Working as a Program Assistant

In my last post I mentioned how I was blessed to get a job that started right out of college.  Well this post is going to go into a little more detail about it!

It was around early November that I began to look at the school district website for job postings, anything that could get my foot in the door with the school system and gain more experience.  After a week or so of checking the district's website I saw a posting for a Program Assistant I position at the local Early Learning Center.  Even though I didn't have any experience with preschool I decided to apply anyway.  A few days after applying I received an email asking to accept a job interview; I couldn't have been more excited and nervous.  Right away I started doing research on the school itself and what requirements the position would require.

Interview day arrived and the nervousness intensified.  I still remember the first question that was asked of me, "Are you comfortable changing diapers?"  Well of course I am, ha ha.  The rest of the interview went smooth after the ice breaker question.  I remember leaving the interview room with anticipation of wanting to know the result, did I get the job or do I continue to look?

A week later I received an email stating the position had been filled, and I almost broke down crying...didn't the interview go well?  Am I not qualified?  How am I suppose to find a job in the school district during the middle of the school year?...  A few short minutes after receiving that email my cell phone rang, the caller ID stating the school district's name.  The little hope I had for getting this job started to come back.  The phone call was one of the HR women from the district offering me a part-time position for the one I applied for (the original application was for a full-time position).  I accepted the position and wrote down everything I would need to complete before the start date.

God was so good to Michael and I by allowing me to get a job in the education field right after college.  This job may not be my "dream" job, but it has been such a pleasure to get out of my comfort zone, learn about preschool and how to work this specific position, and expand my skills as an educator.

If you're wondering what a program assistant is and what exactly they do, it's essentially a teacher's assistant with a little heavier work load.  I didn't realize how much documentation went into a position like this, but it isn't a bad thing at all...I actually really enjoy documenting and observing for specific things that go on in the classroom.  Along with documenting, I get to help decorate the bulletin board, clean the classroom, take care of the kids, and help out with classroom management.

The mornings are early and the days fly by as I get to work alongside an amazing preschool teacher and another nice program assistant.  The kids in our class are so wonderful and their smiles make me want to wake up every morning eager to go to work!

After College: What a Shock

Student teaching is finished and my undergraduate career is complete.  Four and a half years ago I thought this day would never come!  I've been done with college for over a month now and it is still difficult trying to adjust to the "real" world.  Timing couldn't have been better though, especially with finding a job... Even if that job has absolutely nothing to do with your degree, but more about that later.

The last semester of college during student teaching was an up hill battle.  The first half of the semester was very rocky, both emotionally and physically.  I enjoyed my first placement and the learning curve it offered but constantly struggled with never feeling "good-enough", or feeling as if I'd never be a good teacher.  The last few weeks of that placement I had just about gave up on my dreams...as if I was at the breaking point.  It was also physically tiring because of the long commute to and from the schools, and then add the long days/rehearsals (leave for student teaching at 6 AM, arrive at home around 7 PM); by the time I would get home I was ready for bed.

The second half of the semester was much better in both areas.  I was at an elementary school and the days were considerably shorter.  The teacher I was with was very welcoming, kind, considerate, and loving.  I never realized how much I would enjoy teaching in a K-5 setting, but after that experience I know that is where God is calling me.  The commute was still the same but I was able to get home by 4 PM everyday.  I learned so much about how to effectively run and manage a classroom setting, teach music in various ways while implementing strategies to reach different learning domains, and most of all learning how to exemplify my own teaching skills and strategies into the classroom.

Commencement arrived way too fast and the degree I had been working towards was finally handed over (well at least a paper stating I would get the degree in the mail in eight weeks or so).  I was so eager to finally be done with classes and start living life as a "normal" married person without college stress.  But what I didn't realize is how difficult it would be to transition into the "real" world.  I have been struggling a lot with finding friends, finding a church to plant my roots, my spiritual life, finding routine, etc...

God answered my prayers in giving me the opportunity to get a job right out of college!  That job being a Program Assistant at the Early Learning Center in town, which is the fancy term for being a teacher's assistant at a preschool.  Going into this job I thought, "preschool...this should be simple; not much different than kindergarten, right?"  Wrong!  Preschool is a whole new world compared to the K-12 school setting, and it has definitely been a learning experience for me.  I have the opportunity to learn something new each day about early childhood education, which has opened my eyes to how much work goes into the education of three through five year olds.  It is surprising to find out how smart young children are!

College held so many great experiences and I wouldn't change any of those experiences for anything.  This new chapter in life has been fun so far, but the transition has been rough.  I'm hoping to get plugged into a church somewhere, start playing set in a worship setting again, build my faith, and to get used to this post-college life soon!

Was transitioning into life after college this difficult for you?  What are some of the difficulties you found that followed after graduation?

Colton Dixon Concert

Having such a long commute to and from my student teaching placement allows plenty of time to listen to the radio, and a few weeks ago I overheard K-Love announce that Colton Dixon would be touring in our town on Halloween night.  Seeing as my husband and I didn't have plans for that evening, we decided that I could take a few girl friends to the concert...those girl friends being my two awesome sister-in-laws.

We originally had balcony tickets because they were more affordable than floor seats, but Colton Dixon surprised us after he performed the first three songs; he personally invited the balcony people down to the floor!  We actually ended up in the second row, almost an arms-length or so away from the stage!

The entire concert was absolutely amazing, filled with great talent, musicianship, and most of all God's presence.  Colton gave a small talk in the middle of the concert, about faith and how as the church we need to stop just talking about it and actually live it out.  I was almost in tears because that has been something I've been struggling with for a long time now.

