Why being a teacher is the best decision I ever made…

Wow,

I did not expect that many people to read my last blog post! I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who read it, shared it or clicked on the link and left after a couple of sentences. 😉 Starting a blog is something I’ve wanted to start even before I became a teacher. I am so happy I get to share my thoughts with you. Ok, now I am off my soap box. (for now..)

Two weeks ago, my boyfriend Matt and I went to a mini golf course. It was on a Saturday and it was super busy. In front of us was an oldish couple and in front of them was a huge group of people. Finally, the couple turned around and asked us to join them. After several holes, they started asking us where we were from and what we did for a living. This is a conversation I love and hate having with strangers. This conversation can go two ways. Thankfully, it went the second way.

First way: “Oh You’re a teacher?! WOW, you must have so much patience. Bless your heart. I bet you love children. Oh, Kindergarten? WOW! You must love crafts and lots of hugs.”

But, this couple didn’t say ANY of that. This is what was actually said:

“That is amazing. Teachers in my book have so much respect. Where did you go to school? Good for you. I bet you are an amazing teacher. You are teaching the future of America. Thank you so much.”

I could have hugged them right there. (& honestly, they probably would have let me.)

Becoming a teacher was the best decision I’ve ever made because I have a passion for education. I believe each child deserves the best education they could ever receive. They deserved to be loved on, understood and cared for. Do I love crafts!? DUH. But, I love the “ugly side” of teaching too. The worry about your students. The wondering if they are making friends and so much more.. But I also love the amazing side of teaching. Unlimited hugs forever, the “I love you, Ms. Hilburn!”, the pictures they colored at home because they were thinking of you over the weekend and I love the look on their face when they FINALLY get something after much trial and error. I love the sweet conversations of “let’s play on the playground together!” or “Want to sit with me at lunch?”. Yes, teaching is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Im exhausted by 3:30 but I LOVE it. It brings me constant joy. I love working with parents to prepare their student. I love receiving emails from parents of past students telling me they are still thankful for the impact I’ve made in their lives. I love creating a love for education in each student. I love watching these students grow over the entire school year.

In college, they don’t prepare you for everything when it comes to having your own classroom. They can’t possibly prepare you for every scenario you will encounter. They educate you on the content on your field. They tell you the best strategies to teach guided reading and math. What they can’t possibly prepare you for is the passion that grows each year. Or how it doesn’t get easier to tell your students goodbye in June. Or how you will care about your students as if they are your own children.

Listen, I knew when I decided to become a teacher I wouldn’t be a millionaire. (Even though it’s totally deserved, but that’s for another blog post.) But, I had no idea I would gain so much more. Even though I have to drink 3 cups of coffee, work after-hours & skip lunch almost daily, being a teacher is the best decision I’ve ever made.

-Ms. Hilburn

FACT: Summer is NOT a teacher’s vacation.

image from BOREDTEACHERS

 

Hello love,

Yes, I know. I have SLACKED off. Honestly, I haven’t felt motivated. I’ve been tired. This season has been a tough one. With all that being said, I AM BACK!

As I am writing this blog, I am procrastinating by ordering textbooks about curriculum and instruction while listening to a free webinar about behavior. I’ve kind of already proven my point, huh?

I mean really. Do people think we have the summers off?!  Anyways, I just want to settle the debate: SUMMER is not a teacher’s vacation!

Here are the facts:

1. We do not get “paid for the summer”. Our pay that we earned for the school year is broken into a full year instead of a school year. Honestly, I prefer it this way but I just wanted to make it clear that we don’t get paid for the summer. (Still with me? Cool.)
2. Most of us (like a lot of us) have summer jobs or “side hustles”. For instance, I work at Starbucks and I LOVE it. FREE coffee. It’s a teacher’s dream. I also love interacting with people. Making coffee is pretty cool too. Most of my teacher friends either work at the school for summer camps, further their side business or take on a part time job over the summer. Do you work on vacation? Didn’t think so.
3. We don’t get as much time off as one would think! Most schools get out for the summer either late May or early June. Those same schools also start back mid-August. Teachers come back over the summer to either work on their classrooms or participate in Professional Development. The magic of a classroom environment does not happen overnight. We are in our classrooms moving furniture, decorating and organizing to create the magic that your student will experience over the next school year. Although I love decorating my classroom, it is NOT vacation.
4. #TeacherBrain. No matter how hard we try, we can not turn off our teacher brain. For the first week of summer, we are thinking about our babies. We are hoping they are safe. We are hoping their birthday party they could not stop talking about before summer went well. We are hoping they are getting plenty to eat. We are hoping they are outside enjoying their summer instead of inside on an iPad. You see, we are ALWAYS thinking about school. If we aren’t thinking about our students that just left our class, we are thinking about the brand new ones who will enter our class in August. If we aren’t thinking about our sweet babies, we are wondering “How can I better myself?”. If we aren’t planning a new behavior management idea for our classroom, we are researching effective procedures to implement the next year. Do you think and worry about work on vacation?

