Summer Break TDL

Ever wonder what a teacher does during the 2 month break in the summer?  Well, listed below are my summer teacherly obligations, but other than that my life right now is likened to that of a retiree (and I love it).  

TDL:

1. Clean & Organize new classroom
   
2. Create 9th grade curriculum
3. Write college recommendation letters for raising seniors
4. Read:  Ten Little Indians, Things Fall Apart, 1984, Night, Persepolis, Othello (and that's only for 10th grade... I'm not sure about 9th grade yet... see #2

I think this is everything... it's definitely enough for now.  I'll occasionally update this blog throughout the summer, but for the most part I will be at the park with my dog drinking wine.  

Have a great summer everyone

must read summer reading: The Color Purple

Ever since I finished The Reader earlier this year I've been on the hunt for a real page turner.  There are a few books that I can name that have had me miss subway stops, lose track of time, and be incredibly sad when the last page in the novel finally arrives.  Some of them are:  Catcher in the Rye, Love That Dog, Shadow of the Wind, and now it's The Color Purple.  Alice Walker has me absolutely mesmerized by the story of a powerless black woman living in the South in the early 20th century.  The story is told through letters from Celie to God.  It's her childlike expressions and point of view matched with an old soul's wisdom and perspective that makes this story haunting.  

I feel like I know and love these characters.  The Color Purple is a must read.  

Let me know what you think of the text as you read, after you read, or if you've already read it!

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it" 

if google ran the DOE

One of my best friends was in town this past week visiting me and helping me break into the summer.  She works for Google in Amsterdam and as she was describing to me the perks of being part of the Google family I couldn't help but wonder, "what if Google rand the DOE (dept. of education)?"  As a Google employee you're given free range of the offices breakfast and lunch buffets and snack bar.  Also it offers incentives to its employees that are struck with the travel bug... the company allows you to essentially do a job swap with any other employee anywhere around the world that also works for Google.  Can you imagine living in New York, but always wanting to live in California or Amsterdam for a year or two, but not wanting to lose your job and start completely over?

Well, Google is perfect for the young professional still infected with wander lust.  Google in one to something with the way in which they treat their employees and run their business.  I would not only be at work on time everyday, but I would be early if my school even offered free coffee in the mornings.  I would stay in the office more if I didn't have to run out to get lunch everyday (which eats up half my lunch time).  And, one of the best perks is that I would no longer be stuck with a crappy DOE given email address that holds only about 10 emails and that can't be forwarded to any other (preferred) email provider.  

*sigh* If only Google ran the DOE.

retirement

Around this time last year I was done with student teaching and my classes, so I spent most of my days sleeping in, lunching, and apartment hunting.  My roommate on the other hand wasn't done with student teaching, and was busy getting ready for summer school, so everyday when she got back home she'd ask:  "How's retirement?"

I'm in a very similar situation currently.  Classes are done, I go to work every day and play Scrabble, ping pong, and Taboo with the other teachers as we lazily move our stuff from one classroom to our new one.  It feels very weird not to come home, get on the computer and start the next day's lesson plans, or grade a bunch of James Joyce essays, or read for the next unit of study.  Now my afternoons consist of Oprah and Tyra, a walk around the neighborhood with the dog, and dinners out with the BF.  I feel like I should be doing something, but what?  Looking for a summer job?  Working out?  Looking for a new apartment?

I've never been a lazy person, but it has sure felt really good to do absolutely nothing and to just play with the rest of the staff at work.  What a great way to end the year.  Today I received the sweetest email from a parent of one of my students.  I usually get emails that criticize my teaching, me, or something that I've come up short on, so you can imagine how emotional I got when I read the kind words.  I'm not too old to admit that I need a pat on the back and a "good job" every once and awhile.  Imagine what the world would be like if people heard on a daily basis what they were doing right and well versus always hearing one's mistakes.  I venture to bet that the world we be a lot more gracious and understanding if we all treated each other in such a manner.  

101 things to do while in brain jail

The final few weeks of school ended with testing.  Yay!  (Cue sarcasm).  I don't know if I would prefer teaching until the last day of school or to having testing.  A colleague of mine likens proctoring a state test to brain jail.  As a proctor you're to actively watch the students as they test.  We (teachers) can't sit, we can't read, we can't say anything outside of the testing script... we can't do anything for hours of the day as the kiddies test their hearts out.  So, in attempts to pass the time and to not feel like my brain is in jail I've come up with some things to do while proctoring.  Feel free to add to the list (below are just a few of my favourite activities):

101.  Each time a student drops a pencil or pen squat in the back of the room 4 times

100.  Count how many times you can walk around the room in an hour

76.  Test out your mind reading skills on a student in a class

98.  Change the time on the board every 10 minutes

97.  Say the alphabet backwards

52.  Name all the teachers you've ever had in order from kindergarten to senior year of high school

48.  Name all the winners of America's Next Top Model in descending order

40.  1001 books to read before I die

the teacher's summer

Those that aren't teachers often look at the profession longingly or with some jealousy because the work day's from 8-3 and we have the summer's off.  What non-teachers don't tend to see (because Save By the Bell, Half Nelson, and Mad Hot Ballroom failed to show) that so often a teacher's work day spans longer than 8-3, our duties ask to perform things that are not in the traditional job description, and so forth... I'm not here to complain or to "set the record straight."

What I'm noticing about teachers is that the summer time is a time to find oneself. To volunteer, to travel, to take classes, to usually do something that's not teaching related.  It's almost like we're able to test out our Plan B's guilt-free, part-time, and while still getting paid.  

With only a couple of weeks left of school my mind is so far from finding a summer gig.  I just want to sleep, wake up with out the aid of an alarm clock, spend time with the pup, and take care of myself again.

I've allowed myself to gain some weight.  I just couldn't restrain myself from cookies and iced chai tea lattes or Pinkberry.  My life is so tightly held together that the very thought of telling my stomach no would've been the straw to break the camel's back.  

I know once I get some rest and start working off the extra padding that I'll want to do something again, but what?  I need to work.  So, if I need to work then what should I do?

Any suggestions?  I'd like a pet-friendly, flexible work environment :)  

some food for thought... will paying good teacher more better education?

The school, called the Equity Project, is premised on the theory that excellent teachers — and not revolutionary technology, talented principals or small class size — are the critical ingredient for success. Experts hope it could offer a window into some of the most pressing and elusive questions in education: Is a collection of superb teachers enough to make a great school? Are six-figure salaries the way to get them? And just what makes a teacher great?

Excerpt from Times article, Next Test- Value of 125,000-a-year Teachers

Click on the link to read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/education/05charter.html

the lady doth protest too much, methinks

There's only 8 days left in the school year.  Wow, I can't believe it.  Often I thought this day would never get here and here it (almost) is.  I have so much to be grateful for.  Yesterday teachers received their programs for the next school year.  I'm teaching all the 9th graders English and I'm already busy working on their summer reading assignment.

Though I'm exhausted and badly in need of a bahavention working on the 9th grade English curriculum has been exciting and invigorating.  Freshman year is such a crucial time for every young person because it's like their coming out party.  I love the idea of helping students build a successful foundation for the future.  AND the most exciting part about teaching 9th graders is that they're MOLDABLE.  

I can't say much else now (too tired), but I wanted to share some good news with my readers.  

Now, what to do over the summer?