I never realized how difficult being a teacher would be. I was not prepared for the amount of time and preparation that goes into teaching. Statistics show that half of teachers quit within 5 years. I can definitely see why. Being a teacher is not an 8-5 job, especially when it is the first year. (However, I will NOT be a part of that statistic.)
Every day for me is a new day. I have to figure out what I am going to teach, how I am going to teach it, make sure I have all necessary papers made and copied. Then I have to figure out what I am going to take for a grade, grade it (I have 52 students) then figure out when I am going to test them, make sure they will be ready for their test, etc. I also have all of this at the start of the week. Lesson plans are due on Monday for the entire week. Then at the end of every day, I have to find the bottom of my desk because it is buried under papers, games, supplies, etc. from that day. I am exhausted just from writing all of that. Needless to say, I LOVE being a teacher but it is a very time consuming job, something that no one understands besides another teacher.
Lately, I have felt very overwhelmed from how much time I feel like I devote to school-work. After school, in the evenings at home, on the weekends, etc. I just haven't been able to find a balance. I have no time for me, let alone my family or friends.
This week starts the beginning of the 3rd 6 weeks. (I can't believe I have already gone through 2 grading periods!!) My goal for this 6 weeks is to get myself organized and find a balance and stop spending so much "overtime" on school work for free. I want to be able to exercise, cook dinner, play with the kids, clean, (Yes, I actually want to clean. Can you believe that!?) and spend time with my family and friends.
In finding this new balance, I am also hoping to blog more... so stay tuned!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
I'm Alive!
I just wanted to touch base and let all know that I survived my first week of school. It has been a long, overwhelming, exhausting, frustrating and exciting week.
Monday, August 8, 2011
"Jungle Bucks"
I made these for my classroom to go with my jungle theme. :)
I am not sure how they will be earned or what they will be able to "buy" with them but I am going to shoot for more non-material objects, like extra time on the computer, lunch with the teacher, sit at the teacher's desk, etc. I may do a few small items like pencils and erasers but I am not going to do the typical "treasure box." I just don't want to bribe kids with toys. With the pencils, it will teach them to be responsible because I will make them "buy" one if they do not come prepared.
So far I have made them in $1, $5 and $10 bills. I also have $20, $50 and $100 that still need to be printed. Since I am going to be a math teacher and all, they will be able to practice trading smaller bills for larger bills.
So far I have made them in $1, $5 and $10 bills. I also have $20, $50 and $100 that still need to be printed. Since I am going to be a math teacher and all, they will be able to practice trading smaller bills for larger bills.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Got MY keys!!!
This morning I went to the school and picked up MY keys to MY classroom. :) It is all so real now!!
Since I can lock my door now, I went ahead and took some things up there since it was early and I was able to leave the kids at home asleep. I figured it would be easier to carry things without having to worry about them running off.
Unfortunately, the teacher's desks, chairs and small cabinets were all in boxes and needed to be put together. However, there were sooo many parents there helping getting things set up. It is exciting to see that there is going to be a lot of parent involvement.
While I was there, I got my desk put together and was able, with some parents, to get my student desks and chairs put in my classroom. I was glad I was able to get the desks set up because I was able to see how much "extra" space I will have. Now I know what things I can and cannot bring.
Standing at the door....
I have my ESL (English as a second language) certification exam on Monday so I am hoping I can get back in there on Tuesday. :)
Since I can lock my door now, I went ahead and took some things up there since it was early and I was able to leave the kids at home asleep. I figured it would be easier to carry things without having to worry about them running off.
Unfortunately, the teacher's desks, chairs and small cabinets were all in boxes and needed to be put together. However, there were sooo many parents there helping getting things set up. It is exciting to see that there is going to be a lot of parent involvement.
While I was there, I got my desk put together and was able, with some parents, to get my student desks and chairs put in my classroom. I was glad I was able to get the desks set up because I was able to see how much "extra" space I will have. Now I know what things I can and cannot bring.
Standing at the door....
My board will be going on that orange wall.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Today I got to see MY classroom!!
Below are pictures around the room...
Starting with... walking through the door... (windows on the opposite side.)
The wall on the side of the door.
The wall on the left.
The wall on the right.
Looking at the door.
I am so excited to start moving in!! There will eventually be a board and furniture but they haven't been put in yet.
Below are pictures around the room...
Starting with... walking through the door... (windows on the opposite side.)
I am so excited to start moving in!! There will eventually be a board and furniture but they haven't been put in yet.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Update & Weekly Weigh-In
I haven't blogged much lately and didn't keep up with my weekly posts either. To be honest, it is very rare I even get on the computer anymore.
I am loving summer but I am at the point where I am ready for it to be over. I still have a lot of things to do before the school year starts but I am just so ready and excited to start my career.
Being a stay at home mom is difficult for me. I have definitely fallen back into the rut I used to be in when I was home all of the time. I get so bored and that causes me to feel down and that causes me to eat. I have not done very well the past month or so in the weightloss department. I actually gained 4 pounds. :( However, I worked really hard this week and I was able to lose those few pounds, so now I am back to where I was at my last post.