Now, I hope I didn’t offend you. Teachers are just tired of hearing that summer is a vacation and we are SO lucky to “have 3 months off of work” when it’s the furthest thing from the truth. Am I going on several vacations this summer and spending much needed R&R by the pool? YOU BET! But, I am also educating myself, preparing for my new students and creating magic in my classroom.

So next time you see a teacher, just say “thank you”!

I hope you all are enjoying your “vacations”! 😉

-Ms. Hilburn

 

 

What The {Mental} Health?

Hello lovely,

This blog post is going to be a little different than my others. I am going to discuss the topic of mental health and education. Before I begin, I want to share some statistics with you.

*DISCLAIMER* I am not a Dr., a psychologist or a mental illness or mental health expert. I am just a passionate teacher with experience and Google.

“1 in 5 Adults have a mental health condition. That’s over 40 million Americans; more than the populations of New York and Florida combined.

Youth mental health is worsening. Rates of youth with severe depression increased from 5.9% in 2012 to 8.2% in 2015. Even with severe depression, 76% of youth are left with no or insufficient treatment”

Resource: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america

Why am I sharing this with you?

1 in 5 adults have a mental illness. That means if you have 5 teachers on your team, one of them can or will suffer from mental illness. The person, it could be you, may not be aware that they have this mental illness.

Why is this important?

I’ve been through it! Last year was my first year of teaching. I did not understand “work-life balance”, saying “NO!” or “take care of yourself!”. I burned myself out because I wanted to prove that I was “dedicated” to my profession. I had no one to “prove” this to besides myself. I had many of anxious thoughts such as “Man, I wish I could be like so-and-so.” or “If I just worked when I got home maybe I would have it together more.” I felt guilty for taking time for myself instead of doing something else for my students.  After a long, stressful (but joyful) year, I have a few bits of advice.

1. Help yourself then help others. To me, this sounded selfish. I am always the person who bends over backwards to help everyone, leaving myself with an empty cup and exhaustion. I learned the hard way. It is IMPOSSIBLE (yes, IMPOSSIBLE) to “fill” other’s cups if yours is empty. This goes for your co-workers, your students and  your loved ones. How can you radiate happiness if you are burnt out and unhappy? Caring for yourself first (and not feeling guilty about it) will allow for you to properly be present with other people.
2. It is OK to not be OK! Yes, you heard me. Everyone has bad days. Everyone has events in their lives that are not pleasurable. And guess what? IT’S OK! You should never feel afraid to let someone know that you are not ok. An open discussion for how you are feeling not only makes you vulnerable, but it makes you real. Find someone in your school or team that you can be open with about your feelings. Make sure it is someone you trust and that you respect. Would you deny a student from opening up if they were not ok? Of course not! We should feel the same way about fellow teachers. This profession is “not for the weak” but sometimes we need just need a hug!
3. “Check on your strong friend” We all have that friend or co-worker who always “has it all together.” But, do they really? I have always been this “strong friend” because I’ve always wanted people to think I had it all together. When meeting my team, I realized it was OK to NOT have it all together! Check on that friend!! (!!!) Yes, they may SEEM like they have it all together, but I guarantee they need you. It is always the people we least expect to be suffering.
4. Get Educated! You heard me! Teachers need to get educated on mental health! With the statistic of 1 in 5 adults suffering from a mental illness, you are bound to know someone who is or will be in that statistic. As some of you may know, I work at a coffee shop as my summer job. Sadly, one of my co-workers suffered severely from mental illness. This opened my eyes and I began to do research of my own. And what did I find out? Children suffer from mental illnesses too! This opened my eyes as a teacher and allowed me to look at education through a different lens. Not only are we teaching students their basic educational skills, we are teaching they how to grow into a working member of society. Researching mental illness and mental health as a whole allowed me to use different techniques in my classroom.
5. “But, Im not suffering from a mental illness…” Mental health is something everyone should participate in. If you are reading this, you have a brain! (Congrats!) As far as I know, it is really hard to function without a brain. (I mean, not a Dr., just guessing!) So, why not take care of your brain? When your nails look dingy, you go to the nail salon. You don’t wait until you have health issues to go to the gym, right? Your mental health should not only be important to you, but everyone who cares about you. Need some ideas to better your mental health? Check out this link! https://www.uhs.umich.edu/tenthings

As an advocate for mental health, I hope one day I can better the lives of educators with programs and resources. Until then, I will continue to spread the word. Take care of your brain people, your students (babies!) rely on it!

