Update, already!  Sorry y'all but I have been running rampant since teaching at Joliet West HS ended for me last April.  I am now teaching 7th and 8th grade English and Spanish at Kankakee Junior High School, and I love it.  My students are *almost as great as you guys, j/k :)* and I am excited everyday to be in my own classroom.  I certainly learned loads from all of you, and wish you the best of luck in the high school and college years ahead. 

So after I graduated from NIU I went to Israel for a couple weeks, and then worked this summer for the Migrant Education program in Kankakee, which is how I got my current job.  My Spanish skills are getting better daily, and I am excitted to be traveling to South America come next summer.  I have two friends teaching English and Math in Colombia and Ecuador who I will go visit, inshah Allah (this literally itranslated int "God willing" in Arabic, but I am just using it to say , "Here's hoping" to diversify my languages :)

Take care, and do not be shy to contact me if you need a college recommendation, or for those of you who want to be teachers to ask for a Golden Apple scholarship recommendation. 

FYI don't bank on me checking this blog frequently, the life of a full-time teacher is full-time busy.

Found some great stuff on the Christian Science Monitor today...hoefully I can use this bit for Defining Terrorism in class.

Last Thursday I helped run the state-wide International Economic Summit at Kaneland High School and the whole thing went really well.  There were nine different schools represented theire, with about 100 country teams of two.  Overwhelming at times, but we had alot of volunteer helpers both active and standing by.  I now can really understand how to construct it all the better for the future lessons that I do the IES with students. 

Saturday went excellently at the Chicgao Public Schools job fair.  I had some prospects from a few schools there including a half-teaching, half-administrative position from Kelly High School, and a possible future interview at Whitney Young Magnet High School.  (Young is one of the more prestigious schools in the Chicago, very difficult to get a teaching position at because it is so competitive.)  Very excited about that prospect. 

Also, the three schools I had gotten word of possible social studies positions were not present, and though disappointed at the time, I actually see this as a good thing because if they would have been there, they would be flooded with resumes to filter through.  Now I am still one of the people that are "in the know" about these teaching spots.  We shall see.

For all my former students: best of luck on finals, and let me know how you all think you did.

Heenan

Traaaaaaaaaaaaanscribing.  The luxury of passsing from one s mouth into another's digital brain.  That was a weak analogy if ever there was one.  It's about as disappointing as tartar sauce.  The essence of tartar sauce. Just makes me frown.