February 28, 2009
Sears National Customer Relations
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Dear Sears:
One mistake has wasted countless hours of my time—and yours, too.
On January 26, my husband and I ordered a new stove at your Sears store in Lancaster Mall, Salem, Oregon. Our oven had stopped working the day before, and because of food allergies, we have to cook almost everything we eat from scratch; eating out is not an option for long. We had the stove delivered that Saturday, the 31st.
The delivery guys took off the back panel of the stove, hooked up the “pigtail”, plugged the stove in, waited while I stripped off the packing materials and turned on the oven, and left. I left the oven on to burn off the factory debris, as directed in the user’s manual. About a half an hour after the delivery people left, I heard a loud “click” from the kitchen and went to investigate. All the lights on the stove were off. I looked at our breaker box, and the range breaker was tripped. I tried resetting it to no avail.
So I called the delivery people (who had called to make sure we were there; I used Caller ID to get them). The person I reached said, “I can’t send my guys out again until Monday.” Since I am a teacher and cannot take extra time off work, I asked if this breaker-tripping was normal, and he said, “No.” So we called an electrician.
The electrician came, took off the back panel of the stove and saw immediately that a wire had welded itself to that back panel (the scorch mark is still there, on the inside). He peeled it off the panel, looked to make sure the contact part was okay, and stuck it back where it belonged. He then reset the breaker, at which point we realized the outlet for the range was damaged. He went and found a new plug, installed it, and plugged in the range. The top still functioned, but somehow during the “dead short” as he called it, the oven stopped working. It took two service calls and several fruitless phone calls to get that repair completed, as well as paying someone to be in our house during the four-hour repair windows so we didn’t have to miss work.
As he was working, the electrician mentioned that the stove, as it was installed, was a “death trap,” since the entire back of the stove was, in fact, live with electricity. Imagine how I felt upon hearing this, especially since I have two small children and one cat. “Product liability” does not really cover the emotion.
I am now writing, however, to get the electrician’s bill resolved. I have repeated the EXACT SAME STORY to various people and departments at Sears over the course of the last month. At first, I was told that it was the delivery people’s fault, and that I would hear from them. After a long delay, I did, and they decided it was actually NOT their responsibility after all (see their letter, attached.)
So far I paid the money for the stove and the electrician’s bill, used up approximately 15 hours of my life that I will never get back—and, in fact, since I am a teacher, will lose in sleep as I attempt to get caught up on grading, gone without a working oven for over a week that was YOUR store’s fault (I do not blame you for the week we waited for delivery—just repairs, since we were told not to let anyone exchange the stove in case we needed proof for this very claim I am writing about). In exchange, I have netted one stove and oven that actually works, several more gray hairs, and one $25 gift card to soften the pain (it’s not working, actually).
Here is what I need you to do. Read the attached electrician’s report and bill. Send us a check for the total amount of the bill, $399.55 (I wouldn’t mind if you sent it overnight, but it’s your corporate image, not mine.) And seriously consider finding some way to compensate us for our time, on the off chance that we might consider patronizing your store again: make me an offer.
Attached you will find the bill and the report, as well as the delivery company’s note denying responsibility. If you’d like to read my letter online, you may see it at:
http://oglefamily.blogspot.com/2009/02/dear-sears.html
I will be happy to post your reply there as soon as I receive it.
Sincerely,
Ginger Ogle
February 28, 2009
December 20, 2008
Life since Thanksgiving 2008
I don't quite know how to write it all, so bear with me. Our life has been a shambles since Thanksgiving, though we are of course grateful for what we have.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we got a call that Pat was again in the hospital, with a severe headache that was eventually diagnosed as bleeding in her brain. The medical folks never did figure out exactly where the bleeding came from, though they ruled out both aneurysm and stroke...technically, I suppose it is just a brain hemorrhage. ("Just.") The bleeding was, however, massive. Naturally, Matt grabbed a suitcase and left to be near her as she lay in the ICU at St. Vincent's.
