It's been a whirlwind of a year. I am struggling to process the simple fact that six months of 2017 are already behind me. Literally, I do not know where the time went. That said, the two weeks since school got out have been heavenly. I have so needed to be home. Unfortunately, there is much still to be done for this to be deemed a "successful" summer.
One of the things I need to make time for is my children, especially Constance. Last night, she curled up next to me on the couch, and essentially told me she wants me to spend more time with her and to stop thinking about my students and classroom. She's jealous - quite literally - for my attention. When I ask her for her thoughts on classroom arrangement etc, instead of feeling included and that her opinion is valued, she seems to feel threatened, as though I could possibly care more for them than her. While this is not at all the case, I need to recognize her need, which is very real and very appropriate. She is still young, and wants to know she is cherished and important enough that I will think about and spend time with her. I remain thankful that she takes the time to speak to me that I may know her concerns and her heart. May God grant me wisdom as I interact with her this summer and may she be reassured of my love and affection in ways she can understand and feel.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Still Ringing True
I was just doing some research regarding setting up my classroom for next year (anyone out there familiar with flexible seating?)... and somehow rather than connecting me with a middle school blog, I ended up on my own blog.
So I read it - or at least my latest post (which was a year ago). And wow. So much has happened! And yet so much of that blog post still rings true today.
Without attempting in one post to review a whole year, the 2016-2017 academic year is over. I had other interviews last summer and was hired right before school started as the 7th & 8th grade classroom teacher for a private Christian school 30 miles south of where we live. There wasn't much time to get my feet under me before school began, but with a great administrator and co-workers, all went well. It was a great fit, and a full and satisfying year, yet I'm thankful for the summer break.
Teaching all the core subjects, with little planning time ahead of the school year, was a challenge. I enjoyed it, but there is much I can and will do differently next year. The transition of me going back to work full-time, and at a distance from home, required adjustment from and for everyone in the family. There was a lot going on personally as well, with my parents settling in, Patience manoeuvring through her senior year and college decisions, everyone getting sick, Andante's theatrical involvement, Vivace's sports injuries, Constance's academic ambitions, and more. My dad passed away suddenly and unexpectedly (though peacefully) in January, and there wasn't much spare time or energy with which to handle that emotionally or practically - but of course God provided what we needed. Frankly, however, it was a hard year.
Last summer was a time of transition, of regrouping, of reflecting on the prior year, and of forward-planning without knowing quite what I'd be doing in the fall. This summer will also be a time of regrouping, reflecting, and forward planning. There are still tasks at home to complete, boxes to be gone through, baseball games to attend, taxes and finances to work on - none of that has changed, though we are a year older and wiser and certainly more experienced. I think I successfully stole second, and it was a wild whirlwind of a play. This summer will hopefully offer a bit of a breather before moving on. Indeed, the TS Elliot quote from a year ago still rings true:
This time, I know I'm going back to the middle school classroom I left a few weeks ago. Taking what I learned and accomplished last year, I can move forward with more confidence as well as more time to plan. I'm already ahead of where I began last year! And the Lord will guide and direct, as he always has and always does. Proverbs 16:9 states:
I'm thankful indeed that this is true and that I can trust him every step of the way.
So I read it - or at least my latest post (which was a year ago). And wow. So much has happened! And yet so much of that blog post still rings true today.
Without attempting in one post to review a whole year, the 2016-2017 academic year is over. I had other interviews last summer and was hired right before school started as the 7th & 8th grade classroom teacher for a private Christian school 30 miles south of where we live. There wasn't much time to get my feet under me before school began, but with a great administrator and co-workers, all went well. It was a great fit, and a full and satisfying year, yet I'm thankful for the summer break.
Teaching all the core subjects, with little planning time ahead of the school year, was a challenge. I enjoyed it, but there is much I can and will do differently next year. The transition of me going back to work full-time, and at a distance from home, required adjustment from and for everyone in the family. There was a lot going on personally as well, with my parents settling in, Patience manoeuvring through her senior year and college decisions, everyone getting sick, Andante's theatrical involvement, Vivace's sports injuries, Constance's academic ambitions, and more. My dad passed away suddenly and unexpectedly (though peacefully) in January, and there wasn't much spare time or energy with which to handle that emotionally or practically - but of course God provided what we needed. Frankly, however, it was a hard year.
Last summer was a time of transition, of regrouping, of reflecting on the prior year, and of forward-planning without knowing quite what I'd be doing in the fall. This summer will also be a time of regrouping, reflecting, and forward planning. There are still tasks at home to complete, boxes to be gone through, baseball games to attend, taxes and finances to work on - none of that has changed, though we are a year older and wiser and certainly more experienced. I think I successfully stole second, and it was a wild whirlwind of a play. This summer will hopefully offer a bit of a breather before moving on. Indeed, the TS Elliot quote from a year ago still rings true:
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.
This time, I know I'm going back to the middle school classroom I left a few weeks ago. Taking what I learned and accomplished last year, I can move forward with more confidence as well as more time to plan. I'm already ahead of where I began last year! And the Lord will guide and direct, as he always has and always does. Proverbs 16:9 states:
The mind of man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps."
I'm thankful indeed that this is true and that I can trust him every step of the way.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
"The End"
I'm feeling a little nostalgic today. It's probably "nothing," but I finished school yesterday, two of the kids are off at school in the throes of the "last days of the year," my freshman is taking his last two exams and will be done around noon, and my newly minted senior is upstairs asleep. It made me think of my beloved Pooh Bear at the end of his many adventures....
