Why I Stay--Slice of Life 4/16

Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers
host the Slice of Life every Tuesday.

A fellow blogger and Nerdy Book Club member, Beth Shaum,  recently put together a project about teacher retention.  She put out the call for submissions and I dropped the ball and didn't remember to write mine out and send it to her.

Then, a few days ago, I saw that the project had been completed.  I clicked on the link curious to find out how this project turned out and was amazed at this video.  What a powerful message and an important one for lawmakers and administrators to see.

In case you missed it:


You can go to the blog to continue the conversation here.


Why I Stay in education:

• Because I love my students and want to help them reach their potential
• Because it is the most challenging thing I have ever done...which also makes it the most rewarding
• Because each year I turn students into voracious readers that can't wait to share books with me
• Because I can help students learn to love math 
• Because I get to see amazing thoughts turned into thoughtful and well-crafted writing
• Because of the ah-ha moments and lightbulbs
• Because of the silence in the room when we read a particularly captivating book
• Because of the laughter from our attempts at humor and creativity
• Because every day I am reminded of how much hope I have for the future
• Because students need to have passionate teachers to guide them
• Because I get to help students learn how to get past intolerance to learn empathy and acceptance
• Because of the times that they take my ideas and make them better 
• Because of the learning that I get to do each and every day
• For the students who come back to tell me how much I influenced them
• For the students who come to school every day needing a hug or a smile 
• For the parents who love to see me when we bump into each other in the grocery store
• For the colleagues I can collaborate with in person and those in my PLN

I know this has been a popular subject today, but I can't think of another more important subject to write about than my passion for this wacky, challenging, infuriating, and amazing profession.  

  

Slice of Life: Easter 4/2

Ruth and Stacey at Two Writing Teachers
host the Slice of Life every Tuesday. 

When I was younger, Easter was probably my favorite holiday.  My mother dressed us up in matching dresses and sweaters that she knit for us.  I always got a new "Easter bonnet" and the day was filled with fun and family.

For us, the easter basket hunt began as soon as we woke up.  Would it be in the refrigerator?  the stove?  the cabinet?  maybe my closet?  My sister and I hunted for the baskets and inevitably I would find hers before I found mine.  Since I was five years older, mine was always a little more difficult to find.

My Easter basket was always a fun discovery.  My mother did not want us to just gorge ourselves on candy.  While there were always our favorites in the basket, most of the basket was filled with small presents.  The Easter bunny was very literate and I always got a few books that I had been asking for in my basket.  Aside from this, we usually got some socks, maybe a scarf or necklace, and some sort of cute little puzzle game.

After the Easter baskets were found, and sufficient time was spent exploring the treasures found there, it was time to get all dolled up for Easter Sunday church services.  This was one of the few Sundays a year that my father came to church with us.  I always felt so proud of my family.  We were all dressed up and looking quite spiffy.  The church service was always so festive with the music joyful.  Sometimes, we also had the treat of having my grandparents, my father's parents, visiting.  This was quite possibly my favorite church-going experience every year (a close second would be midnight mass on Christmas Eve).

Then, it was time to go home to Easter dinner.  We had ham and cheesy potatoes every year for sure.  Easter was also one of the few times in the year that I was allowed to have hard-boiled eggs.  My father had heart problems and had been placed on a strict low-cholesterol diet.  This meant very few eggs in our household---or at least few egg yolks.  I loved that we had our colored eggs to eat during this holiday and I savored the egg-salad sandwiches that we enjoyed for a few days after.

One of the things I miss the most about before my father died is the way holidays felt for us.  Yes, we still celebrate and try to have some fun, but it just isn't the same.  I know this would have changed naturally as we became adults and moved on to celebrate with our own families, but I miss that feeling of special family time.