My husband and I have been struggling with whether or not I should go back to work full time next year.  Part of me thinks that having a full time income would be really nice.  It would help our family breathe as we pay our monthly bills.  It would give us enough to pay for eClaire’s preschool and additional child care for both kids.  It would not make us rich, but help us breathe.

On the flip side, in August my youngest will only be three and a half and will have two more years until she attends kindergarten.

She still needs her mom.

Additionally, next year I will be in the last year of my Master’s program.  Next year will be the most time intensive year of the program.

My family still needs me.

But the small financial increase would be so nice…

My gut says that one more year of part time work would be perfect.

One more year.

It’s been on my mind so much that I’m having dreams at night of going full time in August and showing up on the first day of school to blank desks, no plans and absolutely no idea what to do.  But then, like a knight in shining armor, my teaching partner walks in the classroom door and saves the day.

One more year.  That’s all I want.

Well today I was greeted at work with a standard letter asking what is my intent for next year.  Will I be working full time or part time.

There’s that question again…except it is in writing this time, not just a hypothetical.

So I say a prayer.  “God, please help me make the right decision.  My heart says one thing yet my head says another.”

One more year, that’s all I want.  That’s all my heart wants.  One more year.

Well I sure cannot say that God doesn’t sometimes slap you in the face.  Because he does.  My decision became pretty clear.

In the form of a letter from my district.

Waiting on my counter was a letter informing me that my leave of absence is officially up in June.  I will not be allowed to ask for an extension and will either have to go full time or put in my resignation.

And so now I sit here, prayer answered.

One more year…that’s all I wanted.

Well, that settles it.

Crazy Hair Day

Hubby, who was previously Boyfriend, called my apartment early in the morning.

Hubby: SM, wake up.

SM: What’s going on?

Hubby: We’ve been attacked.  I have to go into work early today.  Our city is on high alert.

SM: What do you mean??!!

Hubby: Go turn on your TV.

And on it went.

I woke up my roommate and we sat in front of our television, jaw firmly planted on the ground. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. After sitting, paralyzed, for far too long, both my roommate and I headed to work. Our students would be waiting.

To read more from this post, click on over to Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

September 11th

In my ten years of teaching, I’ve encountered many children who could have benefited from some basic household routines.  As a result I’ve compiled a list of healthy habits & routines that help make the transition from summer to school much smoother.

1.  Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime.
Your child’s body, age 12 and under, on average requires 10–11 hours of sleep per night.  Every night.  If you have a teenager, they generally require 8 1/2 hours to 9 1/2 hours of nightly sleep.

Why is this information important?  It’s simple.   Kids perform better, are able to focus more, and have better days when they are fully rested.

…sleep deprivation adds up over time, so an hour less per night is like a full night without sleep by the end of the week. Among other things, sleep deprivation can lead to:

• decreased attentiveness
• decreased short-term memory
• inconsistent performance
• delayed response time

2.  Eat a healthy breakfast each morning.

Make sure that your child’s breakfast consists of high-fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits, and dairy products.    Limit the amount of highly refined sugars and carbohydrates your child eats each morning.  More sugar in the morning equals a less focused student.

Evidence from the report suggests that eating breakfast may improve cognitive function related to memory, test grades, and school attendance.

Eating breakfast, a healthy breakfast, is important.  VERY important!

3.  Pack a healthy snack.

Around 5 1/2 hours passes between the time a child eats breakfast to time lunch is served.  That’s a long time to ask one of our students to be without food, calm and on task.

Remember to pack a healthy snack each and every day.

Not cookies or sugary, prepackaged foods. But healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, cheese, or dried fruits & nuts.

4. Routine, routine, routine!!

Create a routine your child can count on for the after-school hours.  Have a special spot for homework completion and make clear how much rest time your child has prior to beginning homework.  Have a set dinnertime and bedtime.

Having a family routine can create a sense of security.  When a child feels safe and secure at home, he/she always performs better at school.

Good luck and have a wonderful school year!!

Original Silicon Valley Moms Blog post.

