Category: School

Posted in School

Back to School Things

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Y’all — before I get to today’s post, I have to apologize/share —if you get my blog posts via email, you might have seen a major typo yesterday. It took four years of blogging, but I finally had a whoops – I spelled “swimsuits” as “swims!$&s!” I corrected it as soon as I saw it on the email. You know on Fridays when I typically share a flashback photo and say “this popped up in my memories”…I always thought it would be “poop” that I type by accident but instead it worse. lol

Anyway, on to today’s post…

Well, with school officially starting tomorrow, I guess it’s time to get serious about back to school.

Today, I have a classroom work day, and I told Hayden and Hadley that they need to get their school supplies organized, their clothes picked out, and get ready for the first day of 8th grade tomorrow.

Here are a few things on my mind as we get back to school…

Clocks and Cozi:

As we get back in the swing of things, two things that we will heavily rely on are alarm clocks and the Cozi app.

I got the kids each this alarm clock/sound machine combo back in February, and ever since they have been in charge of getting themselves up. While Hadley hasn’t used it a ton this summer, Hayden has gotten up most mornings on his own to run. Both of them use the sound machine feature, and it’s been a good upgrade from the sound machine they each had when they were babies.

So, now it’s back on them to set the alarm, get up and get going in the morning.

We started using the Cozi app last year. It’s really handy because each of us has a color assigned to our name, and we even have a color for when all of us have somewhere to be.

Backpacks…

Hayden got the Under Armour backpack two years ago while Hadley got the North Face one last year. Both of them are still in really good condition. That being said, they both have a second backpack they carry for sports, but these have been great for school, and have held up nicely.

First day of school clothes:

While Hayden doesn’t care much about what he’s wearing on the first day of school, Hadley had a vision…haha

Travis ordered her new shoes which might not make it for the first day, but she chose On Clouds. I braved the mall twice with her over the weekend because she wanted to find a pair of jean shorts to wear. We went to Pac Sun because she had luck there last year, and she found two pairs she liked. We also wandered in to Aerie Offline, and she picked out a couple of waffle henleys.

Hadley has a real knack for dodging sale items…haha

Beverages:

I had the same coffee tumbler for years, and the lid cracked right at the end of the school year. I was going to order another one, but saw this small coffee tumbler at Target and couldn’t resist. To be honest, I probably drink too much coffee, so I figured if this smaller one worked, it would be better to take less coffee to school.

I’ve also been loving my new Stanley, but I knew it would probably be too heavy to take to school. I’ve heard great things about this tumbler, so I think I’m going to leave it at school (or bring it home every once in a while) to use to drink my water.

The kids have been using these water bottles from a local sporting goods store. Hadley has had hers for over a year, and Hayden got a new one this summer before running camp.

My school supplies:

I really didn’t need too many school supplies, but I picked up my Happy Planner at Michaels because they always have them 40% off this time of the year. The stickers were discounted as well, so I picked up a pack of those too.

Paper Mate Flair pens are my faves, so I picked up those and the pretty pencils at Kroger one day.

Y’all –yesterday, when I sat down at my desk to start writing in meeting dates in my planner, I realized it wasn’t the same layout at the one I had last year.

This one had the vertical layout, and I prefer the “classic layout,” so I found this one on Amazon that should be here tomorrow.

I sent a schoolwide email, and gave the planner with the vertical layout to the first one to claim it. I’m hoping what I ordered is just what I need.

Well, I had these pens saved on my Amazon list (you can never have too many pens, right?) along with this wireless keyboard and mouse that I want to use for my school computer. I’m excited to get it set up this week.

I get a new desk calendar every year…sometimes from Amazon or Walmart, but I saw this one at Target, and it will work for me!

My classroom:

Hadley helped me get my classroom set up on Friday, and yesterday I put the finishing touches on it. This will be my 22nd years in education, and I’ve never “cut it this close” on getting ready. That being said, I won’t really have students on the first few days as I’m still doing academic intervention, so I will help wherever needed.

I got rid of a couple of tables because the most I typically have would be 15 students. Most of the time, I have 3-5 at a time.

My room got a bit of a refresh with carpet (to replace the old tile) Also, we got these new Interactive Flat Panels at the end of the school year, so I’m excited to use it more this year.

For lunchbox moms:

I miss the days of putting one of these cute lunchbox notes in the kids’ lunches.

Now, they mostly buy school lunch.

Brinner:

I wanted to have our “Back to School” brinner Sunday night, but both kids ended up having plans with friends. So, we’ll do it tonight once they get home from practice.

Phones:

With getting back to school, we had the reminder conversation about phones and what they really should be used for before we get back to school. I’ve told both of them that phones are a responsibility and while I know they use them to text or watch videos/Netflix, I expect them to start taking more ownership in their learning. They did a pretty good job with this last year, but with this being the last year of middle school, I want them to be as responsible and engaged in their learning as possible.

They have the phones and can use them to check the Cozi app (and add to it when needed –like when the Stu Co meeting pops up that I didn’t know about), check their grades, email their their teachers and check assignments.

We’ve always had a rule of phones up by 10:00 (even earlier if they have been at home and not at an activity), and asleep by 10:30. Also, they plug them up in the kitchen; we’ll definitely continue that practice this year. Towards the end of last year, they were getting on them in the morning, and now I don’t want them getting them until they are ready for the day.

