Okay, now I need a laugh

The satirical newspaper The Onion has the online edition of it's back-to-school issue up now. So click here to read it. WARNING #1: Naughty words. WARNING #2: It's all a joke! This is the same news source that said that the nation's capital was going to move to Memphis if Washington, DC, didn't kick in some improvements — a story that was then picked up as real at some Chinese news service.

0 for 3

And I just heard about the third job, which they also offered to someone else.

Looks like I'll be subbing and tutoring for another year. Yup, another year of twelve-plus hour days four days a week, late dinners, and no time or energy to do much of anything.

I think I'm going to cry.

Two down...

I just heard back from the last interview. I didn't get it.

Darn.

Only one more chance, and since that interview was nearly two weeks ago, I'm not optimistic. Still, they actually told me that no news was no news. I just hope they tell me soon, however, one way or the other.

Detroit teachers on strike

Good luck, Detroit teachers. May your strike be much shorter and more fruitful than the one I had to go through. At least it sounds like you have the support of the community.

The latest interview

I had what is likely to be my final interview of the season yesterday, and it was pretty interesting. It's up in a small rural district in the foothills of the local mountains. There are only about three hundred students in the entire district! I'd teach junior high and senior high math, and try to get their struggling WASL math scores up (good, no pressure...eep!). It was a long drive, but not unpleasant, and I could certainly live with the commute for a while until Laura and I decided whether or not to move there, or closer, or stay put, or what. I should find out next week. The other computers-with-some-math job should still be on the table as well, so I should know soon what my fate will be for this school year.

One down...

I just got a call about one of the jobs I interviewed for — and I didn't get it. Fine with me, to be honest. This was just one class a day, which, frankly, would have really messed up my schedule, and wouldn't have been much different than what I'm doing now. I still haven't heard about the job I really want, and I have an interview tomorrow for the third job. Since these are both full-time, I won't mind getting either. If tomorrow's interview goes well, I may have a little leverage for the other one — or at least a little incentive for them to tell me one way or the other.

Mathematical Tourist Trap Coming to California!

Actually, this mathematical retreat, planned to open in 2009, sounds extremely cool. Since I travel to central California every summer anyway, maybe I can visit in a few years. Perhaps they'll offer classes for teachers...?

Start spinning those prayer weasels!

I have three interviews coming up in the next week or so! The one tomorrow could be the coolest, as it's junior high computers/math. This would be a terrific job if I can get it. The others are a little more problematic. One is only a .2, which basically means one class a day. It would not be much better than subbing (and I'd probably still have to tutor in the evenings), but it is in a growing district opening a new high school next year. The other is way out in the boonies, in a small junior/senior high school. I'd be teaching both levels. This could be a good job, but I'm a little worried about the commute (and so was the principal when I talked to him, but I told him we'll worry about that if he thinks I'm his guy). Anyway, wish me luck!

Hee hee...math comic strip!

I just thought I'd share today's Non-Sequitur comic strip (it should be available for thirty days). Great punchline!

My new toy

Yesterday, on a bit of a whim and seeing it on sale, I got a TI-84 Plus calculator. I see kids use them all the time in school, and I'd like to learn how to use it myself for more than just the basics. I'm glad I did, as this comes with a USB connector cable, a cable to connect it to another calculator, a CD-ROM, and the address to HotMath, their math support site that includes stuff for graphing calculators. Yeah, I can tell I'm going to have fuun with this!

A month and a day later...

It's been a long time since I've posted. And it's been such a long time because there's nothing to post. No new interviews, no word from my previous two, nothing. Fortunately, there are quite a few districts in the area advertising math positions, but I'm planning ahead to sub and tutor for the coming year anyway. Yes, I'll keep you posted if anything changes.