Up and Coming

Dear all who care to read this blog,

I'm sorry I've been neglectful.

I'll try not to let it happen again...

No promises, though!


Today is Thursday.  A week from this Monday the first week of school will start.

I think I might wet my pants.

Ha!  Wouldn't that be a sight....?

Starting yesterday, school meetings and Professional Development have and will continue to occupy the great majority of my time until the first day of school.  Then, the Freshmen will take over.  I don't mind.  We're all getting geared up and ready for all of the changes happening in the school.  This really will be an exciting year.

In all seriousness, I really am VERY excited about what's in store for the 9th grade this year.

Why, you might ask?

I'll tell you why.

You know how in most high schools, when students get to the 9th grade, they have multiple teachers, 100 different procedures to remember, a million different preferences per classroom, and every teacher's personal discipline plan?

Strike that.  ALL of that.  We're doing something different (because EVERYONE likes different!)

My dear school has what they call the Freshmen Academy.  Essentially, for 6 out of the 8 periods a day, all of the 9th grade will be in ONE section of the school.  They have their own wing.  Isn't that cool?  It's kinda separated from the rest of the grades, and that was done for a reason.  Reason being this Freshmen Academy idea.  For the last 2 periods of the day, the elective periods, the students get thrown in the throngs of the upper class men and basically have to fend for themselves.  But while they're with us, they have stability, which, I think I can safely say, every young teen needs as much of as possible.

Not really that different, you say?

Okay, how about a unified syllabus for all Freshman Academy teachers?  Same rules.  Same implementation.  Same expectations.  Same everything, except (obviously) the teacher's name.  All students will know and understand that they will be treated the exact same way, no matter the teacher or subject.

Since this is a brand new program starting this Fall, the school has selected a panel of 10 teachers from the Academy to be the frontrunners.  They get together once a week and talk about what's working, what's not working, what can be improved upon, etc.  All the teachers enlisted are bright, energetic, outgoing, enthusiastic, and team-center ideologic people.

I am one of those 10, selected to help bring a new chapter into the lives of the 9th graders we're about to meet.  I am thrilled and honored to be part of such a wonderful program!

We're also requiring a class that I really wish I had in high school.  It's called Freshman Seminar.  It's a bit difficult to describe, but for lack of a better term, we can call it a Life Skills class, or a Career Oriented Class.  In it, students find out who they are, where they want to go, what they can do, and the tools they need to get there.  Each student will fill out a 10-year plan for their lives according to their dreams and aspirations.  No dream is too big.  We want these kids to realize that they have the potential for so much more, to be so much more.  We want to get them thinking long-term so they have something to strive for - a career, a home, whatever they want!  They will build a budget and use critical thinking skills and team-work to try and map out how they need to get where they want to go and how to avoid making so many of the mistakes that young people make because they just aren't informed enough.  This class is a God-send, honestly.  Thinking about the area that I've moved to, and the demographics that come with that, we could see this entire city change for the better.  We want to give our students the option for a better life and the tools to get them there.  I truly have confidence that this class will help boost student motivation and achievement for years to come.

I, and the rest of the teachers, absolutely can't wait to see how this class turns these kid's perspectives around.

That's about all I can say about that.

I know I'm lame, but I don't have any pictures to show of my classroom yet!  I've got furniture in the middle of the floor so it's kinda difficult to tell what it looks like anyway.  Plus, I've not hung anything on the walls yet, so it's bare and sad :-(

As soon as I can get some good pictures, I'll post them here so you can see the transformation.

Thanks for your time!  If any of you teachers have any advice on how to handle 14 year olds with confidence, I'd appreciate anything you could throw my way :-)

Moving On Up

Unfortunately, I don't REALLY have much to update on, but I'll throw something out here anyway.

Since the last post, I have:
1. Signed my contract (Official!)
2. Seen my classroom (EEEPPP!!!)
3. Received PD hours (ka-ching!)
4. Fallen completely in love with my school district and the people (<3)
5. Been freaking out constantly over how much I still have to do for this wedding. :-\

My wedding.  In 4 weeks.

I'm in the process of packing and planning, and planning and scheming.  For wedding.  For classroom.  For life.

*sigh*

I'm scared there is too much on my plate right now.

*cue panic attack*

Once I get settled (read: MARRIED and settled), I'm sure school stuff will be happening VERY quickly.  You'll be hearing more from me in just over a month.  After I change my name and stuff.  You know - the usual :-)

Brand. Spanking. New.

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a YEAR since I had anything to update on.

Since I'm actually writing something, you're probably guessing I have an actual update, right?

 ABSOLUTELY! 

After I received my teaching license last June (2011), I hunted hard for that special place to call "home" (read: my very own, brand spanking new classroom). 

But, alas, it didn't come... :-(

 You can imagine that I was SUPER bummed and beginning to wonder if ANYONE would give me that first chance.  It had been 2 years since I graduated college.  I mean, really?  Was it supposed to be this hard finding a job?

I scouted jobs for the next few months after school started, but nothing promising. I applied for several out-of-state teaching licenses (none of which have been completed yet... oops!) and continued my search.

Along came January of 2012: 7 months from my WEDDING DAY! (That's right, my boyfriend proposed and we're planning a wedding!  Whee!!!!)

We needed to find jobs quick. I did everything that I could to locate the place that was waiting for me. I Googled, I emailed, I filled out hundreds of applications, I sent out many, many resumes, the works! Fiance and I were looking outside of our hometown for jobs for the both of us and decided that whoever was offered the first job would be where we would go.

We were NOT looking in Arkansas.
Weird, because that's where I'm licensed... You would think that would be the first place I'd have looked.

BUT, one day in April, I noticed a job posting on a teacher forum for a teacher in Arkansas.  I said, "What the heck?!" and sent in my application.

They called 2 days later.  EEEEEP!!

After HUNDREDS of emails, applications, and resumes, someone FINALLY took notice! They called me on a Friday. They interviewed me that next Wednesday, and HIRED ME a week later!

I GOT A TEACHING JOB!!!!!

They loved me so much, they gave me my first pick :-D
(Seriously - the principal told me that after I left the interview, he and the members I had interviewed with could NOT stop talking about me.  Best. Feeling. Ever!)

I am (almost officially) the brand new 9th Grade World Geography teacher in a small town in Arkansas. Wahoo!!!
Now to sign the contract...

Who knew small town life was our first stop :-)

Geography is a subject not new to the school, but, in the past, had only been offered on a semester basis. I get to teach the first class of Geography for a WHOLE YEAR!

