Rainy Day Persperctive

Rainy days used to really bother me. They meant having to stay inside and "having nothing to do" (a kid's worst case scenario). At this point in my life, I cherish the rain. I've learned how necessary it is to my survival...for crops, for drinking water (I have a well), and for cleaning my body and all the messes I make. This morning, I will put on my very best old tennis shoes and walk my daily walk for improved health. Instead of dreading the rain, I pray fervently that it will cleanse me of negativity, doubt, dismay, jealousy, dread, and a bevy of other baggage I selfishly hold on to. The rain may hide tears and sweat while both cleanse me of the natural state of chaos in my calamity causing conscience. It may muffle my song that I am too self-conscious to belt in order to find that better self that lurks within. Raining in your space? Join me.... we have some puddle jumping joy to discover!!

You Teachers and Your Summers Off... A New Perspective

As a teacher (and one who loves her job!), I get a little weary of hearing phrases like "it must be nice to have the whole summer off", "well, you don't work THAT hard... you have all summer off", or "I bet it's hard having all summer to do whatever you want", etc. While I cannot deny I have nine weeks where I do not report to a school, prepare lessons, or grade papers, I never, ever stop being a teacher. I have traveled around the world and inevitably run into somebody who knows me as their teacher or their kid's teacher. Life under a microscope is not always easy. I'd like to share with you a bit about my "job". I have curriculum to teach to 100+ students. Some of them are gifted readers who test at the 12th grade level and some are reading at the same level as an entry level kindergartener. (I teach sixth grade mind you). I have paper work, technology, meetings, training, evening duties, blah, blah, blah... BUT that is not really what I do. You see my mission is to LOVE kids. Each year I have the honor of meeting over one hundred sweet, precious souls. They come to me nervous and worried and have stories that would absolutely break the hardest heart. Many are hungry, dirty, hurting, and often feel so unloved they see no purpose in trying to better themselves. Others come to me with a support group that looks awesome on paper, yet they struggle with burdens that many adults tell them are unimportant or "it's just a part of life". During our time together, I try, and try, and try to LOVE them through it. I get frustrated and annoyed, but try every day to treat them as I would want MY boys to be treated. I forgive their shortcomings, their attitudes, and even their inconsistent use of deodorant. WE (in partnership) work hard for 180 days. We learn, cry, laugh, love, and hopefully leave each other better off having known one another. But the story does NOT end here. Once I have come in contact with a student (whether I teach them or not), they are mine. Mine in the sense that I worry about them, celebrate their successes, empathize with their hurts, and want only the best for them. After 20 years "in the business", I have roughly 2,000 "clients" to "deal with". It is an honor and nothing makes my heart more happy than to hear "HEY, MRS. FREEMAN" across a parking lot or meet the next generation I pray I get to teach. Here is the thing that I want you to take from this tomfoolery: As much as I hate to admit it, I NEED the summer. I need to have a brief mental, emotional, and academic break to prepare for a new batch of students. In order to be my best, I need to renew and reflect upon what I did well and what I need to improve. My summer appears leisurely, but it's nine weeks to give my family all they have been denied as I pour energy into "somebody else's kids". They deserve it and I am grateful for the opportunity. From this day forward, when you see a teacher in the summer. Give them a hug, high five, or handshake realizing they are mourning the loss of their "kids from last year" and trying to muster the necessary energy the "new batch" deserves. I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED MY JOB CHOICE.... just sometimes question my "friend" choice when they choose to be so inconsiderate of the people who walk this path with me and the profession I love dearly.

All Work and No Play...

This week I have had the amazing experience of truly collaborating with some of the best English Language Arts Teachers in my district (and the world in my opinion). Although, we are getting a stipend for our time "while we have all summer off", I have gained so much more than that. Sharing! Your recall that term from your first school experiences, right? Kindergarten or first grade was tough for some of us who did not like to share, had never had to share, or just plain HATED sharing. But here is the thing... this week people have shared stories, strategies, activities, and laughter. It has resounded through the otherwise quiet and studentless halls. There is a selfless element to this sharing that truly embodies the notion of WIN-WIN! So many folks get bogged down in the myth that sharing ideas, materials, etc. will somehow make someone else's kids do better than their own. WHAT IN THE WORLD are we thinking? If our ultimate goal is to educate young people to be prepared for the "real world" and become CHANGERS of that real world, do we not owe it to each and everyone to give them the best of the best? If that means sharing... then get to it!!

Love thy neighbor....

