I feel compelled to write even when I am stressed and irritated. Work is definitely stressing me out at this point, but it's all caused by unnatural things that occur in the teaching world. Sure, the kids are stresssful at times....but piecing a department back together is a nightmare.
My department head was a great guy, but left us in a state. I didn't even know what course of GCSE we were on. Luckily I found a book and used that scheme to base my lessons. The room was a disaster which was cleaned yesterday by two deputy heads - so that's one aspect corrected. The replacement teacher arrived today - which is a whole matter in itself which I will not comment on here. I want us to get organized - so that's something I'm working on pushing.
Oddly enough, every time I had a problem today, the deputy head was the one who happened to be sauntering by - I must look like I have no idea what I'm doing. She happened to be on call when I had an outrageous class which racked up a 55 minute detention through awful behaviour (each tick mark equals five minutes - good behaviour erases a tick mark - they obviously cared....).
Then there's the potential head job -- I look like a crap candidate. And it does slightly upset me that I've done so much without any help and I don't really stand a chance. Running the head's two after school clubs along with my own warrants something, or so I believe.
There's a lot of pressure from tons of different sides. I don't like change. I don't like being pushed to do something. I haven't started the term in the best mood due to this pressure. I might be giving off a negative vibe, but that's because I didn't like the changes being made around school. Some are great - like my new form - I love them as they are sixth form and a great laugh twice a day. But others - I'd rather not be a factor in.
Stress is rising. I need to start going to the gym to calm myself. And to make matters better - two rooms are going to be open at my house. What kind of looney is going to wind up living with me? Can I pray for a McFitty? Please?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
A Year in Review (As completed by myself last year)
January
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?: To say something nice about someone every day.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: My family
3. Have you ever been to times square to watch the ball drop?: No - London was way better.
February
1. Who was your valentine in 2007?: My Grandpa -we watched Everybody Loves Raymond and I stayed over because Grandma was in the hospital
2. What did your valentine get you?: Haha. Ice Cream
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?: Oh yes. I still give them out!
March
1. Are you Irish?: Oh yea 50%
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?: Yes. But I was running errands for the family - no celebration.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2007: Ran some errands and felt sorry for myself.
April
1. Do you like the rain?: Not at all.
2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year? My students. I told them that I was leaving them that day.
3. Do you get tons of candy on easter?: A chocolate bunny at our place in Florida. Mine was in the dryer...as usual!
May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: I'm still working on that.
2. Do you like the spring?: Yes. Skirts and NO PANTY HOES
3. 3. What would you think of as a spring color?: Yellow!
June
1. What year did you graduate from school?: 2002 and 2006
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: I was preparing for a great vacation....
July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July?: Went to the family picnic at Aunt Debbies and then missed fireworks.
2. Went on any vacations during this month?: Nope. Preparing...
August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: YES - A leaving party. Peace out oHIo - hello UK!
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '07?: Hanging out with the Fire Dept in Orwell.
3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?: I still wouldn't go in that pool.
4. Do you go to the beach a lot?: Yes - I went in the water this year. Impressive. And no extra toes....
September
1. Who is your favorite teacher?: Bezzeg
2. Do you like fall better than summer?: I do - I have a job!
October
1. What was your favorite halloween costume? All the way MAY! from a League of their Own
2. What's your favorite candy?: Haribo sweets mmmmm
3. What did you dress up like this year?: Haha - I was Where's Wally
November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for thanksgiving?: Mine.....we had a British Thanksgiving this year at Teanby, Gemma's and Gary's house
2. Do you like stuffing?: Yes.
3. What are you thankful for?: My UK family.
December
1. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Still a no.
2. What do you want this year for christmas?: Fuzzy bathrobe
3. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?: I don't know....I love everything I've gotten. Most thoughtful was a jewelry box from Pat - still use it at home
4. Do you like cold weather?: Not a chance....
1) How would you rate your 07(1-10)?: I'd say a 6 - beginning was rubbish, the end - amazing.
2) Where were you when 2007 began? Painesville
3) Who were you with? Mom, Dad, Brian and Ron
4) Where will you be when 2007 ends? In West Lynn - rocking out .
5) Who will you be with when 2007 ends? Henson, Gemma, Teanby, Jane and their families
6) Do you have a new years resolution for 2008? Speak softly.
7) Did you fall in love in 2007? No. I didn't.
8) You regret it? No regrets. You learn something from everything.
9) Did you breakup with anyone in 2007? No.
10) Did you make any new friends in 2007? Yes I did - even met some old ones and had a great friendship with them!
11) Who is your favorite new friend? Nick Srnick!
