Monday Management - Advice

First of all, let me apologize for not posting a Management Monday post last week. Rachelle left the country to go on a cruise (lucky!!) and I was sick in bed (on my spring break - BOO!). 

Today I wanted to share a cute/inspiring post I read over on Miss Teacher's blog. It's directed to first year teachers, but I took a lot away from it too. Some good reminders on how to avoid burnout, handle struggling students, and be a better teacher.


Click Here:

It made me reflect on my 1st year of teaching and reminded me of some of the funny things I encountered my first year of teaching. Luckily, I wrote down some of these experiences in my own personal blog.

Want to read them? Okay, for your personal enjoyment....

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Teacher of the Year - Sept, 2006

If you are my friend then you probably know that I just began my first year of teaching.
Starting off a school year is very hard. College teaches you how to teach not about how to decorate your classroom or all that other very important stuff. I chose education as my major because I wanted to make a difference in the world. I graduated college thinking that I would be the best teacher ever. I interviewed jobs very confident in my abilities. I got hired by a very nice principal who I convined to hire me. Then a little while later I had keys to my new classroom and was forced to face the horrific reality that I had finally become a 'real teacher'.

Now, after surviving my first two and half weeks of school I look back and wonder how I even made it this far.

The kids are great! Some of the parents are scary. The school lunch is not that bad. I have a girl who picks me flowers on her way to school every day. I'm talking EVERY DAY. One boy peed his pants. Lessons are hard to plan. Math is hard to teach. Science experiments are not worth the time and effort. Apparently skateboarding is cool in 5th grade. Prep time is not nearly long enough. Lunch time is too short. Sometimes before school starts in the morning I fall asleep on my couch (okay, only once, but I was sick). My bedtime is now 9:30. I have a stash of candy that I love to eat when school's out. I have already have stacks and stacks of homework that needs to be graded. My classroom is a trailer. The janitor is nice.The secretary's son is in my class. Oh yeah, and I did I mention? I locked my keys in my classroom two days before school started and then broke my window trying to get back in.

Oh, the joys of teaching.

Maybe someday I will make a difference in the world...

Just not this year.
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TEACHER OF THE YEAR PART II - OCTOBER, 2006

I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW. JUST LET ME TELL YOU.... I LOVE BEING A TEACHER!!! OF COURSE, THERE ARE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS, BUT OVERALL I LOVE IT!

HERE'S AN UPDATE ON HOW IT'S GOING:

-I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED READING GROUPS IN MY CLASSROOM. IT'S THE BEST THING EVER- THIS WEEK WE READ A COOL STORY ABOUT AMELIA EARHART AND AS I CIRCULATED THE ROOM I HEARD MY LITTLE 5TH GRADERS REALLY DISCUSSING SOME AMAZING THINGS.
-I HAVE THIS COOL CD THAT HAS A SONG THAT TEACHES THE NAMES OF THE PRESIDENTS IN ORDER. I ALSO PASSED OUT A PAPER THAT HAD ALL THEIR NAMES ON IT AND TOLD MY STUDENTS THAT WHOEVER MEMORIZED IT FIRST COULD CHOOSE A KING SIZED CANDY BAR OF THEIR CHOICE.... TODAY I HAD A CUTE LITTLE GIRL PASS THEM OFF. I WAS AMAZED!
-I ALSO TAUGHT THEM HOW TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN SPANISH.
-I WAS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS GRANT/RESEARCH PROJECT THING, DON'T WORRY, I GET TO FLY TO DC THIS SUMMER TO VISIT AND LEARN ABOUT CIVIL WAR SITES! IT'S CALLED THE 'TEACHERS OF AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT". IT'S A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT WHERE WE DO COOL FIELD TRIPS (LIKE DC) AND GET ALL SORTS OF COOL TEACHING MATERIALS. SO EXCITED!!!
-I GET TO BE IN A HALLOWEEN PARADE (I'M DRESSING UP AS A PURPLE FAIRY).
-I HAVE ONE STUDENT WHO'S READING AT A VERY LOW LEVEL, I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD WITH HIM AND I CAN ALREADY SEE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT. THAT'S GOT TO BE THE FEELING EVER; KNOWING I AM REALLY IMPACTING LIVES.

TEACHING IS DEFINITELY A HARD JOB. HARDER THAN I EVER IMAGINED IT BEING. HOWEVER, I COULDN'T IMAGINE MYSELF IN A BETTER JOB!

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Embarrassing Moment - November, 2006

Does anyone remember the time the I fell FLAT on my face playing leap frog??? Remember that? Remember the big carpet burn I had on my face after that?

Well, up until today that has been my most embarrassing moment... Let's see... Where do I begin???

Alright. I went to school today, no big deal right?! Well, today our class was going to the computer lab to type up our Halloween mystery stories. (Keep in mind my classroom is in the trailer.) On the way in to the school I notice three little 3rd grade boys messing around outside. I turn to them and say, "Boys, get back to class." They didn't listen so I got a little more fierce, "Boys! Get to class now!" When all of a sudden...

BAM!!!

I had walked straight into the teatherball pole!!! My nose went completely numb. My eyes filled up with water. And all I heard was gasps. My poor students didn't know what to do. I had a good laugh at myself, my kids started laughing and joking, and were kinda being funny about it. I went into the office and joked around with the office ladies and principal. They offered me some ice to put on it but I assured them I was okay and no ice was needed.

I've been a big klutz my entire life, but I thought I had ended that phase of my life. Guess not. Guess I will always be known as the brand new teacher who ran into the tether ball pole.

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Do you have any funny, inspiring, or embarrassing teacher stories? If so, please share it with us or post a link. I'd love to read!!
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