"La" means "No" in Arabic.
Showing posts with label Teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teaching. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Learned Some Arabic
Today, I was teaching letter sounds in a small group of 3 year olds. We were sitting on floor all gathered around a pocket puppet chart and I was picking up different animals and saying their names emphasizing the first letter sounds as I placed them in the correct pocket. After filling several pockets, I picked up a lion and said, "La la LION... la la la la la." The kids who had been joyfully playing along and holding different puppet animals all dropped their puppets, stopped what they were doing, and looked at me like I was disciplining them. In confusion, I looked back to the other teacher in the room who was laughing at me.
"La" means "No" in Arabic.
"La" means "No" in Arabic.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
My First Week of Work
Today marks exactly a week that I have been back to work. It's been full of ups and downs, but unfortunately it seems like mostly downs. Leah has had difficulty transitioning. I'm not sure if it is more than usual or if I am just feeling serious Mommy Guilt. She is fine about 5 minutes after I am out of the room, but there are meltdowns each time I leave or if I am seen while at school.
I spend half of the day in the 2-3 year old class with Leah, Miss Jane, and our helper. The other half of the day, I am in Miss Lina's 3-4 year old class. I take a break between... I thought it was 30 minutes, but then I found out that everyone else only gets a 15 minute break... so now I'm a little confused. Let me explain...
Unfortunately racism is pretty rampant here. I expected to encounter lots of diversity, but the racism was definitely a surprise. :/ Here in Abu Dhabi, your salary, your breaks, your job, etc.. all has to do with your nationality. So far as I can tell you're set if you're Arab, American, or European. Labor jobs are usually done by Indians and service jobs like nursing and cleaning are usually done by Filipinos. I'm still trying to figure out where Africans and Asians fit into the "pecking order," but I think a lot of it has to do with the amount of education obtained.
Wednesday last week was my second day of work. Miss Majdah hired me as the 2-3 year old teacher. The problem was - that I could CLEARLY see - is that there already was a 2-3 year old teacher, Miss Jane from Kenya. I was very concerned, so I asked another person at the nursery in private if Miss Jane was going to lose her job and she assured me that she would not. (Whew!) This person also told me (as nicely as possible) that a big reason I was hired was because I was an American and it is good business for a nursery to be able to say that they have "native English speakers." I've heard that parents here will sign up their kid for a nursery if they see an American (white person) there.
I've been watching (all two days of my employment) trying to learn how the nursery works. I asked Miss Majdah when she would like to have me start writing plans. She said I should start for next week... and plans are due on Thursday, so that meant I'd be writing my first lesson plans during nap time that day.
Thursday (the start of the weekend here) was interesting. I had emailed my plans to Miss Majdah prior to coming in and continued to observe and help as I usually do waiting for feedback from her. At one point, I was helping gather the kids in for the 2-3 year old class and I asked Miss Jane, "Is this kid in our class?" She responded, "No, she isn't in MY class." Uhhhh... okay. Then during my break, Miss Majdah hollered up and said that my plans were good and that I would start teaching the 2-3 year old class next week, Oooookay! So it's the afternoon and Leah and I are getting ready to head out when the class newsletters that are sent home each week are dropped off in the room. I scan the newsletter quickly and see that I am introduced and my name is at the top as the teacher. Miss Jane is in the room with me at the time and takes the chance to glance over it as well. She stopped DEAD in her tracks and just sadly stared at the paper in complete shock with my name at the top. I guess no one told her of the change. I felt SO terrible and it was incredibly awkward. During the rest of my time there, I tried to apologize and also to show that I had experience teaching and that I wasn't just some "token American" placement in the school... that I have a teaching degree. It was terrible.
As I was leaving, Miss Majdah comes to me and decides that this is the time to critique my plans. I stopped and listened, welcoming any bit of constructive criticism. I am an elementary school teacher and not a preschool teacher and I am just trying to meet expectations. Her criticism... "You need MORE." Uh, more what? I tried to get clarification, but Leah was pulling on my arm to leave and we had somewhere to go. This working mom thing is going to take some adjusting.
Sunday was my first official day teaching. The whole week prior I had started off the mornings in the older class because the younger class was in Arabic, so I had been planning to have a little prep time during my 30 minute break. Upon arrival Lina explains to me that I will be STARTING the day teaching because they are now going to be alternating days for who has Arabic in morning. I freaked out a little because I wasn't ready. Lina reassured me that everything would be okay and that she would help me cut out what I needed. Then Leah decides to have a HUGE meltdown. She refuses to walk. She is sobbing. I am nervous about teaching a lesson that isn't even ready. It was ugly.
Luckily, this is preschool, the kids don't even understand how school works, and the 2-3 year old class has just as much experience with preschool as Leah and I do. Jane helped me fly by the seat of my pants until we could get things together and it worked. Communication is still very difficult. Leah is the only native English speaker in the whole school. The rest of the students speak Arabic at home. You can't give the kids even the most simple directions because they don't understand you. On top of that they're still learning the game of school - sitting on the carpet for circle time, standing in a line, taking turns - all of it is brand new to them.
Each day has gotten slightly better. I am lucky that the staff so far has been incredibly helpful and nice to me...even though I feel like such an overprivileged American jerk sometimes. I come in and take someone's job. I work 3-4 less hours than everyone. I am probably paid about the same if not more. I get a longer break. I work, not to provide or pay bills, but because I am bored and I want my toddler to be able to socialize with other kids. The list is incriminating.
One of the classroom helpers, a single Filipino mom has a 3 and a 4 year old at home in the Philippines that she hasn't seen in person in more than 2 years that her mother takes care of. She sees them on Skype. The other teacher, Lina, is from Palestine and grew up in the war-torn West Bank and Gaza Strip. She has sons back home in Palestine and lives and works in Abu Dhabi because it is too difficult to find employment back home. I am slowly getting to know everyone and I am interested to learn about different perspectives of the world.
Personally, I am finding it difficult to get back into the groove of working with the addition of being a mom as well. When I taught before, my time away from work was my own. Now, I don't really have "my time" anymore... not that I really have so much as a stay at home mom, but now it just seems like less. I also need to somehow fit in cooking dinner each night, doing laundry, and the general cleaning of the house. We'll get there... at least I'm not bored, right?
So I can end on a positive note... Leah and I were invited by a friend at church to tea on the observation deck of Etihad Towers which is the highest point in Abu Dhabi. We had a great time and it was nice to be able to do a little touristy stuff even though I am working.
I spend half of the day in the 2-3 year old class with Leah, Miss Jane, and our helper. The other half of the day, I am in Miss Lina's 3-4 year old class. I take a break between... I thought it was 30 minutes, but then I found out that everyone else only gets a 15 minute break... so now I'm a little confused. Let me explain...
Unfortunately racism is pretty rampant here. I expected to encounter lots of diversity, but the racism was definitely a surprise. :/ Here in Abu Dhabi, your salary, your breaks, your job, etc.. all has to do with your nationality. So far as I can tell you're set if you're Arab, American, or European. Labor jobs are usually done by Indians and service jobs like nursing and cleaning are usually done by Filipinos. I'm still trying to figure out where Africans and Asians fit into the "pecking order," but I think a lot of it has to do with the amount of education obtained.
Wednesday last week was my second day of work. Miss Majdah hired me as the 2-3 year old teacher. The problem was - that I could CLEARLY see - is that there already was a 2-3 year old teacher, Miss Jane from Kenya. I was very concerned, so I asked another person at the nursery in private if Miss Jane was going to lose her job and she assured me that she would not. (Whew!) This person also told me (as nicely as possible) that a big reason I was hired was because I was an American and it is good business for a nursery to be able to say that they have "native English speakers." I've heard that parents here will sign up their kid for a nursery if they see an American (white person) there.
 |
| Yep! That's me they're talking about - Native English Teachers. This flyer went out yesterday. |
I've been watching (all two days of my employment) trying to learn how the nursery works. I asked Miss Majdah when she would like to have me start writing plans. She said I should start for next week... and plans are due on Thursday, so that meant I'd be writing my first lesson plans during nap time that day.
 |
| My first shot at lesson planning for preschool. (Lots of Pinteresting going on!) |
Thursday (the start of the weekend here) was interesting. I had emailed my plans to Miss Majdah prior to coming in and continued to observe and help as I usually do waiting for feedback from her. At one point, I was helping gather the kids in for the 2-3 year old class and I asked Miss Jane, "Is this kid in our class?" She responded, "No, she isn't in MY class." Uhhhh... okay. Then during my break, Miss Majdah hollered up and said that my plans were good and that I would start teaching the 2-3 year old class next week, Oooookay! So it's the afternoon and Leah and I are getting ready to head out when the class newsletters that are sent home each week are dropped off in the room. I scan the newsletter quickly and see that I am introduced and my name is at the top as the teacher. Miss Jane is in the room with me at the time and takes the chance to glance over it as well. She stopped DEAD in her tracks and just sadly stared at the paper in complete shock with my name at the top. I guess no one told her of the change. I felt SO terrible and it was incredibly awkward. During the rest of my time there, I tried to apologize and also to show that I had experience teaching and that I wasn't just some "token American" placement in the school... that I have a teaching degree. It was terrible.
As I was leaving, Miss Majdah comes to me and decides that this is the time to critique my plans. I stopped and listened, welcoming any bit of constructive criticism. I am an elementary school teacher and not a preschool teacher and I am just trying to meet expectations. Her criticism... "You need MORE." Uh, more what? I tried to get clarification, but Leah was pulling on my arm to leave and we had somewhere to go. This working mom thing is going to take some adjusting.
Sunday was my first official day teaching. The whole week prior I had started off the mornings in the older class because the younger class was in Arabic, so I had been planning to have a little prep time during my 30 minute break. Upon arrival Lina explains to me that I will be STARTING the day teaching because they are now going to be alternating days for who has Arabic in morning. I freaked out a little because I wasn't ready. Lina reassured me that everything would be okay and that she would help me cut out what I needed. Then Leah decides to have a HUGE meltdown. She refuses to walk. She is sobbing. I am nervous about teaching a lesson that isn't even ready. It was ugly.
Luckily, this is preschool, the kids don't even understand how school works, and the 2-3 year old class has just as much experience with preschool as Leah and I do. Jane helped me fly by the seat of my pants until we could get things together and it worked. Communication is still very difficult. Leah is the only native English speaker in the whole school. The rest of the students speak Arabic at home. You can't give the kids even the most simple directions because they don't understand you. On top of that they're still learning the game of school - sitting on the carpet for circle time, standing in a line, taking turns - all of it is brand new to them.
