Yay for all the substitute assignments!!!

I substitute all this week, except for Friday which is Veterans Day. :) :) :)
Please keep the substitute assignments coming!

Anyways, while substituting at UNI High School today, I saw this:

A Good Laugh is Needed: Cartoons, Pictures, etc.

XD
To be continued...

Update on WIN Program.

Dear Life,
Can you PLEASE give me a break here?? Seriously? Why are you making it so hard for me?!?!!? *sigh*

"Diana,
I will have to double check on your WIN application. It may be on hold since you have not completed our training yet. I don’t think that your workshop proposal would be feasible at this time. There have been a lot of changes in the jails recently, which resulted in the entire WIN program being put on hold for most of last year. We are getting back on track now, but this is not the time to rock the boat.
Thanks!"

Other than that, I recently got a voice message about the Global Tel*Link, a Jail Management/Inmate Telephone service, telling me I have an inmate at a correctional facility trying to contact me via collect call but cannot get through because I'm required to open a direct billing account? I didn't want to take any action yet until I confirm first with ReadOC if this is something that involves the WIN Program or not.

www.gtl.net

My personal project: WIN Program

So I signed up to become a volunteer literacy tutor for an organization called ReadOC and they are directly related to the Orange County Public Library.

http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Read%20OC/About%20READ%20OC

http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Read%20OC/Volunteer%20Information

http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Read%20OC/

They have a variety of different programs available for volunteers, but the one program I chose was the WIN Program.

The Working for Inmate Literacy Now (WIN) Program is a "One-to-one tutoring to help inmates in the Orange County jail system gain a second chance by demonstrating their ability to learn and letting them know that there are programs and people available to help them improve their reading and writing skills."

But my overall goal is not one-on-one tutoring; my goal is to go above and beyond all that and create a workshop that would benefit a wide range of inmates. A writing workshop that will gradually help them with academic writing (concentrating on overall literacy--writing, reading, and speaking).

Therefore, I sent the following email to the appropriate person:

"Hi Rebecca!
... Regarding becoming a literacy tutor, I believe I signed up mainly for the WIN program (and have already submitted the clearance form awhile back for a background check).

I was actually going to ask you as well as the others in charge of the ReadOC program if we could work on a long-term project together that would benefit the WIN Program?

I've been in the process of developing a few writing workshop curriculum (three different ones to be exact) and would like to introduce all the curricula to you all at a set date in January? I'm hoping to be able to provide workshops for the inmates in the Orange County jail system (that way, instead of just tutoring one inmate at a time, I would be able to concentrate on a group instead?).

Of course, when going over the curricula, I would have project proposal ready and can even model an actual lesson plan with everyone. The workshops would include about five-ten lesson plans each. As for measuring whether the workshops would be successes or not, I would do a pre-writing test and a post-writing test to look for any improvement.

I know it's a lot of work, but I do have a teaching credential in Social Science and a supplemental in Language Arts. I have been very passionate in teaching academic writing. Of course, all this would be done as a volunteer.

I believe this project has a lot of potential, but in its beginning stages, it's more of a work-in-progress.

Please tell me what you think. If it's not practical, I will totally understand. If ReadOC would enjoy trying out this new project proposal, which day in January would be best for me to present it?

Sincerely,
Diana Nguyen"

I'm extremely confident in getting this program/project to work. I've always been complaining about how great my resume is and how it befuddles me how I am not able to find a full-time teaching position. I then came to the conclusion that instead of moping around and whining about it, I should do something more that would allow me to stand out from the other applicants.

This is my chance...
And who knows, if it turns out successful, maybe it'll turn out to be my calling instead.

Update on how I'm paying the bills.

I've been getting by through substitute teaching in the Irvine Unified School District and private tutoring. Both have been doing fine. Last year, I was only subbing at two different schools in Irvine. This year, I've bumped it up to four different schools. As for private tutoring, last year I was only tutoring a total of three students. This year, I'm tutoring a total of six students. All due to referrals. :)

It's more money to pay the bills, but it really takes up my afternoons and evenings (sometimes weekends).

I'm really hoping to get my own classroom for the next academic school year.

Once again, wish me luck!

Missed recruitment event.

So I missed the following recruitment event for part-time program aides and part-time teachers in LA County. I missed it because I had a substitute assignment that day and needed the money to pay the bills.

Have I been making the right choices recently? Should I have skipped it and went to the recruitment event?