Obviously, kids having phones wasn’t something my parents worried about when I was a kid. I remember when we got a cordless phone when I was in the 6th grade…that was the best thing ever! We definitely don’t have all the answers, and we’ve relaxed a bit with rules over the summer, but it’s time to get back focusing on school and managing time wisely.

My goals:

I always surprise myself that I’m not more disciplined in the summer. I guess I thrive a bit more with a routine. So, while getting back in the school routine usually takes a few weeks, I always appreciate it once we get going.

My goals are:

  • Workout 4-5 days a week. (I was decent with working out this summer, but like to have a plan). I honestly have the goal of getting up at 5:00 three days a week to knock my workout out before school…I’m going to give myself this week to just get up at my regular 6:00 time, but we’ll see starting next week if I can make the early mornings happen)
  • I want to get 8-10k steps per day. My goal this summer was 7,000 steps, and I got that many most days. While I was pretty good about working out, that doesn’t always give me lots of steps. It’s easier for me to get steps during the school day, of course. Plus, I want to try to walk a bit if I’m short on steps to reach the 8,000 goal.
  • Kroger pick up on Saturday. This really worked for me last year. Before that, I was usually picking up groceries on Sunday which felt like one more thing to do as the weekend was ending. Last year, I would meal plan and make my Kroger list on Thursday or Friday for pick up on Saturday. This summer, I haven’t been structured with groceries, and it’s time to get back at it!

A reminder for my kids:

Of course, we want Hayden and Hadley to be well-rounded individuals who are polite and respectful, but who will also stand up for what’s right.

Most of all, I care that my kids are inclusive and kind.

They certainly aren’t perfect, but I know at their core, they do their best to do the right thing, and I sure hope they are making good choices and being kind both when we are looking and when we aren’t looking as well.

I know middle school can be rough. High school can be difficult too. I’m hoping they continue to surround themselves with great friends, but I also hope they look out for those who need the friendly smile or a seat at the lunch table.

A person’s character is what matters most…not how fast they run, what classes they take, or how they score on a test. How they treat others is so important as well.

Because apparently I like to make myself cry leading up to the first day of school…here are a couple of fun flashbacks:

…the first day of kindergarten and the first day of 6th grade.

I probably won’t have a post tomorrow, but should have first day of school pics on Thursday.

I hope everyone has a great year…the kids, the parents, and the teachers!

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Posted in School, Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Saturday!

I love it that Jennifer hosts this fun little link up at the end of the month. It’s just a quick way to reflect on the past month.

I this month, I….

Loved:

Slow mornings when we had them. July was still busy, but there were fewer alarms set in the morning.

I also loved seeing so many beautiful sunsets while in Florida last week.

Read:

You know I love to read. Looking back on this summer, how lucky am I that I read with mountain views, ocean views, and pool views?! That makes my reading heart happy.

Ate:

Seafood while at the beach.

Travis and I both love seafood, Hayden mostly loves oysters, and Hadley loves salmon. The boys missed out on oysters this year (although, Hayden got them when he went to SC with his friend’s family)

While in Florida, I had shrimp, fish tacos, and more.

I also drank a daiquiri at one of our favorite places…The Daiquiri Deck.

Bought:

Well, it’s that time of the year…back to school. {*sigh}

About the only thing that makes going back to school better is buying a new planner (and pens!)

This is the third year that I’m using a Happy Planner. Three years ago, I realized Michael’s sells them, and are 40% for back to school. (Also, fun fact: Michael’s gives a teacher discount…A few summers ago, I showed my badge and ever since, the discount (I think 20%) is connected to my account).

Anyway, this is the second year I’m going to use the smaller version of the the Happy Planner. It worked well for me last year, so I figured I would try it again.

Since they were also 40% off, I picked up a pack of stickers too. I use them on my desk calendar as well.

Then, of course, I had to have new pens. I just got my favorite Flair felt pens at Kroger. {*Impulse buy*}–these PASTEL Ticonderoga pencils. I’m honestly not picky about my pencils, but the pastel colored ones stopped me in my tracks. How could I say no??

I also need to pick up a new desk calendar…sometimes I get one from Amazon, but I think last year I got mine at Walmart when the kids got their school supplies.

For the first time in a few years, I actually need to get a new lunch tote and a new travel coffee mug.

Every year, I used to go to the Parent Teacher store to pick up my planner and any other odds and ends I needed. I could always spot the elementary teachers a mile away because they always had so much stuff!! I know you might see lots of “teacher lists” this time of the year or even just the back school supply list and think it all seems excessive, but if you can, throw the extra box of Kleenex their way or purchase a few things off their Amazon list. It means more to them then you know!

As a high school teacher, I admit I don’t need as much. That being said, I still have to replenish markers, paper, folders and other odds and ends during the school year. When I take my own kids back to school shopping, I usually pick up some of those supplies while they are on sale.

I do miss the days when the kids were little. In elementary school, we’d make a day of all the back to school things. The kids would get haircuts, we’d go out to lunch, we’d buy new shoes, and then go get school supplies. I loved that day when we did all the fun things.

To be honest, I tried to make it kind of a big deal because it helped me get excited about going back to school. It’s also why I did the Back to School Breakfast in elementary school and now do the Back to School Brinner .

I always love my summers with my kids. I don’t take for granted that I get to be with them all day. This summer has felt especially quick with everyone’s schedules being so crazy and the kids being a bit more independent.

They used to help my set up my classroom…

…and now they are about to be 8th graders! (Honestly, they will still help me set up my classroom if needed.)

