5-4-3-2-1

Ok, ok...I didn't post yesterday.  I couldn't really come up with any "biggest accomplishment in teaching that no one else knows about."  And I was tired.

But I'm back on board for TeachThought's 30-Day Reflective Teacher blog challenge on Day 10.

Today's prompt looks like fun!

Share 5 random facts about yourself

1. There was a time in my life when I could put both legs behind my head.
2. I went half a year to 1st grade and half to 2nd, graduating high school when I was 16.
3. I was salutatorian of my high school class.
4. If I had been a boy, my name would have been "Jeffrey Major".
5. I spent most of my 8th grade year in Cairo, Egypt.

Share 4 things from your bucket list

1. Attend a taping of The Price is Right
2. Go zip-lining
3. Do the overnight hike to LeConte Lodge in the Smoky Mountains
4. Visit Ireland

Share 3 things you hope for this year, as a person or an educator

1. To maintain momentum and stamina
2. To develop a growth mindset in my students
3. To stay calm, mind my own business, and do my own job

Share 2 things that have made you laugh or cry as an educator

1. Laugh - A student my first year of teaching, after mentioning the platonic solids were named for Plato, very seriously asked, "Is that the guy who made the gooey stuff you make things with?"
2. Cry - Almost any note of thanks from a parent

Share 1 thing you wish people knew about you

1. I have insecurity issues.

What's in My Desk Drawer?

Welcome to Day 8 of TeachThought's Reflective Teacher 30-Day Blog Challenge.

Today's question:
"What's in your desk drawer, and what can you infer from these contents?"

Oh, wow.  Do you REALLY want to see inside my desk drawer(s)?  I am the queen of junk drawers. A pro at shoving things in drawers before a sub comes in order to clear off the desktop.

Students are told to NEVER place anything they wish for me to find on my desk. And the drawers can be just as much of a black hole as the desktop.

One side of desk drawers, this afternoon

One drawer got cleaned out during summer school (it's the one on top in the picture); it's in decent shape.  While straightening it, though, I found a kitchen spoon.  I have no idea how long it had been there, and I don't remember exactly why I took it to school in the first place.  The drawer underneath it is stuffed full of files, some still useful and some that need to be tossed.

The center drawer is full of odds and ends; paper clips, stickers, batteries.

The left side of the desk has three drawers.  The top two need the same treatment the kitchen spoon drawer got this summer.  The bottom drawer has most of my office-type supplies and is as organized as can be expected.

What do the contents of my desk drawers say about me?  They are a testament to my succumbing to the tyranny of the urgent.  They are what "I'll deal with this later" looks like.  There are hints of an organized-wanna-be, but most of those are covered with other stuff.

What does/did the kitchen spoon say about me?  Resourcefulness.  Yeah.  Let's go with that.

My Most Inspirational Colleague

Week 1 of the 30-Day Reflective Teacher Blog Challenge by TeachThought is complete!  Today's topic:  "Who was or is your most inspirational colleague, and why?"

OK...this is impossible.  Just one?

I talked about Karen Chamness in my mentor post.  She was very inspirational to me for all the reasons she was a good mentor:  she was positive, she was available, she listened, she led by example.

I am very blessed to work in a family-like atmosphere at Arab Junior High School.  My colleagues and I actually like each other.  We spend time together outside of school.

While I am inspired by many different teachers in my school, for this post I will focus on my fellow math teachers.  They inspire me because I am always learning from them.

Lisa Laney has taught me to be more efficient in the classroom.

Milia Jones has taught me how to transition from a high school teacher to a middle school teacher.

Tiffany Brooks has taught me how to be more compassionate.

Anne-Marie Graves has taught me how to use technology to my and my students' advantage.

Tracie Bayer has taught me how to be a diplomatic communicator and how to reach every student.

I would not be the teacher I am without the influence and inspiration of these ladies.  I am thankful for them and for the opportunity to make this journey of teaching with them.