A Teacher's Daze

Peeking out from under tons of student papers and notes from here and there to do this and that, I can identify, completely, with this picture! I laughed out loud when I saw this pic on Pinterest.  Give the guy a little more hair, a feminine characteristic or two, and it's a perfect picture of what I feel like when I'm overwhelmed with paper-work.    Whenever I see teachers leaving at 3:30, I look at them in a sort of awe-struck stare.  After twenty-three years, it would seem I could develop some type of system to help me avoid days like this, but alas, I haven't reached that level of expertise, and quite frankly, given my personality and my extended history, it's not likely that I will ever receive a medal for ever really "catching up."  So, I've decided that "catching up" is highly over-rated.  If I "catch-up," what in the world would I do? I suspect if I ever got to that point, I would inadvertently make-up more things t...

"Moving on up...." "My 'Teacher's Space'" This is a simple canvas of city lights that I enhanced by using an old desk lamp with a bendable neck.  It's perfect to spotlight this scene! Growing up watching the sitcom, The Jeffersons, I couldn't help but think of this song when creating my "Big City View" or "Going Places" theme for my middle school classroom.  In fact, the theme song to this sitcom has been stuck in my head, for days.  :-D...  I find myself singing "Moving on up/ to the East side...... I finally got a piece of the pie...."  If you aren't familiar with the show, then it is hard to imagine why this song fits perfectly with the underlying idea behind this classroom theme. First, I have to admit something.  I didn't start out thinking, "Okay, I'm going to create a theme that shows big skyscrapers, bright city lights, and famous places across the world."  Actuall...

                                My Teacher's Space Motto:   "KEEP CALM and TEACH ON"                                                   "Get ready, get set....." Teachers spend weeks before school starts preparing because when the bell sounds and students start pouring into the classroom, there is no time to "get ready."  It's full speed ahead!     After spending the last two weeks of summer vacation, walking up and down two flights of stairs, carrying armloads of school supplies and decorations, as well as balancing a head full of ideas collected from Pinterest and teacher blogs over the summer, I'm certain it isn't a dream because surely I would have awakened by now, right? Getting back into the everyday routine of "back to school" is not only h...

During my family's recent vacation, I was browsing through a gallery of hundreds of posters when I came across the above picture.  My first reaction was to read the caption again, to make sure I read it correctly.  My second reaction was to smile at the irony of the words, especially considering the "dated" illustration chosen to accompany it, and "yes" I have to admit, my third reaction was to take a picture, so I could share it on my blog, as well with my students.   Now, please don't over react and assume I "agree" with this humorous statement.  Obviously, the suggestion of the mother is in direct contrast to what a mother would "normally" say to warn a child of danger.  The author of this illustration and caption combination is simply identifying with a harried mother of small children by using a gross exaggeration, to say the least.   I walked away with a wistful smile remembering days when I was a sleep-deprived mother...

Memories wash over me, slowly, almost painfully.  I've decided upon "bittersweet" to describe that late day in May of 2011.  The excited chant of children at a pep-rally, but this was no ordinary pep-rally.  It was a day to celebrate the student's hard work throughout the year, preparing them for the MCT II that loomed ahead.  I joined a group of bouncing 4th graders wearing matching yellow shirts.  I watched in admiration as their teacher's enthusiasm matched their own.  My own son was privileged to be a part of this group.    From the beginning of the school year, I knew Ms. Blackwell was one of those teachers that a child never forgets.  My son, a good student, but always a bit timid, began to become more animated than I had ever seen him, describing his school day.  I realized he was learning and at the same time having a lot of fun.  This is not an easy feat for a teacher to incorporate into a classroom, especially wi...

No bears, I mean.  However , there is one "tiger" cat, who is, admittedly, a bit overweight and doesn't attract quite as much attention as a bear, but she's a good sight for me, (despite the fact she snubbed her nose at us when we first arrived home, as if to say:  " Hmph!! So... You finally made it back! Yawn.... Now, where's my treats?") Ahh, yes... but I'll take my chances with a pre-menopausal cat against a black grizzly bear, any day!  Smiles.   It's always great to get away, but the luxury of your own bed and bath..... well, that's just hard to beat.  So, I guess I'll use a saying that trite, but true: "There's no place like home!"