Two weeks of school under my belt and I am feeling just the tiniest bit more excited about my job...again. It was touch and go for a while. Our wonderful little school still has no principal....of course, our school system still has no superintendent.....so it is no wonder we all feel a bit unsettled. One of my co-workers likened it to working in a circus with no ringmaster. I found that to be an apt description....lots of clowns running around, wild animals growling and roaring, trapeze artists with no net...yep, that's us!
Even amidst the chaos, our teachers are working so very hard to make sure their students receive what they need in the way of academics and moral support. And those precious students move blissfully through the day laughing, smiling, making new friends and saying some funny stuff! One never knows what is going to pop out of those mouths.
Because of my summer film adventure, I still had very dark, okay very black hair when school began. Needless to say the hair color caused quite a few comments from returning students of all ages. Let me share a sampling.
"You look kinda like Ms. Thompson who worked here last year." Maybe because I am Ms. Thompson who worked here last year.
"Did you 'died' your hair?" Ummm....yes, how could you tell?
"Why did you dye your hair?" I was in a film this summer. "So now you're rich?!?" Absolutely! I'm just working here for fun...snort!
"Are you a 'bampire' now? 'Cause you kinda look like one...'cept you don't have no blood leaking out of your mouth." That is exactly the look I was going for!
And my all time favorite, "Didn't you use to have white hair?" Sigh, no, it was blond.
Despite the behind the scenes turmoil that comes from having no 'ringmaster' to keep our 'circus' flowing smoothly.....the uncertainty over what happens next.....I am beginning to find bright moments in my work days once more. True a lot of the joy comes from interaction with my students but as I've always said, I work with a great group of people. We are all in this craziness together and most of the time there is someone to step in and say, " Hey I know its tough but you are doing a great job! Hang in there because it is going to get better."
At the end of the day, we are still a family of educators looking out for the best interest of our children. We still do whatever it takes to help them not just feel successful but be successful in their journey through life....not just academically, but mentally, emotionally, socially. It is simply what we do.
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Being A (sort of) Teacher
As you know, I work as an instructional paraprofessional (aide) at a wonderful elementary school with the most amazing staff......and it goes without saying, the most precious children! Up until the past couple of years, I spent a majority of my day working with At-Risk learners, especially readers. Being a voracious reader myself, it gave me great joy to be able to help children who struggled with the mechanics of reading finally be able to see reading as a pleasurable experience. That is not always the case with children for whom letter sounds, blending, and reading are difficult concepts to master. As a result of their learning difficulties, these children will often tell me how much they 'hate' books. When they do, my heart hurts so for them but it also motivates me to strive that much harder to find a way for them to master the concept of reading and to share my love of good books with them.
I share all that as a preface to what comes next......This year I am working primarily with Language Arts in 2nd grade through 6th grade. Some of the groups I work with are At Risk learners while others are not. It is pretty much a mixed bag of abilities which is fine by me! This week the 3rd grade group of students I work with have been learning all about persuasive paragraphs and today they began actually writing. As they worked on their topic sentences, one young boy wanted to share his with the class. The classroom teacher, being the encouraging person she is, allowed him to do so. I was blown away by what he felt so strongly about that he wanted other people to feel the same way. This small eight year old boy stood proudly before his classmates, his paper clutched in his hands and read loudly, " I believe books are the source of all knowledge."
Knowing how he and his twin brother have struggled, and indeed still do struggle, with learning since they began attending school, saying my heart was touched is an understatement. It is moments like that one which make the teaching profession so worthwhile. Sometimes when I've had to eat Vienna sausages and Saltines for dinner four nights in a row because my paycheck has had another chunk taken out of it by the powers that be, it is demoralizing to be in this profession. When I start feeling that way I pull out the memories of children who through the years have blessed me like Trent did today. That is when I know if I had to do it all over again....I would.
I share all that as a preface to what comes next......This year I am working primarily with Language Arts in 2nd grade through 6th grade. Some of the groups I work with are At Risk learners while others are not. It is pretty much a mixed bag of abilities which is fine by me! This week the 3rd grade group of students I work with have been learning all about persuasive paragraphs and today they began actually writing. As they worked on their topic sentences, one young boy wanted to share his with the class. The classroom teacher, being the encouraging person she is, allowed him to do so. I was blown away by what he felt so strongly about that he wanted other people to feel the same way. This small eight year old boy stood proudly before his classmates, his paper clutched in his hands and read loudly, " I believe books are the source of all knowledge."
Knowing how he and his twin brother have struggled, and indeed still do struggle, with learning since they began attending school, saying my heart was touched is an understatement. It is moments like that one which make the teaching profession so worthwhile. Sometimes when I've had to eat Vienna sausages and Saltines for dinner four nights in a row because my paycheck has had another chunk taken out of it by the powers that be, it is demoralizing to be in this profession. When I start feeling that way I pull out the memories of children who through the years have blessed me like Trent did today. That is when I know if I had to do it all over again....I would.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Lessons from Sandy Hook
I've been sitting and watching all the news clips, reading the posts on FB, and weeping for all the lives lost at Sandy Hook School. When I hear the diatribe from both sides of the gun control issue I am angered that they use this tragedy to espouse their views. This tragedy should teach us so much more.
For one thing, the teachers and staff at Sandy Hook School are representative of teachers and staff at schools all over the world. When students enter the doors of schools, they have individuals waiting for them who take their responsibility to these children seriously.....it is not just a "job." Children, yours and mine, are loved and cherished and protected with every ounce of a teacher's being.
Yes, there are standards which must be taught.....and teachers work hard to see that 'standards' are met.......but along with that, they teach our children about responsibility, citizenship, honor, and as was made so evident in Sandy Hook, they teach our children about courage. And they do so by example.
So instead of focusing on an issue no one will ever agree on......let us focus on those things we can agree on. Beautiful, innocent children were sacrificed by a mad man for reasons we will never really know or understand. Teachers gave their lives to try and protect those children. So I say, let us try harder to remember to show our love to our children before we do anything else.......and let us remember also that your child's teacher may be called upon, Heaven forbid, to protect your child with their own life...and would do so willingly because though you may not understand why....we teachers love your children and want the very best for them.
So I sit here and weep....but each tear is a prayer for those we lost, a prayer for each child I come in contact with every day at work, a prayer that goodness will prevail over evil......and a hope that I will never forget to be an example of that goodness.
For one thing, the teachers and staff at Sandy Hook School are representative of teachers and staff at schools all over the world. When students enter the doors of schools, they have individuals waiting for them who take their responsibility to these children seriously.....it is not just a "job." Children, yours and mine, are loved and cherished and protected with every ounce of a teacher's being.
Yes, there are standards which must be taught.....and teachers work hard to see that 'standards' are met.......but along with that, they teach our children about responsibility, citizenship, honor, and as was made so evident in Sandy Hook, they teach our children about courage. And they do so by example.
So instead of focusing on an issue no one will ever agree on......let us focus on those things we can agree on. Beautiful, innocent children were sacrificed by a mad man for reasons we will never really know or understand. Teachers gave their lives to try and protect those children. So I say, let us try harder to remember to show our love to our children before we do anything else.......and let us remember also that your child's teacher may be called upon, Heaven forbid, to protect your child with their own life...and would do so willingly because though you may not understand why....we teachers love your children and want the very best for them.
So I sit here and weep....but each tear is a prayer for those we lost, a prayer for each child I come in contact with every day at work, a prayer that goodness will prevail over evil......and a hope that I will never forget to be an example of that goodness.
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