That humidifier really worked.  I felt fine.

I got through four chapters in two different world history books before it was time to go to NHU to meet my academic adviser and pick out my classes.

John was late in getting back to the office (25 minutes late!), but once he got there, we had a really good time.  We talked for almost an hour and a half.  And here I thought I’d simply show up, pick my classes and leave.  Not so fast – John had a checklist that he had to go through to make sure I didn’t miss anything.  I didn’t.  I’m actually well ahead of where most incoming folks are.  By the end, John told me that in his two years of advising, he has discovered that only 5% or so are ready and organized and passionate, maybe 30% have an idea of what they want to do, and the rest need constant hand-holding.  I fit into the first category.

We also hit it off because two years ago, he and two buddies completed their single subject credential in Social Studies… and then couldn’t find jobs.  His friends eventually did after a year, but he landed this academic advising job instead.  He told me that Multiple Subject credential people (Elementary Teachers) and Social Studies teachers are the hardest to place because once a teacher joins a district, they stay for 20-30 years.  Hey, just like college professors! (Math is the easiest to fill because math teachers only last a few years before moving on to something else.  No Math for me!)  John practically begged me to choose a different emphasis to avoid unemployment.  I made it clear that history was my passion, though I’d also be willing to pick up another single subject if need be.  He told me that English would be best with Social Studies because more and more, the two are being combined.  To avoid a basic computer class requirement, I could also get my single subject in Technology Education.  I might do one or both of these in addition to Social Studies if it will indeed make me more marketable (Technology for sure because it’s cheaper and faster than going to the basic computer class at NHU.  Imagine – I can get a second single subject credential AND get out of a boring remedial computer class at the same time!).

More good advice – he said that if I could find my own master teacher (a trainer) or better yet, get employed as an intern at a district, then I could speed up my educational process and perhaps get things done in a year.  Without doing this, it is basically impossible to get through the program in under a year (it takes three months after passing the CSET to arrange for a master teacher through NHU).  I guess I’ll have to get on that – I must pass my CSET first.  John also warned me not to dally on my five assessments (called TPAs/TPEs).  They are not classes, so they are up to the student and teacher to coordinate.  He missed doing his until the end of all his classes, and it took him an additional four months to complete.  I’ll certainly get these done early and often!  His final word of advice: There WILL be one essay question on China on the CSET – make sure you know your Chinese history!  I’ll study that tomorrow.