That humidifier really worked.\u00a0 I felt fine.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
John was late in getting back to the office (25 minutes late!), but once he got there, we had a really good time.\u00a0 We talked for almost an hour and a half.\u00a0 And here I thought I\u2019d simply show up, pick my classes and leave.\u00a0 Not so fast \u2013 John had a checklist that he had to go through to make sure I didn\u2019t miss anything.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 I\u2019m actually well ahead of where most incoming folks are.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I fit into the first category.<\/p>\n
We also hit it off because two years ago, he and two buddies completed their single subject credential in Social Studies\u2026 and then couldn\u2019t find jobs.\u00a0 His friends eventually did after a year, but he landed this academic advising job instead.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 No Math for me!)\u00a0 John practically begged me to choose a different emphasis to avoid unemployment.\u00a0 I made it clear that history was my passion, though I\u2019d also be willing to pick up another single subject if need be.\u00a0 He told me that English would be best with Social Studies because more and more, the two are being combined.\u00a0 To avoid a basic computer class requirement, I could also get my single subject in Technology Education.\u00a0 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\u2019s cheaper and faster than going to the basic computer class at NHU.\u00a0 Imagine \u2013 I can get a second single subject credential AND get out of a boring remedial computer class at the same time!).<\/p>\n
More good advice \u2013 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.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 I guess I\u2019ll have to get on that \u2013 I must pass my CSET first.\u00a0 John also warned me not to dally on my five assessments (called TPAs\/TPEs).\u00a0 They are not classes, so they are up to the student and teacher to coordinate.\u00a0 He missed doing his until the end of all his classes, and it took him an additional four months to complete.\u00a0 I\u2019ll certainly get these done early and often!\u00a0 His final word of advice: There WILL be one essay question on China on the CSET \u2013 make sure you know your Chinese history!\u00a0 I\u2019ll study that tomorrow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
That humidifier really worked.\u00a0 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 … Continue reading