Monday, March 4, 2019

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.







Monday, February 25, 2019

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.












Tuesday, January 29, 2019

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.