Tips to Start a New School Year

Jeff King has spent the last couple years as a co-principal of an Los Penasquitos Elementary School. He’s reinvented himself numerous times over his past twenty-something years in the business. He started as a 2nd grade teacher, spent time doing administrative work in the district office, as a middle-school math teacher, then a middle school vice principal, elementary school principal, high school principal, and finally is finishing up his years as an elementary school principal yet again.

But more importantly my father has begun a revolution. It all started with a dream, and morphed into a reality.

His dream? He believed that all students could learn and be successful.

Revolutionary:
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change: a revolutionary junta.

The day he became principal at Los Penasquitos Elementary School, he began a revolution. Over the past eleven years with the tireless effort of all Los Pen teachers, support staff, and their two principals, Jeff King and Damen Lopez, Los Pen went from a school that was “doing as well as could be expected” educating some of the poorest kids in the community; to a school who routinely out performs their other more affluent neighboring schools.

Revolutionary:
–adjective
2. radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc.: a revolutionary discovery.

Educating poor and underprivileged kids is my dad’s life work, his passion. I, as I’m sure many of his colleges, have gotten an earful on more than one occasion about why it is possible, important, even critical for all underprivileged children to be educated.

He along with Damen believed they had a message that must be shared with a larger population than just one elementary school. They believe that all children in low-income areas have the right to be educated and successful. As a result, Jeff and Damen started TurnAroundSchools, a company providing training for teachers based on the following principals:

* All children, even those who live in poverty or who are learning English, can be academically successful and attend college.
* Public K-8 schools have to power to make that dream a reality.

Now my dad along with Damen is educating teachers, principals, and superintendents in masses so they can begin revolutions at their own schools.

Jeff King.

A man who can be quite impossible and rarely takes no for an answer.

A father, husband, educator.

A revolutionary.

–noun
1. a person who advocates or takes part in a revolution.

Since I cannot be there on Thursday to toast my dad at his retirement party, I’d like to say the following:

You are a man who has changed the lives of thousands of students and teachers. You believe in the unique ability of each individual you come across. Because of you and your leadership, many children who previously did not have a chance, do. Because of you, lives have been changed. Because of you, I am a better teacher. Because of you, this world is a better place.

The mark you leave on education is one of high expectations, a belief that all students can learn, hope, and success.

You have inspired teachers to greatness, and children to dream dreams they never believed they could. Because of you, we all are better.

As I’m sure your staff is, I am saddened to see you retire. But we know you have great things in store. We know that you’ve been called to make a difference in many more children’s lives.

You have begun a revolution.

And we are so proud.

***************************************

Now it’s your turn… do you know Jeff King? Is there a funny story that sticks out in your mind that you’d like to share? A thought or toast? Please leave a comment and I’ll make sure he reads each and every one. Thanks!

Jeff King-A Revolutionary

I am a public school teacher and I work in one of strongest academic districts in the Bay Area. The school I teach at routinely ranks in the top five in California. It’s that good!

My school is also a ‘choice’ school, meaning that it is students come from all over the school district. You have to choose to send your kids there. Therefore school admission is based on a lottery. When a child’s number is called a parent almost always pulls their child out of their current private or public school to enter ours.

I know what great teaching is all about. I’ve seen both sides, the good school environment and the bad.

This is the best.

So why am I fretting about school?

Simple. I don’t live in the school district in which I teach.

Teachers can’t afford to buy a house there.

I have two children. My oldest will enter kindergarten a year from September and he cannot go to the my school.

Kinda stinks, doesn’t it?

Often one of the benefits that many school districts offer their teachers is automatic admission for their children. On top of it being very convenient for us, it also ensures the district that we teachers stay put for the duration of our children’s schooling careers. Teacher retention is quite a problem in Silicon Valley. It’s a win win.

But since my school is a choice school, my own children don’t even have an option of attending.

So I fret.

I’ve seen great. I teach at great. I want great for my kids.

The school district in which I live is alright. It’s neither great nor bad. My kids will probably do fine while attending school in this district. But then I think, Is alright good enough for my children?

No.

