November Currently...

I cannot believe that November is already here!  In some ways I feel like the year is passing quickly, but on some days (or weeks) I feel like it is passing as slowly as molasses in January downhill.  This week was one of them.  We had fall break the week before last and our week of return has been so SLOW!  I know that the next few weeks will fly by though and the holidays will be upon us in no time.  Time to get Christmas shopping!

I'm joining up with Farley again this month for her Currently series.  Honestly, this is the only consistent blog post that I can keep up with - sorry followers!  Thank you for loving me despite my sketchy blogging habits.  I think this one is easier to post regularly because it is quick and someone has come up with the topics for me.

Here goes!

Listening:  It's Saturday morning, so that means the hubby sleeps in late and I am left in the silence of the house.  Nothing but the ticking of the clock in these parts today.  I do have a snoring pup curled up under the blanket with me so I'm hearing those sounds too.  I love the weekend mornings.

Loving:  I try my hardest not to work too much on Saturday.  I leave all of my school stuff in the car until Sunday usually so I can relax.  This week though, I'll be pulling a few things out because of my "thinking" task.

Thinking:  Part of my new role this year is evaluating teachers.  I evaluated two this week and that means that I have to write up the evaluations, score, and then conduct a post-conference.  Each evaluation requires 4-6 hours of work, so I've got a busy weekend.

Wanting: A vacation!  I haven't had a break from work since Spring Break of last year.  When school ended in SC for me, I immediately moved to TN and dug in here with training.  School started the last week of July, so no summer!  I need some time to get away from the every day routine and recharge my batteries!

Needing:  A Fall/Winter shopping spree!  At my previous school teachers were required to wear white, navy, light blue, or khaki, so I didn't really buy any clothes that weren't appropriate for school during the fall/winter.  Now that I can wear what I want, Praise Jesus!, I am in desperate need of some great fall and winter clothes!  But, I need a bit of extra cash to do what I want!

A Yummy Pin:  Glazed Pork Chops - I know, nothing fancy, but with my crazy schedule, fancy is the last thing that I can tackle.  I made these last week and my husband asked for more.  A sure sign that it was a yummy pin.  And EASY PEASY to make!  Click the picture to head to the original source.

Head back over to Farley's and check out the other Currently posts!

Truth on a Tuesday...

I'm linking up again with Sunny Days in Second Grade for her Monday Truths.  Completely enjoyed all of the fitness truths that were shared.  It helped me get in gear yesterday.

This week's truth is all about the things that creep us out.  In addition to creepy mustaches, there are a few things that send chills down my spine.

Link up for My Truth Monday!

The Truth About Fitness

Denise over at Sunny Days in Second Grade has started a new series that I can jump on board.  She is doing a Truth About...series that will take us all the way to the new year.  Her first week is all about fitness.

I've been a slacker in this area for the last two years, but here recently I've picked up running again out of necessity for my sanity.  The 30 minutes I'm plugged into my iPod on the treadmill or on the road becomes the only time during the day where I am completely stress free.  I've grown to crave those moments like my coffee.  They are much needed.  Even though I'm a mess running and I'm as slow as molasses in January, I'm dedicated and I've seen improvement (until a recent week off sabotaged my progress). It's time of year is beautiful and I can't wait to head out tomorrow morning.

A Reminder

There are days when the chips are stacked against us and our patience is paper thin.  The morning begins with an alarm that we snooze until the last possible second. Breakfast is ruined because there is no milk or no cream for the coffee.  The pants I was going to wear did not get put in the dryer or ironed and when I got into my car, it was on empty and it was raining.  When I arrive at school the copy machine is on the fritz, I forgot to do the flipchart I needed, and there's a parent who needs a conference ASAP.

As the day progresses, the little patience I have is gone. The child who hasn't done their homework for the last 50 days still doesn't have it.  A nasty note in the folder from a parent. One student just won't stop talking. An unannounced observation that does not go well. The small crack that was there earlier has now grown into a huge crevasse that can't be repaired today.

I notice I'm short with my students, with other teachers, and hard on myself because I know better.  All I want to do is curl up under a toasty blanket and go back to bed.

It's days like these where I need to keep reminding myself that every child in my class is someone else's baby.  A child that could have been waited on for eternity, one that was prayed for, one that was almost lost, one that deserves so much more than what I have given.

Source

I try every day to keep this in mind, but there are days where I slip.  I try every day to remember, if I was this child's mother, would I be okay with the words that came out the teacher's mouth, the questions about why homework wasn't completed, about the consequence I just administered, etc.  

I don't have children of my own, but I've had about 25 each year that I have considered my own.  The days where I genuinely put myself in the shoes of the parent are amazing.  The days where I don't, aren't.  

I may appear "soft" to some other teachers, not as firm, more lenient. But, I'm okay with that, because at the end of the day, I get hugs from 4th and 5th graders and sweet notes that pull me out of the depths on bad days.  I know that these were my kids, I'd want the best for them and a teacher who whispers before yelling, hugs before punishing, and loves before leaving for the day.

