Sabbatical

The school year ended May 22nd, and it didn’t even feel like it. I was at home with my kids, not on a sun-soaked football field signing yearbooks for the sweet students I spent the last year, or two, or three years with. There was a unique beauty in online teaching. Being home with Eli and Addie, not having to “go back” from maternity leave, having freedom in my days. But of course there were also struggles: balancing two kids and two teachers working from home, missing the in person interaction of students, co-workers, and friends. One of the weirdest things about it all is this: I walked out of school on January 8, 2020 not knowing that Addie would be born the next morning, that COVID-19 would force online learning, or that I would never get the chance to say goodbye to my students in person. Not knowing that I wouldn’t be back.

For the 2020-2021 school year, I will be taking a leave of absence, or "sabbatical" from teaching. I am both thrilled to be home with my babies, and also a little bit terrified. This is a decision that was not made lightly or easily. I knew that being away from Eli while teaching full-time had been more difficult for me than I anticipated, but I had done it. We had a great sitter, amazing grandmas, and a fairly good routine down. But with Addie joining us, I feel my heart calling me to my own kids for a season. Knowing that I would be teaching full time, adding another kid to the crazy morning mix, and managing a busier season with The Brim left me feeling like I would be doing everything and yet doing none of it well. I wrestled and wrestled with this decision, mainly because I recognize that I have it so good. My poor husband, family, and friends have listened to me talk about whether or not to do this a million times, and even after I finally made my decision, I second-guessed myself. I mourned all of the good things about teaching that I knew that I would be letting go of. It’s a blessing to have a job that you feel torn about stepping away from, even if it's just for a year, and a crazy year at that. 

In May of 2011, I graduated from the University of Missouri and walked the halls of Liberty High School for the first time as a teacher that August. For the last nine years, I have known nothing other than putting on LHS gear and heading across 152 to the school, home of the Blue Jays, to spend my days with pretty incredible kiddos and some really wonderful co-workers. I came in as a 22 year old, freshly out of college, and since then I've had two classrooms, got married, earned my Master's Degree, and had two babies- along with countless other big life moments. I have grown as an adult and have seen the journey of life take different roads than I would ever have anticipated. Teaching AP and Gifted ELA has meant teaching some of the most brilliant, capable, and creative students. And it is very difficult to give that up, knowing that I may never be back in the same place.  

For now, I am basically a "frozen" employee. During my leave, I can put my name in to be “reinstated” and I would be able to get the next open teaching job in my certification (9-12 ELA or Gifted K-12) within the school district. Obviously, this means I am not guaranteed to be back at LHS, which has made all of this much, much harder as I step out of a year where there was certainly no closure. I literally went into my room for one two-hour period and took nine years worth of things off the walls and out of the file cabinets. It felt strange, emotional, and anti-climactic. Surreal really. Normally I would've had weeks of packing things up, slowly navigating through files while still seeing my students and treasuring these last memories with them. My neighbor teacher would have come in with a mug of coffee and we would have laughed about a crazy kid story. I would have shared senior superlatives and read my annual Letter to My Students. Instead, I teared up, took off my mask to take one last selfie outside my room, and walked down an empty hallway by myself, carrying the weight of the fact that I may never be back as a teacher at LHS again. It was like ripping off a bandaid. I cried when I left my keys on a desk in the normally bustling, empty office. That being said, there is also a sense of freedom in knowing that I’m making the right decision for right now, even though there’s so much unknown. Even though it’s scary. 

When people ask, “What do you do?”, I normally say I'm a teacher. For this next year, I’m not really sure yet how I will respond to that question. Honestly, I know this school year will look different for all of the teachers. Not having a typical "first day of school" will feel extra strange for us all; we'll miss the normalcy of our days, the pre-COVID school climate that was better than we realized at the time. My heart goes out to all the teachers in the trenches this year (whether online or virtual), including my own husband. I’m realizing that teaching has been a really huge part of my identity, and the only job that I felt sure I would ever do: potentially at the only school I would ever teach at for 30+ years. But while I find out what the Lord has for the future, I know that I am going to cherish this year with my children, and trust that He will take me right where I should be (and it seems that this sabbatical proved to be pretty timely). He has never failed me yet. 

