Well, I couldn't very well keep you all in suspense about my decision regarding teaching next year, now could I? If you just joined my blog today, here's a little update about Ms. F's current status: so, several therapy sessions later as I'm being treated for PTSD due to 12 years of being a school teacher...and making it a whole year through teaching at a Charter school (chuckle....that and dealing with my big fat Greek family for the last 40 years), I have managed to make heads and tails of a lot of my emotions, particularly matters of the heart when it comes to my career. In the back of my mind, I still have this crazy idea I might actually write a book someday about my funny experiences in life. Hey, why not? I might actually get a real paycheck someday....LOL...but let's move on to the final chapter, and of course, the final decision, shall we?
So, I decided to go back to my old school next year and indulge in the luxury of having an actual kindergarten classroom back, one with full amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, tile & carpet (ah, the things we take for granted sometimes), some actual furniture in the room other than the Goodwill shelves I've now acquired in my garage that became my best friends this past year. Bottom line: I learned a lot by working at a Charter school. I am by far, a much better, more aware, more effective, more resourceful teacher. I have learned to be a problem solver. I have learned to trust in the children and their interests, strengths and ideas. I have let go of a lot of the "control" I once thought was necessary to be a good teacher. I have really taken "differentiating curriculum" to a whole new level and it will be rather interesting to go back to a traditional kindergarten class next year and apply all of this. Hell, I'm just excited to be able to have a teacher's lounge to go eat lunch in every day!
I couldn't help but feel guilty when this decision became official for me about a month and half ago. Of course, my student's parents know and they are panicked about who will fill my shoes next year when I'm sipping my coffee back in my old kindergarten classroom as I wait for the morning bell to ring. You know, I miss bells. I miss school buses. I miss center time. I miss cooking activities. I miss having cupcakes on birthdays. Teaching at the Charter school this past year opened my eyes a lot. I think I can still teach as if I'm teaching gifted children like the ones I had the pleasure of serving this year, after all, they are all gifted in so many ways if you really think about it. But I will never let go of my Early Childhood beliefs and now I've mastered how to be able to challenge these young ones while still keeping it developmentally appropriate. That is quite a task, let me tell you! I have so much testing to still do over the next few weeks - honestly there's no time left to teach, but yesterday, as I felt swallowed whole with deadlines and tasks, by God, I brought popsicles to school and we had a little party. It was a celebration of love and relief at the same time. My job is not an easy one. But in the long run, someone's got to to do it, right? Have a great summer everyone! Stay tuned for my next blog in August.....as we start the 2011/2012 school year.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Delicate matters of the heart in the heart of February
Well, its almost Valentine's day and what do we all do this time of year? We think about who or what are most dear to us. We take a moment to appreciate those people or pets in my case.....nonetheless this time of year makes me stop and really take a minute to think of what is important to me. On that note, I need to make a decision in the next week as to whether or not I want to stay at my current job or go back to my old job. I need to put my paperwork in before March 1st. Well, I have made a decision and I hope its the right one. These are very delicate matters of the heart as they do affect us. My biggest question: Is my heart in this? The answer is, yes, a bit too much. I have important things going on in my life right now outside of work, yet why is it work always takes priority, no matter how much I tell myself not to let it consume me? I hate feeling anxiety and stress on a daily basis. I hate supervisors who micro-manage. Most of all, I hate when I feel like I'm not doing enough. I have parents telling me on a daily basis what a good job I'm doing and how happy they are with their child's progress. Yet, I still feel this restless need to do more, perform better, impress....okay, impress who? I'm obviously not impressed with any of this at this moment, so I think I need to turn the matters of my heart over to more important things in my life right now and basically just flip a coin and make a decision over the next week. On that note, I'm going to go treat myself to a dark chocolate Dove candy and try to turn my brain off for a while.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Hit me with your best shot, fire away!
I couldn't think of what to name this blog, so one of my favorite Pat Benatar songs came to mind, particularly since its a motivating song to me when I work out at the gym. I listen to it on my i-pod frequently and I love the part where she says..."knock me down, its all in vain, I get right back on my feet again"! So, I thought I was finally on my feet again at work. We've been back since Monday, though if you know a thing or two about my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and love/hate relationship with this job, you know that I've already spend a good 4 days at work, even before we were due back on Monday. I know...I broke the resolutions I had set for myself. BUT....the time I put in was well spent and I felt good about going back. I spoke too soon..uh, oh, now what?
