Interview Portfolio

I have been thinking about starting a blog for awhile now. What has been stopping me? Mostly the intimidating prospect of writing an introductory post.

I'm trying to put together an interview portfolio for the teaching interviews I hope to have in the coming weeks or months, and it's daunting for the same reasons. It's hard to sum myself up in writing. But since the anonymous blog introduction seems less consequential than the interview introduction, I will start with this one.

• * I am student teaching in middle school math in an urban public school this year. I hope to get a job doing the same in September.
• * I used to have a very different kind of job. I was pretty good at that job but didn't find it satisfying.
• * This year has been extremely difficult. I want to be an inspiring, fun, effective teacher, but it is not easy. I wanted a challenging career, and it remains to be seen whether I will be able to rise to that challenge.
• * This year has also been a lot of fun. The kids are hilarious and earnest and sweet and exasperating, sometimes all at once.
• * I have been really lucky to be placed with some amazing mentor teachers. If I am half the teacher these people are in a few years, I'll consider myself a success.
  
• * I am both excited and terrified about having my own class in September.
  

This is my honest take on teaching right now. I think for an interview portfolio I need a little less angst, some more specifics about what I've accomplished this year, and copies of lesson plans and student work. Piece of cake, right?