Late last night, our neighbor, Mr. Danny was welcomed into Heaven. He has been sick for a while and is no longer in pain. That makes this time seem a tad more okay. Mr. Danny has always exemplified neighborly love. He worried about us and made sure we were okay. He and Mrs. Lorrine were among the first to come visit our newborn son, even tho' we had only lived near them for a month or so. A year later, they returned to welcome son #2 with the same enthusiasm and sweetness. Mr. Danny trusted us to watch over his place and his beloved " four-legged babies" too. Neighbors in the truest sense of the word. My fondest memory of Mr. Danny was last summer on a day when he had energy, which became less and less frequent. He called looking for Andy and then in frustration called me back because his mower would not start and it was stuck at the end of the dirt road. I told him I could help. He said, "are you sure? I don't want to put you out!" "Not a problem!!"(that's what neighbors say). Here we went... Mr. Danny on his lawn mower and me pulling him up the dirt road with the Suburban and fifty feet of rope, as if he was riding a tube behind a speed boat. The smile on his face spread from ear to ear and I was given a glimpse of times well remembered in his eyes. As I turned the curve, I slowed down and looked in the rear view mirror. He raised his hands and motioned.. give it more gas... faster!!! I did as I was requested to do and darned if he didn't decide to jump the bank. Giggling and laughing all the way. I pray that today he is finding that energy-filled laughter as we adjust to life without him!

YOGA???

Last night a friend invited me to a Yoga Class. I was more than a little surprised when my oldest son decided to come and then proceeded to invite my mother as well. Come on people, this is not what we are about! I admit I was a bit skeptical about the entire experience. "Yoga, schmoga... whatever!! I bet I won't like this.. not one bit! AND I AM NOT BECOMING A VEGETARIAN!" were the internal conversations I found myself having. BUT HERE'S THE THING.. it was a really, really nice experience. I gave into the deep breathing concepts and removal of barriers and found myself challenged and actually liking it. WHAT?? That was not supposed to happen. I really enjoyed the instructor and liked the fact that she thanked us for coming to her "practice". Practice.. I thought you were the expert. However, she epitomized my philosophy that we are all allowed bad days, good days, and days when we are totally on fire! To practice means that you are not novice nor are you master. Ahhh.... lovely!! At the end of the hour, my body felt like marshmallows yet my mind was alert and reflective. It felt good to try something new and not feel failure or the need to compare my experience to anyone else's. The next time asks you try something out of your comfort zone... CARPE DIEM!! Seize the day!! SAY YES!! Get to it with the confidence that the journey IS the challenge! You might just find a new passion or at least something to giggle about among good friends!

DAY ONE SIGHTINGS...

Today was the first day of school in our county!
I saw:
lots of smiles...some nervous, some smirky, some generally happy to be there.
lots of HEY so and so... wonderful music to my ears.
teachers.. pulling together, supporting one another, and making every child.. all 946 of them.. feel needed, important, and valued.
weary faces... at the end of the day. Proud and exhausted with the labor of love we are so blessed to perform!

Here's to you Erwin Staff. I like what we have going on.. how about 179 more times?? You in?

Teachers... Quit Your Whining!!

Ah-ha... got ya' didn't I?? I knew that title would spur your interest. However.. I am not a total fabulist as I heard this statement uttered by someone outside of "our club".

This was the response to "Oh.. I can hardly believe school starts tomorrow." The listener also continued with something like "good grief.. you had the whole summer off and did not have to do anything like the rest of us working people."

My first response is "OH REALLY?? AND I DON'T GET PAID EITHER!!!!! AND AFTER PUTTING UP WITH YOUR CRAZY CHILD ALL YEAR..." (well I will stop before I say too much).

My second response (and the one I should use) is "You are right. I did have all summer off. I spent much of it reflecting on last year's instruction and training for new challenges I will face this year. I worried about my lovelies that I sent home to less than good conditions. I waited for emails letting me know how a divorce is going, if a baby was born, and whether or not a student actually got to see the ocean (as has been promised for the past twelve summers). I mourned the loss of time that I would have with students (106 of them) who stole my heart and became part of my "family". THEN.. I had to turn the page and prepare for another group of of lovelies. Even after seventeen years of doing the "job" and doing it well, I was forced to change the way I do it and prepare lessons in a brand new way. Although I CAN.. I fought the I DON'T WANT TOs!! I was given two hours to make a great first impression and try to learn all the new students' names. You see.. they will remember mine and the reciprocal expectation is the least I can do. I have tried to build a "new team" with only two hours of actual time to meet and find common ground with adults who are also accustomed to "doing things their way".

Maybe I would finish with something like.. "How often do you move? How often do you change jobs? And would it be worth it to have a summer off to have to do it every ten months?" Hmmm.....

One last thought ... "If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers." ~Edgar W. Howe