Its that time of year where nothing seems to go right.
I love NaNoWriMo. Its honestly what is keeping me from crawling into bed, but I just need something to give. At some point this year I have found myself in a position where I think, no, correction, I am CONVINCED that I am neither intelligent enough no qualified enough for the job that I currently have.
Nothing I ever seem to do is right. I seem to screw something up and then I go to the next thing and I screw that up to and.. just ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Today after school I kicked my shoes off, closed the blinds to my classroom, locked the door and sat on the floor. Crying never felt so good. All day I have felt it coming on like a storm brewing and dark clouds moving in. You know it will rain. All of the telltale signs are there; wind, lightening, thunder, but you just keep waiting for the rain to start. That was me today.
A kid thanked me for giving him feedback on his paper. I welled up in tears. My boss told me what I was trying to talk about wasn't what he was interested in talking about. I welled up in tears. Someone asked me if I was doing ok. I welled up in tears.
*deep breath*
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Soccer balls and weird hats...
Somedays I feel like this is such a weird place to work.
Friday night, while many were out with friends, and family, at dinner and a movie, or date night with a new attraction, I was at a party with fifty teenagers and their families. The parents drank, we laughed, and spent time together. Student Council was hosting a welcoming party for the Peruvian students. Our president, a wonderful young lady, volunteered her home and her time in order to facilitate this event. Parents brought food and drinks, I brought our portable PA system, and by plugging in an iPod we made a party our of nothing. The students danced and laughed and stayed until the very end. They are truly one of the easiest crowds to entertain, the kind of students who give a refrigerator box to and they make it into a fort, or a space ship, or a boat. They have yet to loose that curiosity and intuition.
Saturday I was on campus at 10am to build a garden with a bunch of Middle Schoolers, because that is what we do here. We build completely organic gardens that will eventually all together break down and be a part of the Earth, the only pieces of the entire raised bed garden that is not compostable is the chicken wire we used to keep it all contained, and the posts that we used to hold up the chicken wire. What amazed me most were the Upper School students who came to help out, even though it was not their project in the first place. They truly look out for each other in multiple grades.
But that is not what is weird about this place. Monday after school, after what was truly a busy weekend, at about fifteen minutes to the end of the day, we decide as a school to have an American vs. Peruvian soccer match. Why? I'm not sure, but the school, both middle and upper school, head out the to field, and held a match. We passed our jersey's, they warmed up and then, let the game begin. Our division director (my boss) referred the game, in a truly dedicated manner. As I watched him run up and down the side of the field in his dress shoes, khakis and School embroidered polo I was moved by how truly special this place is.
Oh wait, did I mention what was on his head. Hold on, back up. He and the year book teacher had taken the Yearbook students to In-and-Out burger for lunch as a reward for reaching a goal they had set. So as he is running up and down the field he has one hand is on his whistle, and the other hand is on his head in order to keep his In-and-Out burger hat from falling off of his head. Ok, now that you have a much better visual I can continue on.
That is what makes this school what it is and who we are and I for one am thrilled to be a part of it.
Friday night, while many were out with friends, and family, at dinner and a movie, or date night with a new attraction, I was at a party with fifty teenagers and their families. The parents drank, we laughed, and spent time together. Student Council was hosting a welcoming party for the Peruvian students. Our president, a wonderful young lady, volunteered her home and her time in order to facilitate this event. Parents brought food and drinks, I brought our portable PA system, and by plugging in an iPod we made a party our of nothing. The students danced and laughed and stayed until the very end. They are truly one of the easiest crowds to entertain, the kind of students who give a refrigerator box to and they make it into a fort, or a space ship, or a boat. They have yet to loose that curiosity and intuition.
Saturday I was on campus at 10am to build a garden with a bunch of Middle Schoolers, because that is what we do here. We build completely organic gardens that will eventually all together break down and be a part of the Earth, the only pieces of the entire raised bed garden that is not compostable is the chicken wire we used to keep it all contained, and the posts that we used to hold up the chicken wire. What amazed me most were the Upper School students who came to help out, even though it was not their project in the first place. They truly look out for each other in multiple grades.
But that is not what is weird about this place. Monday after school, after what was truly a busy weekend, at about fifteen minutes to the end of the day, we decide as a school to have an American vs. Peruvian soccer match. Why? I'm not sure, but the school, both middle and upper school, head out the to field, and held a match. We passed our jersey's, they warmed up and then, let the game begin. Our division director (my boss) referred the game, in a truly dedicated manner. As I watched him run up and down the side of the field in his dress shoes, khakis and School embroidered polo I was moved by how truly special this place is.
Oh wait, did I mention what was on his head. Hold on, back up. He and the year book teacher had taken the Yearbook students to In-and-Out burger for lunch as a reward for reaching a goal they had set. So as he is running up and down the field he has one hand is on his whistle, and the other hand is on his head in order to keep his In-and-Out burger hat from falling off of his head. Ok, now that you have a much better visual I can continue on.
