I wonder

how I put up pictures of my invites.

I wonder why I'm still at work.

I wonder what it would be like to never have to clean again?

(That's why I'm here. I don't want to go home and clean.)

I wonder why we have to work out? Why can't our bodies just naturally be right?

I wonder if I will ever really finish writing that book.

I wonder if I will actually work out tonight. (Will I use working out to procrastinate cleaning or cleaning to procrastinate working out?)

I wonder if anyone really reads these.

I wonder what my wedding will turn out to be like.

I fear that it will flop.

I think I will cry on Wednesday. I'm reading obituaries for the every 15 minutes program.

You know where the kids are "killed" by a drunk driver. They're pulled from class. And me and a counselor read what their parents have written for them to the class.

I wonder if this really makes a difference.

I wonder if I will throw up that chocolate I just ate. I think I ate too much too fast.

Isn't that the worst? Too much of a good thing I guess...

sometimes I really hate when cliches are true. It rubs my bubble the wrong way without bursting it. You know what I mean?

Have you ever just let your mind wander? I find it kind of trippy where it ends up.

But still.. I wonder...

An Invasion of Memories...

An invasion of Memories...

How Powerful is that statement?

I read it, and was immediately struck by the sheer tactileness of the phrase.

(Is tactileness a word???)

And as I read it, I was immediatel assaulted by an onslaught of memories.

It was literally like an "invasion."

There's a 'trend' on facebook right now to change your profile pic to a cartoon pic from your childhood...

The point...

to raise awareness to violence against children of any sort.

I think the point is to take people back to the time in their lives when they were children. To reset that mindset. To remember what it was like to be a child.

To encourage empathy.

Because if we are empathetic, it should discourage violence.

I believe that is also the purpose behind such an aggressive word like "invasion."

As a teacher, I am constantly on the look out for any sort of child neglect, abuse or violence of any kind.

So, go ahead, take a moment to find a picture of a childhood cartoon.

I bet looking through all the images will quickly have your saying...

"Oh My Gosh! I remember watching this! This was my favorite! AND so was this! OooH yeah!"

Have a little fun, and catch that childlike spirit again. I bet will make your day a little brighter.

It may even help bring you back to a better holiday spirit, too. Remember how MERRY Christmas used to really be? Back when you had no worries, stress, bills, or anything else? and ALL you had to look forward to was a "Frosty" Christmas morning in snuggly PJ's and bright colored presents under the tree?

Childhood memories..

Merry Christmas!

(I bet he knows how many stripes are on the flag.)

Questions from students I refuse to answer.

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*How many stripes does the American flag have?

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*Does my butt look good?

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*How old are you miss? 20? 19?

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* What are a type of people other than Americans?

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* Why does your class go so slow? (rude)

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*Can we nap today?

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* How many questions is on this quiz?

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*Why do we have to do this?

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The final question, I HATE answering because no matter how much fun I try to make something the students complain and whine. So, it's sad to say, but lately I have not been putting much effort into making my lessons.

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A question that I should probably answer for my self...

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Why should I put effort into things that no one will appreciate?

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I think that's called integrity. I need to jump back on that boat, and get out of this sea of lazziness and irritation. I have a job to do, and I have to just do it (like Nike has said so many, many times).

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Which leads me to another thought... I really love my students and I show them all kinds of mercy. My name could have been Mercy, I've been so merciful. But my pastor last night said something that really makes me say "hmmm."

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He said so many people today have confused Love with Human Mercy. We say we love someone so we give them soo many chances. But is that love or mercy? Isn't real love sometimes being tough? Doesn't real Love sometimes hurt? Not physically but maybe pride? or freedom? or grades? maybe even your feelings for a little bit until you realize what it is?

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The church shows mercy through saying everything is ok. People are showing mercy when they lie to save your feelings. If someone really loves you, they'll tell the truth.

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Do I really Love my students if I'm willing to let them get off the hook? Am I truly creating and shaping good citizens like my resume says is my mission?

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Have our veterans fought wars in order for our future leaders to ask these questions? Is this why our soldiers Love our nation? Is our nation showing Love to our future by socially passing them through school? Are we educators showing love by passing a student "because they tried really hard?"

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Don't get me wrong, I understand that not everyone is going to go to college, but isn't the goal of, at least our district, to shape and mold contributing citizens to society? Should not we direct our students to other areas of expertise? We need construction workers with know how. We need people to run our restuarants. We also need teachers, lawyers, doctors, and other academic minded career people.

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No, I'm not saying that school subjects are unimportant, that is completely the opposite of what I'm saying. I'm saying that we need to insure our students have the skills to manage in life. I'm saying that before we move them to the fourth grade, they should know how to use a ruler. Before the students gets to highschoo, the students should know how to read both digital AND analogue clocks. Students should know how to do simple math problems. They should know how to use fractions. Students should know how many stripes are on our flag. They should know what those stripes stand for. They should not to end a sentence with a preposition like I just did. They should know that an essay and an outline are NOT the same thing. They should know that "they're, their, and there" can NOT be used interchangeably. They should know how to use proper English not just the the text jargon they use daily.

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NO, I am not denying that this is the culture they are being raised in. I am not denying that we should support differences in culture and religion. I am simply saying that if we truly LOVED our students, and LOVED our future leaders, we would ALL (not just educators and politicians, but parents, grandparents, friends, leaders, EVERYONE) take a little more notice of the fact that the next generation is missing some knowledge. We would ALL check ourselves. Are we loving them? or are we just showing them MERCY?

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Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space, said "I touch the future. I teach."

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"Love is to will and to act to the highest good of the other."

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As teachers, we may touch the future, but do we LOVE our future?

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Names

So. I'm grading tests.

I was at the school til 6 last night gradeing tests. These tests are awful.

I EVEN let them use their notes. I'm pretty sure that the average for my first block is a 76.

Lame.

Annoying.

These students are usually my favorite class. I'm a little upset. Not going to lie.

Names I won't be using for my children.

Chris, Whitney, Jada, Nicole, Colin, Darion...

It's like this episode of "How I Met Your Mother." Lilly has certain names that she refuses to use for her children because of their crazy antics in class.

I refuse to use these names because they make me want to pull my hair out.

That's the life of a teacher.

On Kidd Kraddick this morning, they've been talking about names.

I LOVE NAMES! I love knowing the meaning of names.

I have a baby girl name picked out. I HOPE I never meet a student with this name.

Check out www.NameBerry.com.. It has a fun blog on it.

I like it.

I like it alot.

Also, by the name that people call you, it changes your personality. Its not astrology. It Nameology. It's like the power of confession.

By what you are called daily, creates who you are.

That is why our family chose not to call my adopted brother Rueben. It means "My Misery."

No, thank you.

This is the website to find out what your name means about your personality.

www.kabalarians.com

I'm going to take a break and check out my name.

Post me yours!

It's supposed to be eerily true!

......................................................................................

Your first name, Faith, creates an independent, forthright, practical nature.

You desire to work on your own or to occupy positions of authority where you have opportunities to organize an area of interest and where your decisions are heeded.

You want to be successful financially and have an interest in investments and stocks.
Being consistent and stable in your nature, you are decisive, capable, and efficient, though not always tactful in expressing your opinions.

Your appreciation of art and music is focused around how to make these activities into viable financial opportunities.

At times, you create misunderstandings with others as it is not easy for you to be diplomatic.
Although the name Faith creates the urge to be creative, independent, and self-sufficient, we point out that it causes a materialistic, somewhat self-opinionated approach that frustrates higher humanitarian qualities.

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What do you think? Is this me?

What or Who are you?