Call for help from blog followers and friends

I have really been thinking lately as our EMDT program draws to an end this month that I would like to teach online.  Currently I have my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education (P-4).  I am not quite sure how you would even go about getting a position at an online school, so that is where my call for help comes in.  Do any of my followers or friends know where or how you would begin to search for a position as an online instructor?  

I am not even sure what type of credentials or experience is needed to do such a thing.  I know that there was a position listed recently at Full Sail for an ACD in the LMO course that I would love to do, but I don't have the 4 years of required experience for the position.  I am hoping that maybe one or more of you are online instructors and could possibly help me with my query. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions in my quest for a teaching position out there in the virtual world.

Wk4 comment #2 - Susan Calland

Susan,

Great story on teaching your students the moon phases! I love it...Mr. Miagi is very pro at his wax on and wax off. =) Thanks for sharing it with all of us. It is always a compliment when you have a student you once taught recall some piece of information that you taught them and they have always kept it with them. That is one of the signs of a really great teacher. I agree that students do have a tendency at times to only seem to take notice when we do act a little "nuttier" than usual to really get a point across to them, but if that is what it takes to get them to sit up and pay attention then sign me up. I think you have a great insight into that fact that your willingness to take a risk with them helps them feel comfortable enough to take a risk as well. 

Susan's original blog post:

Don’t hold back & participate wholly!

The chapter that definitely meant the most to me was chapter 9.  I have noticed many times that the students in my 7^th & 8^th grade classes who are totally uninterested in school and completely uninspired, will give me full effort when I am my nuttiest!  They may look at me and roll their eyes, but every time I am passionate about what I do and really into it, they are definitely paying more attention than when I am just giving notes or lecturing.  It is so awesome to see that student that really doesn’t give a hoot about being in my class, study for a quiz or look at me and say, “Hey I get it!”  The crazier I am, the more I can generate a spark from them.  To get my students to remember waxing and waning moon phases, I do my Karate Kid, Mr. Miagi, stance with my karate move.  I may look like a goof, but they remember the moon phases!  I was at an awards assembly at the high school and a former student caught my eye when the speaker talked about “wax on, wax off”.  Across the gym she mouthed to me, “was on, wane off” with a big smile on her face.  She was in my class three years ago.  Those are the time that I know that if I don’t hold back, they understand and remember so much more.   They are also more willing to take a risk since I do. 

Wk4 comment #1 - Janene Neal

Image courtesy of Clker.com

Janene,

I love that you motivated two of your more troublesome students by having them create the content skill rap song.  What a great idea and it does sound like it was quite the experience for all of you.  Kudos on that!  I have heard that as a teacher it is sometimes wise to change at least grade levels every few years in order to not get burnt out.  I hope that you find your inner light again and continue to create opportunities for your students similar to the one you shared to ignite that same spark in them.

Janene's original blog post:

When I started teaching over ten years ago, I believe my whole body was filled with lighting ready to transfer to others. I wanted to relight a spark in my students, so they would be ready to take on the world.

Recently, I think my inner light has fizzled, and I see a dying light in my students.

Maybe it is the end of the year. Maybe I feel a little burned out. But when I read these last few chapters, I realized, I need to make a change in my thinking. I can still make a difference in my students’ lives. I can still light that spark.

How do I rekindle that feeling of making a difference? I know myself. I need to make a change with my professional life about every three to four years. Do something different like changing schools, positions, or curriculum. This really helps me with keeping my ideas fresh and new.

However, what about the students that have that darkness inside, but don’t want to let in the possibility of light? Every year, I try to motivate a student that just doesn’t want to work with me. Usually it’s a student that just wants to goof off, play around, distract others, and try to be the “cool/bad” kid. You all know them…we all have at least one in our class. This year, I just so happen to have two of them in one class. This is how I overcame this type of behavior. I gave both students a lot of leeway.

I let them work on a multimedia project together that consisted of a rap creation they created in Garageband Loops. I saw the spark...they showed the light.

Instead of me running around yelling at them to get to work, saying, “stop this”, or “stop that”, I provided my students with endless possibilities. My students found new technology knowledge, created a content skill rap song, minimized distractions, and had fun. I was able to do my job…which is mold young minds. WE all learned from this experience.

Wk 4 DB: Topic 2

Topic #2: What stands in between you and your dream job? Why do you deserve to work in a dream job environment? What do you bring to the table? Be specific. 

Great question and I must admit it really got me to thinking! I feel that what stands between me and my dream job is the current economy and job market for teachers.  I know that here in Oregon they are cutting not only teachers, but days from the school year as well with the $5 million in budget cuts for next year.  I try my hardest to stay up with the latest technology and trends to keep a fresh perspective.  I also am signed up to substitute teach for three different school districts here locally, so that I can become familiar with the staff at the various school districts I have been applying for positions at.   It is still hard though because without any prior teaching experience it is hard to get your foot in the door in sometimes what can be considered a very political environment.  As I stated in topic one that since taking the EMDT program here at Full Sail I have become really interested in teaching online, but I have no idea where to even begin that venture or what I would have to do, so that is another thing that is standing between me and my dream job.

