Broken hearts

It's all I have seen on my Facebook newsfeed.. It's all that people were talking about at work. The deadly school shooting in Newton, CT at the Sandy Hook Elementary school is just beyond devastating. There truly are no words.

It just sickens me that this happened. In an elementary school. 20 young children don't get the right to live out their life because of this sicko. 6 adults as well. You send your children to school to get an education and think they'll be safe. School used to be a safe zone. You can always say "Maybe things would have been different if..." but that is not going to change the fact it happened. 

I cannot imagine what the students and faculty at that school are going through. The pictures of the children being escorted out of the school with their hands on the person's shoulder in front of them to safety at the firehouse are just heart-wrenching. I don't see anyone returning to that school this year. If I worked there, I don't know how I would be able to. What if you were that teacher that witnessed what happened to these children? It is something I would never get over it. 

One of the articles I read that said this teacher, Victoria Soto, locked her kids in cabinets and closets. When the gunman came in, she said they were in the gym and he shot her....they survived because their teacher took a bullet for them. Would you have if you were in that situation? I know as a teacher I would do everything my power to make sure the kids are safe as well as myself. But if it came down to it, I'd try to make sure the kids are protected first. It's almost a Hippocratic oath you "take" when you become a teacher regardless if they are in kindergarten OR high school. You want to protect your "kids" aka your students.

Oddly enough, the school that I work in had a lockdown drill to practice what to do if a situation such as the one in Newton, CT were to happen in our district the same day the shooting happened. We had a presentation at our faculty meeting last month, and were reminded at our one this week that it was going to happen before break. it's amazing how your instincts kick in whether it's a drill or a real situation.

People throw teachers under the bus all the time, claiming we have it easy and summers off. This 27 year old died to protect her 16 students. The principal of the school died trying to take the gunman down. 6 teachers died that day. If this doesn't say that teachers would do anything to protect their students, I don't know what does. 

My heart aches for these families and the grief they are deal with at this time...especially right before the holidays. Keep these little ones that had their lives cut short and everyone in Newton, CT in your prayers.
 

Christmas is so close!

Umm, how is Christmas TWO weeks from tomorrow?! Holy cow! I honestly cannot believe 2012 is coming to a close within a few weeks. This year has flown by in some aspects and dragged on in others.

I am super excited there are only 8 more school days after tomorrow. However, I am not excited that one of those school days involves the "lockdown" procedure of what to do incase there was ever an intruder in the room. The procedure seems simple enough but they are doing it between the change of classes so I feel like it is going to be chaos. I really need to find the paper I printed with the instructions because I have a feeling since we had our faculty meeting today, it's coming!!

I am also excited for Christmas break to SLEEP IN. I decided to NOT request any mornings to work during my break so I can catch up on sleep. Smart thinking on my part. Right now I'm average 4-6 a night, depending upon if I wake up or go to bed early. TORTURE. Ha! But that's the choice I made. I am also looking forward to my regular classes schedule. I have my regular kids going "Ms.J, when are you coming back?!" So sweet!

Today after school, I went to the mall to do my Christmas shopping and I was pretty productive!!! I got three of my four brothers done (even though one does not want a gift...he is getting it anyway!!!), my mom and then I bought a new pair of yoga pants from VS with my secret reward. I just have to return something for my niece Sara that she got from a friend for her birthday and get her a few more things (need to go to Target to see if they have the Orbeez foot bath she wants) and then Mark and I am pretty much done!! Minus finishing my mom & grandma's calendars and SIL's scrapbook. The calendars I want to get done this week before Friday because I have a $10 off coupon to shutterfly that expires. I'll sleep once Christmas is over, ha ha! And actually clean my room. Because every time I try, I end up falling asleep! And let's face it....it looks like a BOMB went off in here. I can't even wrap gifts in here.Some MAJOR cleaning needs to be done!

My nephew is obsessed with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It is so funny how things that were popular when I was younger or my brothers have come back! I used to remember LOVE watching the movie. He is getting the sewer lair from his parents for Christmas and has all the power sound FX guys. He's just looking for Splinter and I have spent hours looking like the good aunt I am for it and I am convinced they only make the mini one. I found one that is cheaper on ebay then amazon and is new in package so let's see when it comes! 


 

Being a teacher

One of my biggest pet peeves in life is when people make comments about teachers. They say that we have one of the easiest jobs, we're always off, we have summers off. They claim teachers are doing "glorified babysitting." Which, any teacher will tell you, IT IS SO NOT!