That is what makes this school what it is and who we are and I for one am thrilled to be a part of it.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Another Sunday
... and here I am at work. Tomorrow begins our accreditation and it couldn't be sooner. The last few weeks have flown by but in a more positive way than a negative one. Since my last post on stress and fear and frustration I have been able to wrap my head more around the way that things are going to be at this school, and thank god for that considering it is already the second of October, YIKES!
The student council event was wonderful! I'm really proud of the students I am working with. September was far too early to plan an event, but it came together which is good since we were unsure up until the event started of how it was going to go. Friday at lunch on the day of the event, the President walked into the room in tears because she thought it was going to be a flop.But a few strands of Christmas lights later, couches pulled in from the surrounding classrooms (did I mention that we all have a couch in our classroom?) and our Movie Night was a hit. Students showed up which is always good and we actually made a profit on the night. Our next stresses for student council is a social event hosted by us for the Peruvian Foreign Exchange students that will be with us for a fifteen days and the Haunted House. More work intensive but with more time to plan, I have faith.
My classes are going along. Every week I have a meeting with my administrator where he asks me superficial questions that I feel like I don't have the right answer to. I feel like he wants some extraordinary blow your mind enlighten your sole kind of answer to "How are classes going?". He sits and waits while I mumble about them going well, that we are moving along. Compared to things at my last school I do not know what I am supposed to say. I have actually started keeping a word document of things that happen in class so that perhaps at some point I will say something that makes it seem like I finally got the right answer.
Planning a trip to go to Greece and Italy though... now that is stressful ESPECIALLY considering the state of affairs on that side of the world. I can't even begin to explain the amount of hours that I have put in already, I don't even think I really want an exact count. At this point, finding an alternative location for the Greece part of the Greece and Italy trip is my newest priority, something else that I feel like I have to have made huge strides on for those meetings with my Director. Oh well, all and all things are doing as well as they can. I try to find time each day to relax, I try not to consume too many glasses of the addictively sweet wine in my fridge, and I try VERY hard to always put my students first, which is the one thing on that list that I truly thing I succeed at :)
Cheers to my friends, family and fellow teachers. I'm off to a pile of work!
The student council event was wonderful! I'm really proud of the students I am working with. September was far too early to plan an event, but it came together which is good since we were unsure up until the event started of how it was going to go. Friday at lunch on the day of the event, the President walked into the room in tears because she thought it was going to be a flop.But a few strands of Christmas lights later, couches pulled in from the surrounding classrooms (did I mention that we all have a couch in our classroom?) and our Movie Night was a hit. Students showed up which is always good and we actually made a profit on the night. Our next stresses for student council is a social event hosted by us for the Peruvian Foreign Exchange students that will be with us for a fifteen days and the Haunted House. More work intensive but with more time to plan, I have faith.
My classes are going along. Every week I have a meeting with my administrator where he asks me superficial questions that I feel like I don't have the right answer to. I feel like he wants some extraordinary blow your mind enlighten your sole kind of answer to "How are classes going?". He sits and waits while I mumble about them going well, that we are moving along. Compared to things at my last school I do not know what I am supposed to say. I have actually started keeping a word document of things that happen in class so that perhaps at some point I will say something that makes it seem like I finally got the right answer.
Planning a trip to go to Greece and Italy though... now that is stressful ESPECIALLY considering the state of affairs on that side of the world. I can't even begin to explain the amount of hours that I have put in already, I don't even think I really want an exact count. At this point, finding an alternative location for the Greece part of the Greece and Italy trip is my newest priority, something else that I feel like I have to have made huge strides on for those meetings with my Director. Oh well, all and all things are doing as well as they can. I try to find time each day to relax, I try not to consume too many glasses of the addictively sweet wine in my fridge, and I try VERY hard to always put my students first, which is the one thing on that list that I truly thing I succeed at :)
Cheers to my friends, family and fellow teachers. I'm off to a pile of work!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
How are you doing?
The question has been floating around to everyone. The honeymoon period is over and we are ALL feeling it, teachers, administrators, and students alike. I have been impressed by all involved, and let down by all involved. Its a very complex emotion :) I have cried, and laughed, and bitched, and really any thing that can be done to express emotion I have done sans murder, and trust me, the thought has crossed my mind.
Friday was my breaking point. I went home, took a long hot bath, and drank TWO glasses of wine, a big deal in my little light weight world. Why did I do this? Because I am not used to feeling behind. The biggest adjustment for me thus far has that there is no fluff time, not filler, no break from the constant need of my attention and my academic brain. I'm constantly working all day long, in class, during my planning period, and after school. Part of the biggest problem I'm sure I have mentioned is our accreditation that will take place in 13 days and counting if my math is correct. Friday is our first Student Council event, and everything is going together about as well as a square peg in a round hole.