Much love,

Ms. Hilburn

It is OK to #fail!

Hello lovelies,

I am so sorry this blog post is ~LONG~ overdue, but I have been busy with vacations, summer jobs, and sickness.

BUT, I am back to tell you that “It is OK to #fail!” If you are a human being, you have felt as if you don’t “measure up” to standards that you have set for yourself. This is my biggest anxiety.  I often feel, in my profession and personal life, that I am not doing everything “perfectly”. Below, I am giving you 3 reasons why it is OK to fail!

Reason 1: YOU are HUMAN! HUMANS aren’t PERFECT! It doesn’t matter how long you study, research, think and plan about something, there are things that you can not control such as other people’s behaviors. For example, there are several times I plan an amazing lesson. I dedicate time to think about what my students will need and what they will be doing. When the time comes to teach the lesson, my students just don’t grasp the concept. Quickly, I could assume that the lesson is a #fail and to toss it. But, instead I change the lesson in the moment to fit what the students need to be successful.

Take away: Roll with the punches!

Reason 2: You will grow as a person from failing. Question: If you are successful at everything, will you learn anything? The best part about failing is the learning lesson. If something does not work out, then you know not to do it again. The best lessons I have learned in life is from the experience of failing. With failure, you will also grow as a person and gain life experience.

Take away: You must fail to grow.

Reason 3: Failure teaches children great life lessons. From my first year experience, I can tell you that your students watch everything you do. They see how you react to stress, deal with situations, and interact with others. Students learn most of their social behaviors from watching and mimicking others. Many times in my classroom, my students have watched me fail. Either a lesson went horribly wrong or my technology would not work, they have been front row. If you didn’t know, students believe that their teachers are celebrities. Imagine someone you look up to fails miserably right in front of you. In a way, it makes you feel good. Not because you want them to fail, but you realize that they are not perfect. Also, you feel as if you are not alone.

Take away: Let your students see you fail!

I hope that if you are a teacher, parent, or none of the above that you learned something about failing: It’s OK!

Till next time,

Ms. Hilburn

Bye School Year, Hello Summer

Summer is here. If you are a teacher, you can relate to this. If you are not, so sorry. Either way you can laugh at my following list: Things Teachers Love About Summer Break!

1. You can have a bathroom break whenever you want. #goals
2. Your hot coffee doesn’t turn into “iced” coffee because you forgot it somewhere.
3. Sleeping in all day everyday. (Lets be real, 8 a.m. is sleeping in.)
4. You finally hear your “real” name more often. 
5. You can watch whatever you want on Netflix instead of Trolls for the 40th time.
6. Lunch Break, enough said.
7. You don’t have to refer to everyone as your friend. 
8. You have the energy to put effort in the way you look. (Maybe?)
9. Not having to keep up with the day of the week. 

& last but not least,

10. Sweet, Sweet Silence 

Now, I want you to think of a Summer Goal you want to accomplish this summer. The school year is filled with crazy, and we often forget about ourselves. Being a teacher is harder than *most* professions. This means we need more self-care than others. Below I am listing my 5 Summer Goals:

1. Read books that I enjoy
2. Take time out for myself to accomplish my personal goals (This blog, duh!)
3. Implement healthier eating habits
4. Create a workout routine
5. Spend plenty of time with myself, family and friends

Do you have any goals? Comment them below! 

“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first!”

XOXO,

Ms. Hilburn

 

#teachertired

Raise your hand if you have ever been victimized by #teachertired!

Yes, same. If you are not a teacher, you really don’t understand. It’s something we can’t really explain. If you can relate to most of these statements, you have been a victim of #teachertired:

1. You fall asleep on the couch, right after school, for more than an hour.
2. After you finish your coffee at school, you wash it down with a Diet Coke. (its 9:30 a.m.)
3. By 3:30p.m., you are contemplating a nap, coffee, or just going to bed.
4. You fall asleep mid-grading or planning.
5. Spending your weekends sleeping in and napping is more appealing than spending it with humans.

If you shouted “YESSS” to more than one of these, you are #teachertired.