I feel that I deserve to work in my dream job environment because I am a life-long learner.  I stayed home to raise my children and went back to college at 34 to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher.  I completed my undergraduate program in three years because I was eager to get out into the teaching field and share my passion for learning.  I just didn't know that no one was going to be hiring teachers in Arkansas and that by the time I graduated there was actually a freeze on hiring teachers.  After my job position as an accounting supervisor being eliminated at the television network I was at in Arkansas and a messy year and half divorce I packed up my children and moved to Oregon for a fresh start.  I then decided to broaden my teaching experience by completing the EMDT program at Full Sail to hopefully give me new opportunities in the teaching field and keep me current with technology and teaching practices that are being used or should be used in schools today.  In short, I just feel like my passion for teaching and desire to learn should be shared with others in the hope to spark that same intensity inside of them for something they feel passionate about.

I feel that with my technology skills from working at a computer store for five years (1998-2003) creating estimates for school districts on computer labs, troubleshooting computers, installing hardware/software, and researching the latest technology for our storefront and customers that I have great technology skills to offer any school district.  I have also had my own web design and hosting business since 1996 giving me another great set of skills that I can bring to the table.  On top of that as I stated previously, I am a life-long learner who is always looking at all the new technology available and eager to share it with others.  I feel that all of these skills plus my current course study at Full Sail would make me a great asset to any school district who would be willing to give me the opportunity to showcase my skills for them.

Can our dreams of becoming teachers be realized in this economy?

Have you ever wanted something so badly, but it just always seems to be out of your reach?  I have and still do!  Since I was a child I have dreamed of becoming a teacher.  I didn't go to college after High School like many of my friends did, instead I started a family that I stayed home and raised.  


In 1998 I went back into the workforce as an Office Manager for a computer store, where I dealt with the various school districts around us on a daily basis as I quoted them computer labs and other peripherals.  I continued to work at the computer store for about five years before I decided that I would never be able to grow at my current place of employment and I wanted something more out of my life.  It was then that I thought about what was really important to me along with my hopes and dreams.  I thought about my children and their education.  It was then that I took my first step and decided to go back to school to get my degree in education.


I began that journey in the Summer of 2003 and I worked very hard to keep my grades up while taking care of m family.  I even started volunteering at my children's school with the parent teacher organization, which I later became treasurer and president of.  I also became a Girl Scout leader for both of my daughters Girl Scout troop.  It was a very rough ride, but in December 2007 I graduated with my BS in Early Childhood Education (P-4). 


It was at that time that I began my job search for a lifelong career as an elementary teacher.  I began by substituting for all of the local school districts.  After a year of doing that with no nibbles I took a job offer at a local NBC affiliate in their Accounting department to help my family meet their financial needs.  I continued submitting applications and resumes for job positions that became open throughout the various school districts, but never received a phone call to interview for any of them.  


In February 2010, my position at the television station was eliminated and the very next day I received my divorce papers in the mail.  It was a very hard month, but my children and I decided to move from the only home they had ever known in Arkansas over 2400 miles away to Oregon for a fresh start.  We have been settling in here for almost a year now and I have gone back to school to get my Masters in Education Media Design & Technology, which I will graduate with in July of this year.  I am still submitting applications and resumes to various school districts hoping and praying for a teaching position, but have yet to see a response or even a glimmer of hope in that direction.


In our current economy I am not holding my breath for an education job due to all of the budget cuts, employees who aren't ready to retire, and being in that over 40 age bracket that sometimes isn't considered with all the younger graduating hopefuls.  Everything has become so political and if you don't know the "right person" then your chances are even lower.  I am not so much set to teach elementary school anymore as I once was, but then again breaking into secondary education or even online education for that matter these days is just as difficult.  Especially if you have absolutely no teaching experience besides just your internship and substituting.  So how does someone get their dream job these days with so much against them???  That is a very good question and one I would love to be able to answer.  I just keep trying and pray that one day I will be able to fulfill my dream of teaching.


I have been told by my friends, colleagues, and other educators that with all my technology background and willingness to try new things that there should be multiple opportunities available to me.  Being out of work for a year now I have looked at taking a position just about anywhere and everywhere.  However, it seems that I am over qualified for many of the accounting or office positions I have taken in the past or that they are afraid to hire me in fear that I will leave if a teaching position should become available.  The economy has been hit hard making it difficult for us all.  This has been a very hard road to walk down, but I am determined to follow it through until I finally do reach my goal and dream of teaching somewhere in what was once a great land of opportunity for us all.