house painting

[gardeniabee]

Is there anyone in Socorro who would be willing to paint a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen/kitchen cabinets in my house for a negotiable fee? Or- if you know anyone who would be interested, let them know I'm searching?

Random work for the win?

Comments

[moonmica.livejournal.com]

I enjoy painting.

[gardeniabee]

I've gotten ahold of a painter in town, but if that falls through, I'll definitely hit you up. :) The thing is, there is some wall repair that needs to be done in conjunction with the paint job, so my realtor recommended I have a professional do it.

Also- random question- what was your experience with substitute teaching in Socorro? Did you like it/was it tolerable? How was the pay? I'm thinking it might be a decent way to bring in some cash when I get back into town, just to help with bills/mortgage type stuff until I can find a job I really want to do. But if it is heinous, I'll find something else.

[moonmica.livejournal.com]

Professionals are always good. I admit to having wondered if there was any wall repair needed. While I know the theory, it's just the theory.

I enjoyed subbing, except for the having to be there at 7 in the morning. It is probably one of the only jobs I could handle going back to. Last I checked it was $100 a day if you had a 4-year degree. Personally, I recommend not the high school and try to avoid C-level classes. However, I did hear a rumour that there are no longer separate classes for those with learning disabilities. If those children have aides, you're probably fine. If not. . . it can get bad. I adored Zimmerly, the 4th and 5th grades.

[gardeniabee]

Hmm... I was thinking exclusively the high school, actually. What about it bothered you? I just feel so uncomfortable around small kids that I'm not sure what to do with them. Maybe it would be a good chance to learn...

$100/day doesn't seem too bad, especially with the cost of living in Socorro.

Did you get pretty good lesson plans from the teachers?

[moonmica.livejournal.com]

Most of the time I did have good lesson plans.

My problem with the high school, and this may have changed, was that there was very little control over the students. The first (of two and a half) day that I was there, there was a lock-down because of a fight. Then one of the special students shoved an older teacher to the floor. The second day was ok. The half day was only one class and I couldn't get them to turn around for roll or even pretend to pay attention to the movie they were watching. 15 minutes before class ended, they all got up and left. The teachers that I spoke told me not to leave my classroom because the halls were too dangerous; I could write someone up all day and nothing would happen; and that the reason the kids just got up and left was because they never enforced anything.

Now Paul had a fine time at the high school. Part of that may have been a change in principal and part may have been because he is male. I did notice that some of the male students had problems with women as authority figures. This was also 4 almost 5 years ago. I am short, shy, white, blond, and female, and at the time pregnant. All of which may have affected the way the students responded to me.

Give it a try and see what happens. Just remember to dress kind of formal. Lynn and I both were mistaken for students and you are younger than we were at the time.

BTW, are you familiar with the stuff to become a sub? I think that it is background check with fingerprinting, license application with fee ($50?), official sealed transcript, and a TB test. I think that is everything. It was interesting to get Paul around the standard TB test.

[evil-cheshire.livejournal.com]

Having gone to Socorro high school, I can tell you nothing has changed. There is still no control over students, nothing is enforced, and the halls are still dangerous-- but it's MUCH better than the middle school.

I would recommend subbing for AP or advanced classes. Those students are (usually) a little more respective towards subs. Also, band kids are freaking awesome!

[moonmica.livejournal.com]

I didn't notice that many problems with the middle school. The one fight that I had to deal with was very decisively by the regular teacher the next day.

[evil-cheshire.livejournal.com]

How long ago did you work at the Middle School? When I went to school there it was absolutely terrible-- there were fights all the time, kids weren't being properly punished, police enforcement was being used unnecessarily. Now that I think about it, Mrs. Walker is the principal there now, right? Things have probably been cleaned up.

One year that I was there, there was a fight between two girls. One of the teachers went to break it up and ended up getting a high heel to his crotch. It was a permanent injury that has cost him many hospital visits, as well as given him the option to have charges pressed against the girl.