Well, y’all, I didn’t mean to get so nostalgic, but here we are…haha

I hope you still have many fun summer days left having all kinds of fun.

Posted in Kids, School

Last day of 7th grade

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your long weekend?

We had a good one. We started off with hanging out with neighbor friends on Friday night, the kids had the state track meet all day Saturday, Sunday we were tuckered out and pretty lazy, and yesterday we enjoyed a day at the pool.

Friday was a our last day of school, and per tradition, I’m sharing those photos. We’re all ready for summer!

To finish out the school year, the kids had three Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) tests. They took the reading, math and science tests a couple of weeks ago. Then, they had a week of classes where they had a few tests and final exams.

The last week of school included two walking field trips, Clash of the Classes and a PBIS rewards day where they also signed yearbooks. By Wednesday of last week, they’d turned in their chrome books, and learning was officially complete.

Honestly, after all of the testing, I was glad they had a pretty easy week at school with their teachers and classmates.

Seventh grade was definitely harder than 6th grade, that’s for sure. As a high school teacher, it reminds me of the 10th/11th grade years where you aren’t the new kids at school, but you also aren’t the oldest either.

This year I wanted them to work on organization, time management, & self-advocacy…and they did. Also, they will continue to work on those learned skills.

I’m sure they don’t realize it, but I loved how excited they both were for “Cupcake Wars” in their Life Essentials class. Also, first semester, they were in the same gym class and I loved hearing those stories.

As I shared in last week’s Three Things post, they were involved in athletics and clubs too. They also had their first school dances since they didn’t have those opportunities in 6th grade.

They worked hard for the grades they earned. While they weren’t perfect, they did make the 3.5-3.99 honor roll every quarter. Also, they were both in Beta club in school. I was happy they were recognized for their effort and grades.

They probably handled their 7th grade year better than I did when I was their age. They are way more well-rounded than I ever was. I’d say it was definitely a year of lessons, and they learned a lot, both personally and academically, along the way.

While not school related, they both got their braces off. Hayden grew a few inches and is officially a head taller than Hadley. That’s probably his biggest accomplishment of the year. haha

They are finding their way and have grown both literally and figuratively.

The first day of school:

The last day of school:

Hayden:

What a difference nine months makes!

He said his favorite class was science and his favorite memory was field day.

Hadley:

I don’t see as much change in Hadley as I do Hayden, but she certainly has matured this year!

Her favorite class was also science (They had a FABULOUS teacher), and said her favorite memory was “Clash of the Classes” which is the field day Hayden was referring to.

Me:

As for me, I didn’t take an end of the school year photo, but this pretty much sums me up:

Overall, I had a great year 21 in education. It feels like time moves so quickly, but that’s doubled when you have two teens!

I have a faculty meeting this morning and graduation tomorrow. Then, it’s officially summer!

Posted in School, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk – Balance

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start.

WordPress posts writing prompt ideas, and I saw this one the other day:

How do you balance work and home life?

So, today I’m sharing my thoughts on that topic…

When thinking about this topic, the first few ideas that popped in my mind were: stay organized, say no when needed, and maximize your time.

When I moved to my current school, that definitely helped with work/home balance. I had a shorter drive which meant I got back at least 45 minutes-an hour of my day. Also, my current school starts earlier, so now I have more time after school. I’m also on the same schedule/calendar as my kids which is nice.

Also, I’d always wished I could pick my kids up from school when they were in elementary school. With the middle/high school schedule in my district, I’m able to pick them up when they don’t have after school activities. That’s one example of me feeling more balanced in regards to school and home.

Organization:

You know my “Type A” self loves to be organized. As a family, we use the Cozi app. I’m really good about entering appointments, etc. in it –the kids need to be reminded to look at it. haha

I have a note on my phone for the week. This is just for me. I keep up with it adding in what we have every evening, errands, and other reminders.

I try to do things at home bit by bit to stay on top of everything. Also, our house is typically pretty tidy. I always feel better picking up before bed to start the day with a clean house. The kids’ rooms aren’t always tidy. Usually, on Sundays I ask them to “regroup” for the week and pick up their rooms. Sometimes, I feel like all I do is nag…but, at least with this, I’m only nagging on Sundays if needed.

Also, everyone in the house has to help out. I still sometimes feel like Travis and I do more than we need to, but the kids really do what they are supposed to do…eventually.

At school, I use my planner to stay organized and make lists. There’s always a sticky note (or two) on my desk that I use to guide my week and day.

Also, I never leave school on a Friday before I am ready for the following week. I still might have copies to make on Monday, but I have a sticky note with a to do list ready to go.

I can’t do it all…Sometimes, even with everything planned out, the kids will need a ride somewhere. It’s ok to ask for help. I’m very thankful for my “mom gang.” My brother and sister-in-law also help if I need Hadley taken to dance, for example, while we’re at Hayden’s game.

Just Say No:

If I have a busy day at school or know that I need to leave ASAP, I often times just keep to myself during the day. I just stay as focused as possible. I hate cutting a conversation short, but I know that some days I need every minute to get my work done.

Also, by now, I know my limits…sometimes a Friday night calls for pajamas by 7:00 rather than a night out. Do I still get FOMO? Yes…haha, but I do know that sometimes it’s better to have a quiet night at home and get caught up on sleep.

Maximize Your Time:

I learned a long time ago to leave school at school. Once I had the kids, I just maximized my time at school, so I could leave ASAP. Similar to “just say no” above, sometimes that means no socializing because I need to get school work done in order to leave whenever I need to.

