classroom set up

Out with the summer...in with the fall. Most teachers have returned to their classrooms working away like busy bees hanging posters, decorating bulletin boards, setting up centers, organizing desks, spelling "reading", "writing", "math", going through books, etc. I love it. The first two days were tough, I had a hard time sitting through hours and hours of meetings, got a creative block, and was lacking motivation...but, after sitting in the middle of my room just looking around, praying that God will get me out of the rut, it quickly all came back. I will no longer mourn the summer, I will now embrace the school year ahead. As I go into school for a few more final touches today, I will leave knowing that, once again, I will have the pleasure of touching a life or two. BUT, I will also leave there knowing that I have a pedicure appointment at 1:30.

First Month of Summer

This summer has been the best I've had in awhile. After deciding EXACTLY how many hours I need to tutor to make ends meet, I started planning everything I wanted to do. God has blessed me with so many incredible friends, wonderful husband, supportive family and a cuddle bug dog "Dexter". These few important parts of my life are what my fun activities revolve around. I can't seem to sleep in, so used to getting up for school at 6:00, so I make the most of my mornings...tutoring, then I am free. It is so nice to not worry about what needs to be covered in math, reading, writing, social studies, or social skills. I love that the only thing I really need to worry about is showing up for my tutoring appointments on time and having enough change to pay for parking meters when I am out and about town. I love that the ocean is 10 minutes away and the sand isn't too hot, yet. I love that Dexter likes to go on picnics and will actually lay next to me while I read. I love that my husband is thankful for homecooked meals. I love that I was able to spend time in Tennessee with my wonderful parents and closest friends. I love that the sun is always shining. I love that an ice cream shop, coffee shop, grocery store and dog park are all within walking distance. I love that my dear friends enjoy things like polo matches, picnics, long running jokes, beach v-ball, and appetizers at fancy restaurants because the actual lunch/dinner menu is too expensive for a teachers budget. But, NOW I am trying to talk the hubby to take a little break away from work and go on a trip. Mission Possible or Mission Impossible.

Summer time is great for the children, but for teachers. We need it to be better than we were last year, have more energy than we did in June, well...May, April, and March.

But, it needs to be said, I always feel like my "teacher bag" is calling my name to start planning, I've already contacted my school to find out how many children I will have next year, and I have been to a few meetings at school. I guess you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can never really take the classroom out of the teacher.

A surprise day off

Unless you are a teacher or work in a school...you will not understand the buzz that swarms around the school when the Principal says, "We are closing early and there is no school tomorrow due to unidentified bugs on campus!" This buzz I am speaking about is the buzz between the teachers and other staff at school.

Step 1. Call all your friends in their classroom and try to stay calm for the sake of the students so use secret code to share excitement with fellow staff members 2. Think to self, "How can I get them to load up and get to the car pool line as fast as possible" 3. Tell the parents, "I am really shocked, not to worry we will get caught up when we return." 4. Pack up all your school books, clean off your desk, pick up any trash on the floor, shut off the lights. 5. Find one of your students wondering around the playground wondering when their mom is coming 6. Sit at the front office, legs crossed, bags on floor, praying that their mom will show up the next time you blink cause the open road is calling your name!

Well, that is what happened today. After 6 hours pressing pressing pressing strategies taught, lessons learned and good test taker skills (not to mention introducing fractions) the surprise of leaving early was much needed. I honestly think the teachers get more excited than the students. Do you remember when you were a kid and you had a snow day? Or, an "administration day"? I thought the teachers lived at school so they had a free day too. Now, I know that is not the case. They don't sleep on cots behind the teachers desk, eat cafeteria food, read the math book and color on the chalkboard. The teacher does go home to a place similar to the students. But, what does she do? She grades papers, plans exciting lessons that allows children to get up and run around, engages all levels and is multi-sensory. She goes to the store, runs errands all the while thinking I should get this for the class or I need to remember to tell little Johnny to come here because of....The mind doesn't rest of a teacher, hence the blog.

We love our job or we wouldn't do it. We love a surprise day off, too!

Blog one

Well, I've never blogged before - but, I think now is the best time to start. My husband is tired of hearing all my "teacher stories" good and bad. In order to keep my sanity and remain on good terms with my husband, I needed to start a blog.

Teachers? Why did you become a teacher? Do you like teaching? I bet you like having the summers off and all those extra vacation days? That is the question that always bothers me. Especially the word "like" in the question. How about adding the word "need". We need the break! In my case, I teach 45 children at a private school. I feel like I need to start this off with the positive - I thoroughly love my job and all 45 children for different reasons. Since I've returned to teaching, there has not been a day that I woke up and said, "Ugh..I really don't want to go to work today." I have thought, "I can't believe I am going to try to teach the concept of bilateral and rotational symmetry today when I just started my period and have absolutely no patients, didn't sleep well and all I want to eat is the largest pastry in the pastry shelf at my local coffee shop." Just the other day I woke my husband up laughing as I got out of bed after Spring Break saying, "You can't imagine what my day is going to be like today." But, never have I said, "I don't want to go to work."

So, here I sit wondering if I should go to Target tomorrow for extra goodies since my students are going to take their tests in two weeks time. Do I continue to spend my hard earned, under paid, salary to continue to foster a not so good habit - prizes. Granted prizes certainly make my job easier, but is it a good idea? My reasoning for prizes is to get the children in a habit, give them immediate feedback and positive reinforcement, then back off of the prizes. But, what about the fact that we don't make that much in the first place? I love spoiling my students, but at the cost of where I have to tutor to earn that extra money??

My next question...sleeping? Do any other teachers out there require a lot more sleep than their friends or family? Do you find yourself past out on the couch well before what should be the normal time for bed? Well, I do and it drives me crazy! Monday through Wednesday, I am typically okay, but come Thursday and Friday night - forget about any extra activities after work, much less a proper conversation with someone. I feel like I am speaking in elementary school language, giving the teacher look (you all know what that looks like), asking my poor husband "Are you sure you made a good choice? Do you want to rethink that? Or, you need to be really clear on that decision before acting on it." Then, Saturdays I typically like to hang out and do whatever, but then once Sunday morning arrives after exercising, I am already thinking in my head about planning for the week ahead and what grades need to be recorded. Which leads to three hours of lesson planning and one hour of grade recording.

Well, that just about covers what I am thinking at the moment, but tomorrow I need to figure out how to take the short video clips off of this cool little flip video camera my hubby purchased for our trip, which conveniently ended up in my school bag Friday to record my students giving their book reports. So...how do I put the pictures on my computer so I can email it to their parents? I guess that will just be another hour or two added to my list of school to-do's for tomorrow.

That is what a teacher really wants to say....