So how do you counteract feeling totally behind? My initial reaction was to go into school on Sunday and get all caught up. Go lesson plan, grade papers, clean my room, get ahead. But, this hasn't been working for me. Its what I have done EVERY single Sunday since school started. So if I identify that what I'm doing isn't working, then screw it! Going in on Sunday's have made me feel more behind. I get caught up and then fail, get caught up then fail, so forget it!
Accepting that being behind is ok was magical. For my weekend instead, I spent Saturday with Thane in beautiful downtown Phoenix, I spent Sunday with myself relaxing, seeing the new Harry Potter film, and ONLY doing things for me. Monday I felt a little frantic, but it felt good to feel frantic with a reason behind it versus great I have failed again. I'm not good with failure, most teachers aren't. We take the time to pour our hearts and souls into what we do, exchanging our knowledge and passion for passive responses, and sometimes meaningful conversation. Failure is hard, but I'm going to accept it. The only way to improve is to assume that nothing is as perfect as I want it to be, accept, modify and move on :)
Cheers to my friends, family and fellow teachers. I'm off to another pile of grading!
Friday was my breaking point. I went home, took a long hot bath, and drank TWO glasses of wine, a big deal in my little light weight world. Why did I do this? Because I am not used to feeling behind. The biggest adjustment for me thus far has that there is no fluff time, not filler, no break from the constant need of my attention and my academic brain. I'm constantly working all day long, in class, during my planning period, and after school. Part of the biggest problem I'm sure I have mentioned is our accreditation that will take place in 13 days and counting if my math is correct. Friday is our first Student Council event, and everything is going together about as well as a square peg in a round hole.
So how do you counteract feeling totally behind? My initial reaction was to go into school on Sunday and get all caught up. Go lesson plan, grade papers, clean my room, get ahead. But, this hasn't been working for me. Its what I have done EVERY single Sunday since school started. So if I identify that what I'm doing isn't working, then screw it! Going in on Sunday's have made me feel more behind. I get caught up and then fail, get caught up then fail, so forget it!
Accepting that being behind is ok was magical. For my weekend instead, I spent Saturday with Thane in beautiful downtown Phoenix, I spent Sunday with myself relaxing, seeing the new Harry Potter film, and ONLY doing things for me. Monday I felt a little frantic, but it felt good to feel frantic with a reason behind it versus great I have failed again. I'm not good with failure, most teachers aren't. We take the time to pour our hearts and souls into what we do, exchanging our knowledge and passion for passive responses, and sometimes meaningful conversation. Failure is hard, but I'm going to accept it. The only way to improve is to assume that nothing is as perfect as I want it to be, accept, modify and move on :)
Cheers to my friends, family and fellow teachers. I'm off to another pile of grading!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Its been a while...
I apologize that it has been so long since I last blogged. I think about it often, being able to get my thoughts, worries, and concerns on paper, but at the end of the day, I'm exhausted and not sure I have the energy to move.
Instead of updating you on the entirety of my life up until this point, I would like to hit some major points to catch you up.
First of all, I love my job. I have never been so happy to come to work everyday. My colleagues are supportive, and kind hearted. This is not that the people I spent my time with at my last school weren't these things but as an entire group the teachers here are happy to come to work, and are not just collecting a pay check... and here is why.
Working at an Independent school, is a LOT of work. Loads. More than I could ever have imagined. A few things are contributing to this; including an accreditation process that will be underway in three weeks, Back to School Night, happening this evening, and for myself planning a trip internationally to a place I have never been.
What makes it worth it?
I have never had such a kind sweet loving group of kids. Of course I've taught those students before. Many of my favorite students were these kids, they cared about each other, they were thoughtful and inclusive, they were good people at their heart and soul. But every single student who steps through my door, is THAT kind of student. They are caring and passionate about everything they do. They are respectful to each other, their teachers, and the schools property cleaning up after themselves and taking care to make sure that what they have lasts.
Before I have to sign off I would like to say that teaching Freshmen is a whole other animal that I have not experienced. They are wild and crazy and full of wonderful energy. They make me laugh on a truly consistent basis, and have absolutely no filter what so ever. This is a truly impressive group of students and I'm not sure if I would be as happy if it weren't for them.
Instead of updating you on the entirety of my life up until this point, I would like to hit some major points to catch you up.
First of all, I love my job. I have never been so happy to come to work everyday. My colleagues are supportive, and kind hearted. This is not that the people I spent my time with at my last school weren't these things but as an entire group the teachers here are happy to come to work, and are not just collecting a pay check... and here is why.
