Teachers' Thread

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi everybody,

How's your week so far? I got an email from a parent just now asking if I'm ok because I was out Friday and Monday. I thought that was cute. We're out June 20th. It's almost time!

 

[irunnoft]

I thought I'd create a thread here for all of the podcast listeners who are also teachers. Come here to gripe, celebrate, wine, and be uplifted.

How's everybody doing these last few weeks of school?

Horribly! I'm happy with my EOG testing results for my 7th grade Language Arts students. I'm NOT happy with our governor here in NC.

There are 12,000 teaching jobs on the chopping block here in NC statewide.

The governor just docked all state employees .05% of their annual salaries in the last two paychecks!!!!

The NC Education Lottery people received an 8% pay raise this past year while teachers received a little better than 2% raise. NOW, due to the economic budget shortfall of 4.3 billion dollars, they are talking about cutting teachers' salaries by 10% next year.

Our salaries (before they drop 10%) are frozen for the next three years. Teachers with Master's degrees will now be paid at Bachelor's degree pay scale. No talk of retroactive pay when the budget balances. . . of course!
Longevity pay is now frozen (this, BTW, is a small reward for reaching 10+ years of teaching).

Aside from cutting teachers, the governor in her infinite wisdom has decided to push the maximum capacity of students in each classroom - at least 30. I guess I'll need bunk desks next year.

And they wonder why teachers are leaving the profession in droves - especially in North Carolina!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Ugh. That sounds just awful. Much PD to you and your colleagues! Hang in there!

 

[firsttimemom]

Hi everyone- I just wanted to stop by and say thank you thank you thank you for everything you do for your students. I have a (just finishing) 3rd grader and 5th grader and we have been blessed with phenomenal teachers. It blows me away to see the hours you spend outside the classroom working on lesson plans, thinking up creative ways to motivate your class as a whole and 'student x' in particular, coming to evening school activities (which means the world to my kids).

You all know you are woefully underpaid- if it were up to me, I'd end that right now! I hope you all have parents and administration that appreciate your efforts.

 

[WLfan]

We have 8 more days of classes at the HS and then testing for two more weeks. These last two weeks of classes are DRAGGING. I can't believe how slow it's going. Where are you summer?!!!

 

[Dismom+two]

I know it says teacher but are Paras welcomed??
I can not wait until the last day...June 22.
I am a one-on-one Para with a second grader. We get along good when she is in a good place. Lately, I believe she is REALLY acting up...her way of pushing me away knowing the end of the year is coming quickly . It's been very hard and stressful.

I could sure use some pixie dust, good thoughts...prayers...whatever you want to send my way!

 

[TSNCS]

Hello all! I am a science teacher in WV. We have a desperate need for science and math teachers here. However, our pay here sucks! LOL! Our surrounding states all pay WAY more than WV. Anyway, I am not complaining really, I am thankful to have a job that is pretty secure.

We have two more days with students and two without. I am ready for my vacation!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Today is my last day with kids. I'm happy because I do need a break but sad because I don't know if I will be back next year. Officially I have been laid off, but there is some hope that our Pre-K thru 12 private school may add a 3 year old program which I would do if they did. I'll go back on Friday to help clean the Pre-K room then I'm off for the summer. And then I'll be able to get ready for our week at Disneyland.

 

[jjnshane]

Hi everyone, I thought I would check in as well. I have been high school theatre (and sometimes English Literature when they need me) teacher in Central Florida for the past ten years. In addition to my "official" role of teacher I also play camp councilor, mediator, therapist and secondary mom to all of my students – the majority of them by now call me Momma J instead of by my name!

I have had a wonderful year working with my students – even with budget cuts and stress coming down the pike the performing arts department at my school has held together as a family and has come through it – thankfully. Arts are usually the first programs cut, but since at our school there is only one chorus teacher, one band teacher and myself there is very little to cut unless you get rid of the program entirely! I don’t kid myself, that could always happen – but I know that if it did I would be moved to English and I would still work with kids interested in theatre after school.

Today is our last full day with the kids and the next two days are exam schedule days where we only meet with half of the class periods and the students get to leave early. Then we have 3 days of post planning next week – I don’t know what I will do those three days besides clean the auditorium! – My grades are pretty much completed and I am fortunate enough to get to stay in the same classroom that I had this year for the next school year.

I am so ready for the summer – even though it was a great year with my kids, I am drained and need time to recharge my batteries. I am looking forward to some time off to hang out with my DD and head over to WDW and make use of our annual passes!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I just had to tell someone! The parents in my class are wonderful and many gave me great gift cards. One parent, though, gave me $25 in Disney Dollars!!! Extra money to spend on my trip! And it really looks so cool, engraving and sparkles and stuff.

 

[mrhistory]

My local district had two "money" superintendents in a row so we actually have a $20 million dollar surplus right now. We won't get a raise and they have upped class sizes, but we have not been asked to take furlough days or a reduction in pay. We finished last week and we will be at DW on Sunday.

 

[TAKitty]

Yeah! Final exams start tomorrow! It is such a feeling of relief!

 

[jpeka65844]

I just had to tell someone! The parents in my class are wonderful and many gave me great gift cards. One parent, though, gave me $25 in Disney Dollars!!! Extra money to spend on my trip! And it really looks so cool, engraving and sparkles and stuff.

I'm at a new school this year and the kids are slowly but surely finding out I'm nuts about Disney!

