Tales of a Teacher

 Once it gets to the end of October, you start to get a better feeling for the school year. By now, you know the kids pretty well and you have met the parents. You already had conferences, and the kids are used to the routine. Things have finally settled in, and you are well into the year.  I always liked this time of year. I felt like I had my groove going and I knew what I was doing. I was used to the schedule, and I knew how the kids acted and learned. There was still a lot of the school year left but I usually felt good about where it was going and if not, I knew how to fix it. Hopefully, this is how you are feeling right now. If you teach the littles, you are dealing with Halloween and getting ready for the holiday fun ahead. You have gotten to know your kids and are having fun teaching them. Enjoy this time of year!

 Being a good teacher is more than just coming up with lesson plans and teaching the content, it's also about understanding the kids in your class. You can't be taught that skill. It just comes naturally and if you are a teacher, then you already love kids. And, eventually, you will learn to read them, their facial expressions, their movements, etc.  There have been times when I can tell that the class is getting restless. They just looked bored. I could keep on teaching but why? They need a break. So, we get up and move or go outside. There is nothing wrong with that, no matter what the grade. We all need a break sometimes. So, teach and get the work done, but remember that we are all human and we all need a break!

 One of the best things about being a teacher is when the Fall arrives. School has started and you are in your groove by now, the leaves are changing colors, and there is the fun of the holidays ahead. I always loved when the leaves change colors and as a teacher of the littles, I got to see the magic in their eyes. We would gather leaves and describe and talk about the fall. Everything was pumpkin themed and the excitement for Halloween was real! You are also feeling a bit more confident in your teaching style. You have gotten to know the students in your class much better by now and hopefully, the admin has fixed any bugs in the schedule by now. And, come on, Halloween is fun. So, enjoy the Fall! Take your class outside and read a story fall related. Go for a walk and gather leaves for projects and study. Decorate your classroom with the fall colors. And most of all, have fun!

I have a question for you.... does your school have a consequence for being tardy often or for missing school several times? When I was in the classroom, I had a big problem with tardy students. I could understand one or two times, but habitually? The parents know when school starts and being late all the time is definitely not a good lesson to be teaching your kids. In some schools, this was taken very seriously. Of course, this was a long time ago. If you were absent or tardy for several times, the school sent out a truancy officer. The parents could get in a lot of trouble. Some students were kicked out or lost scholarships. In other schools, it just wasn't that serious at all.  It seems that as time goes by, schools become more and more lenient when it comes to absences or tardiness. What are your thoughts on this? Is tardiness important? Does it matter if a kid misses a lot of school? Share your comments with us....thanks!

As a teacher, you often get to teach a whole family of kids. There were many times that I enjoyed the whole family and other times that I dreaded more than one kid in a family. There was one family that were very grateful for all that I did. They gave me presents and offered me extra money. I had two of their children. And, no, I did not take the money. I had another family where one of their kids was super smart, kind, and helpful. But the other one was the complete opposite. He would kick the door, scream obscenities, and get into fights. One time I asked the other boy why his brother acted that way and his answer was, "he only does that at school because he wants to get out of class." Wow! It's a neat feeling to know that you taught a whole family of children. Think about it...they will always remember you and you will forever be a part of their family. Wow!

One thing that has always bugged me is how little time is spent on implementing specials. Art, music, gym, and library are all very important to the education of children. For example, art can be useful when teaching children how to be creative and how to effectively use their little muscles. Music has been very important to children with autism. Gym is exercise and for some kids, that's all they really get. And of course, the library is filled with books. And let's face it, reading is the most important subject! In some schools, there is very little time spent on specials. I have worked in some schools where they didn't have any specials. The teachers could teach them if they had time but there was always very little of that to go around. Some schools did take it seriously, but these were always the schools that had a lot of money. Specials should absolutely be a part of every school. These are what make a student very well-rounded. We should all do what we can to keep tho...

With Halloween right around the corner, it got me thinking about what fun the holidays are in elementary school. Almost every school I worked in had a Halloween party and parade. I can remember the little ones in their costumes walking around the big lake in front of our school. The candy, cupcakes, and wrappers everywhere! We complained about the mess, but it was fun to see the kids have a good time. In one school, we had a tradition where one half of the classes would dress as pilgrims and the other half would be Indians. We would all dine together at big tables set up outside. We were in Florida, so it wasn't really too cold to eat outside. The kids and staff would sit down to a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings. At Christmas time, it was all about presents, crafts, and movies. There were times when we would let the kids dress in pj's and watch a holiday movie. There was hot chocolate and popcorn. Easter was a time for Mass and egg hunts. Having worked in ...

