Then and Now

Reality THEN

The above picture was taken before (sing the next part with me!) ...the world turned upside down (who else has watched Hamilton three times since it was released three nights ago? My people!) I wanted to reference Hamilton haha, but in one aspect the world is on its way right-side up, as it always should have been. We have a long way to go, but getting pointed in the right direction is a start. 

I had gotten dressed up in that picture for my husband and I to go on a Valentines/Pi Day/St. Patrick's day date. Yep, you read that right. Ha--the life of having a baby! We meant to go to a fancy restaurant around Valentine's Day, but by the time I made a reservation it ended up being for March 14th. So you can see my necklace is St. Patrick's Day themed (shout out to my mom for the REAL four-leaf clover in a glass heart!) but as a physicist I proudly proclaimed that we were on a date in honor of the important irrational number pi. This might become my new favorite tradition: going on a Pi Day date! Note to self: I need some pi jewelry... Another Note to Self: I use too many parentheses when I write haha. Oh well! That's how I speak!

This picture was taken the day after school was announced to be closed through March. On the afternoon of Friday the Thirteenth, our school district sent a message that school would not resume until April due to the Coronavirus. After school that Friday I immediately went to a grocery store on my way home, because people were already reporting that grocery stores were emptying. I was shocked to see for myself that it was true: the entire toilet paper aisle was empty! I remember taking a picture of the empty aisle and texting it to my family and we were all incredulous.

At the time of that picture, I was certain we would all be back in school after spring break. I wasn't worried about Covid-19, and restaurants were still open! The restaurant was at full capacity with no one wearing masks that night. For my Valentines/Pi/St. Patrick's day present, my husband got me tickets to see the Nashville Ballet in April, and it never crossed my mind that it might be canceled because of the Coronavirus. 

Reality NOW

Friends, I wore makeup and real clothes for my first two Zoom meetings. After that, my colleagues got used to no-make-up, hair-in-a-bun, athleisure-wearing me! I worked from bed, my baby interrupted many Zoom meetings, and I shamelessly muted him with his pacifier when I needed to listen. The new normal! 

People who aren't in education might think we've been "off" since March, but actually the opposite is true! My school pushed back prom (which ended up being a smashing success at a bowling alley/arcade,) and graduation to the end of June, so I have been working this whole month, and continue to wrap up loose ends from the school year some more this week. The school year did not end early, it went longer than normal! But I don't mind. You all know I am passionate about my job, and I am starved to get back in school. Work makes me happy!

I hope you all take care of yourselves and your souls this week. What do you think, will our reality look even more different in the fall? Only time will tell. And then I will tell, with my prolific use of parentheses. :-) 

Preface upon preface

My son shares the same interest in accessories that I do.

It's been two years since my last post, and I want to address so much before I dive back in. I feel like I need to say hi I'm back, let me preface with...

Preface #1: Where have I been? My last post was in June 2018, on the last day of the school year. In July 2018 I was blessed to become pregnant! And soon the awful morning sickness that runs in my family hit. I gave my all every day at school, throwing up in trashcans and toilets throughout the building each day, (ha--TMI? My bad, but after you've thrown up in your office in the library that has glass walls in front of two classes full of students, you kinda get over it. Hopefully I did not scar them for life haha.) I would come home and go straight to bed where I would lie down and sleep until I had to wake up, throw up in the bucket next to my bed, and get up to go do the job I love before I collapsed in bed again that afternoon. Anyway--of course it was all worth it!!! I had my sweet baby boy in April of 2019, and in the sleep deprivation of new motherhood my blog still had to wait on the back burner. My love for writing never wavered. Just yesterday I finished my first guided journal (I love those things! I own about 10, all with different themes, and write in whichever one suits my mood; hence it taking years to finally complete one cover to cover.) 

Preface #2: I meant to pick this blog back up in mid March when our school building closed due to the coronavirus. Oh, I thought I was going to have so much time on my hands! Little did I know that taking care of an almost-one-year old while participating in multiple Zoom meetings a day and working from home would not leave me anymore free time than I was used to. But I day dreamed about picking my blog back up over March, April, and May. I brainstormed how I would begin by making a light-hearted joke about how toilet paper was more valuable than gold these days.

