Special Thx
A new toy!
I have a new toy! I recently upgraded Djembe’s phone to a Razr and thought that is what I wanted to upgrade to as well. Instead I upgraded to this little toy…
It is bluetooth capable with a VGA digital camera and a memory card that will store about 100 songs…a 3 in 1 phone, camera, and mp3 player. I was really hesitant at first thinking that the reception couldn’t be that good if it does all of this. So far I’m impressed. I have 30 days to exchange it if it just isn’t what it is supposed to be. So far so good though. I have NO intention of buying music. We have a ton so I just want to upload my favorites CDs to my computer and transfer them to the phone. That too has worked well. I am blown away with the sound quality coming from the phone! Great speakers on the phone and really great headphones. Very impressive.
Woohoo- what a ride!
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
why teach?
If you search the archives you will sometimes discover what you need to read. This was mine for the day…originally posted September 2005, it is an appropriate reminder.
why would anyone become a teacher?
during the school year i ask myself this frequently. oh yeah! it’s the 8-3, 3 weeks at christmas, and 3 months off in the summer right? you get tons of paid vacation. uhhhh no.
my school starts at 7:45 and i’m supposed to be there at 7:20 and go home sometime between 3:30 and 5, depending on whether or not the girls are with me. if i go home early, work goes too. we get 2 weeks at christmas and 8 weeks in the summer, during which time we still have to do staff development and district improvement like curriculum and assessment. ( i will spare you the rant here but grrr.) as for paid vacation, no. we are paid for our contracted days and it is spread out over 12 months. but some will look at as they choose so oh well. it is a decent schedule. i’m happy with it. i get to be home with my kids in the afternoon and in summers most of the time. i figure it takes that 8 weeks just to remember i still like teaching. question is why?
i wouldn’t recommend anyone go into teaching. the pay is improving, that’s a plus. no one chooses it for the pay. the hours, well…most teachers never stop working. if you had the chance to ask my family or friends you would learn that my students are always on my mind. there are always things to grade or prepare for. even on trips in the summer or other breaks i’m looking for supplemental materials, or taking pictures to use. it is that way with most teachers i know. i’m from a family of teachers and when i told them what i wanted to do they just said “what are you crazy? you know what you are getting into?”
what about the kids? do you teach b/c you love kids? that’s not enough. some of those lovable kids do everything in their power to prove they are not worthy of your care. they most definitely are, but they try your patience.
so why teach? b/c you love it. you want to make a difference in someone’s life. b/c you can look past the paperwork and hassle of testing, or other district/state requirements. you teach so that kids will learn and have a chance in this world. sometimes teaching is on down the list of things you do. i spend a lot of time listening to my kids. they have troubles and concerns that take away from their focus on school work. sometimes you are the only positive in their life. sometimes, they push hard to turn you away. sometimes, you want to turn away. but you cant. you may be the only one in that kids life that didnt turn away. there are few rewards in teaching. but the rewards you get, the hugs and hellos from former students who arent embarrassed to see you…the thank you for being there notes…the visits from students who you just werent sure if they would make it, but they did and they came back to say you helped them…all of that makes it worth it.
what happens if you don’t love it? you will be miserable. if you let the difficult kids get to you, you will hate your day. yes, there are some days i dont want to go to work. especially when you have that long stretch in september and october, or february to march, without a break. or it’s beautiful hiking weather. but my 120-130 kids and i make the best of it. there are always those kids who make it their goal to make you smile. if you try to make learning fun, they will usually have fun learning. so i have fun with it. i love my subject and i make it come across in my classroom. some even start to enjoy history and culture as much as i do!
i’m still considered a “baby” in the profession. my teaching experiences have been so diverse. i feel very fortunate for this diversity, it has taught me a lot. i can’t imagine what the future holds. some days i imagine that it will not be teaching.
2 days
only two days left in this week…hope it all comes together.
“Last word” response
I have the compulsion to respond to Sage who commented “getting in the last word doesn’t mean you’re right, just that you’ve worn the other party down so they don’t care or aren’t going to continue the argument.”
SO TRUE! Here’s the thing though. There are times when I DO have to ability to exercise self control and let the discussion/debate/argument go. In fact, I have the ability to totally tune out and not respond period. All depends on mood I think. When angry I will usually keep silent. Playful or fun debate and I’ll go back and forth as long as it takes…even if that means I have to concede the point b/c I’m wrong. BTW, even though I do not like being wrong I can accept when I am. (Jem, don’t you DARE laugh at that…I can say when I’m wrong. Really I can.) I know I am not the only one here. I work with a few who in debate, conversation, or whatever…they must have the last word. Since I know a conversation will go on for days I give up early in the game.
Just another thing to work on I guess.
Academic moronity
I have really had a decent year so far. My students aren’t THAT bad. In fact, discipline wise I have had the best year yet. I do not understand my students though. I am a SERIOUS procrastinator. I could give tips to all those wishing to improve their procrastination tendencies. My students are in serious need of those tips. I spent grad school in a constant state of procrastination. No choice. I was taking a double load, teaching full time, coaching mock trial, and there was the whole family thing too. Here is the source of my irritation…my students were given project instructions several weeks ago… (www.thsmsstudies.info if you are TRULY interested) The due date was Monday and -15/day late. 32 of my 125 students didn’t turn anything in. I’ve had 5 working diligently to complete the project. We spent one-two days a week working in class! What’s the deal? I told them that almost every student who has failed my class did so because they did not do the project. Two major grades…and it’s a project. COMPLETE the project and strictly follow the instructions. You WILL score well. Why do they care so little? This class will not be offered to them next year and it is a semester course. If you fail you will have next semester to take it over OR you HAVE to take it in summer school. Have me now or have me in June…trust me, June is NOT better!
