Today I was in a classroom for ED (emotionally disturbed) kids. I wasn't sure what to expect, because the injury rate among ED teachers is fairly high. However, nobody got hurt, so I judge it to be a good day. (Lack of injury is my barometer for a good day with ED kids!)
Actually, because it is so close to the end of the school year, we did not do a lot of instruction. They did a little bit of spelling and math, and the rest of the day was just down time, which is probably what they need.
We started off the day with five kids, and one went home sick almost first thing. Then another got picked up early, so we were down to three kids and three teachers. A couple of them had issues at various points, but all in all they were pretty good, speaking as one who is not normally in that room. We had, at the end of the day, three adults to three kids, which is a good ratio.
Tomorrow is kindergarten, at another school. It should be a good day - I've been in this class before. I like teaching the little guys!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
I've been away for a few days . . . okay, like a week! I went to my 20-year college reunion last weekend and had a fabulous time. It's so good to catch up with old friends and professors, and see the beautiful campus!
Today I was teaching 4th grade. In science, they were learning about birds. As a preface to the lesson, I asked them if they knew what the state bird was. Since we're in Maryland, the state bird is the oriole. After getting the correct answer, I told them we probably have orioles around here, but I don't recognize them without their uniforms on. The first class just looked at me blankly, but a couple of kids in the second group got it and then they all started laughing (with the exception of one kid who told me it was so funny he forgot to laugh!).
I like to inject a bit of humor into the lessons whenever possible - makes it more fun for the students, and for me!
Today I was teaching 4th grade. In science, they were learning about birds. As a preface to the lesson, I asked them if they knew what the state bird was. Since we're in Maryland, the state bird is the oriole. After getting the correct answer, I told them we probably have orioles around here, but I don't recognize them without their uniforms on. The first class just looked at me blankly, but a couple of kids in the second group got it and then they all started laughing (with the exception of one kid who told me it was so funny he forgot to laugh!).
I like to inject a bit of humor into the lessons whenever possible - makes it more fun for the students, and for me!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
I haven't said a lot about relationships thus far, although I threatened to in my first post. Okay, I haven't said anything. And this blog is really not about relationships, except insofar as they relate to my everyday life.
I was in a bad marriage for 12 1/2 years, have been separated/divorced for another 5 1/2, and have done my share of dating. Somehow it's very different when you are middle-aged and have kids to consider. For me, my children always come first. I haven't introduced them to most of the guys I have dated, because I don't want them to get attached and then have to let go.
It's a whole different ball game to be dating when you're middle-aged and have family responsibilities, as opposed to when you are young and (relatively) carefree. I was in a bad marriage for 12 1/2 years, and have been separated/divorced for another 5 1/2. Still, it's tough to navigate when there are others involved. You have to know who you are and what you want.
I think you just have to figure out what your deal-breakers are. For me, it's abuse, wanting more kids (I love my daughters, but am not having any more children), and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys.
I was in a bad marriage for 12 1/2 years, have been separated/divorced for another 5 1/2, and have done my share of dating. Somehow it's very different when you are middle-aged and have kids to consider. For me, my children always come first. I haven't introduced them to most of the guys I have dated, because I don't want them to get attached and then have to let go.
It's a whole different ball game to be dating when you're middle-aged and have family responsibilities, as opposed to when you are young and (relatively) carefree. I was in a bad marriage for 12 1/2 years, and have been separated/divorced for another 5 1/2. Still, it's tough to navigate when there are others involved. You have to know who you are and what you want.
I think you just have to figure out what your deal-breakers are. For me, it's abuse, wanting more kids (I love my daughters, but am not having any more children), and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
I haven't said all that much about my daughters so far. They are 10 and 14, and I love them to death, even when they drive me nuts (which is a lot of the time). The girls fight, as all siblings will do, and they are both very bright (I'm not just saying this because I'm their mom! Really!), but also very ADHD.
So this weekend they get a long weekend at their father's house. He lives in another state and sees them every other weekend. I got a text message from him last night saying, "Would you mind if I killed Mouse? Because she's being vile." (10-year-old) I responded, "I'd rather you didn't." Apparently she and her sister are fighting a lot and it's driving him crazy. I told him, "Welcome to my nightmare!" To which he responded, "I don't like your nightmare!" Well, I have the girls all the time, and he has them on alternate weekends, so he doesn't have to deal with it as much as I do. I pointed that out to him, and didn't get a response.
So this weekend they get a long weekend at their father's house. He lives in another state and sees them every other weekend. I got a text message from him last night saying, "Would you mind if I killed Mouse? Because she's being vile." (10-year-old) I responded, "I'd rather you didn't." Apparently she and her sister are fighting a lot and it's driving him crazy. I told him, "Welcome to my nightmare!" To which he responded, "I don't like your nightmare!" Well, I have the girls all the time, and he has them on alternate weekends, so he doesn't have to deal with it as much as I do. I pointed that out to him, and didn't get a response.