Brand new teacher. Brand new course. Brand new students to high school. Brand new city. Brand new relationship status (by that point). Brand new EVERYTHING!

I feel truly blessed.
I couldn't have gotten here without the support of those around me. My family and friends, my co-workers and neighbors. None of you realize how wonderful it is to be surrounded by such a wonderful collection of thoughts and prayers.

And I can't forget every single teacher that I've had that has helped inspire me to become who I am.

THANK YOU!

You mean the world to me - I hope I can follow in your footsteps.

Thank you all for your support and encouraging words. 3 years well spent :-)

I hope to be posting on a more regular basis now that I actually have a CLASSROOM and STUDENTS to teach! I would greatly appreciate words of wisdom and encouragement. This is going to be a tough year, but I know I can make it through.

Keep coming back for more juicy classroom talk!
And crazy moments - because I'm sure there will be plenty of nights I want to pull my hair out.

Bazinga.

A New Development

Hear ye, hear ye! My dream to ONE DAY be a teacher is just one step closer.

Yep, ONE WHOLE STEP!

(Be happy...)

A few days ago, something arrived in the mail. Betcha can't guess what it was.

Imma ruin the surprise - it was:

*drumroll please*

MY TEACHING LICENSE!

YEEWHOOOO!!!!

I can now officially (and legally) teach in the state of Arkansas. The next step now is to get my license transferred over to just about any state I want. Rather, just about any state that will let me. Still hunting for teaching jobs, but it's early in the summer so I'm still hopeful.

But yes, I finally passed that last pesky PRAXIS II exam and am an official licensed teacher! All I need now is a classroom and a bunch of kids willing to tackle me and my obscure and ridiculous personality.

Anyone wanna hire me on the spot?

Here's hoping :-) and thanks for listening.

Until next time, folks!

Dreams

I have this dream to one day be a real teacher with a real classroom, real students, real textbooks, real activities - the works! However, it's been a pretty frustrating year. I looked and nothing happened really. I had a couple of interviews, but nothing that led anywhere. It's disheartening but I know I have to keep moving on, taking it one day at a time.

I have dreams.
But I don't know if they're going to come true.
I want them to.
I'm working towards it.
I'm praying it will come.
In time.

It's so hard to wait and hope and pray that your hard work trying to find a job will pay off. Some blame the economy and, partly, rightfully so. But teachers will always be in demand so why has it been so difficult to find a job?

Overqualified
Underqualified
No money

Story of my difficulties... I'm not the only wanna-be teacher out there having a difficult time. It feels like it sometimes, though.

I won't give up hope that the right school is waiting for me :-)

Until then, I have this goal to make a list of schools to send information to. Schools from around the country.

I'm not afraid to move

Once I get all of my schools together, contact principals, finish writing documents, etc., I'll be sending out en masse applications and resumes. My name will go across the country and maybe someone will need me somewhere. Alaska? Hawaii? New York? Florida? Utah? Indiana? Who knows!

I'll go wherever I'm needed.

But I have to wait....and that is so hard.

In the meantime, I'm still subbing and thankfully able to pay my ridiculous student loans.

They're still bankrupting me. But until I financially CANNOT pay them, I'll just have to make do with that until I can find another option, or they'll listen to me when I tell them I really can't afford it...

Oh well.
Life goes on.

A teaching job awaits!

And I'm so looking forward that day :-)

Never Take Life for Granted

This school year has been shrouded in sadness.

Sorry that I start another blog post with a depressing thought, but I stand for truth.

I found out yesterday that someone I walked the halls with in high school was killed in a car accident on her way back to college. It's no better than finding out that a student who is currently walking the halls died over the weekend like we found out earlier this year. Death is hard.

Liz was spunky and always happy. She was born into a wonderful family who had a heart for everyone and I never knew anyone who didn't like her. Every time I saw her she had a smile on her face. Unfortunately, I never learned more about her because I graduated high school, then she left for college. But what I do know about her will always be good. God has a new beautiful angel watching over all of us right now.

Please pray for the oncoming truck driver who hit her. Sadly, he must live with this for the rest of his life, even though he had no where else to go.

Rest in Peace, Liz. I hope to see you again one day, smiling and welcoming people in at the gate.

Where Credit is Due

For many schools across the country, tonight was graduation. The night a high school student began stepping out in the real world.

My little brother graduated tonight. I can hardly believe it's already been 18 years - that he's going off to college in the fall and that he's starting his own life. I feel like I've missed out on so much because I went to college during some of the most pivotal years in his life. I left when he was just a munchkin and now he's all grown up. Hard to believe the only time I cried tonight was when the salutatorian gave his speech (I'm such a sap...), but alas, it is finished. 16 years of school, a lot of hard work, money, tears, joys, and memories are represented with one piece of paper. They turn their rings, move their tassels, have their 10 seconds of fame and it's all over. Just like that.

And I sit there and wonder the sorts of memories each graduate has made. The relationships that have peaked and waned. The fact that tonight is the last night they will ever see each other all together for the rest of their lives.

I remember when I graduated the speaker said, "You don't know what's going to happen to each of you in the next 10 years. More than likely, most of you will never speak to each other again (that was before Facebook). Classmates might pass away. Most of you will move cross country, or across the world. Look around you. Tonight is the last night you will ever see everyone in your class again. There are no guarantees everyone will make it for the 10 year reunion for many reasons. But whatever life may bring, good or bad, you will always belong to THIS class. That relationship will never change."

Funny, I don't remember who spoke at my graduation but I remember the message. Every time another graduation rolls around I think of those words and of how they relate to every class that crosses the stage. That time is precious.

Ah well. It's over for another year. There are at least 98 new alumni and alumnae in this city who are ready to tackle the world.

It's yours for the taking, graduates! May you do many wonderful things in the years to come.

Congratulations, Class of 2010!

***********************************************************************************************

On another note:

I went to the hospital on Friday to see J and get an update on her condition.

I am happy to announce that she is doing better! I didn't get to talk to her, unfortunately, because by the time I got to see her, she was so hopped up on meds that she was asleep. I don't blame her, though. Sleep is good for the soul. And for getting over injuries.

I talked to her mother to see if she could shed any light on the situation at hand and where things might progress from there. While I don't have any definitive information (because there really isn't any), they do expect her to make a hopeful full recovery. Her mother told me that her injuries were to the front part of her head where her personality is stored, so she's not sure if J will be the same when she wakes up or not. Or when she wakes up - as in time relative to date. As in, will J wake up in 2010 or in 2006? sort of thing.

