Teacher by day, Mommy by night

Teacher by day, Mommy by night
Juggling the demands (and insanity) of being a high school teacher, a wife, and a mother to a toddler
About hmoeckli


Member Since:
October 28, 2007
Last Signed In:
November 16, 2008
Blog Views:
3243
Send a Message Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend

hmoeckli - > Teacher by day, Mommy by night -> And that's all, Folks!
And that's all, Folks!
Today I entered my grades, tidied my class room, and thanked the few colleagues who were still around for being so kind to me during my first year. Today I finished my first year teaching high school.

Here's my year, by the numbers:
  • Started at 155 students, grew to 160, shrank back down to 149
  • Sent out over 40 progress reports first semester for failing students, failed less than 10 today
  • Met two kindred spirits, made three friends, found one possible foe amongst my fellow teachers
  • Found at least three students in each class I will remember forever, discovered one student who is my "mini-me"
  • Had two students tell me they were pregnant
  • Had four students tell me their parents lost their homes
  • Had countless students tell me they would never want my job
  • Had one student tell me I've convinced her to become a teacher
  • Cried twice in front of my department head
  • Cried too many times to count in my car on the way home
  • Got two lay-off notices
  • Got two job offers
  • Hugged 10 students on their way out of the class room
  • Had 15 students drop by after finals to hug me on my way out of the class room
I started teaching over seven years ago, wanting to be a high school teacher. I became a middle school teacher because at 22 I felt too young to teach students who could be 18. It was a huge decision for me to move to high school, and while this year has had it's ups and downs, it has been a huge gift to me. I've remembered a couple things:
  1. I did not become a teacher to teach rich kids
  2. Books are cool!
  3. Talking about college is super fun
  4. Workplaces are basically the same everywhere you go...there will be awesome people; there will be not so awesome people
  5. What I teach is not as important as who I teach
  6. It is always better to laugh than cry (or yell)
  7. Nothing is more intoxicating than hope
Few professions give people such a chance to reflect. What I like about teaching is that every year I get to wrap things up and start over. It really is the best job.
Topics: teaching, last day
posted by hmoeckli on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Report a Violation
7 comments from 7 users

1

posted by AmandaS on Jun 6, 2008 at 09:35 PM
You survived your year and what a year it was! Good for you for taking some time to reflect.
Report Violation
posted by Mama26 on Jun 6, 2008 at 11:25 PM

Thanks for the great glimse back and congrats on surviving your first year (back) in high school!  I always felt so bad for my teachers in high school considering what they have to deal with. It can be pretty brutal, kids are crazy these days, as well as some of the circumstances they are coming from.

 I will def miss my daughters teacher this year, hopful the third grade teacher we chose will be as wonderful as her. I think she will be great. A big thank you to all those GREAT public school teachers (LIKE YOU) for inspiring our kids!!! Kudos, ma'am!

Report Violation
posted by creatress on Jun 7, 2008 at 10:34 AM

Great post. It's everything I love about being a teacher and why I couldn't do it all day, every day. There is no greater moment in the world when a child who was a stranger at the begining of the year lets you know that you've changed their lives, inspired them, helped them, given them hope, direction, been a friend, or even the "best teacher they've ever had."

Those children at your school are so very lucky to have you.

Did you take one of the job offers? Or are you staying at your school? What happened with the one where the principal was pressuring you?

Report Violation
posted by MiaMama on Jun 7, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Wow, what a year!  I hope you have a great summer with your family.

And, yeah did you ever decide on the new job location?  Let us know.
Report Violation
posted by mom2twinboys on Jun 7, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Congratulations on surviving your first year teaching high school!  And I thought I had my hands full when I was teaching the little ones in elementary school.  I hope one of your job offers works out for next school year!   Have an awesome summer break!  You deserve it!
Report Violation
posted by kellimwheeler on Jun 8, 2008 at 11:14 PM

Congratulations and what a fabulous way to give others a glimpse into the life of a teacher! Powerful blog.

I noticed in the paper this last week that one of my former 5th graders made it on the The Bee's all-star softball list and she's going to college on a softball scholarship. I couldn't have been prouder if she was my own child. 

Report Violation
posted by suprizmom on Jun 9, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Thank you for sharing it is so very nice to know that there are still teachers out there that care.  Congratulations on wonderful year enjoy your time off and best wishes for the next.
Report Violation
1

Leave a Comment
Ground Rules for posting comments:
  • No profanity or personal attacks.
  • Please comment on the subject of the blog post itself.
If you do not follow these rules we will remove your comment. Please keep it civil.

To protect users from spam, we need you to prove that you're a human being.
Please enter the text from the image at left.
Make my comment anonymous Show my user name with my comment