Life in July

I like keeping a blog. But with everything on my plate, it isn't near the top of my priority list. And since Carter has been born, I have been really good at sticking to my priority list. It is necessary in order for me to do everything.

One quick blurb about my life for the next 10 months, and then onto Carter.

I will be:

• starting a new job in a new district, teaching a new subject and a new grade (6th grade math)
• Enrolled in 3 grad school classes this fall (I've only been doing 2)
• working on my capstone research project in addition to the 3 classes
• building a house and hopefully have it done by April
• sticking to a very strict budget, which means more cooking and less eating out!

I think I got it all. I keep dreaming for the day in May where I have graduated, have my Master's, am moved into the new house, and am done with the school year. I can do so much with my time! Scrapbooking! Reading! Crafting! Blogging! Sleeping! I'll have so much time, I won't know what to do with all of it. 

Now Carter. Our almost 9 month old! EEK!

I can't imagine life without her. She is absolutely the best thing we have every made. My favorite thing about her is how she can get anyone to smile. I can't count how many times I'll look at her in a public place and she is just smiling away at a person until they smile back at her. 

Here are pictures from the last month. 

She doesn't like it when we close doors on her. She wants to explore everywhere and not be restricted in any way. That is a flashlight in her hand. She doesn't seem to like normal toys. She'll carry around socks, a piece of cardboard, a metal container, tupperware lids, and spoons. 

Charleah and I were talking about how our babies don't seem to just fall asleep in random places. They definitely have to be force to go to sleep. Then the next day Carter fell asleep like this. 

We went to Austin last week. This is the only picture I got of the three of us. It is at a graffiti wall. It was also before Carter busted her nose at the hotel. 

Carter busted her nose at the hotel about 20 minutes after we checked in. Part of the bed frame was broken and sticking out hiding underneath the bed skirt. She tried to pull herself up on it and fell, resulting in a lot of blood. Chris first reaction "She is going to need stitches" I felt so sick about it. I am not the best around blood from other people.  She cried for about 3 minutes and then was fine. Until the doctor tried to clean it and she had to be held still in order to do everything. Do not tell this girl she can't do something. Luckily, the doctor just put some "medical grade super glue" on it. It already looks so much better. 

A Busy Summer

I have had amazing summers every year that I have been teaching. The first year I went to the east coast, the second year I went to California and a geology trip through Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. This summer is no difference.

I would be going to New York and Boston (for free) but another opportunity came up that was too good to pass up.

I applied and was accepted to the iSmart program at the University of Houston. It is a Master's program and is completely free. No joke here. I have to attend a session at the University of Houston in June, the same week as the free New York and Boston trip. Well, free master's outweighs free trip. This is an online program that I will be able to do while still teaching. In fact, I have to keep teaching to participate. This is the last year they are running the program.

But no worries. Because I was also accepted into an Exxonmobil week long teacher academy in New Jersey this summer. Also paid for. While I will be in sessions all day long, I will be done at 4:30 everyday. The hotel is directly across the Hudson River from New York. And I don't have to share a hotel room. So Chris and I are going up their early, we'll explore the city, and then when the academy he starts, he will keep himself occupied in New York until I'm done. If anyone can keep themselves occupied in New York, it is Chris. 

We were already planning on going somewhere big this summer. This was number two on the list. (Europe is number one.) So this is an awesome way to do it and save some money at the same time.

All this, a prepping for a baby. It will be a busy summer.

New Blog

I actually told someone today that I was excited for school to start.

Not sure what I am thinking. But I do know that I miss some aspects of school.

I could literally talk about education all day long. Thank goodness Chris is a teacher too, because then I might bug him a bit. But he is perfectly happy to talk about it too.

I started a blog to get me through the rest of the summer and then some. It is all teaching, all the time. Check it out if it interests you. Click the banner below

What Happened to June?!

Summer vacation is halfway over!

Good thing I like teaching. 

Teaching

We had a teacher get yelled at by a parent at school the other day. It got me thinking again how teachers are viewed by parents and the general public. They are seen as less than human things who have easy jobs and get summers off. I just read this blog post on this blog.  These are some excerpts.

I used to be a molecular biologist. I spent my days culturing viruses. Sometimes, my experiments would fail miserably, and I’d swear to myself in frustration. Acquaintances would ask how my work was going. I’d explain how I was having a difficult time cloning this one gene. I couldn’t seem to figure out the exact recipe to use for my cloning cocktail.