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It’s hard to believe that over a thousand students have filled the desks in my classroom over the last eight years. 👩🏽‍🏫 A thousand futures, a thousand smiles, a thousand precious lives that have crossed paths with my own. They are my absolute favorite part of teaching: the students. If you were one of my previous students OR YL friends (who'll forever be some of "my kids"), comment below with what you’re up to these days! In honor of all the incredible kiddos I've seen over the years (some who aren’t “kiddos” at all anymore), click @currentlykelsie and the #linkinbio to see my "letter to my students”- my most popular blog post EVER. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all the amazing educators I had, taught with, and still learn from! You make a difference! 💕#teachersofinstagram #teacherappreciationweek #teach

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer | Blogger (@currentlykelsie) on May 6, 2019 at 6:12am PDT

Whatever the next chapter looks like, I am forever grateful for what this one has been. There have been thousands of amazing kids that I've had the pleasure of teaching and have connected with through years of Liberty YoungLife, and I would not have traded a single second of that. I've worked football games and proms, coached softball, attended Senior girls lock ins and amazing musicals, judged Mr. Liberty and taken kids to national NHD competitions and even overseas to Greece. I have been a part of winning faculty basketball teams and choreographed Staffires dances, dressed crazy for spirit weeks, and made a fool of myself on numerous occasions in front of my class of chuckling kids. These high school students have made my job fun and given it purpose, and I am so grateful for all of the relationships made in the hours, days, and years we've shared. My students are forever "my kids", and I'm so excited to see all the amazing things they'll go on to do. If you're one of them reading this, know that I care about you and am so proud of you.

I may be back at LHS. I may not. Time will tell. But one thing is for sure, I am so grateful to be a Bluejay, and I will miss it this school year, COVID and all. Now it's time to go make some memories with my babies. 

Currently,

Kelsie

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Choose Grace

Today I popped into my school to prepare for the extended flexible learning that’s starting. While other teachers had done some precautionary packing prior to the start of Spring Break, I had to run back into the eerily quiet, regularly bustling building. Most of my teaching materials are online anyways, but I’ve been on maternity leave since January 8th and wasn't planning to be back yet, so there were a few books and binders I needed to grab to make sure I can make it though. Potentially through the rest of the year. And when I got there, I was caught so off guard.

My room was completely empty. So were nearly all of the other rooms I saw. Desks and chairs littered the hallways. I had to search to find my bookshelves near some lockers. Books were in boxes, but pens and sticky notes still scattered the top of my desk like remnants that weren't intended to be left behind. It was weird. It left me in a bad head space. Emotions and worries started to bubble up. But then a sweet conversation with my janitor, who was there doing the deep cleaning, made my mind shift.

As we venture into this new "normal" for as long as we have to, I am realizing that I must again and again choose grace. Grace for myself as a teacher, and the expectations I have for my Gifted and AP kiddos (especially with a 3 yr old and 2 month old at home with me). Grace for my students, many of whom are now babysitting their siblings on top of their own high school studies- proms, graduations, so many things up in the air. Grace for the parents of these students, who are likely trying to help their kids navigate this new world while dealing with their own work, or lack of it. And I sure hope they'll give us teachers grace too.

Grace for my own babies, as they have absolutely no idea what's going on or why we're stressed or we can't do certain things we used to outside of our house. Grace for my husband, as we enter this season of both of us working from home, caring for two little ones, and not really seeing any other adults but one another. 

This is what so many of us, really all of us have to choose in this moment. Grace for our government leaders who are making choices they never dreamt they'd be making. Grace for bosses and administrators who are doing their best to keep things afloat while caring deeply about our health and safety. Grace for people who have breakdowns or need support with tough job situations. And honestly, grace for ourselves. Our world has changed A TON in about a week, and we're all having to let go of selfish desires, to do lists, and our plans- all for the greater good. It is challenging and yet, oddly purifying. We will make it through, and in the end, I certainly believe we will come out stronger and more appreciative of all we typically take for granted. There is little we can control right now, but we do get to control how we choose to deal with our current challenges.