Friday, May 28, 2010
So today is Field Day. I'm teaching this afternoon, but I assume we will be outside playing, rather than learning. I kind of hope so anyway, since it's not really fair to have the special ed kids inside working while everyone else is out having fun. Unless they've lost some field day events due to their behavior. We'll see. My 10-year-old laughed at me this morning, and said, "We'll see what kind of day you have!"
Thursday, May 27, 2010
I Call Her Firefly . . . .
You never know what you'll be doing each day when you sub. Today I was teaching first grade at the school my daughters first went to when we moved to this city (well, feels like a small town to this big-city girl!). They were a good group, just a little chatty.
The story in their reading anthology was called "Nathan's Firefly," so one of the other first grade teachers found a firefly project for the kids to color, cut out, and glue together. It took the kids the better part of an hour, and not all of them finished, but they actually didn't want to stop and pack up before going to P.E. at the end of the day - now that's the sign of a good class project!
While they were at P.E., I cut out and colored the extra so the teacher would have a sample (think "insert tab A in slot B"!) and this is what it looks like:
When my older daughter was in kindergarten, her class made a mural of a farm, which is still down at the end of the hallway. I love looking at her dog-that-might-be-a-cow, or maybe it's a cow-that-might-be-a-dog; she can't remember which. They were the class of 2002, and now they're all going into high school in the fall. I remember seeing her walk up the hallway at the end of the day, and she looked so little. Now she is within a few inches of my height (I'm 5'10"), and it's hard to believe she was ever that little!
Speaking of my older daughter, she has a band concert tonight, so I have to go make some dinner for us before I have to take her to school. More later!
ETA: Here's a clip of Tony Bennett singing "Firefly" with Kermit the Frog on the "Muppet Show"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJH6mjsC0s&feature=PlayList&p=1D7287D8069AF87C&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=76
The story in their reading anthology was called "Nathan's Firefly," so one of the other first grade teachers found a firefly project for the kids to color, cut out, and glue together. It took the kids the better part of an hour, and not all of them finished, but they actually didn't want to stop and pack up before going to P.E. at the end of the day - now that's the sign of a good class project!
While they were at P.E., I cut out and colored the extra so the teacher would have a sample (think "insert tab A in slot B"!) and this is what it looks like:
When my older daughter was in kindergarten, her class made a mural of a farm, which is still down at the end of the hallway. I love looking at her dog-that-might-be-a-cow, or maybe it's a cow-that-might-be-a-dog; she can't remember which. They were the class of 2002, and now they're all going into high school in the fall. I remember seeing her walk up the hallway at the end of the day, and she looked so little. Now she is within a few inches of my height (I'm 5'10"), and it's hard to believe she was ever that little!
Speaking of my older daughter, she has a band concert tonight, so I have to go make some dinner for us before I have to take her to school. More later!
ETA: Here's a clip of Tony Bennett singing "Firefly" with Kermit the Frog on the "Muppet Show"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJH6mjsC0s&feature=PlayList&p=1D7287D8069AF87C&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=76
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Afterschool Program Comes to an End for this School Year
So today was my last day teaching in the afterschool program for this year. (The official last day is tomorrow, but my 14-year-old has a band concert, so I have to go to that!) It was bittersweet. I love teaching, but some of these kids really plucked my last nerve some days! One boy, on hearing I wouldn't be there tomorrow, started jumping up and down and cheering. Thanks for making me feel loved, buddy! :-P They fuss because I enforce the rules, but I also reward them for doing what they are supposed to do. I strive to be firm but fair with all my students. The funny thing is, when I run into the afterschool kids at school, they are always happy to see me and come over to say hi!
Two of the students are going to middle school in the fall, so I won't see them again unless I run into them before the end of the school year. Occasionally I'll run into students at the grocery store or at Wal-Mart, and they always come over and give me hugs.
I know I'll think about the kids over the summer, and wonder what they're doing. I wonder if they'll ever think about me, and think, "She was a teacher who really helped me out"? I hope so. If even one kid does that, then I have done my job.
Two of the students are going to middle school in the fall, so I won't see them again unless I run into them before the end of the school year. Occasionally I'll run into students at the grocery store or at Wal-Mart, and they always come over and give me hugs.
I know I'll think about the kids over the summer, and wonder what they're doing. I wonder if they'll ever think about me, and think, "She was a teacher who really helped me out"? I hope so. If even one kid does that, then I have done my job.
Random Pic 'o' the Day!
Spotted in rural Delaware - this place offers one-stop shopping!
(Drat - you can't see it that well. That's what happens when you take pictures with your cell phone, I guess. It says, "Doggy Daycare" and "Taxidermy"!)
(Drat - you can't see it that well. That's what happens when you take pictures with your cell phone, I guess. It says, "Doggy Daycare" and "Taxidermy"!)
How I Realized I Wanted to Be a Teacher
My life has followed a circuitous pattern, in terms of jobs. My undergraduate degree is in philosophy, which would have been great if I hadn't graduated in a recession. (Would you like fries with that?) I did secretarial work for a couple of years, then got a law degree. Because I had kids (my first one was born six months after I graduated, and yes, it was on purpose!), I never practiced law, but worked in the legal field as a paralegal and legal editor.
