Sick Days

So I am reflecting back on the month of November.  I was not in school on any Friday in November.  I know that sounds bad.  Let's recap where I was.

November 4, Midwest Google Summit (PS greatest conference ever)
November 11, FBLA National Fall Leadership Conference - where I had to present
November 18, Home with a sick kid who was puking.

Now my post deals with Sick Days.  I had to take two the week of November 15.  My oldest son puked Sunday, so we stayed home on Monday, then again on Thursday night.  This was right after I got home at 9 p.m. because of parent teacher conference.

It is hard to prep and plan to be gone two days in one week.  I had to communicate with people in the building about "stuff".  I had a meeting schedule with student services on Monday to set up a online scheduling option for parents.  I know how hard it is to get them to both have a cleared calendar.  So my solution was I Skyped in.  Even thought I had a sick kid and I took the day off, I spend over 5 hours online that day with various people in the building.  I even Skyped in to my 1st and 2nd hour classes to give them directions and answer their questions.

Now on Friday I had the simialr problem.  I didn't have a meeting scheduled with anyone, but I knew students need to talk with me to answer their questions on their work.  I had to talk with my concession store manager about what to order for the upcoming Wrestling tournament.  We can't run out of hot dogs or buns.  I also had students Skype with me to answer their accounting questions.  I would say on Friday I only spent about 3 hour on Skype.  But still two days off of work and I still worked 8 hours.

My son was not feeling well but he was resting and watching TV and reading books so he didn't need a lot of attention from me.  Do all people put this dedication into what they do?  Why do people think I (meaning all teachers) don't work hard?

Working Hours

I had a great opportunity today to sell concessions at a wrestling match.  FBLA had plenty of workers for the event, but it makes for a long day.  I have several helpers talking about how they didn't eat dinner, tired, had to do school work.  I completely understand because I was in the same boat, I was at school for 13.5 hours.  But to me, I don't complain because this is what I choose to do.  I love teaching, I love working with kids.  I know that the activities and trips I do more outside of the classroom are the memorable experiences for them.  I would love to think that they get the same from my classroom, but some are disengaged or distracted because of "other things".

In the current climate Teacher are being blamed for the economic woes of the state.  I started this blog because I wanted people to see the amount of time and effort I put into my career.  I don't expect to receive anything special except the respect of you work hard at your job and you do deserve the money you are receiving and maybe even more.

The average american in 1 year works 2,000 hours.  I have been documenting the amount of hours I have been putting into everything for my career.  This includes: FBLA, Professional Organizations, meetings, and professional development.  I started keeping track in June of 2011.  Since June of 2011 I have worked at least 872 hours.  On average in one month people will work 160 hours, I got paid in September and my work contract started in the end of August.  So I have been working this school year for 3 months but I already have almost double the hours for a typical work period.

I am not complaining, again I love my job.  I don't like how people think I don't work hard.  Please respect me and my fellow hard working teachers.

End of School Year

The school year has come to an end, and now is the time to relect on what was a success and what needs to be tweaked to help students acheive more in the classroom.  In the works for this summer is to determine which Office 2010 class to do transcripted credit with Fox Valley Technical College.  My colleugue Cindy has been doing phone conversations with book represenatatives, and technical college teachers and coordinators to figure out what would be best for all students.

Once this decision has been made then the hours of work of uploading data files for students to use and writing syllubus and course pacing guides to fit the Seymour schedule of classes.  But that will be a post for another time.

On the horizon is the the FBLA state officer training as well as our local brat fry to raise money for an upcoming trip.