Choose grace.

Currently,

Kelsie

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What My Classroom is All About

On most Fridays, I share a little weekly update about life, but this week I felt my heart moving to share words about other things. So today, I'm giving you a glimpse into my life as a teacher: about the things I love about my classroom. The things I emphasize, the things I teach my kids to value. The things that make it (in my opinion) a pretty darn fun place to spend our days...even if I don't have a window.

1. Laughter

One thing I love about teaching high school kids is that they get sarcasm, and they understand humor. Boy oh boy, is it a good thing...because what good is a day without humor? My gifted kids especially have some of the funniest, strangest senses of humor, but I love them even more for it. I've found that laughter breaks down walls. It builds camaraderie, strengthens connections, and opens up even the most timid of students. It relieves stress. I laugh at myself on a daily basis, and it makes me more real to the kids. Plus it makes room 408 a pretty fun place to spend our days. I teach the kids the importance of situationally appropriate laughter, and we laugh together when crazy things happen that unite us in a happy world of giggles and grins.

2. Relationships

I'm the most relational extrovert you ever did meet. Everything within me desires to know others and to be (appropriately) known by them. I'm seriously that girl who will strike up a conversation with someone in the elevator because I can't stand the awkward silence. (Sorry, introverted friends.) But in all seriousness, I think that building positive relationships with kids and being a stable, consistent adult who is there for them is one of my very favorite parts of teaching. I am also a coach and a YoungLife leader, so it just comes naturally to me to invest in the lives of kids both in and out of the classroom. To show them that they matter and that they are valued. To meet them where they are and to challenge them, while cheering them on the entire time. So I build this environment in my classroom. We talk in groups... a lot. We write and share, pair and share, and group work our way into forced interaction that spirals into some really beautiful friendships.

Tonight I watched the sunset with my shortstop while chatting about life. As we waited for her ride after our win, I asked her about her hopes and dreams. She spoke of UCLA, becoming a teacher and coach, and her dream job to be Beyoncé. 🎉 I learned that she had 5 siblings, that her brother had brain cancer, and that she loved writing, but not reading. She asked how I met Aaron and I showed her pictures on my phone. Thanking God that a seemingly "inconvenient" 45 min wait became a beautiful moment for a sweet girl to feel known.

A photo posted by Kelsie Kleinmeyer (@currentlykelsie) on Sep 21, 2015 at 6:17pm PDT

3. Creativity

If you've ever planned a unit with me, you've seen my teacher brain at work. I come up with all sorts of crazy ideas that start big and broad and eventually narrow into assignment sheets and priority standards. But what I love about this outlook on planning and curriculum is that it allows me to be less of a dictator who runs the show, and more of a facilitator who gets to come alongside kids on their learning journey. From veteran interviews and solutions to the problems they face when returning home from war, to trip advisor persuasive reviews, to TED Talks, socratic seminars, and more: my classroom is all about the process of learning. It's about brainstorming, ironing things out, letting creative juices flow, and then sharing the results with a whole bunch of people. And then celebrating our success, because aren't these all what life is about?

4. Communication

I mean, what good is an English classroom with some major communication? I tell kids every day that my class matters because they have to read, write, speak, and listen their way through the entire rest of their lives. And words matter. So does our delivery of them. How are these kids supposed to successfully work through conflict, ask for a promotion, or persuade a girl to marry them if they don't know how to communicate? And thus, we communicate. We share our ideas with others. I make them present in class (meanie, I know). And you know what? They realize they can do it. They shake in their boots, but they get through it. They defend their ideas. They become writers who know how to do more than just send a grammatically incorrect text, and that matters.

