Influenza and multitasking...

Influenza

It is an ugly virus. Nowadays, we are offered/bullied to get a flu shot. I have passed on this option for six years. Every year, we get a variation of the virus and build our immune systems a bit. Sounds burly, feels less fun and more miserable. This year, no exception. So, I am home again today. I don't know about most moms, but I just cannot send my six-year-old to school after a restless night and a 103 fever. Also she is coughing up a lung here and looks like she could be in an episode of "Walking Dead".
  And so, dear students, I believe you are having a different day than the one you imagined. My apologies. Still, since I was up bright and before the sun (Thanks, Phoebe) I was able to accomplish many of my tasks that were getting put off.
I managed to:
take care of car registration
bill scheduling
calling a plumber
renew license (they suggested I keep my old photo. Guess my bad hair day was not all in my head :D)
take Harper to get an x-ray (negative on pneumonia)
pick up prescriptions
get a snack for the kids
put in a load of laundry
email a lesson plan and respond to students' emails as well as feed and dress myself and three girls- all before noon! Not every day is this productive so I have paced myself at nap time. Nap time is the new happy hour. Ahh... Oops... time's up!

Another day in the life

I was a substitute teacher for several years. In fact, those years are not far behind me.

  I had a chance to both teach and substitute at the same time. It wasn't awful because now I know what it means to be on both sides.

  Our school is unique. When in need of a substitute, often we simply combine classes. We are small groups and flexible teachers. The first time I needed this support myself I dreaded the reaction when I returned having been in other environments with less support. I returned and no one was angry that I needed to stay home to attend a sick child. It was a relief. Similarly, today I covered for my partner in crime, Mr McKellar. It changed my day a little- it never is quite the same any way- but it was a fun challenge to shift students around. And it was an honor to cover for my very under the weather fellow teacher.

I feel very lucky to work in this rare environment that feels more like a family each day.

Feel better, Mr McKellar!

Sunday

What a day! Today was the Hellenic American Academy's Open House. We had a great turn out! It was exciting to see the enthusiasm for the school and meet some alumni from years past.

   Then we celebrated Greek Hierarchs Day-  it was so much fun to see the students dance and sing songs in celebration of education. My girls were too sick to make it, in fact there were several students missing. Still, it was a wonderful experience with a large turnout.

It's Saturday! And we are up!

Most of the world will be sleeping right now. Unless you are a parent to small children. Then you too are likely watching Peep and the Big Wide world or something like that.

We did a breathing treatment, had our breakfast of steroids- sometimes they are ok, but she won't be allowed to compete in the Olympics this year. Life is about trade-offs.

   Speaking of trade-offs.... There are so many in life. You can have cake but not the tiny waistline. You can have children but you will not get enough sleep. You can have fun but not too much... Wait, am I rambling? Perhaps, just perhaps it is due to being very tired. 

You might lose sleep but you get this. This is pretty great. Not all trade-offs are so bad.

Have a nice Saturday!!!

Blog 1/24/14

This is a special week at Hellenic American Academy. This weekend we will celebrate Greek letters day. My students have been working so hard to learn dances, songs, and skits. I posted the students practicing last week or so ago. You can see it on my giveit100.com site. Love seeing them in traditional dance. Looks like fun!

   We put such pressure on our students and have high expectations. The truly amazing thing is the students shine under pressure. They respond to it even if they always seem to dislike our pressure. My question is this- how much more could they do if they had willingness or joy in their endeavors?

   I guess that is the main way I try to teach- I want my students to enjoy learning. Sometimes, that means they know there are rules to be respectful. Like walking down the hall so they are not interfering with someone else's learning. Enjoying learning also doesn't always look silly and messy. Still... Sometimes it does. I think it never quite looks the same way twice.

What do you think?

Faithful video posts... Writing everyday is tough!

All of my sixth graders have committed to a 100 day challenge of their making. The ideas range from stressing less to telling jokes to reading to ring nicer. Have I mentioned how much I love my sixth graders? Their ideas reflect their inner goodness and conscience. Good kids. The seventh and eighth graders made a year goal. We are thinking long-term and focusing on some future goals.

   On other fronts, life has been busy. Our family still cannot seem to shake this evil virus. We spent a little time in the Emergency Room. Phoebe, our youngest is pretty sick. She has bronchiolitis and restrictive airways. I am glad they let us go home. 

   Life is never dull! There are so many things happening around us all the time. It will always be like that. The point is- you keep going and you never let yourself be defeated. An old proverb says- "fall down seven times, stand up eight". 

   That is my advice to my students. Just keep standing up! 

When you have to call in a substitute...

So today presented that challenging task of deciding if I can be both Mother and Teacher. One must always take priority over another. I am alas, not able to truly multitask though I swear I have come quite close.
To all my students, I encourage you to live a full life of love and creative work. Just know, you will have to work at the balance. But you need that, don't you? At least I do. It has been said, "all work makes Jack (or Jill) a very dull boy (or girl)." Yes, my edits. So you get it. Work Hard but Have some fun and know when to let it all go. Just do your best.
Today, was a day when I had to forgo my Teacher Duties (stop laughing, that is not the word I said. Duty is a task or job. Geez.). When I was asked to put together my Substitute Plans for Today, it forced me to really think about the things I do in class. I am amazed at what we are able to accomplish in a day. I am also amazed at how tough it can be to put your thoughts into organized words. I do some things a bit unconsciously. It was a nice task to articulate my ideas. I saw on paper just how my ideas form and the possibilities that are a lesson plan.

And then my students started emailing me during class. Some were pertinent questions. Some were merely, "where are you?" It is nice to feel needed, but WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING??? Or why are you emailing me feline/bovine onomatopoeia?

Most of all, I hope that learning happened and that they missed me and... maybe for a snow day tomorrow. My 4 year old is really sick. If no snow day, I have some plans... so be ready TO WORK!