It was shortly after that that I realized Dudley had gone to that Great Ball of Yarn in the Sky at exactly the perfect time--a week and a half earlier--because I'm not really sure how I would have managed the whole first-year teaching too much thing, plus sudden single working parenthood, plus being worried about Matt, his mom, and their family, plus trying to explain to the girls both what was happening and why they didn't even get to say goodbye before Daddy left (it was nap time), AND do all the care Dudley needed. Of course, all the while I realized that I had by far the easier job, at least compared to Matt's. (It was also good timing, because it did give at least Laura a touchstone...in that way children have of bringing humorous catharsis to tragedy, when I told her Grandma was so sick she might die, Laura immediately said: "Will she go to the vet?") We were very grateful for the many offers of help that week; special thanks have to go to Kyle for continuing to shepherd the speech team while its two other coaches were incommunicado, and Eric for chipping in to judge at the tournament that next Saturday.
By Wednesday of that week, they had decided that Pat had stabilized enough to move her to a regular room, out of the ICU. She had been unconscious, then in and out of consciousness, in part at least because of the painkillers, but she very gradually improved over the next week. They could tell by now that she had what is called "left side neglect", and while I probably won't explain it correctly, it mostly means that her brain ignores the fact that her left side exists. This is not quite the same as paralysis, but has many of the same effects, plus some really weird ones like not acknowledging what her left eye sees....Dianne reported that she watched Pat eat half a plate of food, and think she was done, until the plate was turned to reveal what had been on the left side of it.
By that, you may deduce that she is doing a little better; the plate of food was in the nursing center she has been moved to. She's able to speak, a bit; not nearly as well as before. The doctors, though, have warned us not to hope for too much.
This really sucks.
The weather has kept us from going up to visit her this week, though we're hoping for a break in time for Christmas. Although in comparison it seems like a small matter, you may be able to imagine how far behind I got while Matt was gone for six school days, and worse, how far behind *he* got in that amount of time (his kids were mighty glad to have him back instead of another substitute). And that is what we have been up to, why there are no Christmas cards, no Christmas letter, definitely no blog posts, and not a heckuva lot of Christmas cheer around here. But we'll see what we can do about that last one in the next few days....
The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we got a call that Pat was again in the hospital, with a severe headache that was eventually diagnosed as bleeding in her brain. The medical folks never did figure out exactly where the bleeding came from, though they ruled out both aneurysm and stroke...technically, I suppose it is just a brain hemorrhage. ("Just.") The bleeding was, however, massive. Naturally, Matt grabbed a suitcase and left to be near her as she lay in the ICU at St. Vincent's.
It was shortly after that that I realized Dudley had gone to that Great Ball of Yarn in the Sky at exactly the perfect time--a week and a half earlier--because I'm not really sure how I would have managed the whole first-year teaching too much thing, plus sudden single working parenthood, plus being worried about Matt, his mom, and their family, plus trying to explain to the girls both what was happening and why they didn't even get to say goodbye before Daddy left (it was nap time), AND do all the care Dudley needed. Of course, all the while I realized that I had by far the easier job, at least compared to Matt's. (It was also good timing, because it did give at least Laura a touchstone...in that way children have of bringing humorous catharsis to tragedy, when I told her Grandma was so sick she might die, Laura immediately said: "Will she go to the vet?") We were very grateful for the many offers of help that week; special thanks have to go to Kyle for continuing to shepherd the speech team while its two other coaches were incommunicado, and Eric for chipping in to judge at the tournament that next Saturday.
By Wednesday of that week, they had decided that Pat had stabilized enough to move her to a regular room, out of the ICU. She had been unconscious, then in and out of consciousness, in part at least because of the painkillers, but she very gradually improved over the next week. They could tell by now that she had what is called "left side neglect", and while I probably won't explain it correctly, it mostly means that her brain ignores the fact that her left side exists. This is not quite the same as paralysis, but has many of the same effects, plus some really weird ones like not acknowledging what her left eye sees....Dianne reported that she watched Pat eat half a plate of food, and think she was done, until the plate was turned to reveal what had been on the left side of it.
By that, you may deduce that she is doing a little better; the plate of food was in the nursing center she has been moved to. She's able to speak, a bit; not nearly as well as before. The doctors, though, have warned us not to hope for too much.
This really sucks.