My student teaching is over, I graduated from the TAP program in good standing, my portfolio is done and approved, I have my teaching license in hand, I have worked full-time all year (unpaid in the fall, paid in the spring), I've prepped resumes, applied for teaching positions, had interviews, and been told others have been selected. My position in the computer lab has been cut so I have no job to go back to in the fall. I'm done with this year. Completed successfully. The End.
I loved this year. I loved classroom teaching. I loved learning how to do it "properly" and much better than before. I loved the training I received and the people I met along the way. I loved the school I worked and taught at. I loved the students. I loved my co-workers. Lest you think I wear rose-colored glasses, there were challenging times, difficult students, heart-breaking concerns to address, and personal and professional issues to resolve. But there is little I would change; I learned much and grew a lot and will miss it all.
A student came into the lab yesterday while I was wrapping up some grading for one of the French teachers. She was done w/her exams and I congratulated her on finishing the year and asked her how it felt to be a junior. She expressed what we all often feel - growing up is hard and she didn't want this year to end. We had a great conversation. We spoke of hope, and of positive growth, and of not really wanting things to be the same - but of fear and trepidation at what is new and unknown. She may "never want to leave high school," but nor would she really want to stay. You outgrow it - you change - and this can be for good. We talked about innocence and wisdom. We talked about progress and stagnation. We agreed that change is not in and of itself good or bad. And we also agreed it is often difficult. I shared several quotes (I've been collecting them). One relates to baseball. All progress is risk; you can't steal second if you keep a foot on first. (Corollary: If you stay on first, it's an automatic out when the next man up gets a base hit - a no win situation!) There are many life lessons in baseball. But I digress.
It's been a good year, but it has come to an end. It's time to regroup, to enjoy the summer, and to get some much needed work done around the house. There are boxes to be gone through, parents to help settle in, taxes to be completed, people to spend time with, much baseball to be played, children to help with assignments and jobs, and business tasks to accomplish. I'm unemployed - but I have plenty to do. And I'm far from lonely; I'm surrounded by a very beloved group of people, most notably my kids and husband. Not sure if this summer is me hanging out on the base and getting ready for the steal, or if it's me stepping off the base and taking the risk. We'll see; either way, the year is now complete, and it's been great. God has taken care of all our needs and I am going to choose to trust him with this next step. Meanwhile, it's time to go do the laundry. I will leave you with this thought from TS Eliot:
My student teaching is over, I graduated from the TAP program in good standing, my portfolio is done and approved, I have my teaching license in hand, I have worked full-time all year (unpaid in the fall, paid in the spring), I've prepped resumes, applied for teaching positions, had interviews, and been told others have been selected. My position in the computer lab has been cut so I have no job to go back to in the fall. I'm done with this year. Completed successfully. The End.
I loved this year. I loved classroom teaching. I loved learning how to do it "properly" and much better than before. I loved the training I received and the people I met along the way. I loved the school I worked and taught at. I loved the students. I loved my co-workers. Lest you think I wear rose-colored glasses, there were challenging times, difficult students, heart-breaking concerns to address, and personal and professional issues to resolve. But there is little I would change; I learned much and grew a lot and will miss it all.
A student came into the lab yesterday while I was wrapping up some grading for one of the French teachers. She was done w/her exams and I congratulated her on finishing the year and asked her how it felt to be a junior. She expressed what we all often feel - growing up is hard and she didn't want this year to end. We had a great conversation. We spoke of hope, and of positive growth, and of not really wanting things to be the same - but of fear and trepidation at what is new and unknown. She may "never want to leave high school," but nor would she really want to stay. You outgrow it - you change - and this can be for good. We talked about innocence and wisdom. We talked about progress and stagnation. We agreed that change is not in and of itself good or bad. And we also agreed it is often difficult. I shared several quotes (I've been collecting them). One relates to baseball. All progress is risk; you can't steal second if you keep a foot on first. (Corollary: If you stay on first, it's an automatic out when the next man up gets a base hit - a no win situation!) There are many life lessons in baseball. But I digress.
It's been a good year, but it has come to an end. It's time to regroup, to enjoy the summer, and to get some much needed work done around the house. There are boxes to be gone through, parents to help settle in, taxes to be completed, people to spend time with, much baseball to be played, children to help with assignments and jobs, and business tasks to accomplish. I'm unemployed - but I have plenty to do. And I'm far from lonely; I'm surrounded by a very beloved group of people, most notably my kids and husband. Not sure if this summer is me hanging out on the base and getting ready for the steal, or if it's me stepping off the base and taking the risk. We'll see; either way, the year is now complete, and it's been great. God has taken care of all our needs and I am going to choose to trust him with this next step. Meanwhile, it's time to go do the laundry. I will leave you with this thought from TS Eliot:
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
The end is where we start from.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Friday, April 8, 2016
Submission
Today was another big day. I officially applied for licensure to teach French (grades 7-12) in the state of VT. I am now officially able to say that my license is "pending". Transcripts have been ordered, tests have been taken, fingerprints done (tho' might have to do those again), and all ducks in a row. I need to upload a couple more supporting documents this weekend, but it's officially "in".
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
A graduation
Friday, April 1st, I officially graduated from the TAP program. I'm not sure if my portfolio needs another reviewing or not, but either way, they've mailed out the letter to the state saying I've officially finished and am recommended for licensure.
It was a lovely time and I was very blessed to have my entire family in attendance. My kids cheered, probably more because they have me back than because I am done, but either way is fine, since the two things go together.
It was a lovely time and I was very blessed to have my entire family in attendance. My kids cheered, probably more because they have me back than because I am done, but either way is fine, since the two things go together.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Progression
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