5. Authenticity

I saved one of my favorites for last. An authentic classroom is incredibly important to me for a variety of reasons. First of all, high school kids can see right through you if you aren't real with them. And if I'm expecting the kids to be real and to do real work, then they need to see that I'm real with them too. I don't always sugar coat things. I hold them accountable. I give tough love when needed. I also provide them with authentic audiences. I have them write and create for more than just me. I don't assign "busy work". I challenge them to enter contests, write letters to the editor, submit their work online. And I see how it changes their work.

I help them see that I'm a person too. I don't hide the picture of my husband and I on my desktop background (above). And I answer their ridiculous questions about sorority life, wedding colors, and finding true friends in college. But you know what? I think that my authenticity helps them to be real with me. They share their lives in personal narratives. They send me emails about what's really going on and they mail me graduation invites years later. And I feel a strange urge to both laugh and cry at the same time: because they were a pain in class and I constantly had to redirect them, but my heart will still always have a soft spot for them. And I love that they remember me and what they learned in my room.

So there you have it. My classroom is all about laughter, relationships, creativity, communication, and authenticity. And if you walked by on some days, it may not look all that glamorous. But every year as I say goodbye to another class of kiddos, I feel a strange sense of sadness that I'll miss seeing them, and joy that they all got along so well and made for such a great year. And then I know I'm right where I'm supposed to be.

Currently,

Kelsie

I'm linking up with  Motivational Monday, Modest Mom Blog,  Tell it to Me Tuesday, Bliss and Faith,  Sweet Little Ones, Testimony Tuesday, Intentional Tuesday, Twinkly Tuesday, Women with Intention, A. Liz Adventures,  The Diary of a Real Housewife, Momfessionals,Life in Leggings, and Quintessential Mommy.

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10 Things I Learned from Being an Athlete

As a high school teacher and coach, I've attended a lot of sporting events. From football to basketball to softball, and more, I've spent hours and hours leading, encouraging, and challenging young athletes. As I watch them play, it takes me back to my own days of organized competitive sports: of softball cleats, jump shots, and track spikes. Of being shaped into who I am now. These kids may not know it, but they're learning far more than how to throw, shoot, swim, or run. They're learning things that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Yes, competition is great and success is fun, but there is so much more to it all than simply winning. Here are ten things I learned from being an athlete: things that are still life applicable to this day.

1. Keep your head up. 

The power of a positive attitude can go a long way. You can't lose your cool in the middle of a game, or you're already defeated before it's even over. Sports helped me to think positively when we were down a few runs or points, and it challenged me to share that positivity with others. Even now, I'm one of the most positive sports fans you'll see, as I always have hope (within realistic reason) for my team to come through in the end. And this positivity can be beneficial and contagious in all walks of life. Be the positive thinker in your career, friendships, and neighborhood.

2. Challenge yourself to accomplish your goals. You can do more than you may think.

When I was a freshman, I never thought that I'd be able to run a lap in less than a minute and a half. But my junior year, I ran my personal best with a 63 second lap. If I try to go do that now, I might die. And if I'm honest, I totally had a love/hate relationship with the 400 (one lap). But mainly, track especially helped me see that I could do a whole lot more than I ever thought I could. I learned how to push my body and my mental thoughts far beyond my wildest dreams. I learned that being strong and fit was possible and rewarding. I learned that sometimes things are hard and they hurt, but that they pay off in the end. I learned to set goals and to celebrate them when I accomplished them. And you know what? The same is true in life. It can hurt. It can be hard. But it's worth it. So set goals, push yourself, and watch them happen.

3. Make your time count.

Four years of high school go by quickly. Some people go on to play sports in college, but many don't. Even so, the years of regular competition quickly come to an end. I tell my athletes to never take a second for granted, and you can ask any high school senior who just lost their final game: it goes fast. So make your time count. Make it something you can be proud of. Leave it all out there on the field, the court, or in the pool. Don't have any regrets. Play your heart out, and give your best. I learned to do this in every single game or meet that I had. And it always felt good knowing I had given my all. The same can be said for our lives. They go quickly. Years pass, life changes, seconds turn into minutes and days. And we only get to do it once. So make it count.