The weather has kept us from going up to visit her this week, though we're hoping for a break in time for Christmas. Although in comparison it seems like a small matter, you may be able to imagine how far behind I got while Matt was gone for six school days, and worse, how far behind *he* got in that amount of time (his kids were mighty glad to have him back instead of another substitute). And that is what we have been up to, why there are no Christmas cards, no Christmas letter, definitely no blog posts, and not a heckuva lot of Christmas cheer around here. But we'll see what we can do about that last one in the next few days....
September 23, 2008
Walking Like an Old Guy
Matt dropped the girls off at preschool today, stopped long enough at work to let them know he would be gone, and took himself to the hospital.
He's had some pain in the abdomen--no, not on the appendix side--the last few days, and it suddenly got worse this morning. They ran several tests, including x-rays to check for kidney stones and a CAT scan to check for all sorts of things, and so far their best guess is that it's some kind of infection somewhere in the intestinal tract. More tests are coming, but they let him leave with TWO antibiotics prescriptions to take for now.
He says it only hurts when he's not holding absolutely still.
Meanwhile, so far we're still hosting a tournament this weekend. The school was closed down yesterday morning because of a power outage. So when he got done with the medicos, he went back to work (tho' school was out by then) to start coping with all the registrations to compete that had come in yesterday and today.
Will post more info. as it becomes available...hopefully, it will be nothing too exciting to report.
He's had some pain in the abdomen--no, not on the appendix side--the last few days, and it suddenly got worse this morning. They ran several tests, including x-rays to check for kidney stones and a CAT scan to check for all sorts of things, and so far their best guess is that it's some kind of infection somewhere in the intestinal tract. More tests are coming, but they let him leave with TWO antibiotics prescriptions to take for now.
He says it only hurts when he's not holding absolutely still.
Meanwhile, so far we're still hosting a tournament this weekend. The school was closed down yesterday morning because of a power outage. So when he got done with the medicos, he went back to work (tho' school was out by then) to start coping with all the registrations to compete that had come in yesterday and today.
Will post more info. as it becomes available...hopefully, it will be nothing too exciting to report.
August 29, 2008
Dear Rachel,
Although lots of people have dropped hints, a few have been bold enough to ask, and at least one has actually nagged, you are the first person, I do believe, to take the time to send me a snail-mail letter urging me to update my blog!
So this one's for you.
It's been an incredibly busy summer, mostly because I've been working. Most weeks, I've gone out to school at least once. On virtually every other day, I used the afternoon to work on sewing some clothes for myself (a job still unfinished...), and also to look through the mountains of curriculum stuff left me by my predecessor. Matt made some good progress on finishing up the house's trim painting job. (The girls now have fond memories of Daddy sitting on the counter with his feet in the kitchen sink, painting the outside trim on the windows above the sink from the inside.) He also built a new picnic table (the old one was disintegrating before our eyes).
We got a new car, a new set of mattresses (way overdue!), and a new computer (with free iPod). I have actually and with no incidents driven the minivan now--it's still a bit scary because it's so huge, but I hope to keep my good record. I have even parked and un-parked without hitting innocent bystanders (or by-cars). I did a little happy dance at school yesterday when I found that the funny adapter thing that came with my computer was, in fact, exactly what I needed to hook it to the projector at school...thus making my wiki very workable (I *could* use the evil PC to project, but this way I don't have to be compatible, or export my own bookmarks. Heaven.) Also, the nice tech people from the District connected my own dear Dobby to the wireless network, which works both in my classroom and in the library--and the projector lives in the library but is also happy to travel. Gotta love flexibility!
I still have a few loose ends to tie up over the weekend, and quite a lot of planning to do. I am starting to feel, however, that I will live to see the end of the year. And downright excited when I start thinking and talking about my wiki and having the kids do some podcasting... the District tech people get these sappy, happy looks on their faces ...amazingly, I am something of a bolt from the blue there, I think.
