I decided that I desperately needed to take a day from work. Aside from all the typical holidays, I have only taken 1.5 days off this year. One was a personal day because I had a meeting at school regarding My Son. I opted to take the whole day off. Wouldn’t you know it though, I drop him off. I go get some coffee and on my return trip to school for the meeting, I get a phone call from the school saying that he had thrown up in class and needed to go home. Sheesh. I try to take a day off, and I can’t. Bummer!
The half day was when I was sick. It was the day before Thanksgiving break and I was trying my best to tough it out. I just couldn’t function anymore and the kids were NUTS! The school nurse said GO HOME and my administrator couldn’t argue with that, so I left. I was miserable for days afterward.
It’s not like I was able to enjoy any of the time I had taken off.
I feel that I deserve a day off. So I set up my room like normal yesterday. Had everything ready like I would normally. Told my friend next door that I wouldn’t be in today and told her that I was blaming everything on Miss E. She said, HAHA! Hope she gets better! It’s good to have friends at work that you can trust.
So I woke up at my usual time this morning, put in for a substitute (poor woman) and sent an email to my administrator and my friend saying that Miss E woke up with a fever and I was staying home with her today. I included the “hastily thrown together sub plans” and the ruse is complete. I sent My Son off to school, Miss E is still asleep, and I’m sitting around enjoying a quiet morning before Sean gets home. Yeah, that was part of my evil plan too. To spend some time with my husband. I know you wish you were as conniving as me.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Frankie Say Relax
I have this CD that I love to listen to. It was given to me by my cooperating teacher when I was student teaching a few years ago. After my first week, I was presented with a basket that included foot scrub and cream (teachers are on their feet all day, don’t let TV fool you), one of the gel blue masks for the eyes and the fabulous CD.
When I was teaching ballet, I used to just put my ipod on this CD and dance before my students arrived. I would actually draw a crowd, if you could call three people a crowd. I suppose it would be on an elevator, but not so much in a dance studio. Even now, I have completely choreographed and entire song and many of the others have dances, but nothing finished. It is by far the most relaxing music I have ever heard, and I’ve heard a lot of music in my few years.
The problem is, I have tried to find other similar music CDs to listen to, but thus far, I have been unsuccessful. I have discovered that my only issue with this CD is that I know it too well. If I have difficulty going to sleep, which is often, I play it. However, I have become too familiar with this album and I tend to choreograph in my mind, rather than relax and sleep. You would think that being familiar with the songs would encourage sleep rather than detract from it, but alas, not for me.
I’m hopeful that some of you could direct me to some music that you know to be relaxing for you. As I stated before, I do have an iPod and as such, I have iTunes, so feel free to suggest something from there. I look forward to any suggestions you may have. I love my CD, but I would really like something new as well.
When I was teaching ballet, I used to just put my ipod on this CD and dance before my students arrived. I would actually draw a crowd, if you could call three people a crowd. I suppose it would be on an elevator, but not so much in a dance studio. Even now, I have completely choreographed and entire song and many of the others have dances, but nothing finished. It is by far the most relaxing music I have ever heard, and I’ve heard a lot of music in my few years.
The problem is, I have tried to find other similar music CDs to listen to, but thus far, I have been unsuccessful. I have discovered that my only issue with this CD is that I know it too well. If I have difficulty going to sleep, which is often, I play it. However, I have become too familiar with this album and I tend to choreograph in my mind, rather than relax and sleep. You would think that being familiar with the songs would encourage sleep rather than detract from it, but alas, not for me.
I’m hopeful that some of you could direct me to some music that you know to be relaxing for you. As I stated before, I do have an iPod and as such, I have iTunes, so feel free to suggest something from there. I look forward to any suggestions you may have. I love my CD, but I would really like something new as well.
Friday, January 16, 2009
A Day in the Life...
I spent my entire day today at school doing mindless paper work. This is why I don’t want be a teacher anymore. The sheer amount of paperwork that we are required to do at any given moment is ridiculous. I have spent the last two weeks doing paperwork and that leaves me VERY little time for actual lesson planning.
People wonder WHY schools are becoming worse? It’s because teacher’s are so bogged down with work that their administrators require that they are unable to focus on developing creative and inspiring lesson plans. Students don’t like having to do worksheet after worksheet, and you know what, neither do we! It’s boring! Sadly, we do it because we have very little time to spend on coming up with lessons that would otherwise be interesting for both students and teacher.
I find it frustrating when people complain about why teachers are so terrible at their jobs, when they haven’t the first clue as to what is required in the job. I wake up each day between 5 and 5:30am and I’m lucky to be home by 6pm. I have preparations to make, planning to attempt to do, grading to finish (which I desperately need to do this weekend), intervention plans to work on, and small group lessons to develop. This will take days to complete, and that’s only part of everything. I can’t even put it all into words! There’s too much.