One thing that I hear over and over again is that our education system is really just indoctrination, not learning. I know that in my classrooms, there was real learning going on, not indoctrination. This is a crazy time that we are living in with the election not too far away. I wondered how important politics were in your classrooms and how you address it without instilling your own opinions on the student?  I'm sure it has to hard to answer questions about politics these days. That's why I always taught the little kids! People are so passionate about their choices and it's hard not to offend anyone. Are open discussions the way to go? Do you change the subject and try to avoid a political discussion? Please let us know how you handle these questions, especially now, with only a few weeks to the election.  Please share your ideas and thoughts with us....we want to know what you are thinking! 

You hear a lot about self-care these days and usually you roll your eyes and sigh. I know what you are thinking, that there is not enough hours in the day to get all your work done, let alone take care of yourself. But there is some truth to it. Burn out is real and I have seen it many times. I've actually even felt it myself. Being with kids every day can be very stressful. It can also be exhausting. Add in lesson planning, meetings. and home chores and it's no wonder we get tired.  So, take some time for yourself, no matter how hard it is. Put down the phone and talk with your family. Go for a walk or swim or whatever you like to do. Have a date night and enjoy your life. It really will make a difference. 

Sometimes there are things going on in school that you would never even think would happen. But I guess people are only human, or whatever. There was one of those unthinkable things going on at a school that I worked at in Florida. We had a custodian that worked there who was very well built with rugged good looks. He also knew it and acted like he was the king of the world. There was a pretty brunette preschool teacher who worked there also. Problem was that they were both married to other people.  Parents and coworkers started getting suspicious when the teacher would arrive extra early, when they would linger and talk in the hallway, or when he would casually walk her to her car. After a while, they were both headed for divorce.  Funny thing is that the teacher went through with her divorce. The custodian and his wife worked things out. They still kept their jobs, but eventually, the teacher moved away with her kids.  I'm sure you know the moral to this story.....

Teachers are leaving the profession like never before. The reasons are plentiful, bad admin, bad pay, violent kids, etc. But what happens when a teacher leaves the profession? What do they do? And why doesn't their own education matter anymore? It's depressing for sure. I know a wonderful lady who was a college professor. She has a PHD and has worked hard on her own education. A few months ago, she was laid off with a bunch of other faculty at her college. She lost her insurance and was at a loss at what she was going to do. She began looking for another job. And it was Hell! Her age and education were holding her back. She's in her early 60's, smart, and a hard worker, but suddenly that didn't matter. She even told me that she had thought about taking the PHD off of her resume, but that it really bothered her because she worked so hard to get it. She eventually found a job as a receptionist for a whole hell of a lot less money and she hates it, but it pays one bill...

When my grandson was born, we were all very excited. He was a miracle, and he still is! But things were different. We soon realized that there was something wrong. Although we don't have a complete diagnosis, we do know that he is on the spectrum.  There are certain signs when it comes to Autism. It can be hard to diagnose the disorder. As a parent or grandparent, you will be the one who is observing. The first thing to look at is how they interact with others. Do they make eye contact? And do they respond to their name when you call? Social relationships are a definite key to autism. Another sign is speech and hearing. We had my grandson tested for his hearing and he was perfect. But his language development was just not where it should be. He didn't talk and didn't make eye contact. My daughter started taking him to speech therapy and it seems to be helping. He babbles more and is becoming more and more comfortable with going alone in the doctor's office.  Another sig...

So many children are being homeschooled these days. And these students are doing great! They pass the state tests and often, go on to great colleges. It's definitely a lot for parents to handle. But often, homeschooling is the best way to go. I still am an advocate for in person schooling, but I can understand the popularity of homeschooling.  What do parents do when they have questions about curriculum? Lesson planning? Testing? That's where I can be of help. I would love to help those parents who are struggling to homeschool. I can help you to learn the curriculum and make sure that your child is learning the right material. I can also help you with creative and exciting lesson plans and projects.  Call or message me today and let me help you to help your child master the approved material. It's tough to do it all alone and now you don't have to! I am here to help!

Let's face it, some people are just plain crazy! I have seen some pretty crazy parents over the years. There have been the ones who just don't agree with you no matter what you do to try and please them. There are others who argue every point with you and still, there are others who just don't care at all. If you have taught for a few years, then you know what I am talking about. My craziest parent was a woman who would often appear at school drunk. There were several times when she arrived in the carline to pick up her daughter and she would be driving up on the sidewalk and yelling at the kids. She was definitely hammered. Of course, we would call the police, and she would be arrested for yet another DUI. Eventually, they took her license away for good.  We all wondered why she was drinking so much. Her daughter was sent to live with relatives for a while and that's when we found out the truth. It turns out that this woman had been raped by her own father. This rape h...