How are the girls? They are fine. They looooooooove their preschool, though I think they'd rather we could all stay home when they're tired. Laura has completely attached to her main teacher, and is slowly getting to know and like the others. Emily has mostly gotten over her initial fear of the Big Potty they have there, and loves to climb on the play equipment. Both entertain us with the new/old songs they've picked up. For the most part they seem to be well and happy there, and I know *we* have been happy with the quality of care. Our schedule is tough on them; we get up at 5, they get up at 5:30, and if all goes like clockwork we manage to get home by about 4:45. That's a long day for a little one! (On the up side, they fall right asleep at night.)
Matt has one new "prep" class to set up. He is still the co-president of the union. And the NFL District Chair. And the first tournament is coming up at the end of September, as usual. (The first workshop, even earlier than that.)
My garden has gone to seed this year...it had a slow beginning because of weather, a slower still middle because of work, and then--agonizingly--I just realized I didn't have the time to do it all. I'm still hoping to at least tuck it in nicely this fall and try again next year.
I have to have my wisdom teeth out; but I can't just make an appointment. Because I was honest on my little health form for the dentist, I have to have allergy testing to make sure that anything they might use or give me for that surgery, will not cause a repeat of the asthma attacks I had with each girl's arrival (they did give me lidocaine before each c-section. So we'll see....) Since I have to go without some of my favorite (i.e., most helpful) medications to do the allergy testing, not to mention the thrill of oral surgery as a reward...I am not looking forward to it all that much.
We've tried to make the summer full of good memories; we've been to the beach at least four times (five...six? times), once for a two-night stay at a beach house (we really liked the house, though the beds were terrible--even the kid beds! But it did have location, location, location going for it in a big way.) We spent Emily's third birthday at the Aquarium, and our adventure for August was taking Grandma Ma and Grandma Pat and Grandpa Bill with us to play at the beach...except Grandma Ma got really sick and couldn't go (she's better). The beach was so exciting that Bill fell asleep--quite a feat when you're being offered a plastic toy full of sand to pretend it's a plate and eat off of--and yes, we have pictures as proof. The same house we stayed in is already on reserve for a weekend later in the fall; if I don't schedule time away, I know I won't rest enough.
We had a great time at the fair today, looking at lots of live animals and seeing the sights of the midway (not riding anything or even playing; just LOOKING was excitement enough for the girls!) Although she fussed about the noise at the time, Laura's favorite was the roosters, while Emily preferred the bunnies. I liked the cows. Matt was amazed at the pig mama with 11 (count 'em) piglets, who--apparently--spend all their time eating. (Let me just say that that pig must be getting more than her share of oxytocin to tolerate all those customers at once....) Since the girls have not yet made it to a zoo, this was one of those great days.
Before I forget, another pitch for the fair (it wraps up on Monday). They have way cooler facilities than when I was there as a teenager; for instance, we spent some time in the "Toddler Zone", all free with crawling toys and safe mats and drawing equipment *and* a changing table stocked with lots of diapers in a variety of sizes. We also found a booth set up near the Artist's area where kids could sit and paint or color--also free.
So there you go; that ought to catch you up a little. No promises for updates as the school year gets into full swing; I've been spending my spare time snuggling with my babies whenever I can!
Yours very truly,
G.O.
So this one's for you.
It's been an incredibly busy summer, mostly because I've been working. Most weeks, I've gone out to school at least once. On virtually every other day, I used the afternoon to work on sewing some clothes for myself (a job still unfinished...), and also to look through the mountains of curriculum stuff left me by my predecessor. Matt made some good progress on finishing up the house's trim painting job. (The girls now have fond memories of Daddy sitting on the counter with his feet in the kitchen sink, painting the outside trim on the windows above the sink from the inside.) He also built a new picnic table (the old one was disintegrating before our eyes).
We got a new car, a new set of mattresses (way overdue!), and a new computer (with free iPod). I have actually and with no incidents driven the minivan now--it's still a bit scary because it's so huge, but I hope to keep my good record. I have even parked and un-parked without hitting innocent bystanders (or by-cars). I did a little happy dance at school yesterday when I found that the funny adapter thing that came with my computer was, in fact, exactly what I needed to hook it to the projector at school...thus making my wiki very workable (I *could* use the evil PC to project, but this way I don't have to be compatible, or export my own bookmarks. Heaven.) Also, the nice tech people from the District connected my own dear Dobby to the wireless network, which works both in my classroom and in the library--and the projector lives in the library but is also happy to travel. Gotta love flexibility!
