Shelter from the Storm

Shelter from the Storm from John X. Carey on Vimeo.

Adjusting my mind-set

I need to start reminding myself of this everyday.

What are you waiting for?

I always tell my students that we need to read because it teaches you so much that you couldn't learn from a teacher or in the small town they live it. It opens you up to others worlds and allows you to experience a different life through text on a page. What one person can accomplish is truly amazing. If you haven't read Three Cups of Tea yet, it is basically about a man who while trying to climb the mountain K2, walks into a life he never imagined living, building schools in some of the most rural and dangerous parts of the world, especially for girls who wouldn't have been able to go to school otherwise. Combine this with the documentary Waiting for Superman I watched last weekend and my mind has been running. It's hard to wrap your head around the educational injustices going on in not just the world, but right here in the good ol' USA. It made me me want to yell. How does the educational system allow for all this crap to go on? The documentary if you haven't seen it explains a lot of this (if you haven't watched it I highly suggest it). However, I realized that yelling about it won't do a whole lot of good. By combining this amazing man I read about who was able to accomplish so much out of heart and determination, and the new information I've learned about the educational system I work for, I know I need to do something. But I'm not sure what to do next about my feelings towards the injustices in the world. I know the best thing I can do is act on them in a way that will benefit these kids. Now it's just time to put the thinking cap on and figure out what I can do to help make a change. Any suggestions? -Sixth

Happiest Job in America

Yesterday I was at the gym on the treadmill watching Oprah (Check out my 5k page/tab to check out how I'm trying to keep myself accountable!). Her episode was all about happiness and what makes someone happier. One of the poll questions was:

11. Which of these is the happiest job in America?

• Travel agent
• Clergy
• Special education teacher
• Firefighter

Since I am a special education teacher it really caught my attention. And the answer is...

They all are! And, on average, not one of those jobs pays more than $50,000 per year, according to research by the University of Chicago.

Interesting. On the show the research expert said that these four jobs are rated happiest not necessarily because of the type of work they do, but because of their constant social interaction with others during their work hours. I 100% agree. I interact with people ALL DAY LONG. There usually isn't a moment I'm by myself. Even during my prep periods the teachers on my team and I usually sit and work together. I love the constant interaction. It makes the day go by fast. Talking and working with my students does make me happy (sometimes frustrated) but usually very happy! They are funny, kind, witty and caring young people who try very hard (most of the time) to be successful. My students show me determination and perseverance. They also make me appreciate the little things. It isn't a career a chose for the money (obviously), but I knew that I would love going to work. Happiest job in America is a bonus :)

Home Sick

After only a half hour nap yesterday, I woke up with a scratchy throat which by this morning had turned into full on strep. Goodness, I can't believe how fast it happened! So, I woke up at 5:45 AM, wrote my sub plans and put in for a substitute. I found out that this is my 5th day out sick this year. I feel like that's not that bad, 5 sick days in 7 months, although hopefully I can start beefing up my immune system so I don't end up with whatever sickness is going around second grade. On the bright side, when I went to the walk-in clinic this afternoon, (because it is IMPOSSIBLE to get an appointment from me PCP) I only paid $5 for my co-pay and $5 for my prescription! Woo! Thank goodness for health insurance.

Staying home sick is certainly bittersweet. I would definitely rather have been at school with my kiddos :) I think I should be better by tomorrow and back to work...hopefully. In the meantime, I am going to try to plan next week ENTIRELY so that I can enjoy my greenish weekend in Newport. St. Patty's Day Parade, here I come! Lets just hope I can kick this strep by then!!

When do you breathe?!

We have made it to March....phew!

There haven't been many postings and it really is just because there is hardly anytime to breathe, no mind sitting and writing a post!

Although teaching has gotten a little bit easier since the beginning of the year- I have definitely not gotten off the"first year teacher roller coaster ride" yet! A former college professor asked me recently, "How is teaching?" and I found it so hard to answer that question because it really depends on the day, week, even moment. Some moments or days are great! Some moments or days or entire weeks seem to be an uphill battle- completely exhausting and draining.

Adding in anything 'extra' has made it nearly impossible to get all my work done and find time to eat and sleep. Taking a class, even though it's just once a week, has made my life slightly more stressful. Add on top of that volunteering for various things and fundraising for a trip this summer.

Then there's the MCAs- that is a whole separate battle we are tackling this month! Prepping my kids for that is also overwhelming and stressful!

Overall, the day to day in my classroom has found a nice routine (besides trying to get 2 new kids into that routine) and there are a few shortcuts to planning and such that i've started to figure out...but man, this job is TOUGH.

Now I just need to work on figuring out how to not be too tired to have a little f.u.n!

-Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing

School answering machine

A little something to make you laugh on a Friday...

I especially like number 2.

MLKJr. Day

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..."


Since the kids had MLKJr.'s bday off from school, I figured it only appropriate that they learned a bit about the man that was special enough to have a national holiday named after him. I thought it was going to to be tough history to explain to the kids-- boy was I wrong. We talked about how MLKJr. changed the world; how he worked to bring all different kinds of people together; how he worked for peace. I can honestly say that it was one of the best lessons we've shared yet. A good teacher knows that only assessment will show whether the kids grasped the ideas or not. So-- I asked them to write about their own dreams. "Think BIG," I said. Here's what I got:

"I have a dream that everyone would have a wonderful family like us. My family is lucky enough to have a house and love, food and fun and friends." -Meg

"I have a dream that people would not litter because the world would look much better than it does. [...] When I grow up, I am going to be a person that picks up trash all over the world." -Braley

"I have a dream that everyone treated each other like their best friend." -Colin

"I have a dream that no kid or adult will get bullyed or hurt inside." -Olivia

"I wish poor kids would have toys and bikes. Sleds for the winter and jackets, mittens, or even clothes and have a mom or a dad." -Alex

"I have a dream that every pet in need would get help because pets need love, food, and water. So we should make them feel happy by playing with them, buying chew toys, lots of food, and water and some doggy biscuits too so we can make them happy. So give them your hearts. Give them yourselves. Give them everything." -Isabel

And my all time favorite...
"I have a dream that you could sit in a room with a bully and read a book together in peace. I would read Free at Last because it tells you facts about Martin Luther King Jr. He is a really important guy because he changed the world." -Joe



I'm pretty sure they got the gist :)

A New Year

I said hello to 2011 in NYC, a pretty good start. Tomorrow it will be back to work after a relaxing vacation. As stressful as work can sometimes be, I'm glad that I am excited to go back tomorrow. I can't wait to hear from my kids what they did over vacation and catch up with my coworkers. Four months ago I started a job completley unsure of myself, what I was doing and if I was doing it remotely right. It's hard to feel satisfied at the end of the day when you know that you're not reaching every student even with all of the hard work you put it; knowing that 5 of your kids may have passed that test, but two still struggled even with all the studying you did with them, when your student gets a 100 on their spelling test, but it's with third grade words. But at the end of the day I'm trying to rejoice in those little things. Yes two didn't pass the test, but the five that did went home feeling like a rockstar. Though the words he had on his test were coat and boat, those are two words he couldn't spell before and now he can. I feel confident going back. I may not have all the secrets yet, but I know if I keep trying I'll get there.

-Sixth