Friday, February 12, 2010
Monday, November 23, 2009
I wish I drank more...
This school year has been tough so far- really, really tough. I am very upset to have such trying children and (in general) thoroughly unsupportive parents. Most of the teaching staff I work with is not helping either...though my principal has been helpful.
I haven't posted here in over a month. I have been busy, sure; I helped put on a musical at my school, I'm taking a grad class, and I have had parent/teacher conferences. I have ALSO had 6 meetings with parents outside of the regular yearly conference. That means 6 kids out of 6 have been really terrible. I can think of another 10 whose parents I wish could meet with. I am just miserable teaching this year, and that has never been the case.
So I guess I'm saying the reason I haven't posted here is because I've been miserable. I know I tend to focus on the negative- just by nature, I'm a pessimist and a glass half empty kind of girl- but this year has been very hard. When a veteran teacher on my team who has been in education for 35+ years said this class is in her all-time Top Three of most difficult, I know I'm really up against something.
This is also my second year with these cherubs, since we loop. I've been with this class since August of 2008, and will get rid of them only in June of 2010, God help me.
I guess the one up side here is that I've been reevaluating my career choice, and I think I may want to work on my M.Ed in Psychology once I've finished my M.Ed in Reading this summer. I will probably give myself a breather in between, but originally when I went to school for teacher, moving on to the counseling side of things had always been in the back of my head. Now it's moving to the forefront.
Anyway, Thanksgiving break is coming up this week, so I get 5 days away from the kiddos to get perspective. Or just get loaded.
I haven't posted here in over a month. I have been busy, sure; I helped put on a musical at my school, I'm taking a grad class, and I have had parent/teacher conferences. I have ALSO had 6 meetings with parents outside of the regular yearly conference. That means 6 kids out of 6 have been really terrible. I can think of another 10 whose parents I wish could meet with. I am just miserable teaching this year, and that has never been the case.
So I guess I'm saying the reason I haven't posted here is because I've been miserable. I know I tend to focus on the negative- just by nature, I'm a pessimist and a glass half empty kind of girl- but this year has been very hard. When a veteran teacher on my team who has been in education for 35+ years said this class is in her all-time Top Three of most difficult, I know I'm really up against something.
This is also my second year with these cherubs, since we loop. I've been with this class since August of 2008, and will get rid of them only in June of 2010, God help me.
I guess the one up side here is that I've been reevaluating my career choice, and I think I may want to work on my M.Ed in Psychology once I've finished my M.Ed in Reading this summer. I will probably give myself a breather in between, but originally when I went to school for teacher, moving on to the counseling side of things had always been in the back of my head. Now it's moving to the forefront.
Anyway, Thanksgiving break is coming up this week, so I get 5 days away from the kiddos to get perspective. Or just get loaded.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My Dog is a Failure
I took my Golden Charlie to a therapy dog training session on Sunday. In my area of the country, therapy dogs might lay quietly while students read to them, or make visiting to nursing homes or hospitals. Charlie is friendly and handsome. He is also only 2 1/2 years old, which is still a very hyper young age in dog years.
The first hour of the session was the assessment, to see if the dog would pass; the second hour was a class on how to improve the areas on which the dog failed.
Charlie did not pass the assessment. He was a super boy on all but two things: he would not heel well, and he jumped up.
I am the one who walks Charlie, so I know he doesn't heel. He pulls, drags, tugs, yanks, and hauls, but he doesn't heel. And this is with a pinch collar on! FAIL ONE.
In several different instances, Charlie jumped. He jumped on a man in a wheelchair, on a man who came over to pat him, and on a group of people who surrounded him. To be fair, in the first two instances the person was patting his lap/chest and egging Charlie on. That is just too tempting to a Golden, but he must learn not to jump. In the last instance, myself and four others encircled Charlie to see if he freaked. He didn't; he just jumped up to say hi. FAIL TWO.
So, I know what I need to practice with him. I am proud of how well Charlie worked and how hard he focused. I hope someday he and I can contribute to the wonderful group that is Therapy Dogs of Vermont.
The first hour of the session was the assessment, to see if the dog would pass; the second hour was a class on how to improve the areas on which the dog failed.
Charlie did not pass the assessment. He was a super boy on all but two things: he would not heel well, and he jumped up.
I am the one who walks Charlie, so I know he doesn't heel. He pulls, drags, tugs, yanks, and hauls, but he doesn't heel. And this is with a pinch collar on! FAIL ONE.
In several different instances, Charlie jumped. He jumped on a man in a wheelchair, on a man who came over to pat him, and on a group of people who surrounded him. To be fair, in the first two instances the person was patting his lap/chest and egging Charlie on. That is just too tempting to a Golden, but he must learn not to jump. In the last instance, myself and four others encircled Charlie to see if he freaked. He didn't; he just jumped up to say hi. FAIL TWO.