I've been praying hard for her and so have many other people so I guess it's good that I stalk Facebook because I have another tid-bit of news.

A friend of J's (I will call her Gena since there are so many "she's" in this post. Sorry!) wrote that she went to visit J and that J remembered Gena and talked to her! That can only mean that (a) The respirator has been removed [yippee skippee!] and (b) J's memory hasn't been affected very much, if at all.

I cannot tell you how encouraging it was to read that! I do pray that J will make a swift recovery and will be back on her feet in no time. I am planning on going to the hospital again to visit her sometime soon and will update again when I get more information. We don't know how much longer J will be in the hospital (it had already been 10 days last Friday), but hopefully a speedy recovery = going home soon.

Thanks to everyone who has been praying! Keep it up so J can go home soon and get back to a normal life.

Have a blessed week, everyone!

Aimee

It's hard to fathom...

So, I'm pretty much an emotional wreck right now.

Why?

I'll tell you.

You know about Facebook, right? Good. Well, I get most of my important information about my friends from this social networking site because I stalk it like nothing else (hehe!). About a week ago, I noticed that I had been asked to join a group in my little notifications section on my home page. Curious, I clicked on it with the usual intention of ignoring the group and going about my merry way in life. When I clicked on the group, my entire world froze - I literally stopped breathing for a minute and sat in shock. I couldn't believe my eyes. No way, this couldn't possibly be happening!

I won't divulge the title of the group I was asked to join in order to protect the privacy of those involved, but I will tell you the group was asking for prayers for someone I knew. Someone I taught. At a school I fell in love with. My all girl's school.

I did a little poking around on the page to find out what happened and this is what I came up with:

Slipping in and out of consciousness (I can't type that without crying). She has swelling in her brain and is in the ICU.

I won't go into how it happened because it really doesn't matter. She made a silly decision and now she has to pay a horrible price for it.

But I'm not here to bash her. Goodness knows she doesn't need that. I'm here asking for prayers for her. Chances are you who are reading this have no idea who this is and probably never will. But we're used to praying for people we really don't know, right? Please. I'm imploring you. She needs all of the God-send we can give.

The last update I had said this:

She was doing better yesterday but things got really bad last night. The swelling spiked and she's back on the paralytic in the coma and has a 101.5 fever

I also got some information that she might have to relearn some of her behavior because that's the part of her brain that has been damaged. I'm not a doctor, so I have no idea what part of the brain that is. The only thing I know is that this is serious and that I, her teachers, her classmates, her friends, and her family want her to get better. She was one of the students that I connected with the most while I taught there. She was bubbly and energetic and quite a character. I loved having her in class as much as everyone else. I know they want to see her again.

If I get any more updates, I'll be sure to post them. Until then, let's just keep this here. Don't spread anything - it leads to rumors and those usually aren't true.

If I get her hospital information, I'm going to try to visit her. In the meantime, please keep J in your prayers.

God bless you all!

Aimee

Exciting News!

Just thought you should know that I have my very first teaching interview tomorrow. Yay!! It's at a school I absolutely love and have wanted to work at for some time. Please pray that I do well!

I will let you know if anything comes of it. It's a pretty prestigious position and school so anything could happen.

Wish me luck!

The End of the Road...Almost

Well, it's snuck up on all of us but the end of the school year is almost upon us. I can't believe how fast it has gone by!! In just about 2 weeks, the seniors (of which my little brother is one) will graduate and go their respective ways to college or jobs or who knows what else. They can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I'm not sure all of the teachers are ready to see them go. I know I'm not, but time must go on and they all must grow up at some point.

Hard to believe that exactly a year ago, I was student teaching. That seems like ages ago, but also like yesterday. A year has gone by so fast! I have definitely learned a great deal since then, probably more than I realize. I know that my decision to stay at home and substitute was the best one because it (a) helped me grow as a teacher in different circumstances and environments and learn how to cope and adjust at a moment's notice, (b) helped me get ideas about how to make my future classroom friendly, educational, and interesting without being overly distracting, (c) helped me see what sort of environments I DON'T want to be a part of and those I DO. I really feel like I have grown more substituting than I did student teaching in some aspects. During student teaching, I learned how to manage my time around planning and a social life as well as form lessons to reach a variety of learning styles. During substituting, I have managed some classroom management skills (most of which require the class to EARN privileges) that I really have a concept of while student teaching. I have also learned while subbing that HOW a teacher runs his or her classroom while they are there speaks a lot about how they will act in their teacher's absence. If the teacher is too lax, the substitute cannot gain sufficient control in their absence. On the other hand, teachers who have excellent control of their classroom tend to have better behaved classes in their absence. Of course, it depends on the age group and maturity level of the students. And boy have I had some doozies this year :-) I choose to look at all challenging classrooms as an opportunity to enhance my management skills. If something doesn't work for one class, I try something different with the next one. If it works, I keep doing it. I can only get better in management - and, again, it's different for every age group. I love the challenge some days - others I just wish they would get over themselves and behave. I knew going into subbing that students would not respect me as much as their teacher, so I braced myself early on for misbehavior. It's actually helped quite a bit as I expect some things to happen and am not too torn up about it if I have to get on to a student for their behavior. Again, it's a learning experience every day.

As much as I wanted a classroom of my very own this past year, I look back and realize I wasn't ready for one. I had to mature a little in the education arena before tackling my own classes. Whether or not I have matured enough is another story, but I have definitely grown and feel more confident about taking on my own group of students - wherever I get a job.

Let me just pause and say:
Thank you to the schools who have given me an opportunity to grow and train myself more in the education arena. It has helped more than I could have possibly imagined. Thank you for all of the feedback you have given me throughout the year. Thank you for still calling on me when things go wrong on occasion (and I'm referring to the last post...). Thank you to the teachers who have trusted me with their kids - some for more than a day. I have grown to love each grade in their own ways. And finally, thank you to the students who have had to put up with me all year! Thank you for your patience when I seemed lost and confused. Thank you for the laughs and the smiles. Thank you for being flexible with a stranger in front of you. I love each and every one of you and I have loved getting to know some of you.

Moving on :-)

I have absolutely loved subbing because of the lessons I have learned throughout the year. In some ways, I'll miss the unpredictability of it all and the chance to have different students every day. But honestly, I feel like I am ready to finally tackle the classroom on my own, bring out all of those awkward quirks of my teaching style, and get students excited and interested in what I love. I will never forget what I have learned this past year.