Even when I had my regular English classes with 150 students, I never brought work home to grade. I’d grade as much as I could during the day. Then, every other week or so, I’d make sure Travis could pick up the kids and handle home stuff, so I could get caught up at school. Meaning I might stay at school for a couple of hours to get caught up if needed.

Y’all, I know it’s a busy season of life, but sometimes I feel like all I do is manage my time…even when I have a window of time, I still set a timer. For example, I might have thirty minutes to read, but I usually have to set a timer to prompt myself to make dinner, pick up the kids, or get my workout in.

Unfortunately, my kids aren’t the best at time management…yet? (hence, why sometimes I feel like a nag). I know it’s a learned skill (and a weakness for some), but I’m ready for them to master that skill. haha

Also….

I rarely check email after hours. I do still have it on my phone, and I know some don’t…but I do like having access to it. I do want my kids to have my attention when I’m at home, so I try to be “present” when they are around. I never want them to look over from the side lines to see me replying to a school email.

I also know that I will have times where I “have” to be “caught up” like the end of a grading period or right before a break. When we have a break, I know I can give 100% at home/relax a bit more then.

I even make some of my “me” time a scheduled part of my day. I get up at least 45 minutes before the rest of the house. I also schedule in my workouts in the evenings so that I’m more likely to get them done.

I still often feel imbalanced, but I also feel better for at least having a plan.

Do you have any secrets for home/work life balance? Let me know!

Posted in School

Snow Day Diaries

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy February 1st!

This post could be alternatively titled: the tale of two different days.

Since we’ve had two snow days recently, one a traditional day off and one an online learning day, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look at how we spent those days. Ironically, neither day off included any actual snow.

Here’s how we spent our two snow days…

1.27.23

Last Friday, it wasn’t even on my radar that we might have a snow day. (And…that means I didn’t realize that I might write a post like this…so there are very few photos)

I woke up and was so tired that I hit snooze. Eventually, I got up and made a cup of coffee. As soon as I sat down on the couch, my phone started buzzing. Our school district was calling off school. I looked outside and saw dry road conditions. I was confused but already up, so I turned on the news. They were talking about how the north side of town and northern Kentucky had lots of snow and there were many accidents. I decided to enjoy my slow morning.

This was an actual snow day. No online learning.

Hadley got up around 8, and Hayden woke up around 8:30. Both were confused, of course…but then excited about a three day weekend.

I had made Hadley an after school hair appointment for a trim. She said she was all about getting that crossed off our list earlier in the day. When I called, they had a 10:15 appointment, so we went for it.

While we were gone, Hayden lived his best life playing Xbox.

After the hair appointment, Hadley and I went to Target to pick up a few things. Then, we headed home.

We were going to bake a cake on Saturday, but we decided to go ahead and bake the cake once we got home. Hadley did 90% of the work, and I cleaned up. After the cake cooled, she decorated it and wanted a silly pic!

The sun was shinning, so both kids decided to get their runs in. I had their lunch ready for them when they got home (pizza and fruit). Then, Hadley went to a friend’s house and Hayden and I watched a few episodes of Goldbergs.

After that, Hayden played basketball with some friends while I read and then tided up the house.

Later that night, we went out to dinner.

I can honestly say that in 21 years teaching, I’m pretty sure that I’ve never had a snow day with zero snow or ice on the street/in the yard. There have definitely been days where by 10:00 the roads were fine, but my part of town showed no signs of winter weather. That being said, we have a huge district, and many people were posting photos of their driveways, yards, and streets snow covered! Just crazy.

1.31.23

On Monday, with the possibility of rain/sleet/ice/snow, the district was really spreading the message of possible NTI day on Tuesday. Many surrounding counties called off Monday afternoon and night…but my district didn’t call off until 5:30 am yesterday. To be honest, I was kind of glad because that meant that Monday night my kids went to bed like normal! haha

I woke up around 5:30 to the “no school” text, and actually did go back to sleep. I slept until 7:30.

Then, I got up, had some coffee, read some blogs, and finished an episode of The Crown.

I woke the kids at 9:00, so we could get started on our day.’

I made our traditional “snow day” pancakes even though we didn’t have snow…only some ice.

Travis did report that the main roads were pretty much fine, but the kids and I were happy to do our work at home in our pjs.

With the kids having so many classes, I wanted them to have a visual/checklist for the day. Honestly, I wanted to be able to see what they accomplished too.

Most of the morning looked like this:

At one point, Hadley asked to go to a friend’s house and do work (I know that’s shocking…haha)..but I told her no. I knew she had quite a bit to tackle, and wanted to make sure she stayed home and got it finished.

I worked quite a bit on the credit recovery session I’m planning as well as sent emails to teachers and checked Canvas assignments.

The kids were working hard, and requested Cane’s, so that’s what we had for lunch.

After lunch, I worked on a couple of upcoming work sessions I have with students and answered emails. I kept my Zoom open from 1:30-3:30, but I had a couple of students email me questions.

Hadley had only a bit of work left to do, so I let her go to her friend’s house for a couple of hours. Hayden got his run in before basketball practice.

**Today’s “snow day” was different than Friday’s because on Friday, all afternoon/evening activities were cancelled whereas that wasn’t the case last night.

Even after dinner, both kids still hand a couple of assignments to wrap up.

