School’s OUT for SUMMER!!

If you didn’t already know, I’m a high school English teacher by day. Today is the last day of school and it’s always bittersweet. By this time, I’m anxious for the break but I’m also always sad to see students go. I teach freshmen, sophomores (and some years, juniors) so there’s times when I’ll have a student multiple years. Inevitably, I connect with some and seeing them grow, mature, and develop into young adults makes me so emotionally come graduation. They’re leaving. And I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again.

There’s nothing you can really say to an 18 year old about what awaits them. Life is something you just experience on your own. I worry about the struggles they’ll face, but I’m always hopeful that they’ll stick to what’s right and remember that there’s people that care for them.

That’s what I try to instill in my students. People care about them. And the choices they make not only affect them, but those around them, those that care about them.

Every time my students leave my classroom, I yell out a “Be safe!” They tell me that that is something they remember about me, me constantly telling them to be safe. It makes them feel cared for.

This particular class is special to me. There were a couple of students that I had their freshman and sophomore year and who were my teacher’s assistant their senior year. I’ve become close to them and I’m sad to see them go. Whenever I do have students that I grow particular close with, I always tell them to stay in touch and some do, most don’t. This year I was pinky-sweared and promised that they’d let me know how they’re doing as they embark on their new adventures–one to the Marines, one to an east coast college to play baseball, and another to our state university.

I’m lucky enough to have many, many memories that will stay with me forever and before the seniors left, they managed to leave me (and the rest of their teachers) one more positive memory by way of their senior prank. Instead of doing something immature or detrimental to themselves or the school, they decided to have some fun while helping the community. Outside my room down my hall, a large group of seniors gathered in front of the balcony and proceeded to take off their shoes and throw them to the seniors who had gathered below. They in turn also took off their shoes and it wasn’t too long before we saw shoes everywhere! At first, we weren’t sure what was going on or what the meaning of the prank was but then the seniors explained. They were donating all the shoes to a local homeless shelter! The story even made our local news!

I love my job and I love my school. Like any job, there are tough days, but moments like the senior prank and occasional notes of thanks make it so, so worth it.

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I hope everyone has a great weekend!! Anyone stateside have Monday off?? ❤ , helly

–Do you have a teacher that you fondly remember?

A Day in Hell’s Life

Happy Friday!!

Linking up with the DC Trifecta team: Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney for their Friday Five–A Day in the Life of Helly!!

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Oh boy,

Here’s the breakdown.

1. Morning

My alarm (or really, my body, because I’m just used to it now) goes off at 5 a.m. I try to get as ready as I can before any kids wake up. The goal is for me to be done by 5:40 so that I start waking kids up at 5:45. I need to get them dressed, fed (quick breakfast snack), and dropped off at school by 6:30 if I hope to make it to work on time–I have a 45 minute commute.

My husband is a champ at helping out but there are some days that he’s gone before I even wake up.

Ready for school!

Ready for school!

2. Work

My school starts at 7:45 but I like to get there at the least 30 minutes before to get any last minute copies made or make any lesson plan changes. My first class has 37 students so I start with a jam packed room full of 15 year old freshmen. (Coffee, all the coffee.)

Second and third periods are freshmen classes as well and I like that because I teach the same lesson plan in the morning.

My planning prep period is the hour before lunch so I have an “extended” lunch break. This is what all teachers covet–that or having last period off.

For lunch, I usually head to over to my favorite pizza place nearby. They have an amazing lunch special where I can get a couple of slices of pizza and a drink for under $5. This was also the place the guy questioned if I’d be able to eat 3 slices. Humpf!! Lol, he was new and didn’t know I could dominate three so I forgave him.

After lunch, I have my two sophomore English classes. These classes are smaller but oh man, this is a tough age group. Sixteen year-olds in the afternoon are energized and ready for school to be oh-ver!!

School ends at 2:20 but I stay until 3:30ish grading, lesson planning, getting copies ready for the next day. I have to be out the classroom door no later than 4 though, because I’ve got a 30-40 minute commute back home.