I still have a few loose ends to tie up over the weekend, and quite a lot of planning to do. I am starting to feel, however, that I will live to see the end of the year. And downright excited when I start thinking and talking about my wiki and having the kids do some podcasting... the District tech people get these sappy, happy looks on their faces ...amazingly, I am something of a bolt from the blue there, I think.
How are the girls? They are fine. They looooooooove their preschool, though I think they'd rather we could all stay home when they're tired. Laura has completely attached to her main teacher, and is slowly getting to know and like the others. Emily has mostly gotten over her initial fear of the Big Potty they have there, and loves to climb on the play equipment. Both entertain us with the new/old songs they've picked up. For the most part they seem to be well and happy there, and I know *we* have been happy with the quality of care. Our schedule is tough on them; we get up at 5, they get up at 5:30, and if all goes like clockwork we manage to get home by about 4:45. That's a long day for a little one! (On the up side, they fall right asleep at night.)
Matt has one new "prep" class to set up. He is still the co-president of the union. And the NFL District Chair. And the first tournament is coming up at the end of September, as usual. (The first workshop, even earlier than that.)
My garden has gone to seed this year...it had a slow beginning because of weather, a slower still middle because of work, and then--agonizingly--I just realized I didn't have the time to do it all. I'm still hoping to at least tuck it in nicely this fall and try again next year.
I have to have my wisdom teeth out; but I can't just make an appointment. Because I was honest on my little health form for the dentist, I have to have allergy testing to make sure that anything they might use or give me for that surgery, will not cause a repeat of the asthma attacks I had with each girl's arrival (they did give me lidocaine before each c-section. So we'll see....) Since I have to go without some of my favorite (i.e., most helpful) medications to do the allergy testing, not to mention the thrill of oral surgery as a reward...I am not looking forward to it all that much.
We've tried to make the summer full of good memories; we've been to the beach at least four times (five...six? times), once for a two-night stay at a beach house (we really liked the house, though the beds were terrible--even the kid beds! But it did have location, location, location going for it in a big way.) We spent Emily's third birthday at the Aquarium, and our adventure for August was taking Grandma Ma and Grandma Pat and Grandpa Bill with us to play at the beach...except Grandma Ma got really sick and couldn't go (she's better). The beach was so exciting that Bill fell asleep--quite a feat when you're being offered a plastic toy full of sand to pretend it's a plate and eat off of--and yes, we have pictures as proof. The same house we stayed in is already on reserve for a weekend later in the fall; if I don't schedule time away, I know I won't rest enough.
We had a great time at the fair today, looking at lots of live animals and seeing the sights of the midway (not riding anything or even playing; just LOOKING was excitement enough for the girls!) Although she fussed about the noise at the time, Laura's favorite was the roosters, while Emily preferred the bunnies. I liked the cows. Matt was amazed at the pig mama with 11 (count 'em) piglets, who--apparently--spend all their time eating. (Let me just say that that pig must be getting more than her share of oxytocin to tolerate all those customers at once....) Since the girls have not yet made it to a zoo, this was one of those great days.
Before I forget, another pitch for the fair (it wraps up on Monday). They have way cooler facilities than when I was there as a teenager; for instance, we spent some time in the "Toddler Zone", all free with crawling toys and safe mats and drawing equipment *and* a changing table stocked with lots of diapers in a variety of sizes. We also found a booth set up near the Artist's area where kids could sit and paint or color--also free.
So there you go; that ought to catch you up a little. No promises for updates as the school year gets into full swing; I've been spending my spare time snuggling with my babies whenever I can!
Yours very truly,
G.O.
July 11, 2008
Me: Confusing Doctors Since 1971
So the plan was, for me to go in and get allergy shots this summer. I'd start them, see whether they killed me (apparently that can happen, though it's extremely rare), and continue during the school year.
Before mixing up the magic serum with which to inject me, the allergist wanted to do another skin test, just to make sure the primary culprit was actually still dust, and that nothing had been added to the mix. I went in Tuesday, and here's the thing: NOTHING showed up as a positive allergen.
