I am the captain of my... classroom

Although the movie may not have done so well, I enjoyed it. I had just finished Nelson Mandela's biography "Long Walk to Freedom" before the movie had come out. It may or may not have taken over 3 years to accomplish this task, but after a countless number of reading hours while watching a gajiliion Bill Nye videos during my days of substitute teaching, I had finished the deed. (I should teach myself about run-on sentences)

As I reflect upon the life of Nelson Mandela and after downloading the TED Talks App for my iPad (Such an awesome toy) I've come to a conclusion. I need to be passionate about something. I want to make an impact on education as a whole, and I don't believe being JUST a teacher will help me accomplish that. I've had a HUGE wake-up call the last couple of days and I've been thinking a little too much perhaps.

I once believed my passion was to be the best teacher in the world. After the first full month of teaching, I've come to the realization that this just won't do, or probably happen. In a way I hope that it never happens. I feel that goal has been very selfish and helps no one but myself. I believe everyone who's ever accomplished, or who hopes to accomplish something that changes the world, has done so selflessly. They think of the greater good and then sacrifice their time, talents, and a countless number of both tangibles and intangibles for that cause. Such is the case with Nelson Mandela.

So now what? That's the question I've been asking myself for the last little while. Everything I've done for the last 4 years was done so I could accomplish this one goal. Now that I've reconsidered my hopes and aspirations, what do I do now?

Firstly, I need to figure out my number one priority. Even if I did know what is was, I'm apt to not say. I've recently heard (here)that if we say our goals out loud, it becomes less likely that we accomplish them. So I guess mum is the word on this one.

I still aspire to be the best possible teacher I can be. I've always had that drive to better myself. I guess the only difference is that I'm not going to compete for that title of "World's Best Teacher." Even if it does come with an inscribed coffee mug and bedazzled t-shirt that had such a saying emblazoned upon it. Being on the inside of education has opened my eyes to how we can better run the system, but especially better treat and educate the youth of tomorrow's world. Bring on the LEARNING REVOLUTION!!!

1, 2, ......9.....10. KNOCKOUT!!!

I always loved the original Mike Tyson's Punchout on the NES system. I would play it all the time. I saw this and thought, "How Clever. I must share it with the world." R.I.P. MJ.

Well, I'd like to reminisce about last night, just 13 days into teaching. We had our first half-day of school and then we had teacher meetings for the next 2 hours. I was feeling super excited because it was Labor Day Weekend, but not because I would have time to go party or do some camping. I was excited because I wanted to have more time to work on lesson plans, prepare Smartboard presentations, and learn how to use the new Smartclickers I stole from the school to use in my classroom. We also went over a lot of data about the performance of the school, school district, and the state. I must be a data nerd because I loved it and it really motivated me to get my class into the top tier of every subject.

Excitement levels were at an all time high. Then at about 7PM I started feeling really drowsy. I went to the library where they have a nice 4 ft. couch to lay on and I crashed. I woke up at about 9:30 and was feeling okay and so I went back to my room and started working. Well, that's when the dizziness and walking funny hit me. I tried to push through it thinking it was just momentarily, but then it continued to get worse, even bordering nausea. That's about the time I decided to close up shop and get home. I'm glad there weren't a lot of cars on the road, because something bad could've happened.

I got home, walked into my room, and crash landed on my bed. That was at about 10PM. I woke up at 10AM...12 hours later. For all I know it could be 36 hours later and I may have just slept right through Saturday. Only 13 days of this teaching stuff and I got knocked out cold. I feel like my favorite protagonist from PunchOut, Little Mac. It's like I've just started the game without any cheat codes and then I get knocked out by Glass Joe, the games first and worst boxer. ONLY 13 DAYS!!!

Well I've made a list of what may have caused it.

- Waking up at 6AM everyday to get to my class and get it ready by 7:30
- Allowing students to come in at 7:30 to do extra math (only one has been showing up...so far.)
- Teaching from 7:50-2:30 everyday.
- Allowing students to stay 30 minutes after school to do extra math.
- Not leaving the school until midnight or later every night.
- New teacher meeting last Wednesday. (2 hours every month)
- Starting my ESL Endorsement class last Thursday (2 1/2 hours every Thursday.
- Running a half-marathon last Saturday without training. (I just got my legs back yesterday...oh, and I may or may not have thrown up after the race in the porta-pottys after eating the free fatboys they were giving away to the racers. I also passed out after the race...due to heat exhaustion I'm guessing)

So that probably pales in comparison to other schedules, I realize that. I'm just coming off a year of total relaxation and no real responsibility. So just having to wake up at a certain time has been a little grueling. Also, I'm not complaining. I love my class and my job. It really is a great experience and I definitely feel I am doing what I love...for at least the time being. I hope I can last until the next "round" and not have another dizzying spell. There's so much I want to accomplish and get done. Passing out will greatly reduce my odds of doing all that I plan to do for these kids.

Speaking of kids, 3 days into the school year, one of mine threw up. Good thing I trained them well by telling them to take the garbage can as they traveled in the hallway. He definitely threw up in the hallway, BUT in the trash can...which he placed right inside my classroom upon his return. Great kid. Also, I had the only crier in the whole school on the first day. That's right, I scare little 4th grade children. I would think they would be attached to me seeing as how I've been told I resemble the likeness of one Ron Weasley. Well, it's time to get back to work. I can't believe it's already been 13 days. This year will be over faster than I want it to.

Cheers