What a new teacher should include on their resume

Heyyyyy new teachers!  You're about to graduate and super excited about looking for that first job!  It is such an exciting time as you start the job hunt, full of anticipation for getting your own classroom.

Most school districts have online portals that you will use to submit your application.  Some will ask for a resume, a few may not.  Regardless, you need to have a high-quality, professional looking resume at the ready to upload for applications or to print and hand out at interviews and career fairs.

But what exactly do you put on a teacher resume when you have no experience?

Been there, done that.  Jobs want people with experience but you can't get experience without a job. It's a lousy circle that just keeps going.  Never fear, even as a brand new teacher, there ARE things you can list on your resume for experience!

1. Any actual, paying jobs, working with kids.

Did you pay your way through college by working at a childcare center?  Go home every summer to work day camp?  Put those experiences on your resume!  You can add that you were responsible for a group of X children, supervised field trips, created an activities schedule, etc. Whatever is applicable to your role!

2. Student teaching

You didn't get a degree in education without student teaching. That experience is what you will draw from the most in interviews, so be sure to include it on your resume under experience.  You can specify what you did such as: "responsible for teaching five 7th grade social studies blocks per day", "planned and facilitated reading intervention groups",  "assumed all classroom responsibilities for 23 second graders", "contributed data to IEP case conferences" and so on.  Think back to all you did during the student teaching experience to choose the best highlights for your resume.

3. Field Experiences / Practicums

Most teacher preparation programs include many hours of pre-service work, classroom experiences before full student teaching.  These can also be added to your new teacher resume!

"100 hours of 2nd grade field experience in which I was responsible for leading a math center each week that targeted fluency skills".  

There you have it! 3 things you can put on a resume when you're looking for your first teaching job and don't have experience!  Remember: keep the resume to 1 page and print on high quality paper!

Good luck on the job search!

The Blogging Rules I Break: As Told By Schitt's Creek Gifs

As a kid, I was a rule follower.  As a blogger?  Nothing but a rule breaker.

My little corner of the internet has been going for 10 years now.  While the idea of blogging has evolved over the years, there are some evergreen blog rules that I break. And because I am not done obsessing over Schitt's Creek...the blog rules each have a Schitt's Creek gif to go with them. Because why not?

Rule 1: Choose a blog name related to what you write about.

Heh heh. "Zucchini Summer"  

Rule 2: Use your name

"TheBargainBabe". 

What a stupid name. You shouldn't say it to me because that would be rude and socially awkward but I can say it about myself.
I chose it back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was super focused on finding good deals. Bargains. I like alliteration and am a female. Hence "babe".  

I don't want to use my real name because I'm not tryin' to end up on an episode of Dateline. Thankyouverymuch.

Rule 3: Have a niche.

One major blog rule is to brand yourself as the expert in something fairly specific. Some bloggers specialize in all things travel. Others focus solely on books/reading. Yet other bloggers have found their niche in the world of creating beautiful spaces in their homes.

Then there's me. Zucchini Summer Blog written by The Bargain Babe. Do I write only about bargains or zucchinis or summers?

This blog's "niche" is "some of everything". Some posts are about favorite books. One month you might find a more serious toned post about special education. Some posts slant to social justice.  There's even one or two recipes around here.  

Rule 4: Use a photo of yourself.

Articles with blogging tips abound with the same advice to make yourself real to your reader. Use a photo of yourself in your profile. Even better if you have photos of yourself making your recipe or visiting Greece (assuming cooking or travel is your niche blog topic. See #3 above.).

This blog rule is tempting to follow. A few readers know me in real life. (*waves hello*), but most of you don't. I'd love to pop on here with a selfie so you can see the blog-rule-breaking-face behind the scenes. I post photos sometimes, of my dog, of some decor, etc...but never any of the human faces around here. It's a layer of privacy for my family. Besides, if you all knew I was an exact look-a-like for Salma Hayek, you might get jealous.*

*Def Salma Hayek and not me.

Keeping my face off the 'net gives some privacy.

Rule 5: Use Wordpress or self-host your blog

These days most people have gotten away from the blogger platform and gone to Wordpress or buying their own domain.  Yours truly however is still here hanging with the blogger/blogspot home.  I don't want to have to try to figure out how to change it all over myself.  And don't want to pay a hosting service or pay to have it migrated.  