Acquaintances would sigh sympathetically. And they’d say, “I know you’ll figure it out. I have faith in you.”

And then, they’d tilt their heads in a show of respect for my skills….

Today, I’m a high school teacher. I spend my days culturing teenagers. Sometimes, my students get disruptive, and I swear to myself in frustration. Acquaintances ask me how my work is going. I explain how I’m having a difficult time with a certain kid. I can’t seem to get him to pay attention in class.

Acquaintances smirk knowingly. And they say, “well, have you tried making it fun for the kids? That’s how you get through to them, you know?”

And then, they explain to me how I should do my job….

I realize now how little respect teachers get. Teaching is the toughest job everyone who’s never done it thinks they can do. I admit, I was guilty of these delusions myself. When I decided to make the switch from “doing” science to “teaching” science, I found out that I had to go back to school to get a teaching credential.

Teaching isn’t just “making it fun” for the kids. Teaching isn’t just academic content.

Teaching is understanding how the human brain processes information and preparing lessons with this understanding in mind.

Teaching is simultaneously instilling in a child the belief that she can accomplish anything she wants while admonishing her for producing shoddy work.

Teaching is understanding both the psychology and the physiology behind the changes the adolescent mind goes through.

Teaching is convincing a defiant teenager that the work he sees no value in does serve a greater purpose in preparing him for the rest of his life.

Teaching is offering a sympathetic ear while maintaining a stern voice.

Teaching is being both a role model and a mentor to someone who may have neither at home, and may not be looking for either.

Teaching is not easy. Teaching is not intuitive. Teaching is not something that anyone can figure out on their own. Education researchers spend lifetimes developing effective new teaching methods. Teaching takes hard work and constant training. I understand now.

Inspiring kids? Inspiring kids can be downright damned near close to impossible sometimes. And… it’s downright damned near close to impossible to measure. You can’t measure inspiration by a child’s test scores. You can’t measure inspiration by a child’s grades. You measure inspiration 25 years later when that hot-shot doctor, or lawyer, or entrepreneur thanks her fourth-grade teacher for having faith in her and encouraging her to pursue her dreams.

Maybe that’s why teachers get so little respect. It’s hard to respect a skill that is so hard to quantify.

So, maybe you just have to take our word for it. The next time you walk into a classroom, and you see the teacher calmly presiding over a room full of kids, all actively engaged in the lesson, realize that it’s not because the job is easy. It’s because we make it look easy. And because we work our asses off to make it look easy.

And, yes, we make it fun, too.

2 truths and a lie

1. Today was a fantastic day at work! (The lie)

But to make up for it, I got two bits of awesome news.

#1 I won a giveaway on Goodreads for the audio book of Game of Thrones. I am mostly excited that I won something.

#2 I got selected to do G-camp for teachers. It is a 2 week geology camp (for teachers) in July. We will travel through Texas, Colorado and New Mexico visiting geology sites. It is all expenses paid, I just have to find my way to College Station and back (I think I can manage.) Here is there facebook page.  I really think it will help me getting into the Master program I have selected.

Magic Trash

As I said, I am starting to try some new ideas for my class. This week I tried Magic Trash. I have a probably at the end of the day with trash all over my room. At the beginning of the year, some students would pick it up if I asked, but that gets old when you realized you are the only few doing it.

So... the process.

1. Scan the room and decided on the piece of Magic Trash.

2. Have the students pick up the trash telling them there is a piece of magic trash and whoever gets it, wins the prize.

3. Watch as they all scramble to pick up even the tiniest piece of paper.

4. Announce who won. Be as honest as you want. Pick a real piece of trash or pick a student who gets little recognition.

I did this today, and seriously it was amazing. Most students got up and participated. And those that didn't just didn't get a chance at some gum. (Yes, one stick of gum is what it takes. They would get excited over a cup of ice. Which i have also used before.)

Caught Reading

My partner teacher came to my classroom the other day and asked if I could take a picture of one of our students. I was expecting someone sleeping in class, but instead I found this. It is pretty cute. 

Donor's Choose- My Project

I set up a Donor's Choose project a little bit ago. I checked my email today and I had two donations! It was pretty exciting. What is even more exciting is one of the donors said he saw my project on Daily Kos. I recognized that because it is a political website that Chris often visits.