I hate that I come home from school more exhausted than my students. I hate that they have virtually no repercussions for their behaviors, which is why I don’t get to teach as much as I’d like. It’s insane when a fellow coworker is threatened by a student with a pair of scissors and he gets NOTHING done to him. Why? Good question. He has no emotional issues that are medically documented, yet he is treated as though he does, therefore, he’s let off the hook far too much. I wish he were the exception and not the rule, however, that isn’t the case any longer.
If you want to know why it’s difficult to keep teachers anymore? Just ask one, “How’s your work environment?” and you’ll have your answer really quickly.
People wonder WHY schools are becoming worse? It’s because teacher’s are so bogged down with work that their administrators require that they are unable to focus on developing creative and inspiring lesson plans. Students don’t like having to do worksheet after worksheet, and you know what, neither do we! It’s boring! Sadly, we do it because we have very little time to spend on coming up with lessons that would otherwise be interesting for both students and teacher.
I find it frustrating when people complain about why teachers are so terrible at their jobs, when they haven’t the first clue as to what is required in the job. I wake up each day between 5 and 5:30am and I’m lucky to be home by 6pm. I have preparations to make, planning to attempt to do, grading to finish (which I desperately need to do this weekend), intervention plans to work on, and small group lessons to develop. This will take days to complete, and that’s only part of everything. I can’t even put it all into words! There’s too much.
I hate that I come home from school more exhausted than my students. I hate that they have virtually no repercussions for their behaviors, which is why I don’t get to teach as much as I’d like. It’s insane when a fellow coworker is threatened by a student with a pair of scissors and he gets NOTHING done to him. Why? Good question. He has no emotional issues that are medically documented, yet he is treated as though he does, therefore, he’s let off the hook far too much. I wish he were the exception and not the rule, however, that isn’t the case any longer.
If you want to know why it’s difficult to keep teachers anymore? Just ask one, “How’s your work environment?” and you’ll have your answer really quickly.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
What Am I Thinking??
I have been doing more and more research and aside from the nagging fear that I’m going to screw up my kids, I have to say that I feel pretty confident about our choice to home school the children. First off, I have discovered that I am among the privileged few that will be able to have a dedicated space for home schooling. I have an office downstairs that is currently serving it’s life as a playroom. That is of course, when the children can actually play in there. The sheer number of toys that two children accumulate is nauseating.
I informed one of my coworkers that if I could just pick the room up, dump it out, and start over I would. That would be much easier than wading through all the “I still want that” toys and the “I’ve been looking for that” toys when you know that is clearly NOT the case. Why is it that children want what they didn’t even know they already had?
I’ve been fairly anxious about the whole concept of giving up my financially secure job though. I realize that once I’m no longer working, I am going to have no extra money coming in. I’m considering asking my dad for some part-time work as a proofreader. I happen to be pretty good at doing that. It’s an unusual talent. Why yes, I can make sure that everything is correct in your paper. I’m the spelling superhero you never knew you needed. Sort of like a preschooler and her toys.
Seriously though, I fear that we will be required to give up a lot of things that we really enjoy, but at the same time, I’m fairly certain that things won’t be that bad. Simply because we are preparing ourselves for it as much as possible; we are paying off all credit, building up our savings, and I’ll do some part-time work if necessary. That’s the true benefit to Sean being a paramedic; his schedule. I could always get a job and work a few hours if it is really needed. I guess there’s only one way to be certain, and that’s to try it out.
I informed one of my coworkers that if I could just pick the room up, dump it out, and start over I would. That would be much easier than wading through all the “I still want that” toys and the “I’ve been looking for that” toys when you know that is clearly NOT the case. Why is it that children want what they didn’t even know they already had?
I’ve been fairly anxious about the whole concept of giving up my financially secure job though. I realize that once I’m no longer working, I am going to have no extra money coming in. I’m considering asking my dad for some part-time work as a proofreader. I happen to be pretty good at doing that. It’s an unusual talent. Why yes, I can make sure that everything is correct in your paper. I’m the spelling superhero you never knew you needed. Sort of like a preschooler and her toys.
Seriously though, I fear that we will be required to give up a lot of things that we really enjoy, but at the same time, I’m fairly certain that things won’t be that bad. Simply because we are preparing ourselves for it as much as possible; we are paying off all credit, building up our savings, and I’ll do some part-time work if necessary. That’s the true benefit to Sean being a paramedic; his schedule. I could always get a job and work a few hours if it is really needed. I guess there’s only one way to be certain, and that’s to try it out.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A New Plan
After much discussion, Sean and I have come to the conclusion that I am clearly not happy doing what I do. Teaching at a school is just destroying me. The constant stress of having mountains of paperwork that never go away. The frustration of students that refuse to do their work and certainly don't care what you say isn't helpful at all either.
