaching is kind of like your first year as no two classes are ever the same. Besides, now that my employment status is up in the air, who knows what grade I'll actually be teaching this upcoming school year (if I'm even able to land a job that is). I'm sure it will feel like I'm a first year teacher all over again.

I initially planned to write a reflective piece about my first year of teaching, actually I did in fact write it. The essay I wrote deeply looked at my past year documenting the struggles and challenges I faced with my overflow population, but after going back and forth, I decided not to share it. I made it a point to focus on the positives early on in the school year, at least when it came to this blog - a project I started for fun in grad school but have really grown to love and cherish as an on-going hobby and collection of unforgettable memories. I love reading back on old posts and remembering the special moments I shared with my very first classroom. I also love seeing the evolution of balance that I attempted to achieve while juggling a new career and trying to maintain a happy personal life. In keeping true to this spirit of the blog, I will continue to share my stories through a positive lens. After all, attitude is everything.

So in California, new teachers generally hold a preliminary teaching credential that they have to clear within 5 years (extensions can be granted). Although there are a few options available out there, I decided to go down the most well-traveled route via a two-year program called Beginning Teacher Support Assessment (BTSA) Induction. Taken from their website, BTSA engages preliminary credentialed teachers in a job-embedded formative assessment system of support and professional growth to fulfill the requirement for the California Clear Multiple Subjects credential. BTSA Induction programs are locally designed and implemented in accordance with the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Professional Teacher Induction Programs and aligned to the California Standards for the Teaching Profession.