Jane, a teacher at my school ready to retire, taught me everything I now know about kindergarten. After thirty years, she has decided to write down her pearls of wisdom. Although every educator could benefit from this list, it is particularly useful to new teachers. Jane gave me permission to share this with the caveat that I'm to explain this is not a polished version.
So, here's Jane's gracious, unpolished Pearls.
1. Best wishes should be bestowed on those that stay behind in the trenches not those leaving the profession.
2. The man downtown signs your paycheck but the most important man (or woman) in the building is the custodian. He's the one you can call to clean the puke off the classroom floor and the pee from the toilet seat. Take a minute to put your chairs up on the table every day to make his/her life easier and return the favor.
3. If you're sitting in the room at 5:00PM or on Saturday, ask yourself, does what I'm doing this second have a significant impact on student learning? If the answer is not really, get your keys and leave.
4. Get organized. If you can't find it, you can't use it.
5. You are more likely to marry a millionaire then to get a pay raise from the legislature. Richly blessed and richly rewarded are not the same.
6. Don't waste your tears on day 180 for the kids you are promoting. They are your successes and your evidence you have accomplished what you were hired to do. Let your heart break for those that you could NOT get to grade level and vow to never let it happen again.
7. Anyone can take credit for teaching a bright kid. Only a true teacher can move the challenges.
8. Not matter what you heard you were not born a teacher. You have talent and potential but your license is a learner's permit. It entitles you to practice everyday. With luck and patience you may actually become the "real deal". And yes, expect it to take ten years.
9. Be real. Students develop a taste for excellence using your yardstick. Believe it or not, every piece of work is not a student's personal best. Acknowldege efforts with praises but reserve your raves as an opportunity to help them recognize their true potential and the "best of the best".
10. At the end of the day (or your own 30 year career), your future isn't what you are moving toward but what you are leaving behind. Make sure to make each day count.
I can't express how powerful this list is to me knowing it came from a respected educator and a true friend with a wealth of teaching experience. Jane is an amazing educator, and I'm sure retirement does not mean the end of her influence and impact on students.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Weekend in SF
This past weekend was spent in San Francisco. I flew in last Thursday and got back on Sunday (5/20). Making this trip so close to my departure seems almost frivolous, but I had some interviews with San Francisco Unified School District and would really like to work in the city. I'm hoping one of those jobs becomes a reality, as job searching is truly tedious and very worrisome. As much as everyone says, "Well, something will come up," I know my timing may be a little off. I probably should have made my departure date a little sooner. But, if need be, I can teach for a year or do lots of other things I'm sure.
I did have some time to just hang out and remind myself that this is a terrific city with wonderful sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The weekend weather was perfect with very little fog. The skies were clear. I've always felt at home in San Francisco and this weekend reaffirmed my comfort.
San Francisco is a place odd things tend to happen. Phrases like, "Oddly enough..." hold little meaning when weird stuff occurs regularly. Rusty and I met one of his coworkers at a fine gentleman's pub (otherwise known as Badlands Bar), when who should walk in but Tom Hernandez (a roommate of Rusty's from way back in our Ventura days). It was great to see Tom, even though when we were younger, we had some disagreements with Tom as we all moved out of the house on Virginia Avenue. By-gones sweeties. He looks the same and he is still with his partner of 16 years. Small world? Infinitely!
Other weird yet wonderfully endearing stuff, seeing our surrogate nephew's William and John interpretive dancing to various classical and modern musical selections (in costume none-the-less). You gotta love Montessori School and modern parenting!
Following are some pictures from a Friday afternoon at Yerba-Buena (downtown San Francisco, across from the
Museum of Modern Art).
Photo 1: The MLK Fountain. This is the top of the fountain but seemed to catch the reflection of the sunshine quite beautifully.
Photo 2: Now we know where Joe Camel went (since you can't smoke anywhere in San Francisco). This is the Zeum Carousel at Yerba Buena.
Photo 3: Rusty and I had tea in the gardens of Yerba Buena. The tea was very expensive but my Silver Springs Oolong tea was warm and soothing and wonderful for a Friday after work! (hints of ginseng and licorice, the menu extolled).
Now for the update, Rusty will be flying in next Friday so we can load all of our stuff on a truck and move it to the West coast. Rusty and Med are both driving it out there for a five day road trip before putting everything in storage.
Me? My departure is still after June 15th. Lots to do between now and then! The good-bye tour in Raleigh has officially started and will continue through the departure date I'm sure.
I did have some time to just hang out and remind myself that this is a terrific city with wonderful sights, sounds, smells and tastes. The weekend weather was perfect with very little fog. The skies were clear. I've always felt at home in San Francisco and this weekend reaffirmed my comfort.
San Francisco is a place odd things tend to happen. Phrases like, "Oddly enough..." hold little meaning when weird stuff occurs regularly. Rusty and I met one of his coworkers at a fine gentleman's pub (otherwise known as Badlands Bar), when who should walk in but Tom Hernandez (a roommate of Rusty's from way back in our Ventura days). It was great to see Tom, even though when we were younger, we had some disagreements with Tom as we all moved out of the house on Virginia Avenue. By-gones sweeties. He looks the same and he is still with his partner of 16 years. Small world? Infinitely!
Other weird yet wonderfully endearing stuff, seeing our surrogate nephew's William and John interpretive dancing to various classical and modern musical selections (in costume none-the-less). You gotta love Montessori School and modern parenting!
Following are some pictures from a Friday afternoon at Yerba-Buena (downtown San Francisco, across from the
Museum of Modern Art).
Photo 1: The MLK Fountain. This is the top of the fountain but seemed to catch the reflection of the sunshine quite beautifully.
Photo 2: Now we know where Joe Camel went (since you can't smoke anywhere in San Francisco). This is the Zeum Carousel at Yerba Buena.
Photo 3: Rusty and I had tea in the gardens of Yerba Buena. The tea was very expensive but my Silver Springs Oolong tea was warm and soothing and wonderful for a Friday after work! (hints of ginseng and licorice, the menu extolled).
Now for the update, Rusty will be flying in next Friday so we can load all of our stuff on a truck and move it to the West coast. Rusty and Med are both driving it out there for a five day road trip before putting everything in storage.
Me? My departure is still after June 15th. Lots to do between now and then! The good-bye tour in Raleigh has officially started and will continue through the departure date I'm sure.
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