The Tattooed Teacher

Ladies and gentlemen, the school year has begun. Even though it has only been almost two weeks, I woke up today, a Monday, feeling like Bruce off Bruce Almighty when Jennifer Aniston pulls the cover off of him and he flops on the bed like a fish not wanting to wake up. I love school, but everyone knows the schedule is hard to get back into. The new possibilities a teacher is faced with every new school year seem endless. We tell ourselves that we will do better with classroom management, we will try to avoid "movie" days to ensure more instruction time, we will get to the district achievement goal for testing on the state test, and we will inspire our students to want to come to school. Now, I know I'm only a third year teacher, but ever since I have started my teaching career, it has been about much more than that. In my classroom, I want to teach my students to better themselves everyday, to strive not only in the classroom but in life, to find inspiration in ...

The Beginning of Something Beautiful Hello, all! I am excited to share with you a blog dedicated to my life in the classroom. It will include tales of horror and triumph, ideas that are out of this world, and, of course, student praise. The idea of this blog came about when the gears started turning for the mere thought of painting a Before I Die chalkboard wall in my classroom. It has always been on my bucket list to find and write on one, so why not bring the same philosophy into the classroom? I know what some of you may be thinking, "That's morbid, Heather," and you're right. My principal expressed that same concern, which is why we made a deal to change it to the, "Before I Graduate" chalkboard wall and he would approve. Done deal! I had permission! Last time I painted a wall, it was without permission and it got my phone taken away by my parents. Now, I was more than amped to get this project started. It was the end of the year and summer wa...