12) What was your favorite month of 2007? September - I met the UK family and became one of them.
13) How many different places did you travel to in 2007?: Not many. Florida - the UK. Layover in New York
14) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2007? Burgan.
15) Did you miss anyone in the past year? Yes.
16) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2007? HAHA! Run Fatboy Run!
17) Do you enjoy where you are now? I am so happy right now.
18) What was your proudest moment of 2007? "McNugget - you're one of us now."
19) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007? I'm always doing stupid things in the UK.....
20) What are your plans for 2008? I'm going to be the best teacher this school has ever seen. I'm going to find the man of my dreams. And I'm going to hold onto him. I'm ready to be a grownup now.
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?: To say something nice about someone every day.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: My family
3. Have you ever been to times square to watch the ball drop?: No - London was way better.
February
1. Who was your valentine in 2007?: My Grandpa -we watched Everybody Loves Raymond and I stayed over because Grandma was in the hospital
2. What did your valentine get you?: Haha. Ice Cream
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?: Oh yes. I still give them out!
March
1. Are you Irish?: Oh yea 50%
2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?: Yes. But I was running errands for the family - no celebration.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2007: Ran some errands and felt sorry for myself.
April
1. Do you like the rain?: Not at all.
2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year? My students. I told them that I was leaving them that day.
3. Do you get tons of candy on easter?: A chocolate bunny at our place in Florida. Mine was in the dryer...as usual!
May
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: I'm still working on that.
2. Do you like the spring?: Yes. Skirts and NO PANTY HOES
3. 3. What would you think of as a spring color?: Yellow!
June
1. What year did you graduate from school?: 2002 and 2006
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: I was preparing for a great vacation....
July
1. What did you do on the 4th of July?: Went to the family picnic at Aunt Debbies and then missed fireworks.
2. Went on any vacations during this month?: Nope. Preparing...
August
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: YES - A leaving party. Peace out oHIo - hello UK!
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '07?: Hanging out with the Fire Dept in Orwell.
3. Do you go swimming a lot in the summer?: I still wouldn't go in that pool.
4. Do you go to the beach a lot?: Yes - I went in the water this year. Impressive. And no extra toes....
September
1. Who is your favorite teacher?: Bezzeg
2. Do you like fall better than summer?: I do - I have a job!
October
1. What was your favorite halloween costume? All the way MAY! from a League of their Own
2. What's your favorite candy?: Haribo sweets mmmmm
3. What did you dress up like this year?: Haha - I was Where's Wally
November
1. Whose house do you usually go to for thanksgiving?: Mine.....we had a British Thanksgiving this year at Teanby, Gemma's and Gary's house
2. Do you like stuffing?: Yes.
3. What are you thankful for?: My UK family.
December
1. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Still a no.
2. What do you want this year for christmas?: Fuzzy bathrobe
3. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas?: I don't know....I love everything I've gotten. Most thoughtful was a jewelry box from Pat - still use it at home
4. Do you like cold weather?: Not a chance....
1) How would you rate your 07(1-10)?: I'd say a 6 - beginning was rubbish, the end - amazing.
2) Where were you when 2007 began? Painesville
3) Who were you with? Mom, Dad, Brian and Ron
4) Where will you be when 2007 ends? In West Lynn - rocking out .
5) Who will you be with when 2007 ends? Henson, Gemma, Teanby, Jane and their families
6) Do you have a new years resolution for 2008? Speak softly.
7) Did you fall in love in 2007? No. I didn't.
8) You regret it? No regrets. You learn something from everything.
9) Did you breakup with anyone in 2007? No.
10) Did you make any new friends in 2007? Yes I did - even met some old ones and had a great friendship with them!
11) Who is your favorite new friend? Nick Srnick!
12) What was your favorite month of 2007? September - I met the UK family and became one of them.
13) How many different places did you travel to in 2007?: Not many. Florida - the UK. Layover in New York
14) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2007? Burgan.
15) Did you miss anyone in the past year? Yes.
16) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2007? HAHA! Run Fatboy Run!
17) Do you enjoy where you are now? I am so happy right now.
18) What was your proudest moment of 2007? "McNugget - you're one of us now."
19) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007? I'm always doing stupid things in the UK.....
20) What are your plans for 2008? I'm going to be the best teacher this school has ever seen. I'm going to find the man of my dreams. And I'm going to hold onto him. I'm ready to be a grownup now.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Quiet Ideas
I had a thought during one of my lessons today. One student was being just plain LOUD.
I said, very calmly, "Jack - hushed tones please. You're at a 10, take it to a 5."
"Sorry, miss," he whispered. And then remained somewhat quiet for the rest of class.
Brilliant!
