Science and stuff

It doesn't seem like it should already be the third full week of school. I can't believe how quickly time seems to be flying by. I can't wait to be through one full year with this curriculum. I'm going to be such a better teacher next year. 

Highlights from the last 2 1/2 weeks:

-hands-on activities.... I love being able to get the materials that we need to make science fun. 

I also love that my students are complaining because we are doing activities instead of just reading the book and taking notes. 

Ha! I never thought I would hear middle schoolers complain because they had to do activities!

Finally I am thankful for all the quirks that are keeping me on my toes! 

Every child has something different test is unique to their learning....just makes my life more challenging!

Hopefully I can start blogging more!

Reflections on my first 3 days

I There was this weird calmness in starting school this year. The internet wasn't working, I couldn't print from my classroom and the only technology I had was an overhead projector. Which I refused to be one of those teachers. Yet I knew that things would work out okay, somehow. 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that there is a family feel. Parents are asked to volunteer in classrooms, students have known each other since they were young.  The amount of welcoming I have gotten has been beyond anything else in all my years of teaching. It isn't about competition. It isn't about who is right and wrong. It is about what is best for the students. It us about praying for each other and allowing others to lift you up.

Teaching  science is one of my favorite things to do. First of all there is so much involved in science it is amazing. Second I love teaching about God's Creation.

So this week I didn't spend as much time on expectations as I might in another place. I spent more time on relationships and bonding with each other. Perhaps this year I truly can make teaching about experiences. That's my goal anyways.

A sad goodbye

We have 3 more half days with the kids. They are exam days for middle and high school. But for us basically it is one big party. I haven't been sad until today. This year has been hard. It has been tough for me to see beyond the drama, and look at the good. I have spent much of my teaching time this year doing exactly what I never wanted to do. Up until this point I haven't been sad to say goodbye.

Today though, one of my students unexpectedly came to say it was his last day, and I lost it. The emotions and love that I had been trying so hard to keep in check just left me...I realized I am sad to go. They have grown and changed. I have made a difference. 

This might be my last elementary aged class. I might be moving back to middle school. Not sure how I feel about it, but really think this might be my niche.

I will miss my kids....but I'm ready to move forward.

Lying children and what makes it frustrating

I really dislike lying. It to me is the worst thing a person can do. But how can I stop my students from lying when there is nothing to give as a consequence. The lying has become pretty bad the past 2 weeks. Maybe it is the end of the school year that is causing all these lies. Maybe it us the age? I'm not sure, but I really dislike it a lot. 

Truth it is within our grasp...every single one of us. How can I motivate my students to always tell the truth?

Teaching....is it for life?

I don't know when I started really doubting my career choice. Maybe it has always been an itch at the back of my mind. But the last few weeks have caused me to just doubt. My whole career has basically been spent overseas. Do I regret it? No I don't. I have been able to live a life that some people only dream about. I have been able to experience life in a way that some only get to experience via movies or through someone else. But my choice has also caused me to not get job interviews for teaching. I know what sets me apart is my overseas experience. But that is also what is causing me to miss opportunities. Unfortunately when I was in Missouri last I had a temporary mindset. I honestly thought that I was not going to be there long. I thought that I would settle overseas, so I burned bridges as a teacher that I shouldn't have.

I think I am a great teacher. I don't think I am the best teacher. I have a long way to go, but what I struggle with is....is it worth it? Everything right now is going crazy in education....common core vs. No common core. Every teacher must basically have 30 different lessons for 30 different student levels, not to mention the meetings, special events, and committees. Parents who are not teachers have no idea what teachers have to go through...and that causes even more stress. At the end of the day I just have to ask myself if it is really going yo make me happy.

I'm a teacher...I love teaching. I love hearing kids blend sounds, and read for the first time. I love science experiments and sweet notes. I do not love pressure. I do not love people judging me and thinking they could do a better job than me. I do not love being unappreciated. 

So, I have to ask myself...is it really going to be different in another career? 

Or is it just that I'm finally hitting the point in my life when I would rather be a stay at home mom than a teacher? 

I don't know the answer. 

I know I love teaching, but sometimes I have second thoughts.

