Let's Craft Something!

Last week, I told you about my upcoming interview for a first grade position in which I would have to teach a 10 minute lesson to a panel of evaluators.  Well, since it was the first day back from school from a three-day weekend, dismissal was a bit difficult.  They were running about 20 minutes behind, according to one of the interviewers.  I was in the middle of the interviewees; the lady before me looked a little older than me and may have had some teaching experience, and the lady after me looked to be about my age and probably didn't have teaching experience.

I had modified a lesson plan I had found online and explained that for a ten minute lesson.  I explained to the panel that I thought it would need to be something that was part of a unit so that I was able to show more of my teaching style.  They did warn me that because they were running quite a bit behind, they may cut me off early, but it wouldn't be a bad thing -- it was just to get to the second part of the interview.

I was ridiculously nervous, so I thought that my interview didn't go that great.  I was off my game because I saw the lady go in before me that looked much more prepared.  It was also the first time I've taught to a panel of adults in a while.


Thursday, I got an email from another school that wanted me to interview for a kindergarten position.  She said she had tried to call me, but I had no missed calls on my cell phone.  It turns out that she had called my house phone about three times prior to sending me an email.  Oops.  My house phone's answering machine is kind of broken; by kind of, I mean that it will record messages, but you sound like Swedish Chef underwater when I try to play them back.


Anyway, I replied to the email saying I would love to interview, but I didn't get a response until after school.  She had said she was doing interviews on Thursday, but scheduled me for Friday morning at 9 am, and included that she was supposed to be through by 10.


Thursday night when we went to check on Harley, our sick dog, he was not doing well.  He had gotten up and moved from the shed to his favorite spot since that morning; however, he looked like he couldn't get up again.  We gave him his pill in a hot dog, which he happily gobbled up along with a slice of bread, but he wouldn't drink.  We tried to give him a little more bread, but he didn't want it.  He tried to get up, but he didn't have the strength to lift his head and his breathing was labored.  Mom was crying and we knew it wasn't long now.

The next morning, mom went to check on him and was prepared for the worst or taking him to the vet.  He had died overnight.  This was nearly a month after the vet trip where he tried to tell us to go ahead and put him to sleep.  For a month, we took him canned food twice daily, gave him his pills in bread, and told him we loved him every day.  He died lying in his favorite spot in the yard, even before he got sick, which makes me feel better than knowing it was in a cold, impersonal vet's office.


Zach was kind enough to help dig a hole and let us bury him in their spacious yard.  Mom told his dad "All of my other babies are buried in my ex-in-laws'" to which he finished "So you decided to bury him at your new in-laws'."  Even though that's not technically correct, it was sweet.

Unfortunately, this also made me about 5 minutes late for my interview on Friday.  I explained to the principal, who was sympathetic because a similar situation was going on in her family.  It kind of acted as a strange, sad bonding experience between us.

I don't know if it was the strange, sad bond that we automatically had, the fact that it was a one-on-one interview, or the fact that it was my fourth interview in two weeks that made me so much more relaxed, but I really was.  She mentioned that they are working with my alumni university on an ELL program.  I smiled and said, "Oh, Project HAPPENS?  Helping Academic Professionals Prepare ELLs for Newfound Success?  I actually named that."  So, +1 for me.  I was sure to email the professor that developed Project HAPPENS to let him know.


I still haven't heard anything from them, but I'm still hopeful. 

Also, prepare yourself for Steampunk September as I get started on my costumes in full swing!