Take a Time Out

Exhaustion has kicked in. Thank goodness for a 4 day weekend. I forget how tired I am the first week of school.  I do it to myself every year! It's too hot for coffee and I'm so busy during the day that I forget to drink enough water.  I have been in bed by 9pm every night because I just can't keep my eyes open. 

My doctor keeps telling me to get plenty of rest, drink water, eat healthier, get more exercise and put myself into my calendar.  I dread going to see her because I know she's right but I just don't have enough time in the day. This school year I am really hoping to take time to focus and take care of myself early on before I get too overwhelmed and burn out.  Like many stressful jobs, teachers need to have a form of release at the end of each day or each week. If you don't have something that takes your mind off the data, the behaviors or the endless lesson planning, you will reach a breaking point.

I have 2 very energetic girls at home who don't give be a break when I get home. So if you are like me you need to get creative with your time.  I luckily have a very supportive husband who realizes when I've hit a wall as teacher, mommy and wife.  He makes me take a time out.  Let me tell you my time outs are not long, sometimes an hour minimum.  Taking even an hour makes all the difference.  It allows me to recharge, clear my head and breathe.

So what do I do during my time outs?  Nothing too crazy, here's a peek at some things I like to do for myself.  

• sleep in- on Saturday mornings we switch off on taking our early birds downstairs so the other can catch a few more zzzs
• take a walk- a 30 minute walk around the block is sometimes enough to clear the fuzz in my head
• monthly massage- this is always a great plan but many times it's just a few times a year
• girl's night in- as a working mom who's husband works non-traditional hours, it is much easier for me to have a few friends over than it is to actually go out and try to find a sitter. Movies, book clubs, or just chit chat can go a long way after a busy week.  I actually found an art teacher who brings paint night right to your house! I can't wait to see how it goes!
• keep a journal- writing is a great release for me.  It helps me put things into perspective.  I also jot down notes and use post-its alot.
• read- I tend to save all my reading for the summer when I actually have time, but this year I'm going to make sure I carry a book in my purse everyday.  When it's done I'll start a new one.  My goal is 4 before June.

 Another thing I'm hoping to do this school year is LEARN TO SAY NO.  I have a tendency to overload my calendar and not leave any time for me.  So I'm going to finally take my doctor's advice and put myself into that calendar each day. I don't know how but I'm determined to figure it out! 

First Day Jitters

 

This is one of my all time favorite back to school stories.  When I taught 4th grade I used this as a first day read aloud.  It really can be used with any grade level.  For those of you who have never read Julie Danneberg's First Day Jitters (spoiler alert).  This story is about Sarah Jane who is nervous as she gets ready to start a new school. She doesn't want to go but is encouraged by Mr. Hartwell.  She goes and befriends Mrs. Burton, who helps her with the transition. There is an unexpected ending to the story as the readers discover the Sarah Jane is actually a teacher who is going to teach at a new school for the first time. 

When I think back my very first year teaching I remember all too well those first day jitters. The unknown was so scary.  Thirteen years later and I still get those butterflies in my belly and wonder what the year has in store for me.  It's not uncommon for teachers to get nervous before school starts.  My first grade students get a kick out of hearing this story and can't believe that teacher's get the jitters too!

Here are a few first day jitter tips for teachers as they start the new school year: 

• go to bed early- rest up you'll need it for the next 180 days 
• get to work early- you don't want to feel rushed.  Settle in and prepare your space and mind for the first day
• take a break- eat your lunch, use the bathroom, get your thoughts together
• talk to your buddies- check in at the end of the day see how things went.  Remember you aren't alone.
• Breathe- only 179 more days to go
• get to bed early- you will be exhausted

Welcome Back! Have a great 2014/2015 school year!

What's in Your Teacher Bag?

This is my 13th year as an elementary school teacher. It has been about 10 years since I sported a "teacher bag." I used a personalized tote signed by my student teaching students the first few years and then alternated between really big purses to recycled totes ( the kind you use at the grocery store).  I know, I am way overdo.

Thanks to a colleague who posted a picture of a great looking canvas bag she picked up on sale, I decided this was my year! It's been a long time coming but I think I've earned a new accessory to carry all those back to school supplies I purchased.

