better late than never!

So, I know June is almost over, almost! {trying not to rush my summer!} But thanks to Kim over at Finding JOY in 6th Grade, she reminded me that I needed to post mine {because she just posted hers ;) }! So here is goes, my currently for June!

I wish I was in Australia - I have always wanted to go there! Maybe someday I will actually get to go!

I have went...NO WHERE...yet! I will be going to Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach very soon! I can't wait!!

I want to go to a beach - any beach! I really don't care! As long as it has sand, is warm, and there is water I will be just fine! I could so live on the beach! But instead, I live in the mid-west. Where the only beaches are around muddy lakes...oh Joy! ha!

Thank you to Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade! Love the "currently's" :)

Happy Summer!!


Great Meeting

Yesterday I met up with my fellow Jr. High teachers. We met up to talk about the new Exploratory classes we are going to be offering our 6-8 graders. I guess normally they had a 45 minute spelling block first thing in the morning. This year we are going to combine the spelling with reading, using our vocab words as our spelling words. Now instead of 45 minutes of spelling we are going to offer 6 exploratory classes. Here they are: Geometry, Economics/Current Events, Health, Fine Arts, Technology, and Geography. These will be 6 week classes. Our students will be able to go to each of these classes through out the school year. I am very excited! I will be teaching Geometry! I was excited to get math because during the rest of the school day I won't be teaching math at all and it is one of my favorite subjects to teach! So things worked out great!

Since I won't have a specific curriculum to go off of, we looked at the common core standards for 6-8th grades and found out what the geometry standards are. I will be working off of those to find my curriculum. If anybody has any great geometry resources for 6-8th grades please let me know!! :)

Here are some websites that I have found so far (click on the picture to go to the website!):




Illuminations is a website with math lessons and activities (Great resource!)

Juab School Districe has a few geometry lesson plans for 6-8B
But they also have tons of math lessons for grades 1st-6th grades

Khan Academy is an AMAZING math resource for all teachers!

Will Grade For Coffee Giveway!

Will Grade For Coffee is having a 100 follower giveaway!

Check out her blog, it is full of great ideas for your classroom!

I was so happy when I found Laura's blog. She is also a 6th grade teacher. I am looking forward to learning from her as I am getting ready to start my first year teaching in 6th grade!

Happy summer!

Getting Excited!

Well, I got my official letter in the mail saying that I was unanimously accepted by the Board of Education at the school! Yay! :) I am beyond excited to get started with everything!

Here is my new button! {Grab it!}

 Here are a few ideas I have for my classroom...do you see a theme? ;)

clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com

http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/

tupelohoneycaro.blogspot.com

Happy Summer!

Mrs. Crouse

Guess What...

You are looking at the newest 6th grade teacher in the blogger world!!!

I got the job! Yay :) I went in front of the board last night and it went extremely well! I got a call around 10:45pm saying that the vote was unanimous and that I was hired! I am so excited to get into my classroom and start decorating!

For those of you who are appling to schools; here are some of the questions that they asked me along with some of my answers:

1. Tell us about yourself outside of teaching.
Talk about where you grew up, tell them about your family. If it is a small country school the board is most likely very family oriented. Let them know about your family and what you enjoy doing. Do you have hobbies? Are passionate about something else besides teaching?

2. Tell us about your experiences since student teaching.
Talk about student teaching and what you learned. If you have worked elsewhere since student teaching talk about that. I personally have worked at 2 other schools since student teaching. So I mainly talked about my role at those schools.

3. Why do you want to work here?
Research the school. Go to the school website. Find the school report card. Talk to teachers that work there or people that have subbed there. Make sure it is a good school and that you have positive things to say about that particular school.

4. What 3 qualities do a great teacher possess?
Possible answers: passion, creativity, flexibility, organized, positive, patience. What I have always said during interviews (which it is your own personal preference, there are no wrong answers) is organized, flexible, and passionate.

5. What is your greatest strength?
Mine is personally my organizational skills. I love to be organized and know where things belong. I also feel like this helps my students to learn to be organized and to know where things belong.

6. Why should we hire you?
Tell them why you are so passionate about teaching. Let them know that you are the best possible candidate. This is the time to really "toot your own horn". Explain your strengths and ideas that you have for your future classroom.

7. What is your biggest fear of teaching?
Honestly, out of the now 12 interviews I have had in the past 2 years, I have never been asked this question. I told the board member that I had a fear of not being a good teacher. I want to do my best for my kids and help them succeed. I am going to strive to be my best and work past that fear.

It is now time for me to change the title of my blog to "Mrs. Crouse's {6th Grade} All-Stars!"

Happy Summer!
Mrs. Crouse

The Waiting Game

Well, I had my 2nd interview yesterday. I think it went pretty good. I guess I will know how well it went on Thursday. I am soooo nervous. Naturally during the interview I felt pretty good about it. But of course when I got home I started to question all of my answers; were they good enough? is that what they were wanting to hear? etc.
Here are some of the questions that they asked:

- What would your day look like on the first day of school, since they kids are only their 2 1/2 hours?
- If I were to walk into your classroom what would I see?- If the kids started to get out of control, how would you bring them back to order?- Tell us your experience with RtI.- Here is our Jr. High management plan. Is there anything that you would add or make different for your classroom?- What type of positive behavior might I see in your classroom?
Those are just a few of the questions that I can thoroughly remember!
I just want this job so bad! Have I told you that this is the 9th...yes 9th school I have interviewed for? Man, is that depressing or what? Teaching is such a hard market to get into right now. I just hope I did enough to actually get my teaching career started!