4. Work together. Put the team above your own desires.

Sports taught me to be less selfish. I led our basketball team in assists because I recognized that my stats were much less important than our overall win. I learned to love sac bunting or hit and runs in softball. I learned to love helping our team, and not just myself. Sure, it felt good to have my own success, but if I had a rough night and our team still won, then that was a good day. I learned how to navigate teamwork with others and to lead with humility while walking alongside younger teammates or those who were better than me. I learned the beauty of "we" over "me". And this is still so very true in life: in work, in relationships, and so many other areas.

5. Sacrifice is worth it for what you love.

There will be times in life when you've got to sacrifice something: sleep, money, friends, time with others. But it's worth it in the end if it's for what (or who) you really love. I had to miss out on a few family trips because of my sporting events. I also had some nights where I didn't get much sleep after a long away game. But this idea of sacrifice from long practices or the inability to hang out with my friends has followed me on to make sacrifices for my health, marriage, family, and faith.

6. Multi-tasking is important.

I was the cool kid who was doing homework on the bus or during the freshman games. But you know what? I was a three sport varsity athlete who was in the musical and show choir, and I still managed to keep my 4.0 GPA. And now? I can juggle teaching, coaching, YoungLife, NHS, and life with a lot less effort and a lot less stress because it's something I've learned how to do ever since high school.

7. Listen and communicate well.

Holy smokes, is this life applicable or what? In careers, marriage, parenting, friendships, and more, you've got to be able to both listen and communicate or you are going to struggle mightily. Same goes for both on and off the field. I had some hard conversations with my coaches as an athlete, and those helped me learn how to advocate for myself while also remaining respectful to those in authority over me. Not to mention, I learned how to handle conflict and how to talk it out in person. These life skills have come in handy multiple times since then, and seem to pop up on a regular basis.

8. Play a role.

Not everyone can be the all-star. Sometimes, a supporting role is just as important and necessary. Know your role, and be the best at it that you could ever be. Whether it's in the workplace or on the court, there is a need for everyone to contribute to success. Don't think any less of yourself if you aren't the star, and be proud of the role that you're filling, even if no one else ever recognizes you for it.

9. Stay classy. 

All eyes are on you. Nobody likes someone who's cocky. Learn how to both win and lose with grace, and never lose your cool in a moment of emotion. There's a lot to be said about a person who can play the game of life with class. People are always watching, whether they are parents, colleagues, students, coaches, or kids. We've got to remember that we could be someone's role model...and what are we teaching them through our actions and words?

10. Learn from failure.

Some of the games I learned the most from were the ones I lost. Why? Because they kept me hungry. Because they forced me to think about what I needed to change or work on. And because they made me realize just how much I truly did care about and love the game. In life, we're constantly learning from our failures, which can help turn something negative into something much more motivating and positive. It can push us on to get back on our feet and try again, while using what we've learned for our previous mistakes.

These are the things that I hope my high school students and athletes truly learn from the game. Winning is fun, but it's not the only thing that sports are about. I know without a doubt that being an athlete has made me a much better person. It taught me so many things, served as as perfect outlet for my competitive nature, helped me release stress, and gave me a fun reason to stay healthy. I still work out daily and challenge myself on a more individual basis, but overall, I'm thankful for the lessons that I learned from being an athlete. It's an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

Currently,
Kelsie

I'm linking up with  Motivational Monday, Modest Mom Blog,  What Joy is Mine, Tell it to Me Tuesday, Bliss and Faith,  Sweet Little Ones, Testimony Tuesday, Intentional Tuesday, Twinkly Tuesday, Women with Intention, A. Liz Adventures,  The Diary of a Real Housewife, Uniquely Unfolded,  Momfessionals,Life in Leggings, and Quintessential Mommy.

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Learning From Each Other Link Up

I'm excited to be guest hosting this week for Learning From Each Other! 

Last week we had an amazing party with some awesome content and I was so happy to see all 70 posts :) Watch for them on Pinterest this week.