Working at an Independent school, is a LOT of work. Loads. More than I could ever have imagined. A few things are contributing to this; including an accreditation process that will be underway in three weeks, Back to School Night, happening this evening, and for myself planning a trip internationally to a place I have never been.
What makes it worth it?
I have never had such a kind sweet loving group of kids. Of course I've taught those students before. Many of my favorite students were these kids, they cared about each other, they were thoughtful and inclusive, they were good people at their heart and soul. But every single student who steps through my door, is THAT kind of student. They are caring and passionate about everything they do. They are respectful to each other, their teachers, and the schools property cleaning up after themselves and taking care to make sure that what they have lasts.
Before I have to sign off I would like to say that teaching Freshmen is a whole other animal that I have not experienced. They are wild and crazy and full of wonderful energy. They make me laugh on a truly consistent basis, and have absolutely no filter what so ever. This is a truly impressive group of students and I'm not sure if I would be as happy if it weren't for them.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Post Retreat
For those of you who have never working in an Independent School you will thing we're nuts, for those of you who have, you probably think this is totally normal. Coming from a public school to independent school's has been a complete 180 degree turn around.
For starters, starting school doesn't REALLY mean starting school. Starting school REALLY means going to camp together. That is where we have returned from, in the blistering heat where Phoenix has broken more records than I would like to even think of. It was hot, it was miserable at night, and the kids had an ABSOLUTE ball!!!
Combined with get to know you activities and fun activities the who three days was jam packed with sending the message that we are a community and this is what it means to be in that community, along with we will have fun together and that's ok was an excellent combination and although WE the adults were kind of miserable, the kids made it totally worth the while.
My favorite moment, and the only one I will share to not bore everyone to tears with a play by play account was from the last night that we were at camp. We hosted a talent like show where the students were given a few hours time to prepare and then performed. It was... INCREDIBLE! Given only a few hours notice they stuck their heads together, ensured that EVERYONE was participating in one way shape or form, and they actually put on really good acts. It wasn't just a bunch of students getting up and goofing off, they learned skits and lines, they taught and choreographed dances, and they even wrote their own lyrics to songs including one that three of my freshman girls did to the tune of Rebecca Black's Friday "We're freshman, freshman, everybody wants to be freshman, everybody's looking forward to the first day of school, we're freshman freshman" you get the idea. ADORABLE! But no, that's not my favorite moment.
My favorite moment was when one of the weaker acts got up, by herself, to sing a song that was truly WAY too far outside of her vocal range. No one laughed, no one started conversations, instead they turned on their flashlights held them up in the air and cheered her on by waving them as if it was a 1980's concern with lighters in the air. I was so touched that they wanted to make her feel like a part of the group, like a member of their community, that they would support her. No where in this world have I ever met a group of students who would do something outside of their comfort zone for someone else, I was truly taken aback by it.
Anyway Monday is our opening of school ceremony, and then we will have our first day of classes. Hope all of my teacher friends are doing well at their prospective schools, and I will see everyone on the flip side of the start of the school year!
Cheers!
For starters, starting school doesn't REALLY mean starting school. Starting school REALLY means going to camp together. That is where we have returned from, in the blistering heat where Phoenix has broken more records than I would like to even think of. It was hot, it was miserable at night, and the kids had an ABSOLUTE ball!!!
Combined with get to know you activities and fun activities the who three days was jam packed with sending the message that we are a community and this is what it means to be in that community, along with we will have fun together and that's ok was an excellent combination and although WE the adults were kind of miserable, the kids made it totally worth the while.
My favorite moment, and the only one I will share to not bore everyone to tears with a play by play account was from the last night that we were at camp. We hosted a talent like show where the students were given a few hours time to prepare and then performed. It was... INCREDIBLE! Given only a few hours notice they stuck their heads together, ensured that EVERYONE was participating in one way shape or form, and they actually put on really good acts. It wasn't just a bunch of students getting up and goofing off, they learned skits and lines, they taught and choreographed dances, and they even wrote their own lyrics to songs including one that three of my freshman girls did to the tune of Rebecca Black's Friday "We're freshman, freshman, everybody wants to be freshman, everybody's looking forward to the first day of school, we're freshman freshman" you get the idea. ADORABLE! But no, that's not my favorite moment.
My favorite moment was when one of the weaker acts got up, by herself, to sing a song that was truly WAY too far outside of her vocal range. No one laughed, no one started conversations, instead they turned on their flashlights held them up in the air and cheered her on by waving them as if it was a 1980's concern with lighters in the air. I was so touched that they wanted to make her feel like a part of the group, like a member of their community, that they would support her. No where in this world have I ever met a group of students who would do something outside of their comfort zone for someone else, I was truly taken aback by it.
Anyway Monday is our opening of school ceremony, and then we will have our first day of classes. Hope all of my teacher friends are doing well at their prospective schools, and I will see everyone on the flip side of the start of the school year!
Cheers!
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