I love my Vera! This one is a color block, canvas bag. It's big enough to carry everything I need.  It does not come with a zipper but it was on sale!  So what's in my teacher bag?

• $3 file box from Target Dollar Spot
• Student Info Binder- never know when you need to reach a parent after you've left the building
• Current classroom projects I'm working on
• Notebook- to jot down to-do list, shopping list, lesson ideas, notes, etc
• Kind Bar- afternoon fuel
• Zipper-pouch to hold: highlighters, markers for correcting papers, binder clips and Post-It Notes
• Camera- to capture all the fun

What's in your teacher bag?

It Takes a Village...but I still suffer from Mommy Guilt

As teachers many of us suffer from ... Mommy Guilt.  All you full time working moms, you know this all too well.  While most parents reach the end of Summer vacation with a few more gray hairs, I suffer from this guilt. I'm always torn.  Excited to return to work, awaiting adult conversation and anxious to meet a new set of students.  Yet I leave behind 2 sweet faces, long days of exploring, car rides, zoo visits and a few weeks of carefree living. 

There's no cure for Mommy Guilt.  The only thing I can do is trust that I'm doing the right thing year after year.  As a teacher I am entrusted with the lives of 20+ students every year. I care for them, watch them grow, teach them and I hope in some way I shape them.  While I spend 6 hours watching them grow, I can't help wonder if I've missed something of my own children.  Will it affect them later? Will they resent me? I don't know. I can only hope I'm getting something right.

The long hours Monday thru Friday with unpaid overtime (the papers don't correct themselves and the lesson don't plan themselves) is just beginning.  Reality is 180 days, 6 hours a day turns into so much more!  Luckily, it takes a village to raise a child. I am part of many villages both at home and at work.  I entrust my youngest to the care of a daycare provider 3 days a week. My oldest starts Kindergarten and will be in school as long as I am.  She has many people affecting her life each day. Teachers, classmates, and before/after school daycare staff.  Add in her grandmothers helping out during the switchover, juggling opposite work schedules, evening classes and we've got a HUGE village supporting us.

Yes, this time of year there's an increase of mommy guilt.  I am busy with trainings, the classroom needs to be set up and all the organizing has to be done in less than two weeks.  I start getting the girls into a back to school routine and normal bedtimes. My youngest begins daycare, while my oldest is my little helper.   As I drove my baby to daycare this week, my heart was heavy, the tears beginning to welt up and as I pull into the well known street, I hear..."YES! Happy dance mommy".  I look in the rear view and she's got her hands in the air and is shaking herself back and forth in the car seat. I asked her why she was doing the "Happy Dance" and she responds because I get to see my friends again and swing and play with the dog and the bunny. Well I couldn't help but smile and inside I did a little "Happy Dance" too. 

Easy School Lunches

My oldest starts Kindergarten in a few weeks (eek) and I have been hunting around for easy school lunch ideas.  She's a pretty picky, non traditional 5 year old.  She doesn't eat sandwiches but loves fruits and veggies.  Go figure,lol. I am not really a big fan of what they serve for school lunches in our district and I can't even begin to think of what she would even eat. SO my plan is to pack a home lunch until (if) she tells me otherwise.

I want to save time and prep lunches for the week like I do my slow cooker planning. Since she's a pretty healthy eater by nature I will need to purchase most of her lunch with my weekly groceries to keep it fresh.  

I feel pretty good about tackling this. She picked out her lunchbox, Frozen, SHOCKER.  I searched through the cabinets and have a ton of different containers in all shapes and sizes, reusable bags, cupcake liners and cookie cutters. I placed them all in a container to make it easier for me to get to.  I even printed out cute lunchbox notes and purchased post-its to add in a note each day. As I searched online and pinned many ideas, I did get overwhelmed.  I'm not wonder mom and I'm not going to make elaborate creations with her lunch and I'm okay with that.

The researching did allow me to compile a bunch of ideas that I thought I'd share a few.  Below are some of my favorites.  Feel free to leave a comment with other suggestions.  I'm going at this blind.  

