The World According to Leslie

  I am an NFL fan. I grew up pulling for the Washington Redskins, and I still do. Except, they are now the Washington Football Team .  However, when I was a high school senior, the Carolina Panthers arrived in town. They were an expansion team and played about an hour from my home.  I am now a fan of both, but I pull more for Washington than Carolina! #httr #httwft A couple of weeks ago, Carolina invited Cam Newton back as quarterback. He's a great athlete and an intelligent player. However, if the plays given to him do not work, why do we blame him?  The play callers are sitting in boxes above the field (or on the sidelines) and telling him what to do. Is it his fault if a play doesn't go like it is supposed to?  It got me to thinking.  Teaching and Football are very similar.     I have been in the education field for more than a decade. I am not currently teaching, but I haven't been out so long that I have forgotten what it's like.  ...

 As you know, I am staying home and helping my sister with her two littles. The schools here are completely virtual, at least for the time being.  So, I have my kiddo upstairs doing her community college classes for dual credit (high school and college). Then I have a 2nd grader and a 4th grader downstairs at the dining room table with me.  As I type this, the 2nd grader to my left is watching a live video of her teacher, and the teacher can see her. Every so often, she unmutes herself and speaks to her teacher and classmates. On my right, the 4th grader is watching a live video of her teachers (yes, two of them), but the teachers can neither see or hear her. The 2nd grader will have the chance to do a 2-3 minute dance break, but the 4th grader will sit there. She will get a 5 minute break, but unless she goes to the potty, she will not move from her seat.  This goes on every day from 8:30-10am. At that time, they either go to small group with teachers, or they do in...

Every year about this time, I realize that it's almost Thanksgiving. Then I notice that Christmas is only a month later with the new year following that. You would think that I would have figured out that time was flying by, but I haven't. I keep getting blind-sided by it every year... hoping that I will eventually catch up and not be so surprised. I have actually done a lot this year, but it still seems like I haven't. At the beginning of 2019, I was back in the classroom teaching. I started a job in September teaching English (all 9th grade classes, all day!) at the biggest rival to my alma mater. Anyone who knows me knows where I was, and they will understand the degree of difficulty! The students were typical high school students...some good days, some bad days. The demographics were different than my previous school, by my love of  teaching and love for my students was the same! In June (long story), but I ended up not being in the classroom any more. Like I sa...

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try . Author Unknown It doesn't matter what I have tried to do in my life, I had at some point to make a decision to try it. I'm sitting here today thinking of all the things I've tried and some I've accomplished. When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer. I guess that since I'm posting here, I have (somewhat) accomplished that. I am writing on a (somewhat) regular basis. One day, I still hope to write a book, I just haven't made the decision for the correct topic yet. When I was in high school, I decided to become a teacher. I accomplished that. I taught in high schools for four years. I still teach, at a daycare. I made that decision and accomplished it. Everyone who has ever done anything, has decided to do it. I'm not saying that the decision was conscious. It could have been that they just decided NOT to do something else and the accomplishment was from that decision.  For example, I h...

As we all know, I'm a teacher. I was born to be a teacher. Being a teacher is my calling! As of lately, I have been teaching children's church, and I love that!  It's not half as stressful as a full-time classroom teaching job. (Best part....no grading!!) I have also been teaching at the daycare, when needed. I have been substitute teaching, as well. Some days, I come home in love with teaching. Some days, I come home wishing I had never stepped foot into a classroom. However, teaching is my dream job. Now, as the Princess gets closer and closer (about 9 1/2 weeks) to finishing middle school, I keep thinking how logistically, things are going to change next year. For the past three years, she has had a 9am-4pm (or later if she stayed after for clubs or softball) schedule. Next year, she's going to have a 7:15am-2:15pm schedule. I've lived that schedule. I wasn't a fan of going to work in the dark!!!  Now, I've been thinking that I'd...

I am a lot of things....as we all know. I always have plenty that I can be doing, but sometimes I don't get it all done. One of my favorite things to do is teach. I feel that I am called to teach. I have taught Sunday School. I teach Children's Church. I have taught high school English. Actually, last year, I covered a maternity leave for a teacher in a 7th grade ELA class. Since my licensure is in English 9-12, I can teach middle school or high school (without having to take any extra classes/tests!!)!!! Now that I'm not teaching full time, and I'm a substitute, it leaves me with time on my hands. Over the years, even when I was a full time student and full time teacher (with very little "extra" time on my hands), I have been a tutor. The best part about being a tutor is I get to set my schedule. I get to work when it's convenient to my family and me. I get to be where the Princess needs me to be, but then I get to work with students who nee...

