Drawing In: Number 31

Birthday Party, Job Interviews, One More Week of School

For new subscribers: this is my weekly ramble. Sometimes philosophical, sometimes mostly pictures, often just random. I don’t usually write on the weekends. This is how I pull my thoughts and experiences from the week together and put them to rest. In a busy household in the thick of the “launch years” with two and younger children as well, this is the place for a little contemplation. What was accomplished, what was passed over, where is my rest?

Birthday Party

The Biggest Girl hit a bunch of milestones this spring: 18th birthday, finishing her para-educator certificate course, driver’s license. I cooked up a surprise party with some help from her friends. A couple of aunts came in from out of town and the Biggest Boy came up from his home in Virginia. Her friends got her out of the house for a few hours on Saturday so we could set up and other guests could come. She was thoroughly surprised!

The Biggest Boy at home grilled burgers, there was cake and company (and the bottom fell out of the lit fire pit for excitement). Low - key event as most of ours are.

Job Interviews

This past school year I have mostly treated as a sabbatical. I’ve done some extra study, streamlined some home things, rested a good bit, and done very little teaching (just a twice a week math class for three students). It has been nice, but too unscheduled to really be good long term and I miss the energy of the classroom. So I’ve interviewed for a couple of full time upper elementary/middle school English and Literature positions at local Catholic schools. Still trying to discern where the best fit is for me. I would really prefer to find a “home” where I could teach for a decade or more, rather than a job.

One of the jobs is 5th grade homeroom with 6th and 7th grade English and Literature. The other one is 5th grade homeroom with 5th-8th grade Grammar and 5th grade Religion. Another teacher does Literature and Writing in that school. Both schools are a 20-30 minute commute, they are about the same size with comparable class sizes, one building is older with high up windows and blackboards all around the walls, the other probably early sixties, built around a courtyard so every room has natural light.

I’m thinking through the following questions:

Could I just teach Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Religion or would that be amazingly dull?

I like teaching all of those things. One point I need to clarify is if the other teacher only does creative writing leaving me to do technical writing (essays, business letters etc.) or if he does all of the writing instruction (which would make teaching Grammar very tricky.

The principal at the other school wants to rearrange her Middle School a bit and would use my ability to teach multiple grades as one of her tools for doing so. She would basically have me build a program across the years of middle school. I like this idea but I’m dithering and there is a possibility that I could teach at our own parish school so I just need to weigh it all, pray over it, and wait for the Spirit’s leading.

One More Week of School!

Then a weird week with one and a half days of school and dance recital at the end of the week. Then a week of church camp for the Youngest Girl and a Scouts Adventure for the Youngest Boy. Once that is done we are off into our summer schedule of house projects, expeditions, summer lessons, and lots of slow days of rest and relaxation. Being me, I’ve made a list of expeditions, and a large document with summer studies, projects and our weekly schedule…..

This template for our days along with a chore list, menu plan, and a few other “brain on paper” pieces is key to having a peaceful summer without a frazzled mother! I’ always happy to share my files for others to adapt to their own home and children so drop me a comment or DM and I’ll send out the link.

That’s all for the week! I’m off to make a meal plan and go to the grocery!

Keep loving your Extraordinary Ordinary Life!

K