Teacher in NC received a 1/2% pay cut in their May and June checks. While 1/2% doesn't seem like a lot, it set me back 100 this month, and it will set me back 100 again next month. For the decrease in pay we will receive 10 hours of time off; however, we must take the 10 hours off during noninstructional days. So basically the 10 hours that we receive aren't really worth anything because who would want to take a teacher workday off. Those are the best days ever. We actually get to go off campus and have a 1 hour lunch, and most importantly we don't have to plan our trips to the potty around our class schedule.
But back to the issue at hand, the government took a noticeable slice out of our checks this month: Are we angry? Are we protesting? Nope. Not really. The general consensus around the school was, "Well, at least we have a job."
Yes, Ill admit when I saw my check dwindle from 2200 to 2100, It stung a little. However, I walked across the hall to a coworker, and we groaned a little, and joked a little. In the ended, we decided that it would be all right. We would forgo manicures and pedicures, a few Friday nights at Applebees, but in the end it didn't break us. I mean, hey, if I can survive a classroom full of 31 15 and sixteen year old boys, I can survive 100 pay cut.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
April 30th is National No Complaints Day
Okay, I just made this day up, but tomorrow, I am going to try really really hard not to complain. Complaining seems like a way that we has humans connect. Like whenever you ask someone how there weekend was, they always gripe "it was too short", and then you chime in and start complaining right along with them.
Lately there seems to be a lot to complain about like the Economy and Swine Flu. But tomorrow, I encourage you to take a break from complaining. When people start complaining to you listen intently and show concern, but do not be drawn in to complaining yourself.
Do this and see how your day goes. Who knows, you may find that you miss complaining, but not complaining is worth a try.
Lately there seems to be a lot to complain about like the Economy and Swine Flu. But tomorrow, I encourage you to take a break from complaining. When people start complaining to you listen intently and show concern, but do not be drawn in to complaining yourself.
Do this and see how your day goes. Who knows, you may find that you miss complaining, but not complaining is worth a try.
I will lose Five Pounds by the end of the school year
I currently weigh 134.5 pounds (Ive lost a half of a pound since I started my diet five days ago) and I am determined to get back down to my regular weight of 130 by June 10 which is the end of the school year. My goal is to lose 1/2 pound a week--already Ive lost 1/2 pound.
I am keeping my calories at 1800 and eating at least five servings of fruits and vegtables a day and 4-5 servings of grain.
Im on day five and I am doing pretty good at keeping my calories around 1800. I feel really good about the fact that I am eating so many fruits and vegtables. Its been easy to get in 5 a day, and some days Ive actually gone over.
Ill keep you posted on my success!
I am keeping my calories at 1800 and eating at least five servings of fruits and vegtables a day and 4-5 servings of grain.
Im on day five and I am doing pretty good at keeping my calories around 1800. I feel really good about the fact that I am eating so many fruits and vegtables. Its been easy to get in 5 a day, and some days Ive actually gone over.
Ill keep you posted on my success!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
On Being An Aunt
Wait a minute, are her breasts bigger than mine?--I thought to myself as my 14 year old niece walked towards me. Okay, truthfully, I'm an A-B girl, so having larger breasts than mine is almost inevitable. But, still this is the same little girl who would meet me at the door jumping up and down when I came to visit--the same little girl who would cry uncontrollably when I left.
Now she is this stoic, texting, mp3 carrying teenager, with a Posh Spice haircut. She is the same age as the kids that I teach. I knew she was going to grow up, in fact I remember when she was 3 years old and she was starting to outgrow that "pick-me up and carry me" stage. And on this particular day, she was afraid of something, so I picked her up and I told her, "One day I wont be able to pick you up."
"Why?" She asked with 3 year old sincerity. She was upset, perplexed, and hurt at that thought.
Like I said, I knew she was going to grow up, I just didnt know it would be the minute I turned my back.
Now she is this stoic, texting, mp3 carrying teenager, with a Posh Spice haircut. She is the same age as the kids that I teach. I knew she was going to grow up, in fact I remember when she was 3 years old and she was starting to outgrow that "pick-me up and carry me" stage. And on this particular day, she was afraid of something, so I picked her up and I told her, "One day I wont be able to pick you up."
"Why?" She asked with 3 year old sincerity. She was upset, perplexed, and hurt at that thought.
Like I said, I knew she was going to grow up, I just didnt know it would be the minute I turned my back.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Carolina Wins the NCAA National Championship!
It hasn't happened yet, but I feel quite comfortable in posting this article right now at 10:18. The score is 51 to 32 with a little over a minute left in the half. And the best free through shooter in college history (Tyler H.) is at the line.
As the half draws to an end, Michigan is falling apart and the nation is now reallizing that President Obama was indeed right when he predicted that Carolina would win.
Anyway, this Carolina ALUM is going to bed, Ive got students to teach tomorrow and I need to be ready for them.
My students are a little more important than me seeing the victory celebration tonight. After all, I just saw it 4 years ago and Im sure Ill get a chance to see it again in the next few years.
As the half draws to an end, Michigan is falling apart and the nation is now reallizing that President Obama was indeed right when he predicted that Carolina would win.
Anyway, this Carolina ALUM is going to bed, Ive got students to teach tomorrow and I need to be ready for them.
My students are a little more important than me seeing the victory celebration tonight. After all, I just saw it 4 years ago and Im sure Ill get a chance to see it again in the next few years.
I came in 8076th place!
