September and October have passed without any major hiccups. As November sets in, the month ushers in parent teacher conferences, my 1 year anniversary, Thanksgiving, and a slew of days off.
It also sets up the thankful challenge, where participants (like myself) are tasked with focusing on one positive thing each day to be thankful for.
It's easy to be cynical. It's easy to complain. It's easy to whine about the amount of work that goes into each parent teacher conference, how difficult it is to attend a 7:22 morning meeting the day after Halloween, or vent about how difficult the students can be the day after a major holiday. That's the easy path, the one where you've marinated in grumpy feelings and are ready to share them with the world.
Let's focus on another choice: being positive.
Yes, being positive is a choice. At times, it takes a lot of mental toughness and energy. At other times, it feels damn near impossible but it is still a choice. Being positive doesn't mean life is perfect (and often times, far from it). Being positive and participating in this monthly challenge reflects the unconscious mindset that you attract the vibes you put out into the universe. If you spend your time looking for all the things that go wrong and loudly, often, complaining about them, it will seem like everything is wrong. The opposite is also true. If you cultivate a mindset of being grateful and thankful, you might start to notice the small things and appreciate all that is going right in your life.
Will you join me in this Thankful November challenge? I'll be writing daily (even if I don't share them all) and really trying to limit my negative complaints. For the next thirty days, my goal is a daily post about something or someone that I am truly grateful for. Some posts will be heartfelt while others will be silly, but all are written with an appreciative heart.
Are you up for the challenge?
It's rare to find a place of employment where you truly enjoy going day after day.
I've found that with my school site and for that, I am abundantly blessed.
Between work friends who understand the power of random surprise gifts of Starbucks (because there is no greater gift than caffeine) and a supportive environment, I couldn't ask for a better job.
Our school fully embraces holiday celebrations, extra recess for when the kids need brain breaks, and educating the whole child. Yes, standards are important, but it's also understood that as teachers, we have an emotional and moral responsibility as well. I care about test scores, but I care more about who my students become.
Between our potlucks, spirit days, and very active Sunshine committee, I feel blessed to be around such awesome teachers.
I'd also like to give a shout out to my friends and students' parents who helped make this possible:
We've got some floor cushions and other wiggle options en route!
Bummed you didn't get to donate to this project? You can always check out my most active projects {here} if you're in the giving mood!
Wednesday marked the official back to school date for CCSD.
It was a rough start:
My key got stuck in the door and no amount of pulling, twisting, or turning could set me free. I texted the custodian. I called the office. I put out a help on Facebook. I texted my admin. 20 minutes later, I got in. I gave up and walked all the way around the building, checking several other doors in the process. Nothing says welcome to work like not being able to get inside.
However, I shook it off. It's going to be a good year.
I'm excited for third grade. I'm excited for a mounted projector, twenty five kids (not forty), new curriculum, a new grade level team, and kiddos that (ideally) still love their teacher.
Almost everyone I talk to is positive about this school year and I hope it stays that way.
I've got a lot on my plate and want this to be a good school year. I don't have time for the grumpy comments from negative people.
For me, last year was a wonderful end to my fifth grade streak. I had three dozen amazing kids and super supportive families. They made a lot of growth and really blossomed into young men and women. I am proud of them, I will miss them, and I really tried to keep my mouth shut about how much I adored them because the rest of my grade level had really, really rough years.
However, some of that frustration from last year's kids trickles into this year. I get it and I've been guilty of it too. However, we've all got to channel our inner T Swift and just
I'm working on my first week lesson plans and already heard grumblings about things kids couldn't do. We haven't met them yet. How do we know they can't do something if we don't give them the chance to try? How can we scaffold our instruction (or directions) to give them the opportunity to be successful?
In my mind, this is me shunning the negativity:
However, I'm at work and need to use my adult coping strategies. So instead, I find my inner Leslie Knope and know that a teacher's attitude makes all the difference.
Let's have a great year everyone!
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with such hope and optimism.
Then Friday hit.
