Over the last two days, I have had the time to reflect on my experiences as a middle school teacher compared to when I was an elementary school teacher. The question has come up several times while visiting with colleagues at CCSS trainings: "How do you like middle school?" The answer is I LOVE IT! I am amazed every time I say how much I love it because I NEVER pictured myself as a middle school teacher. I always thought I wanted to ONLY teach elementary school. This was partially because of a few bad experiences I had as a substitute in middle school. I remember the last time I subbed in a middle school I could not wait to get the hell out of there. The kids were disrespectful and clearly were not there to learn. After that day, I took middle school off my sub list and out of my mind. Fast forward 4 1/2 years later and the only contract job opportunity is not only a teaching position at a middle school but I was also charged with the task of making HUGE growth with students in a very short amount of time. I jumped at the opportunity because I needed to pay my bills. Now almost a year later, I can say that I whole heartedly LOVE my job.
The kids are bigger, the attitudes are definitely bigger, and the problems are bigger. I no longer hear, "Miss M you're so pretty." Instead I hear, "Miss M, do you like me?" and "Is this period your favorite class?" Kids are kids no matter how old they are or how big they are. And most of my students are taller than me. But at the end of the day, they still want to hear that they are special and loved. Especially now.
Many of my 7th graders are experiencing their first real crushes and rejections. Many of them are experiencing conflict with their friends. Many of them are trying to find their way and to fit in amongst their peers. It is an interesting age. Everything is super important to them and every problem is HUGE.
Emotions are heightened.
Sometimes I find myself wondering, "Was I like that? Did I have an attitude with my teachers?" I was a pretty studious and quiet kid in 7th grade. I was more concerned with my ballet classes than boys. I didn't follow the fads at all-no boy band posters for me. But I do know at home was a different story and I remember getting in trouble for my attitude and eye-rolling. Now as an adult and as a teacher, I understand just how annoying and disrespectful it is.
This past year has been rewarding and interesting though and while I wouldn't say no to an elementary teaching position, I have to say that right now I am enjoying the middle school ride. Every day is different, every period is different, and every kid is different. I LOVE MIDDLE SCHOOL!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New Endeavors
The past six months of my life have been filled with new endeavors. I bought a house, fixed almost the entire house (with my now husband), got a dog, got engaged, gave up a dog, got a new dog, and most recently-got married. All in six months. You would think things would start to calm down, but that isn't how life works. The same weekend I was getting married, I also had to make a decision about what school I want to work at next year (first time I've ever had a choice). This was a difficult process because both schools and principals are EXCELLENT leaders! Ahhh! But I made a choice. And in the middle of all that, I also made the decision that I want to pursue a doctorate in education. Which means, I will be taking the GRE in a little over a month. AHHH (again)!
My life has changed drastically in the course of the last six months and I think it will continue to change. My home is now filled with a husband (still getting used to saying "husband"), two cats, and one dog. It seems as if it is perpetually dirty and chaotic and sometimes I long for the days when I had carpet and no dog wanting my constant attention. There are days when I wish I could sink my toes into some carpet instead of paw print covered hardwood floors (especially after rainy days when I just finished mopping the day before). But then when my husband is home and I am surrounded by the small "zoo" of furry friends, I smile and think how lucky I am. Much has changed both personally and professionally for me in a short amount of time. I feel things are starting to move upwards and onwards which is a stark comparison to where I was not so very long ago. If you have been following my blog, then you know how hard the last few years have been for me as a teacher. But I am hopeful, thankful, and blessed for all the change that has come my way and I know the best is yet to come.
My life has changed drastically in the course of the last six months and I think it will continue to change. My home is now filled with a husband (still getting used to saying "husband"), two cats, and one dog. It seems as if it is perpetually dirty and chaotic and sometimes I long for the days when I had carpet and no dog wanting my constant attention. There are days when I wish I could sink my toes into some carpet instead of paw print covered hardwood floors (especially after rainy days when I just finished mopping the day before). But then when my husband is home and I am surrounded by the small "zoo" of furry friends, I smile and think how lucky I am. Much has changed both personally and professionally for me in a short amount of time. I feel things are starting to move upwards and onwards which is a stark comparison to where I was not so very long ago. If you have been following my blog, then you know how hard the last few years have been for me as a teacher. But I am hopeful, thankful, and blessed for all the change that has come my way and I know the best is yet to come.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
New Beginnings
I cannot believe how quickly the beginning of school came this year! I guess I shouldn't be surprised though. Shortly after finishing up my Extended School Year summer tutoring assignment, I closed the deal on the house!!! It was such an ORDEAL to get to that point! I wish they had a show on HGTV that followed what happens once your offer is accepted and the CRAZY DRAWN OUT escrow process begins. What a pain in the you know what!
So once I got the keys in my hand and the glow of I can't believe it's finally over was done, the reality of new homeownership set in. My boyfriend and I along with some family and a few kind friends set to work on our own HGTV make-over. The pressure was on since we only had 12 days at that point to get everything done. I had to be out of my apartment in 12 days and my boyfriend had to leave for his annual training (he's a Marine) the following day. It was INSANE!!! We tore down wallpaper, popcorn ceilings, pulled up carpeting, tore out wood paneling, added insulation to a room, put up new drywall, ripped out a pocket door and replaced it with a new door, stripped wood floors, and stained them. The bulk of the work is now done (30 days later) and the first mortgage payment has been paid (boy was that fast!). There are still little things here and there that need some TLC and a backyard that needs some attention.