Thank you all for helping to prepare me for the road ahead. It has been such a blessing.

In Him,
Aimee

I love roller coasters, but...

Whew! Well, I'm back to subbing for my regular private schools now that I'm finished with my long term position at the all girl's school. I figured that it was about time I updated on my teaching career and a couple of things I've learned since December. But first, a little background story. Ready?

Personally, this past week, specifically the past couple of days, have been an emotional roller coaster for me as well as those around me. Here's the skinny:

This past weekend was Easter. The school I sub for on a very regular basis (my alma mater) had a 4 day weekend - Good Friday and "Better Monday" off - and everyone was looking forward to the respite from school. I was asked to sub for an English teacher this week because she had to have surgery that weekend and would not be returning until the following Monday. I accepted, of course, and went on with my weekend. I got to school Monday and had one class. It was a fantastic start to a day and I was looking forward to it getting better. One of the principals came into my room right before the end of 1st period and handed me a letter that I needed to read. It was from the secondary principal and it was about a grave issue. I read the letter in disbelief - one of the 9th grade students, a young man whose locker was not 10 feet from the room I was in, had died the previous evening from a gunshot wound and we had to tell the students. I read and reread the letter several times before it started to sink in. I personally did not know the young man, but I knew that most of the students I would have later in the day knew him and it was a horrible shock. The instructions were to read them to our second period classes, but I didn't have a second period, which was probably good considering I was the last person I felt the students should hear that sort of news from - a substitute. I walked the halls during that time a bit and found out who the young man's second period teacher was, and she was right down the hall from me. As I passed her door, I listened to her give the news to the students that their classmate would no longer be here - there would be a permanent empty seat for him from that day on. The look of shock and disbelief on the faces I saw was heartbreaking. The teacher, I could tell, was on the verge of tears but kept her cool and was so very brave for her students. I can't imagine the pain she must have felt standing there telling her students that their classmate was dead. That definitely is something I know no teacher ever wants to have to do, but it was a good learning experience for us all.

The one thing this event did make me stop and think about was how I would react if it had been one of my students - one that I saw every day (having a regular classroom of course), one that I called on by name to answer questions, one whose name I saw every day as I graded papers or updated by books or even checked the seating chart. How would I feel knowing that I now had to erase his name from everything - like he never existed. The tears welled up in my eyes just thinking about that, and about the pain I know his teachers must have been feeling. I know it's very possible that something like that could happen while I am a teacher and while I hope it never does, I do know that it brings home to everyone just how precious life really is and how short it can become. It was a good reminder for everyone that we can't live forever and we are never guaranteed to live to a ripe old age.

Rest in Peace, dear one. You will surely be missed.



But that was only part of the day, part of the week.

The other half of my day I would rather not talk about - personal reasons, ya know? But I will say that it had to do with my younger brother making some very BAD decisions on his part so we had to have a family intervention that night, which started at school. Happily, though, things have worked themselves out it seems and the issue I was struggling with on Tuesday I am no longer struggling with. So yay!

It was an awful roller coaster - silly emotions


And that was only Tuesday! What happened next simply astounds me.

So, it's Wednesday. Day 2 of a 4-day week, okay? The morning had started off gloriously and I was so excited for the day to continue getting better (can we see a pattern here...?). I made it through 1st period and enjoyed some down time during my 2nd period planning. After that, I headed off to chapel (private school!), which was split on this particular day. I only bring this up because it has a canny resemblance to what happens later...

Anyway, we're most of the way through chapel when girls start screaming and ducking. I looked around and saw a wasp flying low above their heads. I don't think it's any big deal, but apparently girls have to be dramatic and it was waspish chaos for the next couple of minutes. The wasp flew away and landed in a young lady's hair and was eventually killed. Ker-SPLAT!!

Oh the drama....!

Then the episode was over and we went back to life as usual. After chapel, I headed back to the classroom to get ready for 3rd period.

Honors class

Typically, when you think Honors, you think "well behaved students," but this, unfortunately, was not exactly the case.

The students started filing into the room and I was in the process of sorting papers to give them before class when... well, let me back up for a sec.

Tuesday, I had opened the windows in the room before 3rd for a drafty breeze. Apparently, a wasp had flown in and had perched in between the blinds and the windows. It stayed there for the remainder of the day and I forgot all about it. Until Wednesday when....

When.... one of the male students checked the blinds to see if the wasp was still there (he had observed its presence the day before). It was. And he freaked out slightly. I told him just to leave it alone and everything will be just fine. He sat down and I thought the issue had come to a close.

Well, about 40 minutes into the class period, the wasp emerged from his safe spot and started flying around the room at ceiling level (these are tall ceilings). All of the girls started freaking out and ducking for cover, some holding their books above their heads like shields others getting as far to the ground as they could without getting out of their seat. I told them it was nothing to worry about, leave it alone and you'll be fine, etc. One young man commented under his breath that he was going to kill the wasp, but I kept reiterating "leave it alone" and pretty soon after that, they calmed down and I thought everything was fine. I went back to writing my report, but making sure to keep an eye out for him because he is someone I routinely have to keep under my thumb. Before I could say anything or could register what was happening, he jumps out of his seat in the back with his backpack in his hands and lunges the 5 feet to the windows ready to strike the unsuspecting wasp sitting calmly on the windowsill. He swings his bag, aiming for the wasp, and.... CRASH! SHATTER! TiNkLe.... he breaks the window and misses the wasp. Mind you this happened in a span less than a second. I was shocked, he was shocked, the class was shocked. I sat there with my mouth hanging open for about a second, gathered myself, and sent him calmly to the office. He apologized several times, but the damage was done. The class worked quietly after he left for the remaining 10 minutes of class. I called the office and someone boarded up the window, but that didn't mean the class didn't talk about it. As soon as the bell rang, I had students running into the room to see if the window really was broken. I had many questions about how it happened, but I didn't answer any of them. It really didn't matter how it happened - the window was broken and that's all there was to it. The young man was back in class today - and was a complete angel :-) I think he learned his lesson.

So what did I learn from this experience? That I have to learn to roll with the punches and broken glass. That sometimes details are simply not important. That it becomes the focal point of taunting for which one must address. That I can't prevent everything.

Humbling experience? I think so.

In some ways, I think it's my fault that it happened. I keep running over in my head: I should at least tried to say something when I saw him getting up. But, honestly, there was no reaction time. I don't know if I can blame myself for that, but it still makes me wonder if the school still wants me to keep coming back to work for them.

