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Only weeks into her second semester, the first-year middle school teacher who writes east meets west has settled into a well-honed routine for treating the frequent illnesses that come with the job:

First, I take an Airborne, an Alka-Seltzer-like tablet chock full of herbs and amino acids. Then I drink water. A few hours later, I take another Airborne. I continue taking Airborne and other vitamins every four to six hours. I close the deal by going to bed early thanks to one NyQuil pill. In the morning, I take another Airborne. I have another Airborne with lunch. Then I go home and leave offerings on my shrine to Airborne. Then I take more.

Hmm, we sense a certain pattern. …

(From east meets west)

Posted by at 4:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dmcdowell of A History Teacher says he loves his work, but there’s one aspect of it that fills him with dread: Grading. Noting that he just spent at least 25 hours grading 109 essays for his AP world history course, he has some quite reasonable doubts about the old notion that “teachers have it easy”:

I have friends who have said it must be nice to be done with work at 2:30. But, as my wife will attest to, I am always working. I always have a paper to grade, a lesson to work on, a meeting to attend, or a book to read. When I have nothing to do for tomorrow, I think about the next day or even the next school year. Something always needs revising.

To judge by many other teacher blogs (see our blogroll), this kind of schedule and level of dedication are pretty much the norm.

(From A History Teacher)

Posted by at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Veteran special education teacher Mrs. Ris reveals how she copes with stress and maintains perspective in the many wrenching situations she faces in her work:

One way I am able to manage myself and my response to my emotionally disabled students is to meditate daily. I try to pray for a peacefulness, a centeredness that will allow me to do my best everyday, despite the terrible stress, and frequent disappointments. …

Anyway, this one small prayer, 7 short words, hit me hard last night as I went searching for guidance and peace.

Lord, help me not be an obstacle.

Somedays, that's all I can ask for.

(From Mentor Matters.)

Posted by at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

New York City educator Mildly Melancholy was mildly floored when, in a teaching class, she was asked to decribe herself "as a person and a professional."

Here's what I ended up writing: --out of classroom: easy-going; laugh a lot; music on always; books close by; sometimes lazy

--in the classroom: stern, high expectations; dry and sarcastic jokes; piles of papers and books; music on or nearby; loud

Like any good narcissist, I found this very interesting. It was not a revelation that my personality is different depending on my surroundings, but to lay it out in simple terms was fascinating... What this means to me is that I can be very stern and loud and strict. It's totally NOT who I am. It still makes me laugh sometimes, that I can be that way. No one that I know in my "real life" or pre-teaching life would recognize me in the classroom. I think it's kind of cool. Certainly it reminds me that a huge part of teaching is indeed acting. Once I figured out how to act the part, then the students accept me in that role, and we can all proceed.

(From Mildly Melancholy.)

Posted by at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

NYC Educator has an interesting take on them.

(From NYC Educator.)

Posted by at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

JHS Teacher finds she takes offense when acquaintences talk reverently about her choice of profession, suggesting it’s a kind of noble sacrifice:

I really hate that. I know, most people think they're giving me a compliment, but what's going on underneath is that idea that teachers are a special breed. One that gets its satisfaction not from money or wealth, but from doing good deeds in the world. By thinking of teaching as a "calling" rather than a profession, we are more put into the ranks of nuns and missionaries, rather than highly trained professionals. Isn't there a vow of poverty that most people "called" to the church take? I didn't take any such vow.

True, she loves her job and believes in the work she does, but …

Just because I like my job, and it engages me, does that mean I have to give up the financial rewards other professionals earn in other careers?

Where does it say that one doesn't have to make as much money if one has a job one believes in?

(From Junior High School Teacher.)

Posted by at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Posthipchick reacts to her school's latest attempt to fight obesity -- "moving away from food as rewards or gifts."

I am obviously not for childhood obesity. I am obviously for eating healthy. But I'm sorry, you are going to feed the students low-grade beef, iceberg lettuce, and processed crap for breakfast and lunch but my mini Tootsie Roll once a month is causing childhood obesity? Puh-lease.

It is bad enough that we cannot bring in homemade treats for students anymore (oy, the liabilities), but now this. I currently use a system in my classroom where classes get daily points for behavior, and then about once per quarter, if they have enough points, they get a pizza party. One slice each. Four times per year. No difference between that and the pizza they get at lunch, but clearly we need to 'move away from this system'. Never mind that I have given one referral all year and discipline in my classroom is not an issue.

One time, when teaching Anne Frank, I asked the principal if I could use the over in the cafeteria to heat up latkes, since my students didn't know what they were. I was going to have a little Hanukkah party. He actually laughed in my face and told me in no uncertain terms that there was no way I could be trusted to use the ovens to REHEAT SOME LATKES. Sure, trust me with your children, but god forbid I use an oven...

I fully understand that school is for education, but think about what YOU remember from school. I remember my 6th grade teacher keeping M&M's on his desk and giving them to us as 'Vitamins'. I remember parents bringing in cupcakes for birthdays. I remember day-before-winter-break doughnuts. Food makes people feel like they are part of a community, and there is a lot that students can learn from eating together.

(From posthipchick).

Posted by at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Middle school science teacher Ms. Fizzle has found one way to keep her classroom well-stocked with materials: Collecting trash. She says she has come into her own as a "collector of trash treasures" this year after an appreciative art teacher started dipping into a "stuff box" she'd been keeping:

[O]nce the art teacher took the hangers, I went crazy. Now, I collect glass bottles, plastic bottles, yoghurt containers, paper towel and toilet paper rolls, coffee cans, rubber bands, cardboard, egg cartons, crates, and pretty much anything else that speaks to me.

I'm right on the verge of putting a box in the teacher's bathroom and a sign asking teachers to collect the empty toilet paper rolls for me.

But she does have certain limits (and limitations):

Last week, I pondered taking a bunch of foam that was out in the trash, but it had been sitting there for a few days and didn't look too clean. When I pass bundled up boxes—especially refrigerator cartons—I secretly wish I had a station wagon and could come back and take them.

(Ms. Fizzle.)

Posted by at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)