Teachers' Thread

[*NikkiBell*]

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?

 

[luke]

Howdy!
We have a week off next week, then seven weeks back in before the summer break, can't wait!

 

[zendisney]

I was laid off in December. I am a reading specialist. I have been doing some consultant work part time.
This has been an interesting school year. It's all good. I have to say I am still looking forward to the summer. There is something about "summer" its not just a time... it is a feeling. I hope everyone's school year end smoothly.
Peace,
Carla Rae

 

[californiadopeyfreak]

I teach in Southern California at a year round school. We get out June 18and come back July 20th! Short summer. But we get 3 weeks in October (Would love to go WW..wishing) and this year we get the whole week of Thanksgiving off! I have an annual pass to Disneyland..so will hopefully be spending some quality time with the mouse! Glad school is almost over for this year..these kids have been a handful this year! I teach students with learning disabilities and it has been really hard to come up with new and different ways to helps kids "get" things! Sometimes is sing Algebra songs in my sleep! Yeah for us teachers! Just think of us in California..they have cut education to the bone..thank goodness I still have a job!

Cali

 

[Danauk]

Howdy!
We have a week off next week, then seven weeks back in before the summer break, can't wait!

Thats the same for me too, only we get a week and a day off. The extra day is for report writing, only I have got ahead of mine and they will be done before our official day off to write them!! However we are expecing an OFSTED in those 7 weeks

 

[cj9200]

I don't know about teachers but my daughter is stressed out. Last minute projects are due and freshman year finals coming up. She just took an AP World History exam. That was intense. Remember, grading on a curve is a good thing.

For a fact, there is no way I could be a teacher. You guys are way underpaid. That and the lack of resources you are given. When she was in first grade, they allowed us to “audit” the class. I went and after 30 minutes (OK, five) I was ready to head for the door. If I was left alone in charge, by the end of the day you would see me in a corner flinching uncontrollably with a blank stare on my face. AND THOSE WERE FIRST GRADERS.

Like anything else in life, she has had one or two bad ones but overwhelmingly her teachers have had an incredible impact on her life and she will remember them forever. Thank you for that.

 

[Sooze]

If I was left alone in charge, by the end of the day you would see me in a corner flinching uncontrollably with a blank stare on my face. AND THOSE WERE FIRST GRADERS.

That's funny!

Another teacher checking in! I teach 3rd grade in Indianapolis. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer vacation!!! We have 3 days left with the kiddos, one teacher work day, then we're FREE!!!!

I've had a GREAT year... wonderful class with supportive parents. I'm actually looping with my class, so we'll all be together again in 4th grade.

It's fun to hear about all of the DISUnplugged-Teachers. Thanks for starting the thread!

 

[luke]

Thats the same for me too, only we get a week and a day off. The extra day is for report writing, only I have got ahead of mine and they will be done before our official day off to write them!! However we are expecing an OFSTED in those 7 weeks

We got ofsted in october, such stress, hope it goes well.
Are you primary or secondary?

 

[tlcoke]

I am not a teacher but I work in Higher Education at the University of Louisville in a support role for faculty & staff in our in House Printing Facility. We work year round with only Major Holidays off (work permitting) and a 1 week break between Christmas & New Years.
It's amazing how many College Professors & Instructors don't seems to know when school begins to get their course materials into us to print for their classes.

 

[elemusing]

Hey All,

I wrote about myself in a different thread but here goes again - I teach Kindergarten -11 classes, 1st grade - 10 classes, and 2nd grade - 10 classes general music in West Tn (Paris). I LOVE my job. It is so fun and the kids are great! Where else can I hear, "you look so pretty today" and then in the next breath hear "my mom is fat too." LOL um. . . too?

I have TWO days left! woohoo! Then an inservice in June and then inservice full time the last week of July. Kids come back August 5th. The kids are so ready to be out - I am too.

One reason I love my job so much is I get to see these little darlings grow from scared 4 and 5 year olds to the "big" 2nd graders in our school. (My school houses K-2). The changes are amazing.

You also get your heart broken alot when you see a kids who obviously got themselves ready for school and didn't bathe or eat that morning. Many days I want to take home a kid or two and feed them.

