What a week it's been. I worked last week and that didn't leave much time for anything else! I keep asking myself, why is that different from any other time? Well, I figured it out!
I worked last week for Pearson, being trained to be a trainer of scorers for National Board assessment center exercises! It was sitting down all day, doing a lot of reading, and worse, a lot of listening to somebody else talk! I went home so tired each day. In comparing that to teaching, where I'm standing much of the day, where I get to do the talking all day, where I interact with hundreds of children each day...training is MUCH harder!!!!
There were so many times when I just wanted to stand up a walk around that small hotel room. Oh, did I mention that the site is the Radisson Hotel? The hotel is nice enough, I'm not complaining about that. But we're not in a conference room. They cleared out the beds on half the floor and the rooms are now offices. Oh, did I mention that we can't even use the bathrooms in the rooms? We have to go down to the first floor...oh, I digress!
There are positives. The pay isn't bad and food is free! Perhaps that's why I gained weight last week!!!!
Well, I'm off this week. I go back next week for the actual scoring. I told my family that I was so good, they gave me a week vacation! Hopefully, I'll have time to do my coupon shopping!
Happy days to you!
Chandra:
ReplyDeleteAre you nationally board certified? Do you score the tests in your certification area? I have never looked into national certification. Perhaps when I finish my masters at Lesley that will be one of my goals.
Jody
Wow, sounds like you did have a busy week! Is this national certification something that your school wanted you to do or something that you personally wanted to do?
ReplyDeleteI am National Board Certified. I achieved certification in 2004. Our district and state offers a substantial bonus for certification. I must say it had a major influence on my decision to do it. The certification (and bonus) is good for 10 years. With the 10 years ending for many teachers, the money is being eliminated! :-(
ReplyDeleteYes, Jody, I am scoring in my area. It's very interested...the pay isn't bad either :-)
I haven't decided yet if I want to re-certify. I will have to look into the process. The initial certification can be grueling, especially if you procrastinate or are unorganized. Otherwise, it's a good process for reflection and should make you a better teacher.
In my district there is no compensation whatsoever for obtaining board certification. I decided to get my masters as I will be teaching eight more years and it has been my goal to try to stay innovative and current in my methods. It was perfect timing with the on slot of all the collaborative tools in the web! My batteries are recharged to enrich my lessons this fall. However, at this point I am feeling a bit sad that my face as been much like a bug on a windshield to my computer monitor all summer. I took twelve credits as I thought it would be easier to double up in the summer than go the entire year with classes and school work. My TIE program is finished in October! What program are you in with Lesley? What keeps me going is next summer I am going to reward myself with a fun trip, possibly to Rome. Have you been there? Talk to you soon!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, 12 hours!!!!! Surely, I misunderstand...all this summer? I took 9 last summer and worked way harder than I wanted to!
ReplyDeleteI have not been to Rome. Matter of fact, I've never left the country. Well, that is if you don't count the Bahamas.