On the possibly the worst day of my teaching career, I overhead a disturbing conversation taking place at a table near mine at Starbucks. The talkers were two men in their early to mid-thirties who apparently have no brains at all...

One was commenting to his friend about teachers - (I am remembering this to the best of my frustrated ability):

"I think it is ridiculous how teachers complain so much about making no money. I mean, is it really that hard to be a teacher? They don't even work an 8 hour day...they get out by 3:30 in the afternoon. And do they even really work that whole day? How hard is it to say, 'Class, let's look at this multiplication chart. Say with me '1 x 1 = 1, 1 x 2 = 2, 1 x 3 = 3', etc.?' After teaching for about 10 to 15 minutes all they do then is hand out worksheets for the class to work on as they sit there. Is that even working?

"And they take vacations all the time. I swear at least once a week my kids come home and tell me they had a substitute at school. We're practically paying them to take vacations. It's ridiculous!"

AHHHHHHH!!!!

If only I had enough nerve to set the idiot straight about how much work teachers really do. He is exactly right, we don't work 8 hour days, it is more like 18 hours!! I eat, breathe, and sleep "school". I am constantly planning, grading, and creating new ideas.

I am a mother, nurse, disciplinarian, lawyer, peace-keeper, seamstress, friend, and mentor to my students - on TOP of being responsible for their education!

It makes me so mad how much people under appreciate teachers. It reminds me that I am doing this job for the kids, not for the recognition...

I found this quote and really liked it:

“If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job.” -- Donald Quinn

Okay, I will get off my soapbox now! :)

Life is extremely busy, but good! I am ready for summer break - although it will be full of Master's classes and trips to various parts of the country, it will be relaxing nonetheless!

1,2,3 strikes...I'm out!

I was grading science tests the other day and was amused by some student answers. I thought I would share:

Short Answer Question #1: Why does a bee hive in the woods contain fewer bees than another hive in a nearby apple orchard? Explain.

(We had been talking about what organisms need to survive in their habitats...)

Student Response:
** "A bee hive in the woods contains fewer bees than another hive in an orchard because the bee hive got mad and went to WAR."

Hmm...interesting. I don't remember teaching that history lesson...

Short Answer Question #2: Suppose that some kind of insect destroys over half of the world's cotton crop one year. Predict some of the effects of this loss."

Student Responses:
** "If the world comes to an end it will kill us."

** "I think bettles eat cotton. And crokroches eat cotton I think."

** "No clothes."

** "People would be naked."

** "The people will have less cloths and people will go nakad."

** "People will go naked!!!"

Apparently if anything happens to cotton crops, it affects all our clothes we already have, and we will all be forced to walk around nude. :)

I don't if I should be amused or scared that they aren't learning it!!! Oh well, things like this keep teaching fun!

Well - I don't have too much to update right now, but I thought I needed to since my last post was about letters to Santa.

I am back teaching 21 little 3rd grade munchkins - which is DEFINITELY a full time job, and then some! The year has flown by so fast, I can't believe I am half-way done with my first year of teaching. I have definitely learned a lot...what works, what doesn't work....

This weekend I went to Pigeon Forge with a bunch of random people. It ended up being one of the best weekends I have ever had! It was so much fun! It was beautiful up there, and the time spent with my friends as well as meeting new friends was great!

One of my New Year Resolutions was to not be afraid to say how I am feeling in various situations...I feel like sometimes I keep things to myself because I am afraid of what someone might say, or because I hate conflict...but I have decided that that usually ends in me feeling walked on. No more...watch out world, Mindy is no longer holding back! :)

Life is good, busy as always, but good.

Random update, but that's all I got!

1,2,3 strikes...I'm out! (I miss baseball and warm weather...)

I know I haven't updated in ages. Teaching is overtaking my life!! So I thought I would share a bit of it with you. My students (3rd grade) wrote letters to Santa on Monday. Here are some excerpts: (Spelling hasn't been changed)

Dear Santa:
Hi! It's that time of year! I would like a hamster live and a cage with a wheel in it and a ball please but if you don't. can you bring me "10" stuff Animals I would like to know want you do over the summer? How do you keep the reindeer cool over the summer? Do you fly around at night before Christmas? I think I have been very great this year!!

Dear Santa:
Hows rouldoph? I have been really good this year. please let me get everything on my list.

Dear Santa:
I have been very good this year. And for Christmas all I would like is a pinafore for my dress, a nightgown and last of all some shoes just like thiers (mary and Laura Ingalls). But the biggest gift I want from you is a play house just like Mary and Laura's real house just like in all the movies. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Dear Santa:
Hi! I have a pretty small list, kind of. First I want a PSP (playstation parade), some games for the PSP (if I get one), stocking stuffers, and surprises! I also have a few questions. Have I been good? How are you? How is Mrs. C? How are the elves? How are the riendeer? P.S. Can you write back, please.

Dear Santa:
All I want for cristmas is to have a fun Christmas and for me to see you. How are you? Are you doing well? I am. I love you and I will always belive in you so your slay will fly. I love you.

Dear Santa:
I want a dirt bike for Christmas. I been good so can you get for me plaese. and I want a raindeer to for christmas to plaese.

Dear Santa:
How are you doing I hope great so you can delever the presants. I want some consturction toys. I alsow want some spy gear that would relly be great because I love spy gear so could you pleas give me some thank you. P.S. we will try to leave some food for the raindeer.

Dear Santa:
I will ALWAYS belive in you! You don't have to come to my house since we just moved in to our new house. Just make sure that the poor people have enough.

Dear Santa:
I want you to have a great Christmas. I also want a IPOD. plus a nerf gun. Can you please give me a bell from rodaluf the awsome red nose raindeer. I also want a Christmas CD with lots of songs. Once again have a great Christmas. P.S. might not have cookies this year.


I could go on and on and tell you stories upon stories, but that will be all for now. Happy Holidays to everybody!!

1,2,3 strikes...I'm out.

Wow - I cannot believe how long it has been since I have updated. Not too much has changed since the last update.

School is still going wonderfully. The "honeymoon" period has worn off and it has become more work-like. I bring home piles of stuff to work on every night, and some days are very stressful and overwhelming, but every morning I am ready to go back and give those kids the best I can. So I would say that it is still going well!

I am on Fall Break right now - I can't believe that I have already taught for 9 weeks. It went by so fast!! But I am definitely enjoying relaxing at home. :)

That is about all I can think of...

Although I don't update often, I still enjoy reading everyone's posts. Hope things are going well for you all!!

1,2,3 strikes...I'm out!