yup. it was wrong

i got the right cd label, but the contents of the cd were wrong. i called the hotline this morning and they are putting a new and correct cd in the mail to me. i should have it by the end of next week. i'm really anxious to get going on this. i can't do any work on my entries until i get my cd. what i can do, however, is get the paperwork into my district to verify my years teaching, etc.

Interesting message

We're on vacation right now so my box is probably waiting for me at home. I had a message when we checked yesterday saying that during a quality control check, it was discovered that some of the EA/YA (early adolescence/young adult) music CDs got labeled as EMC (early/middle childhood) and vice versa. I was instructed to check my CD and if it's faulty, to call their 800 number to get a correct CD.

Why is this important, you may ask. Well, the CD has absolutely EVERYTHING I'll need as far as information goes for my candidacy. All of my standards, what to put in each entry of the portfolio, etc. This is basically the instruction manual. It would not be good to get the wrong manual (think about getting the manual for a Ford 'Stang instead of for your Taurus). That will be one of the first things I do when I get home and get my box is open it up and check the CD.

I have started thinking about what I want to do for my entries. I think I'm going to do middle school for one of my entries. It will be excellent for the reflective analysis bit I have to do, especially since middle school will be new for me this year. However, I am also thinking that doing something brand new might not be the best idea for something as important as National Boards. I think I'll bounce that idea off of some friends who have already done their boards and see what they think. I'll probably go with their recommendation.

Today I e-mailed the middle school teachers at my school to see about meeting later in the summer so I can figure out where to set the bar for the kids this year. I'm keeping a hard copy of the e-mail so I can potentially use it as supporting evidence when I send in my entries in March. Like I said, I've never taught middle school before so I really don't know what they are capable of doing. This coming year will be a lot of tweaking as we go. Next year ('08-'09) will be much easier. It's almost like I'm starting teaching all over again. Thinking about things, I've now taught for seven years. What is it that people say about the seven year itch? Interesting how in my 8th year, I'm starting a new segment in teaching. Doesn't that sound all existential and stuff?