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!!

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.

Rant: Teachers are superheros and don't you dare belittle them!

My dear cousin and fellow blog writer Bea (Radpunzel Check it out. It will change your life if you're brave enough to be introspective.) shared the following link, and of course I just have to add my two cents!

Manda Carpenter: A Public Letter to the Guys I Heard Talking About Their "Teacher Friend."

This post is SO TRUE! I get so many comments about being "off" in the summers and the other "breaks" I get during the school year. And I normally patiently try to explain to people how much work I do on these "breaks" and how much more work I do than most of them during the week, but sometimes I'm just so exhausted from my intense occupation that I just laugh it off. It honestly doesn't bother me though, because I know I've chosen this profession (and could never do anything else in the world!!!), and I know that most people couldn't handle my job. ;-)  I've chosen a busy life, so it doesn't get under my skin when I hear people complain they have one thing to do at home on a given night, when the only downtime I have all week is the half hour it will take me to eat dinner. (That is presently false though, I've gotten better at scheduling Q-time and me-time.) I know I've chosen a career that requires constant attention for 7 hours and then hours more of work at home; I know I've chosen a career where I spend around $800 a year on supplies for my classroom and materials for projects trying to make learning fun for my kiddos. And it's so worth it, because I am grinning from ear to ear every moment of my hectic job, and I'm making a damn difference in the world!

I just want to send a huge shout out to all my supportive friends who understand my job, who understand how important it is to me and why I can never hang out on weeknights, and don't mind if I grade papers while we hang out all Saturday watching football.

And she mentioned the toll on her marriage. You guys, I know SO MANY fellow teachers whose marriages have been strained because of the extensive toll teaching requires. So. many. Teaching easily consumes one's life. I have had to consciously make sure Q is always my first priority, and make sure I spend quality time with him. I am also very blessed that he understands how vital teaching like a super woman is to me, and supports me so much in that endeavor.

So to my fellow educators, be proud! Because you are doing the most noble job there is on this planet.

(I'm not biased or anything.)

Supermodel status (ha)

Today started out rough. It was Monday. Normally I don't succumb to the Monday blues. I love my job, and I've figured out how to beat the trend by planning a weekly fun event on Mondays: every Monday night is Girls' Night!!! Woohoo! Now I actually look forward to Mondays instead of dreading them!

But today started out rough. I was exhausted in the morning, struggling to be my normal peppy self for my students. I spilled my hot coffee on myself in the hallway during my planning period, (luckily most of it was on my hand and arm, and the few drops that did land on my dress were able to be banished by my trusty tide to-go pen,) and I ducked into my friend's classroom exclaiming "I need an adult!" Much to my dismay my friend did not have any tissues or paper towels. (How does she mother--I mean teach--without tissues and papertowels?!) But a quiet girl I didn't know got a tissue out of her purse for me! Bless that child! Also, now one of my arms is hairier than the other. Thank you, scorching coffee. Haha just kidding :-P

My day got better though! My students really liked the dress I wore today. One student told me I looked like a supermodel! Ha! Yas! Slaying in my A-line knee-length teacher dress! Haha. My students always make me smile. They are seriously the best.

After the supermodel comment another student asked if I could buy a dress with watermelons on it. Eye roll. Smh. Haha. There are no babies like my big-almost-adult-physics babies.

Today's supermodel dress deserved a supermodel photo shoot in the faculty bathroom

The higher the heels, the closer to heaven

^I have a mug that says that at school. I drink coffee out of it and the students love it.

I am obsessed with heels. I own approximately 75 of them... And of course at school I am known for them! Which makes me incredibly happy. But I am not, by any means, a masochist. I always have a pair of cute flip flops with me because I don't drive in heels anymore, (after wearing a hole in my floor mat from dragging heels across it from the brake to the gas every time I drove. This hole proved to be very dangerous because then my heel would get stuck in it when I was trying to go from gas to brake... Anyway, now I drive in flip flops and pack my high heels.) So if at any point during the school day my feet start to hurt I switch into my still-very-stylish flip flops.

Well this afternoon I was teaching, and I had switched into my flip flops, and one of my students raises their hand during notes, (not during a normal part where students ask questions, so I brace myself, wondering what random comment this student is about to share.) "Mrs. Fitz, I can't concentrate when you're not in heels."

"Wha-What?" I asked, incredulously.

"I'm just used to seeing you in heels."

I was amused at this point so I went over and put my heels back on. "Ooh! Aah! Yes!" They all exclaimed, since they had not seen this particular pair before haha. "Much better. Now we can focus." Ha. They make me laugh every day, these kids. :-)

Mmm... love these beauties!

Priorities

I find it hilarious that my last post was the first day of school... Ha! How appropriate! School started and WHAM--too busy to blog! The beginning of the school year is always the busiest, whether you are a first year or twenty-fifth year teacher. I've thought about writing many times, and of course many good stories have happened with this new batch of physicists, but at the end of the exhausted day my top two priorities have always been my husband and my physics classes, and although I wished many a night I had an extra hour to sit up in bed and write a post, extra hours do not exist and spending time with my patient husband and preparing out-of-this-world physics lessons must take precedence.

Well the first quarter has already come and gone, last week was fall break, and this week is the first week of second quarter. I am really going to try to write posts regularly, because I genuinely enjoy writing. So! Here's to busy teachers making time for the hobbies we love!

The Fitzcharleses at a wedding we attended over fall break