NTI details:

So here a few NTI details:

  • NTI stands for “Non-Traditional Instruction”
  • Many more rural county districts (including the one I taught at previously have been using NTI days for many years…before Covid)
  • Teachers are supposed to have “asynchronous” instruction assignments for students posted on Canvas or Google pages.
  • The general rule of thumb is 20-30 minutes of work per class.
  • The district set Zoom/Google Meet times per level where teachers just need to be online in case students need help. For example, high school teachers have to be online from 1:30-3:30.
  • Students have three days to turn in the assignments once we return to school. They do this in case students didn’t have their computer, internet access, power (in the case of ice), or just need additional help from their teacher.
  • We don’t have to make these days up at the end of the school year.

I will say my own kids had quite a bit of work. They have seven classes, and some classwork took them longer than an hour to complete. Both of them had a couple of short assignments to finish after dinner.

I’ve also learned that people will complain about anything. I don’t take for granted that I don’t have to worry about child care on a snow day. Of course, my kids are older, but I’ve never had to worry about child care on a snow day. I am the child care.

The same people who troll the district’s Facebook page and complain about a day off when their road is clear are probably the same who would try to sue the district if their kid’s bus slid off the road. The same people who complain about NTI are the same to complain when kids are still in school on June 3rd. It’s always so ridiculous to me to see these comments.

Well, as I type this on Tuesday evening, I haven’t been to school since last Thursday. Besides the two snow days, I was with Travis at an appointment on Monday, so I wasn’t even at school then. I’m assuming we’ll be in school today, and next week’s temps look mild. Oh…the up’s and down’s of February…

Stay safe and warm!

Posted in Blog challenge, Me, School

Teacher Talk Tuesday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start.

Confession: Instagram is my favorite form of social media. Instagram stories are what suck me in …and sometimes reels.

Anyway, over the past year or so, I’ve started to follow a few educators who are mostly English teachers, and today I’m sharing a few of my faves to follow.

Momfessionals:

@momfessionals:

I read Andrea’s blog every day and have for years. She’s a busy mom of three, and a middle school math teacher at a Christian school in McKinney, Tx. On both her blog and social media, she shares about her life, her family, her home, and her classroom. She occasionally shares lesson ideas, teacher tips, and classroom organization. She will share “Doodle Town” coloring pages too! Both her blog, and her Instagram are fun to follow!

Update: Coincidentally, Andrea has a Teacher Tuesday post up today too!

Educator Andrea:

(@educator_andrea)

I’ve been following Andrea for about a year. She’s a public high school English teacher in the San Diego area. Her reels are so fun…she often shares classroom scenarios and how they differ at the elementary, middle, and high school level. She’s so sarcastic which I can appreciate, but it’s evident that she cares so much about her students and is creative in providing them with a variety of learning opportunities. I actually earned my last PD hour this year when I joined her online session, and heard her chat about “Connection and Culture in Secondary ELA.”

Her website has digital resources and merch. She’s even on Cameo! Anyway, I always enjoy her stories and teaching advice that she shares with her followers.

My Teacher Face

@myteacherface

Dr. I is a hoot! She’s been an English teacher for 30+ years. Her reels as “teacher 1” and “teacher 2” are so funny. She says she’s been both teachers at some point, and I can probably say the same! She also has the coolest light up board behind her when she shares the reels. She put a strip of LED lights in between the border and uses the remote to make the board different colors. I just thought that was a fun idea.

The Daring English Teacher

@thedaringenglishteacher

Christina is a HS English and Journalism teacher. She shares so many great lesson ideas like engaging end of novel activities, goal setting, prepping for a sub (her sub binder is 100!), and writing tasks.

Laurencella

@laurencella

I just recently started following this account, but Lauren is a History teacher, and her reels are so funny…especially the “Gen Z Teaches History” ones.

The Caffeinated Class

@thecaffeinatedclass

Marie is another high school English teacher, and I’ve only been following her for a little bit. She also shares resources like bellringers and other units too.

I want to check out her “Brave New Teaching” podcast next.

Cool Miss P

@cool.missp

I started following Miss Phillips when I saw her reel (which was really popular) of her 2nd graders arriving to school, and she has them look in the mirror share their affirmations. She has so much energy and makes learning so fun for her kids too! My kids would have loved being in her class!

Also…

While I’m on the topic of teaching…one of the WordPress Bloganuary prompts is: What was your dream job as a child?

Long story short…I always wanted to be a teacher. Literally…no other backup plan.

When I was a kid, I would often play school. I always loved setting up my “classroom,” lining up my stuffed animals and Barbies as my students, and writing on a chalkboard.

I remember when I was old enough to help my mom grade papers. She’d hand me a red pen and let me grade spelling tests and worksheets.

My mom taught 7th grade Language Arts for 31 years, and she spent many of them in the classroom next to one of her best friends who was a Reading teacher. They would slide open the divider wall, and co-teach when they could. Besides wanting to be an English teacher, because of them, I knew I also wanted to help students in reading. I now have a Master’s in Literacy and a Reading Specialist degree.

Also, I always had wonderful teachers, but especially amazing English teachers. There wasn’t an English teacher I didn’t enjoy in both middle school and high school. I even remember my 9th grade English teacher who was hard core! She had us all memorize every preposition and then we each had to stand up in front of the class and recite them in alphabetical order. I’m sure most of my classmates can’t say the same, but that paid off for me in the long run. haha

Anyway, I was one of the only people I knew who didn’t change their major in college. I even have college friends who majored in Education, but left the profession after a few years. Honestly, I can’t say I blame them. I had those same thoughts a few times in my early teaching career….and I do think it’s a more difficult profession now for many reasons. It really is a rewarding profession, and thankfully, I’ve been really happy in the classroom with my intervention work the past few years. This is my 21st year and while I’m not counting down, I don’t think you’ll see me in the classroom past year 30…but we’ll see.