Has It Been 20 Years???

It truly feels like it has been 20 years since I've put my fingers to use pounding out a useful blogpost.  This year has been insanely busy with my new position.  Most days, I am working well into the evening hours - sometimes 10:00 on work and the last thing I want to do is sit down in front of a screen and type any words of wisdom.  And truth be told, I haven't felt like I've had anything worthy of sharing.  My nuggets of wisdom this year would not necessarily be student based, but would encompass how to deal with negativity, name calling, and bullying from adults, how to manage your schedule so you actually see your husband in more than passing, how to manage your day so you have the energy to cook and keep the house somewhat clean.  But, I would be no expert in any of these either because they are the very things that I am struggling with EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I feel like I've used the word overwhelmed quite a bit in the past few months, but today, I discovered that overwhelmed doesn't begin to cover it.  Talk about drowning in obligations, responsibilities, etc. - I need scuba tanks to keep me breathing because if I don't have them, I think I may die.  So, if you have any useful tidbits in the above mentioned areas, I would greatly appreciate it.

My job has bled into my personal life so much that I honestly don't know who I am any longer and I think I've forgotten what I enjoy. That makes me an unhappy stressed-out lady.  I have forgotten that writing was my release, that reading was my relaxation, and running was my sanity.  I have got to get it together - fast!

But, I did carve time out of crazy land to head to Louisiana for my 20th High School Reunion - Yes, I am in fact that old!  Hard to believe.  So, while it may seem like it has been 20 years since I've written, it really has been 20 years since I've graduated.  The weekend was fabulous - Friday night football game, Saturday afternoon picnic, and Saturday night event.  It truly was one of the best nights I've had in a very long time.  I was able to visit with girlfriends who truly mean the world to me and reconnect with a slew of others who I miss greatly.  There is nothing like 20 years to heal the old hurts and burned bridges that ignorant 18 year olds create.  This reunion was truly a coming of age get together for all of us.  Our class had a significant amount of success - 3 doctorate level professionals, lots of fabulous parents, a large group of teachers who are changing the world one student at a time, pastors, free spirits, etc.  It was fabulous!  Below are a few pics of the weekend's events.

I was also able to spend some much needed and valued time with my family while I was home.  2 weeks ago, I almost lost my daddy to kidney failure.  Thank the good Lord that he fought and made it through the battle.  As we prepare for biopsies tomorrow, I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we move forward in this process.  But, that is a story for another day.  I tried to soak up as much time with my nieces as humanly possible.  We went to the football game on Friday night, had a sleep over Friday evening, spent Saturday morning together, Sadie (the youngest) came and helped me get ready for the reunion, and then we spent ALL day together on Sunday ending it with smores.  Needless to say, Auntie needed a LONG nap when I returned home.

Mr. Postman...

I absolutely LOVE getting things in the mail - letters, cards, Birchbox, packages, etc.  Anything that has been personally sent to me and arrives via the Postman (or woman) always puts a smile on my face. 

I'm a Birchbox girl and enjoy getting a box of goodies that are personalized for me and my beauty routine.  So, when I saw the SLANT box on Lessons with Coffee I got very excited.  More so about this than Birchbox. Why? 

Well, it is completely personalized.  Each person who participates is partnered with another teacher.  You spend a few weeks stalking getting to know one another through social media and then create a personalized package. 

My favorite thing about it is that it includes a personal letter and something handmade.  The cost is minimal.  The contents have to total $10, but you can find things on sale :)  This month's theme is: Oops! I forgot...

Each participant will create a personalized box filled with goodies that your partner could have forgotten with the busyness of the start of school.

Want to sign up?  Head on over to Lessons With Coffee!

Stepping Out of the Box...Was It The Right Decision?

My friend Krissy of Venspired had the perfect image to describe how and why I stepped so far out of my box this year. I was tired of being comfortable.  Sure, I loved what I was doing, and I was very successful at it, but at some point I lost track of the days and my purpose.  I was too comfortable.

I wonder how many times my students became comfortable about what we were doing in class?  Did I challenge them enough, make them squirm a little because it was hard?  Did I push my kids to never settle for the same old, same old?

I hope that I did.  I hope that I showed them that always challenging yourself and pushing beyond your limits was a learning exercise in and of itself.  I hope I showed them that if you make a mistake, you learned in that moment instead of considering it a failure.  I hope that when students received their first "B" they understood that they fought tooth and nail for it and need to feel proud.

I hope that my parents received those same messages about their students.  The message that a B is sometimes hard earned.  That if students are consistently getting straight As that maybe it's too easy.

I pray that I taught my students how to work through a struggle and find a solution - maybe not the first time, but maybe the 2nd or the 3rd.  That it doesn't always come easy - that real life thing is really messy and knowing how to power through the struggle is the real skill Mrs. Looper was trying to teach.  

I hope that I taught my students that sometimes you have to take a leap because while it's nice and warm and cozy, it's just too comfortable.