Just keep your head above the water

As a first year teacher I feel like I have multiple personalities. One day I am thinking, "Am I crazy for wanting to do this job?" and the very next day I think, "How could I want to do anything else besides teach?".

There are so many things I love about my job.

• My day flies by because of the constant movement and change of classes.
• I laugh everyday with my students (sometimes I laugh at them...but they don't know that)
• I get to see the moment when a student actually "gets it".
• I have awesome co-workers and an awesome administration. 
• I get to give at least one life lesson a day.
• I have students who go out of their way to say hi to me.
• I get to see change happen. From students raising grades to students making better choices.

There are some things that are pretty annoying too...

• 11-12 year olds giving me attitudes. (I wish I knew as much about life as they think they do)
• Terminology that never stops coming...
• My to-do list
• Short weekends

At this point the pro's out way the con's.....Should I add that to my pro list?

Quote of the month...."Who made the first American Flag?

                              Answer: "Wasn't that Betty White"

Jer 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Is it Christmas yet?

Here I am on week five of teaching and I feel like I have been doing this for thirty years! As you can see it has been a few weeks since I last posted. There are a few reasons for the absence. 1- I have not had the time to sit and write. 2- When I did have the time all I wanted to do was sleep. 3-I slept a lot.

I finally feel like my body is getting used to the routine of going non-stop for 9 hours a day. For a while there I was like, "honey!  if you want dinner tonight you might want to get your apron on!" Now I am at the place where even though I am still exhausted, I am able to function as a normal human being.

Now to the Juicy details....This past week was like a slap in the face from the get real fairy! I was going nuts. The students were ooc! (out of control)  I was not in the best of moods either. Instead of being that loving, caring teacher that I like to think I normally am, I was being that sit down and shut-up teacher that came out of the inner most parts of my being! ;)

I have decided that the kids I teach need some life lessons along with the geography. As far as I am concerned they need to know things like, "get used to working with people who you may not particularly like", "treat others how you would like to be treated", "sometimes you should just smile and nod", "don't argue with your authority, they will always win", "when you grow up, if you loose your light bill they still turn out your lights! stay organized", and finally " these hands can change the world" (but only if you let them)

In my last post I talked about having my kids raise their hands and say "these hands can change the world".
This week I was thinking that I truly believe that can happen, but only if they make it happen. I told my classes  that if they wanted to change the world they would have to reconsider things like disrespecting authority, picking on those who can't defend themselves, and treating school like it is nothing. They need to realize that life can only be as great as they allow it to be. I am pretty sure I seemed like the lecture queen this week, but hey, who cares!

My prayer for the week is that God uses me in every situation I cross and that I let Him control my actions, facial expressions, responses, and teaching.

By the way....is it Christmas yet?