They asked me to earlier today, so I guess there are no hard feelings :-)

All in all, these past couple of days have been excellent lessons for me in handling Jr. High students and their behavior. Goodness knows it's experience I need but don't always want to have. Still, I think two traumatic days of being with high strung kids can make one go back and rethink a few things - like how to better handle them as a whole in your approach to everything. I've been working on it. After all, that's why I took this job - so I could learn!

Thank you, Jr. High, for teaching the teacher a lesson :-)

00:00

See that little title thing? Know what it is?

It's a timer.

It's a time that's all the way down to zero.

It's a time that signals that I am now officially finished with my all girl's school :-(

I possibly couldn't be any sadder to leave a school. I feel I have been truly blessed - possibly more than almost any other event that's happened in my life. I think it might be third on the list, behind my most wonderful boyfriend, and that trip to London I took two years ago that completely changed my life.

Yeah, it's up there.

I have so many good memories of that wonderful school. And I learned a thing or two about teaching! Who knew?!?! :-D

But in all seriousness, I will miss that school more than I think anyone there can imagine. I can only hope that they want me back - because I wouldn't mind at all being back there.

I pray that I can find another school that has blessed me as much as the girls. Thank God that I found them. Thank God for teaching.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

History Teacher P.S.

Oh yeah...


P.S. Happy Pearl Harbor Day!





To the day which will live in infamy and all the people who died in this horrific event, I salute you and your sacrifice for this country.







(Disclaimer: I promise I am not promoting the attack by using the word "happy")

It's winding down

This is my last week to be teaching at my all girl's school. I'm very sad :-( I don't want to leave. I have met so many wonderful people here and I know my efforts have not gone unnoticed. I have tried by best to be the teacher that the school expects me to be and hopefully I have succeeded in that endeavor.

I know the girls will miss me. I am going to miss them, too. So much! We have made a connection and I think it's one that just might continue after I leave.

*Sigh* I only have one class left today but the rest of this week is going to fly by SOO fast. I have presentations to listen to, quizzes to grade, tests to help prepare for, grades to enter, and going away parties I have to be at ;-)

All in all, a sad week for me. I know the girls are anxious to be getting their regular teacher back after Christmas break, but there will be some who will miss me. They've told me so. Goodness gracious they all have a special place in my heart.

I pray that after I am gone that these girls will continue to grow in every way possible.

I wish the best for them every day.

Aimee

A new addiction?

Well, it's the Friday before my last week in my long-term position. I know the other schools I sub at are going to really love having me back. I do miss them :-) But the school I'm at now - they're going to miss me, too. Quite frankly, I'm going to miss them. This experience has been simply wonderful and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Time must go on. Things must come to an end.

In other news...

I have a slight new addiction. And a story.

The other day, I was doing some research for one of my lessons. Typically if I don't know the answer to question, I will type it into the search bar and see what my results are. Typical. I've done this for a while. Anyway, on this particular day, one of my questions' answers popped up on Yahoo Answers. I'm used to that - happens a lot. Only on this day, I became rather curious. I have a Yahoo account, so I decided to sign in to Yahoo Answers because I found a question that I really wanted to answer. So I did.

And a whole new world opened up to me! I spent the next two hours in the education or social sciences section just answering people's questions, giving advice, doing some research, and enjoying some of the questions that people have put out there.

I probably answered about 10 questions. All very long and thorough answers. Some were asking advice about school, others about homework (to which I NEVER gave them the answer but I helped them figure out how to find it), still others looking for information about how to become a teacher, etc. Most of the questions, I find, are easily answered by just Googling it. It would be so much faster, but then again, some people don't think. Oh well.

I was feeling pretty good about my place in the world at that point - advisee, teacher, general educator. Yeah. Then I can across a question that asked if it would be justifiable to forge a signature to get out of trouble.

Whoa! Hang on!

Rewind...

Freeze!!

Forge a signature... that didn't sound good. So I clicked on the question and read the predicament. I won't go into details because I'm all about privacy, but I answered her question with a story from my past that coincided with her present situation. I also answered it from a teacher's perspective (which, I find, many people actually appreciate!).

I didn't expect the girl to appreciate what I had said, but I posted it anyways.

Then I got an email.

It said: "Your answer has been chosen as the best answer for this question! Congratulations!" or something along those lines.

I clicked the button to see what question it was. Sure enough it was the girl with the signature problem. Politely, she thanked me for my insight and told me that she had decided to do the right thing and take her punishment for breaking the rules - which is what I had said was the right thing to do, instead of forging her mother's signature to get out of the punishment.

I felt so special!! Someone actually appreciated what I had to say and decided to do the right and honest thing. I was so proud of her - like she was one of my own who had seen the light!

I don't know who this girl is, or what her life's story is, but her comment sort of just brought to light how simple little gestures (like saying thank you and MEANING it) really do make the world seem a little less foreboding. This girl's story gives me some confidence that there are parents out there who raise their children right - to be honest and to be polite, to be good and trustworthy students. She is not my student, but I applaud her parents for raising her right. And her, for listening to them.

But this is what I've learned: There are students out there who, despite the positions they may have put themselves in, are willing to pay for their transgressions even if they don't want to.

I mean, I was that student in high school, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who was/is like that.

There is hope in the future. Thank you, S******** for letting me realize this again.

I love my job and I'm so glad I can have an impact on the world - even if it's small. You can, too. Find an opportunity this week to do so. We can all help make the world a better place.

Aimee

A lesson

Today I learned I am the Post-It Note queen.

Don't judge me.

:-D

7 months later...

To keep me, myself, and I updated at the moment, here is where I am right now.

I'm sitting at an all girl's school in my hometown enjoying a few weeks of teaching bliss.

Wait, what? How did I get here? Ha! It's funny you should ask that.

Here's the scoop...

I finished student teaching about a week later in Arkansas. Then I walked for graduation. Then I took a class. Then I got my diploma. All without knowing what the future had in store for me. I spent the summer trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my time when I landed upon substituting. You can always get a subbing job at schools in any city and schools are always short on good subs. So I decided to give it a shot. Little did I know the rewards that I would reap from these experiences.

I chose several schools around my hometown and contacted them on how to get on their sub list. I probably contacted about 15 schools and landed 3 of them without much trouble. One of them was my alma mater and a school that I absolutely adore :-) The other two were the all girl's school and another Christian school around the area (except, not really...) Anyway, I got regular subbing jobs at my alma mater and the other Christian school. But I got a long-term position teaching history (yeah!) at the all girl's school taking over for a teacher on maternity leave.