Each day has gotten slightly better. I am lucky that the staff so far has been incredibly helpful and nice to me...even though I feel like such an overprivileged American jerk sometimes. I come in and take someone's job. I work 3-4 less hours than everyone. I am probably paid about the same if not more. I get a longer break. I work, not to provide or pay bills, but because I am bored and I want my toddler to be able to socialize with other kids. The list is incriminating.
One of the classroom helpers, a single Filipino mom has a 3 and a 4 year old at home in the Philippines that she hasn't seen in person in more than 2 years that her mother takes care of. She sees them on Skype. The other teacher, Lina, is from Palestine and grew up in the war-torn West Bank and Gaza Strip. She has sons back home in Palestine and lives and works in Abu Dhabi because it is too difficult to find employment back home. I am slowly getting to know everyone and I am interested to learn about different perspectives of the world.
Personally, I am finding it difficult to get back into the groove of working with the addition of being a mom as well. When I taught before, my time away from work was my own. Now, I don't really have "my time" anymore... not that I really have so much as a stay at home mom, but now it just seems like less. I also need to somehow fit in cooking dinner each night, doing laundry, and the general cleaning of the house. We'll get there... at least I'm not bored, right?
So I can end on a positive note... Leah and I were invited by a friend at church to tea on the observation deck of Etihad Towers which is the highest point in Abu Dhabi. We had a great time and it was nice to be able to do a little touristy stuff even though I am working.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Surprise Return to the Workforce
We've been living in Abu Dhabi now almost two months and I have been feeling a little isolated and bored without a car. I guess I never really appreciated having my own back back in the states. Leah and I were accustomed to going to some sort of playgroup or library 2-3 times a week and here we are in the middle of the desert in Abu Dhabi with no car and no friends. Taxis are pretty inexpensive here, but it is still expensive when you are paying EVERY time you want to go out. We went to visit a friend from church in the neighboring Khalifa City A and it was about 20 USD one way.
Leah and I would go swimming several times a week in the pool in our compound of 50 villas, but there were no other children here. The only exposure Leah had with other children was each Friday (the Sabbath is on Fridays in the United Arab Emirates) and about two play dates. I realized that Leah was starting to feel very lonely as well whenever we went to someone's villa to check out a yard sale item and she had an absolute melt down after we made her leave... There was another little girl around the same age and they had been playing together for about the 10-15 minutes.
Both Mommy and Leah needed friends and socialization STAT!
I was having a particularly rough day on Sunday and I told Doug that evening that I REALLY wanted him to buy me a car and that I was unhappy here without one. It wasn't a pretty discussion.
The next day during nap time I saw a posting for a preschool job on the Abu Dhabi yard sale group that I frequent. When I mapped out the location, it was too far away to commute to. At that point, I decided to do a search for nurseries near where we lived and Friends Nursery popped up in results.
On a whim, I decided to call and see if they had any part time openings. I explained that I had seven years of elementary school teaching experience and a two year old daughter that I would be interested in enrolling the days that I worked as well. I was transferred to the director and asked if I was available to come in the next morning at 9am and I agreed that I would. That evening, I pushed Leah in the stroller and it only took 5 minutes from doorstep to doorstep... the only catch is that we need to walk through a very dirty and sandy alleyway.
The next morning Leah and I woke up and got there right on time. The receptionist welcomed me in and I met with Majdah, the director, for an interview. What I had in mind, was that I would work 3 days a week as some sort of classroom assistant or clerical worker. Majdah was pretty pretty up front with me in the beginning saying that it is illegal (or something like that) in the UAE to hire someone part time. She said that I could work "full time" 8:30a-12:30p, but that it would need to be five days a week. (The work week here is Sunday thru Thursday.)
Then after only about 10 minutes of talking to me, she offered me a competitive monthly salary with a 50% discount in tuition for Leah. The offer seemed pretty decent, but we had already purchased tickets to go home over Christmas break for over a month and I would be absent for part of the term. Majdah said that those dates would be fine and that I just shouldn't expect pay during my absences.
She then took my on a tour of the nursery while Leah happily played in the front room with the toys there. We were there for a little under 2 hours and I left telling Majdah that I would get back to her that evening with whether or not I was going to accept the job offer after talking to my husband.
The only paperwork I would need was a "Certificate of Good Conduct" and my diploma needed to be attested. She had mentioned during the interview that I could take of getting my diploma attested while I was home for Christmas.
I was feeling pretty good about everything and talking to Doug was only a formality anyways since I knew he would be fine with me working if I wanted to work... so I asked one more question.
"About when would you like me to start?"
Tomorrow.
Uh... Okay! (Wow!!)
So I went from "unemployed" stay at home mom kind of thinking about maybe looking for a part time job on Sunday to I'm-accepting-a-full-time-job-offer on Monday to STARTING WORK on Tuesday. It all was pretty overwhelming.
I didn't sleep much Monday night. I woke up and started researching British Early Years and Montessori because the director is very passionate about Montessori. I then realized that it was also my sweet Leah's first day of preschool tomorrow, so of course I had to still fulfill my mommy obligations of "Pinterest-worthy" first day pictures. I only ended up getting a few hours of sleep and because of that, we SLEPT in Tuesday morning.
We woke up at 8am and needed to get showered, dressed, eat breakfast and pack lunches all by 8:25 in order to get to school on time. My first day "Pinterest-worthy" picture was going to have to wait. By some miracle, we made it on time (without lunches or snack). Luckily, they didn't expect to have me create any lesson plans or anything. I was just observing in two of the classrooms and helping out. Leah and I got home and I decided that I could take a first day picture even if it was after school. I redid her hair, cleaned her face, and handed her a frame off the wall. We sat out on the front steps of our villa and she actually smiled. CHECK! Unfortunately, I don't have Photoshop installed on my computer yet, so it was a ghetto Microsoft Paint job to add text to the frame... but alas, it's done! ..and I think she's adorable!
Today is Wednesday and we are back home and I am waiting for Microsoft Office to install on my computer so I can try my best to make my lesson plans for next week. My class consist of ten kids right now. Only one of them speaks English at home... Leah. Heck,.. I can barely pronounce their names correctly - Ahmed, Mariam, Matar, Mezna, Mys, Lilas, Rashed, Fatima, and Khalifa, In my classroom before, you would have maybe 5 or 6 ELL learners, but the other 20 kids in your class spoke English. Now, none of my students speak my language and I don't speak theirs. It should be an interesting challenge. They're all 2 years old and just learning to speak anyway. The director tells me that they will have English down by third term.
My biggest concern about this job right now is my little sweet Leah. She has been having difficulty sharing me with the other kids and has been crying a lot. The other teachers and the director tell me that it is just a transition and that she will be fine soon enough, but I can't help but have this terrible awful feeling in my mommy gut. A part of me is really concerned that she's not READY to go to preschool 5 days a week for 4 hours a day. That's A LOT! She's only two years old. :( I keep on telling myself that the socialization and structure that she is getting will be good for her, but it all just seemed WRONG whenever I heard her sobbing at school and asking to go home today... she's not really much of a crier at all.
When we get home, we just snuggle on the couch, just the two of us and discuss our morning. I guess I'm going to have to pull the band-aid off sometime... and I guess being her preschool teacher is about as transitional as it can possibly get.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sharing the News with my Class! :)
I had been doing parent conferences the first two weeks of November and I was hiding my pregnancy pretty well (or so I thought!). I wanted to tell everyone at the same time. About a week or so before Thanksgiving, I had started to show pretty obviously and had somehow made it into the PTO gossip ring at my school. I decided that it was time to tell my class.
I decided that I was going to ditch the loose clothes and go for belly-hugging shirts starting the Monday the week before Thanksgiving. We had our American Education Week activity that Thursday and my plan was to tell my students in the morning, so that they could tell their parents when they came for the activity before lunch.
I didn't really know how to tell a bunch of 9-10 year olds that I was knocked up, so I was hoping that with all the hints in my clothing that week they would be able to guess. We had just had a guidance lesson and the class was settled down pretty well. I started by saying that I had some exciting news to share with them.
Several bounced up and down in their seats and one yelled, "It's Jeanmarie's (one of my students) birthday!" I responded, "Yes, it IS Jeanmarie's birthday and that is incredibly special, but I wanted to share some NEW news with you." Another student exclaimed, "You finished organizing the bookshelves!!" And several smiling heads bobbed up and down in agreement.
I responded once again, "Yes, that IS right as well, BUT this is something NEW about ME!" I look at at my students and see some rather baffled faces. I then turn in profile and start rubbing my obviously protruding belly in desperation. There are some audible gasps in the classroom and I hear one girl whisper to another, "Hey, you're not supposed to say that!!" And then the hands start to gradually go up. I called on one little girl who seemed to have it figured out. "Ella?"
She stood up at her desk and exclaimed, "You're going to have a baby!?"
I answered in the affirmative and then the class erupted!
There were several shocked faces. One kid yelled, "I knew it, but my mom said I shouldn't say anything!" Others hugged one another and ran around giving high fives. Several came up to hug me, and a very few just sat there and pondered it over. It was complete pandemonium. :)
We had a question and answer session for about 10-15 minutes afterward to get all of the excitement out. Several questions were centered around whether or not I would name the baby after them. :) (The class has centered around the names Rufus?!? and Isabelle.) Others wanted to know with sad faces if this meant that I would be leaving them. Luckily all comments and questions were appropriate and there was only a little talk in between two boys about how they would be learning all about it in Family Life Education this year and they didn't want to because it was "disgusting!"
They asked me if I could feel the baby yet and at that point it hadn't been too regular, but I did tell them that the baby could hear them. (I had just read about it on my babycenter update.) They immediately jumped out of their seats waving and started yelling, "Hi Baby! Hi Baby!" Over and over again. One of them asked, "Do you think the baby is learning what we are learning?" Before I could answer, another exclaimed, "The baby must really know their multiplication facts!" They've been quizzing her since. "Baby? What's 0 x 1? Did you hear that? She didn't answer because she already knows its zero! She's a genius already!"
My class this year has truly been a blessing! They are extremely well-behaved and all around good, sweet kids. Now that they know, I find many of them speaking directly to my belly instead of to me, I get hugs from a couple of them with belly rubs in the morning saying, "Good morning Baby!"
It's all very sweet and exciting and I'm glad that I get to share this special time with them.
I decided that I was going to ditch the loose clothes and go for belly-hugging shirts starting the Monday the week before Thanksgiving. We had our American Education Week activity that Thursday and my plan was to tell my students in the morning, so that they could tell their parents when they came for the activity before lunch.
I didn't really know how to tell a bunch of 9-10 year olds that I was knocked up, so I was hoping that with all the hints in my clothing that week they would be able to guess. We had just had a guidance lesson and the class was settled down pretty well. I started by saying that I had some exciting news to share with them.
