first teaching postion

I graduated college a year ago and have been looking for a teaching job ever since.  Right now I tutor and substitute teach.  I also have been on a few interviews but it always seems to go to people with more experience then myself.  I live in the LA area which is a tough place to find a teaching job with all the layoffs.  Does anyone have any tips or know of any websites in which to make me a more successful candidate?

I’m sorry I haven't blogged much recently. As if being a first year teacher is quite challenge enough, my partner and I have been planning a wedding as well which only adds to the time and stress load. As we approach the end of the academic year, I’m in the process of completing some of the contractually agreed tasks associated with the profession. This is also the time of year when teachers find out if they will have a job next year. With the economy in the state it is, there are quite a few teachers in Washington State who won’t have a job next year. First things first though, I have to make it through this year.

It has been a while since my last blog entry and so much has happened.  I'm actually a bit hesitant to write because I'm afraid it may just spill on to the keyboard and not make much sense to the reader.  Of course I could take a bit of time and plan exactly what I'm going to write, but I think I'm going to go with more of a stream of consciousness thing.

One thing is for sure, the busier I am the faster time seems to pass, and I can’t believe three weeks have gone by since I started teaching.  After three weeks of teaching, I am left reflecting on a few things: how to balance the tasks associated with teaching, integrating technology and curriculum across the elementary grade levels, and behavior management strategies for a diverse student population. By far the constant theme has been the question of how to balance all the demands of the teaching profession.

I may have stumbled upon a second career within the teaching profession. That of substituting for teachers within the building when there isn't one available. I can't say it is something that I particularly want to do, but it does present some opportunities. For one, it gives me the opportunity to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, thus gaining a deeper appreciation for the unique challenges and rewards faced by others in this wonderful profession. Another benefit is that I may be able to earn a bit of additional money. I'm not sure how much this is, but I'm thinking it probably isn't much because I'm already there.

Well, I’ve finished my first week of professional teaching and I must confess to being simultaneously exhilarated and exhausted; what a strange feeling that is.  My exhilaration comes from finally getting the opportunity to do something I’ve dreamt about doing for a long time, working with young people helping them realize their educational aspirations.  The exhaustion I feel is a result of a combination of things, mostly a lack of sleep. 

I'm trying not to get too excited because it seems rather surreal.  We are well into the school year and this job seems like a great fit for me.  I really don't think I could have asked for a better job description.  I'm sure there will be challenges, but I will great them as the small pleasures I get to engage in that add challenge and reward to the privilege of being able to help guide the learning of young people.

I had another interview today.  Compared to my last one it went very well, not that the last one was that horrible, it just felt that way.  I was more prepared for the format this time and I think that helped.  My advice to anyone who may find themselves in the same position I am in right now is to show up early, not five minutes early, but more like fifteen - twenty minutes early.  As was the case last time, I was presented with a sheet that had about eight questions on it that I was told would be asked.  Then, and here is the kicker, I was shown a question on back which asked me to outline a lesson I would teach a specific class given a particular subject matter in a particular situation.  I'm using generalitites here intentionally to preserve the integrity of the process.  I s

I’ve gotten over a bit of the apprehension to sub, but not completely.  I’ve applied to sub at a district close to me.  I’ll see how that goes and perhaps apply to sub at more districts later.  I’ve also continued to apply for open positions in Seattle.  I’ll keep you all posted on how that goes.

Having recently received my Washington State teaching certificate (last spring), I've been spending the last few weeks applying for teaching positions in the greater Seattle area. I'm very excited about a couple of the recent ones I applied to and I look forward to the interviewing process, and hopefully, a meaningful teaching experience and gainful employment.