Some of my favorite sites:
MOMables
Lunchbox Dad 
Laptop Lunches/Bento Boxes 


Some great posts:
Lunch Made Easy: 20 Non-Sandwich School Lunch Ideas for Kids!
31 Days of School Lunchbox Ideas
School Lunch Ideas (includes 40 Weeks of Nut Free Lunches)

My Slow Cooker is my Best Friend

My slow cooker is my best friend during the school year.  Mine sits on the counter from Sept-June right next to my Keurig.  Two very important appliances in this girl's life.  If you haven't used one or have yours sitting in the closet, don't walk...RUN and get one.

With all the after school meetings, evening open houses, sports practices, Girl Scouts and daily life, I try to keep my dinners healthy, yet simple.  A typical meal includes a protein, veggie and a starch.  The girls get fruit added to their plate.  I usually prepare the protein in my slow cooker leaving veggies and a starchy side to prepare in about 20 minutes.  As the days get cooler, I use the slow cooker to cook full, "warm my belly" meals.  Every ingredient goes in and dinner is served right out of the pot.

My weekly goal is 4 homemade meals M-Th with dinner out on Fridays, salad/sandwiches for lunches, in-laws for dinner most Saturdays and oven cooked family meal on Sundays.  So how do I manage to accomplish this?  Well it does take some planning, bulk shopping, and an entire Sunday. I use the last Sunday of the month to create freezer meals for the month.  If it can be assembled or prepared ahead of time I do it and freeze it.

I begin by pulling out the calendar and make a list of all the meals that are needed for the month.  12 slow cooker meals is my minimum.  After I have selected the monthly meals I make a grocery list of the items I don't already have.   At the top of my list and a HUGE time saver is to stock up on Reynolds Slow Cooker Liner Bags.  I know that it's probably a waste of money, but for me it saves time cleaning the slow cooker after dinner.  I save the leftovers and toss the bag.  Every extra minute I can save for my family is well worth the money.

 

Here are a couple FREE templates to use to help you with meal planning.

Weekly Meal Planner from Heartmade

Printable Menu Plan & Grocery List by Craft Sew Create

General Grocery List:
Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners- about $2 and change for 4 bags
ziplock gallon size bags
chicken breast
ground beef
pork chops
basic seasonings ( I make homemade taco mix)
tomato sauce
pasta
frozen veggies

I do my shopping wherever the sales are that week.  If the sales aren't great, my go to store is BJs where I am able to buy family packs of meats and bulk items.  I portion out 4 chicken breasts and pork chops per meal and a pound of hamburger for each chili and meatball meal.  I don't cook seafood as I'm the only one who would eat it.  I tend to get seafood as my dinner out meal.

Some of my favorite slow cooker meals are:
meatballs
chili
soups
pulled pork
shredded chicken
chicken teriyaki, savory chicken, sausage & peppers (same site for all three)
beef tips
beef stew
pot roast with veggies

What Really Matters This Year

As we begin the next school year, a few things to consider.

1. It is NOT about the fancy stuff or the laminated decorations.
2. It is NOT about the lesson planning or the books we read.
3. It is NOT about the data and endless paperwork.
4. It IS about the relationships you build.  180 days is a long time to work alone.
5. It IS about the time you take to be fully present.  Not rushing around, not feeling overwhelmed.
6. But above all it IS about the kids.  At the end of the year they won't remember the bulletin boards, the creative lessons or the neatness of your room. No at the end of 180 days they will remember YOU.

Your kindness, your emapthy, your interest in them, and your compassion for their lives is what they will treasure most.  They will remember your smile, your laugh, your encouragement, high fives, or pats on their backs.

As you set sail for 180 days remember YOU make it or break it for yourself and for them.  Take the time to look beyond the behaviors, the work load, the testing and uncover what lies beneath each collegue and each student.  But most importantly look at what still lies within YOU!

Cheers to a great school year!

Are you Done Yet?

In my last post I shared with you how I map out my summer vacation.  I'm entering week 7 and the professional development continues along with endless hours of planning and prepping. I am now in a back to school groove of early wake-ups and late nights.  Not that I get much sleep with a 5 and 2 year old but hey an hour here and there is gladly accepted.  Many wonder how I manage to get so much done, here's my secret... NO SLEEP and lots of COFFEE.