Everything was pretty much done just in time for me to go back to WORK!!! It came so fast! I am so incredibly thankful to have a job at the beginning of the year this time (especially after the experience of last year). I am at a NEW middle school (of course...temporary teacher, right!). And although I had 7th graders last year for Language Arts Intervention, it is still a new experience because I now am teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies.
As if the events from above weren't enough change....I am now....(wait for it)...ENGAGED!!! CRAZY! Crazy how life works!
So once I got the keys in my hand and the glow of I can't believe it's finally over was done, the reality of new homeownership set in. My boyfriend and I along with some family and a few kind friends set to work on our own HGTV make-over. The pressure was on since we only had 12 days at that point to get everything done. I had to be out of my apartment in 12 days and my boyfriend had to leave for his annual training (he's a Marine) the following day. It was INSANE!!! We tore down wallpaper, popcorn ceilings, pulled up carpeting, tore out wood paneling, added insulation to a room, put up new drywall, ripped out a pocket door and replaced it with a new door, stripped wood floors, and stained them. The bulk of the work is now done (30 days later) and the first mortgage payment has been paid (boy was that fast!). There are still little things here and there that need some TLC and a backyard that needs some attention.
Everything was pretty much done just in time for me to go back to WORK!!! It came so fast! I am so incredibly thankful to have a job at the beginning of the year this time (especially after the experience of last year). I am at a NEW middle school (of course...temporary teacher, right!). And although I had 7th graders last year for Language Arts Intervention, it is still a new experience because I now am teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies.
As if the events from above weren't enough change....I am now....(wait for it)...ENGAGED!!! CRAZY! Crazy how life works!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Hooray for Summer!!!
I am finally officially beginning my summer break! I am so excited for the next 30 days off. I'm sure it will go by in a flash.
It's been awhile since I last blogged (I'm working on getting this blogging thing more routine), so I will recap what has been going on in the last month. I spent the last 19 days as a one-on-one tutor for a student in my district who required Extended School Year services. It was an interesting experience and I enjoyed working in the elementary setting again. I am very grateful for the plethora of resources I found on the Internet for phonics, fluency, comprehension, and multiplication (since it is summer, all of my teacher tools are in storage). One gem I came across this summer is the Cherry Carl website. It has FANTASTIC resources, particularly the Dolch words section!!! I heart it and wish I had know about it when I was teaching Kinder and 2nd grade! It would have been a HUGE help! However, I know about it now and encourage you to check it out!
Another recent development that has occurred during the last two months is that I am....buying a house! This is still kind of mind boggling to me because I never really set a goal to buy a house. It was one of those things that just kind of happened. So, how did it happen you wonder? Well, it was the boyfriend's idea originally. In the over two years that we have been together, he has been on the house hunt. He came very close once in Hesperia and I have to say I was not too keen on the idea of visiting/living (one day) in Hesperia (the relationship was still in it's beginning stages at that point). Long story short, things didn't work out with that house and the hunt continued. Last summer, when I was going through a rough patch emotionally and mentally (no teaching contract), the boyfriend and I had the talk (several talks actually). During those conversations we discussed at great length what we wanted for our future together and how were we going to get there. That was when my spending habits took a huge change and so did my thoughts and feelings about many other things. So, I began pinching every penny and quit shopping (this was NOT easy). I faced the fact that I am a shopaholic and changed my ways.
So now, I am in the FINAL days of this whole escrow process (which is not for the faint-hearted). It has been the longest and most intense two months of my life! The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight though. We have moved on to the more exciting aspects such as picking out paint colors, looking at ceiling fans, and stain for the wood floors that are currently hiding beneath some pink shag carpeting. I am looking forward to the day when the boyfriend and I can finally move in to our new home and start planning for another momentous day (WEDDING!).
In the meantime, I have begun catching up on my young adult literature. I've already read the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, both by Suzanne Collins. I can't wait to get my hands on the final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay. I have not enjoyed the YA genre so much since reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Currently, I am reading The Giver.
Needless to say, I'm going to busy with a capital B this summer!
It's been awhile since I last blogged (I'm working on getting this blogging thing more routine), so I will recap what has been going on in the last month. I spent the last 19 days as a one-on-one tutor for a student in my district who required Extended School Year services. It was an interesting experience and I enjoyed working in the elementary setting again. I am very grateful for the plethora of resources I found on the Internet for phonics, fluency, comprehension, and multiplication (since it is summer, all of my teacher tools are in storage). One gem I came across this summer is the Cherry Carl website. It has FANTASTIC resources, particularly the Dolch words section!!! I heart it and wish I had know about it when I was teaching Kinder and 2nd grade! It would have been a HUGE help! However, I know about it now and encourage you to check it out!