I understand, I’ve been there & done that. BUT, I overcame. Here are my tricks to help you from being #teachertired:

1. Wake up early & eat that breakfast.  I know. Waking up early to make breakfast when you can get an extra 30 minutes of sleep seems insane. But, it is so worth it. In the first half of the year, I would be driving down the road trying to shove coffee and a granola bar down my throat. By 8:00 a.m., I was starving! I made a commitment to myself to make breakfast every morning. It has help tremendously!
2. NO NAPS! Yes, I am the Nap Queen! I could nap all day every day. But, one of my best teacher friends let me in on something so smart: napping ruins your sleep. Something so simple yet I didn’t believe it. It’s hard, but you must push through till bed time.
3. Work it out! Yes, going to the gym can combat that #teachertired. I try to work out 5-6 days a week for 45 minutes -1 hour. This helps get your blood flowing. (also, you can eat an extra slice of cake! BONUS!)
4. Make time for you. The “perfect teacher” could spend all day every day doing stuff related to teaching but still would not be perfect. Why? Because there is not enough time in the day! Time management is KEY! Lists are KEY! Do not stress over things that are not necessary. Make awesome lessons & make time for you! Your kids will love you either way.
5. Stay Positive! It is so easy to criticize yourself. When things don’t go as planned, go with it! If you love your job, it will show through your teaching. Students can pick up on how you are feeling. Yes, it is ok to be real with them. You are a human and have feelings too! But, the way you deal with situations can help students grow more than you think. Trust me, they are always watching you.
6. Weekends are for Fun, Family & Friends! It is so easy in this profession to be consumed all day long with Instagram, Pinterest, TPT and Facebook. We are constantly thinking about what we can do next. You are not only a teacher. You are an awesome human with other hobbies. I am constantly sharing with my students pictures of my weekend or things I am interested in. This will help them grow to develop their own personalities. So, do not feel guilty for putting down the red pen and spending time with family. You need to fill your cup to fill theirs. The grading can wait!

I hope this helps you! I am no expert, just a victim of #teachertired speaking out. Now, I am off to finish my iced coffee. Take Care!

Love,

Ms. Hilburn

Hi, Nice to Meet You!

Hi, Hello!

For those who don’t know me, My name is Nicole Hilburn and I am a energetic Kindergarten teacher (because you need energy when you teach 25 full of life 5 year-olds, amirite?!?)

Anyways, I decided to start this blog for two reasons.

Reason 1: TEACHERS NEED SUPPORT (and lots of encouragement!)

Being a teacher is hard. That is something they do not tell you when you are spending hours on lesson plans in college. No, the content is not hard. BUT, being able to address 25 ENERGETIC 5 year-olds individualized needs and also keep them interested but also meet other needs and you also have to eat lunch at some point. Yes, teaching is hard. They don’t tell you that when you are purchasing your cute mongrammed clipboards and mugs. But, they do tell you its worth it. And that my friend, is the truth.

Reason 2: Teaching is my passion.

No, I did not teach my stuffed animals about reading when I was 3 and thats when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I realized the impact that education, or lack of, has on a child’s life. I also saw the impact a teacher can make on a student’s life. Combine that with my love of children and you have a perfect formula for the teaching field. And I am blessed to say I get to make an impact on my students every single day.

Now, I am going to share 8 facts about me!

1. I teach Kindergarten and I LOVE every second of it. My students are super energetic, excited for school and sweet as sugar! Sometimes no amount of coffee can help me keep up with them!
2. My kids call me a “crazy cat lady” & its true. I love my big fluffy black cat Pom-Pom. She is sassy and a cat version of me. I wear the “cat lady” title with pride!
3. I am a coffee addict and I have come to terms with it.
4. During the summer, I work at Starbucks. I worked at Starbucks for most of my time in college and its something I love to do! (especially the coffee!!!!)
5. I am probably the most organized unorganized person who has ever lived. Although things in my classroom are a mess, I know where to find anything at the drop of a hat. Its only my first year! I got time, right?!?!
6. One of my favorite things to do is go to things that my students invite me to. If a student invites me to something, my rule is that I have to go. For example, I have been to several of my students sports games, church events and bought Girl Scout Cookies. I think showing students you care outside the classroom makes the biggest impact of all!
7. I am a night owl. It is a myth that all teachers go to bed early. Its the truth that MOST of us TRY to go to bed early, but we are up late on TPT, Pinterest or blogging. (#currently). I usually try to go to bed by 11:30. Thats why I drink coffee people!
8. I have several dreams besides being a teacher. They always change! At one point, I wanted to go to school to get my Masters and become an administrator. I have also had dreams of going back to school to study student behavior and social emotional needs. As of right now, I can’t imagine being anywhere but the classroom. Its hard to imagine a day without 25 small (but big) hugs!

Thank you for sticking around this long. I hope you enjoy my blog. If there is anything you would like for me to discuss, comment below! If not, happy reading.

XOXO,

 

Ms. Hilburn