About 5 minutes ago, I published the post Making Room for God's Plan , I got a phone call. The previous day, I had applied for a job at a local Charter school.... teaching English. I hit publish on the post. Seriously, no more than 5 minutes later, the phone rang. They wanted to interview me. It was the shortest interview in the history of interviews. It only lasted 10 minutes, max! I left feeling pretty confident. However, now, I'm in the waiting game.  I don't like that game.... so..... I always find things to do while I wait. Here are the things I'm doing. Over the next few days, I'm going to give you more information about all of these things (like links to how to find me and things like that)!!  1. Substitute Teacher--I am working in the same county where I live and where I used to work. Last year, I covered two long term (8 week) assignments at two different schools. I usually work about 3-4 days a month. I'd love for it to be more. If you are a ...

About 18 months ago, on June 10, 2015, I did something I didn't really want to do. I walked out of my job for the final time. I had resigned (effective on the last day of school) a few weeks earlier. I didn't want to do it. My flesh was terrified. I'm sure I've shared that here. Tony and I had discussed it and prayed about it. We felt it was the right thing to do. We knew God would supply. He has. We have not gone without anything we have needed since I resigned. When I left the classroom that day, I was leaving a classroom I had been in for 3 years. I had been teaching a total of 4 years. I had a lot of stuff. When I say a lot of stuff, I mean a LOT! I put all my files and notebooks and books in crates and boxes and tubs. It took me 2 loads with the seats laid down in my minivan. For the past 18 months, all of that stuff... all the boxes, all the crates, all the tubs.... have been sitting in my office floor. If I needed something from the office, I had to move 4...

Although I haven’t written anything in about 2 months here, I did not fall off the face of the earth. I have, however, sat at the computer wanting to write. Some days it just doesn’t happen.    I have a writing job for the summer—$8/article and I can write at least 2 an hour.   That’s more than I make teaching!  No!  I’m not kidding!  lol  (It’s sad!)   I get to go back to work in just a couple of weeks.  Actually…..  two weeks from today!  WOW!  Same school! More kids.  This year, I’m teaching regular Freshman English and Mythology.  I’ll have about 35 kids in each class!  (I know, right?!)   We went to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge on Vacation last month.  We took Mom and Dad with us!  We love going there. We went to a few shows.  Maybe… just maybe…. I’ll do a post about that!    I am now a CRIMINAL MINDS fanatic!  I love this show!  I had never watched an entir...

Today, I’m thankful for my job. Yes, I’m a teacher. Yes, I would love more pay and more respect. However, I never started teaching for the money. And, teenagers aren’t being taught respect; so I don’t expect any from them. (I try to gain some, and it is possible!! )   Two school years ago (2011-2012) I had my first teaching job. The students threatened me. They cursed at me. They had gang fights in the hallway every day. The question was never, “Was there a fight today?” The question was, “How many fights were there today, and how many of my students were in it?” We had a 6 hour lock down one day. (That’s a different story for a different day!)   Now, I’m at a great place. The staff love me or at least act like they do. The PTSO is awesome! The kids are great. The parents, for the most part, are involved in the education of their children.    I love my job! I’m thankful that I was given this opportunity last summer!

For the past week, I have been trying really hard to get writing jobs.  I have already (in two jobs) made over $100 writing!  I’m excited about it.  (Most of that work was completed in two weeks, but few hours!)   Today, I put in bids for several jobs.  I was the first bid on one job.  And… I got it.  The cool thing about it???  I get to write about what I want to.  Right now, the first four articles have to deal with technology.   What does any good teacher do?  Go straight for the classroom—iPads in the classroom and  online/distance education. Those are the first two.  The other two will be dealing with “tech tantrums” and the technology of hearing.  Those are things I know and I can do minimal research about.  I also found 3-4 other topics I am planning to use for my next set, if I get technology again.     I have to have two of them done today and the other two my Monday.  I should...

Today is one of those days where I really don’t have much to write about. At work, there won’t be many kids because there are only 3 days left.   Tomorrow I’m going to the Princess’s school for her awards.  Shhhhhh!  She doesn’t know!   Other than paying some bills and trying to find some writing jobs, I really don’t have much to do this afternoon.   I really just don’t have much at all to talk about.  Is that weird?  (For me….YES!)

I love when I get to plan easy days at work.  Today, the kids have a test.  Then they have study guide questions for the book we are reading.  Then they are working on homework.  I guess I will finish grading projects and getting those grades in.  I love easy days.  Tomorrow I will actually teach. :)  BUT... my last class tomorrow gets to leave early to go to the Faculty vs. Staff basketball game!  I'm good with that!  (I'll be watching...NOT playing!  I was never quite coordinated enough for basketball!) Friday is a Teacher Workday.....but only about 3 hours!  Then it's SPRING BREAK!  :) 

A year ago this past Friday, I was informed that my Grandmother only had about a week to live. A year ago this past Saturday, I came home from my student teaching in tears and decided to take an Incomplete. A year ago yesterday, we took Grandmother off of all her feeding tubes and machines that were keeping her alive. We only left the oxygen. That means that a year ago this coming Saturday, my Grandmother went home to see her dad, her mom, and her Heavenly Father! A year ago, I was not sure I wanted to be a teacher any more. Today...I'm pretty sure I'm crazy for wanting to be a teacher, but I know I can do it. A year ago, I had no idea how strong I could really be. Today...I'm still not strong every day, but I know I can be when I need to! I know that God only puts on us what we can stand. So I know that I can do whatever I have to do!