Several bounced up and down in their seats and one yelled, "It's Jeanmarie's (one of my students) birthday!" I responded, "Yes, it IS Jeanmarie's birthday and that is incredibly special, but I wanted to share some NEW news with you." Another student exclaimed, "You finished organizing the bookshelves!!" And several smiling heads bobbed up and down in agreement.
I responded once again, "Yes, that IS right as well, BUT this is something NEW about ME!" I look at at my students and see some rather baffled faces. I then turn in profile and start rubbing my obviously protruding belly in desperation. There are some audible gasps in the classroom and I hear one girl whisper to another, "Hey, you're not supposed to say that!!" And then the hands start to gradually go up. I called on one little girl who seemed to have it figured out. "Ella?"
She stood up at her desk and exclaimed, "You're going to have a baby!?"
I answered in the affirmative and then the class erupted!
There were several shocked faces. One kid yelled, "I knew it, but my mom said I shouldn't say anything!" Others hugged one another and ran around giving high fives. Several came up to hug me, and a very few just sat there and pondered it over. It was complete pandemonium. :)
We had a question and answer session for about 10-15 minutes afterward to get all of the excitement out. Several questions were centered around whether or not I would name the baby after them. :) (The class has centered around the names Rufus?!? and Isabelle.) Others wanted to know with sad faces if this meant that I would be leaving them. Luckily all comments and questions were appropriate and there was only a little talk in between two boys about how they would be learning all about it in Family Life Education this year and they didn't want to because it was "disgusting!"
They asked me if I could feel the baby yet and at that point it hadn't been too regular, but I did tell them that the baby could hear them. (I had just read about it on my babycenter update.) They immediately jumped out of their seats waving and started yelling, "Hi Baby! Hi Baby!" Over and over again. One of them asked, "Do you think the baby is learning what we are learning?" Before I could answer, another exclaimed, "The baby must really know their multiplication facts!" They've been quizzing her since. "Baby? What's 0 x 1? Did you hear that? She didn't answer because she already knows its zero! She's a genius already!"
My class this year has truly been a blessing! They are extremely well-behaved and all around good, sweet kids. Now that they know, I find many of them speaking directly to my belly instead of to me, I get hugs from a couple of them with belly rubs in the morning saying, "Good morning Baby!"
It's all very sweet and exciting and I'm glad that I get to share this special time with them.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Paradigm Shift
Right now I'm home sick from school with some sort of cold/flu thing. It sucks. I just want to be able to breathe through my nose again and not feel all achy.
So all of this time in bed has given me time to think. Becoming a mom has been something I have dreamed of my whole life and now at 22 weeks pregnant, it is turning into more and more of a reality. I can feel my little girl moving daily now and I am so excited to meet her in April!
As if becoming a parent isn't a big enough change, I'm now thinking about how my life will be as a stay at home mom. It has been mine and Doug's plan from the beginning for me to stay home with our children. We are not loaded by any stretch of the imagination, but we are really good savers and not very good spenders. These two things combined with the fact that it took freaking FOREVER to get pregnant have allowed us to prepare for this day financially.
I truly do love my job... especially with the amazing group of kiddos I have in my room this year. I'm having a really hard time saying goodbye to the teaching profession even if it only is temporarily while I raise my family. The parents that have asked about next year have all been visibly disappointed when I tell them that I'll be staying home. I expected a bunch of "Good for you's!" and "They don't stay young forever!" Instead I got, "I was hoping you could be (younger siblings)'s teacher." and stuff like, "You have a gift for teaching. You shouldn't leave!!!"
The people-pleaser in me wants to make all of these people happy. I mean, there are tons of GREAT moms that do it every day... work full time and parent. I just don't know if I can be one of them. Teaching to me is more than a full time job. Yes, there is the grading and planning that happens outside of school, but it is MORE than that. I am 100% dedicated to my students each year. They are my life. I think about them when I drive home, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about them, and they are usually one of the first things I think about in the morning. Is that weird?
I don't think that I can give 100% to them and still have enough left for my little family. I honestly don't know how people balance it all. If I am going to teach, I want to do it the way I always have. My job makes me really happy most days and is very fulfilling. I worry that I'll miss it terribly. My friends at work tell me, "When you hold her in your arms the first time, none of it will matter!" I've seen huge changes in my friends that have become parents recently and I still think it is the craziest thing. I feel this big change coming in my life and I have no clue how I am going to be afterward.
My plan right now is to work up to spring break which is the last week in March this year. Over the past 6 years that I worked for the county I'm in, I have only taken maybe 2 sick days (not counting this week) so fortunately I have a TON saved up. This will allow me to have a few weeks at home to prepare for our little girl's arrival if she is on time for her April 11th due date. A BIG part of me wants to work up to my due date, but I hate to lose the 30 plus sick days that I will have remaining AFTER I take my maternity leave. Right now, when someone asks me my due date, I tell them the beginning of April. ...darn guilty conscience.
My life sure is changing quickly. I'm gearing up for a major paradigm shift!
So all of this time in bed has given me time to think. Becoming a mom has been something I have dreamed of my whole life and now at 22 weeks pregnant, it is turning into more and more of a reality. I can feel my little girl moving daily now and I am so excited to meet her in April!
As if becoming a parent isn't a big enough change, I'm now thinking about how my life will be as a stay at home mom. It has been mine and Doug's plan from the beginning for me to stay home with our children. We are not loaded by any stretch of the imagination, but we are really good savers and not very good spenders. These two things combined with the fact that it took freaking FOREVER to get pregnant have allowed us to prepare for this day financially.
I truly do love my job... especially with the amazing group of kiddos I have in my room this year. I'm having a really hard time saying goodbye to the teaching profession even if it only is temporarily while I raise my family. The parents that have asked about next year have all been visibly disappointed when I tell them that I'll be staying home. I expected a bunch of "Good for you's!" and "They don't stay young forever!" Instead I got, "I was hoping you could be (younger siblings)'s teacher." and stuff like, "You have a gift for teaching. You shouldn't leave!!!"
The people-pleaser in me wants to make all of these people happy. I mean, there are tons of GREAT moms that do it every day... work full time and parent. I just don't know if I can be one of them. Teaching to me is more than a full time job. Yes, there is the grading and planning that happens outside of school, but it is MORE than that. I am 100% dedicated to my students each year. They are my life. I think about them when I drive home, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about them, and they are usually one of the first things I think about in the morning. Is that weird?
I don't think that I can give 100% to them and still have enough left for my little family. I honestly don't know how people balance it all. If I am going to teach, I want to do it the way I always have. My job makes me really happy most days and is very fulfilling. I worry that I'll miss it terribly. My friends at work tell me, "When you hold her in your arms the first time, none of it will matter!" I've seen huge changes in my friends that have become parents recently and I still think it is the craziest thing. I feel this big change coming in my life and I have no clue how I am going to be afterward.
My plan right now is to work up to spring break which is the last week in March this year. Over the past 6 years that I worked for the county I'm in, I have only taken maybe 2 sick days (not counting this week) so fortunately I have a TON saved up. This will allow me to have a few weeks at home to prepare for our little girl's arrival if she is on time for her April 11th due date. A BIG part of me wants to work up to my due date, but I hate to lose the 30 plus sick days that I will have remaining AFTER I take my maternity leave. Right now, when someone asks me my due date, I tell them the beginning of April. ...darn guilty conscience.
My life sure is changing quickly. I'm gearing up for a major paradigm shift!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Focusing on the Good Times
This particular school year was a tough one for me, the toughest in six years of teaching. I don't want to say that I had a tough class because I had a bunch of REALLY amazing kids, but I will say that I had a few challenging kids and several conflicting personalities. I got to the point where there were days like this one when I was leaving school right after the kids and going home to look at other jobs. Not other teaching jobs, but something entirely out of the teaching profession itself. I even talked to Doug to see if there were jobs at his work that I might be able to get. I truly thought that I was done with teaching.
Even when I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, it was just a matter of who and what I was going to teach. My first year of teaching was crazy and overwhelming, but it was MAGICAL. I got to go to school every day and play with kids! We did cool experiments, read exciting books, and best of all I got to see the "ah-hah" moment on my students' faces when they finally understood something.
I've come in contact with some, we'll use the termold experienced, teachers in my years. After working closely with a few, I came to wonder, what happened to them? Why had they turned so bitter?
This year I started to wonder if that was going to be me. Was teaching losing its magic for me? If it was, I wanted to get out of the profession right away. I always feel bad for the kids that get the teacher that is negative. I wasn't going to be THAT teacher.
Every year, I take TONS of pictures of my class. I put them together on a DVD in a slideshow format and add music. The process always keeps me up the entire night before the last day of school and although I'm incredibly sleep deprived, I'm not sure I'd have it any other way.
The whole process of selecting the pictures, choosing the music, and putting together the slideshow is actually a very reflective process for me. Now, pictures are a great way to look back at the good times. I mean come on, do you really even take pictures of the bad times? But, the conclusion that I come to every year, and especially this year, is that we had A LOT of good times and that's what I should focus on.
I handed over my camera a couple of times this year and actually got in a few of the pictures, so I'll share some of my favorites.
So looking through these pictures and others makes me realize that I'm not ready to retire from the teaching profession just yet. The "experienced" teachers I mentioned had just FORGOTTEN the magic that we get to experience on a daily basis.
I'm enjoying my summer, but BRING ON NEXT YEAR! I CAN'T WAIT! :)
Even when I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, it was just a matter of who and what I was going to teach. My first year of teaching was crazy and overwhelming, but it was MAGICAL. I got to go to school every day and play with kids! We did cool experiments, read exciting books, and best of all I got to see the "ah-hah" moment on my students' faces when they finally understood something.
I've come in contact with some, we'll use the term
This year I started to wonder if that was going to be me. Was teaching losing its magic for me? If it was, I wanted to get out of the profession right away. I always feel bad for the kids that get the teacher that is negative. I wasn't going to be THAT teacher.
Every year, I take TONS of pictures of my class. I put them together on a DVD in a slideshow format and add music. The process always keeps me up the entire night before the last day of school and although I'm incredibly sleep deprived, I'm not sure I'd have it any other way.
The whole process of selecting the pictures, choosing the music, and putting together the slideshow is actually a very reflective process for me. Now, pictures are a great way to look back at the good times. I mean come on, do you really even take pictures of the bad times? But, the conclusion that I come to every year, and especially this year, is that we had A LOT of good times and that's what I should focus on.