WE ARE INCREDIBLY SORRY WE ARE LATE GETTING THE PARTY STARTED THIS WEEK !! Amanda's site went down :( and she couldn't finish editing !!! We are happy you are here so let's get started... Remember to check out our new CO-HOSTS and follow all of us, we do our best to reciprocate.

Just a few things before we start:

1. We are here to learn from each other! Some suggested post ideas are: what I learned, DIY's, Tutorials, blogging, recipes, homeschooling, parenting, motherhood, pregnancy, anything that you think will teach or encourage a fellow reader or blogger. In the end, ALL FAMILY FRIENDLY POSTS ARE WELCOME!!! We don't want you to have to draft a post just to come - the more the merrier!!! Feel free to give life to some of your older posts as well!!!
2. Linking to this post allows Amanda, Amy, Mindy & Jacqui; as well as any co/guest hosts to use your graphics with a credit to your blog. For this reason, we ask that you have all legal rights to the photos on your posts linked. You also agree that we can contact you via email to inform you of future link-ups.
3. Make sure you are inviting your friends, both bloggers, and reader to learn and be encouraged!!

Amanda from Uniquely Unfolded

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Amy from Busy Boys Brigade

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MEET YOUR OCTOBER CO-HOSTS:

Kelsie from Currently, Kelsie

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Jessica from Dreaming of Leaving

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We have created a board just for Learning From Each Other! You will find your posts there as well as re-pinned to our other boards in coming weeks!!

We are so happy to have great content to pin!

Follow Amanda Unfolded's board LearningFromEachOther on Pinterest.

We would love for you to connect with us via your favorite social media outlet, we do our best to follow you back!!!

As always this week's features are from last weeks party!! It wasn't easy picking just ONE POST !!! :)

Amanda's Pick: Proverbs 31 Study: Clothed with Strength and Dignity from Freshly Messy "I am a huge Proverbs 31 fan and teaching the word to our children. I just love reading the bible and bible stories with my Emmett and this post touched my heart" ~Amanda~

Amy's Pick: DIY Treasure Candle from Mosswood Connections I love to make candles! A few years back, I had a soy candle business. Now, I enjoy making beeswax candles with my boys. I can't wait to add this creative way to make candles to our homeschool!" ~Amy~

Jacqui's Pick: Buffalo Cauliflower Bites from Fit Chick Next Door "These cauliflower bites have everything! Low carb and packed with flavor, it doesn't get much better than this!" ~Jacqui~

Mindy's Pick: Do You Want to Learn Hand-Lettering from Looking at Life Creativ LEI

Kelsie's Pick: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili from Dishing Delish

Jessica's Pick: How to decide if your child is ready for a pet from One Mama's Daily Drama

THANK YOU ALL FOR LINKING UP WITH US LAST WEEK!!!! If you were featured, feel free to grab the button for your site and be proud!! Tell your friends on twitter you were featured!!! 

 

Now it's time to Party !!!!

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We look forward to connecting with you & do our best to follow you all too!!! Looking forward to reading some awesome content again this week!!! The party goes until Wednesday at Midnight...

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CLICK HERE TO TWEET ABOUT THE PARTY !!!

 

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A Letter to My Students

Dear Students,

We did it! Woohoo! We made it to summer. Yes, certain days crawled by, but it seems like just yesterday that we were learning each other's names. Then we blinked and another year was in the books. I usually won't admit it, but a part of me gets a little emotional when I say goodbye and ship you off to the next grade, so I wanted to take a moment to reflect on our time together. Because you matter.

Thank you for filling my desks each day and making my room full of life and laughter. Thank you for making me smile, and saying just the perfect thing to bring my spirits up on a bad day. Thank you for sharing your life with me through writing and conversation. Thanks for keeping me up on the modern lingo and newest YouTube videos. You keep me young. You give my job meaning.

