AboutMarsha Cunningham Expertise My expertise is in 1st-3rd grade, I specialize in beginning
reading and writing, but I teach drawing and painting first to help students gain confidence.
I also use jigsaw puzzle strategy to teach concentration as a subject and enlist parents to keep their children away from scary movies,among other things,which cause nightmares, sleep deprivation and low test scores!
Experience I have taught K-3 for 24 years, given in-service to parents and teachers and presented at reading conferences. To see my children's art work and examples of improved test scores go to www.artsimprovingacademics.org
Question I am a teacher of ten years. (primary teacher) I resigned from my position to relocate to California for about 8 months and moved back to Washington state. I am currently working my way back into the system by substitute teaching. I am feeling discouraged because although I have had positive feedback on my interviews, no one has hired me on. I have been told that many districts are hiring brand new teachers and that seasoned teachers are not as valued and therefore prefer to hire new teachers. Do you have any knowledge on this subject? I have been pounding the pavement for almost a year, and it is truly disheartening that I have not landed a permanent position...eventhough I know I am truly an asset to children and teaching.
Kristine
Answer Dear Kristine,
I taught for many years before I realized how political everything was. Everyone had to answer to someone above them and strings were pulled tight.
The best advice I can offer is to sub as much as possible and put all of your thought and effort into each class. You might get called for long term, especially if you have good classroom management skills and others notice. From there you have a greater chance of getting hired by a principal who is familiar with your work.
The other thing to put first and foremost in your thought is this: The place I need needs me. At this very moment someone, somewhere is wishing for someone exactly like me and I can not be kept from my destiny; but, I don't care if I'm washing windows in Washington, teaching penmanship in Pennsylvania, tutoring test-takers in Texas...... and so on. This is a form of prayer, affirmative prayer that gets us out of the way so we can receive what is best for us in the higher scheme of things.
This is the approach I used in my many hurdles with my district and looking back, I wouldn't have changed a thing, except that I should have kept more of my student's work.
That's another thought. Give students at least one assignment that you can take with you and put into a portfolio to show at an interview, especially if the teacher didn't leave a plan or you have time left over. Draw on your own talents to develop something special which will show off student's skills as well as yours, as it is quite generally accepted that most subs don't get much work out of a class. When I subbed I used step-by step drawings which I did in the first half hour of class. This was a sure way to have a successful day as it got a friendly cooperative spirit going right off the bat.
If you call me at 909-518-9454, I'll explain some of the other things I did that were quick, easy, fun, and still educational. You can see some of my students' work and read about experiences at my website, www.artsimprovingacademics.org.