My husband and I have discussed private education, moving, public schools, private schools again.… But truth be told, two public servants living in Silicon Valley simply cannot afford a mortgage and one private school tuition, let alone two tuitions as my daughter enters school.

So we’re stuck. Private school costs too much, while public school just might not be great enough.

When it comes down to it, I’m just as confused as the next mom trying to do her best by her kids.

Any suggestions?

Originally posted at Silicon Valley Moms Blog

A Teacher Fretting About School

Now what’s a good teacher if she/he can’t have a little extra-curricular fun once in a while?

Check out these two videos my staff mates made. One is a challenge issued an invitation to play Wii’s Guitar Hero after school on Friday. The other is an acceptance video. Trust me, it’s worth your time!

Youtube videos mess up the layout of my site, so bear with me!
The Challenge

The Acceptance

Do you love where you work??

Seven year old girl and her entourage walk up to Smiling Mom.

A member of her entourage speaks (Because a seven year old girl never tells the teacher her problems.  That’s what her friends are for!)

Entourage 1:  Mrs. Deeeeeeee, Jonie has a red spot on her toouuunnnge.

SM: Let me see it.

Jonie opens her mouth and a second member of her entourage points to the spot.

SM: Oh, that’s just a taste bud.  It’s a bit swollen, but it will get better soon.

E1: What, are you a doctor or something?

SM: Uh, no.  That’s just common sense.

Jonie and the entourage turn around and begin to chuckle.

E1 looking at Jonie and giggles: Whatever!  She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.  She’s not even a doctor!!

SM: Hey!!!  I heard that!

A post in which the teacher gets schooled.

Well, not really. We were introducing the new text book and were reading about the four different regions in California, desert, mountain range, coastal range, and valleys. And I was asking a very basic level question. One I believed all 7 and 8 year olds could easily answer.

SM: (in her best teacher voice) Now class, do you think that our city looked the same say… 15 or 20 years ago.

Class: Nooooo

SM: What do you think might have been different?

Class: Oh, oh, pick me, pick me!!

SM: Yes You.

You: People rode horses around instead of cars. Because they didn’t have cars.

SM: 15 years ago? Um, OK? Whatever. How about You#2 (one of the smarter boys in the class, truth.)

You#2: Well, back then our region was very smoky.

SM: (intrigued) Smoky? How so?

You#2: Well you see, Since they needed to communicate and there was no way to send letters, people had to send up smoke signals. It’s like their way of communicating.

SM: We’re talking 15 years ago You#2. Only 15 years. Are you sure?

You#2 in unison with the whole class: Ya, it’s true. (Wide eyes…serious look… and nods all around)

SM: Ok, Class… Let’ move on.

SM: (to self) Boy, we’ve got a long way to go…

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Hi Jeff!

Let me back up.  Yesterday I was working and my team partner, Mr. H, and I were chatting.  We have been in process of creating a website for our three classes, his, mine and our other team partner, Ms. S.  Mr. H currently has a functioning website up for us.  But because I desire to have control over everything was a bit curious and wanted to help him out, I asked if there was a way for me to work on the site along with him.

“Totally,”  He told me.

Great!

Well as the  on and we realized that it wasn’t as easy to share the responsibilities as we thought since iWeb works off a program on your computer where you create the web pages and make all the changes.  After you do the work, you publish it.  Did that make sense to any of you?

Ya, me neither.

So I said to Mr. H that since I only work part-time, the website would be easy for me to do with two kids running around.  WHAT WAS I THINKING??

He said, that’s be great!

I said, stupidly, “I mean, if you want me to take it over, I’d be happy to!”

At this point I was expecting him to say, “Oh no, dear Smiling Mom.  I couldn’t burden you with anything more than what you already do.  You are such a spectacular teacher and mom, I don’t know how you do it all already!”

Well, friends.  He didn’t say that.  The conversation went more like.

“Oh, that’s be great!  It’s be a HUGE burden lifted off my shoulders!”

Sh*t.

So now, folks, I’m the website programmer

This afternoon I’ve been taking my iWeb tutorial online so I can figure out how to simply open the damn program.

Help, anyone?  Bueller?

What was I thinking?