I'm sorry that there were times I was too overwhelmed and exhausted to chat with you. I'm sorry that there were times when I got frustrated, or lost my patience after stretching it as far as I could. But mostly, I'm sorry that we ran out of time. I'm sorry that this is our last day together, and I'm even more sorry that I won't be seeing any of you again next year. At least not regularly.

Truth be told, I'm going to miss you all quite a bit. I'll miss your jokes and your smiling faces. I'll miss the funny things you say that crack me up. But mainly, I'll just miss you. Even you, class clowns. You know who you are. Yep, I'll miss you too. You are much more to me than your actions.

I hope you learned something from my class. I hope you learned to like at least one book. I hope you feel more comfortable with writing. I hope that speaking in front of a large group isn't quite so scary now. But most of all, I hope that you saw my passion- my passion for teaching, my passion for kids like you, and my passion for life. It is my hope that I showed you that you matter and that you have potential and purpose in life. Because you do. Trust me, you do. I hope I taught you to laugh at yourself and to never be too busy to have fun.

You're off now to bigger and better things. In a few short years, you'll say goodbye to high school and hello to the rest of your life. I am so excited to see all the amazing things that you'll do, and the amazing places you'll go. Wherever life takes you, I hope you remember to live fully and enjoy every second of the moment you're in. Because trust me, they go oh so fast. Too fast. Then one day you wake up and you're my age and you wonder where the last ten years of your life have run off to.

So enjoy it, dear students. Enjoy the time you have here. Make the most of it. Don't wish it away. Laugh daily. Love each other well. Sacrifice for others. And never give up on your dreams. Because if you think you're too cool for something fun or you think that you're better than someone else, you're really just hurting yourself. You're stealing your own joy before you even get to experience it. Be a kid. Live a life of fun and adventure. Support and build up; don't tear down and destroy.

For now, it's time to say goodbye. Come back and see me. You know where I'll be. I promise I won't forget you, and I hope you don't forget me either. I can't tell you how much joy it brings us teachers to have a student come back and say hi, or tell us how they're doing. Because you will forever be a part of our story here. Now go write your own.

Currently,
Kelsie (aka Mrs. K)

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Ten Facts about Teaching English

Most of the time, being an English teacher is really great. I'm in year four, so some would still call me naive, but I've seen a lot and I still think it's really great nearly all of the time. Obviously, there's summer break to consider- a very, very necessary break for those of us who spend the year attempting to get dozens of unmotivated students through four major essays a year (a piece, you do the math) so that they can cross the stage and get a diploma someday. Then there's Christmas Break. And snow days. And the fact that a teacher's schedule is often family-friendly for working moms.

But none of these are really English Teacher specific benefits. You see, there are certain joys and certain pains that are reserved strictly for us teachers of the English Language/Communication Arts/Language Arts/Whatever they're calling it this year. Often stereotyped as glasses-wearing, high-pitched, mean and cranky ladies, we English teachers really have a lot more to us than other people may think. I mean, spend a few minutes in the Faculty Lounge during lunch and you will likely wonder if YOUR high school English teachers were like that. I think we're pretty awesome actually. 

So, in no particular order, here are ten things you may not know about why being an English Teacher is both really awesome and really hard. English teacher friends, this one's for you! Enjoy.

Sometimes, being an English teacher is really hard:

1.  ESSAYS. You dread writing them, we dread grading them.

Seriously, I literally spent ALL of yesterday with this stack of papers. They aren't so bad at first. But throw 75 papers in a pile, then try to stay awake on the couch while reading nearly the same thing (and writing the same comments) over and over again. What's worse is that you literally taught them all of this in class, but they STILL didn't get it. Oh, and did I mention that you don't get paid extra for giving up 10 hours of your life on the weekend to grade them? Major bummer.

2. We are perfectionists who are forced to majorly multi-task.

Do you check your grammar before sending every text or email? Do you spend hours searching the web to find the perfect photo for your powerpoint? Or do you read three novels at once while annotating great questions and working on discussion prompts for a student-led activity for tomorrow? We do. We don't want our kids to miss out on the education they deserve, especially when their speaking, listening, writing, reading, and grammar skills will forever reflect our high school. We don't try to be perfectionists when it comes to grammar, lesson-planning, or giving feedback, we just care so much that we can't help it. 