This is bizarre.
A year and a half ago, the dust mite spot was clear and obvious almost from the moment the little needle touched me (the nurse commented on it as she was setting the timer they use to give you enough time to finish reacting). I also had, according to the doc, "minor" reactions to cockroaches and something I now forget. So when I saw the same doc this time, she said she was frankly perplexed. We both agreed that we'd try the test again in a few months (3 to 6) to see what we can see; she said that it does happen, sometimes, that people just don't react at one point and will at another. I said, "Could I be *cured*?" and the reply was that it was, just like everything, possible.
Personally, I have a few theories, but since there's only one in the test group and no controls at all, it's difficult to verify cause and effect. So here they are, in no particular order:
So far, that's all I can think of.
On the up side, I don't have to have shots unless and until I have a positive skin test again. And maybe I'll enjoy our coming beach escape even more than I was expecting, if the furnishings don't make me so sneezy!
Before mixing up the magic serum with which to inject me, the allergist wanted to do another skin test, just to make sure the primary culprit was actually still dust, and that nothing had been added to the mix. I went in Tuesday, and here's the thing: NOTHING showed up as a positive allergen.
This is bizarre.
A year and a half ago, the dust mite spot was clear and obvious almost from the moment the little needle touched me (the nurse commented on it as she was setting the timer they use to give you enough time to finish reacting). I also had, according to the doc, "minor" reactions to cockroaches and something I now forget. So when I saw the same doc this time, she said she was frankly perplexed. We both agreed that we'd try the test again in a few months (3 to 6) to see what we can see; she said that it does happen, sometimes, that people just don't react at one point and will at another. I said, "Could I be *cured*?" and the reply was that it was, just like everything, possible.
Personally, I have a few theories, but since there's only one in the test group and no controls at all, it's difficult to verify cause and effect. So here they are, in no particular order:
- Maybe getting really, really, really sick and then taking the Prednisone last winter somehow "reset" my immune system (to be honest, I have felt top-notch the last few weeks.)
- Maybe more distance from the whole ordeal of child-bearing and breast-feeding has let my body heal itself and replenish some nutrients it needed to not be so tense and sensitive.
- Maybe eating almost all organic has somehow lessened my reactivity (that's been since February).
- Maybe the tech who mixed the test-prick potions messed up.
- Maybe my life goal is actually to show up in as much medical literature as possible before I die (no one had heard of the asthma attacks with C-sections thing, either...)
- or, Maybe I really am better.
So far, that's all I can think of.
On the up side, I don't have to have shots unless and until I have a positive skin test again. And maybe I'll enjoy our coming beach escape even more than I was expecting, if the furnishings don't make me so sneezy!
Don't Cry for Me, Little Laura
This is what happens when you marry a metrosexual. Who watches show tunes clips on YouTube. With a four-year-old nearby.
I would just like to point out that, apart from asking her if she'd do it for the camera, we did not encourage her in her dramatics. She was, apparently, born a star. (She has been doing this for about a week, at random times and places.)
I would just like to point out that, apart from asking her if she'd do it for the camera, we did not encourage her in her dramatics. She was, apparently, born a star. (She has been doing this for about a week, at random times and places.)
July 8, 2008
A Lovely Addition to the Household
We've been on a long-planned, long-anticipated (but not long-lasting!) spree. (I use those qualifiers so nobody thinks we've gone completely nutso; we've been fairly cheap for quite a long time, first to prepare financially for house and children, and then to be able to stay in the former with the latter. Now, things are different).
So please know that I mention this not to brag, but because Matt will kill me if I don't at least give it a post: we are the happy owners of a 2008 Toyota Sienna.
It is lovely.
So please know that I mention this not to brag, but because Matt will kill me if I don't at least give it a post: we are the happy owners of a 2008 Toyota Sienna.
It is lovely.
The Way It Shouldn't Be
Let's say, just for fun, that you're looking for a preschool for your children. You pick two to do site visits for; both are nationally accredited. They cost precisely the same amount.
Enter one preschool.
