Teacher Memories

Because my boys are in bed and I have some peace and quiet...

Because today I packed up my classroom...

Because yesterday I had my students from last year and this year sign my year book...

Because I went to dinner with my team for the last time...

Because I am a little nostalgic...

And because today I turned in my letter of resignation, here are a few memories from my three years as a teacher. I don't want to forget them. They'll probably be boring, but they're for me.



My first day I was so nervous I couldn't eat and was shaking. I practically had a script to get me through the lesson that first day. It was the most terrifying moment of my life when those 23 7th graders took their seats 1st period and just stared up at me waiting for me, the TEACHER, to teach.



I remember the first time I felt like a teacher, the first time it hit me that I was indeed a teacher was a simple moment. I was carrying a stack of freshly copied papers from the copy room to my classroom and one of my students walked by and said, "Hi, Mrs. Wilde." I was Mrs. Wilde. I was a teacher walking the halls of a school with authority. I don't know why I remember that...



During my first year I had a student call me a very bad name. In front of the class. I, of course, referred her to the assistant principal. On the referral I wrote that the student called me an "F***ing B*****" and turned it in. I was given the referral back and told I had to actually spell out the words. That was the first, and only, time I have written those words. To be clear, I did nothing to warrant being called such a name. I just asked her to be quiet.



This is a shameful teacher moment. But one of my favorites. I had this student. Brad. Little scrawny mousey kid, pretty annoying most days. Always up and not on task, kinda whiney. I liked him, but we had our moments. One day I was attempting to teach a lesson. He got up maybe three times to sharpen his pencil, each time the sharpener would make that deafening grinding noise that only Glenn sharpeners make. Finally, when he stood up the fourth time to sharpen his pencil, I all but screamed out, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" "He replied, "I need to sharpen my pencil." I, in a voice barely under a scream said, "You will not." He then says, "But..." And I interrupted him blaring, "I don't care if you have toCUT YOUR FINGER AND WRITE IN BLOOD, do not get out of your seat ONE MORE TIME!!!!" That was a bright and shining moment in my teaching career.



I once asked a student out in the hall, "What the hell are you thinking?" Yeah. 'nother great one. He kind of deserved it though...(for my former team members - think Caleb Sh... towards the end of the year.)



One day I sat on my little black stool that was left in my classroom when I inherited it. It was metal and foldey. Well, it decided it had had enough because one day I sat on it and it snapped under my weight and I went tumbling to the floor in front of my entire class. We all laughed hysterically, but the laughter went to the next level when Marisa looked at the bottom of the stool to read the weight limit and then asked with absolute seriousness, "Do you weigh over 250 pounds? "



Only two students have ever beaten me at this fun game I have called Tricky Fingers. Morgan and Shelby.



A student once asked me, about two weeks before the TAKS test, "Do you capitalize a person's name every time in the story or just the first time?"



After the TAKS test my first year, I cried. I broke down. I was ridiculous. Mr. Waters found me thanks to some teachers who I think ratted me out. He told me to leave the school and chill out for a minute. I don't think I have ever been so stressed, embarrassed, relieved, and flat worn out than I was in that moment. Leaving the school was the best moment of that day. It's so easy to forget there is a world outside of Glenn.



This is my favorite. One day last year I was teaching the world's most boring lesson on Business Letter Writing. Doesn't that just sound boring? I assure you it was. Well, about 10 minutes into class, Mr. Waters brings in one of my student's grandparents to watch. Yeah. Thanks. So I just continue teaching. They're super nice and I barely survive my lesson. Well, finally, they're leaving and the grandmother goes, "I never knew you weren't supposed to put a PS in a business letter. He (pointing to the grandfather) does all the time!" I laughed and said something like, "Oh, well, now you know!"

Okay, so about a week later these grandparents were brought up in conversation and Jenni Davidson goes, "Do you know what he does? He is THE LIBRARIAN of CONGRESS. Like the library of congress in DC. Yeah, he's the librarian." So I am thinking "Wow. That's pretty cool..." and I google him. HOLY COW! The man that sat in my room and watched me teach a lesson has been to russia with president reagan!!!! There's only been like 13 people in his position since America made the library of congress! Check him out here. HE was in my room. I told HIM not to put PS's in business letters. You know what's the best part? He wrote me a handwritten letter thanking me for the experience of watching me teach. Bizarre, I tell you. I still can't believe that happened. How stinkin' awesome!



