To Salem and Back

Last night I was not as relaxed as I should have been. I was excited to teach my mini lesson, and I had everything ready to go. However I was worried about needing to get all of my paperwork in for my license. I arrived at FOCUS bright and early and started using the fax machine to send in forms to TSPC and request a transcript from Marylhurst. Then I was on the phone. First I called Marylhurst and explained that I needed to get my transcript that day. That every day they delayed was a day that I would need to pay for a sub out of my own pocket. They said, sorry, 5-7 business days. There is nothing we can do to help you. Then I called TSPC and asked whether they had received my fax. They had. Then I asked what else I needed to send them. They told me of two other things I needed, but also informed me that for the license I was requesting I only needed my undergrad transcript. Fortunately, HR had not opened theirs, and I was able to pick that copy back up and drive down to Salem to hand it in. Since I paid an extra $99 to expedite the license I now only need to wait two business days until I have my license. So by 5 pm (PST) I will have a license and will legally be allowed to teach in a classroom.
One thing I find funny is that you need to pay $100 to get a license. But they are so backlogged that people who requested theirs in July are still waiting. But if you pay $199 you get yours in two business days. Why not just charge everyone $200 and do them all in 2-3 days?
Back at school I taught my mini lesson to each family (advisory, we just call them families). The theme for this year is unity, so we did broken squares. This is a silent group activity, and each family responded very differently. Everyone is given pieces of a square and each person needs to build their own square, but they do not have all the pieces they need. The rules are no talking, and they only way to exchange pieces is to give one of your pieces to someone else. So everyone needs to be paying attention to the rest of their group and figuring out what they all need. The activity did not take up the full time. I also realized that I still need a lot of work with leading the post activity discussion. However I was able to get to know the students better in the extra time. I was also able to acquaint them with my dismissal procedure. I hate students leaving while I am still talking, so the rule is everyone stays seated until I say 'Thank you for coming, and have a great day." I think (hope) it will work.
I also have an update on the textbook situation. Textbooks has responded and says they will look. It is a step in the right direction. Maybe I will have books by the time I can legally teach.