Kathy Parmele’s Blog

Today was the first day as a Reading Teacher at Gray Middle School.  I have two classes of eighth graders and two classes of sixth graders for reading remediation.  The curriculum consists of basic reading stategies, comprehension, vocabulary, and interpretation.  We will also cover skills in test taking.  This is a half day position.  So far, so good!

Tomorrow is the last class in EDU 586.  I have enjoyed this class and have learned a lot about how to incorporate technology into the classroom.

I have subbed serveral times in the last few weeks and everyone seems to be talking about “Infinite Campus.”  The teachers and staff seem to be having quite a time with this new program.  It is the end of the term and grades need to be entered.  I look forward to learning this new system…..(not really).  People seem afraid of change.

I have thought and prayed, weighed the pros and cons and I feel ready to accept the half time teaching position at Gray Middle School as a Reading Teacher.  I am not happy about the Board of Education not recognizing my Rank II for this position (although they recognize it for a sub position) but I feel the benefits and experence I will gain from teaching outweighs this one negative.  I have 3 more graduate credit hours to take to reinstate my teaching certificate.  I should begin the position by the end of the week.

This is my son and me on OUR birthday, October 4th.  His 16th and my???

Today is Election Day.  No school.  The Reading teacher job is not going to pad out after all.  The 1/2 time position at a Rank 4 pay is not what I want to do at this time.  I will use my time and energy to finish classes and reinstate the certificate. 

We are in class this evening tying up the loose ends of assignments.  I finished the podcasts (yeah).  After tonight, I have a better handle on finishing up the assignments.

The half-time teaching position may not work out after all.  Since my teaching certificate is inactive at this time, the Board of Education is not willing to hire me at this time.  The principal who wants to hire me is working with the Board on this matter.  We will see what happens.  In the meantime I am still subbing.

I am still subbing for Mrs. Wainscott while she is in Japan.  She returns at the end of the week.

The students have been great.  Mrs. Wainscott left excellent lesson plans.  I have modified some of the plans, but the general ideas are still there.  The writing of Portfolio pieces gives me a bit of trouble.  I just need some experience in guiding the writing of personal narrati ves and memoirs.

Next week my full time / part time job begins.  Should be interesting!

I have been so busy with the MS Office Assignments I forgot to work on the blog.  I am currently subbing in a 7th grade Language Arts class for a teacher who received a Fulbright Scholarship for travel with a group to Japan.  She will be in Japan for 3 weeks.  The students are participating in a blog with her while she is away. 

Today I was offered a position teaching Reading at Gray Middle School on a half time basis.  I am thrilled to accept this postion.  Maybe next year it will lead to a full time position.  My days as a sub are numbered.

I am currently substituting at Gray Middle School in a 7th grade Special Education class.  Most of the classes are collabrative, working with students in the classroom.  One class per day is study skills and homework help for the students in the program.

Today, the school participates in a program they call REM.  The first two hours of school are set up for the students to participate in various enrichment classes.  The students who have missing work or are behind in their regular classes must attend a Remedial Class in the cafeteria with the principal and the counselors.  I worked with a group of students who signed up for Mentoring.  Some of the students mentored at a nearby elementary school, and some stayed here at Gray to assist the students in remediation. 

This is a short week.  There is no school on Friday or next Monday.

Today’s substitute assignment is at Gray Middle School.  I am currently overseeing the Scantron Testing for 7th grade Math.  Next week I will sub for 7th grade Special Education.

I am also working on the Blog Site.  I find it difficult to enter iteresting and relavant posts.  I will keep documenting my daily work as a sub and throw in some general info about subbing.