One parent sent me the WDW promo video where they used my name in all the "celebration" materials and I had one student bring me a Mickey Mouse to add to my collection on my shelf behind my desk. I've also had students ask me about my BWV wallpaper on my computer.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I'm at a new school this year and the kids are slowly but surely finding out I'm nuts about Disney!

One parent sent me the WDW promo video where they used my name in all the "celebration" materials and I had one student bring me a Mickey Mouse to add to my collection on my shelf behind my desk. I've also had students ask me about my BWV wallpaper on my computer.

It is nice to have students help feed your addiciton!

There was one girl in my class who loved Mickey Mouse. She had it on everything and would always show me when she had something new. She was always making her own "Hidden Mickeys" like putting together 3 Ritz crackers.

 

[matu8063]

Horribly! I'm happy with my EOG testing results for my 7th grade Language Arts students. I'm NOT happy with our governor here in NC.

There are 12,000 teaching jobs on the chopping block here in NC statewide.

The governor just docked all state employees .05% of their annual salaries in the last two paychecks!!!!

The NC Education Lottery people received an 8% pay raise this past year while teachers received a little better than 2% raise. NOW, due to the economic budget shortfall of 4.3 billion dollars, they are talking about cutting teachers' salaries by 10% next year.

Our salaries (before they drop 10%) are frozen for the next three years. Teachers with Master's degrees will now be paid at Bachelor's degree pay scale. No talk of retroactive pay when the budget balances. . . of course!
Longevity pay is now frozen (this, BTW, is a small reward for reaching 10+ years of teaching).

Aside from cutting teachers, the governor in her infinite wisdom has decided to push the maximum capacity of students in each classroom - at least 30. I guess I'll need bunk desks next year.

And they wonder why teachers are leaving the profession in droves - especially in North Carolina!!

I teach in NC too! I teach 7th grade too! I teach math. I didn't know about the Masters pay going away. Where did you find that information from. I asked the teachers at my school and they had not heard of this. My school has over 50% masters degree teachers, myself included.

4 days left.

I hope to purchase an Annual Pass this summer before the our cruise on Royal Carribean.

Hang in there for all of the teachers that have lost their job.

Missy

 

[PE_TCR]

One more week here! I am an elementary and intermediate school Physical Education teacher. I think my students are glad just to get away from the Disney music I play in class. Not the top choice for the 7th graders. I wish I had summers off. I have to work many summer jobs (a lot of softball umpiring and working at Miller Park) to pay for our next Disney trip. The Magic will look so good in December when it's snowing again here.
I can't believe its June and we actually had a frost warning last night!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Okay, here we go! I'm about to grade the very last test of the school year (a grammar one....oOOoOohhh, I just LOOOOVE me some good grammar!). WOOHOO! Summer here I come!

Our last day is in two weeks. The countdown has officially begun!

 

[Pappa Bear]

Two weeks ago Friday I closed the door on my 35 years career teaching and retired. My wonderful teammates surprised me at our end of year assembly by asking me to say a few words but I simply could not finish without choking up. The best I could tell them was that I believed in all of them and that I promised to be at their graduations from high school in 5 years and that I expected to see all of them in their caps and gowns. Then commenced a group hug w/130 7th graders that I thought I would not survive.

I have LOVED my job but increasing age has affected my physical ability to give the 110% my kids need and that I have taught them to expect. I have taught in a variety of settings, rural, urban, magnet, each with its challenges and rewards but it was always about my kids and nothing else. I chose to walk away before an administrator had to tell me it was time to. I will miss my kids and the rhythm of the classroom but I am confident that I made a difference in some of their lives and I could not ask for anything else.

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I will be at the World in September because we have never been able to travel outside of the school calendar. This is our first real vacation w/o students or our own children to supervise and we are really looking forward to it.

 

[smphbear]

Two weeks ago Friday I closed the door on my 35 years career teaching and retired. My wonderful teammates surprised me at our end of year assembly by asking me to say a few words but I simply could not finish without choking up. The best I could tell them was that I believed in all of them and that I promised to be at their graduations from high school in 5 years and that I expected to see all of them in their caps and gowns. Then commenced a group hug w/130 7th graders that I thought I would not survive.

I have LOVED my job but increasing age has affected my physical ability to give the 110% my kids need and that I have taught them to expect. I have taught in a variety of settings, rural, urban, magnet, each with its challenges and rewards but it was always about my kids and nothing else. I chose to walk away before an administrator had to tell me it was time to. I will miss my kids and the rhythm of the classroom but I am confident that I made a difference in some of their lives and I could not ask for anything else.

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I will be at the World in September because we have never been able to travel outside of the school calendar. This is our first real vacation w/o students or our own children to supervise and we are really looking forward to it.

Job Well Done... Enjoy retirement. I admire that you did what you felt was best for the kids and retired without someone forcing you to. You showed amazing courage by moving into a new phase of your life. I hope you enjoy retirement and your travels. The World is great in the off season. DH and I snuck in an adults only trip that was spectacular. I hope your trip goes just as well and that you get some of the pixie dust that we got!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi Teachers!!!

I just wanted to check in and see how everyone was enjoying their summer. Did you start hitting the Staples penny sales yet? They began today! I was very excited to see that they increased the teacher limit to 25 penny items per transaction. It'll make it easier once the better items start appearing in the sales later on in the month.

Nikki