Things aren't always what they seem

We have a pregnant teacher at our school who got put on bedrest. So we all rallied around and contributed money for gift cards. I told the gal who organizes these things that I'd go get the gift cards. So I did. {I love that I work at a generous school!}

And then, I texted the pregnant gal and said "I've got a surprise for you. When can I bring it?" It was like 9:30 in the morning. She said she was going to the doctor's. 

I text again, probably around 11:30. "How about now?" "Running some errands," she said. Me, ever thinking (and probably a bit lazy, and it was spitting sleet/snow) "Could you run by here?" No answer. 

Finally, at 3:30, thinking that the weather was going to get worse, and wanted to get this little job done with, I texted something like "Can I bring this to you? You don't have to answer the door, and I won't stay and talk." 

And so she sent me her address and I hopped in the car. And as I was on my way, she said they could stop by my house. I said no, I was almost to her place. 

We met there. And she looked worn out. They had gone to get tags for their new vehicle and it had taken a lot longer than they had thought it would.  

And I realized I was getting impatient with her for not letting me take care of this big, important job I had to do.... and meanwhile, she had a whole different thing going on. Things aren't always what they seem.  

And I wondered how often this happens with the kids I come into contact with. That bad mood might not have anything to do with me.... but I sure can make it better, or worse. That hoodie over the head... might be a signal for something, that I can either try to figure out, or just flat out ignore. And so on. 

Things aren't always what they seem.

It’s the little things

Sometimes it really is the little things.

I teach Science now... just science.
I teach to grades K through 4th.
My kinders we’re doing a rather dry bit on recycling.
I had a little brainstorm.
I had them pick about 4-5 small crayons from a big tub.
They peeled the paper off (next year got to figure out an easier way).
They put the crayon bits in a cupcake liner (with their name on it, cuz I’m smart like that!).
I took them home and melted the crayons.
(Some of them looked so pretty!)
When I took them back to school the next day....
“Can we keep it?”
Yes! Yes, this is your creation. You get to keep it.

What Worked 2018

It's been a little while, and I've realize I miss writing what's going on in my teacher life. I don't care (a lot) if nobody else reads this... I just like to write my thoughts down. 

So I've seen this title/idea a bit around the internet... so I thought I'd share mine {preferably before January is over!).
Here's what worked for me in 2018...

1 - Leaving close to the end of my contract time. I'm a morning person, so by the time it gets to be 4:10 (the end of our day), I'm more than ready to head out the door. I usually try to get a quick bit of clean up from the day done, and out I go.

2 - Tuesday nights. My hubby and a friend like to go to the local brew pub and tell tall tales. And it gives me a little time in a quiet house. So I hurry home (see #1) and get in comfy clothes and head to the computer. I get a good hour or 2 to really get some work down on lesson plans. For some reason, I just can't see to put these together at school. So if I get a good start at home, I can finish those up at school 

3 - "We're rich!" Ok, we're not really rich. But we're comfortable. And this phrase has been quite handy when I'm trying to decide whether I should keep some silly little thing. I've started to realize I don't need to keep everything... I'm in a position to buy, if I need to. And that's been pretty freeing.

Magical Fixes

Yesterday morning, I hadn't slept very well, and when I got to school, I just knew I had to finish doing my goals. Does everyone else have to do these? We have to write a student achievement goal {that can be measured} and also a personal goal; and our principal writes a building goal for us. Well, yesterday was the deadline. 
I was emailing back and forth with my principal to finish up. I entered my student achievement goal. And then I had the momentous moment where I clicked submit. And then there's a big scary screen that says, this is forever and permanent - or you know, something like that. And I clicked it. 

And then I went to enter my personal goal --- and realized I had put my student achievement goal under my personal goal! Argh!!! 

I didn't want to, but I emailed my principal. And guess what? She didn't yell at me, or say why did I do that, or huff at me. She had the magical powers to fix it. And she just did that, and sent me an email to try again. 

So later that day, when my first grade friends were cutting, and one of them accidentally cut on the wrong line, I was able to say, "accidents happen," and put some tape on it. 

I'll admit, I'm not always so good at magically fixing what I'm able to magical fix. Sometimes, I huff. Or I say "why did you do that?" Or... well, I don't yell. 
I sure was glad to get a little grace yesterday. Now I want to try harder to pass that grace on to others. 

Eclipse

Did anyone else watch the eclipse? I really enjoyed it. We were already back in school, so spent a couple days learning about what an eclipse is AND how to safely watch one. On the big day, we had sack lunches, special glasses and a little music. It was a fun couple hours.
I really thought it would get darker -- we were 90% of the sun blocked by the moon. We had told the kids that it would get dark, we'd be able to see stars and the street lights would come on. Well, nope. So a good chance to talk about scientists making predictions and having to revise those.

So this was a fun way to start the 2nd week of school!

Reflection

This post starts with a vent and ends with reflection. Just so you know going in!

You might have read that this past school year, was not my favorite. {If not, and you're interested - see here -- and I won't bore you with all the other links.} 
I had a class that was.... interesting... challenging.... different than I'd ever had before. And this was compounded by the fact that we got a new literacy coach and a new math coach. The literacy coach's room was right across the hall from me. Yikes! And there were a couple times that I wanted to say to both of them -- this isn't normal for me. I'm trying to figure this out! I'm doing the best I can right now. 

And to be honest, I felt a little judged. 

So now, after I can look back a little better -- I wonder about a couple of my little friends in my room last year {and maybe from other years, also}. Do they feel judged? Do they feel like they just can't get it right? Do they feel like they make one misstep after another and oops, again? 

I hope not. 

But as I go forward, I want to do a better job of being inclusive; of reminding that we all make mistakes; that it is worth it to try again; and I accept you, and you, and you. Really, truly, I do. 

{Sometimes it's scary to write things like this. I end up feeling like I'm the only one who had that kid that just rubs me the wrong way; or can get under my skin without me even realizing what's happening.} 

There goes another.....

I had these shoes that were very comfortable -- Ecco's -- but in my humble little teacher's opinion, they are a little expensive - over $100. But man, were they comfortable! Yes! 

But then they started not being so comfortable. And every time I'd wear them, I'd just wonder why they weren't as great as they used to be. 

And one day I came home and noticed this:

If you can't tell, the whole heel has split in two - sideways. {And I have no idea what the water stain is about???}

{This is not the first time this has happened -- other story! I must be hard on shoes; or teachers do a lot of walking/standing. I'm not sure. :)}

I thought this would be a funny little story to tell my students, so I shared it with them. And one of them says, "I saw that your shoe was doing that." And another said, "Me, too." And I'm thinking, ummm, why didn't you tell me?