So, I know what I need to practice with him. I am proud of how well Charlie worked and how hard he focused. I hope someday he and I can contribute to the wonderful group that is Therapy Dogs of Vermont.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Maine
I am headed to Maine this weekend to visit my mom's dad. He is turning 80 in March, and is the only grandfather I've ever know. I love him. But he doesn't talk.
I don't mean not at ALL...I just mean he is very taciturn and is usually happy to sit back and observe. I know how much my visiting means to him, so I go, and he is a sweet, kind man. But it is odd to travel 4 hours one way over a weekend to hang out with a guy who will probably speak less than 4 sentences.
Grandpa has always been this way, and I think I could learn a thing or two from him. Still, it's in my nature to be chatty and his to be quiet, so I think sometimes we both feel at a loss. I know that his lack of need or desire to speak is what made him able to be married to my grandmother all those year, that's for sure. Maybe there would be more peace in my household if I kept my mouth shut once in awhile.
Here's to a weekend that will prove this phrase: do not speak unless you can improve the silence.
I don't mean not at ALL...I just mean he is very taciturn and is usually happy to sit back and observe. I know how much my visiting means to him, so I go, and he is a sweet, kind man. But it is odd to travel 4 hours one way over a weekend to hang out with a guy who will probably speak less than 4 sentences.
Grandpa has always been this way, and I think I could learn a thing or two from him. Still, it's in my nature to be chatty and his to be quiet, so I think sometimes we both feel at a loss. I know that his lack of need or desire to speak is what made him able to be married to my grandmother all those year, that's for sure. Maybe there would be more peace in my household if I kept my mouth shut once in awhile.
Here's to a weekend that will prove this phrase: do not speak unless you can improve the silence.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Pictoral Display of My Life
I am barely clinging to sanity lately. I feel exposed and needy. I am catty and impurrfect.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Open House Haiku
It is Open House night at school tonight. I have to sit in my room from 6:30-8:00pm and say "hi" to somewhere between 70 and 280 parents. This figure varies widely, because some students live with only one parent, and some have two divorced parents who have each remarried.
It is never fun, usually awkward, and always tiring. I was "on" for an entire school day today, and now I have to go back and be "on" again?! Poo! I genuinely like meeting parents and seeing where the kids come from; heck, I like people in general! But after a full school day, and for an hour and a half, that is just too much.
So, here is my haiku:
Open House tonight
Would be more fun with a buzz
But I can't get fired.
It is never fun, usually awkward, and always tiring. I was "on" for an entire school day today, and now I have to go back and be "on" again?! Poo! I genuinely like meeting parents and seeing where the kids come from; heck, I like people in general! But after a full school day, and for an hour and a half, that is just too much.
So, here is my haiku:
Open House tonight
Would be more fun with a buzz
But I can't get fired.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Please Share Your Stories
Justin and I spent over two hours tonight receiving budgeting and credit counseling at our Credit Union. The lady was very nice, and it was overall a positive experience. So why did I cry two separate times driving home?
It's because it makes me so sad to finally face where we are financially. We will have my car and our credit card debt all paid off in the next four years, and that will free up a lot of money per month. Plus, our salaries will only be higher then, because both Justin and I will have our Masters and have more years under our belts as teachers.
It is just so frustrating to be in this place 2 1/2 years ago we took out our mortgage and Justin had a much different, much higher paying job. After he was laid off, he went back to school to be a teacher, and then worked two part-time jobs. Now, finally, we are both employed full-time again, and here we are.
Oprah says "When you know better, you do better", but what is aggrivating here is that I always knew better. Having an outstanding balance on a credit card is not good, and I knew it. I just didn't have a viable alternative.
If any of your have been in the dark valley of the shadow of credit card debt and come out the other side, please share your stories of hope. I know we can do it; I am just so very, very tired.
It's because it makes me so sad to finally face where we are financially. We will have my car and our credit card debt all paid off in the next four years, and that will free up a lot of money per month. Plus, our salaries will only be higher then, because both Justin and I will have our Masters and have more years under our belts as teachers.
It is just so frustrating to be in this place 2 1/2 years ago we took out our mortgage and Justin had a much different, much higher paying job. After he was laid off, he went back to school to be a teacher, and then worked two part-time jobs. Now, finally, we are both employed full-time again, and here we are.
Oprah says "When you know better, you do better", but what is aggrivating here is that I always knew better. Having an outstanding balance on a credit card is not good, and I knew it. I just didn't have a viable alternative.
If any of your have been in the dark valley of the shadow of credit card debt and come out the other side, please share your stories of hope. I know we can do it; I am just so very, very tired.
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