Another recent development that has occurred during the last two months is that I am....buying a house! This is still kind of mind boggling to me because I never really set a goal to buy a house. It was one of those things that just kind of happened. So, how did it happen you wonder? Well, it was the boyfriend's idea originally. In the over two years that we have been together, he has been on the house hunt. He came very close once in Hesperia and I have to say I was not too keen on the idea of visiting/living (one day) in Hesperia (the relationship was still in it's beginning stages at that point). Long story short, things didn't work out with that house and the hunt continued. Last summer, when I was going through a rough patch emotionally and mentally (no teaching contract), the boyfriend and I had the talk (several talks actually). During those conversations we discussed at great length what we wanted for our future together and how were we going to get there. That was when my spending habits took a huge change and so did my thoughts and feelings about many other things. So, I began pinching every penny and quit shopping (this was NOT easy). I faced the fact that I am a shopaholic and changed my ways.
So now, I am in the FINAL days of this whole escrow process (which is not for the faint-hearted). It has been the longest and most intense two months of my life! The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight though. We have moved on to the more exciting aspects such as picking out paint colors, looking at ceiling fans, and stain for the wood floors that are currently hiding beneath some pink shag carpeting. I am looking forward to the day when the boyfriend and I can finally move in to our new home and start planning for another momentous day (WEDDING!).
In the meantime, I have begun catching up on my young adult literature. I've already read the Hunger Games and Catching Fire, both by Suzanne Collins. I can't wait to get my hands on the final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay. I have not enjoyed the YA genre so much since reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Currently, I am reading The Giver.
Needless to say, I'm going to busy with a capital B this summer!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Journey to the Middle Years
Despite my best efforts, I have been horribly and terribly MIA. But this has ALL been with good reason. I have spent the last 5 months as a (cue the scary movie music) MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER!!! AHHH! Surprisingly though, it was not as scary an experience as I had previously imagined. I have to admit that I never in my wildest imagination thought I would 1. be successful at it or 2. enjoy it. I was more than happy to stay in the safe and colorful world that is elementary school.
This last January brought a huge challenge and opportunity my way though. A temporary contracted position opened up at one of the middle schools in my district. I applied for the position and thought I would get at least an interview. It was worth a shot. The position was for a 7th grade Language Arts Intervention teacher. I quickly moved through the interview process which included a panel interview of at least 10 people. This panel included the administration, school counselor, the entire 7th grade Language Arts department, and RSP teachers. I received an email shortly after letting me know I had made it through the first round. Next, I had to put together a SMARTboard lesson for a 7th grade class of 30 students. The lesson had to be 45 minutes, follow the Direct Instruction model, use Thinking Maps and Structured Academic Talk, provide differentiation, and teach students the correct usage of the semi-colon vs. the comma. It was no small feat that I pulled it off! I had about two days to get my lesson together.
The morning of my demo-lesson I was a basket of nerves. I was ready (and had learned a lot about the comma and semi-colon) but still nervous. The good thing was, all of my nerves stayed bottled up inside. I seamlessly taught my lesson to a roomful of 7th graders I had never worked with before and once again the panel of 10. I was very relieved when it was over. (I later found out that only two candidates had made it to this part of the interview process and I was one of them). The following day I received a phone call from the school that there was one more interview I needed to go to. It was at this interview that I found out unofficially how impressed the panel of 10 had been with me and that this middle school wanted me! I was astounded!
This was the beginning of my journey into middle school. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my teaching career. It has also been one of the most challenging. I have worked harder as a teacher for my students than ever before. It was all worth it though. And I will be continuing this journey in August when I return once again to middle school. This time I will be teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies at a new school.
This last January brought a huge challenge and opportunity my way though. A temporary contracted position opened up at one of the middle schools in my district. I applied for the position and thought I would get at least an interview. It was worth a shot. The position was for a 7th grade Language Arts Intervention teacher. I quickly moved through the interview process which included a panel interview of at least 10 people. This panel included the administration, school counselor, the entire 7th grade Language Arts department, and RSP teachers. I received an email shortly after letting me know I had made it through the first round. Next, I had to put together a SMARTboard lesson for a 7th grade class of 30 students. The lesson had to be 45 minutes, follow the Direct Instruction model, use Thinking Maps and Structured Academic Talk, provide differentiation, and teach students the correct usage of the semi-colon vs. the comma. It was no small feat that I pulled it off! I had about two days to get my lesson together.
The morning of my demo-lesson I was a basket of nerves. I was ready (and had learned a lot about the comma and semi-colon) but still nervous. The good thing was, all of my nerves stayed bottled up inside. I seamlessly taught my lesson to a roomful of 7th graders I had never worked with before and once again the panel of 10. I was very relieved when it was over. (I later found out that only two candidates had made it to this part of the interview process and I was one of them). The following day I received a phone call from the school that there was one more interview I needed to go to. It was at this interview that I found out unofficially how impressed the panel of 10 had been with me and that this middle school wanted me! I was astounded!
This was the beginning of my journey into middle school. This has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my teaching career. It has also been one of the most challenging. I have worked harder as a teacher for my students than ever before. It was all worth it though. And I will be continuing this journey in August when I return once again to middle school. This time I will be teaching 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies at a new school.
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