I checked and there it was. My project.  (Scroll down to the second project.) Every week the Daily Kos picks projects to sponsor and encourage their readers to donate to.

It is very exciting. I wish I would have chosen some more exciting stuff. Once I have one project funded, I can do another. It is stuff that I really need in the classroom.

Here is my project to check out. 

Science Poster

I saw a poster like this on Pinterest a while ago and wanted it. So I called upon my favorite artist, Charleah, to make it for me.

It turned out awesome. I had it laminated and now I can use to forever!

Tiring Week

This year I was a part of the Teaching American History grant. All year I participated in lectures about the Civil War and Reconstruction. At the end of the year, we took a trip to tour Civil War sites and some other history sites because if you are there, why not go?

This is the map of our travels. 8 days, 7 nights starting in Baltimore and ending in Baltimore. We went to three states and D.C. I learned a lot and it was fun, just really really long. And I missed Chris loads.

I'll hit my favorite sites later.

Next Year

I got my assignment for next year this week.

As of right now, I will be teaching 5th grade science and writing. And I am super excited about it. (I am extremely sad that I will be loosing social studies however.) I get to work with two teachers that I really like on my team and probably don't have to change classrooms.

I already taught science this year and have tons of ideas of how I could do it better. And I have always wanted to teach writing because then I could make kids write in journals everyday! Now I've got to make them do it.

My school district is experiencing some budget cuts. However, they have not had to lay off any teachers. They have been able to solve most of the problems with grants, teachers retiring and pay freezes.

What that means is that if you were certified to teach something and there was a need in that area, you could be moved to fill that need.

Luckily, that wasn't the case with me.

The Day Before Wednesday

1. My blog is becoming lists and book reviews. I like doing the book reviews, and these lists are a neat little way to tell everyone who reads my thoughts. There will be more book reviews coming.

2. I have noticed that I have hated the ending of the last couple of books I have read. There seems to be a trend in YA literature (trend=the books I read) that says the love interest in the story has to die. Can't anyone live happily ever after anymore?

3. I got my itinerary for my east coast trip this week. I get to go to Harper's Ferry, Monticello, Washington D.C. (a whole free day there), Antietam, the Confederate White House, Williamsburg, and 4 other days of stuff.

4. I put mentos into soda the first time last week. We were doing it as an experiment in science on Friday and I wanted to test it out first. It was kind of a shock how much that soda shot up. My students loved it. One girl was so doubtful and said "I don't think it is going to do anything. I think it is just going to shoot up a little bit and then fall back down." She had already set herself up for disappointment. She was way excited when I drew her name to help me with it though.

5. There are 11 days left of school. But if you take out a field trip, splash party, field day, and the last two half days of schools, that number seems much more manageable.

Tuesday! Tuesday!

1. Last week most of my boys happened to all wear the same color one day. They decided that was cool so they would do it everyday. One tuesday they wore blue and on wednesday they wore black. It is something girls do, but it was quite funny that they boys did it too.

2. I did see Something Borrowed this weekend. It got horrible reviews, but I really liked it. Chris and Charleah liked it ever more. They laughed so much. But they are giggle-ers, so that is to be expected.

3. My girls at school are jump roping at recess now. It brings back memories. They all try to beat each other at the jumps, but it is hard to beat anyone when you just give up. Seriously, around 25, they will just stop jumping.

4. I jumped rope this week. Afterwards I got calls of "You still got it Mrs. Stowe!" Didn't know I lost it. Or that I was in dangers of losing it.

5. And I was a hero on Friday at school. The football got kicked into the community pool area at recess. Using my arm and a stick, I freed it. I was a hero for 30 seconds before they forgot.

6. 16 days left of school!

Terrific Tuesday

1. There are 26 days left of school. I can hardly believe that I have made it this far! Not that I didn't think I would, but it kind of went by really fast. I am so looking forward to summer.

2. Speaking of summer, There are about 44 days until I leave for my history trip. At the beginning of the school year I got involved in a grant where I get to read good history books and go to lectures on the Civil War. And during our trip, we get to visit history sties on the east coast. I am super duper excited for that.

