on teaching salaries

A quick article on why teachers in predominantly minority schools typically make about $2,500 less than teachers in predominately white schools.

1. They are typically new teachers because of the turnover rate
2. There is no room in the budget for bonuses

"...Closing the achievement gap requires some serious investment banker-style hours." Um, yeah it does. 

this is what I look like

courtesy of mr. peden

phases of teaching

This article outlines the different phases a new teacher goes through.

Anticipation - July, August

Survival - September

Disillusionment - October, November, December

Rejuvenation - January, February, March

Reflection - April, May, June

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to the next few months...

A combination of stress, exhaustion, illness, and overwhelming responsibilities can throw a new teacher into a "pit of despair." Your tendency may be to focus on what hasn't been accomplished and what has gone wrong over the past several months. Report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and your first teacher evaluation are looming. Classroom management issues can be discouraging. Self-esteem may be at an all-time low. Many new teachers consider leaving the profession during this stage. 

sundays

I always feel like I'm at the top of the biggest roller coaster hill, in that moment before the cars slip from the tracks and your belly goes flying.

Last night I had a dream that I accidentally overslept until 9am. It took me all day to get to work. Then I got fired. I woke up at 8:30 and panicked because I thought it was Monday.

Hello, Week 6. Bring it on.

marshmallows and fluff

I have been desperately emailing the distributor of out carpet trying to get a delivery date before my students ate me alive.

"Our carpet is never going to come."

"It's going to take a hundred years."

Every. Single. Morning.

Tuesday while they were in art I received an email that said it should be there. I ran to the office, and sure enough. ENORMOUS carpet obstructing the sitting area and no one thought to call me.

I quickly set it up and went to get them from art. Next, madness. They danced with joy for a full 30 seconds before I had to stop them from hitting each other.

"I didn't know it was going to be this big!!"

"Ms. Haley, how did they make it so soft, like marshmallows and fluff?"

Everybody has a facebook page, but I have a fan page. Mhm, it's been blowing up. Messages, posts, everything.

- high schooler on the subway