15 5 / 2012
Whenever I’m feeling down…
I watch YouTube videos of soldiers being reunited with their children after deployment or animal friendships.
They get me every. time.
03 5 / 2012
Spring 2012 accomplishments/reasons why I feel like I’m growing up
- I successfully finished student teaching and lived to tell about it. I definitely want to make teaching my life more than ever.
- I graded 110 synthesis essays in less than a week using a holistic rubric AND an analytic rubric. Boom.
- I started running again… outside this time, so I can try to get ready for another Alabama summer.
- I wouldn’t consider this an accomplishment, but I’m currently applying for teaching jobs. So if you know anyone…
- I started a teaching blog and try to update it as much as possible with nerdy teaching stuff. Separating business from pleasure, I’m such a good twenty-something.
- Mulder is still around, so at least I know that I can keep something alive. Because I sure didn’t do well with my plants.
- I take vitamins now.
- I’m almost always in bed before midnight now and I’m always awake before 8:30, even on off days.
- I have written curmudgeonly emails to several companies due to their poor customer service tactics.
- I traded in my BlackBerry for a Windows Phone. No, I can’t play Words with Friends or Draw Something, but if my phone is ringing I can flip it over to silence the ringer.
- I own 2 watches now.
05 2 / 2012
hardships
Teaching. Is. Hard.
We all know this. We all say it. When I tell people that I am going to be a teacher, the general response is either, “Oh you poor thing!” or “Bless you, I could never do that!” Until last week, I never truly understood this sentiment. Of course I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Of course I knew that I had long days and nights and a mountain of work to look forward to, and an disproportional salary to boot. I had no idea that it would be so hard on my self-worth though.
I’m a people-pleaser. Always have been. My biggest anxieties are related to my fear of being disliked, so I often go out of my way to do everything in my power that will have me labeled “awesome.” (Of course, this doesn’t always work, but these are my intentions). Well, I have quickly learned that teaching is not a good profession for people-pleasers. Guess what, Erin? Your students dislike you by default. You are an authority figure and they think they know everything. The engaging lessons you spent hours preparing? They don’t care about them. They would be happier if you gave them a free day where they could sleep in peace. Thankfully, I’m not completely discouraged by this… maybe slightly discouraged, but not completely. I’m learning that I need to get used to delayed gratification. I won’t always be appreciated, but hopefully my students will take away something in the end.
Now, to continue writing lesson plans until the sun sets.
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05 2 / 2012
The Brave Little Toaster
- Yo: You guys are probably too young for "The Brave Little Toaster." Oh, I LOVED those movies!
- Yo: Miss At I have all of those on DVD!
- Yo: No way! You're kidding??! Can I borrow them??
- Yo: Bahahahaha! Oh Miss At! You should see your face! You got so excited! Why would I have those on DVD? Ahahaha! Oh man...that was good...
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01 2 / 2012
Just found this cute idea for KWL charts from Upcycled Education. Definitely adding this idea to my literacy presentation.
Fantastic find!
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22 12 / 2011
Today is my very last day in the office. I’ve worked here for over two years, which in college student time is a very, very long time. My bosses are awesome and threw me a surprise party with these bad boys. I feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
20 12 / 2011
Hakuna Matata.
I am a different person without the crushing obligations of everyday life. I finished finals last week, my last day with the boys is today, and my last day at the office is on Thursday. Ever since I finished out the semester, I have been feeling that spark that has been missing. I’ll have a little over 2 weeks completely free of obligations before I start student teaching and it’s going to be wonderful. Boredom is such a foreign concept to me; I can’t wait to experience it for a little while.
That being said, I learned a lot of lessons this semester:
- Working 30 hours a week at 3 jobs is probably a lot more difficult than working 40/week at one job.
- I taught 5 or so lessons to sixth graders this semester. Teaching is exhausting. It’s like you’re constantly giving an important presentation. But seriously, it is incredibly rewarding. Even sixth graders will catch you off guard with their depth.
- Isolation is necessary under certain circumstances, but dragging yourself off of the couch and getting out after a bad day makes you feel a whole lot better.
- I must fix my tendency to procrastinate before I start teaching. Also, I need to work on my white board skills.
- Fighting fair is a lot more difficult than fighting to win.
- I am a lucky girl.
I’m excited to start student teaching and getting a taste for the life. Until then, you can find me on my couch.
20 12 / 2011
Christmas break resolutions
- Organize files on my computer
- Read a book
- Save money