When the finish line at the Cherry Blossom's 10 miler came into view, it was a rare moment when dreams met reallity and then coexisted for a moment in time. I had been running for 2 hours and 8 minutes and for some reason, and even though I saw the signs that I was getting closer to the finish line, I wasnt expecting to see it at that exact moment.
I had been planning for the race since November, but deep down inside (and not so deep down inside) I never really thought I would go through with it. After all, I am the queen of starting things and not finishing them.
I have registered and paid for races AND never showed up. I started Team in Training and dropped out before the first practice. I have spent hundreds of dollars on classes like, Computer Programming and Spanish that I started but never finished. And the Christmas before last, I thought I would like to be a photographer, so I dropped 700 dollars on a camera and enrolled in a course (which I dropped).
I could go on and on, but I'm guessing you can see the trend by now. And up until this particular finish line, I was starting to wonder if I would ever finish anything. This race restored my confidence.
I may not always finish things that I start, but at least I have the ambition to try new things and the intelligence to quit them when they arent working out. And if I try enough things, Ill inevitably follow through with some of them.
So right now, I am working on a Young Adult Fiction book and a Ninth Grade English workbook. And I am thinking about tutoring this summer and/or teaching online. I also want to learn how to draw. And oh yeah, if I have the money, and if I can get over my fear of flying, maybe Ill run the Chicago Half Marathon in the fall...
I had been planning for the race since November, but deep down inside (and not so deep down inside) I never really thought I would go through with it. After all, I am the queen of starting things and not finishing them.
I have registered and paid for races AND never showed up. I started Team in Training and dropped out before the first practice. I have spent hundreds of dollars on classes like, Computer Programming and Spanish that I started but never finished. And the Christmas before last, I thought I would like to be a photographer, so I dropped 700 dollars on a camera and enrolled in a course (which I dropped).
I could go on and on, but I'm guessing you can see the trend by now. And up until this particular finish line, I was starting to wonder if I would ever finish anything. This race restored my confidence.
I may not always finish things that I start, but at least I have the ambition to try new things and the intelligence to quit them when they arent working out. And if I try enough things, Ill inevitably follow through with some of them.
So right now, I am working on a Young Adult Fiction book and a Ninth Grade English workbook. And I am thinking about tutoring this summer and/or teaching online. I also want to learn how to draw. And oh yeah, if I have the money, and if I can get over my fear of flying, maybe Ill run the Chicago Half Marathon in the fall...
Saturday, March 28, 2009
7 Ways for Teachers to Make and Save Money
"Teachers Don't Get Paid Enough" is what we constantly hear, but if you budget your money correctly and find ways to get paid for your expertise, you'll be able to keep the job you love and pay the mortage.
1. Save Money Without Even Missing It When you pay offf a bill or when you get your yearly raise; automatically have the money you saved or made transferred to your savings account. For example, when I paid off my computer loan, I had the 75.00 that I saved automatically transfrerred to my savings account. I didn't even miss it.
2. Find sites that offer FREE STUFF There are many sites like www.freethingsforteachers.com that cater to teachers. www.enotes.com is another site that offers free worksheets, lesson plans , and even ebooks for teachers.
3. Get your a Side Hustle On Use your expertise in education to make EXTRA money. Just because teachers don't get paid much doesn't mean your services aren't valuable in the "real" world. For example, I signed up as an editor at Enotes.com, and I can make 25.00-60.00 extra a month by answering questions about literature or uploading worksheets that I created for my students. Check out my site for more info: http://www.ehow.com/how_4729672_extra-money-being-enotes-editor.html
You can also sale your work at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
4. Write a Book or a Workbook There are many places where your can self-publish books for little or no money. Check out: http://www.createspace.com/
5. Teach Online-In some states, there are virtual high schools that offer courses throughout the year and during the summer. They pay around $200 per student.
6. Stop Buying New Books-- You can buy books that in great condition at a fraction of the price at http://www.amazon.com/
7. Give to Others-- As Christian, I believe in tithing 10% of my income. I try to donate 10% of my income to a local Christian charity every month. I always feel better about my finances when I am helping others.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4875405_save-money-teacher.html
1. Save Money Without Even Missing It When you pay offf a bill or when you get your yearly raise; automatically have the money you saved or made transferred to your savings account. For example, when I paid off my computer loan, I had the 75.00 that I saved automatically transfrerred to my savings account. I didn't even miss it.
2. Find sites that offer FREE STUFF There are many sites like www.freethingsforteachers.com that cater to teachers. www.enotes.com is another site that offers free worksheets, lesson plans , and even ebooks for teachers.
3. Get your a Side Hustle On Use your expertise in education to make EXTRA money. Just because teachers don't get paid much doesn't mean your services aren't valuable in the "real" world. For example, I signed up as an editor at Enotes.com, and I can make 25.00-60.00 extra a month by answering questions about literature or uploading worksheets that I created for my students. Check out my site for more info: http://www.ehow.com/how_4729672_extra-money-being-enotes-editor.html
You can also sale your work at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
4. Write a Book or a Workbook There are many places where your can self-publish books for little or no money. Check out: http://www.createspace.com/
5. Teach Online-In some states, there are virtual high schools that offer courses throughout the year and during the summer. They pay around $200 per student.
6. Stop Buying New Books-- You can buy books that in great condition at a fraction of the price at http://www.amazon.com/
7. Give to Others-- As Christian, I believe in tithing 10% of my income. I try to donate 10% of my income to a local Christian charity every month. I always feel better about my finances when I am helping others.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4875405_save-money-teacher.html
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