I was so happy this week. My students were making so much progress with their spelling words, reading levels and just overall enthusiasm for being back at school. We were setting goals and working on portfolios and even my toughest of kiddos were happy to be back. Not to mention I have some pretty amazing writers in my class. I wonder where they get that? Hmmm... could it be from the teacher who loves writing and models it every day? Anyway, its like they just came to school ready to work hard because it was a new year. (Also probably because the boredom of excess tv watching over the vacation finally probably got to some of them and their brain needed some human stimulation for a change). So, here I am reflecting on all their progress and evaluating how far I've come since the beginning of the year, with it being a new job and all. Low and behold, my own evaluation came up today. I put my emotional shield of armor on and braced myself for what I knew would sound something like...."well, you're an excellent teacher and the parents are very supportive of you...but...". There is always a "but" at this school. All my previous PDP plans (which stands for professional development plan) from the last 8 years, which are all in my own portfolio, state that I meet all the competencies and my classroom is a great environment, etc. I felt like saying, "well, but....kindly kiss my butt", but I remained positive, diplomatic, and open minded during the evaluation. As you all know, I'm a very persuasive, not to mention thorough person, particularly when I know how hard I work and I can tell you each and every student's levels, strengths and weaknesses.
I chuckle to myself now, because at the end of the evaluation, I had managed to convince my supervisor to see things my way by falling back on one of my Greek tactics I so often use with my family. I made her think the improvements I needed to make were her ideas! My next plan of action for the follow up PDP was actually on my agenda all along, ....but she really liked it when I said, "what if....and could you come to the meeting...and oh, that is a good idea"! Yes, I'm learning the art of reverse psychology with supervisors who have obviously forgotten what its like to be in a classroom. Perhaps we should all just agree and accept that this is a learning process, even for a supervisor.
Bottom line is this: I'm ecstatic with the progress my students are making. I'm feeling a lot more grounded than I was back in August. Furthermore, I can't say the school really gave me any kind for formal training on its math or phonics program, yet it was expected of me to just jump in headfirst and do things perfectly. I have had to just figure it out as I go. So, with all due respect, you gotta look at that and say, "way to go, as you are flying this airplane with no training and haven't crashed yet but keeping it up in the air, while reading the manual with one hand and occasionally grabbing a bite to eat with the other, while keeping the plane steady somehow". Best way I can think to describe it. Well, on that note, I will be making a decision about whether I want to keep flying this plane or land it without crashing, get off and go back to a traditional school. These will be the decisions I face over the next few months. Godspeed, as I need to go back to flying now. Till next time.
I was so happy this week. My students were making so much progress with their spelling words, reading levels and just overall enthusiasm for being back at school. We were setting goals and working on portfolios and even my toughest of kiddos were happy to be back. Not to mention I have some pretty amazing writers in my class. I wonder where they get that? Hmmm... could it be from the teacher who loves writing and models it every day? Anyway, its like they just came to school ready to work hard because it was a new year. (Also probably because the boredom of excess tv watching over the vacation finally probably got to some of them and their brain needed some human stimulation for a change). So, here I am reflecting on all their progress and evaluating how far I've come since the beginning of the year, with it being a new job and all. Low and behold, my own evaluation came up today. I put my emotional shield of armor on and braced myself for what I knew would sound something like...."well, you're an excellent teacher and the parents are very supportive of you...but...". There is always a "but" at this school. All my previous PDP plans (which stands for professional development plan) from the last 8 years, which are all in my own portfolio, state that I meet all the competencies and my classroom is a great environment, etc. I felt like saying, "well, but....kindly kiss my butt", but I remained positive, diplomatic, and open minded during the evaluation. As you all know, I'm a very persuasive, not to mention thorough person, particularly when I know how hard I work and I can tell you each and every student's levels, strengths and weaknesses.
I chuckle to myself now, because at the end of the evaluation, I had managed to convince my supervisor to see things my way by falling back on one of my Greek tactics I so often use with my family. I made her think the improvements I needed to make were her ideas! My next plan of action for the follow up PDP was actually on my agenda all along, ....but she really liked it when I said, "what if....and could you come to the meeting...and oh, that is a good idea"! Yes, I'm learning the art of reverse psychology with supervisors who have obviously forgotten what its like to be in a classroom. Perhaps we should all just agree and accept that this is a learning process, even for a supervisor.