I handed over my camera a couple of times this year and actually got in a few of the pictures, so I'll share some of my favorites.
 |
| Constitution Convention, not a good day for me, but I kept a smile on. I hope it was at least a good day for them. |
 |
| This is what goes on when I'm not looking. |
 |
| I LOVE the hand raise here. Middle and high schoolers don't raise their hand like this! |
 |
| Learning about series and parallel circuits in class. |
 |
| End of the Year class party... shouldn't have given THIS teacher the garden hose! |
 |
| They ended up soaking me, which was fine. BUT I was pretty soaked after school when I accepted my pin for five years in LCPS. |
So looking through these pictures and others makes me realize that I'm not ready to retire from the teaching profession just yet. The "experienced" teachers I mentioned had just FORGOTTEN the magic that we get to experience on a daily basis.
I'm enjoying my summer, but BRING ON NEXT YEAR! I CAN'T WAIT! :)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hello Summer!
I won't post much because I'm up way past my bedtime, but I will give a little update.
School is out! I am trying to keep busy this summer. I've taken on a couple students to tutor over the summer, I'm revising the VA Studies textbook I did last summer, I'm going to make my first draft of a science one, and I'm going to Utah for a little while to see my grandparents, my in-laws, and my sister.
I started jogging in the mornings last Monday (my first day without kiddos). I've set a schedule where I take breaks on Thursdays and Sundays to give my body time to recooperate. My route is two miles and it usually takes me about nine minutes to get to the one mile point. I go when Doug leaves for work a little after 5 am so it's just me and the deer.
Oh yeah, and I'm still not pregnant. I'm on my second Clomid cycle and continuing to think positively. Maybe THIS will be the month. This August we will have been doing this trying to conceive stuff for the last three years... SO ready to move onto pregnancy/parenthood stuff. I keep on telling my body that it needs to get with the program, so maybe it will start listening soon.
School is out! I am trying to keep busy this summer. I've taken on a couple students to tutor over the summer, I'm revising the VA Studies textbook I did last summer, I'm going to make my first draft of a science one, and I'm going to Utah for a little while to see my grandparents, my in-laws, and my sister.
 |
| What I look at all day. |
I started jogging in the mornings last Monday (my first day without kiddos). I've set a schedule where I take breaks on Thursdays and Sundays to give my body time to recooperate. My route is two miles and it usually takes me about nine minutes to get to the one mile point. I go when Doug leaves for work a little after 5 am so it's just me and the deer.
Oh yeah, and I'm still not pregnant. I'm on my second Clomid cycle and continuing to think positively. Maybe THIS will be the month. This August we will have been doing this trying to conceive stuff for the last three years... SO ready to move onto pregnancy/parenthood stuff. I keep on telling my body that it needs to get with the program, so maybe it will start listening soon.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Where do you envision yourself in 10 years?
Yep that's me! Ten-years-ago-me from an extra little section in my senior yearbook. I was cleaning the bookshelf in my bedroom the other day when I decided to do a little reminiscing and flip through my yearbook. I totally forgot about
this picture and my answer. Poor past me... she didn't realize how tough it would be to get pregnant.
I remember telling my friend that was taking this picture that I would probably have more than *just* two kids in 10 years, but she decided to edit me a little. I also remember people asking about me getting married because I didn't even mention it... I knew that would happen... I guess I just always dreamed about the being a mom part.
Here, I guess I can edit this a little for accuracy's sake.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Some Optimism
So, I had been trying to email my doctor to come up with a short extension for my plan for treatment, but either she was being unclear or I was because I got so confused! Anyway, I finally scheduled a phone appointment with her and we talked for about 30 minutes today. She was at work at 6:30 on a Friday night when she called me. (I happened to be at work as well, but that's just because I don't have a life... and Doug is out of town this weekend.)
Apparently, my Lupron shot wears off almost a full week before I thought it was going to, but not soon enough to matter for Doug's travel dates. I am going in on Monday or Tuesday this next week to get a ONE month Lupron shot. I think all of the crazy emotion I've been feeling this last little while is my hormone levels changing from my three month shot wearing off. I'm down to about three hot flashes a day instead of more than a dozen. That's good because I think it shows that my system is trying to return back to normal.
We also were able to schedule a follow-up ultrasound in a couple of weeks to make sure that this shot is actually working. If my second shot has worn off by April 1st (meaning no hot flashes), then they will start me on the Clomid again. Clomid isn't a super strong fertility drug, but it should (hopefully) bring my fertility up to what it would be if I didn't have endometriosis.
Of course, there was a disclaimer once again (although now I take them more seriously) that my system may need a "jump start" with some birth control after the Lupron if my brain and ovaries have somehow forgotten how to communicate and need a little push.
So that's my health update! I feel so high maintenance! :)
As far as the classroom, things have been going pretty good. The no-talking mornings were actually pretty nice this week and I'm actually sad to see them go on Monday. I've joked with the other teachers that my kids probably all scared of me right now. I've been acting like some crazy two-headed monster. Every morning I greet my students at the door with a smile and a "Good morning!" :) In the room though if one of them talks, the scary Mrs. "S" comes out. "I said NO TALKING!" and I have this kind of mean/serious look. Sometimes I have to go out into the hall to smile without them seeing me, so I still am taken seriously.
I've been really worried that my students will not enjoy school anymore with this new two-headed monster-ness. Today in my compliment bucket (We do weekly compliments for each other.) there were four different compliments from students all having to do with them liking my smile or how I greet them in the morning. It was nice to know that I haven't crushed their spirits.
Their behavior as a class is SOOOOOO much better after our talks last week. Seriously, I rang the bell this morning to get their attention and they all stopped IMMEDIATELY and listened to directions. The Spanish teacher happened to still be in the room and looked like she was going to faint from disbelief. :)
Doug will be back Saturday night and I get to enjoy him for a WHOLE week before he is off to Thailand for a month. His boss who has traveled extensively and is still happily married offered to let him borrow his sliding scale of travel gifts for the spouse. He has apparently figured out a "tried and true" formula for how much you need to spend on gifts for your wife in relation to how long you will be traveling. I should probably get something good for a full month, right?
Apparently, my Lupron shot wears off almost a full week before I thought it was going to, but not soon enough to matter for Doug's travel dates. I am going in on Monday or Tuesday this next week to get a ONE month Lupron shot. I think all of the crazy emotion I've been feeling this last little while is my hormone levels changing from my three month shot wearing off. I'm down to about three hot flashes a day instead of more than a dozen. That's good because I think it shows that my system is trying to return back to normal.
We also were able to schedule a follow-up ultrasound in a couple of weeks to make sure that this shot is actually working. If my second shot has worn off by April 1st (meaning no hot flashes), then they will start me on the Clomid again. Clomid isn't a super strong fertility drug, but it should (hopefully) bring my fertility up to what it would be if I didn't have endometriosis.
Of course, there was a disclaimer once again (although now I take them more seriously) that my system may need a "jump start" with some birth control after the Lupron if my brain and ovaries have somehow forgotten how to communicate and need a little push.
So that's my health update! I feel so high maintenance! :)
As far as the classroom, things have been going pretty good. The no-talking mornings were actually pretty nice this week and I'm actually sad to see them go on Monday. I've joked with the other teachers that my kids probably all scared of me right now. I've been acting like some crazy two-headed monster. Every morning I greet my students at the door with a smile and a "Good morning!" :) In the room though if one of them talks, the scary Mrs. "S" comes out. "I said NO TALKING!" and I have this kind of mean/serious look. Sometimes I have to go out into the hall to smile without them seeing me, so I still am taken seriously.
I've been really worried that my students will not enjoy school anymore with this new two-headed monster-ness. Today in my compliment bucket (We do weekly compliments for each other.) there were four different compliments from students all having to do with them liking my smile or how I greet them in the morning. It was nice to know that I haven't crushed their spirits.
Their behavior as a class is SOOOOOO much better after our talks last week. Seriously, I rang the bell this morning to get their attention and they all stopped IMMEDIATELY and listened to directions. The Spanish teacher happened to still be in the room and looked like she was going to faint from disbelief. :)
Doug will be back Saturday night and I get to enjoy him for a WHOLE week before he is off to Thailand for a month. His boss who has traveled extensively and is still happily married offered to let him borrow his sliding scale of travel gifts for the spouse. He has apparently figured out a "tried and true" formula for how much you need to spend on gifts for your wife in relation to how long you will be traveling. I should probably get something good for a full month, right?
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Happy FREAKING Birthday to Me!
Doug and I are in Cumberland for the long weekend visiting some friends. It's nice to get away for a little while, but I think I am going to need a more substantial vacation soon. My sister is coming from Utah during my spring break, so I hate to leave while she is here, but I may just need a few days of somewhere else.
So some updates...
Nursery is going a lot better. I've added a little structure (I think) to the program, but I'm not really sure because I don't know what it was like before I got there. We start every day with playdoh, then to puzzles, snack, lesson, coloring, toys, music time, and then bubbles. Unfortunately the other two nursery workers aren't there very often and they don't get subs when they are gone. I guess I can't say too much because I'm out of town this weekend. (But, I did arrange with one of the parents ahead of time to sub for me...) I'm starting to feel like I know what I'm doing and that's nice.
Doug is going to be in Thailand for work the WHOLE month of March. There is a possibility of us living there for a couple years in the future, so he's kind of going out to preview and try it out. I wish my Spring Break would have lined up with his travel because I totally would have gone out there with him for at least two weeks. It's going to be pretty lonely while he's gone, but I've learned to be pretty independent with how often he needs travel for work. If we do move to Thailand for a while it will be nice because I think I will get to see him more often!
The one part about this that REALLY sucks is that March is when my Lupron (menopause inducing) shot finally wears off. I can't get pregnant when my husband is on another continent and there is absolutely no flexibility with his travel dates. It's just yet another roadblock on getting pregnant. I figure I've been trying to get pregnant now for two and a half years now, what's another month? I only cried a few nights. I'm trying to figure out something with my doctor right now because this complicates things.
I'm in a good place right now emotionally about not being pregnant. It's a lot easier for me when I'm on some sort of treatment. There's no monthly roller coaster ride of emotions. I know that I can't get pregnant when I'm on these treatments, so there's no counting days or wondering if I'm pregnant. There's no let down when I get my period. It just makes it easier. To be honest, I'm anxious to go OFF treatment because that means that all of the worry and disappointment will come back.
My menopause symptoms have become pretty commonplace now. The hot flashes have either gotten better or I've just gotten used to them. I've come up with some ways to be more comfortable during the night even while dealing with the night sweats. I wasn't having any emotional side effects that I could tell until this last Thursday (my 28th birthday).
I've mentioned it before on my blog, but I have some students in my class that are pretty demanding this year. I planned my annual Constitutional Convention on my birthday because I thought it would be exciting to do something out of the ordinary that day. The re-enactment was a little chaotic in the beginning, but I think it went okay. Afterward the kids were all a little wound up and I was going to take them out for an extra recess, but it was rainy outside. I decided to modify my science plans and watch a movie to get them calmed down before I started teaching again. About 5 minutes before the end of the movie, the PRINCIPAL walks into my room to do an informal observation.
