Updates: Between last week and this week, I’ve had three interviews. Yes! Two of those were at “new schools” – ones opened in the last three years (aka the only schools allowed to hire non-DOE employees). Yes! I have a demo lesson next week.

I’m making relationships with principals that are yielding results in the form of recommendations to other principals. Yes!

I’m pretty bummed that a principal who said they really want to hire me cannot because their school has just passed the 3-year mark. I really liked their school and the teachers there were amazing – so full of joy about teaching students, the students at the school and the school environment. Although I can’t be hired, this week I’m spending a day at this school to meet the students and see the teachers in action. That’s positive. Like NYCTF said, we should be putting ourselves “at the top of the pile” for when the restrictions are lifted. If the restrictions are lifted.

I also spent a day with four teachers and about 100 students on a class trip to the New York Botanical Gardens. It was awesome! I got to teach the teenagers a little about what I knew about plants (bergamot orange trees, agave plants and vanilla orchids) and they seemed enthralled. I also got to help with a little discipline, finding students who didn’t stay with the group and motivating them to rush and meet up with the rest of the class (a few girls who were busy taking glamour shots of themselves in the “rainforest” for their MySpace pages. Um – not appropriate on school time, ladies!) It was a really great experience. I left that day remembering how much I enjoy the interactions with students and seeing them get interested in information.

Vanilla Planifolia (Madagascar) - this orchid's pods contain vanilla beans. Whoever said "vanilla" meant "boring?"

Agave Plant = Agave Nectar, a sweetener for tea, coffee, juice, even baking that's safer for diabetics because it doesn't raise your blood glucose levels as high as plain white sugar does.

Bergamot Oranges - grown in Southeast Asia. The peel is turned into an essential oil that's used in 50% of all women's perfume (and is great for relieving stress as an aromatherapeutic incense).

I wish I could do some official student teaching (for more than 2-3 weeks this summer). It really would be invaluable and lots of fun. I’d feel much more confident with more classroom experience.

That’s all for now. I’m trying to enjoy this holiday weekend even though I’ve got the demo lesson this week and I’m really nervous about it. Wish me luck!