What was your dream job as a child?

Posted in Kids, School

First Day of School

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, we all survived the first day of school. Overall, I’d say it was a success.

While I’m always sad for summer break fo end, this was me by Tuesday evening:

On Monday, my district held a convocation at Rupp Arena. That meant that I had to be at school by 7:15 (earlier if I wanted the catered breakfast!) to board a yellow bus to Rupp. We were at convocation from 8:00 until about 1:00 and then we had time to work in our rooms. Then, on Tuesday, we had a faculty meeting and professional development from 8:30-1:00 with more time in our rooms in the afternoon.

Even though our county is in the “red” for Covid, we are still mask optional. The superintendent’s stance is that Covid is everchanging, and we’ll continue to navigate however we need to. The motto on wearing (or not wearing) masks is “Either way is ok.”

This summer felt so short, but it was great to finally see students on Wednesday.

Back to School Brinner:

We had our Back to School Brinner on Sunday. Hadley had dance late the two nights before school started, so I thought breakfast for dinner on Sunday would be good.

I pulled out my tub with supplies from last year (plus a couple of new additions), and set up the table.

I’ve used this same chalkboard since Kindergarten. 🙂

This year, I wrote a few things on the paper “runner” which I think the kids liked.

I picked the kids each up a book and a Bundt cake to add to their place settings. Otherwise, I used the same folder, plate, and napkins as in previous years.

Unfortunately, Travis was out of town, but I set a place for myself too!

I served fruit along with muffins and yogurt.

I also made Shay’s Bacon and Tot Casserole, and it hit the spot.

We all enjoyed dinner and chatted a bit about summer and the new school year. It’s a fun tradition that I hope the kids will let me do through high school!

First Day of School Photos:

We had a pretty easy breezy morning. I did wake the kids up a bit earlier than they will typically need to wake up, but I needed to get those first day of school photos.

This time last year, Hadley was a head taller than Hayden. He sure has caught up!

They both look like they are almost able to drive me to school.

I couldn’t resist Maddie’s (@maddiescookieco) Back to School cookies. I put them out for the kids to see in the morning.

Maddie’s Back to School “groovy” theme was so cute!

Travis got the kids off to school, and headed to school myself. Y’all, I can’t believe this is year 21 for me. Over the weekend, I cleaned out my bedside table (my final organizational task of the summer), and I found some old pictures…including this one of my first year teaching (2002-03). Check out that computer!

….and now!

Y’all, I was tired! Travis had been out of town since Saturday for work, so I was doing all the mom things + all the back to school teachers/mom things. Then, he got home home really late on Tuesday night (technically, Wednesday morning), so just didn’t get the best sleep. Truth be told, I always have trouble sleeping the night before school starts….back to school jitters, I guess.

Overall, it was a great day! It’s still weird for me not starting the year with classes full of students. Since I do intervention, teachers will start sending me students need week. That being said, I enjoyed helping students find their classes, passing out schedules, helping teachers, and whatever else needs to be done. It’s a great way to ease into the school year.

Back to School Interview:

I’m probably pressing my luck with the kids’ interviews, but here are the kids’ thoughts on heading back to school:

Hayden’s Thoughts:

  • As a 7th grader, I’m most excited about...being with my friends.
  • A goal I have this year is…to get all A’s.
  • I think my favorite subject will be…Social Studies
  • One thing I’d like to get better at this year…turning my work in on time.
  • The first day of school was... fun.

Hadley’s Thoughts:

  • As a 7th grader, I’m most excited about…being upstairs in the building.
  • A goal I have this year is….study for every test.
  • I think my favorite subject will be…math.
  • One thing I’d like to get better at this year…staying on top of my school work.
  • The first day of school was… chaotic and energetic.

The first day of school meant pjs as soon as I got home and an easy slow cooker dinner.

I hope everyone is having an easy transition back to school!

Posted in School, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts: Tips from a Teacher

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

With less than a week until school starts, of course all I’m thinking about is school.

I cannot believe I’m starting my 21st year in education. Where has the time gone? I also can’t believe my kids are starting 7th grade. My mom taught 7th grade Language Arts for 31 years. I don’t know how she did it! She has remained friends with so many of her colleagues, and I always looked up to them ( and still do). They made teaching look so fun.

Today, I’m putting on my “teacher hat” to share to few things.