Dr. Seuss and a change

I loved watching my students decorate the door today. They really got into it. I want this quarter to be full of laughter and smiles. I want them to make memories. I hope they do. 

March is almost here...

Today I wanted to be totally ready for March. I got started, had an after school meeting...stayed at school till 5. Then...I just wanted to go home. I want so bad to be one of those teachers that is powerful, and passionate. Maybe one day! 

Vocabulary Acting

My most favorite way to get my students understanding key vocabulary is to have them create skits about the vocabulary words.  Today we had "trade" and "barter."  I just sat back and examined how different they are now then when I came in October.  Watching kids that tend to have a quiet voice speak out, and watching those that normally are the leaders being turned down.  I do enjoy seeing kids speak up for what they want.  Watching them compromise....seeing their strengths blossoming right before my eyes.  Its pretty amazing! 

Interviews and waiting...

This past weekend I had 2 interviews...now comes the waiting part.  The first interview I felt pretty good about until I totally bombed the last question.  The second interview...well lets just say that I can feel pretty confident that I will not be offered another interview there.  It is so crazy to me how two interviews can be completely different.  I mean...when the person interviewing you doesn't even pretend to smile, well that's when you kind of just give up.  I know the perfect job is out there.  But the waiting well that is the hardest.  Especially when you hate the place you are doing the waiting.  Ugghh..waiting!  

A little creation

Last week I got publisher downloaded on my computer...it's not the latest version, but I work with what I have. Since it's Wednesday we have reading buddies, and we really needed something to do with the kids after the "reading" part of reading buddies. So, here it is...my first publisher creation. It's not fancy, and it was super easy to make, but I'm proud. That's what it's about, right? Making things to enhance participation and learning.

Patience....will I ever really have it?

Why is it that even when I repeat myself 20 times, show them exactly what I want them to do on the board....I still get blank stares?  It's like I am speaking a foreign language...oh wait...I am! 

I am always amazed how easily I forget that when my students walk out the doors of our school they are no longer speaking English...

I do forget, everyday I forget.  I shouldn't forget, but I just want the concepts to be easy to understand.  Like how to use "to be" correctly.  Or that you MUST put a capital letter at the beginning of every sentence, and you MUST end your sentence with punctuation. 

I love my students, I really do, but seriously....somedays I have the patience of, well whatever animal has the least amount of patience possible. 

I'm not proud of it...but I'm human and working on it every single day. 

A Good Monday

Today was one of those days that I managed to be pleasantly surprised by what a good mood I was in.  I'm not always in a bad mood, but I am surprised by how quickly I can get upset when things don't quite go my way. I'm always amazed when teaching second language kids, the things that just come naturally to us native speakers. For instance the difference between have and has. Who knew it could be so tough!

A new week...a new attitude...

Tomorrow I head back to my classroom of amazing second graders...ready for another week of adventure. Can't believe it's the middle of February. Time is flying by...here we go...cheers to another week.

Making the Most of Teaching

It's taken me 10 years of school, work, and contemplation to finally realize what I really want to do with my life.  I had sort of a "crisis" a couple months ago, where I honestly just had to question if I really wanted to be a teacher.  Do I really make a difference?  A lot of the time I feel like I am unhappy with what is happening in my classroom.  But it is not that I am unhappy with teaching, it is that I am unhappy with the resources, and circumstances that I have found myself in while teaching.  I love seeing their faces light up when they look at something new.  I love seeing them interact with each other and learn to just be.

Believe it or not what made me realize that I am in fact destined to be a teacher, and that I do in fact love it was an episode of New Girl.  Ha!  I never would have thought...but as Jessica Day had a realization I thought about it and had a similar realization.  I am a teacher, I have known that since I was in third grade.  I was born to teach, to lead, and to open up my heart to keep kids safe and engaged.

So, I decided that I needed to dive into teaching.  I need to invest in becoming the best teacher I can be.  Investing means, reading blogs, reading books, and spending time writing.  I want to land a job that I can keep, to be in a classroom, and know that I will be able to stay there for years and years.  I am a teacher.  It is my calling, it is my life.  There is so much pressure, but you know what?  I am excited to excel under that pressure.

So...this blog will be about that...my teaching and my learning!  :)  I'm excited for this journey.