How do I...

Stop from feeling so jealous and bitter when I hear my friends talk about going back to school?

They are all complaining and I would kill to be in their shoes right now.

I hate feeling so sad and useless. Self-pity does not suit me, but I just feel so hopeless and helpless right now.

I hate having an uncertain future- I am a planner by nature and I hate not knowing what is coming along.

I wish I could be that person who is all excited about the unknown future...but it's not that easy.

Ok, I realize that sounds super pathetic- sorry if anyone is actually reading this.

Sometimes it's the little things...

I have been having my occasional bouts of freaking out about not having a job. This sucks because I really wanted to enjoy the summer. Technically, I get paid until August, but I feel so stressed out I can't enjoy anything about it yet. 

We have an incredible family trip planned for July. Spending the 4th of July in DC then visiting family. I can't wait! Hopefully my constant self-doubt will not ruin it.

I received an encouraging email from a friend when he found out I was not being rehired. It helped a lot and I appreciated it more than he will ever know. Thanks, I needed that.

Real Last Day

It has dragged out longer than I thought possible, but it was my actual last day today. Driving away I was surprisingly happy. 

I saw the kids for a big at their camp and they mobbed me and stood like sad little puppies as I walked away. No matter what happens- that can never be taken away from me. Those kids love me and that means something!

I sent out two resumes today- let's see how that goes. Keep your fingers crossed, or pray- whichever is more your style.

I'll keep you posted.

Last day

I am about to get ready for my last day...I have a bunch of feelings about it.

What keeps going through my head is what I tell potential employers...sigh. I hate to lie, but the truth sound even more like a lie. Can I just say because my boss was an idiot?

New use for this blog

I am one of those people who needs accountability. So I am attempting to create it for myself. But, I am getting ahead of myself...

I had started this blog for a class and I had never really gotten much out of it, mainly because I do not think someone should be forced to make reflections- especially in a stifling format. So it sat, unused, since I had completed that class.

Now, maybe it is the combination of stir-crazy-ness from the rain and having the house to myself tonight, but I have decided to use this blog as a means to chronicle my unemployment and the steps I am taking to remedy this- especially in this super crappy economy- in this super crappy place that I live.

Tomorrow is the last day I will go into my ex-place of employment. I wish I could just be done...one more day...sigh...I can do it and then it will be done.

On to bigger and BETTER things!

I'll keep you posted!

:)

Daily web use

Here are the sites I find invaluable in my classroom:

www.google.com

I can find anything I need within minutes. It is very helpful when the kids ask a question I don't know the answer to.

www.unitedstreaming.com

You need an account, but I highly recommend it. It is powered by Discover Education, I can find full videos, video clips, lesson plans, audio clips and images for many topics. I have used many of the videos to support a social studies lesson.

www.youtube.com

I, sort of, bypassed the system so I can still access this valuable site. I love to show my class SchoolHouse Rocks videos to support my lessons.

http://www.renlearn.com/

I use this for accelerated math and accelerated reader programs.

These are only a few- but I use them daily. They are great resources for the classroom.

Ode to my iPhone

I have become one of those people. You know the ones- the ones who are forever clicking away at their phone. The ones who- at the mere mention of a question or request for information- pull out their phone with a flourish and produce the app that satisfies the need. The ones who have the new apps the day they come out.

Yes, I have become one of those people.

My name is Joann...and I am an iPhone addict.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Check it out! if you don't already have one- I highly recommend it.

I never cease to be amazed at the apps they have to fill almost every need I have. 

Another Second Life/Office clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXuvww4UmUk&NR=1

Ha ha ha ha ha. :)

I guess size DOES matter...

http://mashable.com/2009/04/23/one-billion-iphone-app-downloads/

1 Billion iPhone App Downloads in Perspective

April 23rd, 2009 | by Adam Ostrow10 Comments

Apple has announced that there have now been more than one billion apps downloaded for iPhone. The milestones comes just over three months after the company surpassed 500 million downloads, and about nine months since launching.

While it’s certainly an enormous milestone, how does it compare to some other massive numbers that various Web companies have reached recently? Here’s a look at a few huge stats:

Facebook now has 200 million members. It reached that mark just 8 months after hitting 100 million members, and has become the world’s biggest social network by a significant margin.

In November, Twitter passed one billion tweets. That number has since swelled to close to 1.6 billion, according to GigaTweet.

YouTube now reaches 100 million viewers in the US every month. The site has better than 40 percent marketshare of all videos watched online.

Which milestone do you think is most impressive? Share your thoughts in the comments.

I thought this article- or statement of statistics, really- was eye-opening. With such staggering numbers, it is interesting that these forms of networking still meet with such resistance in some business and educational settings. 

While I find it interesting, unfortunately, I do not find it surprising. It has become a "few bad apples situation" where the entire experience or possibility of use is completely forbidden due to the mere possibility of inappropriate use. We work in a better safe than sorry environment that has been taken to extremes.

Perhaps someday...

For SL and/or The Office Fans

So we just finished our SL tutorial and I settled down to watch a little TV before bed. We put on The Office and I look up to see Dwight in SL!! He was talking about how he looks just like he does in real life- except he can fly.

It was amazing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3d_fqDcN1s

Check it out!

Netvibes

I am developing a new appreciation for Netvibes. I must admit, in the beginning, I was viewing it as simply another thing to sign up for and monitor, but I am really starting to find it invaluable. I really like having all my information in one place. My next step is to truly streamline it and see if I can put absolutely everything I use on a daily basis on there. 

Ha ha...look at me...I'm growing!

My Netvibes Page

The over-worked teacher

I have a hard time saying no. This is especially true at work. I suppose I am under some misguided delusion that someone will actually notice and appreciate my self-less nature. Ha ha. I almost couldn't keep a straight face while typing it. 

I am concerned that my inability to say no to my colleagues and my superiors is becoming detrimental to my life that (barely) exists outside of school. I am constantly being talked into extra weekend activities and volunteer situations.

Have I mentioned that our contracts are not signed yet??

Spring Break is a break from reality

School has been very stressful for me this year. Not only are we being inundated with new technology, we are not being trained. Despite the lack of training, we are expected to use it and write it into our lesson plans. As I learn (on my own, mind you) how to use these technologies, I love them and I am coming to find them invaluable. However, the stress is causing such an unpleasant work environment. Some of the teachers are very resistant to these new technologies and flat out refuse to use them- others limp along with the pathetic excuse for training that we receive. All are grumpy and creating an environment of finger-pointing and scape-goating. Not to mention, our contracts have not been signed yet...sigh. 

Technology infused lesson = great observation

Before leaving for Spring Break, my principal scheduled an observation. I warned him that I wasn't really teaching anything new because of the break, but he could observe the review for our math test. He agreed.

I was very fortunate that my 5th grade students absolutely loved this chapter on Geometry. Their enthusiasm was quite real. I incorporated my SMART board, hands-on manipulatives and a study guide into the review. The kids loved classifying angles by dragging them across the SMART board and measuring with a giant protractor. We had a blast and even forgot the principal was there.

At my post observation meeting, my principal told me how impressed he was by my use of technology. It was a great evaluation! Yay! Later in the day I overheard him talking about my lesson with another teacher telling her how great it was and how well I used the technology in my classroom. Hooray for me! :)

In case you are wondering, my class did really well on their test!

Because there has to be a first...

This is my first entry. I am using it as a test, not as an interesting commentary. Sorry, you have to wait for that.

:p