How long have you been a teacher?

What state do you teach in?

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area?

When do YOU have to go back to school?

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!)

What are you looking forward to this year?

What are you apprehensive about?

Funny teacher story...

Words of advice for new teachers...

How long have you been a teacher?  Starting my 35th year!

What state do you teach in?  Florida

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area?  Elementary - 4th grade traditional classroom

When do YOU have to go back to school?  August 17th

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!)  June 15th

What are you looking forward to this year?  For the last seven years I taught with two other teaching partners, that I loved working with.  We had the same kids for three years.  I'm looking forward to the change, but will miss my partners and getting to know the kids so well.

What are you apprehensive about?  I've taught process writing for the past seven years...worked very hard not to pay attention when math, science, social studies, or reading was discussed, unless I could relate it to writing...doing a LOT of teacher edition reading right now.  I'm nervous about the schedule and being "on my own"!

Funny teacher story...  I had a student who had a lot of trouble relating to the other kids or just having fun.  I worked very hard to make him feel a part of the class.  One day a kid had an off-hand complaint, so I just looked at her and said, "Well, that's life."  X spoke up immediately..."I just love life!!"  I'm getting all misty, congratulating myself on my good job with him, when he continues..."you put strawberries or bananas on it and it's a delicious cereal!"  Oh, well...........................

Words of advice for new teachers...  Listen to the vets, but know that you can change or modify their advice.  ASK for help with problems or if you don't understand.  Frequently take time out to give yourself a mini-vacation, even if it's just an hour soaking in the tub with a book you enjoy.

How long have you been a teacher? 26 years

What state do you teach in? Missouri

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area? 3rd grade

When do YOU have to go back to school? We went back Aug. 8 for a meeting and started for pay Aug. 13.

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!) Don't know.

What are you looking forward to this year? We are focusing on Professional Learning Communities!!!

What are you apprehensive about?Nothing, really

Funny teacher story...Just finished reading Lon Po Po. The question we were discussing had to do with what the mother probably said to the children after coming back home for the day. The ''correct' answer had to do with the children being chastised for not following the mother's directions and staying inside, not opening the door for anyone.  One darling little girl, in all sincerety, chimed out that her mom would say, "GET THAT DEAD WOLF OUT OF MY YARD!".

Words of advice for new teachers...Appreciate every day...appreciate every child. You are helping to mold the future of our country. Keep a journal of all of the creative things your students say!!

Hahahahaha!  Love the Lon Po Po story!

How long have you been a teacher? Since 1978, minus a few years for kiddos

What state do you teach in? I teach in the universe of Texas!

What level or grade do you teach?  I am currently an elem. librarian, but have taught MS science, HS English, University level composition, and have served as a preschool director.       

When do YOU have to go back to school? Already have --- we returned Wed. 12th, but kids come this week

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!)

What are you looking forward to this year? My aide will be with me most of the day, instead of half-day here, half-day elsewhere

What are you apprehensive about?  This is my youngest's senior year, and then we'll be empty nest-ers. Not too sure about this!

Funny teacher story...  During story time with the Kindergarten kiddos, a cell phone started ringing, and it wasn't mine! We all looked around, and a little guy shouted, "Hey, his pants are ringing!" The little one with the phone didn't even know he had a cell phone in his pocket, and was as surprised as the rest of us! I answered the phone as everyone listened in, and his mom was on the other end. She had stuck the phone in his pocket for a minute while fastening a baby into a carseat. The poor little guy started crying, because he thought he was in trouble for bringing a phone on campus!

Words of advice for new teachers...  Get to know your school's librarian! She is a treasure trove of information and resources. And if your school doesn't have one on staff, visit your local public library, and discover what databases and other resources are available for your students FOR FREE. As a tax payer, you and your students' families have paid into the system; help them reap a little of the rewards.

< now stepping off soap box > 

Hahahahahaha!

How long have you been a teacher?

What state do you teach in? NY

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area? High School Special Education

When do YOU have to go back to school? Trainings on 8/25. 9/2, 9/3   Kids start 9/8

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!) June 25

What are you looking forward to this year? only having one grade level instead of 2

What are you apprehensive about? my schedule

Funny teacher story...  too many to mention

Words of advice for new teachers...  Don't be afraid to ask questions.... and be nice to the janitors... you never know when you need them to fix something.  I always give them a card on their birthdays and make sure that I always say hello.

"be nice to the janitors"

I'd forgotten to add that!  My mother and father were both teachers, their advice when I went into teaching was, "Make friends with the secretary and the janitor - they have real power!"

How long have you been a teacher? = this will be my 22nd year

What state do you teach in? = California

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area? = this will by my third year teaching Kindergarten

When do YOU have to go back to school? = August 27

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!) = June 17

What are you looking forward to this year? = the funny things five-year-olds say!

What are you apprehensive about? = nothing I can think of! 

Funny teacher story... = oh goodness ... when teaching penmanship a couple years ago, we were workiing on lowercase n... I was telling the kids "down, up and over, down, monkey tail" (we were using D'Nealin at the time) ... one little boys pipes up with "monkey tails make me nervous!"      :-)

Words of advice for new teachers... = if you feel that things just aren't going right, don't be afraid to stop and try it a different way (can't think of a different way?  talk to you co-workers and try it again tomorrow)

How long have you been a teacher?  24 years total   (Grade 2,  Pre-K,  K,  back to Grade 2)

What state do you teach in?  Massachusetts

What level or grade do you teach?   Subject area?   Grade 2

When do YOU have to go back to school?  Been setting up a new classroom for weeks, actual 1st teacher day Sept. 1

When do you finish?  (Hey, we all know we are counting the days!)  LOL - June 18 - IF no snow days

What are you looking forward to this year?  My new classroom - larger space!!!!

What are you apprehensive about?  Class size of 30  (had 20 last year)

Funny teacher story...  When teaching K, students were lined up to go home.  The secretary came by to hand us paychecks.  My colleague across the hall had the first child in her line ask "What did she give you?"  She responded, "My paycheck."  He then asked, "Oh, where do you work?"

Words of advice for new teachers...  Each day during our pledge followed by a moment of silence, I ask the Lord to help me love "Johnny / Susie" today.  There will be children that are difficult to like, let alone love.    Just remember....each one is someone's "little special".