Preface #3: Now I see that covid-19 is the least of the world's problems. Just now businesses are opening back up and stay-at-home orders are being lifted.  Last week if I had written a post it would have had a very different tone. But then George Floyd was murdered. And the world got a wake up call that we all needed, and many gross injustices received the worldwide attention they have always deserved. Yesterday was #blackouttuesday . My heart breaks. No words are enough. There are so many great resources out there, I'm not even going to try to preach anything here. I have honestly wondered if these are the end times references in Revelations. Nashville was hit with devastating tornadoes right before everything closed down for the coronavirus. A few weeks into the pandemic shut down, mid-Michigan where my brother and his family live experienced unprecedented extreme flooding. And now, the most awful part of 2020 is the death of more innocent black lives. 

The purpose of this blog is supposed to be light-hearted: to share funny and feel-good stories from school to make everyone smile, sprinkled with my love of fashion. But even education is not important if one is not alive. I do plan on picking this back up, and putting happiness out in the world when the time is right. Until then, I must support my students who need it the most right now. That is where my heart is, and right now my heart is broken. 

You Just Give Off a Teacher Vibe

After the final 2 hour day of school my teacher friends and I went out to lunch (and then to kick butt at an escape game!). When I was being rung up the cashier asked me, "Are you a teacher?" And I replied, "Yes!" thinking she went to my school. But then she explained, "You just give off a teacher vibe!" AND THAT MADE ME SO HAPPY!!!! #Goals. Haha. Turns out she did not go to my school, nor did she know any of my teacher friends. 

But also that comment was heartrendingly bittersweet. Because you see, I am technically not going to be a teacher anymore; I have accepted a Curriculum Coach position at my same school for next year. I will be in charge of mentoring new teachers and attending each department's PLC meetings. I am super excited to nourish professional growth at my amazing school. I HAVE ALL THE IDEAS! LHS is going to be the most supportive place for teachers, and especially new teachers, ever! 

But you guys... my precious almost-adult babies. My dearest darlingest physicists, I called them as I greeted them every day. I will hold the last 7 years so tenderly in my heart forever. Nothing is as rewarding as teaching. Getting to know 150+ unique, talented, and hilarious students every year, making a difference in a young person's life... these things are priceless.

Seven is a lucky number. And boy was I lucky to have been a physics teacher at LHS for 7 years. I also like how after this past year, I hit over 1000 physicists that I've churned out into the world. I am ready to close this chapter, but I will cherish my memories of teaching for the rest of my life. 

I am ecstatic to serve my school in a greater capacity. I am closer to my goal of being an assistant principal. I can't wait to spend my energy nourishing teachers like I nourished my students. So much learning takes place within the walls of a school, and I look forward to learning a lot next year myself. That being said, I hope I always give off a teacher vibe to teenage girls working cash registers at taco shops.

My "Happy Wall" collection from 7 years.
Layers upon layers of notes from students.
I carefully took down and kept every tiny paper.

My empty "Happy Wall" after I had taken everything down. *Tears!*

I wouldn't want to be a student anywhere else

I was walking down the hallway during my planning period today and two students were walking toward me. Me being me, I couldn't just say hello like a normal person. I greeted them by exclaiming, "Hello, students of the most wonderful high school in the universe!!!" The students laughed at me and smiled good-naturedly. I went on, "I wouldn't want to teach anywhere else!" And one of the students responded, "I wouldn't want to be a student anywhere else!" Ahhhh I was so excited!!! I told all my class periods after that. 7th period told me the student lied to me and were just trying to be nice. Hah hah. They funny.

In other news there may be a video of my 5th period class floating around the internet... we're in the Waves Unit talking about harmonics, and someone brought up singing, and before you knew it the entire class was singing Row Row Row Your Boat as a 3-part round. Be jealous. #PhysicsLife

I WON A MASSAGE WITH THIS PICTURE!!! We were supposed to wear red for heart disease awareness, and email a picture of ourselves to our insurance guy to be put in a drawing for a free massage. I feel like everyone says this, but I never win anything like this!!! So WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

A prize-worthy piece of artwork from one of my talented students for my Happy Wall. He remembered from months ago that I had mentioned Jiggly Puff is my favorite Pokemon character! (She's pink. She sings. She's fiesty. And she's one of two Pokemon I know. Ha!) This guy is way talented!

My OCD students and I have decided that my new gem colored rulers are not to be used as rulers. They are tangibles for us OCD-inclined people to arrange in beautiful, symmetric patterns to soothe our disorder-induced stress when it arises.