While it is true that different hosts may offer different/better options for blogging, I'm just hitting the easy button and staying put for now.

Are there any blogging rules that you also break?  

I can't be the only one out here not showing my face, still hanging at Blogspot, and with a wide "niche", can I?

The 10 Things Saving My Life Right Now

These lists are apparently a thing?  I first saw one from The Lazy Genius (mine doesn't contain Oreos like hers does but there is definitely food involved!) and now Anne Bogel from Modern Mrs. Darcy has a yearly one?  Yes, please!  Tell me what is getting you through this winter/plague/world right now?

1. Libby app

This is a library app (FREE) that you can connect to your local library and use to check out digital books and magazines.  I've long been in the "physical books only" camp but then Covid19 came around and mucked everything up.  Unable to get to a library in person and without a zillion dollar book budget, what's a girl to do?

Enter: Libby.

I can place books on hold, read magazines, listen to audio books, or read a book.  Over the months of library shut down, I've gotten pretty fond of reading on my phone. A major advantage is that I always have a book available to read.  When I had a sick kiddo and needed to sleep next to them, I was able to read on my phone while still keeping the room quiet and dark so they could doze.

2. Schwan's Frozen Pizza

You know the Schwan's truck? You order frozen food and they deliver it to your door?  Now they have lots of delicious things and some can be pricey but let me fill you in on the budget saver. Frozen pizza.  Schwan's frozen pizzas are 5 bucks--less than the cost of a frozen pizza from the grocery store and WAY better.  Pro tip: Got teenagers? Get 2 pizzas. 

3. Paper plates

Look. I love the earth and as a global people we're doing a crap job taking care of it.  I also use paper plates most days.  Pretty sure that the billionaires taking trips around the world on private jets all the time are far more damaging to the environment than my family using a paper plate.  Now, if you're hardcore earthy or budget-y and don't want to buy consumable dishes?  Rock on!  Me?  I'm exhausted from teaching / momming / wife-ing in a pandemic so I'm going to serve our frozen pizza (see above) on paper plates without feeling bad.

4. 6 Outfits

Working in a school with confirmed Covid-19 cases, I need to wash my clothes on hot water and dry on high heat.  Not wanting to ruin all of my dress clothes, I have 6 outfits that I wear right now.  No jewelry (too hard to sanitize from school to home). This isn't a forever thing, it's a "just right now" deal.  But you know? Having minimal clothing options really makes laundry and preparing for the week super easy.

UPDATE: I wrote this earlier in the school year and have since transitioned into more dress clothes and accessories but darn if it isn't more stressful.  I'm going to pick out my 10 favorite outfits and just rewear those.

5. Life In Pieces reruns

Super funny show with short episodes that are the perfect escape from the currently...ahem...dark...world we live in.

6. Budgeting for each month and each paycheck

It's kind of a hassle to break down the budget for each paycheck but it really does help to make sure that each monthly category/bill gets the amount it needs.  It helps us track and have more to put towards our mortgage-pay-off goal.

We aren't shopping in person for things right now so instead of cash envelopes (we only have one for drive thrus and one for chore money) we use a google sheet with color coded boxes for each category.  The nice thing about this is that my husband and I can each update it.  If he wants to spend $20 ordering something we need for the house, he just adds it to the Google Sheet tracker and then I know that I can't order $30 worth of widgets because our house budget only has $5 left.

7. Book of the Month

Subscription boxes are available for everything these days. Makeup, kids crafts, clothes, food, and on.  But did you know...there are BOOK subscription boxes? There are multiple companies to choose from.  I chose Book of the Month because each month you get a choice of books. Other companies just send you a pre-selected book. I'm not a horribly picky reader but definitely stay away from some genres (fantasy) or styles (I cannot handle a wordy "classic" right now. Thankyouverymuch.).  With BOTM they have 5 options and I log in on my phone or computer and can read the description and a sample of each. 

(from BookOfTheMonth)

You can do a 12-month subscription (I got it as a gift for Mother's Day!) or a 3-month or 6-month subscription.