All I can say is that I absolutely love it here!

And that's weird...

Why?

Because I always told myself that I would NEVER teach in an all girl's school because I knew, I just KNEW I would hate it.

Reality check!

It's probably the best place I have ever been privileged to work. Ok, not probably. Is.

The school is very rigorous but the atmosphere is so much more laid back - cause there are no boys here! They're the ones that cause all the drama! No seriously, they are. There is a little drama that goes on in this school, but not NEARLY as much as what goes on in a co-educational school. The girls here don't have to worry about impressing a boy or whatever else girls worry about when they go to school with boys. It's actually very relaxing and laid back. Not that they don't have structure - because they do. They have such structure that teachers really don't have to have a discipline system because the girls don't misbehave. Whoever heard of a school where the students don't misbehave?!? I certainly had not until I came here. The girls know what is expected of them and they do it - no questions asked. They are not argumentative, disrespectful, or pushy in any way. Sounds like a dream, don't it? (there's my southernness coming out... sorry for the bad English) In all reality, it's better than I could ever have imagined. I honestly never thought I would enjoy being with so many women at the same time but I'm having a blast. I almost just want to stay here forever and never go back to co-ed schools.

You want my honest opinion?

Don't get mad, okay?

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If I had the money and kids, I would send them to a school just like this (all-girl's school for the chick and the all-boys school for the hoss, lol), no questions asked.

Schools like this build character and the girls are free to become independent, think for themselves, be who they really are without the pressures of the opposite sex bearing down on them all the time. They don't have to put on a face in the presence of a boy, they don't have to stab their friends in the back (because, let's face it, it happens every day in a co-ed school). Now, I'm not saying it doesn't happen here (because it does, I've seen it), but it doesn't happen as much.

Plain and simple - there is not as much pressure here as there would be in another school. And I love that. Again, the school is very rigorous and exceedingly hard to do well in (and even get in to), but every girl comes out with her own identity and with the knowledge and skills to do well in college and in the real world. This truly is a one of a kind place and I would work here full-time if they ever offered me a position. No lie. Because I truly love coming to work everyday and feeling less pressured to make sure everyone in class is participating and behaving. I have 100% of that everyday. It's phenomenal.

Hey! You teacher who is reading this! I bet you're having a hard time comprehending what I've been saying. This school sounds like heaven, doesn't it?

Every word is the truth.

Now, please don't think that I have been bashing co-ed schools. I promise I'm not. I'm sure my experience is exactly the same as someone else who grew up in co-ed schools. It's the realization that not everything is as they seem that just gets me every time I come to work. I kick myself all the time for having such a negative view of same-sex schools. They really are not what they seem at first glance.

I know that in a few weeks, when my time here is complete and I go back to substituting at co-ed schools, that I will miss the placid atmosphere of the all girl's school. But I will forever remember and cherish everything that I have learned here and the people I have met and formed relationships with. Every experience changes me in someway and I always learn something new. That's the beauty of teaching - I never stop learning.

Now, more than ever, I know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be. Sure there are aspects of education that I don't appreciate, but no job is ever always rainbows and roses. I work hard and get rewarded for it everyday. There is nothing that I would change about my occupational decision.

To me, it is perfect. It is my zen. My adrenaline. My purpose.

And I love every minute of it.

To those teachers out there who feel like giving up - DON'T! You never know how many lives you touch simply by being there and forming relationships. Yes, it is hard work and yes, it is frustrating at times, but the good outweighs the bad each and every time.

I know I speak from little experience, so take it for what it's worth. But as a recent student and now a working professional, I know without a doubt that teachers have had one of the greatest impacts on my life than any other person on the planet - besides my parents. I don't know if I would have gotten through school if my teachers had not constantly encouraged me to keep going, even when I didn't think I could. They were there for me when family could not be. Don't ever think you are invisible in your student's lives. I promise you are one of the biggest and brightest lights they will ever come across. Taking from the experiences I had in high school and college, I constantly try every day to be a light to the students I see every day, just like my teachers did. They may never realize how much of an impact they all have had on my life, but I learned from everyone of them how important it is to be a good role model and supporter.

Thus far, that is what I have learned. I look forward to learning much more from other teachers and students in the years to come.

Thank you to all of the teachers who have had me at some point in their life. You have been a blessing :-)

I love you all!

This concludes a ridiculously long post...

Aimee

Finally, an ending

It's been a while, but I sort of just realized that I never really ended my student teaching experience. Oops...

Sorry to all my faithful fellow followers out there (alliteration = COOL!)

I will say that my student teaching experience was one of the best learning experiences of my life. I hope the Education is happy I said that...

But really, I absolutely loved it. I miss my little rural high school and all its funny little country quirks, but I loved it even more because it was so different.

You remember that class that I had such a hard time with at the beginning of my semester? They rubbed off on me and became one of my favorite classes! Funny how the tide turns sometimes, isn't it?

I really enjoyed all of my classes and some of them I didn't want to end (like my geography class). Those kids were all like little sponges absorbing any information that I gave them with intense curiosity. So much so that I did more extra research for that class than any of the other classes. It's wonderful getting to teach the things you actually care about! I do love history, but I think in some way I like geography more. I don't know why. I think I just do.

But in all of the subjects I am supposed to be able to teach, the most interesting thing I think that I know I love is the sociology and psychology behind every aspect of human life. I am constantly asking "why?" and "what for?" because if you think about it, social perspectives are the sole reason we do anything. History is not just about names, dates, and facts - its about people's lives, how they think and react to situations, and the reasons they react they way they do. That's what makes history so interesting. If you take out the psychological aspects, all you have are facts on a timeline that mean NOTHING! I don't want history to mean nothing. I want it to mean something to each student that I relay information to. Every class period I try to bring up some question asking why they think people did the things they did. Most of the time, I get some decent answers. Other times I get nothing but silence. But either way, students are learning and it's making my subject that much more important in the grand scheme of things. If all you do in history is teach names, dates, and facts, you aren't teaching history. You are teaching timeline. History is about all the OTHER things that make those events we talk about so important. Why grace over them? You negate the entire purpose of learning about the past if you do!

Sorry, went on a tirade there. I will break down my soap box and talk about something else if that's okay with you.

It better be.

Cause this is my time.

Obey my rules.

Muah hahahaah!!!!

Ok, that was a little unnecessary... I apologize...

Back to seriousness.