I am immediately stressed out because she has been so critical in the past, but I continued with my plans and ATTEMPTED to teach writing. The kids were so disrespectful. They were talking during my whole lesson and there was nothing I could do to regain control. It was awful and the principal just sat in the back of my room scribbling notes down in her little notepad. Oh yeah, and it's MY BIRTHDAY!
I started transitioning into math and had them read for a minute while I passed out homework. When I went to pick up the homework, I noticed that someone had ripped up some of the homework papers?!? I went ahead and started taping them up and then passed them out. We started going over the homework and their behavior still had not improved. If it hadn't been for the administrator sitting in the back of my classroom, we would've had a heart-to-heart right then. My last stitch effort was to try to bring the guilt of, "Hey you guys, it's my birthday and my ONE birthday wish is that you are respectful."
It didn't work.
The principal FINALLY left and I was starting my math lesson by then. I tried to teach my lesson that day with no success, so about 5 minutes in, I split the kids into to groups and had them play comparing fractions war.
If this was all that had happened I might've been okay, but then the assistant principal came into my classroom. I've been dealing with some bullying in my classroom and I have been trying SO hard to catch it and fix it. I've been getting multiple daily emails full of frustration from these parents that are being forwarded to administration as well. I am doing EVERYTHING in my power to stop it and yet somehow it still is happening. Then on top of that I had another parent that sent me an email DEMANDING that their child's seat be moved immediately in the classroom. When I didn't respond (it had been less than 24 hours), I received a follow-up email from that same parent demanding to know if the matter "had been taken care of."
And IT'S MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY!
We were lining up for lunch and the assistant principal is standing there. He tells me that he needs to meet with the suspected bullies directly after lunch. I tell him that I'd like him to just talk to my whole class. Before I know it, my eyes are getting watery and he offers to take them down to lunch. I took him up on his offer and went to the back of the classroom and started sobbing. (It was DEFINITELY the ugly cry!) The kids were still in the room lined up for lunch, but I was facing away from them and they were being so loud that they didn't even notice. (This is the first time in six years of teaching that my class has ever brought me to tears.)
They left and I sat back there trying to pull myself together for the first ten or so minutes of my lunch. I reapplied my make up and headed down the hall to the teacher's lounge to try to enjoy the birthday lunch that my coworkers had bought for me. As soon as I walked in, it was apparent that I was upset and the stupid waterworks started up again. My friend Caitlin had even brought me a special snack of Oreo cookies and milk for my birthday! I just sat there and cried while dipping my Oreos. (I laugh now picturing myself doing this.) I was able to pull it back together and pick my kids up from lunch. I had the assistant principal give them a firm talking to and then I gave them a firm talking to myself. They had indoor recess and then we had a silent reading block.
Unbeknownst to me, one of the other fourth grade teachers that had been witness to my cryout during lunch had told her students that I was having a tough day and it was my birthday. Her class decided to spend their whole recess making me cards. Soon after recess, I got a knock at my door and her students came into my classroom in a long line and each individually handed me a card and wished me a happy birthday. It was very sweet and made me start crying happy tears! :) (Seriously, enough with the crying!)
Doug picked me up after work and we went to Morton's for my birthday. He had made reservations, so they had the menu printed with Happy Birthday (unfortunately they got the date wrong on the menu..) The steaks were really good, but a $150 dinner bill always kills me a little on the inside. We went to the mall afterward, so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic and I bought some shoes. It was all really nice and he was a good listener even though I was trying not to dwell on my tough day.
We were driving home when the family birthday calls started coming in. I even cried as Doug's sisters sang "Happy Birthday!" over the phone. I seriously never cry, so I knew something was way off emotionally and figured it had to be some side effects from the Lupron. I decided to put myself to bed as soon as we got home and that did the trick. The next morning I was much better!
Friday in the classroom went much better as well, but that might be because I didn't allow any talking AT ALL. I spoke to them about bullying and showing respect. We will continue the no talking for all of next week and hopefully I will get my classroom back to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that I like on the 28th when they will get a second chance.
So that was my 28th birthday. I guess it's memorable?
So some updates...
Nursery is going a lot better. I've added a little structure (I think) to the program, but I'm not really sure because I don't know what it was like before I got there. We start every day with playdoh, then to puzzles, snack, lesson, coloring, toys, music time, and then bubbles. Unfortunately the other two nursery workers aren't there very often and they don't get subs when they are gone. I guess I can't say too much because I'm out of town this weekend. (But, I did arrange with one of the parents ahead of time to sub for me...) I'm starting to feel like I know what I'm doing and that's nice.
Doug is going to be in Thailand for work the WHOLE month of March. There is a possibility of us living there for a couple years in the future, so he's kind of going out to preview and try it out. I wish my Spring Break would have lined up with his travel because I totally would have gone out there with him for at least two weeks. It's going to be pretty lonely while he's gone, but I've learned to be pretty independent with how often he needs travel for work. If we do move to Thailand for a while it will be nice because I think I will get to see him more often!
The one part about this that REALLY sucks is that March is when my Lupron (menopause inducing) shot finally wears off. I can't get pregnant when my husband is on another continent and there is absolutely no flexibility with his travel dates. It's just yet another roadblock on getting pregnant. I figure I've been trying to get pregnant now for two and a half years now, what's another month? I only cried a few nights. I'm trying to figure out something with my doctor right now because this complicates things.
I'm in a good place right now emotionally about not being pregnant. It's a lot easier for me when I'm on some sort of treatment. There's no monthly roller coaster ride of emotions. I know that I can't get pregnant when I'm on these treatments, so there's no counting days or wondering if I'm pregnant. There's no let down when I get my period. It just makes it easier. To be honest, I'm anxious to go OFF treatment because that means that all of the worry and disappointment will come back.
 |
| Pregnant Caitlin and I visiting Laura and Baby Bryson. |
My menopause symptoms have become pretty commonplace now. The hot flashes have either gotten better or I've just gotten used to them. I've come up with some ways to be more comfortable during the night even while dealing with the night sweats. I wasn't having any emotional side effects that I could tell until this last Thursday (my 28th birthday).
I've mentioned it before on my blog, but I have some students in my class that are pretty demanding this year. I planned my annual Constitutional Convention on my birthday because I thought it would be exciting to do something out of the ordinary that day. The re-enactment was a little chaotic in the beginning, but I think it went okay. Afterward the kids were all a little wound up and I was going to take them out for an extra recess, but it was rainy outside. I decided to modify my science plans and watch a movie to get them calmed down before I started teaching again. About 5 minutes before the end of the movie, the PRINCIPAL walks into my room to do an informal observation.
I am immediately stressed out because she has been so critical in the past, but I continued with my plans and ATTEMPTED to teach writing. The kids were so disrespectful. They were talking during my whole lesson and there was nothing I could do to regain control. It was awful and the principal just sat in the back of my room scribbling notes down in her little notepad. Oh yeah, and it's MY BIRTHDAY!
I started transitioning into math and had them read for a minute while I passed out homework. When I went to pick up the homework, I noticed that someone had ripped up some of the homework papers?!? I went ahead and started taping them up and then passed them out. We started going over the homework and their behavior still had not improved. If it hadn't been for the administrator sitting in the back of my classroom, we would've had a heart-to-heart right then. My last stitch effort was to try to bring the guilt of, "Hey you guys, it's my birthday and my ONE birthday wish is that you are respectful."
It didn't work.
The principal FINALLY left and I was starting my math lesson by then. I tried to teach my lesson that day with no success, so about 5 minutes in, I split the kids into to groups and had them play comparing fractions war.
If this was all that had happened I might've been okay, but then the assistant principal came into my classroom. I've been dealing with some bullying in my classroom and I have been trying SO hard to catch it and fix it. I've been getting multiple daily emails full of frustration from these parents that are being forwarded to administration as well. I am doing EVERYTHING in my power to stop it and yet somehow it still is happening. Then on top of that I had another parent that sent me an email DEMANDING that their child's seat be moved immediately in the classroom. When I didn't respond (it had been less than 24 hours), I received a follow-up email from that same parent demanding to know if the matter "had been taken care of."
And IT'S MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY!
We were lining up for lunch and the assistant principal is standing there. He tells me that he needs to meet with the suspected bullies directly after lunch. I tell him that I'd like him to just talk to my whole class. Before I know it, my eyes are getting watery and he offers to take them down to lunch. I took him up on his offer and went to the back of the classroom and started sobbing. (It was DEFINITELY the ugly cry!) The kids were still in the room lined up for lunch, but I was facing away from them and they were being so loud that they didn't even notice. (This is the first time in six years of teaching that my class has ever brought me to tears.)
They left and I sat back there trying to pull myself together for the first ten or so minutes of my lunch. I reapplied my make up and headed down the hall to the teacher's lounge to try to enjoy the birthday lunch that my coworkers had bought for me. As soon as I walked in, it was apparent that I was upset and the stupid waterworks started up again. My friend Caitlin had even brought me a special snack of Oreo cookies and milk for my birthday! I just sat there and cried while dipping my Oreos. (I laugh now picturing myself doing this.) I was able to pull it back together and pick my kids up from lunch. I had the assistant principal give them a firm talking to and then I gave them a firm talking to myself. They had indoor recess and then we had a silent reading block.
Unbeknownst to me, one of the other fourth grade teachers that had been witness to my cryout during lunch had told her students that I was having a tough day and it was my birthday. Her class decided to spend their whole recess making me cards. Soon after recess, I got a knock at my door and her students came into my classroom in a long line and each individually handed me a card and wished me a happy birthday. It was very sweet and made me start crying happy tears! :) (Seriously, enough with the crying!)
Doug picked me up after work and we went to Morton's for my birthday. He had made reservations, so they had the menu printed with Happy Birthday (unfortunately they got the date wrong on the menu..) The steaks were really good, but a $150 dinner bill always kills me a little on the inside. We went to the mall afterward, so we wouldn't get stuck in traffic and I bought some shoes. It was all really nice and he was a good listener even though I was trying not to dwell on my tough day.
We were driving home when the family birthday calls started coming in. I even cried as Doug's sisters sang "Happy Birthday!" over the phone. I seriously never cry, so I knew something was way off emotionally and figured it had to be some side effects from the Lupron. I decided to put myself to bed as soon as we got home and that did the trick. The next morning I was much better!
Friday in the classroom went much better as well, but that might be because I didn't allow any talking AT ALL. I spoke to them about bullying and showing respect. We will continue the no talking for all of next week and hopefully I will get my classroom back to the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that I like on the 28th when they will get a second chance.
