Thoughts during Spring Break 2016

So many emotions running through my head on this mid- spring break evening...

First off...happiness because I don't have to be anywhere at any specific time which is lovely!! I can make my own schedule, and be as productive or as unproductive as I'd like.

I feel scared as I have so many tasks to accomplish for grad school and work that I am not sure I will be able to get them all completed since I just want to do nothing.  I tell myself…one thing at a time and every time I cross something off the list, I feel so much joy!

I feel unsettled because I'm not sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing work wise.  I know my students need a steady, loving teacher, but my management of my 22 unruly, yet kind-hearted students is not at its peak and I don’t know what to do about it.  They need stern, structure, consistency, and for lack of a better word, an asshole at times.  I can’t seem to master any of the above, and it’s consuming my thoughts.  I leave work exhausted because I’ve spent the day arguing with my kiddos about being respectful to themselves, to each other, to their teachers…convincing them that doing their best work is going to make them smarter…being a referee to the arguers over a pencil or a kick in the shin under the desk.  Most of them need all my time since they haven’t mastered being independent, four of them can work independently like scholars.  Most need me as a mother and father figure because theirs hardly pay attention to them, or I need to be a grocery store for the one’s that haven’t eaten anything since school the day before.  I’m a counselor for the one’s that throw themselves on the floor over something that I think is so small (like not having a crayon color they like), but to them it’s their whole world because they don’t know the difference…a counselor to the one’s who have lost control of their emotions and have thrown furniture across the room.  All of these things happening in one day, but I haven’t really had the time to be a teacher.  Where have I gone wrong?  Is it me? Is it my environment?  Is teaching right for me?  What is right for me?

I feel strong because today I ran 2.3 miles in 31 minutes.  I did it!  It helped my mind, my body, my spirit. 

I feel secure knowing that I have incredible friends.  I got to spend time with a great friend in St. Augustine today who I hadn’t seen in forever.  It was so nice catching up with her and hearing about her mommy life and life as a coach, too.

I feel blessed because I have a rich life full of a family who loves and supports me and my happiness.  I have friends who truly care about my well-being and my overall success.  I have a great place to live, a city I love, a synagogue that’s just so welcoming.  I have inner peace knowing that I put my all in to everything I do, and I’m a hard-worker…even if I don’t feel or see the benefits of that now, I will be rewarded for that in all my endeavors as a teacher, as a student, as a person…for years to come!    

Spring Break...2015 Edition

The last day of Spring Break is always a tough one for teachers.  Yes, I just had an entire week off...but now I have to get myself mentally prepared for work!  In all honesty, I'm excited to see my students, I really have missed them.

Back to Spring Break...
It was such a fun week!  I hung out in Jacksonville for a few days, went to a baby shower and reggae Sunday in St. Augustine, went to Orlando, and then it was back to Jacksonville for the remainder.

Reggae Sunday with my friends!!

Wall Street in Orlando for St. Patty's Day!

Green Beer :)

Atlanta Braves vs. NY Yankees with my coworkers/friends!  We were at Disney's Wide World of Sports.

From our seats

I made challah for Shabbat!  

All in all, I had a wonderful break.  It was fun hanging with my coworkers who I feel blessed to call my friends!  I feel sad that all of the chillen is coming to an end, but it will be nice to get back to a routine.

The honor of a lifetime

I felt so honored a couple of weeks ago when I got to speak to a group of Flagler College seniors who want to become teachers.  My former professor reached out to me to see if I would go down to St. Augustine after work one afternoon and speak to one of her classes.  I'm posting my speech to them.  They seemed to really enjoy it, and I loved having the opportunity :)

I’d like to begin by saying how honored I feel to have been asked to speak to your class tonight.  It’s a pretty cool feeling to know that I made enough of an impact on my years here to be asked to come back and speak with education students yearning to become teachers.  I loved my years at Flagler College, and I enjoyed the classes I took with Dr. Baker, Mrs. Arzt (Quigly), and Dr. Davis.  They’re role models for me, and people that I can always count on to ask a question about teaching, or life in general.  You’re probably wondering what it’s like when you graduate from college, or if you get a job right out of college, and best of all…is what I learned at Flagler going to help me in the “real world?”  They’re all such great questions, and I can honestly say that I thought about them too…all the time at that. 

When I first graduated, I kept wondering to myself, “why did I want to graduate college so badly?!”  Tip number 1, enjoy these times to the max.  Study, yes, but have a social life, too.  That free time dwindles greatly once you graduate. 

Am I going to get a job right after I graduate?  Yes, you will, but you must be flexible.  Be careful to know your strengths and weaknesses.  Tip number 2, be you.  Principals and the interviewing committee are looking for real people as well as those good answers.  It’s important to answer honestly, with integrity, and with the feeling once walking out that you gave it your best shot. 

Are all these classes at Flagler really going to help me in “the real world?”  Yes, of course!  Tip number 3…The best, and I cannot stress this enough, way to learn about the ins and outs of the teaching world is to be in the classroom as much as you can.  Connect with one or two practicum teachers and ask if you may volunteer.  Trust me, teachers need all the support they can get.  Intern with a teacher that you already know, and one that you have built a relationship with.  I had the most amazing internship experience.  My directing teacher was someone who I had done practicum hours with previously, and she was the most helpful, supportive, and motivating person that I would have hoped to work with. 