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick. I think I will. Although I will replace a stick with a board marker. I usually have to raise my voice to be heard above the din of my classroom...considering chaos is common. Today I told the kids that it was my new years resolution to speak softly. And it's WORKING. They listen more because they can barely hear me - and of course me lessons rule....so they want to do the activities.
YES. Way to be FDR.
I said, very calmly, "Jack - hushed tones please. You're at a 10, take it to a 5."
"Sorry, miss," he whispered. And then remained somewhat quiet for the rest of class.
Brilliant!
Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick. I think I will. Although I will replace a stick with a board marker. I usually have to raise my voice to be heard above the din of my classroom...considering chaos is common. Today I told the kids that it was my new years resolution to speak softly. And it's WORKING. They listen more because they can barely hear me - and of course me lessons rule....so they want to do the activities.
YES. Way to be FDR.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year, New Perspective
2007 has come to a close and 2008 is here with endless possibilities and plenty of new opportunities on the horizon. I celebrated the chiming of Big Ben in West Lynn with Amy, Gemma and Chris - not to mention Amy and Jane's families. Brilliant. The interesting thing about this year is that I will be spending the whole of 2008 based in the UK. I should be going back to oHIo for a week or so in the summer for holiday, but 2008 is really all about living it up in jolly ol' England.
So what are my plans, you ask? I've never been one for New Years Resolutions - I prefer goals. Goals are solid. You write them down and it becomes something you expect to accomplish. So here is what I expect to accomplish in the year 2008.
1. Learn how to drive....manual....and on the left side of the road.
2. Obtain a UK drivers license. It might mean forfeiting my oHIo license, but I think that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
3. Optimism. Being a teacher is stressful work. I think I rock at it. Now I'd like to rock at it and maintain my sanity at the same time.
4. Operation M&M. Enough Said.
5. World Domination. My ultimate goal in life. And no, the Beckhams are NOT beating me - I am far more favorable.
I will update you on the status of these and more goals.
Bring it on, 2008!
So what are my plans, you ask? I've never been one for New Years Resolutions - I prefer goals. Goals are solid. You write them down and it becomes something you expect to accomplish. So here is what I expect to accomplish in the year 2008.
1. Learn how to drive....manual....and on the left side of the road.
2. Obtain a UK drivers license. It might mean forfeiting my oHIo license, but I think that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
3. Optimism. Being a teacher is stressful work. I think I rock at it. Now I'd like to rock at it and maintain my sanity at the same time.
4. Operation M&M. Enough Said.
5. World Domination. My ultimate goal in life. And no, the Beckhams are NOT beating me - I am far more favorable.
I will update you on the status of these and more goals.
Bring it on, 2008!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Ho Ho Ho
It's an update - state side. I headed to London on Wednesday night with Amy in preparation for my flight on Thursday. Georgie picked us up at the underground near her and took us for dinner at the Hilton. The story is that we stayed at the Hilton. That's the story. We're sticking to it.
The flights were fine - after ten hours of being in the air I was more than happy to hear "Welcome to Cleveland." I'm not sure I'm really impressed by American Airlines, but what can you do when you're on a budget?
Home-Home has been an interesting experience. My family has been great, my grandparents appreciative. Jen and Travis came out for a bit last night - that was excellent! I was so happy to see them. The boys - well - some people just don't get it. And quite frankly I'm not going to go out of my way to deal with people who are prats.
It seems when you pick up and move some people can't forgive you for that. And they can't grasp the concept of different time zones. No wonder the British dislike Americans....cocky and unaware there is a world beyond them. Well - you can see that in some of my friends. Maybe by the time I leave they will find it within themselves to come and visit me....and if not, I'm no worse off.
I do miss my UK family terribly! If I could have the UK family and the US family at the same time - how great would that be! As I have told them, I will be back for New Years eve. My current attention is focused on Christmas.
Christmas for my family consists of that Italian tradition of the seven fish. Not very american.....British...but Italian. I love being so cultural. Hopefully everything pans out. I have some cool things I would love to share with my family and friends! I spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect christmas gifts - can't wait to share them!
Well - I'm going to get my day going. It's 6:30.....but that's 11:30 UK time. I am not getting adjusted to this time zone at all!
The flights were fine - after ten hours of being in the air I was more than happy to hear "Welcome to Cleveland." I'm not sure I'm really impressed by American Airlines, but what can you do when you're on a budget?
Home-Home has been an interesting experience. My family has been great, my grandparents appreciative. Jen and Travis came out for a bit last night - that was excellent! I was so happy to see them. The boys - well - some people just don't get it. And quite frankly I'm not going to go out of my way to deal with people who are prats.