I truly enjoyed my learning experience in Rural Town, Arkansas. I know I will never ever forget the kids who taught me how to be a better teacher. How to care as a teacher. How to love as a teacher. How to support as a teacher. How to.... everything as a teacher.

Everything was invaluable. I go back and read the things that I have learned and think to myself "I should have known that then!" but I'm glad I didn't. What would have been the point of student teaching, then?

I still don't know everything - nor will I ever. But I look forward to sharing what I have learned in other classrooms as I am called forth to spread the educational gospel - Social Studies.

Since my time as a student teacher, I have tried my best to utilize what I have learned. I hope I have done a good job and made other schools proud to have me on their payroll.

These are the memoirs of a fledgling teacher.

I still love my job every day. I can't imagine doing anything in the world other than bringing some light to a new future.

With love on a historical slant,

Aimee

It's not much...

Remember that time I said I was not very good at keeping up with blogs?  Well, here is another prefect example.  But not because I didn't want to.  Because I literally have not had the time.  Here's how life has been going:

Get up at 6:00 a.m.

Get to school by 7:40 a.m.

At school until 3:35

Drive back to campus 20 minutes away

Check email

Lesson plan until bed

Go to bed between midnight and 1:00 a.m.

Do it all over again the next day.

Sounds like an exciting semester doesn't it?!

Oh yeah, real tiring.  Not that I'm complaining.  I do love student teaching.  I just wish I could figure out a way to get everything done and get to bed by 10:30.

Unfortunately, I have not found anything.  So I will have to make do with what I have for now.

Overall, since my last post, things have been going very well.  I have all 6 classes now and am enjoying some more than others, as can be expected.  But I love them all in different ways.  I have figured out what I can do with one class that I cannot do with another class.  It's all a learning process but I am loving it.

I still have students telling me all the time that they love my class.  If only they would tell me what I'm doing differently than their other teachers...

Teachers always get warm fuzzy feelings when students tell them they love their class.  But when a student... no, I take that back - TWO students - tell me they're writing an essay about their favorite teacher and that the essay is about me, it kind of makes one stop and think a little as to what the students see in you and appreciate that you're doing to make them think that.  It's a wonderful thing to know that students who previously had no interest in my subject now come to class willing and excited to learn.  They walk through the door smiling and laughing and greet me in happy and eager tones.  I love knowing that they really are getting something out of this course.  They are asking questions, finding answers, and digging deep - and so am I.  I am thinking things and am faced with questions that had never occurred to me before.  I personally am learning so much more than how to be a better teacher - I'm learning how to be a better student as well.  

To be honest, I never asked the questions in high school that would enable me to dig deeper.  I was always the student that was satisfied with just learning the facts and not wondering why, how, where, etc.  But now that I'm teaching, I'm asking these questions all the time allowing me to dig deeper and giving me the ability to guide the students to a deeper meaning.  Yay for teaching!!!

Unfortunately, I cannot learn everything, therefore I cannot answer all questions that are posed to me.  But I try to remember and write down questions to answer later on (when I get the time to look everything up of course).  I am trying so very hard to be the best teacher I can be.  

I've asked the students for feedback of my teaching and, for the most part, they all think I'm doing a great job.  Some do have a few suggestions and I have tried my best to implement those suggestions into the latter part of my time at the school.  Since my time there is short, I cannot implement everything into the rest of the semester.  I only have about two weeks left - if that.  There simply isn't time.

I have done a project with my Geography class.  I absolutely love that class.  The students are willing to talk, ask questions, and wonder about another part of the world.  It's great!  I am loving teaching geography and really hope I can teach it in the future.  There are so many fun possibilities with that subject that it's unreal.  I enjoy teaching history as well :-)  Sometimes, it depends on the class... or the day and whether or not I've had enough sleep.

I find I wake up right after 2nd period, so my 3rd period through lunch or so are my best classes of the day.  I can get excited about the subject which gets the kids excited which helps them ask questions and answer questions and be more willing to participate.  I still have students who would rather not be a part of the class, but a teacher can't expect EVERY student ALL the time to participate... can they?  Can someone answer that?  Please?

And thank you :-)

Tomorrow is my Seminar class, as well as next Friday.  Then I graduate on May 9...  

Wow.  Everything is coming to a close so soon!  I can't believe it's all so close!  But I have SOOO much to do before next Friday, which is when my portfolio is due.  Oh dear.  

Literally, a mountain of paperwork to do - most by Monday.  I suppose I should get started...

After I go to bed and sleep, of course :-)

So far, I love my "job".  I don't get paid for it, but I don't really care.  I love it.  

I love the feeling of knowing that I chose the right profession.  I have had so many people in my life, mostly teachers, that have inspired me to be what I am today.  At least, what I am still striving to be, cause I haven't gotten my degree or license yet.  But soon-ish.  Just ish.

Hopefully, I will have a more informative post the next time.  Nothing really has happened in the past two weeks that's really noteworthy - at least nothing that I can remember.

I love you guys!

Keep it real

Aimee

Game Faces and Warm Fuzzies

Remember the last post?  Like, three weeks ago, or something ridiculous like that?  Yeah... sorry to keep you waiting.  Life has been interesting and I feel the need to share it.  There has been some good... and some not so good.  But that's why you read this, isn't it?  JK.  I really didn't mean that.

Anyway,  the week of March 16-20 I don't really remember.  Perhaps nothing really big happened that week.  My planner isn't giving me much, other than the fact that I had my second observation by my University supervisor.  Same outcome just as before - he really liked my lesson, what I had to say, my powerpoint, my information, etc.  No constructive criticism.  No teacher is that perfect... but I'll take what I can get.

Otherwise, its was a pretty blah week.

The next week was Spring Break for me.  

Pop Quiz!  (because I'm a teacher and I have that right)

As a responsible student teacher, I went home that week and planned the next three chapters in my U.S. History classes as well as my Geography class.  True or False?

Give up?

Well...

it's...

FALSE!

Yeah, I have every intention of doing things many times, but I wind up finding other things to occupy my time until it's almost too late to do any of the stuff I originally planned!  Now, I was productive in other areas.  First off, I spent a day observing classes for my own benefit (there was no class credit involved.  I just wanted to).  Then, I completed my assignments for my portfolio.  Read a  book.  Wrote a paper about book.  And....there was something else but that was a week ago and I haven't slept much since then.

Now, I have an excuse for not doing the Geography lessons.  I left school that afternoon...and completely FORGOT to bring the book with me.  By the time I remembered, I was back on campus, it was 2:30, and the school was closed (we had a half day that day).  I couldn't go back and get it.  Waste of time and gas.  So I went on with life without it and it turned out just fine.