Yes, it is more expensive than getting the book through the library but there isn't a waiting list (one of my "to read" books on the Libby app had a 26 week waiting list when I added my own name) and it gives me something in the mail to look FORWARD to.  

If you'd like to try Book of the Month, my referral link might give you a discount. I'm not super sure because I've never done it before. However, I do know it doesn't cost you any extra and it does give me a bonus book pick so, you know, that's cool.

8. Online Grocery / Pick Up

Around late last fall, I discovered that my local grocery stores had online ordering. You order, show up, and they bring it out to your car and load it for you.  We started doing that.  Then Covid hit and we've never stopped!  

Occasionally I miss roaming the grocery aisles myself but it's not often.  Being able to have it loaded in my car is not only a time saver, but it's helping me and the community stay safer too because I'm not roaming around the store potentially exposing others.

Not sure who this guy is but I love him.

Pro tip: I always do the grocery survey that is emailed to me afterwards. I give the employees all 5 stars...I think it helps them get points or rewards or something.  Can anyone confirm?

9. Sojourner's Daily Emails

This ministry sends a daily email with a verse of the day/quote of the day/thought of the day.  The email is short and uplifting.  If you're finding yourself discouraged with the world, with the lack of justice, this will help feed your soul. There's a Sojourners magazine that you can subscribe to, but the emails are free.

10. Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese & Town House Pita Sea Salt Crackers

I bought the cream cheese for a Halloween recipe my son wanted to make.  It was amazing!  Why did I wait so long to eat garden vegetable cream cheese!  You could dip veggies in it but I prefer Maximum Carb Consumption.  I've been eating it with the TownHouse brand pita crackers (sea salt variety).  It's so good I have my own stash at work.  

Pro tip: The Philadelphia brand cream cheese is better than the Walmart brand texture wise but the flavor is comparable.  I've started buying the Walmart brand to save a buck.

Try some flavored cream cheese on your next grocery pick up order (Remember #8?)...and hide it from your family so they don't eat it all.

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There are my top ten things saving my life right now....books, food, and tv. That's healthy, right? Let me know if you have a similar list!

 

50ish Things About Me as a Reader

Anne Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy linked to this older post from another site and it was interesting to read about the reading lives of other people. It fascinates me how there is diversity among us bookworms.  I recently heard someone say that about all they want to read is biography and I thought "Eww."  I'm all for biographies and memoirs---but only if they are about someone I'm interested in or value.  

Did I pre-order Barack Obama's latest memoir? Yes, yes I did.

Would I ever purchase a biography about Kim Kardashian? 

 

We all have unique reading preferences and styles.  If you have a bookish list about yourself, please share in the comments. I'd love to read it!

1. When I was ten, I read the book "Not Without My Daughter" and getting through four hundred pages of an adult book felt like the biggest accomplishment of my life.
2. I volunteered at our local library thirty hours a week the summer I turned twelve or thirteen.
3. I have never read Catcher in the Rye.
4. Did not finish: Jane Eyre. 
5. The only books I have ever pre-ordered were Barack Obama's and Jeff Kinney's.  That mix probably says something about me on a psychological level. If you figure it out, lemme know.
   
   
   
   
   
6. I'm a teacher and HATE when other teachers or parents try to make a child choose a book "at their level." 
7. If I weren't a teacher and had to pick a second career, it would be something like librarian or bookstore owner.
8. People who fold book pages down make me cringe. But by all means, you do you.
9. I'm a purist about folds -see above- but have dropped crumbs onto my pages plenty of times. Yes, you can read without snacking, but why would you want to?
10. Baby-Sitters Club books were my JAM. Quite certain I read them all.  

    

    Look! A photo of my entire childhood!

    
    
11. Apparently many bookish people hate book covers that have the movie tie-in.  They aren't my fave but it doesn't bother me.
12. I used to hate e-reading and only wanted paper books. Covid changed that and I downloaded the Libby app so I could get digital books from my library. I love that as long as I have my phone-I have a book with me.  Now I read probably three fourths of my books on my phone and the other fourth as a physical book.
13. My husband gave me a subscription to Book of the Month as a gift last Mother's Day and it has been the best gift in the world.
14. I've only been able to finish one Stephen King book. He's a great writer, but I'm easily distracted and apparently unable to sustain attention long enough for his books.
15. James Patterson makes me question things like: How many hours are in a day? How many hours are in James Patterson's day? How does he write so many books? Is he using a ghostwriter? A billion ghostwriters?  How much of he and Bill Clinton's book did each of them write (because I quite enjoyed it)?  

