Mike Vigilant

I had today off from work, and spent it working on teaching applications.  There’s always a challenge in making sure you cross your i’s and dot your t’s, but after some frustrating moments involving PDFs I think I made some pretty good progress.  I’ve had to start a spreadsheet to keep track of what forms I have and haven’t filled out, reference forms given out and mailed back and such, and it’s good to be able to check some things off on that.

In the background, I’m also considering the future of this site.  What do I want this to be?  I was hoping to produce a whole semester plan and associated content for each of my subject areas, but now that I’m up to five certifications (and counting!) I’m not sure how practical that is.  I am considering creating a sort of rough outline of the things I would teach in each particular class.

I’m also on the hunt for a good book.  Though I trend towards economics books, I’m trying to keep an open mind, and may read a history book next.  I am especially interested in books that give me some insight into subjects taught in school, and I’m always looking for the next good book review on here!

Still also considering my next GACE options, which I hope to make a decision on soon.  I said I wouldn’t reveal anything until I was ready, but I’m learning towards Middle Grades Science.  Totally out of my comfort zone, but that actually kind of excites me, and I think that would be a great topic to teach.  I’m going to review the GACE study guide for it the next chance I get and see if I think I can make sense of it.  I still have a couple of months before the next test.

Finishing those applications–well, except for the reference forms–has given me a much-needed boost of inspiration and motivation, and I’d like to be able to get up early tomorrow and try to build on that.  Here’s to a productive morning!

Made it safely through another GACE Exam this past weekend.  I’ll get my results in a month, but I’m hopeful I did just fine.

In the meantime, I’m trying to plan out my testing strategy for the rest of the academic year.  I am hoping to attain as many additional certifications as possible in the hopes of making myself the best candidate in town for the next hiring season.  While I don’t know the exact details yet, let’s just say there is a good chance I will break out of my comfort zone and try something different.

Also on my radar this academic year is the GRE.  I’m looking forward to going to graduate school when I am settled in a teaching position, and I’d like to go ahead and get the GRE behind me.  I’ve got the book and really all I need to do is schedule a time in the future to take the test.  The results are accepted by most colleges for five years–that should give me plenty of time!

This weekend, I’ll be taking the GACE in Behavioral Sciences.  It was a rather last-minute decision, and I”m studying pretty hard, but my goal is to make it to every GACE examination this academic year, and truly have a certification in just about everything.  It’s Saturday morning, and luckily, it’s right up the road from me, since I’m working Friday night until midnight.  Wish me luck!