A Day In The

Life Of A

Teacher

A Poem Dedicated to the Students and Teachers for the 2012-2013 School Year!

Yes, Most Of What You Are About To Read Happened In One Day...

“I’ve put you on door duty, and hope you don’t

mind. Can you be down 20 minutes before the bell?

Thanks, you’re one of a kind.”

“Oh, and I almost forgot to inform you, we are down

one sub today, so I will be sending down 5 extra

students, I hope that’s okay.”

I pop my head in and stare at my team, as they are

debating the common core.

“Sorry, can’t make our morning meeting, heading

down to the door.”

“Wait!” A co-worker screams. “You know we are

down a sub?”

“Yes, I know, I’ve already joined that club.”

Down the halls and toward the

door I go.

No parent would drop off his

child so early in this kind of

snow.

But wait, who is that I see? A

student already? It cannot be.

No boots, no hat, and a

shivering little face.

I call him in to share this warm place.

To the lost and found we go, hoping to find a pair of

boots, a set of gloves, anything extra for the snow.

He looks up at me, with eyes so big and so grateful.

I find him a pair of boots and a hat, and for this I am very

thankful.

The bell rings, the kids come flying in,

and as it goes, let the drama begin.

Into our room, all 32 of us go, packed like sardines in this tiny space (more like a dorm). I begin to call for attendance, disperse lunch tickets and collect all forms.“Don’t forget, field trip money is due. Who didn’t bring their money? That would be about half the class, yes, half of you.”

“Eyes on the board, it is time for question of the day!

Yes, you must think about it, provide some reasoning

and defend what you say!

No, the answer is not on the Internet or found in a book,

cover your papers, and please, don’t give me that look.”

Reading, Math, Science and finally Art. A little free time to

catch up, grade papers and…“What? What is that you say? Art is now on a cart?” Oh no, the art teacher no longer has her own space. I hear her, she’s coming down the hall angry, at a very fast pace.

No time to plan or grade today, no specials in the afternoon. I’ll take this long 20 minutes

to….

“Ms. S., I forgot to tell you that I am going on vacation and will need my homework for the next 8 days. My trip is real soon.” “How soon is soon?” “My mom is picking me up at noon.”

Art on a cart is on her way

out.

Lunchtime is on its way.

“Silent reading for 20

minutes,” I proudly say.

“Take out a book, think,

imagine and read, read, read.

Did I just see someone

posting on friend feed?”

“No, you cannot go to the bathroom, again. Believe me, I know the game face, and I know the look.

Put your hand down, please stop talking, and open a book!”

“Before we go to lunch, I want to show you

this little mailbox on my desk, where you

can leave me a note. If you have anything

you would like to discuss… BEEP!...Go get

your coats.”

It’s time for lunch lady land, and that means no break. I was asked

to take on lunch duty this year and everyone warned me…it would

be a mistake.

20 minutes to eat my soggy lunch, while I watch the kids eat and

talk. We head out to recess, finally, some time for fresh air and a

short walk.

I see her, yes, it’s the teacher who insists on telling me her life

story every day.

I escape to the other side of the field. How much more can she

possibly have to say?

The afternoon must now be changed, as

we will now have to cram.

I think and think and think ahead, as fast as

I can.

Those two will be in ESL, I will modify for

the gifted, working in groups…hmmm…sounds like a plan.

Language Arts, Social Science, Spelling

words and more. An afternoon filled with

work…and 37 students at my door.

The new mailbox won’t open after lunch, as it seems jammed, but how could that be? Yes, it is, it is filled to capacity with little notes all for me. I will take this mailbox home tonight and read every note, you’ll see.

Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and more…A little bit of schoolhouse rock and who is at the door?

The principal has stopped by for an unannounced peek.

On a Monday, so scattered, at the beginning of the

week?

She sits in the back of the room and types

away on her small Mac.

The kids are unusually quiet and one

student proudly says:

“Don’t worry Ms. S, we’ve got your back.”

There she goes, she’s about to

leave. Ahhh..I can finally breathe.

“Onto history we go, open your

books, today we are talking about

WWII.

Let’s move it, we have an entire

chapter to get through.”

The ESL teacher comes in, and the

reading specialist takes students out

with her too.

Modifying, helping, making life

changes, yes, this is what we do.

The end of the day is drawing near, and now for some

quiet time, time to think clear.

On the intercom, an announcement, a reminder about the

required district meeting, and I must stop by.

I gather every book, every paper, and I drop the loaded

mailbox. All the notes fly.

I pick up one note to read and it states: “Ms. S, I had a great day and it was all because of you. I wanted you to know,” from your student this morning, the boy in the snow.

My feet are achy, my throat is dry, and off to the meeting

I go. I hold the note close to my heart, and now I know…Why….

I do this every day, for a small amount of pay. For kids with bright eyes filled with hopes and dreams. For those who are new to this country, still discovering what it means.

I will get up each morning, even after the hardest of days. I will do my best to make sure every child finds their way through this maze.

Modify work, standardized tests, classroom management and all of the rest. As busy, stressful, hectic and a bit less unappreciated, the teaching profession is still the best.

Thank You For Watching This Presentation!

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