One thing that I am loving about being in the public school system and, specifically, in my particular school, is the close-knit group of teachers I work with on a daily basis.
This past week, the school’s intensive reading teachers were tapped to administer FCAT retakes. The retakes were administered Thursday and Friday mornings, and administration had allowed us to have both afternoons for professional development.
Of course, we had to grab lunch each day before our training.
On Thursday, we headed to Chilis, which offered a menu that accommodated our various dietary needs.
On Friday, it was decided that we would eat at a local seafood restaurant. This establishment is known for its beautiful views…
Oh yeah. What a wonderful backdrop for getting to know one another better.
It might seem to those who do not teach that those of us who do have plenty of time to chat with one another…in the teacher’s lounge…in the copy room. This, in fact, isn’t the case. We’re usually so pressed for time that we have to settle for quick hellos in the hallway.
After lunch, we returned to school for some much appreciated training.
Oh, but we weren’t done bonding yet.
See, Friday was payday.
Oh yeah, baby.
My feet were desperate for some TLC, so Barb, Lady M, and I headed out, laughing it up at the nail place.
It was a fun way to relieve ourselves of the stress that had accumulated during the week.
As we walked out, we admired our toes…
Here’s a close-up…
Lady M got the silver polish with the purple flower. Being an LSU fan, Barb decided on the purple polish with the white flower.
I had to be different.
I always do, don’t you know.
I wanted something with a Halloween feel to it…
I didn’t get home until 5:30, and I’ll admit that I felt guilty. Rooster had been home for a couple of hours.
As I apologized, he said, “Mama, you have a career now. You have to work lots of hours.”
I said, “I didn’t spend the whole afternoon working. I was playing.”
He responded by saying, “Mama, you’ve never done things with friends before. I’m happy that you’re having fun.”
What a generous and wise young man he’s grown up to be.
He recognizes the fact that I put myself last for all of these years, and he’s gracious enough to free me from feeling the guilt that’s been tugging at my heart since I began teaching last year.
Collegial bonding has become very important to me. It’s making me a more well-rounded person, and it’s going to help me become a terrific teacher, which will ultimately benefit the children I teach.
Filed under: Teaching | Tagged: teaching | 2 Comments »
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