You know it's time to start moving things back into the classroom when you're having dinner at the kid's table.  Yes my dining room table is officially full of back to school stuff.  So I took both girls into school yesterday to drop off a car load of materials and supplies that have taken over the basement.  I've got at least two more trips to clear out the dining room then I've have my house back.   
No sooner did I unload, only to hear "Are you done yet?"  Really?! I just started, hoping to get at least an hour out of them before the complaining began.  I assigned them each a small task in hopes of 30 minutes to at least sort through some stuff.  My 2 year old was given the job of filling 25 crayon boxes while my 5 year old organized math manipulatives.  This bought me all of 10 minutes.  I quickly jotted down my To-Do list and out the door we went.  Oh well, looks like I won't be back until next week. 

Summers Off....ha

Many people think the number one perk of being a teacher is getting the Summer off! Really, are you still playing that card.  If you know a teacher, then you know that they don't "get the Summer off." So what DO they do all Summer? One word...PREPARE.

I'm not saying it's 8 weeks of preparation.  I am human and after 180 school days running the hamster wheel I take some time to recharge.  Here's my summer in a nutshell.

Week 1- Put EVERYTHING in my classroom away. That means once the last bus pulls out of the parking lot, I get busy stacking boxes and boxes.  I clear off my desk, pack up anything that I possibly can so the custodians only have desks and furniture to move out.  I mean really what job do you know requires you to pack up before vacation only to unpack when you return.

Week 2 thru 4- Hello family! Where have you been all year. I take a well deserved 3 week vacation.  Where do I go? Usually I stay local.  Day trips to museums, zoos, the library, parks, the beach. Maybe a few overnights to a nearby state.  This is my time to be really present with my children and enjoy them.  I cram in as much as I can without overwhelming them.  I savor the giggles, the excitement and the curiosity that gets lost during the hustle and bustle of the school year. I also use these three weeks to reconnect with friends and hang out late with family.  No early bedtimes, no rushing, no planning just living in the moments. These weeks help me get through the days where I don't tuck my girls in because I have late conferences.  The days when I can't be home for dinner because I have a weekly class I have to take.  The mornings I just have to leave early to make it in to print out report cards I was up all night finishing.  Yes these are the moments that get me through 180 days.

Week 5- Back to School Shopping- wait it's only the end of July/beginning of August why are you shopping already? Well my dear friends, I dish out hundreds of dollars (that I don't have) on supplies and materials for my students and classroom.  I start early because I need to find the sales.  I can't be scrounging around in late August/September and pay top dollar for 25 of everything I need. No I don't get reimbursed and tax credit is only $250.  Ask my husband my receipts have totaled into the thousands depending on the year. Did you know?  "The National School Supply & Equipment Association did a study last year on this very subject. Public school teachers spent 1.6 billion dollars of their own money to buy school supplies to do their job. When polled, 99.5% of all public school teachers spent $485 out of their pocket for supplies during the 2012-13 year. This is how it was broken down: $149 for school supplies, $198 for instructional materials, and $138 for ‘other classroom supplies’. (You can read the entire study here: www.thejournal.com/articles/2013/07/01/k12-teachers-out-of-pocket-1-point-6-billion-on-classroom-tools.aspx)" ~credit goes to mischiefandshenanigans.com

Week 6- Professional Development- Ah yes teachers are life long learners. We take summer classes to tweak our practices or to learn new curriculum. When else did you expect me to master my craft? I don't get a week all expenses paid vacation to fly out to learn to teach. No I have to do it during summer vacation.

Week 7- more preparing and professional development. I do a lot of my planning on rainy days or while my girls hang out at home.  

Week 8- BACK TO SCHOOL Setup- remember I mentioned I put EVERYTHING away. Yes well now I have to go back and put it all out again. Clean, dust, reorganize.  More planning and photocopying.  Trying to get a jump start on the first week.

Week 9- Welcome Back!- My home away from home for the next 180 school days.  I love what I do and I'm ready to do it. You'll see me again in July!

So next time you think a teacher has it made, don't congratulate her on having the summer off, thank her instead.