After quitting a paralegal job because of an absolutely horrible boss (think Meryl Streep's character in "The Devil Wears Prada"), I worked as a children's librarian part-time for a while. Then I was unable to work for close to a year because of fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (sorry for the TMI!). By this point, I was a single mom, and I needed to figure out what kind of job I wanted to hold. A friend said, "Have you ever thought about substitute teaching?"
Well, that caught me off guard! My godmother is a retired teacher, and I had many teachers I admired growing up, but I never wanted to be one myself. I am quite possibly the least patient person on the planet, so I thought I could never teach. But I thought, "What the heck," and I applied. I've been substituting for three years now, and would like to go back and get a Master's degree in Special Education. I have discovered I absolutely love teaching!
Sure, there are days when I come home and I'm exhausted and feel burnt out. But the good days outweigh the bad. I really hope I can make a difference in a child's life. I am drawn to special ed (note above reference to lack of patience, but somehow that's not an issue when I teach) because when the kids get it, they really get it. Seeing their faces light up is rewarding, and I know they are proud of themselves.
The kids whom many people might dismiss out of hand have so much to offer. They may have learning disabilities and/or special needs, but they are so sweet and want very much to learn. (On some days, I say they're nicer than the general education population! Not that gen ed kids can't be nice, but they're often smart enough to figure out how to try your patience.) I really enjoy working with them. I also find I need to be creative sometimes - it's not the straightforward "teaching to the test" that gen ed teachers have to do.
I teach pre-K through 5th grade, and I really like the little kids. I don't want to teach high school, and I refuse to teach middle school because I have a middle schooler at home. A whole classroom full of them would really be too much! I have found that I prefer to work with the younger kids. If I were going to do gen ed, I would want to teach kindergarten, and I have taught special ed kindergarten as a long-term sub. It's challenging, and can be physically demanding if you have runners (kids who bolt from the classroom, and you have to chase them down the hall), but it is still enjoyable overall.
You know how the Peace Corps uses the slogan, "The toughest job you'll ever love"? Well, that's how I feel about teaching.
So I finally know what I want to be when I grow up, and it only took me until I was 39!
After quitting a paralegal job because of an absolutely horrible boss (think Meryl Streep's character in "The Devil Wears Prada"), I worked as a children's librarian part-time for a while. Then I was unable to work for close to a year because of fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (sorry for the TMI!). By this point, I was a single mom, and I needed to figure out what kind of job I wanted to hold. A friend said, "Have you ever thought about substitute teaching?"
Well, that caught me off guard! My godmother is a retired teacher, and I had many teachers I admired growing up, but I never wanted to be one myself. I am quite possibly the least patient person on the planet, so I thought I could never teach. But I thought, "What the heck," and I applied. I've been substituting for three years now, and would like to go back and get a Master's degree in Special Education. I have discovered I absolutely love teaching!
Sure, there are days when I come home and I'm exhausted and feel burnt out. But the good days outweigh the bad. I really hope I can make a difference in a child's life. I am drawn to special ed (note above reference to lack of patience, but somehow that's not an issue when I teach) because when the kids get it, they really get it. Seeing their faces light up is rewarding, and I know they are proud of themselves.
The kids whom many people might dismiss out of hand have so much to offer. They may have learning disabilities and/or special needs, but they are so sweet and want very much to learn. (On some days, I say they're nicer than the general education population! Not that gen ed kids can't be nice, but they're often smart enough to figure out how to try your patience.) I really enjoy working with them. I also find I need to be creative sometimes - it's not the straightforward "teaching to the test" that gen ed teachers have to do.
I teach pre-K through 5th grade, and I really like the little kids. I don't want to teach high school, and I refuse to teach middle school because I have a middle schooler at home. A whole classroom full of them would really be too much! I have found that I prefer to work with the younger kids. If I were going to do gen ed, I would want to teach kindergarten, and I have taught special ed kindergarten as a long-term sub. It's challenging, and can be physically demanding if you have runners (kids who bolt from the classroom, and you have to chase them down the hall), but it is still enjoyable overall.
You know how the Peace Corps uses the slogan, "The toughest job you'll ever love"? Well, that's how I feel about teaching.
So I finally know what I want to be when I grow up, and it only took me until I was 39!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Hello World!
My name is Megan, or Meg, and I am a single mom and aspiring teacher in Maryland. I created this blog because I want to send more random stuff into the blogosphere.
Okay, not really. I will probably talk about teaching, being a single mom (divorced, with two daughters), and maybe even (yikes!!!) relationships.
So here I am, hoping I have an original voice to add. I have been divorced for 5 1/2 years, have two daughters, aged 10 and 14, and have been substitute teaching for three years now. It's been a wild ride - hold onto your seatbelts, folks!
More tomorrow, I hope!
Okay, not really. I will probably talk about teaching, being a single mom (divorced, with two daughters), and maybe even (yikes!!!) relationships.
So here I am, hoping I have an original voice to add. I have been divorced for 5 1/2 years, have two daughters, aged 10 and 14, and have been substitute teaching for three years now. It's been a wild ride - hold onto your seatbelts, folks!
More tomorrow, I hope!
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