Bottom line is this: I'm ecstatic with the progress my students are making. I'm feeling a lot more grounded than I was back in August. Furthermore, I can't say the school really gave me any kind for formal training on its math or phonics program, yet it was expected of me to just jump in headfirst and do things perfectly. I have had to just figure it out as I go. So, with all due respect, you gotta look at that and say, "way to go, as you are flying this airplane with no training and haven't crashed yet but keeping it up in the air, while reading the manual with one hand and occasionally grabbing a bite to eat with the other, while keeping the plane steady somehow". Best way I can think to describe it. Well, on that note, I will be making a decision about whether I want to keep flying this plane or land it without crashing, get off and go back to a traditional school. These will be the decisions I face over the next few months. Godspeed, as I need to go back to flying now. Till next time.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A resolution beyond the New Year
So, have you ever really thought about the word "resolution"? This word brings numerous meanings to my mind.....such as: clarity- like when you adjust something to see clearer, or a commitment you may make- like at New Year's eve, you know? Now if you cover up the "re" what do you get? Hmmm...you get the word solution, don't you? Hence, this leads me to my next discussion, as the 2011 approaches and I reflect on my school year, career and life in general up to this point in time.
I have been making an effort to make more time for myself. This weekend, after dealing with a bout of extreme exhaustion and some kind of viral thing going on, which I have finally bid good riddance to, I managed to avoid the lesson planning and "stuff" on the dining room table for awhile and get out of the house. I bought some curtains and it felt good to put them up in my bedroom, by the patio door back there, which I designed for my high maintenance pooches, with a custom made doggie door and the works. Since the cold manages to seep in, I now have a solution, since I rigged it so it looks stylish and they can still get in and out. The thermal curtains keep the room nice and warm. I did the same for my laundry room and the house is toasty and cozy. Then I took some time to go downtown and enjoy a parade followed by Thai food with some friends. Today, I took time to go to church and thank the Lord for my health, my curtains, my dogs and the Thai food. Normally, I'd be going into my classroom on a Sunday to play "catch up".
In the midst of doing these little things for myself this weekend, I began to realize that my job is a lot like that doggie door, custom made for the pooches but bad for me because the room kept getting cold. My job is tailored to meet the needs of each and every child, despite the toll it may take on me and the life and energy it sucks out of me. I know....you're probably thinking I should have come to this resolution long ago, instead it took a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond to enlighten me...(they don't call it "beyond" for nothing.....LOL). So, what did I take away from this?
I realized that no matter how hard I work, no matter how many weekends I go into my classroom, no matter how much I bring home and clutter up the dining room table - it won't ever be enough. It won't ever be enough because my profession is so underestimated and undervalued by society. Budgets keep getting cut, teaching positions keep becoming more detailed with less pay, and the monotonous meetings and inservice trainings consist of the same old song....do more, do more, do more. I, in turn, force myself to work harder, put in more hours, sacrifice more of my time, in hopes of finding a solution to each and every kid's problems, needs, strengths, weaknesses, and make up for the lack of parental involvement, which really is the root of many of the issues when we get down to the heart of the matter. After all, a child is not like a dog. You can't give it away once you've acquired it, but you can rely on the teacher to make up for all the times you claim you can't read to your child, or sit down and do homework with them, or perhaps discipline them a bit so they don't grow up thinking they can go through life making excuses. So, I become the solution to the problems and in some cases, I am blamed for the problems!
Now, you look at my life and think....what has this job done for me lately? What resolution has the school made to keep me happy? What resolution will the politicians and government come to next, to retain me and meet my needs, as an educator and furthermore, a human being? As I try and answer this question with a quality response, I suddenly realize that the resolution isn't ever going to come from a second party. The resolution has to come from within me. I resolve to give as much as I can during the work week to all my students. I resolve to remind myself that during this process, there's a person inside of me that needs to be nurtured and taught how to say no sometimes. I resolve to stay the hell away from work on the weekends. I resolve to put limits on the time I put into my work and realize that unfortunately, I won't be able to solve the lack of parenting. I have started making my list of resolutions now, even though 2011 is still a few weeks away. I'm sticking to my guns and I'm determined to make it through the school year with some sense of sanity still left in me and hopefully some energy to meet a nice gentleman to settle down with. This may mean a divorce from work for a bit. This may mean having a talk with a counselor at the University about furthering my education and getting out of the classroom for awhile. I resolve to take time for me so I can figure out what I'm meant to do, or not do. Happy Holidays!