    

    Nothing to do with James Patterson but this
    tweet is s.a.v.a.g.e.

    
    
16. Some schools are turning their libraries into "STEAM Rooms" and I wail and cry about it.  Can we not have both a library and a STEAM room?
17. Starting last April, mid-pandemic-shut-down, I started keeping a list of each book I read.  It's just in a cheap little notebook but this is fun and helpful to go back through the months and see what I've accomplished with reading. Also helps me find authors that I love.
18. Fantasy is the hardest genre for me to read.  Evidently my brain prefers realistic settings and characters and when things start flying or casting spells it's hard to keep up.
19. Thus, I've only ever read the first Harry Potter book. 
20. That classic children's book "Love you Forever" is stupid and I hate it.  So is The Runaway Bunny.  

    

    Bunny Mom is a stalker. Hard pass for me.

    
    
    
21. In the Not-Stupid category: Sesame Street "Monster at the end of this book". Other people have copied the idea since, but Sesame Street is the OG.
22. If you teleported me to the library I went to as a child, I could still walk you back to where the Berenstain Bear books were kept.
23. As a kid, our school library had the cards you had to sign your name and date in.  
24. I'm real bad about racking up library fines.  
25. I go through reading spurts. Many times I read every day but sometimes there's a week where I don't read for pleasure at all.  
    
    
    
26. I currently have eight books on hold on my Libby app.
27. I generally like movies based on books.  Maybe not as much as the book, but I enjoy seeing someone else take the same book and create their own vision from it.
28. The latest I've stayed up to finish reading a book was two a.m.
29. Our biggest bookshelf broke---because it was cheap---so until we replace it with something sturdier, I have piles of books just sitting around randomly.  Ahem. MORE piles than would normally be sitting around.
30. I threw one of my kids a bookworm birthday party and it was adorable.

    

    Look how little he was! *sniff, sniff*

    
    
31. "The Bad Seed" and "The Good Egg" are the BEST children's picture books and I will fight you on it.
32. D.E.A.R, Drop Everything And Read, was my favorite part of the school day. 
33. Greg Boyd's "Is God to Blame" and Brian Zahnd's "Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God" changed my theology and my life.  
34. Bookstore cats are cool but can we get a trend of bookstore Golden Retrievers going?  
35. In middle school I read all of the Janette Oke books I could get my hands on. She writes Christian western romance.  When you go to a fundie school you take what you can get, ok?

    

    Oh those fundie years. 
    Comic from the awesome Naked Pastor who has
    tons more to make you laugh!

    
    
36. In high school we read The Scarlet Letter. I didn't understand ALL of the symbolism until the teacher pointed it out.  Was I dense or does no one understand it on their own in high school?  Dense probably.
37. I hate what Amazon is doing to independent bookstores so much that we are not going to renew our Prime membership.
38. I've never been to a book signing.
39. I get annoyed when people talk to me when I'm reading.  I. am. clearly. busy.
    
40. I use any scrap of paper nearby as a bookmark.

    

    You say "receipt", I say "bookmark."

    
    
41. I have read all of Chevy Stevens books.
42. Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey remain on my "have never read this" list.
43. I loved the Divergent series along with Hunger Games. And their movies.
44. Amazon functions as my "TBR" pile. I add books to the wishlist and then buy them from an indie bookstore or request them from the library.
45. Audio books don't hold my attention.  I've only been successful with one or two. I think if my brain isn't looking AT the words on the page, it starts to wander and before I know it, the chapter is over and I've got no clue what happened.
    
    
    
    
46. I discovered the Shopaholic series by accident...browsing the library for a Karen Kingsbury book years ago and saw Kinsella.  
47. Even though I'm a sensitive person, books rarely make me cry.  Except that children's book about a sled dog who dies during the race. 
48. I have a running list of independent bookstores to visit once Covid settles down.  Michigan, Kansas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Tennessee, Hawaii...I'm coming for you!
    
