Reflections

I have occasionally been guilty of using this blog as a tool to write about my job.  Yes, I've told stories that are easy to laugh out and stories that make my job seem almost unbearable.  If I'm honest though, I don't write enough about the things I like about my job.  And now is the best time to do it.

I like-

• The times when my students recognize how legit I am. Not in the, 'She's a legit teacher' sort of way.  More like the, 'She's legit all around' sort of way.  Like in this scenario:

During an Algebra I test, these freshman guys decided they wanted to discard their work.  So, the shoot it into my basket.  And miss.  Just like every single male figure that has ever tried to make a trash basket shot in my room.  I swear, never seen more poor hoop skills before.  Anyways, I see this as a prime opportunity to prove to them how legit I am and say, "Go pick it up and bring it here."

Them: "There ain't no way you can shoot in dat basket."

Me: "Oh yeah I can.  I'll show you up.  I showed Willie up.  Ask Willie!" (Willie was also in my room because he hangs out in my room pretty much all day... I don't mind it though for this reason- this said scenario had happened before in my room but I proved my legit-ness to Willie then)

Willie: "No, She can hoop.  She can hoop cud!  I ain't playin'."

I'll sum up this story real quick- I shot.  I made it.  They shut up.  I am legit.

I like-

• 
  Walking through the hallway in the morning in between all the students as they wait for the bell to ring and I ascend the stairs.  This has given me ample amount of time to work on smiling with my eyes, which is a personal goal for me.  I really enjoy this time because I get to see students that aren't in Special Education nor on the soccer or volleyball teams.  And, it's my time to impress these students by giving them my smile eyes, making them wish the were in Special Education or a member of either the soccer or volleyball teams so they could be graced with smiling eyes every day.  **Side note- that whole smiling with the eye thing isn't me claiming me to have the power to make people wish they could be around me, promise.  It's me just telling you to notice my kind eyes when I smile.  Seriously- it's been a personal goal for a long while and I would LIKE someone to notice!  Ahem, Nicole!**

I like-

• That I have met some pretty good friends here at school.  Being a first year teacher at a school where you know nobody or nothing about the city pretty much made me feel like I was a new kid at high school.  I never actually got to experience how that feels but if its even a tenth of what I felt like the beginning days here my parents will receive a hand written thank you card from me tomorrow.  I would consider a few of the other first year teachers here some of my dearest friends because they have been through this year with me.  I will never be blessed to work with 2 different departments again (Math & Special Ed) where the members are so flexible, accommodating and understanding of my severe lack of knowledge sometimes.  I ate lunch in the company of 3 chicks that I affectionately refer to as my "Lunch Bunch" that have me counting down the minutes to 12:22 every day.  I coached with some of the most fun and laid back partners ever, and will always keep in contact with them.  I attended a wedding of a friend and hosted a baby shower of another friend.  I am looking forward to more memories with the people my friends here for many, MANY, years to come.

I like-

• Being asked multiple times a day if I am going to be here, in this room, as their Math teacher next year.  Seriously- I don't know if these kids ask all their teachers if they will be returning next year but if not, something is in the air in Room 313.  Because I am asked, time and time again.  Particularly this week.  Even by the administration, three times this week.  Although it is potentially awkward, I try to void that and feel loved instead.  Because they are asking because they want reassurance.  And hey, I know how loving the grips of reassurance feel so I'd love to be able to grant them that security....

I like-

• Relationships I have built with my students.  In any interview I have ever been on it has never failed that I am asked the question, "What would you consider a strength of yours as a teacher?".  In order to avoid sounding cocky and run the risk of me thinking they aren't going to hire me because I made it sound like I was the bomb.com, I 100% of the time answer with something along the lines of this: 

What is a strength for me as a teacher is probably not your typical 'strength' but for me it works and it is important.  As a teacher, I work really hard to get to know my students on a personal level so that they view me as more than just a teacher.  That when they look at me, they want to succeed and meet my expectations because they don't just associate me with academics.  I know it may sound crazy but I work really hard to build personal relationships that are founded in trust because kids need that in a teacher.

