Needing Some Advice - Haysville,KS

A friend of mine is in a similar situation to you. Just graduated and finished her student teaching. She has two kids(in elem school) and another on the way. She is doing substituting. I don't know how that works in Kansas, but here in Chicago it is done online from what I understand. You can go online in the morning (early) on the days you are able to work and see what sub positions are available for the day. Then you can select them. It works great for her because if she has a day where one of the kids is sick or off school, or she just is beat, then she doesn't look for work that day. The pay is not bad...I don't think she gets benefits, but luckily her husband's job covers that. She hasn't been able to get work every day she wanted it, but it hasn't been too bad. Plus it is kind of exciting to have some variety and she doesn't have all the lesson planning and parent teacher stuff that a regular teacher has, so when she gets home she is done for the day! Might be worth looking into-best of luck.

You should check with some of the daycare centers and see if they will work with you on a "drop-in" fee. The Castle daycare here in Wichita does take drop ins and they only charge for 1/2 day or full day as long as there is an opening that day. I used them occasionally and never had a problem getting in. I would go and see the daycare director in person and even if they don't have a policy currently set up, they might be willing to work with you, especially if they know you could be switching to full time later on which would give them more business if your child/children were there full time as well. Regarding looking for work; I'm not in the teaching field but if you plan to work, then I would start looking now. I know the summer school programs are usually needing teachers and they get paid well from what I have heard.

I've taught 5 years elementary and have worked 4 years in the education field (2 years for a franchise and 2 years privately). My advice:
1. Hit the beat hard to find a teaching position now. If you are not hired, you are back to square one. I wouldn't chance NOT trying. You are a step ahead of some of your previous classmates.
2. If you are not hired, look at working at tutoring companies in your area, even over the summer. Some pay better than others and have clauses that do not allow you to work for a competitor for up to 2 years so ask this at the time of an interview.
3. Over the summer, join a mom's group and start making friends with like-minded moms. You may find a reliable babysitter for the fall. You have all summer to find someone. I understand not wanting to pay for a full week and only working a few days. There are many great caregivers who may be willing to work with your situation. You don't know until you really start to look.
4. Once fall comes and you know if you have a full time job teaching or the possibility of subbing (with reliable child care), then you can make the decision to have another child or not. You know in the education world there are only a few times a year to get a job teaching. This is the main time. Don't throw your arms up now!
5. Consider tutoring privately. That is what I do now so that I can be home 98% of the time with my child (and soon to be baby #2). It is great money for the limited time you work. Better than subbing all week if you don't plan to return to the classroom for a while. If you do plan to return, you need to be out meeting people often and impressing them with your skills.

I don't ever plan to return to the conventional classroom, so my plan works for me. If you love the job and are good at it, don't throw in the towel now. Get some experience in before you make too many choices just yet.

Just my two cents! Let me know if you have any questions or want to hash out your concerns. :)

I am currently working full-time outside the home, but I just started with another company part-time to bring in extra money. Right now, it’s helping us save money on some of our expenses and bring in extra income. My goal is to some day work from home exclusively so I have more time to be with my girls. This may be something you could try now before baby number two comes along. Send me a private message if you want more information.

You never know what may happen. Here in Austin, this is a destination place for young famiies.

I have noticed that most. about 90% of the student teachers that come and help out a teacherin our daughters schools for the rest of the school year, move up to the top of the list for new hires.. Even with a freeze, teachers retire, move due to their spouses new jobs or quit.

So if your principal is really enthused about you, there still is a good chance for you somewhere in the district. He will want you on his campus and will fight for you. It always helps to have parents send note to the Principal saying you are "a good fit "for that campus and "fit the personality of the school."

Good Luck! I am sending you good thoughts.

I don't know if this is a feasible suggestion but what about being a teacher for a cyber school? Maybe you can tailor a schedule to meet your needs or work part time. I'm sorry I don't know much about them or how much they pay, how they operate, etc. I'm just trying to think of some other options for you if you wish to or need to pursue them. Best of luck to you.

don't try to go towards the kansas city area, my brother is in your exact classroom situation in manhattan but is likely to not have a job with his oldest child starting college next year. If you want to work, tutor, sub etc. in wichita a good sub can work as close to full time as is allowed. (i think they have a limit to the hours you can work a week). Hop off the fence and decide, to work or not. Seriously if you find nothing after trying hard then it wasn't what you are supposed to be doing.

Be creative, there are ways of working out the hand you are dealt. the rest of your posts gave you lots of options also, use your time now wisely and then if you are at home next year, count your blessings every morning you wake to the bright eyes of your child.

By the way I have half a dozen kids ( 5 still at home) in a 3 bedroom, 1 bath. And I always requested my child not be put in a class with a teacher who was pregnant, even if it was a teacher I liked. It is extremely disruptive to a child to change teachers midstream. I was very annoyed with the kindergarten teacher who was out for most of 3 years in a row, but even my senior is about to flunk out of her only required class b/c the teacher changed and all of the long term projects they were working on are not on theme anymore with the new teacher.

There is a lot of life ahead of you...have fun in what you do and enjoy your child(ren). Work will work out how it was meant to.