    

Okay, that's close enough to 50!  Anything from the list that is true for you too?

2020 in the Rearview Mirror

2020 is coming to an end (is that a collective "Amen!" I hear?) and between the Covid and the politics it feels like this year was really 10 years smooshed into one. Let's recap, shall we?

Most popular post this year: You all really liked reading about how I DIY my own laundry detergent.

Least popular blog post: It's a tie between Daylight Savings Time and the Blog Redesign. 

Favorite books read this year: Probably Evvie Drake Starts Over and The Silent Patient.  I wrote a brief review about each of them back in August.

 

Things our grocery store was frequently out of besides toilet paper and cleaning supplies: Salmon, black beans (what was that about??), Christmas sprinkles, Christmas paper plates, yeast, flour, sugar, ice cream.

Biggest accomplishment: Surviving. We've had plenty of laughs and good times this year but I won't pretend like the anxiety didn't overwhelm at times.  

Biggest fail: I burned a pot of spaghetti. Yes, apparently, that's a thing that can happen. Who knew?

Things I did to help preserve democracy: Phone banked, donated to campaigns, made sure friends/family voted.

Things to look forward to in 2021 (in expected order of occurrence):  The inauguration.  Graduating.  Sitting inside a coffee shop.  Browsing a book store.  Taking a vacation (destination TBD).  Visiting long distance family.  

Netflix Binges: The Mindy Project, Schitt's Creek, The Office, Tiger King (That was this year? Feels like forever ago.), The Great British Baking Show, Man With A Plan. 

What are your reflections on the year? Did you find any great new books or tv shows?  Enjoy extra family time or nearly kill each other?  Did anyone else burn spaghetti? No? Just me. Okay then.  

Gift Ideas for Teachers When You're E-Learning

 Whatever you call it: remote learning, e-learning, digital learning, etc...it is all the same.  Many students this year are e-learning due to either their parent's choice in an effort to keep them safe or the school having to go to remote learning because of rising Covid-19 cases.  

A common misconception is that teachers are doing nothing during e-learning.  The truth however, is that teachers are still working and probably harder than they had to when they were in the building!  Lesson videos have to be made, every student checked in with, paper packets made for students who don't have internet, assessments changed into digital format, classwork still needs graded, parents and students have constant questions, etc.

As we roll towards the winter holiday season, please don't forget your child's teacher.  Gift giving can be hard when you aren't going to SEE the person.  Ordinarily you could just tuck a gift in your child's backpack and send them on the bus.  But what do you do now when there's no way to get a gift to the teacher?

Here are some ideas for gifts you can give your child's teacher this Christmas that they will love and that honor the social distancing rules.

1. Target gift card. 

Is there a gift list that doesn't include a Target gift card? LOL  Everyone loves them. These can be very easily emailed to the teacher and I've always had luck with the recipients getting the email.  Bonus: There's no physical card to risk getting lost!

2. Teachers Pay Teachers gift card.  

This website allows teachers to get many things for free but there are also items that cost money.  Things are reasonably priced, many at $1-5.  Teachers can get extra games, activities, and lesson ideas from this site.  In fact, I don't know any teacher who doesn't use TpT at some point in the year.  A $5 gift card would go a long way and just like the Target cards, these are digital and simple to email.

3. Write a note telling them what you appreciate about them. 

Be specific: the funny video they sent your child when he was sick and they wanted to cheer him up?  How organized they have been through e-learning?  That they still found a way to honor your child's birthday while e-learning?  That they always have a smile on their face?  

Find some specifics and write them down.  Email it or write it by hand and snap a pic that you send.  This gift costs nothing but will mean the world to the teacher. Trust me.

4. Send their boss an email and CC the teacher.  

Let the principal know how much this teacher has done for the students.  It doesn't have to be long "Dear Principal Pat, I just wanted to say how much Jimmy has enjoyed being in Mrs. Great's class this year.  Even though we've had to distance learn, Mrs. Great has found ways to build a relationship with Jimmy.  He talks constantly about what book she is reading to them and is always eager to log in for his daily Zoom.  Signed, Parent."

