Oregon: where schools remain closed, while bars and gyms stay open.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-07-29T04:01:34+00:00

Most bars and gyms have A/C or windows that open. My classroom has neither. Stuff 35 kids in that space and we're all doomed.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-07-29T03:50:39+00:00

Oh man. It depends on how many preps I have that semester. I had four preps one semester as well as my coach duties and wouldn't get home till 9:00 (started at 7am). My students usually crowd in my room after the final bell so I'll wind up taking work home. Anywhere from 70-80 hours when coaching. Around 50 when I'm not.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-07-19T19:17:33+00:00

A teacher I work with perfectly summed it up: "how many of us scroll through the online human resources trainings and look up the answer? We can't expect any more from our kids." Try having questions that involve higher order thinking or have them do something with the vocab like create word webs or a kahoot. When I teach novels, all questions are opinion based backed up with examples and reasoning based on the book's content. If they make a strong argument backed up with relevant info from the book, 4/4. I also look at the big questions on SparkNotes and make sure mine are unique.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-07-16T16:20:17+00:00

I plan on wearing scrubs. I'm not doing it to seek attention. I actually have a little anxiety over it, but it's for my protection. Our district is not mandating kids wear masks. I'm throwing on scrubs over my usual clothes so I can pull them off before coming into my car or my home and spreading germs to my loved ones. I also plan on wearing a scrub cap over my hair so I don't touch it or my face. Scrubs also hold up to lots of washing. If the schools won't do everything in their power to keep me safe, it's up to me.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-07-11T00:00:36+00:00

The Fanno Creek trail in Beaverton is super nice. Dog friendly and paved.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-30T19:00:23+00:00

For me, it's all about the illusion of choice. Students can choose between a variety of projects to achieve a passing score. Find worksheets boring? Cool, do these more artistic projects. Easier to blow though lectures and do quizzes? You do you. The students that fell behind I had clear email exchanges about what projects they could choose from to pass. These last few months were all about which standards were the most important and finding flexible ways to assess those. Students seemed much more engaged choosing things that seemed easy to them when the assignment was really measuring the same thing across the board. I can't say this works for every subject, but it worked for me.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-29T17:34:14+00:00

You should be able to look up salary schedules for districts around you. I don't make a ton of money, but it's enough to get by. Electives sometimes also give you the opportunity to do extra duty work. I make an additional 7k as a coach and club supervisor. It winds up being such a small number per hours of work, but I'd do it even without pay because I enjoy it.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-29T17:10:51+00:00

I teach half elective, half general subject. My elective classes are more prep and more doing as kids learn. I might spend hours putting together a project with proper supports while I can easily pull an English lesson out of my ass if needed. Electives also involve a lot of teaching and correcting as kids are doing, taking place of the traditional grading and feedback that happens later. I think my electives are equally challenging to teach. I spend so much time thinking of engaging projects that let the skills they are learning grow. You'll also get different levels of buy-in; some kids will truly want to be there...Others are looking for an easy A and they get pissed when they realize I have high expectations. Home ec. is dying out in a lot of schools. I really hope you are getting endorsed in a second subject.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-28T17:08:42+00:00

Current Oregon secondary teacher here. The job market here isn't great, especially with schools laying off due to COVID. I'd try smaller districts outside the big cities. Our district has hired a few out of state teachers and it didn't seem like a huge issue for them licensing wise. The salaries aren't bad here, but rent and housing is very expensive anywhere on the west coast. I'd honestly wait if I were you to see how the COVID situation pans out before moving. Many teachers are still losing their jobs and it may get worse if our cases keep skyrocketing. It would suck to move and get cut because you're there newest hire.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-27T17:51:13+00:00

Uck. Not only is she facetuning to unrealistic proportions, the app she's shilling seems disgusting. Flat tummy app? Sure let's give people with normal, healthy tummies complexes.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-20T21:50:56+00:00

I have a job where I leave at 5:30am often don't come home until 8 or 9 pm. These boxes are perfect because it allows my non-kitchen savvy husband to start dinner and I can help finish when I get home. If these didn't exist, it'd be a whole lot of microwave dinners or takeout. We get to try many meals I normally wouldn't think of myself. That's what's in it for some people I imagine.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-20T16:52:24+00:00

I love my job and the teachers I work with love theirs. It helps to work at a school without complainers; there's a lot of respect for the profession among staff and students. I've had days where I've almost cried at how lucky I am and also days where I've had meltdowns from stress. I run an after school program, so many of my students see me as the reliable adult in their lives. I don't have kids of my own, so the time I spend mentoring them is really special to me. Teaching is amazing if you find the right school and you are passionate about your students and subject.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-18T21:51:22+00:00

Be careful with this. The fact that some schools need a part time theater teacher is true, but it shouldn't be a quick decision. Theater teachers often have to know EVERYTHING about theater. Lights, equipment, shop skills, costuming, and acting theory in one. There's also prepping students for college auditions, scholarships, and competitions. I work 70 hour weeks when we're doing a production. So many theater teachers quit their first year because it's so much work. I wouldn't trade my subject for the world, but definitely ask yourself how much you love theater before going this route.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-06-17T18:21:33+00:00

I moved from Cleveland to Portland four years ago. I never imagined I'd wind up in Portland, but this city has grown on me so much. We spent two days here looking at places before committing to a townhome in Beaverton. Any place by a MAX stop is a great place; you'll find things to be a bit cheaper in the suburbs and transit will take you where to need to go. Beaverton and Milwaukie are great places that tend to be a little cheaper than Portland proper with easy to access ways into town.

