I am just this week getting responses from schools that I sent my package to in November...

so I would guess that come March, it might be a time to worry. With that in mind, remember there is a late Search fair every year in Bethesda, as well as TIEonline emergency postings.

The ultimate time to be worrying would be August! LOL

I think you have to be ACTIVE to access the database...and if you can still access the database, then you are showing active, even though you have a job.

So (and this is just my thought), in order to have you not show up as active and seeking employment, once you have the job, you deactivate.

Even Mrs. S got an email asking her to deactivate.

Once deactivated, no access to the job bank.

Also, I was contacted by a school who couldn't find my Search profile - so when you deactivate your profile is archived and removed from the list of candidates schools see.

That's why you have TIEONLINE LOL

Everything I have read says, make sure you post a specific position in the subject line of your email.

I would suppose later in your email, you would market your other skills and highlight them as well on your CV.

Bahrain is small and you can't drive out because you need a transit visa from Saudi to go through to Qatar or the UAE.

There is lots to do, vibrant life there, movie theaters, nightclubs - but on weekends the place fills with Saudis looking for entertainment. For instance, because movie theaters are not allowed in Saudi, some 80% of the people in the theaters will be Saudi (but the movie is just as good, honestly!).

People I know who have lived in Bahrain liked it.

I think this is where retirement teachers go to finish out their career...who have had IB experience in their schools in the UK, Canada and the US (and a surprising number of schools in Canada do offer IB DP...)

Paul, the reason why many schools sign up for San Francisco is that they are usually not as successful in Cambridge. However you also have UNI in there as well, where schools like that tend to be a bit more successful in hiring candidates.

If they want to interview you and you don't have jobs yet, why not? You might be surprised at how it turns out! ;-)

In the end, worst case scenario is you might not take a job offer. That's fine. But at the same time, you might have met an administrator or director that you think you would love to work with - just at a different school than the current one.

Good luck with your interviews!

Vitaminz,

wow, what a thoughtful post! Well done and a good read for anybody considering Kuwait.

At one point I would have put KES or KNES, but that is many years ago now...

ASK hasn't changed their contract in at least 12 years!

Nice to know about BBS...

No classroom shots needed. Mine has a school photo, like what you would find in the yearbook. Contact info. Education. Skills. Experience. Factoids About Me

that should highlight everything you want the recruiters to zoom in on...

postcard is too small.

You can use letter or A4.

Good luck - the fair is 3 days awaaaaay!

Calipro,

the question isn't would you be able to land a job, the question would be, "Will Search extend me an invitation to this fair."

Based on your total lack of experience in the US and overseas teaching in an international school, the answer would be no.

However, they might steer you to San Francisco or Toronto, meaning that UNI would be your best bet.

Good luck!

And here is where we disagree. Not one interviewer asked me if I had a portfolio or asked to look at it.

At a fair, they want to get down to brass tacks, see if you are a fit, and talk about your philosophy/experience/skills.

So IMHO, which differs from PsyGuys - skip the portfolio.

That said, I always have my important documents in e-format. Teaching certificates, passport scan, degree scan, letters of reference scans, etc, just in case...

I moved to the UK one year and ended up teaching mainly GCSE courses. It actually wasn't that hard to do, but it required me to wrap my head around a very different philosophy than back in North America, where percentage grades F to A+ was the norm.

The IB has a lot of overlap at DP with GCSE - moderation, formative assessment, band marking, formal assessment and outside moderation, predicted grades, etc.

At MYP (which I might be teaching this year!), it is a little different. There is a lot of formative feedback, but the inquiry process cycle plays a HUGE role in the learning of the students. Integration and learning what you know are embedded in IB, so if you do MYP plan on an integrated unit or two as you go through the year.

Other, more experienced MYP teachers who have taught both, what is your take? I know it's better than mine!

Redvaldo,

this does happen. However, my question is this. Why did you accept the job at the first school if it wasn't what you really wanted?

Also, if you have an offer you usually sign a contract at the fair (all the candidates I know who got jobs in Bangkok signed at the fair).

My advice, think long and hard before you accept ANY offer that you are not 100% committed to.

To add to what PsyGuy said, there are three levels of IB training. The first level is about the IB philosophy, band marking, moderation, the overall theory of IB at a specific level (PYP, MYP DP).

The second level is more subject specific. If you have a fair grasp of IB prior to going to a school, this is the one they will send you too as it directly involves your subject area.

Hope this helps!

Again, what do you have to lose?

Create a section of your CV where you list your SPED experience, or better yet, talk about your ability to differentiate. That is one of the key words going around and one of the consistent questions we were asked in most interviews.