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.

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!!

They don't want to leave

In 3rd period today, the bell rang, and no one left.

Today was the last day of normal class. Next week students only have to come if they have to take exams, (students can be exempt by their grades and attendance.) 

Third period has an inside joke about extra credit. Whenever someone does something especially good, (or especially funny, or especially embarrassing,) the whole class yells, "extra credit!!!" and claps. They want me to give out extra credit for all of these random things, the silly munchkins. I never did, haha, until after class today. I actually made an assignment titled "Third Period Extra Credit <3" and gave each of them 10 dailywork points (hardly anything,) but they were so sweet today!

Today we had finished our last fun activity and the members of third period were all just talking and laughing and hugging each other. When the bell rang, one student exclaimed, "For the last time, EXTRA CREDIT!!!" And the class exploded like someone had won the lottery. They jumped up and down and happy-screamed, and group hugged me, and were filming it on their phones like it was New Years Eve. Haha. I usually teach with my door shut. I noticed during all of this that my door was still shut. Not a single student had left yet. For a high schooler, that is rare. They normally want to leave class as soon as possible, exploding out of the door when the bell rings. (I don't let them open it before the bell rings. They'll try to trickle out. Hah.) But today they were in no rush. They wanted to be here, enjoying the last moments of third period.

How wonderful is that, to have a class that students don't want to leave? My heart is filled to the top with love today. 

This year's 3rd period

This is a really weird club, isn't it?

During Physics Club on Monday I had a sentimental moment. I was lying on a taped-shut trash bag on a lab table and my students were all around me, literally lifting me up with the breath from their lungs as they blew into straws they had poked into the sides of the trash bag. (We saw it on the internet... you see we're our own form of amateur myth busters. And hey, it worked!) A girl who has been going to Physics Club since her freshman year, (she has an older brother. And I am proud to say this girl is one of our school's valedictorians this year!) commented during this endeavor, "This is a really weird club, isn't it?" And that meant so much to me! Ah, and we reminisced all the weird things we've done in Physics Club... Yes, we have marched into the neighbor chemistry class with flaming (as in on fire) flaming cheeto torches chanting physics rules chemistry drools... Yes, we have duct taped me to the wall... we have made ice popsicles in the freezer... we have all been electrocuted with the tesla coil as a right of passage... my heart is full with such good times.

In other news, one of my most difficult-to-manage students, (whom I sincerely adore!!!) had to write me a letter, (always my first discipline step for students.) It makes me chuckle because his writing exactly matches his speech. His first sentence is, "I got this EA because I didn't hear Mrs. Fitz talking to me but she thought I was disrespecting her." Oh, the sweet physics babies haha... I wonder how many of you can relate? I don't ever want to teach anywhere but LHS. 💙

This week is spirit week! For decades day I was 50's, and so was one of our fabulous counselors! We were told we could have been sisters!

I was super proud of my hair... Seriously one of my biggest accomplishments

The most adventurous thing

Every Wednesday in the middle of group bellwork I ask my students a get-to-know-you question. Last Wednesday the question was, "Who in your group has done the most adventurous thing?" Most groups shared normal answers, "So-and-so has gone cliff jumping, so-and-so has been indoor skydiving," (yes, apparently that's a thing.) And then 3rd period Group D comes along. "I crossed the border." (And it's funnier when it's true...)

And that, my friends, is what every day teaching high school is like! Haha. Lovin it.

Last week I taught the Refrigeration Process dance, (something I made up to help students remember the steps in that cycle.) I was re-choreographing it from last year, getting rid of an outdated move, and staring off into space before first period. (I couldn't actually practice the moves because then the students would know it was coming!) And a student asked, "What are you doing?" And I snapped, "I'm thinking!" "Mrs. Fitz I wasn't talking to you." "Oh, uh, my bad..." haha of course all of this was said with love. 

I just love how into it my students get with the dance...They do it at lunch, they show it to their parents, they say they can hear me saying it in their heads while they take the quiz. Haha. It's been a good week.

And of course it ended on Friday the 13th that was also a full moon and one of my seniors says to his classmates of mostly sophomores and juniors, "Hey, if anybody wants they're doing $13 Friday-the-13th-themed tattoos at this place..." Hand palm to face. To my class of 15-and-16-year-olds. Sigh. We all know that if a student raises his/her hand, there is absolutely no telling what statement might come out!