That was a crazy tangent but now you know my philosophy on teaching.  And how my interviewing skills go... Pretty much just tangents after tangents.  Anyways, this year some of my favorite memories have been with my students.  Awhile ago I had to call a parent about a meeting she couldn't make and within our 1 minute conversation, she said maybe 3 words to me regarding the meeting.  What she did say more than 3 words about is something I will never forget.

She said to me: "You're new this year, right?"

me: "Yes ma'am." (fear was in my voice because I thought she was about to say something along the lines of 'It's obvious.' 'Clearly.', etc.)

Her: "My son has told me a lot about you.  He talks about you all the time.  It really seems like you are doing good things over there.  So I hope you keep it up.  It's just your first year but you're doing it.  So thank you, thanks for what you're doing for him."

All in all, there is so much more that I like about this job than what I don't.  And I hope that even through my complaining and my ridiculous stories you can see that I am thankful, grateful and glad to be at my current job.

Let's Say....

In the middle of his Algebra II final, one of my students turns to me and says:

"Let's say you're my friend.  But not really my friend, cause I mean like, we see each other in the hall but we don't really text no mo'.  Like you're my friend in the hallway but that's about it."

Me: "Okay....."

Him: "Okay.  So you're my friend.  And even though we don't text no mo' you give my number to another friend.  Now why would you get mad at me?!"

Me: "Um... Because I didn't want to talk to that person.  They probably annoy me."

Him: "No!  You gave them my number.  Now why would be mad at me?!"

Me: "Oh!  I like you.  I obviously like you."

Him:  Blank stares and nervous blinks.

Me: "I mean!!!  This friend is a chick, right!?  She, this friends, likes you."

Him: "Oh.... Yeah, she's a girl.  Thanks Ms. Peters."

Me:  "Yeah, anytime."

This is the day to day in Room 313.

I Passed.

I know I complain a lot and fail to mention the good things about my job....  But I went into education because I am people person and never wanted to sit at a desk all day.  I wanted to be in the lives of my students and I wanted to help the ones that sometimes have it hard, in regards to their peers or learning.  I went into Special Education because I 100% believe every student can learn and because I enjoy and truly love when I am able to help prove to a student that they can learn.

I just 'took' a math test with 3 seniors.  It was the HARDEST math test I have taken to date... Yes, I had the answers but was not provided with formulas or examples and I'm not about cheating because its ugly and an unattractive quality.  Each of the 3 seniors had to pass this test in order to graduate this Thursday.  At one point, we were all looking in the book for formulas and plugging in numbers to find anything but nothing was really working out to the answers.  We spent the entire hour and a half on that test.  They left and I felt defeated. 

One student, who has been in high school for 5 years now, is a straight up G, never smiles and is just one of those guys who looks real cool just came by my door with a smirk on and said:

"I passed."

I obnoxiously said, "You did!? Yay!" and started to cheer/clap for him.

He said: "I did."  (with an increasingly bigger smile)

I being to put two and two together and ask: "Wait... Passed the test or you know you passed the class....?"

"I passed the class.  I'm graduating."

Me: "AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  You. Are. GRADUATING!!!!" with obsessive claps.

And he smiled, gave me a nod and walked away.  Walked like he was practicing in his cap and gown, across the stage to receive his high school diploma.

Today I love my job.  Today I am celebrating with my 3 seniors who are graduating.  Today I am proud.  Today I am doing what I wanted to do as a teacher.  Today is a good day.

An Inadequate Post

It's been awhile.  A long while.  And I'm not even going to try to make up with it by listing off excuses such as I got way busy, my job got much more demanding or that since one of the largest natural disaster to date hit my current place of residence and completely destroyed my sweet college town I've been at a lost of words.  I won't justify my absence with my own personal problems. 