I feel like I have finally pulled myself out of this at-home rut and have found my motivation again. I have gone to the pool a few times in the past 2 weeks and every time I go I see moms who are older than me with kids younger than mine in bikinis. I sit there and think "man, I wish I could look like that." And then I realized - why can't I? Today I saw a lady who looked like she was 40 with a 3 yr old and she was wearing a bikini. UGH! If these people are older than me, and their kids are younger than mine, then there is no reason I can't wear a bikini too!
The other night I had an adult temper tantrum and Kyle so kindly sat their and listened. :) I was venting how I feel like my life revolves around everyone else. Everyone comes first, all the time. I vented about this is the reason I am fat because I never have time for me. Then I watched "Extreme Makeover: Weightloss Edition." The woman on the episode was morbidly obese, worked full time and took care of her kids and husband. I so sympathized with her. The trainer told her that sometimes you just have to make everyone else take a backseat and it is okay to put ourselves first. That really hit home for me. That is exactly what I need to do. So, I have decided to let everyone take a backseat. I will take the kids to the park and the pool - but they have to sit through a 45 minute walk first. The kids can watch cartoons - but they aren't allowed to bug me because I am going to exercise for 2 hours while they watch tv (instead of me watching tv for 2 hours too.) Kyle also hooked up a tv in the exercise room for me and ran the cable lines so now I try and watch the shows I like live instead of on dvr so that I can watch them and exercise at the same time in the exercise room (there is no dvr in there.)
I have only had this new attitude for a few days now but I am hopeful I can stick to it again. If I can just get through the next 4 weeks, I will have no problems because after that I will be working and on my feet all day and I won't be around food 24/7 and I know the weight will fall off. I even made myself motivational posters and hung them up in the exercise room. One of them says.... You didn't get a college degree without studying. You won't get skinny without exercising. I worked so hard to finish school so if I put that same effort into exercising then I know I can do it.
So anyways, enough with the words.... Here are some pictures from today:
I am loving summer but I am at the point where I am ready for it to be over. I still have a lot of things to do before the school year starts but I am just so ready and excited to start my career.
Being a stay at home mom is difficult for me. I have definitely fallen back into the rut I used to be in when I was home all of the time. I get so bored and that causes me to feel down and that causes me to eat. I have not done very well the past month or so in the weightloss department. I actually gained 4 pounds. :( However, I worked really hard this week and I was able to lose those few pounds, so now I am back to where I was at my last post.
I feel like I have finally pulled myself out of this at-home rut and have found my motivation again. I have gone to the pool a few times in the past 2 weeks and every time I go I see moms who are older than me with kids younger than mine in bikinis. I sit there and think "man, I wish I could look like that." And then I realized - why can't I? Today I saw a lady who looked like she was 40 with a 3 yr old and she was wearing a bikini. UGH! If these people are older than me, and their kids are younger than mine, then there is no reason I can't wear a bikini too!
The other night I had an adult temper tantrum and Kyle so kindly sat their and listened. :) I was venting how I feel like my life revolves around everyone else. Everyone comes first, all the time. I vented about this is the reason I am fat because I never have time for me. Then I watched "Extreme Makeover: Weightloss Edition." The woman on the episode was morbidly obese, worked full time and took care of her kids and husband. I so sympathized with her. The trainer told her that sometimes you just have to make everyone else take a backseat and it is okay to put ourselves first. That really hit home for me. That is exactly what I need to do. So, I have decided to let everyone take a backseat. I will take the kids to the park and the pool - but they have to sit through a 45 minute walk first. The kids can watch cartoons - but they aren't allowed to bug me because I am going to exercise for 2 hours while they watch tv (instead of me watching tv for 2 hours too.) Kyle also hooked up a tv in the exercise room for me and ran the cable lines so now I try and watch the shows I like live instead of on dvr so that I can watch them and exercise at the same time in the exercise room (there is no dvr in there.)
I have only had this new attitude for a few days now but I am hopeful I can stick to it again. If I can just get through the next 4 weeks, I will have no problems because after that I will be working and on my feet all day and I won't be around food 24/7 and I know the weight will fall off. I even made myself motivational posters and hung them up in the exercise room. One of them says.... You didn't get a college degree without studying. You won't get skinny without exercising. I worked so hard to finish school so if I put that same effort into exercising then I know I can do it.
So anyways, enough with the words.... Here are some pictures from today:
First, the kids to a "backseat" :) and I pushed them for about 45 minutes around the neighborhood. Kyle got my stroller "fixed" so I am hoping it won't break on me again.
Then we stopped at the park for some play time.
Last, we stopped off at the splash pad next to the park. They were so hot and I didn't have swimsuits with me so they just played in their clothes. We were the only ones there so it was nice and I was able to sit in the shade and cool off.
I have found that when I exercise right before it is time for a meal, I make better food choices. I was so exhausted when we got home so I just whipped this up real quick for dinner for me. (Grilled chicken, okra, broccoli and an orange.)
Pounds Lost: 26 pounds
Pounds Left: 46 pounds
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