Every Kid Needs a Champion...

Today's post is a short one, but a BIG ONE! 

I have seen this TED Talk by Rita Pierson about five times now, and it never gets old.  This might be one of my favorite inspirational videos of all time, and there is no doubt that it will lift your spirits, and remind you why we do what we do as teachers.  

I literally want to be this woman when I grow up.

She gives us a much needed reminder of why it's VITAL to get to know your students as people.  Not just as a number or test score statistic that you have for a year, and then they're out of your life.  We need to believe in our kids and STAY POSITIVE! Sometimes, one word of encouragement, or one moment of kindness will prompt that student to remember you for the rest of their life.  

It can be very easy to get discouraged in our profession, and sometimes think our kids "can't do it."  This amazing woman will DESTROY that concept with her words of wisdom.  I particularly love the part when she speaks of the student receiving a +2 instead of a -18 on a test :)

If you have eight minutes of your time today, WATCH THIS VIDEO! You will be SO GLAD you did! 

Have a FABULOUS week :) 

How Fantasy Football had Ruined my Life...

Okay ladies...you know this title caught your attention. 

If you have a straight, over twenty, sports obsessed man in your life, chances are you are feeling my pain as this football season is nearing its start.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching football, and I can appreciate the ferocity of sports as much as any guy, BUT I draw the line at this dreaded invention called fantasy football. 

Let's begin with the name of the game. FANTASY. FOOTBALL.

Key word being...fantasy. It. Is. Not. Real. 

The way my husband talks about his leagues, you would think that: 

A. he plays for the NFL himself 

B. he has somehow transformed into Bill Belichick and actually coaches the Patriots 

C. Life will no longer go on if his team loses that week 

D. He literally has actual control over the actions of the players on his teams

Maybe I wouldn't mind so much if he was only in one league. But no. One is not enough. He needs to be in THREE leagues (contemplating 4). Really!? Is that necessary?  I feel like that's more complicated than trying to keep track of 120 of my students and their varying abilities, test scores, and exceptionalities.

As my husband got ready for his first draft this evening, he was more nervous and stressed out than he was the day of our wedding! I think it's hilarious that a large group of men get together, chat about their picks, have drinks, and eat finger foods. They may call it a draft party, but I call it a cocktail party.

As much as I dread spending my Sundays with Brett glued to his TV, phone, and computer, there are a few positives that come out of this time of year:

1. It truly makes my husband happy, and for that reason alone, I can live with all of this absurdity. 

2. It gives me an opportunity to have girls nights, read an entire book in one sitting, or have some "me" time.

3. If he succeeds, I get to spend some of his winnings on shoes and clothes as my "I tolerated these many weeks of fantasy football conversations" consolation prize. 

What happened to the days where we could just enjoy football? Why did we have to introduce competition amongst spectators into the game? As if men needed one other reason to compete with one another. 

Well...as we head into another season, I wish all of the men luck. I hope they make the right picks, they choose to play the right guys, and their team wins. But more importantly, I wish the women luck as we deal with everything that comes along when those things DON'T HAPPEN. 

Are you ready for some football?

Oh, the Places You'll Go...

This year, I decided to put my favorite Dr. Seuss quote of all time on my 6th grade language arts class syllabus.  I told my students that it was going to be our class motto this year.  I told them that before I went over any rules, procedures, or curriculum, it was vital that we discussed this quote...

I read it out loud, and then I looked around the room at my new students for the year.  I explained that my job as their teacher this year was to give them the guidance, instruction, and tools that they need to be a successful learner.  I also explained that their parents' jobs were to love them, push them to be respectful and get good grades, and to guide them as they become young adults.  Then, I explained that NONE of that makes ANY difference if THEY don't have the internal drive and determination to be the best they can be.  I gave them that super cheesy idiom, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."  I wanted them to begin this school year realizing that they are the ones who will single handedly make the choices and decisions that will make or break their lives as they go through middle and high school, college, and then their careers.  They need to be confident.  They need to be positive.  They need to be great.

Not only did this little quote give my students a confidence boost, and get them excited to start their 6th grade year, but it also gave me a much needed reminder of why I became a teacher in the first place.  Sometimes we need to take a step back from the test scores, standards, and data, and we need to remember that we're the ones who get to witness these amazing children make those choices and decisions that will make or break their lives.  We get to help them through, teach them the skills they need, praise and celebrate them when they succeed, and help them pick up the pieces when they fall.  It may be frustrating at times, and we occasionally may want to give up, but in the end, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I am proud to be an educator.

If you had a bad day today, and you need a little pick-me-up, or you just need a little positivity in your life right now, watch this video of Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go.  Be careful, you might feel so inspired, and warm and fuzzy inside, that you'll go out and do something fabulous and crazy! Don't say I didn't warn you :) 

It Finally Happened...

...I created a blog.

The first time I thought about doing this, I stopped myself because I figured nobody would ever read it.

The second time I thought about blogging, I stopped myself because I was fairly confident that I wouldn't keep up with it. 

The third time I pondered biting the blogging bullet (alliteration!), I stopped myself because my writing dreams were bigger than blogging (alliteration again!).

Last night before bed, my mind was wandering to blogging yet again, and it finally came down to three things: I have way too many ideas and stories about teaching to NOT share them with the world, writing is a passion of mine that I simply can't ignore anymore, and I desperately need something to distract me on Sundays while my husband is consumed with fantasy football.

The decision was made.  The blog was created.  Here I am.  

As this is my very first post, I suppose I should give you a little bit of information about myself.  I honestly don't want to bore you all with an extensive "about me" paragraph, so the following describe me in a nutshell: english teacher, wife, fashionista, reader, writer, health and fitness nut, and food lover.

Writing is one of those things that truly makes me happy, and it let's me release all of my pent up frustrations, passion, and energy in a relatively safe and therapeutic way.  

I want this blog to inspire.  I want it to uplift.  I want it to make other teachers take a deep breath and realize they are not alone, and that this job really is exhausting, exhilarating, infuriating, fulfilling, and amazing all rolled into one.  I want teachers to read this blog and get ideas they can actually use and adapt in their classrooms.  I want them to read this blog after a bad day and laugh hysterically.  Above all else, I want teachers to read this blog and realize why we do what we do.  I mean, come on, we all know it's not for the money.  We teach because we want to make a difference in our kid's lives.  Period.

I would be lying if I said that I knew exactly where this was going to lead me, or if I will even keep up with posting on a regular basis.  I will promise you this... after 8 years of teaching in a school where 80% of my students receive free or reduced lunch...I have a copious amount of wisdom, tricks, and absolutely hilarious stories to share with the world.  And sharing...is exactly what I am going to do.    

Who knows...I might even throw in a post here and there about life as a newlywed, my favorite book or movie of the moment, being strong and fit, or my serious shopping obsession.

If you've read this far, I am hoping you stick with me and read my following posts as well.  If you've read this far, and actually enjoyed what you've read, please share my blog with someone (or someones) else.  

Well...here goes nothing!