3. We get the lowest, most uninterested kids.

This is a bit of a struggle for all core teachers. Essentially, you have to take and pass our classes to graduate. Great job security, but it's not like every kid who enters your door is going to be singing your praises, even if you were the greatest English teacher ever (and I'm not). I have countless students tell me that English isn't their favorite subject, and I know they'll like me even less when I make them write four essays. This makes classroom management a fun treat sometimes, especially when little Bobby is more into watching Netflix on his computer than learning how to write a topic sentence when he doesn't even know what a verb is.

4. Enabling parents. Period.

Gosh I am learning a lot about how I won't choose to parent. Small rant here: enabling parents who put all the blame on the teacher and none on their kids are the worst!! Seriously, your kid has a bad grade because that is what they have earned. It doesn't mean I'm an awful teacher, and it doesn't mean your kid is being treated unfairly. Perhaps you should ask them to actually do their homework and turn it in on time. Then hold them accountable with consequences. Shocking, the life lessons that I'm attempting to teach your kid.

5. We hear the heart-wrenching stories of our kids' lives, and it tears us up inside.

One of the very worst parts of being an English teacher are all of the heart-breaking stories that we read, hear, and are told about what kids these days are dealing with. I can't legally say much, but I'll tell you, they aren't easy to hear. Today's kids are trying to handle things they shouldn't have to at this age. They're just kids. It's so, so sad, and it's shocking how much you can really care about kids that you see 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 9 months.

And sometimes, being an English teacher is really awesome: 

1. We get to read great books. 

I can read every Young Adult book on the shelf at the Library, and no one will ever judge me. It's almost like I'm doing classroom research, but it's research that I get to enjoy! In the last year alone I've read everything from Gone Girl to the Divergent Series to The Fault in Our Stars. And I've enjoyed them. Teaching English keeps me up on reading current books. While this isn't always a luxury in the classroom, I'm pretty blessed to teach gifted classes where I do get a decent say in what kids will be reading as part of the curriculum.

2. We have a special understanding and appreciation of each other that no one else really gets.

If you're an English teacher, there isn't much that shocks you anymore. Grading papers in a car, at sporting events, or on the weekend is normal to you. You don't flinch at awkward slips of the tongue during a lecture or unintentional inappropriate typos in a paper. You aren't even phased by the ridiculous expectations of students about putting in their late work, grading essays in one night, or bragging about whose Lexile score is lowest. Teaching English is a sisterhood/brotherhood that only the strongest thrust themselves into.

3. We know our kids on the deepest levels.

One of my favorite papers is the AutoBio paper that my kids write at the beginning of the school year. While they can be heart-wrenching (see number 5 above), their life stories truly help you see who these kids are and what they are dealing with. It can be kind of heart-warming and shocking all at once. The students really seem to appreciate having someone to share their story with, and I often feel honored that they are comfortable opening up to me about topics that they don't broadcast to others.

4. We spend our days talking, laughing, and being creative with awesome kids.

The sky is the limit for English teachers. I can find a great current event topic and incorporate it in my classroom the next day through a video or an article for discussion. I love being able to combine my creativity with our school's one to one technology to really provide engaging, authentic lessons for my students that actually help them learn life-long skills. Every year is different and there is always something new to do or revamp in the classroom. All in all, I've got some great kids!

5. We make a difference in kids' futures.

No matter what job or college a kid chooses to pursue after high school, one thing is sure: they are going to have to know how to read and write. Communication is key in all phases of life, and it is something that can make a huge difference between success and failure. While kids may not always like it, they will appreciate us some day when they know how to write papers, analyze claims, and summarize main ideas. They might even be happy that they remember the difference between your and you're. A select few will even come back to visit us some day, and tell us how much they learned and that we were their favorite teacher :) This is what makes it all worth it. And it is worth it.

Currently,

Kelsie

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