Nothing like some leopard print to warm up cold winter weather!

Smart butt students haha love them still

"The funnest thing that ever happened was nothing because this class is too loud to hear anything but I did the extra credit so you gotta give me the points" (The extra credit #2 on this particular quiz was "What is the most fun thing we've done in class this year?") 

The everyday things students don't know

Today in class we learned what suede is.

"Mrs. Fitz I like your heels!"
"Thanks! I was feelin the suede this morning!"
"Su-what?"
"This material is called suede."
"Oh... I just always called it soft fabric."
Random other kid across the room: "I thought it was felt. My mom uses that for crafts." 

Hahaha... the things my students don't know always surprise me! Love them. We learnin life lessons in physics class, like what is suede! 

It's great to be back on this blog--my lovely laptop died for awhile there. Here's just a few fun things that have been going on at school.

Me being proud of my Ohio State door for college week!

Physics Club did the Pringles ring challenge and SUCCEEDED!

When you've had a long day and you end up eating all the candy you keep for the kids... lol

Highschoolers, man... haha (But seriously, why is there a sock on my floor? And just one sock?!)

Stay upbeat, fellow educators! Enjoy every day until winter break! Until next time. 😊

Student presentations

Half of my students came to school today jokingly telling me they were going to be deported. Haha. "Goodbye Mrs. Fitz! Now I am going to have to go back to Mexico!" Haha. smh.

Project presentations were today! I love project presentations! Because inevitably I have that one group that spent way too much time making their transitions "hard" instead of checking all the typos in their bullet points. (cough, 8th p today, cough) And inevitably their hilarious personalities come out in their projects. 

Haha after stumbling over the first bullet on this slide, mumbling, "I think I messed up there," then the way he said "Another con is your neck gets hurt because the car goes so fast super quick" had the whole class crying. Ah, I love my physicists!

Let the love of physics seep into all aspects of life!

When your student creates a gmail account for the first time and she makes her password "Physics Rocks" and you know every time she logs in for the rest of her life she'll think of you/your class!!!!

And let's document my outfit today for good measure! I tried out a new faculty bathroom today for this selfie! Haha.

All in a day's work

I just have to ask... does anyone else get the most random work emails? I'm in first period and I get an email from the teacher in charge of yearbook, and word-for-word it says, "The yearbook students have found a picture on your Instagram post that has you dressed as a storm trooper they want to use. Before we use it we wanted to get your permission." Bahaha--what--wait, what?--where do I start?! (Of course I said yes, and actually sent him the original picture that would be much better quality.) Hahaha. Oh. my. goodness!!

Today my students remembered what I was wearing when they were in a different class period, and that made me incredibly happy that they pay attention to my outfits [almost] as much as I do!!! I was in the teacher's workroom making copies and then cutting them with the paper-slicer-of-death during my planning period. Apparently a kid "went to the bathroom" and was trying to go in the teacher's lounge to buy a "real drink." 

(No, not that kind of drink! Explanation: Students are not allowed to leave class to purchase a drink from the machines, they have to do that in between classes, but lots of students "go to the bathroom" and mysteriously return with a cold drink in their backpacks. Furthermore, our school is only allowed to sell diet/zero and other "healthy" drinks to students in the pop machines in the halls, BUT the teachers' lounges have the only machines that sell normal Coke, etc. So it is not uncommon for students to try to sneak in there to buy a "real drink.") 

Apparently the kid went back to his class, and told his friends he was drink-blocked by a teacher who was in the workroom, and then he wondered aloud if it might have been Mrs. Fitz because it had dark hair and a dress on... "Mrs. Fitz is wearing a black and white dress today!" one of my students said, and evidently multiple others confirmed. "Then that must have been her!" Hehe. Yas. Goals. 

Additionally today was a good day because none of my students wanted to leave my class! At the end of class they were doing my "rollercoaster challenge," which is simply groups trying to create as many loops in a cut-open foam insulation tube as possible for a marble to successfully go through without falling out. They were having so much fun, and trying to beat each other, that they ignored my two and one-minute-until-the-bell warnings, and even when the bell rang they were still trying to win! 

A girl from next door was removed to my classroom because she was giving the sub a hard time, and although she sulked in the back of my room for most of class, when we did this she was interested enough to put in her two cents to the group that was working nearest to her! "Nah, you gotta start higher! Put that loop farther down!" Ha. Made me smile. She learned some physics today.