I always knew I wanted to be a foreign language teacher since about 8th grade. Thanks to having one awesome teacher who inspired me into pursuing this passion (my entire college admissions essay was about my middle school foreign language teacher) I never really regretted my decision. I did my undergraduate degree in education, but had to drop it two weeks before graduation because they weren't going to let me student teach (long big stupid story about the department having a student teaching requirement for the foreign language teachers and no one could pass it). Eventually, I pursued my masters in education (when I originally wanted to go for Teaching English as a Second Language). I completed it in 1.5 years and in May 2011, I graduated!

However, I feel so frustrated with it. I know every state has different requirements for a teaching degree. In NYS, we have to pass a bunch of different certification exams: Liberal Arts & Sciences Test (LAST), Assessment of Teaching Skills Written (ATS-W), and the Content Specialty Test (CST). Elementary teachers take a multi-subject CST for their degree. All these tests are $89 a pop to take and if you miss by one point, you have to retake it. Some people have had to take their CST 3 times (me and other friends included) because they test you on the most RANDOM information. Then, it's $100 to get fingerprinted (at least that is good for life!). Then, you have to take a child abuse workshop, safe violence workshop, an autism workshop if you're getting a special education degree. Also, applying for your certificates is $50 a certificate and every 5 years you have to renew them (that part doesn't bother me so much). The amount of money I have spent becoming a teacher disgusts me.

I have my degree in Adolescence Education Spanish for grades 7-12 with an extension for grades 5 & 6. I also took four classes, a Students with Disabilities CST and the autism workshop after I did my masters to get my Special Education generalist degree. Only NYS likes taking forever to review your transcripts. I applied in APRIL, my transcripts were "ready for review" in AUGUST, and they just got reviewed in NOVEMBER! I got my letter the other day telling me I am deficient in 6 S.H math credits. So basically, I have to go back to school and take 2 math classes....and I haven't taken math since I was a senior in HIGH SCHOOL! It' just annoys me that you have to go through all these hoops and hurdles to get the degree. They don't even tell you what kinds of math classes you need to take. I want to take the easiest ones possible! Math was probably my worst subject in school (I detest it with a passion!) 

I am going to try to take it at the community college. I figure it would be way cheaper taking it there then where I got my masters (a private school). This just pisses me off because now its more money to add to the debt that I am trying to pay off! It is just never ending. And, I think I am going to wait until the summer to take it because there is way too much on my plate right now. There is no way I could factor in taking classes while working 3 jobs, one of which being in a school all day. My other option is to take it online, which I may also do but somehow I feel I would learn the math better in a classroom.

I didn't originally go to school to work as a special education teacher. But in a job market where the teaching jobs are far and few, ANYTHING that can make me stand out is better. And just for some laughter, here are a few of my favorite teacher e-cards:

To my peanut niece

\

To my peanut niece, Sara Elizabeth, HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY!! It was 8 years ago today that you were born. I woke up for school that morning and was told your mother went into labor. I was SO excited to see if you were going to be a boy or a girl. I actually bet my SIL's mother $5 that she was a girl and I won! At 7:19pm, you came into this world and your parents were so happy. 

I can hardly believe the little lady my niece is turning into. She has the kindest soul, sweetest face, generosity, such a good heart and the CUTEST laugh. I am so proud to be her godmother and aunt. She is going to turn into one well-rounded compassionate individual and I can't wait to see who she becomes! 

These are just a few of my favorite pictures of us/her:

 Tonight at her 8th birthday dinner. We had what she wanted, chinese food & chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I gave her Orbeez make your own perfume thing (this kid LOVES arts & crafts) and a box set of Judy B. Jones books. The kid is so easy to shop for....except I have to return one of her Christmas gifts I got today because one of her friends gave it to her at her party. 

 

{WILW}

Link up with the lovely Jamie today to share what you're loving!


I'm loving that the Carrie Underwood concert last week was so AWESOME!

I'm loving that tomorrow is my niece's 8th birthday!! She is also my goddaughter. I love that girl to death. How did she go from this to this?! 

I'm loving this picture my niece & her sister & brother with their dad, my brother. My brother has such great kids.

I'm loving all the co-workers at the school I work in. I am totally okay with anything they give me to do while my other teacher is away. They were such a big help yesterday when I was frazzled. 

I'm loving that I have Monday night off next week. I am TOTALLY napping when I come home that day.

I'm loving this picture of my only girl cousin, Lisa, and I from Thanksgiving. I cannot remember the last time we took a picture together. She's getting married next year on July 4th!

I'm loving that one of my BFF's Olivia & her boyfriend Marc found an apartment together! I am sad its in upstate NY but I am happy for them..can't wait to visit!

I'm loving that there is only twelve more school days (including tomorrow) until Christmas break. I'm one tired teacher. 

 

 

Relief.

