Getting my groove back!

This is an old staff photo - and it actually has not much to do with my post, but I always like a picture!!

7 months after retiring, I went on my first sub assignment today.  I wondered how I would do, how I would feel, how I would like it.

Well, I think I did fine - no one ran away or got injured or complained to the principal.  I felt fine too - but my feet did hurt.  And I liked it fine.  There is something liberating about being in front of a classroom of students - and knowing that it's a "one night stand!"  (although I am subbing again tomorrow for Marcie - she had a meeting today but was feeling unwell, so decided to take a day to get better.)

Maybe I will get tired of it.  Maybe I will hit some "loser" classes and not enjoy it as much.  But it's fun to see old friends.  It's nice to be back in an atmosphere that I mostly enjoyed.

The money is nice too.

Some words to consider!

Click on the above to be able to read the words - they are the whole point!!
 

Many years ago - in fact at least 24 because Noah is 27 - the nursery school director at SMCNS told me that even though her job wasn't high paying, it was "work worth doing" so she was content.

I thought about her words often - and often found myself thinking about tasks or assignments I had that seemed unappreciated or unnoticed - but I didn't mind because they were "work worth doing." 

In my 17 years of teaching school, I was paid pretty well by some standards.  But sometimes it seemed like I had to bite my tongue or just put up with unappreciative administrators, other teachers, and parents - not to mention some students.  At those times, I would remember these words and think, "This is indeed work worth doing, so I will just ignore the rest."

In retrospect, this philosophy had a lot to do with my decision to retire.  I honestly didn't feel that the change in the way we were expected to deliver services to students was really "work worth doing" and so couldn't summon the enthusiasm to put with all the attendant baggage this new method required.

That doesn't mean I think students are not worth working with.  They are - they are very much worth working with.  But for me, the methodology that the district adopted was not something I wanted to embrace.  I am banking on the cyclical nature of fads in education to give students what they truly need - and indeed some of my former students will benefit from the push-in model - and the others will hopefully get what they truly need sooner rather than later.

And I certainly plan to spend the years ahead finding other work that is very much worth doing!

"A Social Quagmire!

While Phoebe was here, she was visiting with friends and commented that maybe her teacher friends got tired of hearing her go on about what's wrong with schools.

I said, well, I thought you were happy with your schools in Oregon.  And she said she mostly was - she was just not happy with the whole middle school concept - thinks it ought not to start until 7th grade.  I'm sure she thinks that way because Henry is in 6th grade.  (She mentioned the whole "social quagmire!!")

I recall Bonny going to middle school.  I was worried.  I myself had gone to a junior high - 7th, 8th, 9th and a three year high school, and so I thought 6th grade seemed young for leaving elementary.  Bonny was very apprehensive about going - I worried all day her first day there.  But when she breezed in that afternoon asking what was there to eat, I realized that I had been doing most of the worrying that day!!

Our kids all had different experiences in school.  Some better than others.  They appear to have survived them.  But it is a little scary these days.  

But then, I thought it was scary when I sent kids off to school.

And as a middle school teacher, I can tell you that teachers and administrators and counselors are very aware of the pitfalls - and work hard to smooth the path for everyone.

Do some fall through the cracks?  Undoubtedly.  Do we keep trying?  Definite yes.  Is there a good answer?  Probably.

We are working on it!!

Just keep supporting your child and your school and the teachers and administrators.

Out of the mouths of 8th grade babes!

As many of you know, I teach middle school students with identified learning disabilities.  My students by and large are bright and interesting.  They just learn "differently" and always have.  As a consequence, they have developed certain habits and coping skills over time.  Sometimes they can be really hilarious though.  And I hope it doesn't look like I am poking fun, but this incident makes me smile every time I tell it!

The students in my 8th grade collaborative Language Arts class are supposed to write a persuasive essay that is for or against animal testing.  It is a detailed process that is supposed to start with research.  One young lady gave me her essay to check and she had said, since she was in favor of animal testing, that "The animals think it is okay."

I asked her where she had gotten that info - and she said, "online."

Like I said, they do see things differently sometimes!!

It took some persuading on my part to get her to change that line.  When she couldn't produce the proof, I insisted it go!!

I think she thinks I'm goofy.

But she's still one of my favorite students!

What's been going on around here!!

For starters, I had a much-enjoyed dinner reunion with Dalene, Sandee, and Michele. I love my "school friends," but when they retire, I don't get to see them as much!!

Every year Marcie does a mock trial - then the students read "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe. The kids seem to get into it - and maybe even learn something!!

Marcie is quite the artist I am learning!! (I am doing an 8th grade Language Arts collaboration model with Marcie this year.)

On Halloween, Marcie dresses up as Edgar Allen Poe and then reads "The Raven" to her classes. She is really good at looking like Poe!! Then "Poevember" begins!!

Dalene and Michele brought me a lovely bouquet, in honor of Jonah, so Dad and I took it to the cemetery today. It really looks lovely there - in fact, it's a lovely place to go and visit. Turns out Charlie Graham's grave is close by, as is Hubert Luszeck's.

Since it's Veteran's Day, there were lots of folks there - flags and flowers too.

Lots to remember!!

Testing, testing!!

We are wrapping up our testing week here at Clifton. I actually enjoy it, because the students are engaged and silent for 2 hours every morning for 4 days - and they are minimum days at that!! I can read, work, sort through files, do all kinds of work that never seems to get done at any other time. And for some reason, the students "respect" the notion of silence!!

I remember testing as a kid. I'm not sure how often it was done - perhaps all my memories have telescoped into one big memory.

We took the Iowa Tests. And I distinctly remember the questions where they showed you a picture of a hand or a foot and asked if it was the right or left! And I always had to surreptitiously salute the flag so I'd know which was my right hand or foot!! I did that for a lot of years - and have been known to do it a time for two or five as an adult!!

I'm definitely spatially challenged!

Some things never change!

The Bed

Harry's Aunt Virginia, who recently died, used to tell me about how she would come home from teaching - she taught 3rd grade for 20 years - and just change into her jammies, get some snacks, turn on the TV - and get into her bed for the night!! She'd eat, read, watch TV, correct papers, talk on the phone, plan her next day's lessons - and go to sleep happy. (She did not have anyone living with her at the time, I might add!)

I could see the appeal - but you'd certainly need to have the house to yourself, now, wouldn't you!!

(I think about that often - but can't seem to get into bed very early. I usually fall asleep reading.)

Last night Harry went to basketball, so I got ready for bed and hopped in with my book. I did get through one chapter of The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Then I was too tired to even get up and do a nightly blog post.

Hence this early a.m. post.

But I do feel rested!!