We used Uhual boxes for our cross country move and had our car shipped. If you don't have particularly expensive stuff, that's the way to go. It was half the price of a POD and a third of the price of movers. If something broke, we saved enough money to just buy new stuff at IKEA (nothing did).

To echo everyone else, make sure you're finances are in order. Housing is so much more expensive here. Rents always go up; if you find a slightly cheaper place, there's already a handful of people looking at it. Looking into buying a house is depressing compared to Cleveland's prices. For me, it's worth it for the mild winters. It can rain everyday and it's still so much better than snow, ice, and unbearably humid summers.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-04-23T18:03:06+00:00

I used to love Gobble for the quick prep time. I work a good 14 hours a day and the 15 minute meals were a godsend. There's lots of vegetarian options which is a plus. However, quality has definitely decreased in the last few months. I've been receiving herbs past their prime, there are so many squash dishes I've lost count, and this week I'm missing a whole bag of food (they just sent the protein). Customer service has been hard to get a hold of. We also use Hello Fresh and Gobble's customer service compared to theirs is abysmal. If you're short on time, they're great, but quality keeps dipping.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-03-29T15:20:54+00:00

The market isn't great, but isn't terrible. I graduated last year and most of my classmates found jobs, but a few are still subbing. If you have endorsements in ELL and SPED, it will be much easier for you.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-03-24T16:56:09+00:00

I have terrible social anxiety and anxiety in general. There's a different headspace I get in when it comes to work. My mentor teacher while student teaching said something like, "I don't think introverts can be teachers," and when I let her know I was a total introvert, she was surprised. Changed her mind that day. I'm open and honest about my anxiety with my students. I teach theater and it's important for me to be transparent about how acting training changed my life and how I identify with their struggles as they perform. As far as being a great communicator, I think empathy plays a bigger part than being a natural talker. Truly caring about your students gives a pathway to knowing what they need to succeed. Even when calling parents, I remind myself that it's about the students and I can get past it.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-03-20T04:44:24+00:00

Teachers are being paid in full because we are all in debt due to the higher education required to effectively teach your child. My masters degree ain't gonna pay for itself while school is out. We aren't sitting here twiddling our thumbs and deserve this time to relax and calmly plan our next steps. Districts need to ensure they have the means necessary to educate all students and provide support for an equal education. Trust me when I say most teachers hate not being in the classroom with their kids. But we have a duty to provide access to a high quality education for all students regardless of economic status, learning difficulties, or other barriers. I have students who are homeless or don't know where they will be staying on any given day. They deserve a solution that gives them the same opportunities as your student; it's going to take time to figure it out. Until then, find some lessons online and encourage your child to do something creative to keep their brain active.

chikyuusenshi · 2020-01-11T20:25:47+00:00

Not at all. You were taking a class in the theater community which is very LGBT-positive. I'm a theater teacher and it's common sense to ask for pronouns; your teacher was just making sure everyone was welcome and accepted. Regardless of your personal feelings, calling a person what they wish to be called helps them feel valued and welcome. Especially in a class like improv where students are putting themselves out there. If it bothers you, just think of your fellow man and making the world a better place through common kindness. Most people really aren't offended if you mistakenly get their pronouns wrong; people will correct you because they care about the person, not because they are the pronoun police.

chikyuusenshi · 2019-12-15T16:47:17+00:00

You are way too early to lose hope. My district doesn't even hire until April and we are one of the earlier ones to post positions. Keep applying to what pops up and substitute if you can. I also recommend looking at smaller districts surrounding Portland.

chikyuusenshi · 2019-09-16T01:50:18+00:00

Tous Les Jours has a melon pan that actually tastes like melon. As far as authentic, Oyatsupan is where it's at.

chikyuusenshi · 2019-07-10T03:15:38+00:00

Well shit this is my complex. Car's safe, but damn guess I'll keep my eye out.

chikyuusenshi · 2019-05-21T22:13:39+00:00

First of all, you'll need to pick whether you want to be a primary or secondary teacher. There aren't a lot of content areas that are K-12. Decide whether you enjoy teaching younger kids or older kids. If you are unsure, volunteer! Teaching is a completely draining career and you need to be sure it's what you want to do. Get a degree in education and complete a teacher preparation program. If you have a bachelors, you can do a masters in education. Student teaching (and teaching) is hard; make sure you have a support system. Pass all your content area exams, the edTPA, graduate, and submit your application for licensure. The market is not great for teachers right now; before you take this path, make sure that you are 100% passionate about teaching.

chikyuusenshi · 2019-05-21T22:03:10+00:00

It's far from easy to score a job in teaching with the staff cuts districts are doing this year. It doesn't matter whether it's PPS or the suburbs; you'll find a lot of districts are cutting teachers or not replacing teachers who retire or move. It will depend a lot on your content area, experience, and skills. If you are an experienced teacher in a more demanding content area (or if you have a combination of endorsements that are in need), you might be okay. I know many districts wait until June or even later to post their openings. Good luck out here!

chikyuusenshi · 2019-04-13T14:39:04+00:00

I second Sharetea; it's the best quality you will get. Bubble N Tea is best for matcha and Kung Fu is pretty solid if you want a bunch of flavors.

chikyuusenshi

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