Summers Off

"It must be nice to have your summers off and get paid for it." Hearing those words or any resemblance of them makes my blood boil. I'm not kidding; I can feel it happening. What I want to say cannot come out of my mouth in a way that is kind, so I am going to take time here to get it all out.

First, I don't get paid for not working. I am blessed to work in a district where they divide my salary into twelve equal paychecks. That means that during the school year and the summer, I am getting paid for the work I do from mid-August until the day school lets out. (I'd love to talk about teacher pay, but that is a post for another day!) Other teachers do not have the luxury of that happening and they get their pay only during the school year. That means they budget really well during the school year to build a summer savings, barely scrape by during the summer, or get a summer job to make it through the few months off. I've had to do that too and, believe me, it is not fun!

On to the part that really gets me upset--having summers off. During my eighteen year career, I have rarely had summers off. I've worked many summers either teaching summer school, teaching social skills to students on the Autism Spectrum, or in retail. Sure, there are still weeks where I don't "work" but I am not just sitting on a beach, soaking up sun, drinking margaritas, and reading romance novels. (Although I do wish I could do that!) No, I am working in my classroom, reading books to better my teaching, preparing materials for the upcoming year, meeting with colleagues to plan or to discuss a book we are reading together, or taking classes. I am also praying for the upcoming year and all of my students and their families. I have days where I do very little teacher things but I still have thoughts racing in my mind of what else I need to do.

This summer, for me, has been extremely busy but I wouldn't chance a thing, well except to see my husband more!

May 23: Last day for teachers
May 24-June 3: Vacation to Washington to see my sister and her two little ones with my mom and niece
June 17-29: Class on campus of University of Wyoming--I learned from other teachers as well as professors how to be a better teacher through discussions, observations, and readings. We discussed high leverage practices and went in depth on two of them. (I was really sick while there and even went to a doctor to see what was wrong. I had a breathing treatment because my oxygen was too low. Being that sick away from home was awful!)
July 5-8: Time in Philadelphia soaking up as much history as I could so I can use my experiences to enhance our social studies lessons. (I also totaled my car on the way to the airport when I hit two elk, so I was dealing with the physical effects from that accident. I will post about the wreck soon.)
July 8-13: Freedoms Foundation training on the War on Terror as well as a day spent being trained in a character development program; I also learned about the Medal of Honor and met a recipient of the Medal.
July 16-20: Worked in my classroom (We had our ceiling tiles all torn out and replaced so everything was in boxes and shoved into one area. I had to put my 2,500 book class library back together as well as complete normal class setup tasks.)
July 23: Helped lead a writing workshop in my district with fellow Wyoming Writing Project teachers
July 24-27: Wyoming Writing Project retreat--We traveled a few hours and spent time writing, reading, laughing, eating, and learning. We visited the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum as well as Heart Mountain Interment Camp.
July 30-August 2: More classroom work as well as dealing with insurance over my totaled car
August 3-5: Family camping trip and a wedding
August 6-13: Classroom work and house cleaning
August 14: Teachers report
August 21: Students start!

I don't include this to brag or to say that all teachers do this. I just want people to see that teachers don't have the summer off. We work our tails off during the year and during the summer to improve our craft. We try to relax but our minds always wander back to our classrooms. That's what makes great teachers!

I love teaching. I also know I don't know all there is to know, even after 18 years in a variety of classrooms in four districts across the US and on a Naval Base. I have to learn all the time so I improve myself and can be more effective for the changing needs of my students. That's why I do what I do, for them!

Behind again for no good reason #100DOSW18

Well, despite my good intentions, I am behind again. But, I’m getting back on the horse today. Here is my poem based on Wislawa Szymborska’s poem “Possibilities.” Enjoy!

On a side note, I am away from home until June 29th. I get to be part of the University of Wyoming's new program called WYCOLA which aims to help teachers become better coaches for new and early career teachers. I am quite nervous as I only know one person, but I will make it. My anxiety and my introvert tendencies will be put to the test over the next two weeks. I know I will be fine once we get going but right now, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. This happens any time I do something new and I know how to get through it. However, I would appreciate your prayers and good thoughts as I start this new learning. Thank you!

18 vs 43 for day 17 of #100DOSW18

Hi! I am barely making it today. I helped my mom unpack most of the day and then saw Book Club with some friends. Unpacking is not always fun but my mom and I enjoyed our time; we are sore though from lifting and moving boxes and tubs. The movie was quite funny and just what I needed.

Today, I spent time writing about how I have changed since I was 18. It went deeper than I anticipated and I may continue with some of the topics but I probably will keep those private.

Until tomorrow!

Day 16 of #100DOSW18

Last night's post rambled so I hope that this one doesn't. I do want to quickly share my notebook with you though because it is so cute!

I adore polka dots so I had to have this one!

I bought this at a bookstore in Yakima, WA. It holds pens and sticks inside notebooks. HOW COOL!

From the slideshare made by the creator of #100DOSW18

Ideas to help get started with different prompts (love this!)

My cover page which I did before printing, cutting, and gluing everything in

I also had people ask why I was handwriting everything even though I was sharing online. Well, I tried doing some writing online last summer and I didn't love it as much as holding a pen and notebook and seeing my words flow. Plus, I have my students keep a notebook so I want to show my students how mine looks when I introduce writing notebooks in August.

Now for today's writing: 

It is based off of an excerpt from Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds which is a fabulous YA novel in verse. I inserted my name and rewrote it on page one and then added my reasons for why on page 2. I hope you enjoy!