Oh and I accidentally mixed up hockey and football in 1st period and by 6th period my students had all heard about it, and were lovingly making fun of me all class period...

All in a day's work... I could write a post like this every day, filled with the random happenings of a day teaching high school physics. This is the life.

This is the dress I wore today that my students remembered. This picture was taken with my phone by a sweet student who saw my phone sitting out, and after she shot this proceeded to fill my phone with selfies of herself... haha oh, the books I could fill with student selfies secretly taken on my phone when I wasn't looking. Btw in this picture I am teaching my students how to whip and nae nae. Hahaha.
All in a day's work.

Halloween!

Happy Halloween!! (A day late, but y'all know, the busy teacher life...)

I love building up holidays at school. Any excuse to celebrate, to have something to look forward to, to have a special day, is important. I had hanging glitter pumpkins waiting for my students when they returned from fall break.

I lived up to my nerd queen expectations by dressing up as Obi Wan Kenobi yesterday. My first period helped me make a light saber out of a meter stick, because they are awesome. And I quoted Star Wars all day. These aren't the droids you're looking for.

May the F=ma be with you!

 One of my favorite aspects of Halloween is getting to do fun makeup! I used Halloween as an excuse for extra dark eye makeup at school, balanced with nude lips. (I explained all of this to my physicists, and how black eye shadow only goes in the creases and bountiful mascara is key to not looking like you have a black eye.) My all black outfit was polished off with skeleton hand earrings, a gift from one of my previous students. At the end of every class period I turned on Michael Jackson's Thriller (with no explanation--always keep 'em on their toes!) and proceeded to do the Thriller dance.

The rocker side of me loves wearing black as often as possible ;-)

See I told you she's smiling

Yesterday I was a minute late getting into the hallway in between classes. (I always greet my students at the door by their names.) We're in the middle of building our toothpick bridges so I had to make sure the last class had cleaned up. And as I hurried into the hallway with my clipboard and pen to take attendance as students entered, one of my physicists was almost to my door, talking to another student as he came. "See! I told you she's always smiling." (Apparently he had said, Watch, Mrs. Fitz gonna be smiling. Ha.) "She's always happy. Hi Mrs. Fitz!" And that of course made me smile bigger!

One of the greatest compliments I ever received was during the valedictorian speech my second year of teaching. I didn't have him as a student. I hadn't ever even noticed him, and the kid was like 6'7" or something ridiculous. But apparently he had a class down the hall from me, and he mentioned me in his speech at graduation. While he was listing aspects of our school they would all remember, he said, "And I don't think I ever saw someone leaving Ms. Potter's room who wasn't happy!" (Oh, back when I was Ms. Potter!)

Wow. So honored. Just... wow. If I had a goal for how my classroom was perceived, that would be it. Enter here, leave happy. 

Today I was again a minute late getting into the hallway, 'cause, you know, bridges bein' built. A student walked into my classroom before I had made it into the hallway and he said, "Mrs. Fitz you didn't greet me! I'm coming in again!" And walked back into the hallway so that I could take my position outside my door and say, "Good afternoon! Welcome to physics class!" And he smiled the whole time.

I love fashion, and don't you know that you're never fully dressed without a smile!

Smiles are contagious. 

School should be full of them.

The most wonderful compliment I could receive.

Students' observation superpower

At the high school level though, they definitely just want an excuse to get out of work for a few minutes haha. Oh you lost your pen? Let me be the best student ever while devoting the rest of this class period trying to find it!!! Ha. But normally they know exactly where your stuff is. "Where is my coffee?!" "You left it over here Mrs. Fitz." Best little stinkers ever.

Students are always paying attention to details. Not the academic details of course, those are no fun. But personal details. I mentioned I liked turtles my first year of teaching and the next day a student brought me a live turtle (carried it into school in his backpack, all between his books and notes,) and that is how our class pet Pyro came about 6 years ago!

"Pyro is the G.O.A.T." -student

I worked orientations at my school last week, and I had my phone sitting on the table and I was so surprised how many students commented about how I had gotten a new phone over summer break! Ha. One student told me once that my nail polish didn't match my outfit. Students are extremely observant. It's like a superpower that they have.

Now if only we could get them to use that superpower for the academic content of our lessons...

I'M EXCITED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, OKAY? GET OVER IT!
Btw, those heels are my students' favorites.