I have been making an effort to make more time for myself. This weekend, after dealing with a bout of extreme exhaustion and some kind of viral thing going on, which I have finally bid good riddance to, I managed to avoid the lesson planning and "stuff" on the dining room table for awhile and get out of the house. I bought some curtains and it felt good to put them up in my bedroom, by the patio door back there, which I designed for my high maintenance pooches, with a custom made doggie door and the works. Since the cold manages to seep in, I now have a solution, since I rigged it so it looks stylish and they can still get in and out. The thermal curtains keep the room nice and warm. I did the same for my laundry room and the house is toasty and cozy. Then I took some time to go downtown and enjoy a parade followed by Thai food with some friends. Today, I took time to go to church and thank the Lord for my health, my curtains, my dogs and the Thai food. Normally, I'd be going into my classroom on a Sunday to play "catch up".
In the midst of doing these little things for myself this weekend, I began to realize that my job is a lot like that doggie door, custom made for the pooches but bad for me because the room kept getting cold. My job is tailored to meet the needs of each and every child, despite the toll it may take on me and the life and energy it sucks out of me. I know....you're probably thinking I should have come to this resolution long ago, instead it took a trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond to enlighten me...(they don't call it "beyond" for nothing.....LOL). So, what did I take away from this?
I realized that no matter how hard I work, no matter how many weekends I go into my classroom, no matter how much I bring home and clutter up the dining room table - it won't ever be enough. It won't ever be enough because my profession is so underestimated and undervalued by society. Budgets keep getting cut, teaching positions keep becoming more detailed with less pay, and the monotonous meetings and inservice trainings consist of the same old song....do more, do more, do more. I, in turn, force myself to work harder, put in more hours, sacrifice more of my time, in hopes of finding a solution to each and every kid's problems, needs, strengths, weaknesses, and make up for the lack of parental involvement, which really is the root of many of the issues when we get down to the heart of the matter. After all, a child is not like a dog. You can't give it away once you've acquired it, but you can rely on the teacher to make up for all the times you claim you can't read to your child, or sit down and do homework with them, or perhaps discipline them a bit so they don't grow up thinking they can go through life making excuses. So, I become the solution to the problems and in some cases, I am blamed for the problems!
Now, you look at my life and think....what has this job done for me lately? What resolution has the school made to keep me happy? What resolution will the politicians and government come to next, to retain me and meet my needs, as an educator and furthermore, a human being? As I try and answer this question with a quality response, I suddenly realize that the resolution isn't ever going to come from a second party. The resolution has to come from within me. I resolve to give as much as I can during the work week to all my students. I resolve to remind myself that during this process, there's a person inside of me that needs to be nurtured and taught how to say no sometimes. I resolve to stay the hell away from work on the weekends. I resolve to put limits on the time I put into my work and realize that unfortunately, I won't be able to solve the lack of parenting. I have started making my list of resolutions now, even though 2011 is still a few weeks away. I'm sticking to my guns and I'm determined to make it through the school year with some sense of sanity still left in me and hopefully some energy to meet a nice gentleman to settle down with. This may mean a divorce from work for a bit. This may mean having a talk with a counselor at the University about furthering my education and getting out of the classroom for awhile. I resolve to take time for me so I can figure out what I'm meant to do, or not do. Happy Holidays!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Opening The Box - what's really in there?
So, I named this post "opening the box" for many reasons. You may think of a variety of things when you hear the word "box". Is it a gift? Perhaps its a special delivery of some kind of mail order you've been anticipating. Well....the answer is...yes, its a gift. Its a special delivery alright....just what kind of box are we talking about here? No, the postman didn't deliver this one. I'm referring to the box called the brain. Whose brain, you ask?
For starters, mine. For years now, I'd open a box every month at the public elementary school I taught at. I'd pull out all my cute little thematic activities, lessons, ideas and examples of things I've taught over the years and do what every good teacher does- plan and prepare. After all, that is a big part of my job, right? So, how is that different now that I'm teaching a multi-age class at an alternative school? To put it in a nutshell, its as if I've arrived in a foreign country, stepped off the airplane and discovered that my neatly packed and organized box (lets call it my luggage or baggage...ha, ha, no pun intended) just got lost. It fell overboard and I will have to replace most of it with the new items I find in this foreign environment. "Damn", I say to myself....those articles that I was so comfortable in, that I knew so well...now what will I do?" To make matters worse, the new environment (in my case, the workplace) is impoverished and lacks many of the resources I was once accustomed to....shit...and the next plane back doesn't leave for another six months, since I really am on a leave of absence for this assignment. I guess I'm here to stay.