My morning started off rough and involved vomit, pee, cat poop, sexual harassment from creepy men at the gas station, and Waffles trying to bring a bird that she'd caught into the house...all before seven am. A rather rough training followed, then I hid in a colleague's classroom during what I'd like to call the invasion of the kinders. My classroom is near two different kindergarten classrooms and all the parents came in to meet the teachers and tour the school.
I went as far away as possible on the off chance I share a sibling with one of those teachers. See, the kinder teachers dressed up that day. I was in a tee shirt and yoga pants, not the ideal first impression.
Lunch was provided, which means having to bring my own lunch on Monday will be a strange adjustment! We got a little spoiled after food for three days.
I found time to tackle a few small tasks, some laminating, and prepping the first Sunshine treat of the school year.
Rather heavy trainings on bullying regulations followed in the afternoon, followed by committee updates.
Then the bombshell dropped.
I knew that fourth grade's numbers were high. My roster on Monday had 31 names, but Thursday's had 33. I'd already alphabetized their files, made labels for markers and data folders, set up desks, entered names in class dojo, and printed welcome letters.
I redid everything for Thursday's new additions.
But the list wasn't done. I got more.
In fifth grade, in an inclusion room (meaning I have students with IEPs, LEPs, and in tier 3 for RTI), I have thirty five students. If I want to buy anything for my classroom, I need three dozen.
Other fifth grade classrooms are all upwards of thirty, with two sitting at 38. Thirty eight students.
We're hoping there's enough funding come federal count day to get another teacher, but that's a month away. We have no room for this new teacher, so that poses an additional challenge. School starts on Monday and the district is several hundred teachers short.
So....how do I cope with the fear of having 35 students (if not more) on Monday?
One, I tried to frame this in a positive way. We have such a great school that everyone wants to be there. Lucky us!
I stayed until after six on Friday, then had errands afterward. I got home around ten pm, so that was a very long day. Saturday brought a {Jamberry} and make overs party, followed by Chinese food and Arizona Cardinals football. I'll carve some time out tonight to work on craft projects for the classroom.
Tomorrow, the day before school starts, brings a few hours in the classroom (just to be totally ready) and a hair cut before getting to bed nice and early.
Monday will be a long day, followed by a tough conversation with someone. I don't like confrontation, but there are some things that I'm not okay with just ignoring.
I'm bracing for day 1. Positive vibes, people!
It's almost the start of another school year and I'm excited. I'm ridiculously, optimistically, enthusiastically excited about this school year.
Yes, the school district's budget is awful and I'm still upset about taking a pay cut, but there's not really anything I can do about it so there's no point to dwell on it. As teachers, we've made our disapproval pretty clear! So it's time to move forward.
I have an amazing school that prioritizes people first. We take our jobs seriously, but have lots of fun while working hard! This culture of support and fun spills over into our classrooms and I think that's important. I enjoy going to work. I want to be there. I enjoy the people I work with.
It's an awesome feeling.
So now let's zoom in on what top ten things are contributing to my excitement:
1) Long Range Plans
We have long range plans done before the school year has started. I feel like I have direction and a sense of purpose. Last year, we didn't have plans and as a natural result, some activities ran too long and we hit major crunch time in March. Our long range plans, which we know are flexible, have all our standards addressed by the beginning of April. That leaves eight weeks of flexibility for testing, reteaching, and shifting things around due to school events (field trips, assemblies, etc).
2) My Planner
Continuing with the excitement of long range plans, I have already sketched out the year in my teacher planner and created my online planning calendar.
I have my first week's plans done and many of the copies already made. Mrs. H and I are going to go over the plans on the way to day two of our math training on Monday, then head to school after to do some more planning.
3) Balance.
With a new puppy at home, I'm not staying late each day. I will go in early because that's when I work best, but I am leaving each day as soon as the parking lot is clear. I've voiced it to others to keep me accountable, but I am going to leave on time to spend time with B and our fur babies.
I've picked one night a week to work on things from home (whatever night B has class), but that's it. I'll be more proactive in planning and keep my door closed more in the morning so I can get my work done. I'll just ask my coworkers to respect closed door means work time while open door means I'm willing to chat.
I've got an upcoming trip to Arizona planned in October for my mom's birthday (and buying a new computer because this laptop is eight. EIGHT. This laptop is a third grader.)
