Tell me something good...

Looking back at New Year's, I know I've been a little spotty in my posting. I could pass it off on the fact that I spend all day on a computer and just don't want to be on one when I get home. Or I could say that we are constantly on the go, but it's actually calmed down a bit.
The truth is because I have a wall up when it comes to posting anything real. I can take a picture that captures that one moment in a random day and find a witty caption, but that's not a real idea of what's going on. And what's going on right now is nothing short of depression inducing.

Texas got word early this year that the budget deficit was miscalculated and education would be taking a harder hit than expected. My worst case scenario suddenly became a best case scenario. Know one knows exactly what will happen, but as neighboring districts begin to issue statements and make cuts, it's clear that something will. This year I stepped out of the classroom and into the role of Instructional Technology Specialist. Besides being on-campus tech support, I help teachers incorporate technology into their lessons and ensure that students gain the necessary skills to compete in a 21st century job market. Sadly, my department/position is on the chopping block. Not to reduce, but to eliminate. And it's all out of my hands. I'm not a patient person, so this has created more than the usual amount of stress. Adding to that is the fact that my husband teaches in a neighbor district (he's with fine arts) and they've been very tight lipped with their plans.

When I started teaching it never crossed my mind that there would come a time when teachers wouldn't be hired and would even be reduced in numbers. But here we stand at the threshold of that moment and I can't fathom what direction this will lead us. I'm not gonna lie, it's completely unnerving to not have any control over whether or not you'll have a job after May. I've written the letters, I've e-mailed, I've attended community meetings. But it looks like all I can really do is wait. And I suck at waiting. Waiting means I've eaten way more girl scout cookies than is humanly possible and in turn feel even worse.

So that's it. that's where I am right now. A perpetual state of job limbo. I'll try to snap out of it to post birthday pictures, a recap of Music Man's back issue and the best Oreo cookie recipe I've ever eaten. I just need a little time.

Six Word Saturday

Work has taken over my life.

I'm fairly sure I wasn't prepared for back to school, and finishing my first five day work week I've noticed that nothing else was accomplished this week. And the to-do lists at work? They multiply overnight.

get off your "ath" let's do some Math!

Math is a wonderful thing,
Math is a really cool thing.

Bonus points if you know what movie that's from :)




Today I ventured into the wide world of 3D shapes and all that it entails: volume, base, area, radius and pi. It's been a long time since I graced a math classroom, and we are not BFFs. I saved up all my "C" hours for my college math courses. I hated parabalas and graphing with a passion usually reserved for the Yankees. I am still waiting for the opportunity to use a proof in real life. Bottom line, it's just not my thing.




Which is why I held on to the teacher's manual for dear life and referred to my cheat sheet for every single question that arose. I can guarantee these kids will be able to find volume, but heaven help us if you ask them to justify their answers!

She's got Bette Davis eyes...

Somedays it's all I can do to just get through the papers, the parent meetings, the questions, the papers, the e-mails, the announcements, the papers. On those days, even the diet coke doesn't help.

Six Word Saturday

Teachers have a wild side too.

After a short week at school, a couple of bottles of wine and some fabulous pepperoni dip, Bunco was just the right way to "unwind" last night. Much to the dismay of former student spotted lurking around the host house, teachers do indeed have a life outside of school.

P.S. Sorry I've been MIA this week, but I needed to shake the negativity surrounding the current school year. It's not rainbows and butterflies, but I think I'm gonna be ok.

I think this may be the one.

I am a debbie downer. I admit it. It's exactly 9 days into the school year and I am ready to throw in the towel. I just don't know where I'm going to find the mental fortitude to plow through. This may just be the year that beats me.

My life is not my own

The last two weeks of school and the first two weeks of school are the stuff anxiety attacks are made of. I am currently in the midst of the latter.

For a teacher, the first two weeks of school take on more of a secretarial aspect, collecting forms, sorting forms, issuing lockers, completing checklists to make sure all the correct forms have been turned in, and then delivering said forms to appropriate persons. Medical forms, registration forms, forms to join the PTA, forms to read certain books, forms to give your first born to the district. Then there are all the classroom things, like learning the names of 127 students. And just to make it easy I have a set of twins and at least 14 kids with some version of the name kayla/kalyn/kaleigh/kelsy. I'm thinking Gwyneth might have been on to something with Apple and Moses, cause I'd know those names by now.

I have a slightly different schedule this year, which takes some adjusting too, especially when it means a 1:00 lunch time. I may have to start bringing some snacks! I'm also pretty sure that I'm allergic to the combination of axe and old spice that seem to emanate from preteen boys. I am not used to eau de cafeteria or exhaust either.

As a parent, the first days of school mean getting everyone back on a sleep schedule. Making sure snacks are available and breakfast can be fixed quickly --and eaten in the car! Helping with homework and cooking dinner. Filling out forms :) It's just a little bit exhausting.

So please excuse my MIA status for the time being. I'm not a slacker, I'm just a teacher.

Six Word Saturday

One week down, thirty-five to go.

To play along with six word Saturday, visit Cate.

Wordless Wednesday

The first week of school is not fun :(

Walk this way

See these feet.

These feet are tired. These feet pounded the pavement to 20 houses for 2 hours in the 105 degree heat. All to welcome a group of 6th grade students to their new campus and enjoy the confusion on their face when I introduced myself as not their teacher.
Wrap your brains around that one. That's right, I spent 2 hours greeting kids I don't teach, and won't teach for another 2 years. And touchphobe that I am, I squirmed my way through every uncomfortable handshake (I'm too socially awkward to master the fist bump) sweat pooling on my brow and running down my back. I'm pretty sure the last house thought I'd run a marathon through their neighborhood.
So begins another year. So ends my vacation in sanity.