Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Cosmos
A couple of months ago some teachers and I were talking about gardening during our lunch break. Well, I only had two statements to contribute and one of those was an explanation of my inability to tell the difference between weeds and plants but that's beside the point. My second tidbit was a mention of wanting to plant something around my house that attracts butterflies. None of the teachers really had any suggestions at the time; I figured they were probably still trying to wrap their minds around another one of my deficiencies in the domestic department.Two weeks ago, I was sitting in the lounge during lunch when the technology teacher set a little styrofoam cup in front of me. It was filled with greenery and while I wasn't completely sure, I assumed it was a plant and not a cup of weeds. The teacher informed me that his wife plants Cosmos around their house and the flower attracts butterflies. I could hardly believe that he remembered our conversation, let alone brought a plant and a packet of seeds in for me. Some people have a lot of faith in other people.
I've had this little plant for fourteen days now and while it hasn't always looked so good during that time, it hasn't died. In fact, I would venture to say it's even grown a little. I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to be doing in regards to sun and water, but I do know that when I knock the cup over, I need to replace the dirt that has spilled out. That counts for something, right?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Change in Plans
This is not the post I had in mind for this evening. There has been a change in plans.
Throughout the school year I have been, for lack of a better phrase, "picked on," by my principal. I'm not sure why, but the man has had something against me from day one. He has done nothing but criticize (and not constructively) the things I'm doing in what I thought was suppose to be MY classroom. There doesn't seem to be any way I can please him; I cannot seem to do anything right in his eyes. He does not like the lessons I'm doing nor does he agree with my grading system. He has made me make changes that were against what I believed in as an educator (changes that appalled other math teachers when I told them about the situation) and recommends other changes that just don't make sense or contradict something he told me at a different point in time. One day he'll tell me that I need to make the class easier because I have too many students with below-average grades (students that are doing poorly in all of their other classes as well and that earned those poor grades by not trying) and the next day, like today, he's telling me that I'm not challenging my students enough. As a former math teacher, he tells me what he did in his classroom and states that I should do those things. What he doesn't seem to realize is that I don't teach all the same classes or the same students that he had. My job as a math teacher is completely different than his job was as a math teacher. What he also doesn't seem to realize is that he doesn't know everything that goes on in my classroom even though he thinks he does by simply walking by in the hallways and sitting in for a couple of "formal" observations. I have received nothing by negative feedback from this man and it has made my school year extremely uncomfortable. I really like teaching (despite what many who hear me complain might think), I adore the students, I enjoy the other teachers. I don't like my boss. I don't enjoy feeling like a horrible employee and a worthless teacher.
I'm leaving this school after my contract is up in May. I'm not even sure I'll continue with teaching after this . . .
There has been a change in plans.
Throughout the school year I have been, for lack of a better phrase, "picked on," by my principal. I'm not sure why, but the man has had something against me from day one. He has done nothing but criticize (and not constructively) the things I'm doing in what I thought was suppose to be MY classroom. There doesn't seem to be any way I can please him; I cannot seem to do anything right in his eyes. He does not like the lessons I'm doing nor does he agree with my grading system. He has made me make changes that were against what I believed in as an educator (changes that appalled other math teachers when I told them about the situation) and recommends other changes that just don't make sense or contradict something he told me at a different point in time. One day he'll tell me that I need to make the class easier because I have too many students with below-average grades (students that are doing poorly in all of their other classes as well and that earned those poor grades by not trying) and the next day, like today, he's telling me that I'm not challenging my students enough. As a former math teacher, he tells me what he did in his classroom and states that I should do those things. What he doesn't seem to realize is that I don't teach all the same classes or the same students that he had. My job as a math teacher is completely different than his job was as a math teacher. What he also doesn't seem to realize is that he doesn't know everything that goes on in my classroom even though he thinks he does by simply walking by in the hallways and sitting in for a couple of "formal" observations. I have received nothing by negative feedback from this man and it has made my school year extremely uncomfortable. I really like teaching (despite what many who hear me complain might think), I adore the students, I enjoy the other teachers. I don't like my boss. I don't enjoy feeling like a horrible employee and a worthless teacher.