Gems of Wisdom and Jewel-Toned Rulers

During an in-service today our Assistant Principals had to share "what good teaching looks like" by using an example of one of their own teachers growing up. It made me reflect upon my own teachers and what I learned from them. I love school!!!!! And was blessed with so many amazing teachers. Here are a few gems of wisdom I was able to glean from some masters of this craft:

Mrs. Waters (transitional)--I got held back in kindergarten y'all. But I wouldn't trade it for anything! My transitional class with Mrs. Waters was small, and we definitely all shared a special bond. I am certain Mrs. Waters is responsible for facilitating that special bond. I'm sure I learned academic things in her class, but all I remember are the fun things! Space Day: my favorite day in school ever. We were locked out of our room before school. When we were finally allowed in, Mrs. Waters had transformed her classroom into a space station. I remember drinking Tang like astronauts in space.  I tell my high schoolers about Space Day and we do our own Space Day in honor of it even though it is not in my curriculum! Another special bonding experience we had in Mrs. Waters' class is when one of my classmates was diagnosed with leukemia, and we held a lemonade sale at our school's Field Day to raise money for him. Mrs. Waters taught me that sometimes there are more important things than academics, and that people are going to remember the fun experiences they've had for the rest of their lives. So make some fun experiences for your students people!! To this day I am still in touch with Mrs. Waters and she continues to encourage me and be one of my life role models.

Mrs. Brinker (1st and 2nd grade)--Let your students latch on to something you like, and use it as a theme for your classroom. Mrs. Brinker loved Bugs Bunny. Her room had a Bugs Bunny rug, decorations, and candy dish, and we loved buying her more Bugs Bunny things as gifts. It made class more fun! I am a high school teacher, and my students have latched on to the fact that I love turtles! So much so that my first year a student gave me Pyro haha! My students draw pictures of turtles for me, and give me turtle things, and I use turtles in my example problems. It makes class more fun!

Ms. Ringel (3rd grade)--Have extra special weekly/monthly activities! Ms. Ringel had special things she did once a week. There was also a Question of the Month, and if you got it right you got a cookie! I remember how I looked forward to those activities and how happy I was that I was in Ms. Ringel's class because we got to do all these extra fun things that no other 3rd grade class did. Now as a high school teacher I have "Minion Mondays" where I do a dance with two Minion stuffed animals and sing a popular song with only the word "Banana." (Yes, I am that crazy.)

Ms. Sanger (5th grade English)--The first time I was truly praised for my creative writing was when I wrote my first short story for her Creative Writing class and Ms. Sanger believed in it so much she wanted to get it published! (We never got around to it though haha.) She told me I was talented at creative writing, and without a doubt she is the reason I have written so many short stories and why I believe in my passion for creative writing to this day. Sometimes students just need to be told they are good at something!

Mrs. Callahan (7th and 8th grade Science)--She was funny and crazy! Every other Friday we had Activity Day where we could explore whatever we wanted! I grew crystals, mixed chemicals, and made a few minor things go boom! From Mrs. Callahan I learned the importance of allocating time for students to be creative. That part of their brain is so important! Mrs. Callahan also went above and beyond to create experiences for us. She knew people at NASA, so for two days we polished mirrors for a satellite and when we were finished we got to engrave our name on the back of our mirror. Not many people can say their name is in space!! Mrs. Callahan also put together our summer class trip to Key Largo, an amazing week of snorkeling with sharks and jellyfish in coral reefs and mangroves that I will never forget!

Mrs. Wilson (12th grade AP English)--Mrs. Wilson was known for being very strict! Her class was indeed difficult and demanded a lot from her students. I think I spent more time doing AP English homework than any other class in high school. I learned SO much from Mrs. Wilson, and even though I never felt like I especially stood out in her class, I received the English Award for my senior class, a medal I got to wear at graduation. From Mrs. Wilson I learned to hold students to a high standard, and they will rise to it, and learn a ton!!! Win, win, win!

Thank you to every teacher I've ever had for providing me such great examples that I try to emulate every day!

Unrelated, I bought these gorgeous "jewel-toned" rulers for my class. Except they are so pretty I just want to keep them and look at them!!!

I never seen somebody smile so hard

The first day of school!!!!! Has there ever been anything more exciting? Not only do the students all come to school in their best outfits, but the teachers do too! We all get there early, in our best clothes with our hair done and makeup on. Everyone is pumped, and more prepared than they were last year, excited that this is going to be the best school year ever! 

I give my happiest, craziest welcome to my new sweet physicists. I am so excited. This is what I love to do. At one point in the afternoon, one of my brand new babies remarked, "I never seen somebody smile so hard." Ha. My favorite quote of the day. 

Let the school year, and the resulting blog posts it will bring, begin!!

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