So that was my 28th birthday. I guess it's memorable?
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sweet (Indirect) Revenge
So, I'm going to do something that I'm pretty sure I shouldn't do in a publicly available website... complain about my boss. Here it goes anyway...
This week report cards were due on Thursday. Report cards aren't what they were like when I was growing up. I still have five different letter grades to give, but there are also a billion little subcategories within each I need to take data for as well. If it were only those two things, I would've been done during my Teacher Work Day this Monday... but we have COMMENTS.
We are to write individualized narratives on each student. My comments usually run about 20-25 sentences PER CHILD. It's a lot of writing and it all seems to mash together in your brain. Now, I do love each one of my students individually, but when you need to sit down and write that much specific stuff about every child you feel like your brain is going to explode.
Now don't get me wrong, I think that comments on the report card are a GREAT way to communicate with parents. The problem is that ours are scrutinized by one of the administrators to the point where the teachers are literally having nervous breakdowns over them and sobbing in the hallways. Yeah, I'm not joking. It's bad. REALLY BAD.
One of our administrators will just glance over them and say, "Great!" Which honestly sucks because you do need an extra set of eyes. The other will comb through them and instead of giving you specific critiques, will tell you that they're not good enough and that you need to REDO them. Now, I haven't had that personally happen to me, but I've seen it happen all around me.
I've worked 14-15 (5am-8pm) hour days this week... no dinner breaks. Unfortunately even after working all of these hours at school, I was late turning in my monthly citizenship certificates. I had the names submitted a while back and the certificates just needed a quick signature.
I was on my way to sneak them onto the guidance counselor's desk when the administrator popped out of nowhere and saw the certificates in my hand. I tried not to make eye contact, but she stopped me and asked incredulously, "Are THOSE citizenship certificates?!?!" I responded sheepishly, "Uh, yes?" Then comes the smart-A remark. "You know those are LATE!" (REALLY?) I was tired, completely and utterly overwhelmed, but I responded desperately, "I've been working 14+ hour days this week and It just didn't happen on time." She turned and stared down at me with this look of complete disgust and said, "You're not the only one!" and then stormed off.
I had JUST HAD IT at that point. I walked quickly down the hallway, taking deep breaths, and turned the corner to make a copy. There were two teachers already at the copy machine and I said pretty loudly, "I am so PISSED at ____!" (This is as foul as my language gets for those of you that know my personally, so you KNOW I was upset.) I was on the verge of tears as I explained to my teacher friends what had happened and they weren't surprised at all. This administrator has a reputation.
I was able to cool down quickly and put on a big smile for my kids to welcome them in the morning and greet them at the door. We actually had a really great day.
Then I had to see HER at the faculty meeting after school that day.
At our faculty meetings, we do this compliment thing. We write compliments on little slips of paper and a few are randomly drawn and read aloud at the meeting. The remaining ones are delivered to our mailboxes.
I was thinking of a couple people that I could write compliments to and the guidance counselor came to my mind (because she is so awesome, probably). Anyway, I got this naughty idea in my head... and I wrote it down.
Yeah, and it totally was randomly selected to be read OUT LOUD. I didn't know it at that point, but word of my little run-in that morning had spread to the whole staff. Just about every teacher in there knew that it was a indirect blow to the person running the meeting. I had people totally giving me high fives in the hallway after the meeting. :)
I'm so bad.
This week report cards were due on Thursday. Report cards aren't what they were like when I was growing up. I still have five different letter grades to give, but there are also a billion little subcategories within each I need to take data for as well. If it were only those two things, I would've been done during my Teacher Work Day this Monday... but we have COMMENTS.
We are to write individualized narratives on each student. My comments usually run about 20-25 sentences PER CHILD. It's a lot of writing and it all seems to mash together in your brain. Now, I do love each one of my students individually, but when you need to sit down and write that much specific stuff about every child you feel like your brain is going to explode.
Now don't get me wrong, I think that comments on the report card are a GREAT way to communicate with parents. The problem is that ours are scrutinized by one of the administrators to the point where the teachers are literally having nervous breakdowns over them and sobbing in the hallways. Yeah, I'm not joking. It's bad. REALLY BAD.
One of our administrators will just glance over them and say, "Great!" Which honestly sucks because you do need an extra set of eyes. The other will comb through them and instead of giving you specific critiques, will tell you that they're not good enough and that you need to REDO them. Now, I haven't had that personally happen to me, but I've seen it happen all around me.
I've worked 14-15 (5am-8pm) hour days this week... no dinner breaks. Unfortunately even after working all of these hours at school, I was late turning in my monthly citizenship certificates. I had the names submitted a while back and the certificates just needed a quick signature.
I was on my way to sneak them onto the guidance counselor's desk when the administrator popped out of nowhere and saw the certificates in my hand. I tried not to make eye contact, but she stopped me and asked incredulously, "Are THOSE citizenship certificates?!?!" I responded sheepishly, "Uh, yes?" Then comes the smart-A remark. "You know those are LATE!" (REALLY?) I was tired, completely and utterly overwhelmed, but I responded desperately, "I've been working 14+ hour days this week and It just didn't happen on time." She turned and stared down at me with this look of complete disgust and said, "You're not the only one!" and then stormed off.
I had JUST HAD IT at that point. I walked quickly down the hallway, taking deep breaths, and turned the corner to make a copy. There were two teachers already at the copy machine and I said pretty loudly, "I am so PISSED at ____!" (This is as foul as my language gets for those of you that know my personally, so you KNOW I was upset.) I was on the verge of tears as I explained to my teacher friends what had happened and they weren't surprised at all. This administrator has a reputation.
I was able to cool down quickly and put on a big smile for my kids to welcome them in the morning and greet them at the door. We actually had a really great day.
Then I had to see HER at the faculty meeting after school that day.
At our faculty meetings, we do this compliment thing. We write compliments on little slips of paper and a few are randomly drawn and read aloud at the meeting. The remaining ones are delivered to our mailboxes.
I was thinking of a couple people that I could write compliments to and the guidance counselor came to my mind (because she is so awesome, probably). Anyway, I got this naughty idea in my head... and I wrote it down.
Dear (Guidance Counselor),
THANK YOU for being SO understanding about my citizenship certificates even though they were turned in late this month!
Thanks, Jen :)
Yeah, and it totally was randomly selected to be read OUT LOUD. I didn't know it at that point, but word of my little run-in that morning had spread to the whole staff. Just about every teacher in there knew that it was a indirect blow to the person running the meeting. I had people totally giving me high fives in the hallway after the meeting. :)
I'm so bad.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The "M" Word
It's been about three weeks since I've turned on my desktop computer. Right now it's on because I'm updating my iPad. I'm hoping the new update will allow me to post on blogger.
Anyway, I guess I'll update you on my life while my iPad is updating.
School is going well. My kids are starting to get along and I have really great parent support this year. I had a student that never showed up and a student that moved, so I'm down to 25 students, WO HOO!! Shhh! Don't tell anyone at my school. I'm pretty sure it's a whole two students lower than any of the other fourth grade classrooms. I guess that just means I'll get the first new student, but I'll just count myself lucky for now.
On the health/getting pregnant front... Well things are not what I wanted them to be. On Halloween, I finished the last of the birth control prescription that my doctor put me on a few months ago to treat the endometriosis. I got an ultrasound a week ago to check on everything and yesterday I had an appointment scheduled to discuss it all. I was pretty excited for my appointment because I figured my doctor would be giving me the thumbs up for trying to get pregnant. I was already dreaming of a late summer/early fall due date. Silly me.
Well, I get in there and it turns out that my ultrasound was not good. They're not exactly sure, but it looks like I still have an endometrioma on my right ovary that looks to be about 3 centimeters. That's a lot better than the 10 centimeters that it was pre-surgery, but I'm pretty sure they were hoping for 0 centimeters. The birth control I was on for three straight months didn't do what it was supposed to do. Time wasted. Now that I'm off birth control, things are untreated and it will just get worse every month.
I'm sitting there trying to figure out what all of this means. Then my doctor asks me,
"Well it all depends on if you want a baby now or later?"
Tears are starting to form and I'm trying so hard to keep everything together. "YES, I want a baby now. I've been going through this now for over two years. I want a baby yesterday."
She looks at me with a sad face and hands me a tissue. Then, she turns over a piece of paper and starts making a little t-chart. On the top of the t-chart are two headings "Baby Now" and "Baby Later." She starts with the "Baby Later" side...
Option 1: There's a drug called Depo Lupron. Its kind of like the Depo-Provera shot that women get for birth control except basically the exact opposite. Depo makes a woman's body believe that she is pregnant by mimicking hormones that the placenta releases during pregnancy. Lupron would make me go through a temporary MENOPAUSE, with hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings... all that fun stuff. The treatment would take about 2-3 months depending on it's effectiveness, and THEN she'd put me on Clomid (a fertility drug) and we'd try to get pregnant right away. She said that this medicine is very effective and that the endometrioma would go away. Great... another 3 months of waiting...
Option 2: Now to the "Baby Now" side which I was hoping would be a lot better. She basically said that we COULD try now, but she's not sure if I could even get pregnant. When the endometriosis is bad, I can't get pregnant. She doesn't know how bad it is right now. You can't see endometriosis with an ultrasound. The risks are not good. There's a chance that the endometrioma could grow back again without treatment and I would be in the operating room again in a few months. If we do this option, I will need to be closely monitored with ultrasounds 1-2 times monthly.
Decisions, decisions...
I talked to Doug about it when I got home. Even though he was very weary of the Lupron, he didn't even hesitate to go with the "Baby Later" side. He is first and foremost concerned about my health. Ugh, figures! It turns out my problem is that I want a baby more than I don't want to have surgery again. The Depo Lupron seems pretty extreme (and scary) to both of us, but we want to make SURE that there is an endometrioma in there before I start taking it.
Right now, we're just going to try to get a better idea of things. My doctor is having me schedule an MRI so she can get a better look at everything and we're going to do another ultrasound in about a week. The problem is that they can't tell what is my ovary and what is the endometrioma. Hopefully the MRI will clear up that up.
I'm praying right now that what they THINK is an endometrioma is just my ovary looking nice and plump and ready to make a baby.
Anyway, I guess I'll update you on my life while my iPad is updating.
School is going well. My kids are starting to get along and I have really great parent support this year. I had a student that never showed up and a student that moved, so I'm down to 25 students, WO HOO!! Shhh! Don't tell anyone at my school. I'm pretty sure it's a whole two students lower than any of the other fourth grade classrooms. I guess that just means I'll get the first new student, but I'll just count myself lucky for now.