It seems when you pick up and move some people can't forgive you for that. And they can't grasp the concept of different time zones. No wonder the British dislike Americans....cocky and unaware there is a world beyond them. Well - you can see that in some of my friends. Maybe by the time I leave they will find it within themselves to come and visit me....and if not, I'm no worse off.
I do miss my UK family terribly! If I could have the UK family and the US family at the same time - how great would that be! As I have told them, I will be back for New Years eve. My current attention is focused on Christmas.
Christmas for my family consists of that Italian tradition of the seven fish. Not very american.....British...but Italian. I love being so cultural. Hopefully everything pans out. I have some cool things I would love to share with my family and friends! I spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect christmas gifts - can't wait to share them!
Well - I'm going to get my day going. It's 6:30.....but that's 11:30 UK time. I am not getting adjusted to this time zone at all!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Countdown!~
4 More teaching days
6 Days Until an Outing in London
7 Days Until Departure for the US of A
12 Days until CHRISTMAS
15 Days Until the Return Flight to the UK
18 Days until New Years Eve!
21 Days until the start of Spring Term
42 Days until Half Term Break!
My....How time flies....
6 Days Until an Outing in London
7 Days Until Departure for the US of A
12 Days until CHRISTMAS
15 Days Until the Return Flight to the UK
18 Days until New Years Eve!
21 Days until the start of Spring Term
42 Days until Half Term Break!
My....How time flies....
Monday, December 3, 2007
Just another manic Monday....
Living it up in the UK. Now that our first term is almost complete I look back at everything that has gone down since I moved here in August.
School is still brilliant. I can say that our staff is probably the best teaching staff I have ever worked with - in terms of academic matters and matters outside school. People generally care about each other and their well being. In the other schools I have worked in it always seems like it's every man for themselves.... What happened to community? Sure, there are things we disagree with here, but we still work and function together as a family. I really like the atmosphere here. It's excellent.
My teaching skills have definitely improved. I realize that it takes a lot of energy to be the kind of teacher I want to be, and some days I just don't have that energy. I'm still working out how to be poorly and still teach with high energy. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I also feel that my strategies have improved - MUCH better than they used to be. It's neat to be teaching drama because it really has helped me work on my discipline. I think transferring that to an English class will be much easier with my feet planted firmly.
Becoming British - well, I haven't exactly dropped my Americanisms - but I have a feeling that is why people tolerate me.... I can just declare "I'm a dozy Yank!" and all is well! I have become very used to a wide variety of foods though, and I have a secret crush on jaffa cakes and tea. I have no developed an accent, although I've learned some new words that I now sprinkle into conversations. I'm very proud of my ability to use "pikey" and "sod" in every day conversations.
And my British family? They are pretty much the coolest people ever. I never feel left out and I already have plans for New Years - I've NEVER done anything for New Years! I'm so excited!!
Overall I'd have to say the move to the UK was a brilliant idea. Even though I am ill at the moment and am getting ready to go to the doctors for the forth time since I've been here - I can honestly say that I'm happy.
....Now....if Mr. Right comes along....well, that will be a whole nother story....
School is still brilliant. I can say that our staff is probably the best teaching staff I have ever worked with - in terms of academic matters and matters outside school. People generally care about each other and their well being. In the other schools I have worked in it always seems like it's every man for themselves.... What happened to community? Sure, there are things we disagree with here, but we still work and function together as a family. I really like the atmosphere here. It's excellent.
My teaching skills have definitely improved. I realize that it takes a lot of energy to be the kind of teacher I want to be, and some days I just don't have that energy. I'm still working out how to be poorly and still teach with high energy. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I also feel that my strategies have improved - MUCH better than they used to be. It's neat to be teaching drama because it really has helped me work on my discipline. I think transferring that to an English class will be much easier with my feet planted firmly.
Becoming British - well, I haven't exactly dropped my Americanisms - but I have a feeling that is why people tolerate me.... I can just declare "I'm a dozy Yank!" and all is well! I have become very used to a wide variety of foods though, and I have a secret crush on jaffa cakes and tea. I have no developed an accent, although I've learned some new words that I now sprinkle into conversations. I'm very proud of my ability to use "pikey" and "sod" in every day conversations.
And my British family? They are pretty much the coolest people ever. I never feel left out and I already have plans for New Years - I've NEVER done anything for New Years! I'm so excited!!
Overall I'd have to say the move to the UK was a brilliant idea. Even though I am ill at the moment and am getting ready to go to the doctors for the forth time since I've been here - I can honestly say that I'm happy.
....Now....if Mr. Right comes along....well, that will be a whole nother story....
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