Posing for a quick pic at work :)

Posing for a quick pic at work 🙂

3. Kid pick-up duty and early dinner

I love seeing my kids’ faces when I pick them up. They’re so excited to see me. BUT, they BOTH want mommy to hold them and an almost 3 year old and an almost 2 year old are quite heavy to hold at the same time. It usually results in a hysteria fit from the one who ends up walking to the car.

My arm workout.

My arm workout.

We’re home just before 5 and we’ll hangout while I make them their dinner. I’ll have something light to eat with them but nothing heavy as I usually workout in the evenings. Dad tries to get home around 5:45, just in time for me to head out for my run club runs at 6.

Nomming.

Nomming.

4. Workout

Tuesdays and Wednesday I run with my run club in the evenings. Thursdays, I try and squeeze in a workout right after work (so I can spend extra time with m kiddos) or I’ll run a short route in my neighborhood. During the week my runs happen right around 6 in the evening and my long runs take place early Saturday mornings.

running circles under a full moon

running circles under a full moon

5. Bedtime

After my run, I make it home to hang out before the first kid’s bedtime. My son goes down around 7:30. Once he’s out, my husband and I have dinner and then it’s my daughter’s bedtime. As soon as her head hits the pillow (around 8-8:30ish), mommy and daddy go straight to bed as well.

Whaddya mean I have to go to bed?!?

Whaddya mean I have to go to bed?!?

This is the first, and sadly, only time in the day where my husband and I have alone time. We’ll chat (sometimes while we foam roll, lol!) about the day, what the next day looks like, and then we go to sleep (by 9, 9:30 at the absolute latest) to do it all over again the next day! 😀

–How would you describe your typically day?

–Are you a morning person? (I’ve become one now that I’m a parent lol!)

–Or are you a night owl?

Five Favorites

It’s Friday and I’ve been digging the DC Trifecta’s topics so I’m linking up with them again for this week’s Five Favorites. Thank you Mar, Cynthia, and Courtney for hosting! Screen Shot 2014-06-06 at 9.17.23 AM My 5 Favorites 🙂 Favorite thing about my job I’m a high school English teacher and while it’s tough something to work with squirrely, hormonal teenagers, they can actually be really fun sometimes. During out poetry unit, I get to read the likes of Frost, Wordsworth, and Shakespeare. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that! Except it does! I have a my students create a sonnet, after reading Shakespeare’s “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day?”, on the topic of love. Their sonnet is on something they love. One of my students decided to devote 14 lines to Taco Bell. Yes, you read that right. And it was actually pretty good! Shall I tell you of the great Taco Bell? So my favorite thing about my job is seeing students create. Most of them hate poetry, but then they start writing and see that they’re actually pretty good. And that it’s fun! It’s the best. Favorite thing about where I live OMG, I love it here.

please don't hate me

please don’t hate me

Favorite thing about being married I’ve gushed enough about my husband but I don’t care. I have an absolute blast with him and my favorite thing about being married is the constant companionship. I don’t mind being alone, but I’d so much rather be with my husband ❤ Me and my speedy <3 Favorite thing about being a mom Gahh!!! There’s so many things but it’s seeing my kids grow right before my eyes. Seeing that light bulb go off. Seeing them explore, absorb, learn. My daughter has been in a colors phase and recently drew her first rainbow IMG_20150207_194132 I couldn’t believe its beauty. She told me what each color was and then said, “My rainbow!!” and then, “For you mommy!” MELT. My son has recently discovered a love of reading and is constantly asking me to “Book! Book!” (which means read, of course 🙂 ) I love it. 2015021795085409 Favorite thing about running YOU No, seriously. When I first started writing and keeping this blog, I wasn’t sure how long I’d last. But then I started “meeting” people and it’s really become a place for me to “hang out” with my friends. You all have been through a lot with me and have comforted me at my lows and celebrated with me in my highs. I’ve always loved running but it’s the running community that really makes this sport special. What are some of your favorite things? About your job? Where you live? Running? Family?