Tuesday, October 21, 2008

You Know You're A Teacher....

I discovered some odd quirks about myself that have only emerged as I have started teaching. Things about myself that surprise and disgust me all at the same time. I've compiled a list to help you understand the sick and twisted mind of a teacher:
YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER:
-When you get excited at Target while noticing that there are new colors in white board markers which you have never seen before...especially neon colors!
-When you can't wait to sit and gossip with the other teachers about rumors you heard some of the students talking about
-When you compare with other teachers the love matches you've made in your head amongst the students...and how you've assigned them to sit by each other in order to make your love connection complete
-When you hate the sound of your own last name
-When every other sentence out of your mouth is "What did I JUST say?"
-When you find yourself counting to 3 more than you ever did in elementary school
-When "shut up" and "stupid" have entered into the "bad word" zone...even though the second you leave school, you drop four letter words like they're running out of style
-When you look forward to Friday so you can pop in a movie, call it "visual learning" and catch up on grading

Oh...and the number one way you can tell you're a teacher...
When your favorite day of the week is Thursday, when you and the other teachers go to a local bar for tacos(the best in the world), drinks and venting about students!!!

I hope you're all having an amazing week!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Tattle Tales...

So...I've decided to rekindle my love for writing. I also realized that I haven't blogged since I have become a teacher, which is crazy because there is so much to write about. I've now been teaching High School/Elementary Spanish, 6th Grade Math and 6th Grade Art for about 2 months. It has been quite the adventure and I feel as if I learn a new lesson everyday from the kids...or the other teachers. The biggest lesson I've learned is that kids ranging from preschool to seniors in high school will do ANYTHING for candy. I have turned my 6th graders from yelling, chaotic, disturbed children into respectful, peaceful and attentive learners...all by waving some candy in front of their face. There are also some high schoolers who beg me to wipe my white boards or clean trash off of my floor for candy.
I've also decided that I need to read much more than I have been lately. This was encouraged as I recently finished "Running With Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs. It's quite possibly the most akwardly funny piece of literature I have ever read. There were moments that I found myself laughing out loud and then wondering, "hmmm...should I actually be laughing at this?" I encourage anyone with an appetite for something funny to dive into this nugget that's pregnant with satirical wit.
Well, I think that is about it for now. Off to do some last minute lesson planning and start reading "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer...thanks to a suggestion from Lauren!