Contaminated Gifts...

Swearing...

Sub psychotic rage

Blood pouring from sacred place

The pain of betrayal.

BREAKING NEWS:

Normally I drive just fine but every once and a while I do something stupid, like going too fast during a rainstorm.  This was such a time.  I hit a wet patch and ended up in the grass due to a lovely combination of water, stones, and stupidity (going too fast).  I crashed into a brick column.

I am not someone who has much faith in humanity.

After all, the people directly behind me and in front of me didn’t bat an eye when I acted like a moron and said “hello” to the sign.

Well, my faith was restored today thanks to these fine people:

First a woman stopped.

Then two men (complete strangers) in separate trucks.

Then a couple stopped.  They both got out of their SUV to check on me.

Then a man stopped.

Then another man.

Then another woman.

Then a couple of guys in a big truck.  I missed the name of the company on the side.

Then an older gentleman.

That’s a total of 11 people in about an hour’s time.

Fortunately I was not injured…just slightly embarrassed and not going into work.

Now, this blog is brand new and not even Cheezbot is following me.  I just wanted to share this and acknowledge the kindness of others.  Thank you to those eleven strangers who came to check on me!  I greatly appreciated your concern! <3

Tenth Classroom...

It is Summer School and too hot for a self-proclaimed lava monster to find much joy in taking her small class out for recess.

I have a mixture of English Language Learners, General education, and Special education.

Three of my students have unmediated ADHD…

I’m beginning to see myself in a whole new light…

I must have been an annoying kid to wind up on such strong ADHD meds by the time I graduated high school…

My third grade teacher apparently couldn’t put up with me being a disorganized mess.  She kept begging my parents to up my dose even though my grades were A’s and B’s.

There were no ADHD experts in our area…so I get to learn this now as an adult.

I’m in my thirties and I am often mistaken for my twenties…both in physical appearance and in my mannerisms…

How embarrassing…

Irish Yums!

Golden chocolates.

Foil wrapped Leprechaun coins.

Mouth melting goodness.

I was so cute as a kid...

My very first day of teaching…

I taught paleontology.

I was six-years-old.

I had five students.

They were my Cabbage Patch Kids.

Fifth Classroom...

I was in a library at night.

It was just me and thirty-five adults and the occasional handful of kids.

China, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Brazil, Mexico, Columbia, Haiti, and more…

Different cultures, different educational backgrounds, different English language speaking abilities…

These were my students.

I taught them English, having to provide my students with different activities and materials in order to best work with their level of competence.

I taught them American culture not for the sake of seamless integration into America but so they would better understand the strange customs of their new home.

If they failed to secure a babysitter then I assigned a book report.

Advanced students helped lower students read and write a brief summary.

I supplied children with toys, drawing tools, and entertainment while we waited.

I did this for two years before going to grad school for TESOL…

Praxis Haiku

Evil Praxis test

Consuming all of my time

I want to sleep now

Eleventh Classroom...

It’s been a year…

Still AroAce…

Still a teacher…

Still barely sane…

I went from being a ‘traveling ESL teacher’ to a paraprofessional at a Montessori school. I am not impressed.  Oh sure, Montessori is a wonderful learning philosophy but it is not for everyone.  It is certainly not for a teacher with ADHD that struggles with hyperfocus.  The individualized lessons given are often at the cost of classroom management or vice versa.

The parents who send their kids to a Montessori school do so in lieu of seeking out professional help for their unique or troubled child.  I have TWELVE out of twenty-six students who are either obviously ADHD or obviously Autistic to some degree.  Two have IEPs and the rest are ‘busy kids’ in their parents’ eyes.

This is a challenge that I have no problem with.  I LOVE my students.

BUT I am not thrilled with their parents…

‘I want to focus on this pregnancy’…Yeah, but while you’re doing that you could LAY in bed and work with your son on his letter sounds.

‘My parents are in a motel getting their act together’…AKA, drug addicts.

‘My mom says that this rule is dumb’…Sorry, it’s a SCHOOL rule.  No sweets.

The only thing worse than the parents is how this school is run…

The double standards and obvious favoritism is what REALLY pisses me off.

I do my job, I get yelled at by THREE different people.

Someone else DOESN’T do their job and they get praised…wonderful.

Oh yeah, and we have FOUR Montessori teachers out of FORTY.

Adventures in Spec Ed...

No, they’re my shinies!

Meow, meow nuzzle cat.

Yum tater tots, yum.

Happy Christmas!

It is Christmas time

One day I will be people-less

Cats will be my love…