On the health/getting pregnant front... Well things are not what I wanted them to be. On Halloween, I finished the last of the birth control prescription that my doctor put me on a few months ago to treat the endometriosis. I got an ultrasound a week ago to check on everything and yesterday I had an appointment scheduled to discuss it all. I was pretty excited for my appointment because I figured my doctor would be giving me the thumbs up for trying to get pregnant. I was already dreaming of a late summer/early fall due date. Silly me.
Well, I get in there and it turns out that my ultrasound was not good. They're not exactly sure, but it looks like I still have an endometrioma on my right ovary that looks to be about 3 centimeters. That's a lot better than the 10 centimeters that it was pre-surgery, but I'm pretty sure they were hoping for 0 centimeters. The birth control I was on for three straight months didn't do what it was supposed to do. Time wasted. Now that I'm off birth control, things are untreated and it will just get worse every month.
I'm sitting there trying to figure out what all of this means. Then my doctor asks me,
"Well it all depends on if you want a baby now or later?"
Tears are starting to form and I'm trying so hard to keep everything together. "YES, I want a baby now. I've been going through this now for over two years. I want a baby yesterday."
She looks at me with a sad face and hands me a tissue. Then, she turns over a piece of paper and starts making a little t-chart. On the top of the t-chart are two headings "Baby Now" and "Baby Later." She starts with the "Baby Later" side...
Option 1: There's a drug called Depo Lupron. Its kind of like the Depo-Provera shot that women get for birth control except basically the exact opposite. Depo makes a woman's body believe that she is pregnant by mimicking hormones that the placenta releases during pregnancy. Lupron would make me go through a temporary MENOPAUSE, with hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings... all that fun stuff. The treatment would take about 2-3 months depending on it's effectiveness, and THEN she'd put me on Clomid (a fertility drug) and we'd try to get pregnant right away. She said that this medicine is very effective and that the endometrioma would go away. Great... another 3 months of waiting...
Option 2: Now to the "Baby Now" side which I was hoping would be a lot better. She basically said that we COULD try now, but she's not sure if I could even get pregnant. When the endometriosis is bad, I can't get pregnant. She doesn't know how bad it is right now. You can't see endometriosis with an ultrasound. The risks are not good. There's a chance that the endometrioma could grow back again without treatment and I would be in the operating room again in a few months. If we do this option, I will need to be closely monitored with ultrasounds 1-2 times monthly.
Decisions, decisions...
I talked to Doug about it when I got home. Even though he was very weary of the Lupron, he didn't even hesitate to go with the "Baby Later" side. He is first and foremost concerned about my health. Ugh, figures! It turns out my problem is that I want a baby more than I don't want to have surgery again. The Depo Lupron seems pretty extreme (and scary) to both of us, but we want to make SURE that there is an endometrioma in there before I start taking it.
Right now, we're just going to try to get a better idea of things. My doctor is having me schedule an MRI so she can get a better look at everything and we're going to do another ultrasound in about a week. The problem is that they can't tell what is my ovary and what is the endometrioma. Hopefully the MRI will clear up that up.
I'm praying right now that what they THINK is an endometrioma is just my ovary looking nice and plump and ready to make a baby.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Good Days and Bad Days
Yesterday started out Baaad, yes with a capital B. One of my more demanding students this year injured some safety patrol and then came in the classroom screaming and out of control. Then, about 5-10 minutes later several students ran to me at the door telling me about a weapon that had been brought into the classroom. It wasn't scary because that student is not violent at all and there were absolutely no violent intentions, but it was quite a way to start the day. On Wednesdays, I get one planning break at the very beginning of the day and that was taken up dealing with the first two situations. Needless to say, we just tried to have a calm day after that. I'll admit we watched a Reading Rainbow on trees that only matched up with the standard I was teaching about 75% of the way.
Then during lunch, I got a call from my mom who was waiting at my house for the delivery guys to bring the couches for the basement. Apparently they didn't think it was going to fit down the stairs to the basement so they wanted my approval for a waiver that said that they would not be held liable if the couch knocked and holes in the wall and/or was broken in the process. I went ahead and had her sign it because I was kind of desperate to get the couches in on a day that my mom could be there and I wouldn't have to take off work. I was really sweating it because I was pretty sure this was going to thing number three. Then, I got the text...
It was in with NO holes in the walls and NO damage to the couch. I'm pretty sure we'll be selling them with the house though. :)
I stayed late at school, got a bunch of grading done, and then called a friend who I used to work with that could give me some advice on some situations I was dealing with. It was great to vent, but more awesome to come up with some possible solutions even if they only work temporarily.
Before going to bed, I said a prayer where I mentioned something that I was thankful for in each one of my current students. It helped me realize just how good of a class I have this year. Even though I have some interesting personalities in my class, it will be OKAY and we are going to have an awesome year.
Today was a much better day. :)
Oh and one more thing that made today just that much more awesome. Doug called and told me that he would be able to come home this weekend and SEE ME!!!!! It will have been 18 days since I have seen him in person (the longest by far in our marriage). I have missed him SO much and can't wait to see him TOMORROW even though I know it will only be for the weekend.
Then during lunch, I got a call from my mom who was waiting at my house for the delivery guys to bring the couches for the basement. Apparently they didn't think it was going to fit down the stairs to the basement so they wanted my approval for a waiver that said that they would not be held liable if the couch knocked and holes in the wall and/or was broken in the process. I went ahead and had her sign it because I was kind of desperate to get the couches in on a day that my mom could be there and I wouldn't have to take off work. I was really sweating it because I was pretty sure this was going to thing number three. Then, I got the text...
It was in with NO holes in the walls and NO damage to the couch. I'm pretty sure we'll be selling them with the house though. :)
 |
| Here's a picture of the couches in the newly finished basement. |
I stayed late at school, got a bunch of grading done, and then called a friend who I used to work with that could give me some advice on some situations I was dealing with. It was great to vent, but more awesome to come up with some possible solutions even if they only work temporarily.
Before going to bed, I said a prayer where I mentioned something that I was thankful for in each one of my current students. It helped me realize just how good of a class I have this year. Even though I have some interesting personalities in my class, it will be OKAY and we are going to have an awesome year.
Today was a much better day. :)
Oh and one more thing that made today just that much more awesome. Doug called and told me that he would be able to come home this weekend and SEE ME!!!!! It will have been 18 days since I have seen him in person (the longest by far in our marriage). I have missed him SO much and can't wait to see him TOMORROW even though I know it will only be for the weekend.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Random Mumblings
Recently...
-Doug is traveling. For 6 weeks. I've made it through 3 weeks so far. Reception is spotty so we don't get to talk much. I've been really proud of myself for being disciplined and going to sleep before 10 pm (most of the time). I've woken up EVERY morning at 5 am for work. Every night since he been gone, I've woken up randomly around 2 or 3 am. I just couldn't get to bed again this time. It's lonely.
-School started. 26 kiddos so far. The majority of this group loves to talk. But not about school. I'm working hard to change this into something productive. The beginning of the school year with a new class is like training a puppy, scratch that... litter of puppies. It's going to take time and it's a lot of work. I love them to death, but I miss the familiarity and discipline of my last dog, I mean uh class. Did that make sense?
Of course not. It's now 4 in the morning. I'm pretty sure I have these same feelings every single year.
What else, well...
-The carpet is in and the basement is basically done. It looks really good. The furniture is being delivered next week. For some reason, I haven't been able to get excited about it. It just makes my empty house feel emptier these days.
-I got to go to the temple with my sister Heather and her family this last weekend. Their stake was having a temple day. My parent's stake is having one this weekend. I haven't been to the temple two consecutive times this close together since I got married... over 6 years ago.
-Got the hospital bill or rather "Explanation of Benefits" in the mail yesterday. The whole thing cost over $20,000! I paid $30. Are doctors paid a salary or do they get bonuses for performing expensive surgeries? ...Thankful for good health insurance.
-I'm still on this darn birth control that my doctor prescribed to help with the endo. Having to take this dumb little pill every day is rather disheartening. I keep on telling myself that this is a means to an end and that I should be able to see the end in sight, but when I look at how much longer I have, it seems like an eternity.
-I think it must be messing with my hormones. I feel emotionally dead inside at times and other times I have to hold back sobs after hearing a story on the radio or watching a movie. Seriously, this last weekend I had to hold back tears while watching "The Living Scriptures: Nephi Builds a Boat." I'm not kidding. I feel messed up.
In an attempt to be happy, I've bought the ingredients for monkey bread and I'm taking it to school tomorrow to share with the teachers. Feeding myself and others yummy food will hopefully help me be happy. I'm really trying here.
-Doug is traveling. For 6 weeks. I've made it through 3 weeks so far. Reception is spotty so we don't get to talk much. I've been really proud of myself for being disciplined and going to sleep before 10 pm (most of the time). I've woken up EVERY morning at 5 am for work. Every night since he been gone, I've woken up randomly around 2 or 3 am. I just couldn't get to bed again this time. It's lonely.
-School started. 26 kiddos so far. The majority of this group loves to talk. But not about school. I'm working hard to change this into something productive. The beginning of the school year with a new class is like training a puppy, scratch that... litter of puppies. It's going to take time and it's a lot of work. I love them to death, but I miss the familiarity and discipline of my last dog, I mean uh class. Did that make sense?
Of course not. It's now 4 in the morning. I'm pretty sure I have these same feelings every single year.
What else, well...
-The carpet is in and the basement is basically done. It looks really good. The furniture is being delivered next week. For some reason, I haven't been able to get excited about it. It just makes my empty house feel emptier these days.
-I got to go to the temple with my sister Heather and her family this last weekend. Their stake was having a temple day. My parent's stake is having one this weekend. I haven't been to the temple two consecutive times this close together since I got married... over 6 years ago.
-Got the hospital bill or rather "Explanation of Benefits" in the mail yesterday. The whole thing cost over $20,000! I paid $30. Are doctors paid a salary or do they get bonuses for performing expensive surgeries? ...Thankful for good health insurance.
-I'm still on this darn birth control that my doctor prescribed to help with the endo. Having to take this dumb little pill every day is rather disheartening. I keep on telling myself that this is a means to an end and that I should be able to see the end in sight, but when I look at how much longer I have, it seems like an eternity.
-I think it must be messing with my hormones. I feel emotionally dead inside at times and other times I have to hold back sobs after hearing a story on the radio or watching a movie. Seriously, this last weekend I had to hold back tears while watching "The Living Scriptures: Nephi Builds a Boat." I'm not kidding. I feel messed up.