Bonus tip: This is a nice way to acknowledge specials teachers too.  Gym, art, library, music---those teachers love your kids too!  

5. Coordinate some parents to create a book.

If you are able to contact the other parents, you could ask them to do #3 (write a little card/note about what they appreciate about the teacher) and snap a pic of their child with the card.  Parents will send you the photos and you can assemble them into a Google Slides presentation that you then share with the teacher.  The teacher will be able to print the pages and make themselves a book.  Alternatively you could make the book  yourself with an app like Shutterfly, though then you couldn't deliver the book to the teacher digitally.

What to do the day you lose your job

Job loss.  Layoffs. Getting fired.  No matter the reason, losing your job is scary.  We've been through it before.  I remember being surprised at how BUSY we were even though neither of us had a full time job (I was a stay at home mom at the time)!  

If you're reading this, you've likely just found out your job has been cut.  I'm here to share with you the first things to do when you lose your job.

1. Don't beat yourself up.  

Layoffs happen. People get fired for reasons that are stupid.  Hold your head high and march forward.

2. Find out how to continue your health insurance.  

It's unfortunate in our country that our health care is tied to our employment but it's how things are for now.  You may be eligible for COBRA insurance.  Try your very best to not go without health insurance even when you are unemployed.

3. Look up the hours for your unemployment office.

If they are still open, call them.  Find out what you need to do to file.  This process takes awhile so you want to start filing for unemployment benefits ASAP. 

4. Call the local WIC office

If you or your spouse have children under the age of 5 or are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC (Women Infants Children).  The eligibility is less strict than food stamps and you would have a good chance at being eligible. 

WIC doesn't provide all your food for the month but they do give things like milk, cheese, carrots, cereal, bread, some baby formula if you formula  feed, etc.  It can be a huge help to your finances.  Click here to see the eligibility requirements for WIC.

5. Visit your SNAP office

SNAP is the food stamp office.  You can find eligibility information on the USDA website here.  Like unemployment, filing for SNAP benefits is a process that requires you to gather various pieces of paperwork and submit an application.  Start by visiting or giving them a call to find out how to proceed.

6. Stop all non-necessary monthly bills

If you're paying monthly for HBO, a cleaning service, subscription boxes like ipsy, or any other kind of monthly bill that's not necessary...cancel it TODAY.  We don't have cable or satellite any more but when we did we preferred Dish Network because you were able to quit at any time without a penalty. 

You will need to keep internet and cell phone service if at all possible. It's extremely hard to job hunt without home internet.  Your local library is an option but for now I'd try to keep your home internet.  

Many people don't have a home phone and just have cell phones now.  Perhaps you can move to a cheaper plan or have one with less data.  Call and see if you can lower the monthly bill.

7. Sell stuff online

When my husband lost his job I immediately listed 3 or 4 things for sale in one of those Facebook sales groups.  I had photos taken and posted before he even got home that night.  It was just a few Longaberger baskets worth $75 or less but it was something.  If you've got a few things laying around that you know you don't need, go ahead and list them online for sale.

8. Organize your contacts

So you've lost your job and now you need a new one.  Make a list of some contacts you know who may work for competitors or at jobs in a similar field.  Plan on calling them today or tomorrow and letting them know you're in the market for something new and do they have any leads.

9. Update your resume

Some advice I got years ago was to keep your resume updated regularly.  Hopefully your resume is fairly up to date but regardless, pull that bad boy out and update it so that you can start attaching it to applications and applying for jobs.  There are free templates online if you need to start from scratch and I've also had success with the basic Microsoft Word resume templates available.  

Keep your resume to 1 page unless you have very technical job certifications and experiences.  As a general rule, those of us under 45 years old shouldn't have more than a 1 page resume.  Employers aren't going to read every little thing on there.  You just want them to look at it and think "YES, we need to interview this person!"  

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I hope doing these 9 things immediately after you lose your job will help you make it through and find your next opportunity!  Remember, keep your head high and don't take rejection personally.  When I was job searching, I read that it takes an average of 100 "no"s before you get a yes.  

Good luck!