I just don’t get it. We are down to the wire here and I have students who just don’t get it. I don’t know how to make them care.
During my internship my cooperating teacher said something that has always stuck with me…
I was frustrated then and made the statement “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
Allen’s reply: “No, but you can sure as hell drowned him.”
I think I’m being pulled under with the horse.
Late night ramblings…
Getting the last word- it is a strange compulsion and I should really work on it. Actually, it isn’t a compulsion unless I am being a goof. I usually have a tendency to remain quiet, watching everything, and taking it all in. You gain a lot when you keep your mouth shut and your eyes/ears open. It is amusing what people say without realizing it, or what they say that others do not pick up on b/c they are too busy with what they want to say. I love to observe. People watching is really interesting. The habits people have are hilarious and their body language speaks volumes. It can be deceiving though. A persons personality is not always evident and their body language can be perceived to mean something totally opposite their intention. As I type I am thinking of the personalities of a few. Some come across as very standoffish. (Is that actually a word?) When you get to know them they are very approachable. Or you get to know them and find out you were right to begin with. You know the saying actions speak louder than words…Words can speak pretty loudly too. IMO even off-handed statements have meaning. It may not be strong meaning…but the hint is there. There has been insinuation of such in the media when celebrities say something stupid. “They wouldn’t say it if they didn’t really believe it.” I don’t think this is totally true, but I think it holds an element of truth. Someone may say or insinuate, however they would never in sober mind act on the thoughts. Some days when my students are acting up…nah…just tired rambling. Off to a warm comfy bed…
Tuesday
When you can’t think of a really catchy title go with the day. Now here’s the deal…Today has been so long I just messed up the day title. It is not Tuesday, it is ONLY Monday. 6 days. 6 days. 6 days…OOOOEEEEE…today doesn’t count. FIVE DAYS!
Yes, only 5 days until exams and 1/2 (oh please let it be 1/2 or more) of my students will not be there for exams. Knowing my luck these days only a tiny percentage will be exempt. If the projects are anything to go by that will be the case. Nine week projects were due today. At least 1/3 of my students decided -15/day late wasn’t a bad deal. Here’s the kicker…they’ve had six weeks and class time to finish the #$%^ thing! SERIOUSLY! How hard is it! WHY are you surprised that documentation is required?!?!?! Written and oral instructions. AND I had examples.
Maybe I should stop blogging about this it isn’t good for my health. I was going to post pics of Djembe’s new congas, but that would require me going into the kitchen for the camera and making the effort to upload them. Sorry…I’m not interested in putting forth that effort. After tutoring this afternoon I met Jem for dinner. We made it home by 6:15 and I cleaned until 9:00. We have company coming tomorrow and I wanted to prepare elements of the meal so tomorrow afternoon would be easier. Anyway…the congas are pretty and I’ll post a pic later. I know you are waiting and will anticipate the sharing of imagery.
I felt really bad that I haven’t been spreading comment cheer lately. As I check my statcounter I feel much better. You guys are lurking too. There are a few of you who are desperately working on research papers too. Make sure you cite your source…plagiarism will come back to bite you in the tush if you don’t! 
Off to do some online Christmas shopping and math prep. 
I really stink at math.
Kontan Jou
snowflakes!
We live in the deep South so the only snowflakes we see around here (for the most part) are those created by us…
Have you checked out the online make-a-flake site yet?
Decisions and opportunity cost…
It is difficult to choose a path when you know the opportunity cost is so great. Sometimes that road to happiness, or whatever, is bumpy and when you come to the fork the decision gets tough. We’re at the fork. The necessary decision is clear, even though the path is not. The opportunity cost is leaving a place that we have grown to appreciate, even love. Not the city. I won’t miss the city. There are certain things about it that I like and will miss, but nothing about the city can’t be found somewhere else. Well, only one thing. That one thing is big though. I like my house…the backyard view is very pleasing. It has the space we need. Another room for Jem’s drum stuff would be nice, but what we have is adequate. For the most part I like my job. It’s teaching, and teaching will be frustrating wherever we end up, but I am not ready to leave it yet. I am no longer in grad school so that is not holding us back. In fact, nothing is keeping us from moving forward. However, when the day comes, it will be very hard to say goodbye to our church. It took me a while to even get back to the point of enjoying church. In fact, I don’t think I truly came to that point until we ended up where we are. I’m not playing and I’m really happy with that. I enjoy watching the guys play and experiencing the music…instead of producing it. I enjoy everything about where we are and I really like the people. I know that the main place we are considering has nothing like it. The other place would actually be easier because it is further away and would be a true change, not merely an adaptation. I shouldn’t dwell on it. Change is not for a few months to come. As I grow closer to my licensing process I think about it more. I’m ready to leave my job. I’m ready to leave my house and my neighbors. I’m ready to merely correspond with my friends here via email. I’m not ready to enjoy our church via podcast. I’m not ready search for something similar. I wish we could take it with us. At least is not quite time for the road less traveled. Despite the disappointment of leaving something we treasure, I know the change will make all the difference and there will be another orchard to enjoy…We’ll just have to find it.
Flair
Recent Comments