Then there is my son who is having difficulty in school. He is remarkably smart. More than the second grade level at which he is currently enrolled in his school. He attends school in a district separate from where I am teaching. I was hopeful that this district would be able to cater to his more hands-on needs that he certainly has. He really need to ‘mess with’ something to really understand it. While he is a sponge and will retain anything that he is told, his comprehension level is directly proportional to his hands-on activity. Unfortunately, his school doesn’t do very much of that. A realization that was disappointing to say the least.
So after the last few years of tears, both his and mine, and frustration, we have come to the conclusion that something had to give. I refuse to have a child in the school system that despises everything about it. I do not want to nurture the “I hate school” mentality that he has already developed. In fact I hope to change it completely into a more “I love learning” mentality. I am going to begin this process this fall when we start home schooling.
I know virtually nothing about home schooling. Actually I’m very nervous about it. I can teach a classroom of 5th graders all day long (it’s what I do now), but to teach my child. YIKES! Not only that, but I’m likely going to begin my daughter in kindergarten. She’s a year away from “school-age”, but I figure she’s ready. She’s wants to read so badly and can already do basic adding and subtracting. I might as well help her as well, right?
So, hang on for the strangest ride as I, the professional teacher, chuck the traditional teaching world for one in my own home. Who knows, maybe I really can change the world one child at a time. I guess I didn’t realize just which children it would be.
Then there is my son who is having difficulty in school. He is remarkably smart. More than the second grade level at which he is currently enrolled in his school. He attends school in a district separate from where I am teaching. I was hopeful that this district would be able to cater to his more hands-on needs that he certainly has. He really need to ‘mess with’ something to really understand it. While he is a sponge and will retain anything that he is told, his comprehension level is directly proportional to his hands-on activity. Unfortunately, his school doesn’t do very much of that. A realization that was disappointing to say the least.
So after the last few years of tears, both his and mine, and frustration, we have come to the conclusion that something had to give. I refuse to have a child in the school system that despises everything about it. I do not want to nurture the “I hate school” mentality that he has already developed. In fact I hope to change it completely into a more “I love learning” mentality. I am going to begin this process this fall when we start home schooling.
I know virtually nothing about home schooling. Actually I’m very nervous about it. I can teach a classroom of 5th graders all day long (it’s what I do now), but to teach my child. YIKES! Not only that, but I’m likely going to begin my daughter in kindergarten. She’s a year away from “school-age”, but I figure she’s ready. She’s wants to read so badly and can already do basic adding and subtracting. I might as well help her as well, right?
So, hang on for the strangest ride as I, the professional teacher, chuck the traditional teaching world for one in my own home. Who knows, maybe I really can change the world one child at a time. I guess I didn’t realize just which children it would be.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
It's all in my head...
I don't want to and you can't make me. Unfortunately, THEY can. Contract and some fluff like that.
In my two years of teaching, I have come to discover that I really don't like it. Parents never teach their children to respect others anymore. Okay, maybe I shouldn't say never, but certainly rarely seems appropriate. So many parents are too concerned with being their kid's friend that they aren't being their parents and teaching what I consider to be the fundamentals of childhood. Respect is the primary one. 5th graders should never call their teachers bitches or assholes. Regardless of how true it is. 5th graders should never call their classmates by similar names regardless of the attributes which they are identifying. 5th graders shouldn't know more about sex than their 30-ish year old teacher. IT'S JUST WRONG! Some of the other teachers and I will talk with each other and play the "who's gonna get pregnant next year" game. Trust me, it happens. Sick as that is to think about.
So, I have to roll out of bed in the morning and go to work. I have to go be the happy smiling teacher, though underneath it all I am cringing, staring at the clock, and hoping that 4:30 comes fast. I can't wait to be done with this school year.
In my two years of teaching, I have come to discover that I really don't like it. Parents never teach their children to respect others anymore. Okay, maybe I shouldn't say never, but certainly rarely seems appropriate. So many parents are too concerned with being their kid's friend that they aren't being their parents and teaching what I consider to be the fundamentals of childhood. Respect is the primary one. 5th graders should never call their teachers bitches or assholes. Regardless of how true it is. 5th graders should never call their classmates by similar names regardless of the attributes which they are identifying. 5th graders shouldn't know more about sex than their 30-ish year old teacher. IT'S JUST WRONG! Some of the other teachers and I will talk with each other and play the "who's gonna get pregnant next year" game. Trust me, it happens. Sick as that is to think about.
So, I have to roll out of bed in the morning and go to work. I have to go be the happy smiling teacher, though underneath it all I am cringing, staring at the clock, and hoping that 4:30 comes fast. I can't wait to be done with this school year.
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