I graduated from Flagler in Spring 2012.  I would like to share with you my first experience.  I had a job right after graduation, but was terminated 9 weeks in.  It happened, and it sucked, but in the long run, it just made me stronger.  I made a mistake by taking the first job I got hired for.  I wasn’t prepared as a 6^th grade Math and Science teacher, but I “had to have a job.” So, like I said earlier, know your strengths and weaknesses.  I say this now, 2.5 years later, because at the time, as you can imagine, I thought my life had ended and I was NEVER going to get another teaching job.  But, in just a 5 week turnaround, I was hired for a 5^th/6^th grade position.  The following year, I taught 3^rd/4^th grade at the same school.  Currently, I’m teaching 3^rd grade at a different charter school in Jacksonville.  At every school I’ve been to, I’ve learned.  I ‘ve learned what I want in a school that I work at, and I’ve learned what I’d like to steer clear from.  I moved because I’m also in graduate school at UNF….I’m a little crazy, but it’s a good thing.  I love it.  Every day has its challenges, but amazing ones at that.  I have the most supportive and helpful principal, my coworkers are incredibly fun to be around, and my students are pretty cute, too (when they want to be J). 

Tip number 4, don’t be afraid to ask questions.  I ask a million every day.  I think it shows that I care, and I’m not “too cool” to ask for help.   

Tip number 5, be proud.  You’re doing a great job every day, even when you don’t think you are.  Tell yourself every morning (and tell your students) that you believe in yourself, and them, because it will keep a smile on everyone’s faces.

You’re going to love your job…you’re going to have your tough days, too (but that’s life).  Think of your first few years of teaching as the best learning experiences you will ever have.  You’ll grow stronger every day, and most importantly you will be making a difference.  And that is the best feeling in the world.    

Beginning of February Happening's

I'm blogging for my online graduate school class, and I came across this blog that I started a couple of years ago.  Wow, how time flies!  I am now teaching 3rd grade at a charter school in Jacksonville, Florida and truly enjoying myself.  I'm busy, but all is well.

Next weekend, for Valentine's Day, I have entered in to a Ping Pong tournament in St. Augustine!  I'm pretty excited about it because it's a charity event benefiting the homeless of St. Augustine.  So, the tournament starts at 4pm and then there's dinner, drinks, and dancing following the play time.  I will keep everyone posted on how I do.

I feel pretty honored as well to say that a former Professor of mine from Flagler College asked me to come speak to one of her classes about my life as a teacher...how interning helped me, and my challenges and triumphs in my first few years of teaching.  That is happening in March.  I hope I'm making the same impact on my 3rd graders as my Flagler Professor feels I made on her!

My best friend Angie and I went to Orlando this morning for our friend Morgan's bridal shower.   It was a really nice time...great to see her, her family, and some other friends from Flagler!!  Earlier this week, my other friend Caroline got engaged.  There's lots of fun things to look forward to :)  Included in that list is going to Miami for the return of "3's for Z" which I hope everyone reading this can attend!!  Go to http://www.miraclegamesand3sforz.com/ for more information!!

It's March...Wow!!

Hello Everyone,

I cannot believe that it is March already!!  How time flies.  In a month, it will be one year since I have graduated from COLLEGE.  Whatt??  That's so crazy to think about.  So much has happened in one year.

I am having a challenging, but extremely knowledgeable first year of teaching.  I went from a 6th grade math/science position to a 5th/6th combo class teaching all subjects.  I have a lovely group of kids, but, boy, are they facing challenges in their lives.  Each one of them has a story, and I am continuing to enjoy getting to know all of them.  The dreaded FCAT is coming up on April 15, and is over the course of 2 weeks.  My kids (and me) will surely be drained once that time period comes to an end.  It's sad how much emphasis is put on one stupid test.  I'm trying my best to keep the kids and myself calm, even through all the curveballs thrown at us from the district and such.

I'll be starting an adult tennis clinic next Monday night...I'm pumped about that!!  This week, I've been staying at my coworkers house (Elaine) in Palm Coast because my poor car had to get some work done.  I've been putting 60 miles a day on it, 300 a week...so it's definitely taken a toll on the wallet, and the smooth operation of the car in general.  I'm very grateful to have Elaine because she's been like my mother for these past couple of days which is awesome.

When I get back to my humble abode in St. Augustine, it's back to the gym grind.  I feel a little sluggish since I haven't been working out.  Who would have thought that?!?!  I'm also really excited because this weekend, my former roommates Ashley and Angie are coming to town to visit.  I haven't seen them in a while, so it'll be great to catch up with them :)

Spring Break is March 25-29 for me...I'll be in Miami for part of

The start of senior year

Hey everyone!

Here I am writing to you all as a SENIOR in college.  Hard to believe
for me too, oh how the time has gone by quickly.  I got back to St.
Augustine on the 22nd of August and had a week and a half before
school started to just hang and enjoy time with friends.  It has been
wonderful...I love it here.  I started classes yesterday and they went
great.  Classes are going to be a lot of work, but I'm ready for the
challenge.  I love all of my professors...they are going to make the
classes interesting.

I have been to 4 out of my 5 classes.  I am taking tennis (which I am
really excited about), curriculum (learning about law and ethics in
the classroom), classroom management, methods of the arts (how to
teach kids about art and music and drama).  I haven't been to my
professional development class (where I put my portfolio of all my
work over the last 4 years together), which is on Monday.  I only have
20 hours of practicum this semester which is nice.  I'm looking
forward to this semester though.

In other news, I've lost 25 pounds...am continuing to go to Weight
Watchers here in St. Augustine.  I actually got a friend to come with
me which I am thrilled about.  I have been running every day even
through the ridiculous heat.  It's hard in college...but people have
noticed which is motivating.

I hope things are going well with all of you...I miss my gym crew at
Pinecrest...and my Jew crew at Beth Am!!  Much love to you guys.

xooxxo,
Hannah