So, if you never understood the phrase "thinking outside of the box", I really hope my previous analogy gave you a bit of an image. I have had to not only change the way I think, plan and teach but condition myself to be a problem solver in so many ways. Each and every one of my students is unique and different and my curriculum is so unlike my previous one. Despite the obvious flaws in this new system, (some so obvious they resemble patches on a scarecrow's overalls - but that will be for a later post), the meat and potatoes that fill my plate on a daily basis at work are the students. Yes, my plate gets very full at times. It gets soooo full.....I have to take bigger bites than what I'm used to in order to prevent the plate from overflowing (leading to indigestion, heartburn, bloating....and yes, the occasional consumption of a bottle of wine or two at the end of the week to unwind....LOL). BUT.......what am I learning? Is this experience a failure or a success? Hmmm....
From every failure comes a success. That is number one. But, who says I've failed? My students just completed the most amazing projects, which they all presented in class. If you can believe this - I had a 1st grader who gave a power point presentation on lightning storms, followed by a structure he build that is battery operated and lights up to resemble the lightning bolts. I had a kindergartener who made a DVD of himself as a meteorologist describing droughts. Oh, the projects these 5 and 6 year olds showed me! I thought I was back in a college lab class, no kidding. I celebrated today. Why? We had the last three presentations. I saw a complete transformation of the students I met back in August. Today I realized, these are very gifted students and no wonder I feel so exhausted all the time! I also realized something else. Know what it was? My box, you know the one I relied on so much? I don't really need it as much because these students are all so different and full of abilities, unfortunately some also have disabilities. I mold the curriculum to meet them halfway, wherever halfway might be. What do I get in return? (smile....) Today, one of my toughest 1st grade boys who is constantly in trouble said.."Ms. Angela, you have really cool ideas!" And yes, this made my day. So, tomorrow I get to go do the rest of my parent/teacher/student led conferences. And...I'm not as worried about the stupid box. You know why? The evidence lies all over my classroom, in the form of posters, dioramas, kid-made books and various models of everything we have researched. And..guess what? None of it came out of the box, now did it? I guess I am finally thinking outside the box!
For starters, mine. For years now, I'd open a box every month at the public elementary school I taught at. I'd pull out all my cute little thematic activities, lessons, ideas and examples of things I've taught over the years and do what every good teacher does- plan and prepare. After all, that is a big part of my job, right? So, how is that different now that I'm teaching a multi-age class at an alternative school? To put it in a nutshell, its as if I've arrived in a foreign country, stepped off the airplane and discovered that my neatly packed and organized box (lets call it my luggage or baggage...ha, ha, no pun intended) just got lost. It fell overboard and I will have to replace most of it with the new items I find in this foreign environment. "Damn", I say to myself....those articles that I was so comfortable in, that I knew so well...now what will I do?" To make matters worse, the new environment (in my case, the workplace) is impoverished and lacks many of the resources I was once accustomed to....shit...and the next plane back doesn't leave for another six months, since I really am on a leave of absence for this assignment. I guess I'm here to stay.
So, if you never understood the phrase "thinking outside of the box", I really hope my previous analogy gave you a bit of an image. I have had to not only change the way I think, plan and teach but condition myself to be a problem solver in so many ways. Each and every one of my students is unique and different and my curriculum is so unlike my previous one. Despite the obvious flaws in this new system, (some so obvious they resemble patches on a scarecrow's overalls - but that will be for a later post), the meat and potatoes that fill my plate on a daily basis at work are the students. Yes, my plate gets very full at times. It gets soooo full.....I have to take bigger bites than what I'm used to in order to prevent the plate from overflowing (leading to indigestion, heartburn, bloating....and yes, the occasional consumption of a bottle of wine or two at the end of the week to unwind....LOL). BUT.......what am I learning? Is this experience a failure or a success? Hmmm....
