Hello from Vermont, Anne ~ This caught my eye. I've been lurking more than usual lately, not feeling much like saying anything. More on my GBS funk later..... but I had to just toss you a greeting and say

 BREATHE

Today is a new day. You sound tired, stressed, weary. You might need a little time off. Thanksgiving is coming soon with hopefully a few extra days off for you. But you truly work in the trenches. If you can survive there, you can teach ANYWHERE. Really. If that's what you love, maybe you just need a change of scenery.

Come to Vermont. It's a great place to live and it's closer to Canada. ;-)

Hopefully your observer knows that what they say was a mere snapshot of what happens in a classroom. There are good days and awful days. How you handle the latter says more about you than how you might sail through the former. Just riding out the storm you were in might have said more to them than had they seen you go through everything on your to-do list.

Hmmmm ... what would Alan say? Something like: "Let it go. Let it go. This is smaller than you know. It's no bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road .... gotta leave it all behind you. Give the sun a chance to find you ..."

Hugs.

 

 

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LisaVt

And when your children have all grown, you'll wait by the window and wish them all back home.

LisaVt:

Come to Vermont. It's a great place to live and it's closer to Canada. ;-)

Heck, if that's where you're going, my thumb is out!  I'll make the lunches, take care of the library, drive the school bus, or something.  I bet I could teach science, even.  Uh - how's Fozzie with cats?

Love, Columbine 

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Anne....I may not know you...but from the little I've seen, you are talented. The others here on OKP know you, and give the best advice they can give. My first thought that popped into my head is PHOTOGRAPHER, you do take great pics. Being a teacher is by far one of the most stressfull jobs there can be. Do not feel defeated! If you do decide to change careers, know that there have been others before you that did the same thing. (Sting) lol You are among many that needed to change gears. During our lifetimes now, many go through a few careers just to satisfy thier lust for life. So LIVE ON! Open your mind to your abilities! Seek your own desires..investigate and dominate! Ever run for office? Ever wield an iron? Its all out there for you! GO GET IT! :)

Anne,

This is so sad to read.  I know that you are a phenomenal teacher and it would be such a loss if you decided to give up teaching.  I am hoping that you were just having a bad day, and you are reconsidering.

I agree with what many others have said about a change in scenery possibly helping.  I have been fortunate enough to send my children to both Montessori and Parochial schools.  While the teachers absolutely do not make the kind of money they deserve, for the most part, they love their jobs.  My daughter's eighth grade teacher is the same incredible man who taught me in third grade!  He used to joke about making more money driving a limo over the summer than he did during the school year.  You don't stay in a setting like than unless you love it.  

As both a parent and graduate of Catholic schools, I can't say enough about the wonderful teachers I have encountered in my lifetime.  I know that you are one of those wonderful teachers, and I am sure that you would thrive in a setting where you are truly appreciated.   

Another thing to consider that has already been mentioned...tutoring.  You could look into it at this point, but if you were in a different setting, you might be more likely to find parents who are willing to spend some extra money on helping their kids get ahead. 

Either way, big hugs to you.  Hang in there.  You're an incredibly special person, and I know you'll find something!

Betty

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~Life will be all that you make it~

Columbine - Sounds like a fun road trip to me. The more the merrier. Vermont is full of people doing what they love and a few other things besides to pay the bills. There's a popular bumper sticker that plays of the title of that famous song: "Moonlight in Vermont ... or starve."

Anne - I'm trying to remember what grade you teach - 5th? We may need a 7-8 grade social studies teacher at our middle school soon. It's a great place to live and the music program is top notch. (Our high school actually has a recording studio.) Watch the job ads. Crossett Brook Middle School.

Then again, things may seem clearer by now. Hope so.

Best,

 

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LisaVt

And when your children have all grown, you'll wait by the window and wish them all back home.

Anne?...You OK?...Any cheer gleaned from this merry band of well-intentioned people?..

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

The week ended slightly better than it began. Christopher finally got a TSS worker who will be in the class to try to keep him on task. Now to get Isaiah's dad to keep an appointment (he's ignored 2 of them) and get Isaiah on the list for a TSS worker. Then I'll only have two more to talk their parents into getting the paperwork done to help their kids. One down three-four to go!

Lisa you could not pay me enough money to teach 7th-8th grade. If you offered me a million dollars I'd say no. Worked with that age one summer. Never again.

Thans everyone for your suggestions. I have printed them ut and put them in my writer's notebook for future perusal.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

LisaVt:

Columbine - Sounds like a fun road trip to me. The more the merrier. Vermont is full of people doing what they love and a few other things besides to pay the bills. There's a popular bumper sticker that plays of the title of that famous song: "Moonlight in Vermont ... or starve."

Love, Columbine 

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AnneInPhilly:

The week ended slightly better than it began. Christopher finally got a TSS worker who will be in the class to try to keep him on task. Now to get Isaiah's dad to keep an appointment (he's ignored 2 of them) and get Isaiah on the list for a TSS worker. Then I'll only have two more to talk their parents into getting the paperwork done to help their kids. One down three-four to go!

 Listen to yourself Anne. Does the above sound like a washed-up teacher to you? Washed up teachers no longer care enough to bother to nag parents into making these kind of appointments and getting their kids some help.

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Anne, you are and always will be a teacher-you can't get away from that,even though you are talented in so many other things-I will just send you many hugs and prayers-tell you to curl up with Fozzie and trust things will look better tomorrow!! What can I say,my family always called me Pollyanna!!

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Summer Mis


"For those who know,no explaination is necessary-For those who don't,no explaination is possible"

Hi Anne - I was happy to see your posts in the "Something Beautiful" thread. You seemed much happier and less stressed. Are things better now? Was it your principal who helped bring you back from the edge? Whatever it was, it seems like you're in a better place now. That's nice with the holidays bearing down on us - try to step back and enjoy them and recharge.

Cheers!

 

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LisaVt

And when your children have all grown, you'll wait by the window and wish them all back home.

Lisa,

My principal had a lot to do with that change. SHe understands what I'm dealing with and is cutting me some slack. Tomorrow we will all be super-stressed at the school becuase the superintendant and her henchmen are coming to observe everyone with their checklists.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Good luck tomorrow, Anne

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

Good luck with the superintendant and her henchmen ! Whatever happens, just remember that they could not possibly ever do a better job than YOU !  They are judging you based on a few particular moments in time ... but you can measure your success more accurately by the lives you have touched, by the kids you've inspired, and by knowing that you have expanded those kids' horizons with your enthusiasm & guidance and the music that you've shared with them. Some accomplishments just can't be found on checklists.

Cheers & hugs 

 

I am not going to go so far and call my classs something beautiful today (not when I wrote two discipline slips and called 5 parents). But they were good for the 25 minutes the super was in my room and we got good grades. Of course I had threatened them with weekend homework if they weren't perfect...

Dog & pony show is over and as my friend CHeryl says, "I think there are going to be a lot of teachers having art class tomorrow. LOL!

Anne

you know I am stressed when I have to edit twice for misspelling.

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com