Still teaching?

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein

Some say that teaching is the same everyday, but only teachers know that...although we may have the same curriculum and the same students all year, everyday is a different day and we, along with the students, learn something new!

A Path...

We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.
Ben Sweetland

I think this quote is a reminder of why I am pursuing my master's degree.  Although it is a difficult path, it will be worth it in the end.

Don't Be Discouraged

 

 

"Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock. "

~ Unknown

As I continue to think of the classes we are taking at this point in our journey to receiving a Master's Degree, I find myself asking, "Was I ready to take on the challenge of a higher education?" It is coming to a point where everything is so overwhelming. However, as the quote states- "Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock." I will continue to do my best to accomplish what I set out to do, which is to receive a Master's Degree in Reading.

“In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing.” - Theodore Roosevelt

 

This quote is inspiring because there's many of us that feel like giving up.  Many times I ask myself, "Can I move on? Can I finish this semester successfully? I feel like I can't go on!"  But like the quote says, its better to do the right thing, which is getting my Masters Degree, than quit now, do nothing, and regret it for the rest of my life!  Might as well finish what I started!

Follow Your Dreams

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." - Lanston Hughes

For as long as I can remember, working towards my Master’s was just a dream.  And now, decades later, here I am.  Although daunting at times, it is crucial that I remind myself that as long as I cling on to my hopes and dreams, I will get there. A bird cannot fly with a broken wing. Our anticipations and dreams are comparable to a bird's wings for without them, we lack the calmness, hope, and freedom that flight is coupled with. Live your dreams! 

Excellence Is A Habit

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle 

Another week is in the books, a week closer to our first literacy lab session.  As I browse through pages of text I remind myself that I am striving for excellence.  I will adequately prepare so that I am at my best when the time comes.  Fortunately enough, I have found a student who is as equally excited to be a part of this as are his parents.  Their level of commitment, to their child's education, inspires me to put in the work necessary for success.  Feeling a lot more confident now and I hope to continue this outlook throughout the year to come.  

One step....

This quote reminds me of how I eventually made my decision to take up a Masters degree. When I first started teaching, I decided to hold off obtaining a Masters because I wanted to put all my focus into teaching. I told myself that in a few years, I'll go back to school. Well, a few years turned into 12 years...needless to say, I was very apprehensive of going back to school after so long. Thankfully, I have great colleagues who persistently motivates and assures me that it's never too late and that I am capable of accomplishing my goal. All I need to do was to take that one step...one step into the direction I want to go, and I will be on my way. I am so thankful that I decided to pursue my goal of obtaining a Masters degree. I know that this journey will make me a better educator - hopefully, an eduactor who will be able to motivate children to take that one step into pursuing their dreams.