However, I often looked at my blog because I knew I had a good thing going there for awhile.  That I was good at blogging and that although it takes significant time, I had been able to find it.  And then as I stared at my blog, I would proceed to leave my homepage because I couldn't/didn't want to find something to start fresh with.  So yes, it's my own fault.  And yes, I had it coming.  And definitely, I am to blame.

But I am also well aware that running from things will get you absolutely NO where in life.  So for some reason I chose today to start fresh with again!  I know I have missed a lot, i.e. My list of what I'm looking forward to in the month of May.  And I also know that in this post, I said I would keep #10 as my only item if it still existed in May.... BUT I'm not going to settle!  Instead, it'll just become my #1.  So there.

1. (same as from March) Hopefully, maybe, my fingers are crossed for, finding out more stable plans for where I'll be and what I'll be doing next year....

2. Bachelorette Parties!!!!
3.  All my 22 IEP's being done.
4.  A new friend's baby shower!
5.  My dear senior friends high school graduation day!
6.  Memorial Day Weekend!  No plans, I just enjoy a good ole holiday.
7.  A Backyard BBQ Bash in honor of the soon to be Brittany and Jess Mann!
8.  May flowers!  Brought to us by April's showers...
9.  Spring cleaning...?  Well, not really the cleaning part.  More like I'm looking forward to sorting through all my things in order to GIVE to those in need.
10.  May 31st.  Because then school is over in the academic sense but not the I-still-have-2-more-days sense.

I'm sure you are all wondering about soccer season.  It has come to an end!  Am I overly joyed?  Nah.  Am I surprisingly sad?  Absolutely not.  Last night we had our make-up senior night game because the one scheduled was the night of the tornadoes... We had to make something out of nothing so we scrimmaged the teams (boys and girls) against grades.  Like, seniors verses freshman then juniors verses sophomores, etc.  It was original, that's for sure.  It was special, without a doubt.  And it was meaningful to everyone.  And that's about all that matters.  There was a mic and speakers set up where the girls enjoyed giving commentary the entire 2.5 hours.  At the end of the game, I got a special shout out:  "And a thanks to Coach Peters!  Thanks for carrying those water bottles (I was carrying 12 water bottles to the Coach's truck), you're doing it so well.  Thanks for being so fun and for always talking to us on the bench.  You've taught me so much about soccer."  I was shaking my head the entire time at her because I was embarrassed by carrying 12 water bottles, mortified that she called me out for talking during the games and ashamed that I had had such a terrible attitude this whole season when in reality, I enjoyed getting to know the girls and the game of soccer.  But no- I am not sad the season is over. 

This Friday, the Special Education teachers in our county are being monitored.  They have even named the day:  Federal Focused Monitoring.  We have been warned that if anything in our files is not how it's suppose to be and we are the 'chosen' one to be monitored, we will be cited and it will be mandatory that we come and present our case to the Central Office over the summer.  I have been warned but I ain't stupid.  I know that my case will have mistakes, I just know it.  I am a first year teacher and call me crazy but I didn't get my degree in paper work!  I am not an expert at what button to push or what box to check, NOR WILL I EVER BE OR DESIRE TO BE.  I am a passionate advocate for student's receiving Special Education services because I firmly believe every student can learn.  So, I will developed my IEP's and I will formulate appropriate accommodations and I will distribute those things to the specific general education teachers but I REFUSE to lose focus of the needs of my students because I need to go back and amend items and re-hold conferences.  It's just not needed. 

Whew.  That felt good.  Apparently I've needed to get that out.

As stated earlier, and on every news channel, Alabama was hit bad by a tornado.  If you're like me or if you simply have a heart of any size, you may or may not have decided how best you can help out.  Search no more!  These shirts are simply rockin' and I would get one even if 100% of the proceeds didn't go to tornado relief.  But they do!  Which made me buy 2.  Go get you 1.  Or a whole bunch. 



15 more days of school for me.  And if you are looking for something to pray about or a topic to send good thoughts towards, I'd really appreciate some about a job for next year.  Specifically in Atlanta.  Bless you