Ever have one of those days when you feel like NOTHING is going right, your brain feels frazzled, and you're trying to keep everything in so you don't lose it? Or so you don't cry? Wish you could go back to bed and get up to have a do-over on your day?...

Yeah, that was totally me TODAY. I think I mentioned that one of the teachers I usually work with (I work with 4 different ones between 6 periods) got a summons for grand jury duty. She was not thrilled....then again, who is excited to get jury duty? So they made me her sub and got a sub for me as my TA position. 

She left me the plans for the three weeks (basically until we go on break for Christmas). All the homework seems to line up but the material for the actually class does not seem to match up. I feel homework should be reflective of what you taught in the class so the students could practice it. Makes sense, right?

Well, the other classes are having a test Thursday and they need to because the quarter ends January 25th and they have to take a quarterly exam about a week after we return to school from break. So sometime between now and Christmas, they need a test. Well, I was not told common planning was 4th period on Tuesday until the last FIVE minutes of it today. At least now I know for next time. During my lunch 7th, I talked to one of my other teachers and basically had a mini-freak out. Their stuff is not lining up with the other classes and I feel like they are going to fall behind.

Mainly, I felt like what I was doing was "filler" stuff. I think it was meant so I wouldn't actually have to plan a lesson but I still have to find something to use to teach it! So one of my teachers came and took the plans to take to the common planning period 9th that she and another teacher meet. Afterwards, they called me up and the department chair (also the assistant principal) was there. All three of them helped me and told me not to worry. I so greatly appreciate it from each one of them. A copy of the test should be in my mailbox when I go in tomorrow morning and I got stuff to make the kids review for the next three days. The kids are not going to be happy because they usually watch movies on Fridays after their quiz. Oh well. The only thing is I am pretty 99% sure positive I left the vocab quizzes & sheets I was showing them in the room.  I did not realize it until I got to my tutoring job. I had emailed all three of the ladies that helped me to thank them and asked if they put them back in the room I am in or my mailbox. I just PRAY they did not get throw out. Otherwise, I am screwed. I think they would've put them away for me.

I feel better now that I have a better grasp as to what to do. I just felt so lost. It's exciting yet when you're not sure WHAT to be teaching to make sure the kids are on par with all the other classes, it gets tough. For the 7th grade, they seem to be lining up and I am going to check with my teacher that I normally work with 9th tomorrow during 2nd period. I have something for tomorrow but I want to see what else to do. I know they can't tell me what to do but if they can at least guide me, it'll give me an idea of what to do. 

It may seem like something stupid to over feel but I just want to be on my game. I was so frustrated 7th I just lost it (one of the kids in 8th asked why my face was red and I said allergies) but at least now with this game plan, I will be okay. Thank god I have such awesome co-workers. Now if i only had about 5-10 more hours in a day to catch up on things, I will be okay!

The only bright side to my day was waking up and seeing that they had the backpack on sale on Vera Bradley for $34 and they're normally over $80!! I left school and was quite content that I had ordered one this morning. 

13 more days....not that I am counting or anything. Ha ha. 

{Sunday Social}

Link up with Neely & Ashley for another fun Sunday Social!


1. What is your favorite holiday season tradition?
Honestly...just opening up gifts with my brother, my sister-in-law and their kids before seeing the extended family. When you factor in the extended family, we're upwards of 25+ people now and its so much for the little ones to open EVERYONE's gifts. We've made it a tradition that after we're done opening gifts at our house, we go over to my brother's house, open gifts and have breakfast with mimosas. I love spending that time with the nieces & nephew!

2. Do you have a certain holiday movie you watch more than others? If so, what is it?
My all-time favorite Christmas movie is probably A Christmas Story. I love when there is a 24 hour marathon of it. Seriously it is WAY too funny.

Elf is another good one and I cannot wait to watch it with my students in two weeks after our quizzes (Friday movie class!)

3. Show us your favorite decoration or pinterest decoration you wish you could have.

I think this just looks festive! 

4. What is your favorite holiday song?
I have a few! "Feliz Navidad" is one of my favorites because hello, I am a Spanish teacher. It just gets stuck in your head.

I also LOVE Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You" and NSYNC's "Merry Christmas...Happy Holidays"

5. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Cookies!! I wanna try to make these:

or these

 

6. What is on your wish list this year?
  I would love a MK watch, the MK wallet to match the bag my brother gave me last year for Christmas (I think he is getting it for me....my co-worker Natalie told him to! ha!), gray Bailey Uggs, a maid, and my loans paid off. Ha! The last two I don't expect and I am totally not a labels obsessed girl. I probably wont get any of these but I will be happy with what I get. :)