Summer Goal: #100DOSW18

WARNING: lots of pictures of my writing and not super focused blogpost but please bear with me as I share my struggles of writing.

I have said before that my writing habit is not the greatest. I did the month long Slice of Life challenge through twowritingteachers.org in March and it went well. Then, April started and writing stopped. May came and went with end of year excitement and tears and stress and joy. The whole time I have been telling myself that I need to write every single day, but it wasn't happening. Imagine my surprise when a random Facebook post said that there would be a 100 Days of Summer Writing challenge and it starts after school gets out. I thanked God for the push I needed and signed up. Then, I looked up the person who puts it together and looked at her website and saw that it was a real thing. Whew! I also joined the Facebook group dedicated to this challenge. Then, I bought a notebook! I mean after all, I had to have a new notebook even though I have MULTIPLE writing notebooks that are not full. It's a new notebook for a new summer and just for the challenge! I knew that for the first several days I would be out of town, so I packed my notebook and new pens (a gift from my bestie!) and set off on my trip waiting for day 1.

The morning of May 29, I logged into Facebook and found the prompt and then sat there. I had several ideas and wasn't sure which would be the one I used. I decided to ponder it for the day while I enjoyed time with family. As everyone went to sleep that night, my idea popped into my head and I went with it. I read it to my twelve (almost thirteen) year old niece and she LOVED it! Score 1 point for me!

The next morning, I found the prompt and drew a blank. I thought about it all day and came up with something. It's not great but I did spend time thinking about how I use media and how I want to use it differently.

Day three was another prompt I wasn't exactly loving, but I spent time writing while at the pool watching my nephew swim.

Day 4 came and went without me writing at all. My excuse was that I was traveling, but in reality, I had lost my excitement. I did write the next day, however.

Then, I didn't write for day 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Excuses this time included: more travel (true-14 hours in a car!), I wanted to spend time with my husband (true-I hadn't seen him for 10 days), I was tired, I didn't have any ideas (true because I hadn't looked at the prompts), I had to do laundry, etc. I also wasn't happy as to how my notebook was looking. I didn't have it set up with the prompts and I wasn't loving having to look it up every day. So, I printed them all out and glued them in my notebook which took three days because I got distracted by my dog and cat and husband and binge watching Madam Secretary. Yesterday, though, I took my notebook and pen to the pool and wrote! I finished an introduction that is scary (not my typical genre) and wrote to a missed prompt as well. And today I did the same thing! I am on a roll and I will keep it up! I am posting on here to keep myself accountable as well as linking it on Facebook and Twitter. Here is to a great summer of writing!

Here is my scary story:

Missed prompts:

Today:

That's a lot for today. As I think about how I've done, I am not happy that I skipped so many days, but I will finish this. I also don't love most of what I wrote, but most writers don't love everything they compose. I do love my first writing (the letter to Santa) and the scary writing. In fact, I am thinking about finishing that story. Not today, but someday soon-ish.

More tomorrow!

The Important Thing

Today, I read The Important Book to my class. We have 4 days left and I needed their help. On Monday, I meet my new students whom I will have for two years. I want my new students to get to know me, so I challenged my current kids to use this book as a mentor text and write a piece about me. I thought they would be funny and light hearted. Some of them are but several made me cry. The first one I read was by “the kid” whom everyone warned me about. He’s the bad one! He doesn’t respond to anyone. Well, his writing made me bawl. I had to step out of the room to get myself under control. Tonight, I decided to write one for them. I’ll going to print it with a class picture to give each of them next week. I want to share it here too. (If you are a parent of one of my kids, please don’t share this with them.) Tomorrow I will post pictures of their writings.


The important thing about my kids is that they inspire me.
They fight learning but do it anyway.
They tease in good nature.
They make me laugh and smile and cry every day.
They are readers and writers and mathematicians and historians and scientists and thinkers.
They care about each other, even though sometimes they may not show it.
They argue and forgive.
They push the limits.
They work hard.
They ask questions and expect answers.
They don’t give up.
They are open and honest despite their circumstances.
They support each other and fight for what’s right.
They challenge me and make me a better teacher.
They love.
They laugh.
They accept and trust.
They hug.
They cry.
They are real.
But the important thing about my kids is that they inspire me.

I sat. #SOL

Today, I sat. I sat for three hours. Teachers aren’t supposed to sit, but yet I did.

I sat and watched my students struggle through our first day of state testing.

I sat and watched them rub their eyes because of facing a computer screen for three hours.

I sat and watched them put their heads down for a couple of minutes to give themselves a

break because we can’t let them take one. I mean, sixth graders will totally tell each other

the answers.

I sat and watched my students do chair push ups and squeeze their arms and hands so

they would stay focused.

I sat and watched my student who doesn’t get enough to eat try to stay awake and

focused on his test.

I sat and watched my students cry because they couldn’t figure out the answers.

I sat and watched.

I sat.

I sat and prayed.

I sat and prayed for the people who make my students and all students around our

country sit through these tests instead of learning.

I prayed for my students to know that they are more than a test score.

I sat and prayed that they know how proud I am of them each and every day.

I sat and prayed that they give their best effort no matter how tired they are.

I sat and prayed for my student to find someone next year who will help him get the

food and care he needs.

I sat and prayed for my students’ families because I don’t know everything that goes

on in their lives.

I sat and prayed for me to be the best teacher I can be for my students for our last

twenty-one days together.

I sat and prayed for my students and me to be kind and respectful to each other.

I sat and prayed.

I sat.

I sat and smiled.