As I type this, I really should be in the bed! I haven't been sleeping well at all. So after taking Chasity to school today, Tony and I came back home. We had planned to rid the house of any and all Christmas decor. However, his brother (whom he never gets to talk to) called. And... I fell asleep! I slept.... for.... OVER TWO HOURS!!! At around 10am, I heard the house phone ring, but I knew Tony was here so I didn't budge. Then Tony came to the couch (I guess he had been upstairs) and said "Get the phone..... it's about a job!" So I sat up, cleared my throat, and without sounding too sleepy-headed (is that a word?) I said, "Good Morning, this is Leslie!" The lady on the other end introduced herself and asked if I'd like to come in for an interview tomorrow morning at 8:15am. "Ohmigosh! Really?" How professional did that sound? "Yes, ma'am. Can you be here at 8:15am?" "Yes, I can." Then I asked for the best di...

Today is bitter sweet for me. Today would have been my last day as a student teacher. Today would have been the day that I submitted for my NC Teaching License. Today would have been the day that I could have called all the people I talked to in February at the Education Job Fair to let them know I was ready for a job. Today would have been the day that I could say that I succeed. However..... Today is the day that I'm meeting with another Girl Scout leader to plan a camping trip for June. Today is the day I'm looking for deals online for our summer vacation. Today is the day I get to do a couple more loads of laundry. Today is the day I get to think about the reason that I didn't complete my student teaching this semester. Today is the day I get to miss my Grandmother again. Today, I get to work on forgiving myself for being so mad (at me) for not finishing school this semester. Most of all.... Today is the day that God reminded me that He has everything under control if ...

Over the weekend, I had to make a decision. It was a decision I never wanted to make, but I made it. I decided that I needed to postpone the rest of my student teaching until August. I should have a new placement. I will have a new Cooperating Teaching. I will probably have a new University Supervisor. I made this decision because I think I need to spend time with my family right now. With my Grandmother in Comfort Care, we really don't know how much longer we are going to have her with us. We are okay with the fact that she's going.... she's ready.... we know she'll be better off.... she'll be reunited with family/friends that have gone before.... she'll be well again! Even knowing all that, it's not going to be any easier when she really goes. Knowing that we are going to lose Grandmother soon, I knew that I would be missing some time at school. I have to have 20 consecutive days of teaching full-time. Considering I had just taken over the 3rd cla...

Today, it is mandatory for all UNCC student teachers to attend the Education Job Fair on campus. We have known about this day for awhile. However, just a couple days ago, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced they are cutting almost 900 jobs and might have to close some schools because of budget issues for next year! I'm really in need of a full-time paid teaching job for next year! Pray that God will open doors for the job I need. Until next time........

So, let's start with fun! Tonight, Tony and I are going to eat at his neice's house tonight. We are going to play Wii or "Scene It"! I can't wait! At the Girl Scout Powder Puff Derby today, Chasity won her Daisy Division. She came in like 6th overall! That was out of 30-40 girls! I spent most of today at UNCC. I had to take the Praxis II test for English. I was really worried this morning. I was also really worried last night. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned for about 2 hours. Then I got up for a few minutes. I told Tony that I was scared, and I started crying. He told me that everything was going to be fine. I finally got to sleep around 1am! This morning, he wished me luck and sent me on my way. I had to be there at 7:30am. I left home at 6:30am. I got up at 4:30am. Now, I need a nap! lol Until next time........

Last night, I went to the 3 hour orientation for Graduate Student Teachers. YES! It was REALLY 3 hours! First there were about 200+ people crammed in a room for about 125 people. Then they sent out the Lateral Entry Student Teachers and only those of us who have Cooperating Teachers were left in the room. There still were people sitting on the floor and standing up! TOO MANY PEOPLE! After that session, in which I took lots of notes, we split up with our University Supervisors. Mine is a lady who grew up not far from where I live now. She knows about the area, so I don't have to worry about her getting lost on her way to me for observations and stuff. However, after last night, I'm still scared, but I think I'm ready for this. I think I can do it! :) I'm excited about it! As the Little Engine That Could said, "I think I can! I think I can!" I know I can! Let's do this! Until next time........