There are a million more things like that, and I'll probably write some more but I just wanted to write about some now. I think I'm going to write something later entitled Goodbye Glenn. And then I'll move on and you will only get happy summer posts.

I just noticed something...

For the last four weeks or so I've had hall duty outside my classroom in the morning. I stand there and make sure students don't beat each other up or get into any other such mischeif. It's insanely boring. (and,don't tell, but I am late like every single day. What are they gonna do, fire me? )


So, I notice some things I may not have noticed otherwise. Here they are:

• I don't want Mason to ever be an 8th grader


• my first year here as a writing teacher, the writing department got an award for receiving a high commended rate on the TAKS test. Hmm. Maybe I had something to do with that.


• The bulletin board that I am in charge of updating stayed completely out of date...but of course now it's taken down so it doesn't matter.


• Some kids are just rude. If a person, especially a teacher, stops you with a question, STOP, answer the question and then move on. Don't mumble as you keep walking.


• Teachers are a coffee drinking bunch(myself included)


• Time stands still when you're just standing in a hall asking 6th graders where they're going even though you know their answer will be a quiet, "the library."


• But the thing I have noticed and thought about the most from my time in Challenger Hall is this. The big green sign that hangs on the wall outside my classroom says,

"I demand more from myself than anybody else could ever expect." Julius Irving

That's kind of fitting don't you think? I mean, I'm not saying that I always do my best, but I do set pretty high standards for myself. I often, if not always, fail to achieve those standards, but I think I would rather fail at trying to be the best I can be, than succeed constantly at mediocre. I just thought that was a pretty good quote for my wall. It's a good quote to think on...

And this concludes your inspirational message from my very random brain.

Oh, yeah, and did I mention? IT'S SUMMER!!!!!!

IT'S HERE!!!!

SUMMER!

The bell just rang! The kids screamed and ran out the door!
I survived!

Summer!
It's actually here.

:)

At laaaast....

You have to sing that line to get the full effect.

At laaaaaaaaaaaast my louuuuuve has come alooong.

Except that my at last has nothing to do with someone or something coming. It's about the end of something.

AT LAST.

Today I saw my 7th period for the last time. I would like to say that they were super sweet and nice and we played around and had a good last day together. I would like to say that. I can't. But I would like to.

They just wear me out. Geez.

But I'm done with em. And that, my friends, is a very good feeling indeed.

one class down
three days to go
three advisories remain
four finals left
one staff meeting to enjoy...

and I'm outa here!


Does anyone know what you write in a letter of resignation....? Eek. I need to do that, but I'm scared!

new pictures

So I just put up like a million pictures of that couple on sprinkle of grace.

This couple is special to me. Even though I don't know them that well, I work with Allison's dad. His wife, Allison's mom, has cancer and as of right now, it's winning.

I emailed the slideshow I put together of the pictures to them today. Allison and Nathan called to tell me that they loved it and that her mom cried watching the slideshow.

Pictures are important. It's nice knowing that these pictures mean something to this family. More than they might normally. It makes me feel like I am doing something good here. When I look at the pictures, I get so excited. They capture something. It's not what I do. I just happen to be the one with a camera. It's them and how they act. I like giving people something that makes them see...themselves.

I don't know what I'm trying to say really. I just like doing this. It's just fun.

Just go check 'em out if you get a chance and let me know what you think.

sweet.

I took some engagement pictures on Tuesday of a super sweet young couple. Actually, I even got to shoot the proposal! The wedding plans had begun, but there was no ring...until Tuesday! I felt so special to be a part of that moment. I am still editing a few, but the ones above are my two favorites.

We went to several places I'd never shot at before and they were awesome. I can't wait to get the full slideshow up!

Thoughts.

I see my 7th period two more times. :)

It's sad packing up a classroom.

It's exciting packing up a classroom.

Taking 100+ kids to San Antonio is exhausting.

Sitting on a bus for 6 hours with 30+ 6th graders is almost painful.

Sitting on a bus for 6 hours with 30+ 6th graders makes you say, "If you can't beat 'em, join em."

Sitting on a bus for 6 hours with 30+6th graders and playing makes you lose your voice.

Summer is 4 school days away.

I'm gonna miss my kids.

I'm gonna love being with my kids.

Summer.

It's practically here.

Joy is mixed with a sadness I wasn't prepared for.

I really need to learn how to let go and move on.

The new chapter.

I'm a week away from page one.

:)