With so much violence in schools these days, it's not too surprising to hear about teachers being hit or worse. I knew of teachers who would get hit when they tried to stop a fight or when a student got mad and hit them, or worse, when a parent did the hitting. It's sad to say that these things do happen.  Many years ago, I was working in a daycare center. I needed the money, and it was all that was available at the time. I definitely do not recommend working in a daycare. You are basically a babysitter, and the money is always very low. But sometimes you just got to do what you can do to survive. This daycare was not the best but there were some pretty nice people who worked there. One of them was an older lady who had worked there forever. She was the go-to when you had a question or a problem. And most of the kids just loved her.  But there was one kid who had a problem with authority and with doing the right thing. It might be bad to say this, but this kid was not very lik...

Have you ever felt like you are just sick of your job? That there is no way that you can keep getting up and doing the same thing over and over again? Have you been at work and some young thing is all excited over a new policy or strategy and you don't give a damn because you have been there and done that so many times that it just doesn't matter? Well, I felt that way last year. And I did something about it. We had a new principal and new teachers with new ideas. But those ideas just didn't seem to match my old ideas. There were a lot of things that I faked last year, mostly because I didn't want to start anything, and it wouldn't matter if I did. The middle school teachers started getting a little argumentative about everything and that also didn't help matters. They were the teachers that had been there forever. You know the type. They had attended the school as kids, their parents and grandparents went to the school and God help you if you disagreed with the...

Some people don't think of schools as workplaces, but they are. They are full of men and women working hard to make sure that the kids are learning, parents are happy, and that the school is running smoothly. That's a lot of stress for sure! With hectic workplaces comes stressed out people. And some people definitely have trouble with stress. When I worked at a school in Florida, we had a principal who had just gone through a rough divorce. He was drinking too much and not doing so good. We also had a guidance counselor who had just gotten married. She had a huge, expensive wedding and everyone thought that it was going to be a solid marriage. But that was not the case. She was beautiful. Blonde, young, and curvy. And she showed off her curves every chance she got. It seemed like every 7 and 8th grade boy needed counseling that year.  The principal and the guidance counselor became very chummy that year. There were rumors of course, but nobody really thought that anything was g...

Sometimes I really feel bad for parents these days. They never get a break! There is always something to do and someplace to be. I don't know how they do it! Kids seem so much busier these days. When I was a kid, I rode the bus home. It was unusual for me to have to stay to school or go to some activity. When I had my own kids, I was driving them to dance and hiring guitar tutors. They were starting to get busy.  Now, all kids are busy. I have known kids who go to tutoring, soccer practice, and then have to wait for their brother or sister to get done with some kind of practice. Most dinners are McD's drive thru. I guess it's good to keep the kids busy. After all, the busier they are, the less trouble they will get in or something like that. Plus, kids need to be more well-rounded today. It's brutal out there in the real world. There's a lot to be said about activities for the kids. It helps them to know what they like to do. It helps them to make friends and learn ...

Vaping in school is becoming more and more prevalent. Even the United States Surgeon General says that there is an epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. A lot of kids don't think that they are smoking. They feel that the vape is different but that still doesn't mean that it can be done in class. I even have a high school teacher friend who says that the kids vape in her classroom and if she takes the vape away, she is in trouble for taking their personal property. What!!!! And now, a lot of vapes are filled with marijuana. It is much easier to get weed, and it is legal in many states. A lot of those kids are smoking pot in the classroom. So, what can we do to stop it? There are some schools who use metal detectors or remove the bathroom doors to stop the vaping. But it doesn't always work. Now, there are schools that are using peer led groups to focus on the reason why the kids are vaping. It is kind of like a prevention group. If you teach the kids to communicate their reason...

Observations can create so much stress! An observation is when the principal enters your classroom and sits in the back in order to critique your teaching performance. You usually have a week's notice so that you can prepare a fabulous lesson and practice it! Some teachers just do what they normally do every day, but others go all out and create a once in a lifetime lesson.  I know teachers with years of experience that still get nervous during an observation. I always did too. I guess it's just tough knowing that someone is watching you and going to criticize or hopefully enjoy your teaching. You can be the most confident teacher in the world but when you are being observed, it can be nerve-racking.  Even worse than the observation is the meeting afterwards when the principal goes over your performance. For me, most observations were pretty good. I was prepared and knew what I was doing. But I was always a little wary of that meeting. One principal even videotaped the observa...