Cool Cats!

This so applies to my life right now. I think I'm entering phase 5 for sure...notice the eye twitching comment! I was originally shown this by one of my professors and then I found it here when I did a google search. No one seems to know the true origin of this, which is unfortunate because it is hilarious!

The Six Phases of Teaching/Learning:

Phase 1: You are listening to jazz — Your first day at work is great. Your fellow teachers are wonderful, your classroom is cute, you love your students, and your principal is the best!

Phase 2:You are listening to pop music — After a while you are so busy that you are not sure if you’re coming or going anymore.

Phase 3: You are listening to heavy metal — This is what you feel like after ONE month.

Phase 4: You are listening to hip hop — You become bloated due to stress, you’re gaining weight due to lack of exercise because you are so tired and have so much school work to do when you get home, you feel sluggish and suffer from constipation. Your fellow teachers are too cheerful for your liking and the walls of your classroom are closing in. You have started thinking ‘WHATEVER’ about your principal.

Phase 5: You are listening to GANGSTA RAP — After more time passes, your eyes start to twitch, you forget what a ‘good hair day’ feels like as you just fall out of bed and load up on caffeine.

Phase 6: You are listening to the voices in your head — You have locked your classroom door to keep people out, You wonder, “WHY am I even here in the first place?” and “WHY did I become a teacher!”

Stress!

I woke up this morning with my eye twitching...not a good way to start a Monday! I'm not sure if this has ever happened to you before but it's basically like a miniature lightning storm in your eye, usually around the lid area. Completely involuntary and completely annoying! I get these every so often and it's almost always when I'm overly stressed, which would definitely apply to now.

I'm trying to remain calm and level-headed about my present circumstances, but sometimes it's hard. I realized the other day that ALL of my six classes have something major (projects, papers, exams, etc.) due during the first week of December. Um...yeah...the first week of December is in two weeks, and I'll be in jury duty until the day before Thanksgiving. Oh and that reminds me, the holidays are here again!

I think 14 more strands of hair on my head just turned white!

This MUST be love...

This song makes me want to jump up and dance around the room, I LOVE this thing right now!!!

One of Eight

"Ladies and Gentleman, we have a jury." That's what I heard earlier today...and yes, I'm on that jury! I went in for my day of duty in Detroit, fully expecting to sit there for a few hours and then be dismissed. Instead I was selected to serve as a juror. As soon as we entered the court room I had this uncanny feeling my name would get called, and I was right. Due to my oath of confidentiality, I will not be writing about or discussing the case until after deliberations are over.

As you may be aware from my previous post on this topic, I had a really big chip on my shoulder regarding the timing of this whole thing. As a full time working student with a life, this is pretty much the worst possible time for me to be summoned. I'm still considerably stressed about how I will be able to stay above board in all my classes in light of this new demand of my time; however, I'm actually feeling somewhat excited about being a juror. My attitude has improved considerably since this morning...though it may change again before this is all over. I only hope all of my professors will be understanding of the situation - I guess they have no choice since I'm fulfilling a civic responsibility. Sometimes in life you just have to do what you have to do, this is an excellent example.

Some Days...

...It's official, some days I'd rather be a dog. Our dogs have all the creature comforts they could dream of in our home (OK I admit it, they are spoiled) but they don't have to pay the mortgage or lift a finger around this place! I guess I do like my opposing thumbs, but seriously...sometimes it would be nice to just be, which is an art our dogs have certainly mastered!

Lately my life has been plagued by Murphy's law. Yesterday at school I got a parking ticket b/c I didn't have my $75 hang tag properly displayed. Luckily they waved the bulk of the fine and I only had to pay $5 to clear the record, but still...I was miffed. I've also been trying to get my schedule figured out for next semester. This is always a huge chore, but in my case it's getting much worse because I'm getting to that point in my course work where several of my classes are only offered on one day and time. No night classes, no Saturday classes...NO flexibility! I'm not like the more traditional "college kid" where school is the only agenda on my list. I have a life and a mortgage and bills and and...well A LIFE. I don't have the luxury of going to school four or five days a week - I need to be able to work. With the degree I'm earning there is NO WAY it coule be done while also working full time. Even if you were a warrior and tried, it simply wouldn't work. Whatever...I'm complaining I know so I'll stop. I think I've got it all figured out now where I can attend classes three days per week, leaving two open for subbing. I'll probably also need to get a supplimental weekend job but I'll deal with that later.

Speaking of subbing...I've come to the disconcerting realization that some days I'm nothing more than a pawn on someone else's playing field. Today when I walked into the office of the school where I was supposed to be subbing in a 1st/2nd grade combined classroom, I was instead told I would be working with the 4th/5th grade "impairment class." Apparently there was a filed trip for the class I was supposed to sub in and they didn't think it would be "fair" to send a sub. The teacher who was trying to explain all this to me was horribly distracted. She couldn't figure out which end was up, much less try to inform me of what in the world I was supposed to be doing and when. In the back of my mind I'm always aware, as a sub that I may encounter a classroom with no plans or a situation for which I am not prepared. Today was that day and it was certainly a harsh learning experience. To sum it up, I basically felt inadequate and incompetent all day long. I did the best I could with what little support I had, but I'm stll left with the feeling that I failed miserably. Those kids need stability and consistency first and foremost. Having a sub is hard for them, much harder than it is for non-impaired kids. Having a sub who is completely unprepared and minimally supported...well that's a whole different level. One thing is for sure, and that is that I'm learning. Subbing has taught me tenfold what I will ever be able to learn in my theory-based college classes, great though they may be. I guess there is nothing to do but roll with the punches on days like today. I certainly had no choice in any of what was thrown my way...and I did make it through the day, along with the kids. Maybe that's all that matters.

Barack Obama

I've been listening to political projections all evening and the results are finally in. Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States of America. I feel very proud today to be part of a huge step forward for our country. I waited in line for over an hour this morning, beginning at 6:25 a.m., and even then there was a stirring of excited anticipation amongst the people in line. This is the 4th presidential election I've voted in and I've never seen the kind of voter turn-out and excitement that is evident throughout our country today. Even now, listening to John McCain's concession speech, I am struck by his graciousness and the respect with whichc he speaks of and to Barack Obama. This has certainly been an election I will remember in years to come. My hopes for the future of our country are higher than they've been in a long time.