You see the play area; it is not tiny. The guide shows you the basement meeting hall the children play in when it rains. In case you didn't know...it rains here. Often.
You see the pretty classrooms, with the busy children, and ask about the curriculum. They talk about letters and numbers.
You ask, "What do you do with a child who already knows all their letters?"
They are silent. They look at each other. Then they stammer, "Uh...well, we'd work on the letter sounds, and maybe move on to word recognition?"
They assume that I am talking about the four and a half year old. I do not tell them that Laura already is pretty solid on the letter sounds, and that Emily is actually the one I was thinking of when I asked the question.
~~~~~
The scene shifts to a different preschool.
A smaller setting, both in size of classes and of classrooms. It is homey, and not very institutional. (There is a room full of infants, and none of them are fussing, although at least two or three are being simply snuggled by some grandmother-types). They have a sandpit outside in a large fenced play area. When you comment, you are told, "Oh, yes, and we play outside even when it rains. We encourage boots in the winter!"
When you ask how they handle children who are starting to read, they answer with no hesitation that they "just try to take students where they are, and help them move forward academically."
Can you guess which place we (unanimously--all four of us) chose?
As an independent benefit, it's close to work for both of us, so the girls may get to visit speech practice from time to time and catch up on their idols.
Enter one preschool.
You see the play area; it is not tiny. The guide shows you the basement meeting hall the children play in when it rains. In case you didn't know...it rains here. Often.
You see the pretty classrooms, with the busy children, and ask about the curriculum. They talk about letters and numbers.
You ask, "What do you do with a child who already knows all their letters?"
They are silent. They look at each other. Then they stammer, "Uh...well, we'd work on the letter sounds, and maybe move on to word recognition?"
They assume that I am talking about the four and a half year old. I do not tell them that Laura already is pretty solid on the letter sounds, and that Emily is actually the one I was thinking of when I asked the question.
~~~~~
The scene shifts to a different preschool.
A smaller setting, both in size of classes and of classrooms. It is homey, and not very institutional. (There is a room full of infants, and none of them are fussing, although at least two or three are being simply snuggled by some grandmother-types). They have a sandpit outside in a large fenced play area. When you comment, you are told, "Oh, yes, and we play outside even when it rains. We encourage boots in the winter!"
When you ask how they handle children who are starting to read, they answer with no hesitation that they "just try to take students where they are, and help them move forward academically."
Can you guess which place we (unanimously--all four of us) chose?
As an independent benefit, it's close to work for both of us, so the girls may get to visit speech practice from time to time and catch up on their idols.
The Way It Should Be
Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting the retired teacher whom I'll be replacing (who? dammit, I have trouble with those...). He spent about two and a half hours giving me a guided tour of my new classroom, showing me the textbooks for all the subjects I'll be teaching, providing me advice and cautions about various and sundry things and people, and assuring me of two vital things: that he *hoped* I would certainly change the curriculum around to suit my own style, and that he was planning to sub but would not be back for a while, to give the students a chance to transfer their loyalties. (Although I assured him that--especially as a not-new teacher--he was most welcome any time).
Can you imagine the state of the world if every teacher in a new spot had an introduction to their job like that?
In addition, he decided to donate almost two whole four-drawer filing cabinets full of teacher materials (over and above the textbook supplements; these are the kind the individual teacher picks up on their own. I do not plan to sell them, but rather, use them; but if I priced them all out, it's probably in the neighborhood of $2,000 worth of literature. Maybe more.)
As a final gift, when I asked (a bit timorously, I think) about how he organized 8th grade graduation (that task comes with the job), he said: "Call me in April, and I'll walk you through it."
To be sure, I've got challenges ahead. But one guy and couple of hours of his life have suddenly made mine a whole lot easier.
Can you imagine the state of the world if every teacher in a new spot had an introduction to their job like that?
In addition, he decided to donate almost two whole four-drawer filing cabinets full of teacher materials (over and above the textbook supplements; these are the kind the individual teacher picks up on their own. I do not plan to sell them, but rather, use them; but if I priced them all out, it's probably in the neighborhood of $2,000 worth of literature. Maybe more.)
