groups

Now that we are in the thick of cold and flu season, I hope that you are all staying healthy.

I was doing a great job fighting off all the nasty bugs until this week. It started with waking up very dizzy and then getting the chills for 2 days. Friday I woke up with a sore throat that got some better throughout the day. Friday night I was awake coughing all night. Yesterday I was like a zombie and only accomplished grocery shopping which I probably shouldn't have done. Last night took night time meds and slept better. Should be good enough to return tomorrow for an easy day. We are working on projects so very little direct teaching or instructions. It will just be noisy and chaotic.

Are we the only profession that really never gets to take an honest to goodness "sick day"? It's more work to change plans and prepare someone else to sub than it is to just tough it out and make it through. Ugh!

even though this past week seemed to drag by, the overall school year is sure flying by for me.....by May 1 I have to make a commitment to my retirement and that date will be here before I know it....in the mean time I need to gather a bit more information and update what the State System provided last year....with the economics as they are and potential changes to the State System, this decision loom large for me....

In the mean time we're wrapping up the Constitution unit and in the middle of our JH Volleyball season....sure doesn't leave much time for reflection and consideration of the "future"....

Hope your winter sessions are going well.....May 16th is our final day without snow days used.....yup, year is flying by....TC

I support public educators and all they continue to do for today's youth. No matter how much pressure and criticism they may get from those outside of the profession, I stand firm in my beliefs. view link

After 25 years of teaching, I retired and am now a 3.5 hour aide in an intermediate school. So instead of paper work and other tasks (keeping track of attendance and tardies, writing detentions and referrals, doing lesson plans, grading papers, calculating grades, maintaining a website, recording a homework hotline message, completing IEPs, dealing with parents and administrators, attending meetings, etc.), I am actually doing what I love--working with students in a learning center. I love being able to focus on helping kids learn and not been overwhelmed by the stress of working with 150 students, Couldn't be happier.

One of my fellow teachers pointed out an article from the TRS in Illinois describing a proposed legislation to create change in the retirement system.....in it they will create a 3 Tier system with we "older teachers" given an option to keep what we have (Tier 1 - full benefits after 34 or 38 years depending) or change to one of the other Tiers which provide either 30% less benefit at age 65, or going with a joint 401K and no age restriction?! The catch is, if you stay in Tier 1, your input to the system will go from 8% to 13.5%! Now, I may have to recalculate my plans for a 2015 retirement as that would require two years at the 13% contribution.....I'm not sure the benefit of staying one more year is worth the extra monies contributed....so, stay tuned....

I'm actually looking forward to this week. We have a full day Monday, which will be reviewing for tests. We've always given unit tests, but this is the first year we are giving cumulative semester tests. I'm easing my students in this semester with a combo test consisting mostly of the unit test with a few questions from each of the previous units.

So, Tue-Thu are 1/2 days for the kids and the staff has PD in the afternoons. The last week of the semester is the only time we get half days with students so we really look forward to them. It gives us a chance to go out for lunch and then work with our colleagues.

Friday is a no school day for students and we have department time in the AM and records in the PM.

Next quarter my intern takes the helm for all but one hour. That should be an interesting experience :)

Nothing better than an unexpected day off!

Snow on a Saturday - so sad!! One day sooner and we could have actually used one of our snow days (we did use one in October but that seems so long ago now). Mid- terms next week and we just introduced a new way of scheduling to the kids (no we are not going to sit down and help you - you can do it yourself online - isn't that wonderful!!) Their eyes are essentially crossing at this point!!

Oh well a good day to snug in and work on projects. Have a good one!! - Debbie