3. And... then there is my goal of the summer. I want to lose 8 pounds by June 7. Charleah says it is possible, and she is basically a doctor. It is possible it I make some changes. Do you want to here about the changes? Maybe not, but I am going to post a weekly status update of my exercise and some eating habits. I have decided that I can give 15 minutes 5 days a week to running. And then do some strength training stuff.

4. Chris thinks I could be blogging about him, so here is is 15 seconds of fame. I think Chris is absolutely fantastic and I love him. And soon we will be celebrating 4 years of blissful marriage!

5. I am really going to miss my students at the end of the year. They have made me laugh and cry and pull my hair out. But they are my first year and I'll compare every class to them.

Until next time... then we'll be closer to summer!

Want to make me upset?

Be an idiot and talk about of both sides of your mouth.

**I realize that The Daily Show is a spoof news show. But even if you ignore everything that John Stewart says and only listen to the clips he shows, you'll see that people are idiots. **

Raising Teachers' Status

** Warning: This post has a lot of thoughts. ** This is what started it. U.S. Urged to Raise Teachers' Status

It seems lately that some people want to wage a war on teachers. If you watched that video I posted below, so people have no respect for teachers. For some reasons, they are the reason why the economy is failing. (In my opinion it is the cut in spending and the "no new taxes" agenda those in power are pushing. Ever heard of Keynesian economics?) (And I am not saying the government should tax you more. Well, not if you aren't in the top 2%)

But I digress. I say "they" because sometimes I have a hard time believing that I am in this fantastic (or what I consider fantastic) group of people. This is not to say that there are teachers out there who don't do their job. I know they exist, I just haven't personally interacted with one yet. All the teachers at my school are dedicated, caring, awesome teachers. They don't teach from their desks, they stay late to tutor, they use their conference periods to tutor, use Saturdays for professional development and we all do everything we can to help our children become better people.

But, there are some who have never set foot in a classroom and stood in front of 20 students who are depending on you for more than a day who have decided that it is an easy, cushy job. I knew that teaching would be hard, but it really is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. (I still love it, but it is hard.) (Here is a trick I use. If I run to someone who maybe makes me a bit upset I imagine how they would react if they were left alone in my classroom to teach a lesson. More likely than not, the image is comical.)

There are some things in education I would definitely change. Honestly, the things I would change is not a small list. And they don't cost money. The might require spending less money on some things, but not more. (Stay tuned for a possible list of things I would change.)

My point is that teaching is hard. Teachers deserve the pay (sometime more) they get. There is no need to take any of the benefits away. There is also harm in demeaning the work that teachers do. And this article basically proves that. So enjoy or get worked up like me.

U.S. Urged to Raise Teachers' Status

Another Tuesday?

1. My kids have their own language. I am slowly learning it. I know not to "mean mug" someone. Last week we were making a poster to advertise a side of the civil war. The students had to come up with a slogan for the side they chose. One girl's was "Fight against slavery because the south is just janky." She came up and asked me with that was okay. I said yes, but then had to catch myself. I couldn't really say yes without knowing what janky was. But it fits, it means to be messed up.

2. On Friday one of my boys asked me if the Egyptians were still building the pyramids when I was born.

3. Want to tell someone to stay out of your business? Instead of saying "This is an A and B conversation" say "Stay out of the Kool-Aid." Which is short for "Stay out of the Kool Aid because you don't know what flavor it is"

4. I ran my face into a large plastic eye today.

5. And I am undecided about a purse. I went shopping yesterday and they are so expensive! I think I will just borrow one from my mother/sister in law. They have dozens each.

My Favorite Lamp

This lamp has lasted me 9 years. It has been though Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. It has taken from high school to college to my career.

And it spends 7 months in a 5th grade classroom and dies. If you shake it, there is something lose in the bottom, which I am sure is from someone dropping it.

It was a really sad day. You wouldn't think I would be this sad about my lamp dying, but it effected me.

Now I have to get one of these too.

A Good Week

Sometimes there are moments during teaching when I wonder what the heck I am doing. I second doubt my decision to become a teacher and wonder if I can really do it. I am sure that happens to all new teachers in their first couple of years.

But then there are the days when I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be and everything (well, almost everything) runs exactly to plan.

I had three good days of school this week (out of three days of school.) I was more patient, more firm, more consistent and may have used some bribes. But everything equaled a better school day for me and my students. (Hopefully I am not jinxing myself with this post.)

There are 95 school days until summer vacation. I can make it.