I've got fun girls nights planned. We've got date nights to look forward to. Friends have new babies that I get to snuggle, then hand back when the crying starts. I've got a full calendar and there are fun social events planned!
4) Sunshine committee.
At the end of last year, I started talking to Mrs. S more at work. She was always friendly, but she intimidated me. Not only is she like a walking Amazon (six feet of gorgeousness) but also appears to have every aspect of her life together. She crafts, has three young kids that are all involved in sports. Not only does she show up to their games, but she makes their jerseys and does their make up (for dance, not for her son's football team). Plus teaches, is quite good at it, and runs Sunshine committee. It's a little intimidating!
However, she's also possibly one of the nicest people at my school. I asked how I could help with Sunshine events next year without stepping on her toes. She welcomed my ideas with open arms and we started talking. Turns out, she lives maybe ten minutes from me. She loves crafting, organizing, wine, and girl time as much as I do!
We've hung out over the summer under the attempt to plan Sunshine events (didn't happen) and she's become more than a colleague, she's a friend.
So next year, I get to have craft and wine parties with a friend. It will be for school events, so it's legitimate procrastination.
5) DENSI 2015
I'm still in my glorious post DENSI bubble of happiness. I signed up as an ambassador for my district, so I'll be hosting some PD in the coming months. I'm still going through my notes and blogging about the amazing sessions I attended. There are so many things I want to try, but I'm not going to overwhelm myself. Two of the things I'm most excited about are notebook sketching and mystery skype.
6) Notebook Sketching
Also known as {embracing the doodling}, I'm excited to add more creativity into note taking with my students. I know it will take some modeling but I'm eager to embrace something new.
Learn more about it {here}.
7) Mystery Skype
Our adventures with the map have been well documented.
The map is blank and ready for the next round of students. However, this year we are stepping it up. Last year we made powerpoint slides for each state, but didn't give students enough practice time identifying states and capitals on the map. (That was quite obvious with the end of the year assessment.)
This year, we're adding mystery skype. Thanks in a large part to my tribe, the DEN, I am connected to educators in every other state. We're going to call other classrooms and have students try to guess where each other are from, using geography clues.
For example:
1) Does your state border an ocean?
2) Are you closer to Mexico or Canada?
3) Are you east or west of the Mississippi River?
It will require some flexibility (time zones) but I think it will be a great learning opportunity for my students.
8) Engage NY
Last year, math was frustrating to plan. We were pulling mostly from Engage NY's lessons, but didn't follow their pacing guide. As a result, many of the lessons had to be tweaked. After switching up planning roles, Engage NY was abandoned because it was too time consuming. I didn't agree with the change, but I must remind myself of this:
This year, it was decided by my admin that all grade levels would be using this. There are no excuses. We've also split up the copying load so everyone has a role for each unit. I think that it's important for all of us to be involved with the planning of all subjects.
9) Novels
I've picked the novels I want to do with students and am fairly positive I already have enough copies! We'll start the year with The Lightning Thief, move into Esperanza Rising, and finish the year with Number the Stars. It's a tad ambitious to do three novels, but I think we can do it. All of the fifth grade reading literature standards can be taught with these novels and I think it's important to have students involved in longer, more complex texts.
10) Support
I'm not alone. I have a supportive grade level. I have a great school. I have teacher friends in other districts. I have a (future) family member who is now licensed to sub, so I don't foresee having to worry about finding someone to watch my kids if I'm out of the classroom for the day. I have my DEN tribe and know that I can reach out, virtually, for support and be overwhelmingly comforted by the advice of others.
I have a wonderfully supportive fiancee. He's even willing to help me sharpen hundreds of pencils next week (because that's love). People have shown their true colors recently and while that was a painful moment, I'd choose to focus on the overwhelming support and loving messages I've received from others.
I'm in the midst of planning my wedding (no major developments) and enjoying this engagement period. I've received lots of advice, some welcomed and some not, but it's nice to see people (for the most part) supportive of my choice to spend forever with that goober B of mine. However, I want to remind them all that I was on student council, I was an RA, I'm a teacher, and I'm a ridiculously type A person. I like logistics. I've got this wedding planning handled!