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I'm so glad I was able to spend the night with my sisters at such a wonderful event, it was greatly needed.  Being Halloween, Colton and the band gave the crowd a pleasing encore as well; they went off stage and came back out dressed up in Halloween mask, then continued to perform two more songs to end the night.

Batman of course!

New Placement, New Experiences

I'm three weeks into my second placement for Student Teaching and I LOVE IT!!!  My first placement was at the middle school and I'm now at the elementary school.  I have never been in an elementary setting as a teacher, so I had no idea what to expect.  Would it be crazy, non-stop, tiring, exciting, entertaining, fall-and-get-back-up-learning-experiences, or something else entirely?  To sum it all up I would say it has been all of those so far.

Within the first week there I was able to co-teach a little bit alongside my cooperating teacher.  Thus far I have been able to teach kindergarten, first grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade, with plans to teach second and third grade in the future.  For the most part the students are very well behaved and seem eager to learn each day they come to class.  I haven't really been upset or frustrated with any of these experiences, which is good!

The cooperating teacher I am with is amazing as well!  She has been teaching music at this specific school since it opened back in 1994, so she has plenty of experience.  She has been nothing but kind and helpful everyday I'm with her.  Most of all I have been learning quite a lot about elementary music, how to teach it, and how to make the classroom a fun and encouraging learning environment for all.

Even better news:

The teacher fair was this past Friday on campus at Murray State University, and most of the local and surrounding school districts were there and represented.  The first booth I went to was the district I live in and there was great news to be announced; there will be two elementary music positions opening up/created in the fall of 2015!  It makes me ecstatic to think about possibly working in the same district I reside in, teaching alongside great educators, and being a part of the community the students are a part of as well.

Fall Break Realization

This past week marks the last fall break I'll have as a college student.  It's hard to believe that four and a half years have come and gone.  So much has happened in a blink of an eye that I can barely fathom what God has planned for mine and the hubby's future.  There are only sixty-one more days until I graduate with my degree, and hopefully this time next year I will be a full-time teacher.

Starting tomorrow I will begin my second student teaching placement, which is at an elementary school.  I'm excited and nervous but I know that I'll learn a lot at this school.  

August & September Update

The past two months have been so chaotic, causing me to take a hiatus from blogging.  In order to keep this post from being a mile long I will condense it to bullet points and pictures!

August:

• I started student teaching/last semester of my undergrad degree.  My first placement has been at a middle school in the mornings, and the high school in the afternoons.  It's been an experience,... more to come later...
• My afternoons and evenings have been spent leading and working with the high school marching band.  This marching band has been awarded 4A State Champions in Kentucky for the past nine years!

• Michael and I decided to get a puppy around the middle of August.  We named her Arya after one of our favorite characters from Game of Thrones.

Arya, 12 weeks old.

September:

• We didn't realize how difficult it would be to train a puppy.  It's been frustrating, but I wouldn't change it at all; Arya has been a joy to have and raise.
• Student teaching is much busier then I thought it would be.  It's much different then any other semester has ever been, I don't even feel like a college student anymore.  Living two hours away from campus and teaching all day without any other course work has been eye-opening in many ways.
• We moved up to the smart phone world!  I've never owned a smart phone until this month,...
• I'm one week away from fall break and my second student teaching placement, which will be at an elementary school.  I've never experienced teaching elementary students, so I am very eager to see what it will be like.
• Graduate school has made it's way onto my to-do list; I've been brainstorming possible degrees and paths I could take.  Although this is an adventure I do not want to begin for at least another year.
• I received my first gift from a student!  It will be going on the refrigerator soon.

Now that the first half of student teaching is over and commencement is less than three months away, blogging will move back towards the top of my priority list!

Band Camp Mayhem

It's been over a month of non-blogging and there is actually a good reason why; marching band.  Near the beginning of July I started preparing for three weeks (two and a half actually) of teaching the percussion section during band camp.  I didn't plan on going so long without blogging, but the only access I had to wi-fi was at McDonald's, so now it's catch-up time.

Percussion camp was first in the band camp series and it went great.  The line I worked with is very young but has so much potential.  Within the first few days I could tell that they were all very determined to learn and practice.  The entire band had pre-camp the following week, in which I was able to get to know more students in the program and help out with fundamentals.  The last week was actual band camp where the band had the opportunity to stay at a campsite and learn the show in a unique environment.

The percussion section alongside me and the other percussion instructor.  (faces are blurred for protection)

This was the second summer I was able to work with this program and I'm still amazed at the wonderful attitudes and discipline the students have.  Each day was a learning experience that challenged me to look at my teaching abilities in a different way.  The student's outlook on marching band began to change as the days passed, they where always striving to become better marchers, musicians, and people.

The awesome band directors and instructors.

I could go on and on about how great the program is, how much enjoyment I get from teaching the students, how fun staying at the campsite was, and just how memorable the entire experience was, but instead I will leave you with some bullet points to sum up the experience.

• Great people to teach alongside.
• Wonderful students.
• The one thing I look forward to each summer.
• Beautiful campsite.
• Great housing.
• Not-so-great cafeteria food.
• 6:00am-9:30pm days!
• New friendships.
• Expanding teaching skills.
• Teaching experience to remember for a life-time.
• #wannagoback (I love teaching so much that I used a hash tag...I despise hash tags)

This summer may or may not be my last summer with this specific band program because of possible career options I may have next year.  If all goes well with future career aspects then I'll be back next summer to work with this band program along with having my own teaching job next fall.