This Week

On my plate for this week...grades are due, lesson plans need to be written, district surveys need to be completed, professional development videos need to be viewed...oh, I'm also in the final stages of my master's degree and have also volunteered to tutor three days a week (what was I thinking?!?). Ughhh!

I have to admit that I felt very overwhelmed this weekend and could have very easily talked myself out of working out because "I have no time," but I didn't.  And let me tell you...thank goodness I didn't!  I got out of bed each morning and pushed PLAY (using TurboFire and Insanity programs) each day this weekend.  Not only did it wake me up, but working out gave me MORE energy!  I was able to check a few things off each day, and presto! My "To-do" list has become a "Done" list!

Working out not only fuels the muscles, but it makes for a happier, healthier you!  Check out this article regarding the 7 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise published by US News.

Also, here's a little freebie that I put together this weekend to help my parents understand the running record assessment our district requires.  Click here to grab your FREE copy (on sale in my TpT store).

As I went into school today (on a day when we were supposed to be off), I realized looking at the parking lot of cars, that teaching is one of the few jobs that does not end when one leaves the building.  In fact, it continues on the way home, while spending time with the family, as one gets ready for bed, etc.  The best teachers are always working--day off or not.  They are grading papers, writing lesson plans, reflecting on lessons, creating new lessons, and the list goes on and on.

In my eight years of teaching and my current study of educational leadership, I have found that too many teachers do not take time for themselves.  Let's face it, no one goes into teaching for the "money," (some may argue that teachers get summers off, spring break, blah, blah, blah).  The good teachers will tell you that there is no vacation time...those days are used to grade papers, create lessons, or to work a second job.

It is my hope that this blog will help teachers remember to take time for themselves.  For it is when we get overly stressed or burned-out, that our students suffer.  I am a teacher myself, and have just recently realized the importance of taking care of myself--for the benefit of my students.  So, on this blog, I will post educational, as well as health/fitness related topics in an effort to help my fellow teachers "Educate and Appreciate."