The Light Within

Well First Week of Teacher Inservice is officially done and it's been an adventure.

Day 1 - meetings, meetings and meetings. We went over everything this year would bring and then some.

Day 2 - Institute. This was an adventure. We road the bus to the Mitchel Center where it was being held. This year's theme for MCPSS was a Pep Rally and it was a time, we had bands, dance performances, singing you name it. And most importantly we had a wonderful speaker, Dr. Terrell Strayhorn come speak to us and he shared the story of his grandmother who taught school for 52 years and while I can't share the story near as well as he did - he discussed the importance of not only being a light and beacon for our students but for recognizing no matter where our students come from or what they're dealing with that each of them has a light inside and it is our job as educators to find it and pull it out on them and how no matter what our role is we have a place to make at least one student's life a little bit better every single day. It served as a reminder and a message to this new teacher that I love what I do and even though I'm feeling overwhelmed right now than the passion I have had for this isn't without a reason and that I am going to do everything in my power to make a difference in these students lives no matter how small.

Day 3 - Training all morning and then we had Meet the Teacher - we had mild turn out but it did give me a good idea of what's coming on Monday.

This weekend has been a mix of relaxing and preparing for tomorrow morning - do I know what I'm doing? Guess we'll see - but I think it's going to be alright.

Leave your advice below - or tell me if there's anything you want to see here!

Cheers

Top Favorites from July

As it's the last day in July, these are the things that have been keeping me entertained this month.

1. The Bold Type
Streaming on Hulu - this show is the most perfect show for 20 somethings. It's three girls who work for Scarlet magazine which is based off of Cosmo and it's hilarious and relatable and goes through everything - job loss, friendship, sexuality, the #MeToo movement and more. It's a nice break during the week that makes this thing called life seem a little bit like the struggles are normal

2. Teacher Instagram
So I started a teacher/planner instagram. The community I'm already finding as part of this is so rewarding. Other planner friends who appreciate the importance of being organized to fellow teachers who are helping this first year teacher stay a little calmer.

3. School Supplies 
With back to school literally a day away, school supplies are important - some of my favorites include mildliners, planners, flair pens, poster board and good old fashioned spiral notebooks.

4. Fitbit Alta 
I was way late to the game on this one but got a Fitbit from my father for graduation. I love using it to see how I'm sleeping and to remind me to actually move during the day.

5. Summer
Last but not least, summer break. I start my first big girl job as a PE teacher tomorrow and I'm terrified and excited about what will be the future but rather sad to see Summer disappearing. It's been the most interesting and stressful one I've had in a while and so here's to Summer 2018's end.


Tell me what you've been loving this month or what you're looking forward to coming up!








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So You Want to Be a Teacher?

So you want to be a teacher - the profession that spans all other professions and fifty other cheesy sayings. And that's fact. Teaching is kinda cheesy but in the best way.

I can say that honestly because I grew up in a background where that's all I knew. My dad just retired from teaching science after 25 years.

That's me and pops 6 years ago at my high school graduation

Both my grandmothers taught - one as a home economic teacher, the other 39 years as a 1st grade teacher. My aunt has taught for over 30 years, my uncle is a professor. All in all I have over 6 generations of family members that have been in the school system, so when I say I've heard just about every side of it - well I probably have.

And here's to say - I almost didn't do it. That's right the person who is so proud of being a teacher now almost didn't go into the "family business."

I came to college as an engineering major and it took over a year to find out that was dead wrong and enter into the world of exercise science. Now I know, you're sitting here being like but Meghan, that's not teaching? And yeah you're right. I still didn't know where my life was heading. I knew I wanted to help people but wasn't sure much beyond that. Insert being desperate for money and the summer job I didn't want but needed in my life.

I started working at a daycare and fell in love with teaching and watching students grow - if you've experienced it let me know because try to tell me there's something quite as good as seeing a kid finally get it. And then I graduated with my B.S.E. in Exercise Science and have spent the last two years getting my Master's in Human Performance, Sport Pedagogy and as of yesterday - I'm a certified Physical Educator!

And now comes the scary part.

I've moved to a new city and I'm a week away from starting year one.

It's terrifying. And exciting.

I feel so under prepared but unsure as to what to do next. What if I'm bad at this? What if I don't love it like I think I do? I've never found a passion and something I love quite as much as I do for this but I'm still worried about the well what else?

I'm hoping it'll pass and I'll find out I enjoy this a lot and that I'm good at it and that I'm making a difference. I want to document it all so I don't forget what it's like to be new and scared and worried about the what ifs.

Got any advice? Please let me know!

New City New Me?

Or How I packed up everything and took off on a new adventure in the span of three weeks and now I'm here and it's like wow what did I do.

Okay - let's back up. Hi, my name's Meghan.

I'm a 24 year old living in Alabama. I just graduated (again) from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide) with my master's in human performance, sport pedagogy. Which is a fancy way of saying I'm a PE teacher and I absolutely love it. Or at least I have. This is my first real big kid job and I'm now in a city where I know a total of zero people and it's all scary and terrifying and exciting at once.

This is the journey of finding myself so to say. Or figuring out how to become an adult.

Stay tuned.