Monday brings day two of a math training and classroom prep. Tuesday brings finalizing my room. Wednesday marks the official start of training and next Monday will be my first day with students. Right now, my roster is sitting at 31 and that's where I hope it stays!
There will be moments of darkness and periods of doubt. I'm glad I've got support to turn to. This year will be the best yet. Thanks for being a part of it.
I've had a rough few days.
Between unpredicted backlash after what was supposed to be a joyous day and finding a live scorpion in the house, ready to sting one of my fur babies, I've been on edge. I was furious that I needed to call the pest control company for the third time in six weeks to come back out and spray, but my six month issue with them is another story. Our cable company was consistently changing their rates and story, which only lead to further frustration. Essentially, I've been feeling a lot like this:
But I'm holding in my inner she hulk.
I was humiliated by a family member on social media completely out of the blue. The situation was blown way out of proportion, I truly did nothing wrong, and I was publicly shamed without just cause. My perception of this person has changed and I am having a very hard time moving forward. I've spent a lot of time crying about this mind boggling situation.
Instead of commenting and sparking a fight on Facebook for all the world to see, I simply untagged myself and set a text message, inquiring as to what the concern was and asking why this wasn't addressed privately. I am dissatisfied with the response and lack of resolution, but I am working on forgiving this person.
I did not retaliate, though it was suggested I would. I'm not that kind of person.
Instead of focusing all my energy on what's going wrong, I'm focusing on what's going right.
I had tremendous support from friends who saw the hurtful words and reached out to make sure I was alright. They sent loving and gentle reminders of the type of person I try to be: kind, giving, thoughtful. They offered words of support and prayer, both of which were appreciated.
So for try it Tuesday, I challenge you to look around and see what's going right. Look for the positives.
It's so easy to focus on the hurt and negativity that surrounds us. It's a struggle to find the good things some days. When you've been scorned, it seems impossible.
But you can do it. I can do it. Let's spread positivitiy.
Yesterday, I had a two hour lunch date with two wonderful women at work. We talked about their family vacations, their babies (both boys are a few months old), and my upcoming wedding. There was nothing but love, Starbucks, friendship, and cake pops.
(I haven't succombed to the whole coffee drinking thing, but I'm in love with their peach green tea lemonade!)
I also went to Joann's in search of classroom things, but instead found some very cute craft items for my wedding in the magical clearance land. Plus I had a 20% off my whole purchase coupon, which just made it better.
I went grocery shopping and stocked the fridge with healthy salads. Eating right is connected with feeling right, so I'm pleased to try to make these healthy life style modifications.
I had a twenty minute chat with my bestie before she heads off on vacation for a week. She's going to snag some Mayan post cards for my munchkins because she's amazingly thoughtful like that.
This morning, while i relaxed in our hammock, I got to watch Waffles run around and play in her pool. She is so excited about everything and I'm enjoying this puppy stage. She'll go from frantically chasing a bird to snoring next to me on the couch in a matter of minutes. I'm so glad we rescued her. Even when I'm furious at what she ate (air conditioning insulation, a tissue box, and a pumice stone...all in the same day), I have to remember that she's teething and 4 1/2 months old. Then she looks at me with her puppy eyes and her ridiculous ears, and all is forgiven.
Seriously, how does this face not make you happy?
I get to return to my classroom tomorrow. I'm so excited for year seven and to implement some new strategies I learned from my DEN tribe. I get to decorate my classroom and create a happy learning environment for my students.
I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on TpT lately and it's nice to feel appreciated. I make all my products for my own bunch of students, but I share my resources with others. It's nice to know their students are using (and loving) them too!
I feel valued and appreciated by my fellow colleagues.
Seriously, I hit the teaching jackpot with my school. My first school had some amazing people, but also some stinkers. At my new school, it seems everyone supports everyone. We are there to learn from each other, to inspire our students, and to have fun.
Yes, we take our jobs seriously, but we also have lots of fun while doing it. I think that fun component is super important. What other job has administrators supporting a prank war to deal with end of year stress?! (More on that later.)
What's going great in your day? What positive moments are you going to focus on?