I have no excuse for not doing History.  Except that I wanted to relax for a while before thinking about school work again.  It's really draining on your mental capacity after a while.  But I'm sure I can handle it when I get a real job. :-)

Moving on!

This week....

Lol

Wow

The only thing I can say it that it's been... interesting.  Not in a bad way.  In a good way.  A very good way.  A way that I almost can't believe or understand. 

Here's the skinny:

But first, the not so bright side of the week (because we all want to end on a happy note)

I got to school on Monday.  After Spring Break.  Every teacher knows that students don't want to be in school.  They'd rather another week of break and more time to hang out with their friends (granted, so do teachers, but we can't tell them that).  So, when the kids walked into 2nd period I knew right off the bat it was going to be an interesting class period and that I was going to for sure learn something.  The kids were rowdy and talkative.  I had to get onto them all several times because I cannot talk over them.  *sigh* Oh, the plight of teenagers.  Anyway, I re-examined that class period over the course of the day and realized what I had done wrong.  Since I had never taught a class fresh off of a break, I really had no idea what to expect.  Then it hit me - students really don't want to do any work (I knew that, but these kids EXPECT no work) so they will do everything in their power to keep me from doing my job.  In essence, they succeeded - but only on that Monday.  I had not taken the reigns during the first few minutes of the class and they walked ALL over me!  Embarrassing, but a learning experience nonetheless.  

So, I decided to take a new approach the next day.  Before 2nd period ever walked into the classroom, I looked in my teacher bag of tricks and pulled out the 'game face'.  As soon as they walked into the classroom, they could tell something was different.  As soon as the bell rang, I got started.  I used a very authoritative voice, got straight to the point: no ifs, ands or buts, and moved on.  As soon as ONE kid stepped out of line, I was onto him like a police dog onto drugs.  Bing. Bang. Boom.  Stop the action in its tracks.  It took the kids about 5 minutes to realize that I meant BUSINESS.  The rest of the class period they didn't talk.  They took notes, paid attention, and were GOOD.  

Huh!  What a concept!  The game face seemed to have worked.

They did the same thing the next day because I had the same attitude.  It was amazing to see the drastic difference between Monday's class and Tuesday's class.  Tuesday made my life so much easier! 

I liked being in control - and them KNOWING that.  Yay for a learning experience!

Put your foot down - HARD!  Cause if you don't, they WILL walk all over you.  Even the good kids.

Ready for the skinny?  

Here goes...

I know fellow teachers and educators read this blog and will appreciate the next story I'm about to tell.  I'm sure the rest of you will as well, but perhaps with a different perspective.

The following has happened several times this week (as in more than 5, maybe less than 10) and it gives me warm fuzzies all over just thinking about it:

I started teaching the Geography class on Monday.  We did a map of India the first day.  Tuesday we started taking notes.  Today is Friday. I've been teaching them for 4 days.  Remember that.  I had a student come up to me before class today to talk to me.  The first words out of her mouth?  "I just thought you should know that I really, really love this class now."  (Every teacher can die happy hearing that)  "Before, when we took notes, the classroom was dark (teacher turned off the lights) and I was too busy taking notes to pay attention to the material being covered.  But I love your class (again, it's only been 4 days) because its bright and you love what you teach.  You make it interesting.  The notes are just the right amount so that I can learn, but also hear the extra stuff you're putting in.  I never like Geography until now.  (Student's friend) "Yeah!  I did some extra research about Buddhism last night (that had been our last lesson) and I'm fascinated with it now!  It's so interesting and weird!  I love this class - for the first time ever."

(This was not a reflection of my cooperating teacher's teaching style - fyi)

Doesn't every teacher want to hear that?  I think I can die happy.  The fact that someone has said this to me at least ONCE every day this week really has encouraged me a lot.  I must be doing something right!  I'm not sure if it's because I have a different style or what, but the kids really do seem to enjoy being in the class now.  That was my goal 10 years from now - learn how to show kids to love a subject they had previously hated.  I honestly have no idea what I do or have done to change these students' minds about history and geography, but I like it.  Everyday I see the kids, they always look a little more excited to be there and eager to learn and that encourages me - so I get into the lesson a little more every class, every day.  The kids can see the passion and are embracing it.  How cool is that?! :-D

All I can say is that it has only challenged me to keep doing my best - keep getting better.  How do I do that?  First of all, I can critique myself.  So can my cooperating teacher.  But also, I can ask the kids.  So I did.  That was their essay on their last test - how can I help you better?  And I got some GREAT responses.  I'm going to go through and write down their suggestions and contemplate which really are good ideas and which ones are not.  Most of them have said that they love the way I teach and wouldn't change anything.

They've said things like:

"Keep doing what you're doing"

"I hated history until you started teaching.  Now I never want to leave the class"

"I was never good in history until now.  It's interesting now. I love what you are doing"

and a myriad of other things.  They've given me suggestions on what to do better.  Things they like, things they think should change, etc. 

I love constructive criticism.  It's taken me a while to get used to taking it, but now, I can't get enough of it.  I figured the kids were the best people to ask since they are the ones learning from me - not other teachers.  In order to reach every kid, I have to know how.  That was my goal - and for the next chapter, I will continue to try new ways in which to reach students on their various intellectual levels.  

Needless to say, I have learned a LOT this past week.  Teaching is SOO much fun, and when you can make it fun for the kids (and inspire them to do their own research), you have started making a mark on the world.  

I am NOT by any stretch of the imagination a perfect teacher.

But I do try to perfect the things I have seen in other teachers that I did not appreciate.

This post was not to brag about my teaching styles or whatever (I continue to believe it's because I'm simply a different person).  I hate bragging, and braggers.  It was to make the point that I am trying the hardest I can to reach these kids in a subject most think is pointless and dull.  I am trying so very hard to become the best teacher I can be.  I will always be learning new ways in which to do that.  I will never be the perfect teacher but if I can get one student to love learning what I learn and have passion for it (or anything else), I have done my job.  It's about having a passion for people.  

I can't imagine myself anywhere else.  I am loving student teaching with every passing day.  It has its ups and its downs, but I always try and learn from the downs so the ups will be more rewarding for everyone.  

I try my best every day.  So every day I have to keep trying harder - and the rewards will stay for a lifetime.  

I love this profession!  Have I mentioned that?  

The best is (hopefully) yet to come!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Learning the game and warming the fuzzies,

Aimee