Rocket Learning Job Fair (Hiring for Program Aides/Tutors/Teachers!)

County: Los Angeles, Orange, Inland Empire
Date and time: 10/20/2011 - 10/20/2011, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location and address: El Rancho Adult School, 9515 Haney St., Pico Rivera, California 90660
Description:
50 P/T Program Aides Wanted!!!
$10 Per Hour
• Position Description:
Program Aides provide general on-site assistance at Rocket Learning after-school and/or Saturday tutoring programs.
• Duties include:
Assemble students at the beginning and end of each program session. Receive and distribute snack to students. Conduct call campaigns to student’s home to update parents on progress, attendance, and program details. Distribute and collect program materials to/from classrooms. Ensure safety and proper behavior of students. Maintain cleanliness of program facilities. Obtain completed paperwork per the direction of the Program Manager and Conduct outreach in the community.
• Requirements:
Minimum Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; experience working with school-aged children; background check required. Spanish and Vietnamese speakers are encourage to apply.]

100+ P/T Teachers
• Description:
Deliver after-school Literacy and/or Math instruction to students in small groups (average of 7 students per group). Conduct regular student assessments and communicate regularly with parents. Complete administrative responsibilities throughout the program. Obtain student placement data and help create student learning plans.
• Requirements:
1) BA in Education or related field preferred.
2) Must have 2 years of experience.
3) Commitment to the success of our students.
4) Experience working with English Language Learners and/or Special Education students (desired).
• Compensation:
Up to $35 per hour depending on certification/credentials
• Areas:
- Lynwood
- Compton
- Inglewood
- Montebello
- Hacienda
- La Puente
- Rowland Heights
- El Monte
- Bassett
- Pomona
- Montclair
- Ontario

100+ P/T Tutors
• Description:
Deliver after-school Literacy and/or Math instruction to students in small groups (average of 7 students per group). Conduct regular student assessments and communicate regularly with parents. Complete administrative responsibilities throughout the program. Obtain student placement data and help create student learning plans.
• Requirements:
1) Commitment to the success of our students
2) Experience working with English Language Learners and/or Special Education students (desired).
• Compensation:
$28-35 per hour depending on certification/credentials
• Areas:
- Lynwood
- Compton
- Inglewood
- Montebello
- Hacienda
- La Puente
- Rowland Heights
- El Monte
- Bassett
- Pomona
- Montclair
- Ontario

For more information call 323-992-4253 or e-mail us at losangeles@rocketlearning.net
Or contact Nora Garza @ (562) 801-5009 ext. 217

Contact Information: Suzanna Zaragoza, (323) 992-4253, losangeles@rocketlearning.net

Orange County Christian School??? Not so sure.

Awhile back, I got a referral regarding a job offer due to a fellow substitute teacher I'm acquainted with. He sent me contact information regarding one of his colleagues at Vanguard who knew of an opening position at a school in Orange.

Turns out that the school is actually a private, religious school:

"Hi Diana

I forwarded your name to ... who works at the Ball Road Church of Christ. She was the one who told me about the position at the Orange County Christian School (http://www.occhristian.org/)... should be giving you a call to give you some info about the position and contact information for the school.

From what I understand, they are looking for a Christian teacher who is qualified to teach secondary History. They would also like the person to teach a class in Christian apologetics (no degree required) and possibly Music theory. I think that they will let the Music theory aspect go. I don't know much more than that.

... are classmates at Vanguard University. He recommended you so I put your name forward as a possible candidate.

Have a blessed day!"

I looked up Christian apologetics and apparently it "aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views."

I really took the time to think about it and whether I would be able to teach a class like that. My whole goal as a teacher, a history teacher, was to teach students HOW to think, not WHAT to think.

Even though I was extremely desperate for a job, I knew that I would not be able to teach the class to the best of my ability. That would be unfair to the students and their parents.

So the following reply ensued:

"Hello *****,
My apologies for the late reply, but I have been thinking about the job opportunity and finally realized it might not be the right job for me due to the class on teaching Christian Apologetics.

I am, indeed, a Christian, but I do not think I would be able to teach that course to the best of my ability, which would be unfair to the students, parents, and school.

Thank you so much though for informing me about the job opportunity.

I wish you well on your remaining time at Vanguard University. In case I don't see Stanley for awhile, please send him my greetings.

God bless,
Diana"

I was wondering if that was the right choice.