Below are 2 pictures of what I wore to my interview. What do you think?

Below is a picture of myself and the judges at my pageant on Sunday. The Little Miss Relay Pageant - "The Pageant With A Purpose". It was a huge success! We raised about $3200 for the Relay for Life! I am so happy! :)

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!!

Mrs. Crouse

Eek!! :)

Holy Smokes!


I got a call yesterday asking if I could come back for a second interview!! I am totally stoked...and really nervous! It is with the Superintendent and Principal...again! I'm not sure what they are going to ask me this time. Any thoughts on what they might ask?

I am totally freaking out here! I have a big weekend ahead of me! Tomorrow I am preparing for my pageant in the morning. Then I am going to the pool with family, then I am setting up for the pageant tomorrow night! Then on Sunday I have church and then the Relay Pageant that I have been preparing for, for months starts at 3pm!! I am so excited :). Then Monday at 9am, I have my second interview!! Crazy weekend!

Please keep me in your prayers! I want this job so bad!!

A Look At My Big Day!

Yesterday was my big day! I had my interview! I think it went pretty well. I will hear back either Thursday or Friday. Please pray for me! Teaching is such a tough market right now! Picture 1. is what I wore to my interview? What do you think? I have never worn a skirt to a teaching interview before, but I quite liked it! :) Yesterday was also my 2 year ANNIVERSARY with my amazing husband!! Picture 2. is of the flowers he sent me. Aren't they gorgeous? He knows me well! Picture 3. is of the bikes he surprised me with! We have both been wanting bikes forever! I love them! Let's just say, yesterday was a great day! And what will make it even better is if I get that job! :) :)

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my 2 year anniversary with my amazing husband! I can't believe we have been married for 2 years already! Here is a look back at our big day :)

I am still to this day so in LOVE with this dress!

We had a "Ceremonial First Pitch" at the reception. Because we met
at a baseball game :)

Also, today is the big interview! Please say a little prayer for me today if you think about it! :)

Interview Outfit Option...

I need your expertise opinions!

Ok, So here is what I have picked out for my interview tomorrow. What do you guys think? Grey coat, white top w/ embellishments on the neckline, and a black pencil skirt with black wedges. The only thing that I am worried about is that the jacket has a little bit of a shine to it. I know the superintendent that I am interviewing for is very conservative and likes his employees to dress very professional.

I also have a black interview jacket and a green top I have been considering too. Which would you go with. My personal opinion is to go with the outfit above. But I would love for your feedback!

Thanks,
Mrs. Crouse :)

Interview Questions?

I have some questions for you experienced teachers out there!

I have an interview on Tuesday for a 6th grade position. I know the 5th grade teacher at the school, we graduated high school together. I asked her what type of questions might be asked at the interview. Here is what she said:

They like to know about teaching philosophies,

classroom management strategies,

instructional strategies,

how a typical class period would be set up and managed,

strategies for school to home collaborations,

and collaboration with other teachers.

What would your answers be for these types of questions?

I GOT AN INTERVIEW!!

I feel so relieved right now. The Superintendent called me around 2:30. He said "I hope I have some good news for you, you have an interview." I said that is GREAT news!! Yay, I am so excited. But I better not get to ahead of myself. I have had plenty of interviews in the past 2 years and nothing has worked out. So hopefully this is my big break to finally becoming a teacher! One can hope right? My interview is on Tuesday at 2pm. So be saying a little prayer for me please! :)

Below I have attached a link for Job Interview Tips for Teachers. Its been a year since I had my last interview. So I am definitely going to be freshening up my interview skills.

Do you TEACHERS out there have any tips for me??

Fingers Crossed!

Well, today is the deadline for applications for the job I applied for. I'm assuming that if I do get an interview that I won't hear anything until next week. Depending on the Superintendents, some of them call before the deadline and some of them wait until after the deadline to call about interviews. I am just praying right now that I do get an interview. Oh it would make me so happy! I have been a teacher's aide for 2 years now, at 2 different schools. I am beyond ready to be a teacher. I know it is all in God's hands right now. But I really hope His plan for me is to get a teaching job for this school year! The position that I applied for is teaching 6th grade. And they required you to have at least 3 endorsements. Well, I have 4 so I should be good there. My current employer also wrote me an awesome letter of recommendation. Gosh, this is all I can think about right now! I need to go do something and get my mind off of this!

Any way, this summer I have been able to stay pretty busy. For those of you who don't know, I started my Mary Kay business back in January. It has been quite the adventure. But I am so loving it! If you are looking for some extra income please contact me and I will let you know more about it without pressuring you! { mcrouse88@gmail.com } I went into the Mary Kay business knowing nothing about it! I hadn't even used Mary Kay products before. Now, its all I use and I wouldn't use anything else! I love having parties and helping women look and feel their best! Mary Kay also supports cancer research and helps to end the epidemic of violence against women. It is such a great company and I am so glad that I became apart of it! It would be so great to have you on my team! Please let me know if you are interested in making some extra money or making yourself a new career!

Happy Summer! :)