Even with 20 years as a teacher, I’m still no expert, but here is what I’ve learned through the years:

Teacher to Teacher:

  • Make your expectations very clear on day one….and stick with those rules, expectations, and standards: Kids, even your toughest ones, like structure and routine. Actually, your most difficult kids need it the most, and all kids like to know what to expect. Also, we don’t give kids enough credit…they are smarter than we think! Once you cave even a little, then it’s hard to get that control back.
  • Keep your sense of humor: Thankfully, I’m naturally sarcastic 😉 …but really…my students keep me laughing, and I try to make them laugh too! We’re all in this together.
  • Try to leave school at school: Being a teacher can be all-consuming…in good and bad ways. It took me a while, but I’m pretty good at setting boundaries now. Also, with my students, I always preach to them about using time wisely (I say this to my own kids too!) If I give 100% while at school and use my time wisely, I very rarely have work to do outside of school. I’ve also learned, that I don’t need to read school emails outside of the school day very often, so I do try to check email very minimally or not at all past 4:30. I know some who don’t keep school email on their phone, but I do. There are times it comes in handy, and I need it accessible.
  • Be approachable and relatable; show students you care: I feel like we say this now more than ever, but you never know what kids are going through (adults too!), so lead with kindness and compassion. I tell students all the time that I will give them grace, but I’m not a mind- reader…they may have to let me know why they need to put their head down, and I can understand they may be tired or sad and will check in with them but give them space.
  • Have a plan, and then have a plan B and C!…and be prepared: It took a long time before I could fly by the seat of my pants as a teacher, but I still always have a back up plan for a back up plan. If students have too much time on their hands, then that may not end well.

One of my first blog posts was about The Four Agreements, and I still try to remember them both while at school and at home. I’m not perfect, but I try to keep these in mind, and do better every day.

Also, stay positive! You’ve got this.

Teacher to Student:

While going through the transition to middle school with my own kids last year, I found myself telling them some of the things I tell my own students:

  • Ask for help/advocate for yourself: This is something my kids really had to work on. They are both pretty quiet in the classroom, and would rather blend in than ask for help. I’ve told them to see teachers at the end of the day or send an email, but at least reach out and communicate with their teachers.
  • Use you time wisely during the school day: Honestly, most teachers don’t give much homework, and lots of times, homework is started during class in case a student needs help. I remind my kids to complete and turn in classwork by the deadline as to not get behind.
  • If your teacher lets you make corrections, do it!: Again, even if my kids earned a decent grade, I tell them they may need those extra points some other time. Not all teachers allow for corrections to earn back points, so definitely do so when the opportunity presents itself.
  • Learn how to study: Kids needs to be taught how to study. It’s not a given. Last year, I encouraged my kids to rewrite notes they took in class, use note cards to make flash cards, complete practice problems, and more. Also, I reminded them that all study habits don’t work for everyone. You have to find what works for you.
  • Plan for the week ahead: My kids are very busy, so I told them that Sunday would be a great day to plan ahead for the week. If Hadley knows she has three hours of dance on Monday, then the should know that Tuesday would be a great day to study. Also, I’ve encouraged them to study a bit each day for any upcoming tests, so that they aren’t cramming the night before.Planning ahead is definitely something they need to continue to work on this year.

Twenty years of saying these things to my students paid off as I began to preach this advice to my own kids last year.

Student to Student:

Sometimes I feel bad for my kids –having a mom that’s a teacher isn’t easy. My standards are high. That being said, I want them to be self-starters and driven, but I also am not asking for perfection. If I know they’ve given 100% and still earned a B, I’m ok with that. I refuse to get wrapped up in labels and test scores for my own kids. They are more than one test on one day. I want them to be well-rounded: join clubs, play sports, have outside extra-curriculars, be involved at church, play with their friends, be kind, be inclusive and more. That being said, like my students, they need structure and routine too in order manage their time and see what works best for them.

To wrap up my “tips from a teacher,” I decided to ask them what they think students should know going into a new school year, and here is what they said:

Hayden:

  • Go over new material when you learn it
  • Make friends
  • Pay attention in class

Hadley:

She texted me her response, and this is what she said:

  • Be organize (like with your backpack and schoolwork)
  • Don’t be worried about all the work people say you have (it’s not that bad)
  • Keep your old friends but also try and make new ones too.

*Maybe they have been listening when I talk 😉

One more thing before I go…

Blogiversary:

Today, is the 3rd “Blogiversary” for Show Me and Sweet Tea.

I started this blog in 2019, and to be honest, I’d wanted to start one for years. I love having this creative outlet, I look forward to writing posts, and I love sharing about family, fun, recipes, books, and more. This is my very own scrapbook of life, and I only wish I started it sooner. This SMST community is so amazing, and I appreciate my readers so much. I never imagined that I’d get to “know” so many of you and even grow as a blogger through the years.

As a thank you, I will choose one winner for a $30 gift card to one of my favorite places: Amazon, Trader Joe’s or Target. Your choice!

I believe when you comment, I will see your email address. So, I will email you and share the winner in Monday’s post.

Make sure to comment and let me know: What was your favorite year/grade in school and why?

I loved 4th grade because my teacher taught next door to her best friend. Our classroom had a wall that opened, so the classes would often be combined. Also, my teacher worked at an animal rescue, and would bring in animals that she would foster and care for until they could be adopted or released. Also, I remember being excited about being in the older grades, but not being the oldest in the school.

Anyway, I can’t say “Thank you” enough! I appreciate my readers so much.

As always, thanks so much for reading.

Posted in Monthly Musings, School

Monthly Musings

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How has your week been? We got back from Missouri late Tuesday, so I’ve been trying to get us back on track with all the things…unpacking, groceries, errands, and more.

I can’t believe it’s the end of the month already, so I’m linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings.

This month’s topic:

I can’t believe it but we have less than two weeks left of summer break before school starts! I’m definitely savoring these days for sure! Here’s a peek at Back to School Prep.

1. How do you get organized for the school year?

The last couple of weeks of July, I start tackling the last items on my summer “to do list” and then I really start thinking about the school year on August 1. At that point, I’ve made appointments for back to school haircuts, and we have the supply list for back to school shopping. Also, I go to my classroom and get unpacked for the year. Once that task is completed, I feel like I can savor the rest of my summer at home.