But I do what I can at school and try very hard to be positive and keep in contact with their parents. One thing I love about our school - during parent-teacher conference- if parents don't show up - we go to THEM. Many times they are surprised when we knock on their door and ask for a conference. We have 100% P-T conference because we go to them if they don't show up. Usually by 2nd grade they have learned that they might as well come because if they don't we are gonna come a knockin'!

My dream is to teach for 15 more years and then take retirement in TN and then go to GA or FL to teach (closer to my love - Mickey!)

Hang in there everyone- we are close to a break! Only 2 more days of getting up at 5am for me for a while!

~Angie

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm so glad we can chat here. We have 21 school days left. I'm so tired too. We just finished state testing last week and the kids are nutty. I also applied for a new position for our district...an upper elementary reading specialist and literacy coach. I'll have two fifth grade reading classes and then work with third and fourth grade the rest of the day. That should make for an interesting year next year. Oh and I was just nominated as union vice president. Not sure if I'm going to do it or not yet though.

 

[carol1231]

I'm a PreK teacher (4 & 5 year old). I have a very good gig - Tuesdays and Thursdays, the other days I fill in if I'm needed in other grades, but I'm usually off. I love my schedule. Only two more weeks to go!! Then were heading to WDW!!!

 

[ericafny]

Another teacher checking in here. I just got certified here in NY in February and have been working as a SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher) with a preschool child for the past several months. I also work as a Behavior Consultant and have worked with the little ones (Early Intervention) too.

I am currently looking for a classroom teaching job for the upcoming 09-10 school year but the job climate in NYC/Long Island area is grim to say the least. NYC just announced they are at a hiring freeze and are only hiring for new schools and Long Island well..those jobs are coveted and you really need to "know someone" to get in. Good luck to me

I work 6 weeks in the summer since I am a special ed teacher but I only work 4 hours a day to begin with so it's not so bad. I am still looking forward to the summer though so bring it on

 

[Stitchmistress]

I am a Speech/Language Pathologist in Middle and High School. Annual reviews are 95% done, Whoo hoo! They went really well. I also had some praise from the Special Ed director recently, which is nice, because sometimes you only hear negatives, it was nice to hear a positive. Summer here we come! Oh, and OT, I just earned my ears today!

 

[ericafny]

I am a Speech/Language Pathologist in Middle and High School. Annual reviews are 95% done, Whoo hoo! They went really well. I also had some praise from the Special Ed director recently, which is nice, because sometimes you only hear negatives, it was nice to hear a positive. Summer here we come! Oh, and OT, I just earned my ears today!

Yeah for getting some recognition from the Sp Ed Director and double yeah for earning your ears

 

[LSURyan]

Middle School Band Director checking in. We have TWO more days...woo hoo!!!
Then its a relaxing June until band camps start (I help the High Schools' camp) and an early August start.

 

[smphbear]

Well... tomorrow is our work day and the kids leave at 10:30 on Friday. The teachers then have an off campus luncheon.

The only downside is that I will now be working summers. This year has been quite a ride. 10 days before school started, I agreed to move from teaching Social Studies to 7th and 8th graders to teaching computer to 4th - 8th. I also took on the position of technology director. I do that work whenever there is a spare minute in my day. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. My boss is trying to talk me into getting my masters in admin so that I can be a full time tech director / vice-principal. I am thinking it over.

Nikki - Thanks for the I-Phone thread. I have to wait till the contract (with AT&T) on my piece of junk LG Shine will allow me to upgrade. I am just going to hang in for the new version in July. My new job makes it very easy to justify. DH has my money put aside. The waiting is no fun!

Hang in there everyone!

 

[DVCJones]

Hi, I am a middle school art teacher. I have had a very fun, but busy year. I started my M.Ed in Sept. I work full-time and I have two DDs 4 and 6. Oh yeah, and one husband.

I have 14 full days and 2 half days left in the school year...but who's counting.

 

[smphbear]

Middle School Band Director checking in. We have TWO more days...woo hoo!!!
Then its a relaxing June until band camps start (I help the High Schools' camp) and an early August start.

Hi neighbor! I am not that far from Baton Rouge. We will spend some of our days at Blue Bayou. Enjoy the summer!

 

[Tissa]

Well I'm not a teacher yet but I just finished my 2nd year of school and plan to be a special education teacher. It's nice to have some down time before my boys get out of school and I start summer classes.