ProjectLife

This lovely little lady and I decided that we were going to start a project in 2012. I am in LOVE with ProjectLife and I spend time each Sunday working on my ProjectLife (: . Knowing that I have one page a week to complete forces me tolook for moments in my weekto celebrate. While I have to carve out time to get this project done, it excites me to know that my first year out of college will be thoroughly documented! I don't spend any time being crafty (though I wish I had the time to) so I encourage you busy people to consider this project. It is farless costly and time consuming than scrapbooking.

Here are a few pages documenting 2012:

racial profiling at its best.

i took the day off from work as a result of my long awaited date with traffic court. The best way for me to describe the way I looked entering the building is a fish out of water. I was quickly approached by an officer for assistance. He gave me instructions on what to do and when he saw that my courtoom had not yet entered and I was uncomfortably standing in the midst of a see of men of color, he called out and told me to stand next to him. He prepped me for what I'd say in trial and I smiled back at him, feeling a little guilty for dumbing down my intelligence momentarily. (this nice gentleman even came to my courtroom for my trial!)

I entered my courtroom and the ONLY white people were the officers, the judge, attendants and lawyers. Every person at trial was either black, hispanic, an immigrant asian, and predominantly male. When I went to make my statement the judge asked me what happened. When I told him I was driving home from work he asked me why I was in that area and I told him I was a teacher in North Philly and he looked at me like he didn't believe me (until I gave him the address of where I worked). He asked a couple more questions and then just said, I'm going to discharge you. All of a sudden two tickets were dropped and I left without any points on my license. While thrilled with this verdict, I felt ashamed walking out the back doors knowing that every person tried before me, even if the points on their license were dropped, left with a fine and signed up for a payment plan.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely aware that my race, gender, and socio-economic status did not work in my favor today.

too.good.to.be.true.

For the past couple of weeks I can honestly say that I've come close to a work life balance. I've been co-teaching with a great friend and teacher and it has been incredible. I had come to a point where I wasn't spending an exuberant amount of time making work packets and stressing over my classroom management. My students' behavior has been improving and I had blocks of class that were completely silent as they listened and followed instruction. Co-teaching has done wonders for my children.

In the middle of her goodbye party I was experiencing severe heat flashes. I turn to our school social worker and say "Is it just me or is it terribly hot in here?"...she responds by saying "That is your feeling of panic".

yup.

panic.

As of Monday, I will be teaching a self-contained class of seventh and eighth graders. alone.

My caseload just doubled and I now teach two more subjects.

yup.

panic.