2. Favorite places to shop for back to school clothes?

Well, that used to be Target, but as the kids have gotten older, their taste has changed.

This made me laugh:

Also, I’ve always just bought one new outfit for them to wear on the first day along with new tennis shoes. Hayden usually doesn’t want anything new, so often times he just shops his own closet whereas Hadley and I may visit the mall or find something on Amazon.

3. Do you meal plan? Favorite back to school meals?

This summer, I’ve been pretty relaxed with meal planning which is a summer perk for sure! I will definitely get back to meal planning as school begins because I will have to maximize my time as much as possible.

We (maybe mostly me!) look forward to our Back to School Brinner. When the kids were in K-5th grade, I always did Back to School Breakfast, but decided to shift to dinner a day or two before school started because middle school starts later than high school rather than before like during the elementary years.

breakfast
brinner

4. What are your kids favorite things about going back to school?

I asked, and both kids had similar responses. Both are excited about getting their schedules and seeing what friends they have in their classes.

Honestly, I thought Hayden would say “nothing,” so I will take that as a win.

5. Best place for school supplies?

I very rarely go to Walmart, but they do seem to have the best prices on school supplies. We usually start there and then check Target or Amazon for anything else that is missing.

6. Any first day of school traditions?

Besides the breakfast or brinner, I always buy the kids a book to start the year. I usually get lucky and find books with the grade level they are going in. Also, we always have a back to school photo!

7. Best lunchbox tip?

Pack the night before…which we almost never do! That has to change this year! I need to pack the night before too!

8. Buy lunch? Bring lunch? Both?

In elementary school, the kids went through phases of wanting to take their lunch or buy their lunch. Last year, Hayden bought his lunch every day, and Hadley took her lunch every day. I pack a lunch every day too.

9. Does school start before or after Labor Day?

TOO SOON! I swear it feels even earlier this year. Our first day is August 10. (And, it usually is the second Wednesday in August, but it still feels too early)

I hate to say it, but “when I was a kid..,” our summer was Memorial Day to Labor Day, and I think that’s how it should be.

When we were visiting family in KC, I heard all their back to school dates on the news…and school districts can’t start until nine days before Labor Day to help with tourism in August. I feel like that’s a great idea!

10. Best money saving tips for back to school?

I always feel like all I’m doing is spending money in August. From new shoes to school supplies to school fees, and more it just feels never-ending. I do try to space out spending as much as possible. Also, school supplies will never be cheaper than they are in July/August so stock up while you can.

It’s always good to get back in a routine with the start of school, but I also always cling to summer! Time is just flying by too quickly.

Posted in Kids, School

School’s Out…for the Summer

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

It’s official…

Yesterday, I shared the end of the school year 6th grade interview, and today I’m sharing the last day of school photos.

first day:

vs. last day…

I knew Hayden grew this year, but the proof is in this photo from yesterday!

Hayden:

First vs. Last Day of 6th Grade:

Hayden was involved in:

  • Cross Country
  • Basketball
  • Track
  • Beta Club
  • Wyldlife

Hadley:

First vs. Last Day of 6th Grade:

Hadley was involved in:

  • Dance
  • Track
  • Chorus
  • Wyldlife
  • Student Council

When your mom is a teacher…

It’s probably both a blessing and a curse to have a mom as a teacher. When the year started, I wasn’t sure what to expect in regards to communication with teachers and classwork. Their school has two teams for each grade, and my kids were on the same team. The lead teacher sent daily emails with activities, assignments, and due dates. It was so nice because they had the same teachers which meant the same assignments and due dates. I got the notifications on assignments and grades. If an assignment was flagged missing, I definitely let my kids know.

This year, I really tried to help the kids stay organized and plan their time wisely. I encouraged them to talk to their teachers, ask questions, and advocate for themselves. Bless Hadley’s heart. Every year she wants all the colored pens, sticky notes, and cute folders that Target has to offer. While she does tend to stay pretty organized, some of that falls to the wayside as a school year continues. Hayden subscribes to “shove everything in my backpack even though I have folders and binders” method of organization. Aye yai yai!

While sometimes I felt like we had to talk with them a bit too much about expectations, I also know that if we didn’t teach them these skills, then who would?

In the teaching world, we use “gradual release model” as best practice with our students. This year felt a lot like “I do” (in regards to teaching expectations and academic habits) and now we will work towards “we do” and “you do” in 7th and 8th grades. 😉I’m hoping some of these habits will roll into next year, and the kids will know how to manage their time, study, and meet deadlines with less help from Travis or myself.

The kids learned so much this year. It’s a big transition moving from elementary school with one teacher to having 8 classes in a day. Also, with 8 different teachers come a variety of expectations and procedures. They ended the first quarter at home for two weeks with Covid. That being said, both kids made the Honor Roll every quarter and their grades continued to improve throughout the year. The kids are both pretty well-rounded, and with the transition to middle school and as active as they are, I will take it.

Middle school can be a really difficult time for kids. I continue to be thankful for the community of people that it takes to keep my kids headed in the right direction. From teachers to coaches to family and parents of friends, it definitely takes a village, and I appreciate everyone’s help!

I’m going to take a few blogging days off as I finish up the odds and ends of the school year and just take a moment to decompress from the weight of the world right now.

Thanks so much for reading.