From every failure comes a success. That is number one. But, who says I've failed? My students just completed the most amazing projects, which they all presented in class. If you can believe this - I had a 1st grader who gave a power point presentation on lightning storms, followed by a structure he build that is battery operated and lights up to resemble the lightning bolts. I had a kindergartener who made a DVD of himself as a meteorologist describing droughts. Oh, the projects these 5 and 6 year olds showed me! I thought I was back in a college lab class, no kidding. I celebrated today. Why? We had the last three presentations. I saw a complete transformation of the students I met back in August. Today I realized, these are very gifted students and no wonder I feel so exhausted all the time! I also realized something else. Know what it was? My box, you know the one I relied on so much? I don't really need it as much because these students are all so different and full of abilities, unfortunately some also have disabilities. I mold the curriculum to meet them halfway, wherever halfway might be. What do I get in return? (smile....) Today, one of my toughest 1st grade boys who is constantly in trouble said.."Ms. Angela, you have really cool ideas!" And yes, this made my day. So, tomorrow I get to go do the rest of my parent/teacher/student led conferences. And...I'm not as worried about the stupid box. You know why? The evidence lies all over my classroom, in the form of posters, dioramas, kid-made books and various models of everything we have researched. And..guess what? None of it came out of the box, now did it? I guess I am finally thinking outside the box!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Is it June yet?
So, here we are on day 38 (give or take...we lost track at one point) of my school year. I got a wild hair last March, while sipping tea on a Sunday morning and browsing the Classified ads in the ABQ journal, to apply for a teaching position at a Charter School. While I loved teaching kindergarten at my last school, which almost felt like a resort to me, particularly when the lunch ladies gave me some freebies here and there, and I actually had a view of the mountains from my huge picture windows, I couldn't help but be drawn to this opening for a multi age K/1 position. With all the budget cuts and constant negativity I kept hearing last year, the advertisement appealed to me even more when it said "4 day work week". "Wow", I thought. "This could be good."
Things seemed great, after all, at this school there are no bells ringing. Teachers do not have to do bus duty, since there are no busses. As for the lunch ladies, well, there aren't any because there really is no cafeteria. Nor is there a library. Hmmmm....just what kind of school is this? Well, I guess this is the meaning of "alternative education". I am learning a lot as the year goes on. Its sort of like driver's ed - you know, when you think you got the hang of it and you're driving along, then suddenly you either press the gas too hard and startle the instructor, or nearly hit the parked cars and wipe your brow and go, "that was a close one". To put it in a nutshell, Ms. F, as I knew her, is having to learn how to drive all over again, meaning....I thought I was a good teacher. No, I still think I am a good teacher but the way I'm teaching is so different than how I taught in a traditional public school. I thought I had lots of stamina. I've made it through 3 sprint triathlons. A sprint triathlon would probably be the equivalent of my entire am with my 23 students. The pm would be more like a spin class, out of control at about 180 RPM's or more (those of you who spin can appreciate this!) In other words, my heart rate is off the charts at this point in the day!
So, today I am starting my blog, in an effort to maintain what little sanity I have left at the end of a work day. Also, I am prying myself away from the mountains of papers and lesson plans on my dining room table that I need to go tackle. Hopefully, if I have some energy left after that, maybe I'll find respite at the pool, where I can swim about a mile while my mind races to keep up with the to-do list on the dining room table (which will still be sitting there when I get back!) and if I play my cards right, perhaps I'll only need to go to my classroom this weekend for 4 hours, instead of 6, to play catch up.
Is it June yet?
Things seemed great, after all, at this school there are no bells ringing. Teachers do not have to do bus duty, since there are no busses. As for the lunch ladies, well, there aren't any because there really is no cafeteria. Nor is there a library. Hmmmm....just what kind of school is this? Well, I guess this is the meaning of "alternative education". I am learning a lot as the year goes on. Its sort of like driver's ed - you know, when you think you got the hang of it and you're driving along, then suddenly you either press the gas too hard and startle the instructor, or nearly hit the parked cars and wipe your brow and go, "that was a close one". To put it in a nutshell, Ms. F, as I knew her, is having to learn how to drive all over again, meaning....I thought I was a good teacher. No, I still think I am a good teacher but the way I'm teaching is so different than how I taught in a traditional public school. I thought I had lots of stamina. I've made it through 3 sprint triathlons. A sprint triathlon would probably be the equivalent of my entire am with my 23 students. The pm would be more like a spin class, out of control at about 180 RPM's or more (those of you who spin can appreciate this!) In other words, my heart rate is off the charts at this point in the day!
So, today I am starting my blog, in an effort to maintain what little sanity I have left at the end of a work day. Also, I am prying myself away from the mountains of papers and lesson plans on my dining room table that I need to go tackle. Hopefully, if I have some energy left after that, maybe I'll find respite at the pool, where I can swim about a mile while my mind races to keep up with the to-do list on the dining room table (which will still be sitting there when I get back!) and if I play my cards right, perhaps I'll only need to go to my classroom this weekend for 4 hours, instead of 6, to play catch up.
Is it June yet?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)