I'm leaving this school after my contract is up in May. I'm not even sure I'll continue with teaching after this . . .
There has been a change in plans.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Rest of the Week
The second half of last week:
Thursday. The school I work at had its second night of spring conferences. The parents that came in to see me were great, even if their child wasn't/isn't doing well. There is a different mentality in this town compared to the last town in which I taught; parents hold their children accountable and don't simply point fingers at the teacher.
Friday. Mitch and I had half of our date night. We went out for dinner and then did a little shopping. We looked at patio furniture and then visited a few stores to look at home decor. We've been in our house about three months now and while nothing on the walls didn't bother me for the first two months, it bothers me now. The problem is I don't have any ideas. Not a single, stinkin' one. Our shopping trip didn't help either - other than to provide us with opportunities to goof around and do a lot of laughing.
Later that evening, two of my cousins stopped by on their way through to Las Vegas. As always, it was a lot of fun hanging out with them and I didn't get to bed until 3:00 am. That evening truly reinforced how old I'm getting. First of all, I could not remember the last time I stayed up that late (still can't) and secondly, it took me all day Saturday to recover. Old gray mare ain't what she used to be, as my husband would say.
Saturday. Mitch, Crickett, and I napped the day away. That evening, Mitch and I had the second half of our date night and watched the two movies we had rented on Friday. We watched "Marley and Me" which was good and made me cry like a baby. We also watched "Deliverance" which made me cringe at it's awfulness. Why did we watch it? Well, it's a movie that's been on my list forever because it is referenced so often in other movies and on television shows, so I thought it could be the movie I watch off my list for 2009. While ridiculously horrible, I'm still counting it!
Thursday. The school I work at had its second night of spring conferences. The parents that came in to see me were great, even if their child wasn't/isn't doing well. There is a different mentality in this town compared to the last town in which I taught; parents hold their children accountable and don't simply point fingers at the teacher.
Friday. Mitch and I had half of our date night. We went out for dinner and then did a little shopping. We looked at patio furniture and then visited a few stores to look at home decor. We've been in our house about three months now and while nothing on the walls didn't bother me for the first two months, it bothers me now. The problem is I don't have any ideas. Not a single, stinkin' one. Our shopping trip didn't help either - other than to provide us with opportunities to goof around and do a lot of laughing.
Later that evening, two of my cousins stopped by on their way through to Las Vegas. As always, it was a lot of fun hanging out with them and I didn't get to bed until 3:00 am. That evening truly reinforced how old I'm getting. First of all, I could not remember the last time I stayed up that late (still can't) and secondly, it took me all day Saturday to recover. Old gray mare ain't what she used to be, as my husband would say.
Saturday. Mitch, Crickett, and I napped the day away. That evening, Mitch and I had the second half of our date night and watched the two movies we had rented on Friday. We watched "Marley and Me" which was good and made me cry like a baby. We also watched "Deliverance" which made me cringe at it's awfulness. Why did we watch it? Well, it's a movie that's been on my list forever because it is referenced so often in other movies and on television shows, so I thought it could be the movie I watch off my list for 2009. While ridiculously horrible, I'm still counting it!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Week Thus Far
- Monday. My snow day was quite lovely. The day consisted of hanging out with Mitch and Crickett and a whole lot of reading. We had delicious rolls at dinner and Mitch won movie tickets off the radio. I wish every Monday could be like this one - minus the blizzard of course.
- Tuesday. We should not have had school. Over half the student population didn't make it into town due to the roads. I couldn't do much of anything with my classes but I did get a lot of planning and correcting done and I won't complain about that. I'm thrilled with how far ahead I am! The trick, however, is staying ahead. Mitch and I also got our Girl Scout cookies today - oh how I love the Thin Mints.
- Wednesday. I cannot believe it's April already! I feels like 2009 just started and here we are in the fourth month of the year! Can anyone tell me where the first three months went? No April Fool's jokes were played on me - how about you? And in completely unrelated, only exciting to me news, we're now teaching Crickett to "SIT." I think it's going to be quite fun. I like having a reason to give her treats.
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