As a final gift, when I asked (a bit timorously, I think) about how he organized 8th grade graduation (that task comes with the job), he said: "Call me in April, and I'll walk you through it."
To be sure, I've got challenges ahead. But one guy and couple of hours of his life have suddenly made mine a whole lot easier.
June 11, 2008
Some People Have All the Luck...
...and obviously, I've gotten my fair share. I am employed for the fall; I had an interview yesterday afternoon and was offered the job this morning. It was the job Matt and I had hoped for, since it's in his district; that means it should not be a big hairy deal for me to keep on assistant coaching the (State Champions!) team.
Okay, it's not *all* luck. I'm sure it helps that I have that Continuing License I worked so hard to get (especially now that you can put it off for quite a while, which I did not). And it helps that I grew up in the District, got excellent grades there, did not end up in Juvy, etc. And I have experience teaching. Finally, it has to help that I am happy and proud to know some Pillars of the Community in the small unincorporated hamlet in which I'll be teaching (don't get me wrong; it's a cute hamlet. Crossroads. Wide area in the road. Whatever. ;-) ).
So what's she teaching, you might ask? I'll tell you: everything! First, it's important to point out that not everyone who has ever taught in a high school, likes middle schoolers. I do. And that is fortunate, for I'll be teaching a combined class of 7th and 8th graders all day. It's a "self-contained" class, which in this case means that all the 7th and 8th graders in the school (around 23, at last count)* are in it, and I will be their only teacher--except when I swap with the 5th/6th guy to do science or social studies (we'll figure that out soon). Since I've always disliked having to choose just one thing to focus on, I'm actually really looking forward to that situation.
On the other hand, I'll also be teaching math. (Are those sirens I hear?....) No, really, it will be okay; I won't have to go beyond Algebra I, which is the last math class I did anything remotely resembling A work in. It'll just take me a while to figure out exactly how to teach it, never having done so.
So that's the scoop. Preschool placement will get figured out when Matt gets back from Vegas, and we'll also have some purchasing decisions to make; some of our making-do strategies will become obsolete when there's no one here to be doing the making-do (ing?). While I don't think either of us is planning to engage in obnoxious conspicuous consumption....it will be nice to have two incomes again.
And Tier Two status!
*This is a nice change from 33 per class for English 9, and a total load of around 180. Perhaps nice is not a strong enough word, especially since I am the Worst Teacher in the History of the World at Learning Names.
Okay, it's not *all* luck. I'm sure it helps that I have that Continuing License I worked so hard to get (especially now that you can put it off for quite a while, which I did not). And it helps that I grew up in the District, got excellent grades there, did not end up in Juvy, etc. And I have experience teaching. Finally, it has to help that I am happy and proud to know some Pillars of the Community in the small unincorporated hamlet in which I'll be teaching (don't get me wrong; it's a cute hamlet. Crossroads. Wide area in the road. Whatever. ;-) ).
So what's she teaching, you might ask? I'll tell you: everything! First, it's important to point out that not everyone who has ever taught in a high school, likes middle schoolers. I do. And that is fortunate, for I'll be teaching a combined class of 7th and 8th graders all day. It's a "self-contained" class, which in this case means that all the 7th and 8th graders in the school (around 23, at last count)* are in it, and I will be their only teacher--except when I swap with the 5th/6th guy to do science or social studies (we'll figure that out soon). Since I've always disliked having to choose just one thing to focus on, I'm actually really looking forward to that situation.
On the other hand, I'll also be teaching math. (Are those sirens I hear?....) No, really, it will be okay; I won't have to go beyond Algebra I, which is the last math class I did anything remotely resembling A work in. It'll just take me a while to figure out exactly how to teach it, never having done so.
So that's the scoop. Preschool placement will get figured out when Matt gets back from Vegas, and we'll also have some purchasing decisions to make; some of our making-do strategies will become obsolete when there's no one here to be doing the making-do (ing?). While I don't think either of us is planning to engage in obnoxious conspicuous consumption....it will be nice to have two incomes again.
And Tier Two status!
*This is a nice change from 33 per class for English 9, and a total load of around 180. Perhaps nice is not a strong enough word, especially since I am the Worst Teacher in the History of the World at Learning Names.
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