Yep, I'm still here, just busy as a little bee! A few weeks ago, I approached the people at our
Gymboree play classes about possibly teaching there (since I have a music/singing/teaching background). They seemed pretty happy about me asking, especially after telling them more about my background, so I did all of the "official" stuff and got to training! Since then, I've assisted on two birthday parties, co-taught 4 full days, observed a number of classes, and been to "technical" training on a couple of nights, to discuss the nuts and bolts of Gymboree, its equipment, and how different each of the leveled classes are in what they strive to achieve through different lesson plans. It's been crazy busy, but I absolutely, positively L-O-V-E it!!!! I feel like it's the perfect job for me! I get to sing throughout the entire day and teach! PLUS, I get to teach without dealing with all of the TAKS crap and politics that comes with teaching in a school! It's like all the wonderfully, fun aspects of teaching, only it's singing and working with parents and children that are younger than school-age! I feel so great about the fact that I get to sing at my job, too, and that it's a fundamental part of the job! Granted, it's not the type of singing I was trained in (no operas or classical art songs here!), but I get to share my love of music with children! The hours are great and it's definitely a part time job: I'm hoping for maybe one weekday (a full day of teaching is usually 5 classes, from 9:15am-2pm), a couple of birthday parties a month (my contract states that I'll do at least 2, so I suppose that'll happen), and maybe eventually, a second weekday or more weekend classes.
So far, my training has just been for the core play classes - that way, I can at least substitute if needed when the new session starts in January. If enrollment is pretty full (which I think it is, in many classes), there may be need for more classes, which I, in turn, would possibly teach. They also want me to train to teach music classes, which will be lots of fun, too! There is really SO much to learn. I must admit, when I approached them, I thought, "this would be fun...I'm one of the few mommies singing all the songs, I sing the songs at home, and I love teaching...this'll be great!" And all of that is still true...I just didn't know that I'd also get a HUGE binder full of songs to learn (as well as a CD to listen to), information on child development and how it relates to each class, and a course on all the different names of the equipment we use! The teachers we've had have made it look SO much easier than it really is! I had no clue that there would be lesson plans for each of the classes! However, they are extremely well-written lesson plans that allow for modification and creativity as a teacher. Anyway, I really hope that I can eventually make everything look as effortless as our teachers have for us!
So like I said, I've assisted two birthday parties...Each time, all I could think was, "ummmm, how in the world does a person do this ALL alone?!" I had no idea how involved these parties are!!!!! Or that Gymboree has FIVE different timeslots each weekend for birthday parties!!!! My first, official training session was actually a few days after the first bday party I assisted. I went into it super excited and ready to learn! Mary Ellen (my boss) was like, "okay, don't get overwhelmed..." and I was like, "no worries - this is great!"...well, by the end of the night, I realized why she told me that! It was a little (okay, a lot) overwhelming, with all the different lesson plans, songs, etc. to learn, but I'm already extremely comfortable with the job. After observing and gradually doing more and more in each co-teaching session, I took on nearly a whole day on my own last Thursday, introducing many activities, leading the songs, doing the bubbles and parachute time, and the goodbye routine. I think I'll be even more comfortable when it's my own class, children, and parents that I'm working with!
YAY!!! I feel so blessed to have found this job! I feel like I'm finally putting the various training I've had - in both music and teaching - to good use!
So that's what I've been up to...now, on with what Miss J has been up to...(stay tuned!)