In an attempt to be happy, I've bought the ingredients for monkey bread and I'm taking it to school tomorrow to share with the teachers. Feeding myself and others yummy food will hopefully help me be happy. I'm really trying here.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
New Shopping Addiction
My students know how much I love books, so I get Borders gift cards pretty frequently. Back in April, I was shopping on their website when I saw a USED book tab. I was just looking for book club books, so they didn't have to be in pristine condition. Why not? When I clicked on it, I found multiple copies of the book I wanted for $1.06. So, I selected the six copies that were described in best condition. I went ahead and bought a couple new books to bring my order up to the $25 free shipping limit and then completed my order.
My new books came within 48 hours and my used books took about a week to two weeks to get here, but most of them looked BRAND NEW. In fact some of them were hardbound! (Okay, this is the silly teacher part of me getting excited.) If I was at a bookstore I would be spending between $5-15 for most these books and I was getting them for a DOLLAR!
Now, I inherited this thing from my dad where I can't resist a good deal, so I got on the site again and started filling up my cart with used books. I'm a teacher. I can't have TOO many books. (I think my current collection at school is up to about 600+ chapter books by now.) Anyway, it turned out that there was an unspoken 20 book limit in your cart, so I wasn't going to be able to get the free shipping buying only used books. SO, I went ahead and upgraded to a Borders Rewards Plus membership for $20 for the year, so I could get free shipping on all orders. I've been shopping away ever since.
No joke, the postman either loves me or hates me because my mailbox was stuffed with books basically EVERY DAY for a while there. I kept on meaning to take a picture because it cracked me up how good he was getting at fitting them all in there. Using mostly gift cards, I've bought over 70 used books (hardbound too!) in practically brand spanking new condition for a few cents over a dollar each.
Sometimes I feel a little guilty whenever I see the cost of shipping on the label. It usually costs a little over $2 to ship the average book... and I only paid $1 total for the whole thing with NO shipping cost to me at all. So I know that SOMEONE has to be losing money. I can't be the only teacher that has figured this out.
My new books came within 48 hours and my used books took about a week to two weeks to get here, but most of them looked BRAND NEW. In fact some of them were hardbound! (Okay, this is the silly teacher part of me getting excited.) If I was at a bookstore I would be spending between $5-15 for most these books and I was getting them for a DOLLAR!
Now, I inherited this thing from my dad where I can't resist a good deal, so I got on the site again and started filling up my cart with used books. I'm a teacher. I can't have TOO many books. (I think my current collection at school is up to about 600+ chapter books by now.) Anyway, it turned out that there was an unspoken 20 book limit in your cart, so I wasn't going to be able to get the free shipping buying only used books. SO, I went ahead and upgraded to a Borders Rewards Plus membership for $20 for the year, so I could get free shipping on all orders. I've been shopping away ever since.No joke, the postman either loves me or hates me because my mailbox was stuffed with books basically EVERY DAY for a while there. I kept on meaning to take a picture because it cracked me up how good he was getting at fitting them all in there. Using mostly gift cards, I've bought over 70 used books (hardbound too!) in practically brand spanking new condition for a few cents over a dollar each.
Sometimes I feel a little guilty whenever I see the cost of shipping on the label. It usually costs a little over $2 to ship the average book... and I only paid $1 total for the whole thing with NO shipping cost to me at all. So I know that SOMEONE has to be losing money. I can't be the only teacher that has figured this out.
Friday, July 8, 2011
School Year in Review
I had completely forgotten that her mom had taken this picture, but I remember what I was thinking the day that she took it. Even though you can't tell by my face, I was completely overwhelmed and worried about the school year ahead of me. I was worried about meeting my 28 new students. I wanted to be able to make a special place in my heart for each one of them and make them feel loved and special this school year. I just worried that it would be too much. I was worried about my new job as team lead for fourth grade. Would I be letting people down this year because I couldn't do it all? I was wondering if this would be my last year teaching.
When I saw this picture, all of that played quickly in my mind with the school year as it played out included. And then I thought,
WE MADE IT!
It was a great school year. BOTH the kiddos and I learned and grew so much this school year. I just feel lucky that it's my job to work with these kids and teach them.
I love teaching.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
March 32nd
"There's something on your shirt." [checks shirt] ... April Fools!
"You have something in your teeth." [unsuspecting victim picks self-consciously at teeth]... April Fools!
"Your shoe's untied." [looks down] ... April Fools!
x 28 students
x 7 hours of school
April Fools in the classroom has been a nightmare in the past, so I decided to just skip it all together. Yesterday was March 32 in my room. The calendar was modified and all papers were dated as such.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
A MOMent of Clarity
The field trip we went on was great! We went to the Maryland Science Center and it was AWESOME! The whole place was hands-on and the kids LOVED it. The weather was beautiful and we were even able to eat our lunches outside at the beautiful Baltimore Harbor.
One of the parents talked to me before boarding the bus to go home. He looked absolutely exhausted as he herded his four kids onto the bus after only two hours of museum fun. He asked me with a mixed look of wonderment and horror, "How do you do manage 28 kids all day long AND teach them something in the process??" I just smiled and laughed.
It got me thinking though.
Yesterday we were finishing our first ever five paragraph essays in fourth grade. Writing is HARD. Especially when you are trying to teach 28 students that are all on COMPLETELY different levels. Some finished all five paragraphs and had it typed by Tuesday. Others had less than five sentences written on Wednesday.
I was sitting at the back reading group table with a laptop on my lap editing a student's paper, consulting the two on the desktop computers behind me about formatting issues, in front of me was a line of 5+ students deep, a child desperately giving me the signal for the restroom across the room, two girls that *thought* they were getting away with passing a note, and about 20 other students (hopefully) working on their essays.
I nodded to the poor student with her teeth floating, I put my hand palm up out and said, "NOTE" with a disapproving look while pointing to the reminder book (our behavior system) with my other hand, and continued to edit the multiple papers. In the midst of all of this, a student helper came up to me with a paper that didn't have a name on it. I took one look at it and hollered, "P-----, you should trying putting your name on your paper next time." He came and retrieved it with a sheepish grin and turned it in.
The student in the front of my growing line looked at me with complete amazement and said, "Mrs. S---, how did you know it was his???" I responded, "I know all 28 of your voices, your handwriting, your likes and dislikes... I know what you're going to do before you do it."
He looked at me and said, "You're like all of our MOMS, but AT SCHOOL."
I guess I kind of am.
One of the parents talked to me before boarding the bus to go home. He looked absolutely exhausted as he herded his four kids onto the bus after only two hours of museum fun. He asked me with a mixed look of wonderment and horror, "How do you do manage 28 kids all day long AND teach them something in the process??" I just smiled and laughed.
It got me thinking though.
Yesterday we were finishing our first ever five paragraph essays in fourth grade. Writing is HARD. Especially when you are trying to teach 28 students that are all on COMPLETELY different levels. Some finished all five paragraphs and had it typed by Tuesday. Others had less than five sentences written on Wednesday.
I was sitting at the back reading group table with a laptop on my lap editing a student's paper, consulting the two on the desktop computers behind me about formatting issues, in front of me was a line of 5+ students deep, a child desperately giving me the signal for the restroom across the room, two girls that *thought* they were getting away with passing a note, and about 20 other students (hopefully) working on their essays.
I nodded to the poor student with her teeth floating, I put my hand palm up out and said, "NOTE" with a disapproving look while pointing to the reminder book (our behavior system) with my other hand, and continued to edit the multiple papers. In the midst of all of this, a student helper came up to me with a paper that didn't have a name on it. I took one look at it and hollered, "P-----, you should trying putting your name on your paper next time." He came and retrieved it with a sheepish grin and turned it in.
The student in the front of my growing line looked at me with complete amazement and said, "Mrs. S---, how did you know it was his???" I responded, "I know all 28 of your voices, your handwriting, your likes and dislikes... I know what you're going to do before you do it."
He looked at me and said, "You're like all of our MOMS, but AT SCHOOL."
I guess I kind of am.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Minus the Wigs
Here is a picture of my class after our annual fourth grade Constitutional Convention.
I'm taking all of these kiddos on a field trip tomorrow... minus the wigs.
Wish me luck!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Summers Off
You may have heard that three great reasons to become a teacher are...
1) June
2) July
3) August
The school year ended on Friday and work days for Loudoun County teachers ended on Tuesday, so with summer upon me, I was thinking about the whole "summer off" deal.
Right now, we are lucky with Doug's extremely long commute that he gets to work four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days. That got me started thinking... Using my mad math skills, I calculated that since there are 52 weeks in a year, then that means basically that Doug "has off" 52 days in a year, but he does more than make up for those days with the long hours that he works Monday through Thursday.
My scheduled work hours in my school Monday through Friday are 7:30-3:30. So I am scheduled to work 8 hours a day x 5 days = 40 hours/week. I don't actually work just those hours and even our laziest teachers (who have their infirm mothers stamp and seal their report cards for them) work more hours than that. I usually get to school at 6:30am and leave around 4:30pm (on a good day). Every weekend I spend additional time on top of that planning for the next week. So in reality, I really work five 10+ hour days each week plus some hours on weekends.
Continuing to use my mad math skills, I counted up the number of days that I have off of school for the summer to get 45. Teachers do get a spring break and a winter break so I went ahead and added 10 to that number to get a whopping 55 days off in a year.
If my calculations are correct, it looks like teachers put in JUST as much time as an employee that works a 40 hour week in the private sector.
TA DA! Now I can feel a little better about my summer off, right?
1) June
2) July
3) August
The school year ended on Friday and work days for Loudoun County teachers ended on Tuesday, so with summer upon me, I was thinking about the whole "summer off" deal.
Right now, we are lucky with Doug's extremely long commute that he gets to work four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days. That got me started thinking... Using my mad math skills, I calculated that since there are 52 weeks in a year, then that means basically that Doug "has off" 52 days in a year, but he does more than make up for those days with the long hours that he works Monday through Thursday.
My scheduled work hours in my school Monday through Friday are 7:30-3:30. So I am scheduled to work 8 hours a day x 5 days = 40 hours/week. I don't actually work just those hours and even our laziest teachers (who have their infirm mothers stamp and seal their report cards for them) work more hours than that. I usually get to school at 6:30am and leave around 4:30pm (on a good day). Every weekend I spend additional time on top of that planning for the next week. So in reality, I really work five 10+ hour days each week plus some hours on weekends.
Continuing to use my mad math skills, I counted up the number of days that I have off of school for the summer to get 45. Teachers do get a spring break and a winter break so I went ahead and added 10 to that number to get a whopping 55 days off in a year.
If my calculations are correct, it looks like teachers put in JUST as much time as an employee that works a 40 hour week in the private sector.
TA DA! Now I can feel a little better about my summer off, right?
A parent just sent me this picture and I love it! :) The kids all came to
give me a hug after the water station during field day in an attempt to get me wet.
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