Yesterday I had a 6th grader in my office crying...saving the details...he has a very "complex life"...we talked more...in the meantime our secretary got his former 5th grade teacher on the phone after I realized that he had done very well last year despite all of the challenges he faces. I called him over to the phone after speaking to her and asked if he'd take a call from Ms. Vance. The look on his face was one of relief and complete happiness. You would have thought that the person on the line was a superstar sports figure, Santa Claus, or someone extraordinary...he grabbed the phone, plopped down in my chair and talked to her for a while. He emerged from my office feeling happy and his outlook positive. He returned to class ready to go again into his day. To all the teachers out there working with kids of all kinds, keep fighting the good fight, you never really know which kids will need you the most or how much you will make a difference. And to you Ms. Vance, you are extraordinary.Many of you know how unhappy I am about my job and the teaching profession in general. However, moments like I had on Friday, where I was able to reconnect with a previous student and make a difference, remind me of how much I end up loving my students. I feel so blessed that I developed a great relationship with this student last year and that I could help him out this year.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Tooting My Own Horn
I haven't posted in forever and now I'm going to post to toot my own horn. Vain? Definitely, but sometimes I need an ego boost.
I received an email today from a co-worker who saw the following post on Facebook and passed it along to me. It came from a counselor at the middle school my students go to:
Sunday, March 25, 2012
On the other hand...
Since January, I have been looking forward to this weekend, specifically March 24th. That was the day of auditions for The Sound of Music at Hale Theater. If you've never heard me talk about Hale, you've either been asleep or not listening. It's a community theater that pays! You walk away from a run with about $1000. The costumes are great, wigs done professionally and they cast a lot more talented performers than the motley crew you may be surrounded by at other theaters (not that they're all perfect there, but usually there's a higher level of talent overall). Generally, it's REALLY competitive and you have to know someone to stand out. Which I do, the music director is the accompanist for my voice lessons. Perfect! Now, unless you are a lead, this is not a great ensemble show. However, I didn't care because I thought few would be auditioning and it would be a foot in the door.
Or, so I thought.
I went Saturday for the audition and find out that I would wait a few HOURS for an audition time and even with that, they may not get me in before they close the auditions. This is NOT normal. Usually, you show up and in an hour, you're done. I felt like I was on American Idol. Seriously people, it's The Sound of Music! Over 1000 people auditioned (450 were adults)! After 3 1/2 HOURS of waiting, I was finally able to sing my 45 seconds of a song. I did great! I was proud of my audition and the look on the music director's face told me I did awesome. They made the announcements for callbacks right after my group auditioned and.....
I didn't get called back.
That's right, after all that, I don't even have a shot at doing the show.
And I couldn't be more delighted.
My summer will now be full of hiking, swimming, camping, rock climbing, bike riding and learning how to sew. Of course, if anyone wants to ship their kids my way, I'll make sure to spoil them rotten and squeeze them into my summer o' fun. Here's to summer and its adventures!
Too bad I have 45 more school days.
Or, so I thought.
I went Saturday for the audition and find out that I would wait a few HOURS for an audition time and even with that, they may not get me in before they close the auditions. This is NOT normal. Usually, you show up and in an hour, you're done. I felt like I was on American Idol. Seriously people, it's The Sound of Music! Over 1000 people auditioned (450 were adults)! After 3 1/2 HOURS of waiting, I was finally able to sing my 45 seconds of a song. I did great! I was proud of my audition and the look on the music director's face told me I did awesome. They made the announcements for callbacks right after my group auditioned and.....
I didn't get called back.
That's right, after all that, I don't even have a shot at doing the show.
And I couldn't be more delighted.
My summer will now be full of hiking, swimming, camping, rock climbing, bike riding and learning how to sew. Of course, if anyone wants to ship their kids my way, I'll make sure to spoil them rotten and squeeze them into my summer o' fun. Here's to summer and its adventures!
Too bad I have 45 more school days.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Two posts in one day?!? Well...don't get used to it!
I didn't want to put ALL the pictures in one post. It will look better on my blogger stats if I've published TWICE in March!
Afternoon Tea at the Grand America Hotel!
My fellow teachers and I were recognized as the 5th grade team with the most growth on our reading scores between the beginning of the year and the mid-year reading fluency test. We were invited to "Afternoon Tea" at this Hoity-Toity hotel in downtown SLC. This is where the presidential candidates and sports stars stay (we saw the Miami Heat leaving while we were there).
We started off with a little tea (or hot chocolate in my case). It was almond something. Pretty much amazing.
For the "tea" we had quaint little sandwiches. I felt very British.
Of course, we wrapped it all up with some pretty amazing desserts. The best ones were on the bottom.
We were also visited by a TV news anchor who expressed her appreciation for us and sat and chatted with us individually for a few minutes. It was really nice that she didn't just come in, say thanks and leave. It was nice to feel appreciated! I also got a autographed copy of a book by one of my FAVORITE authors (Shannon Hale). Pretty amazing afternoon!
I had a birthday! Shout hurray!
My cake(s) were pretty much amazing. Red Velvet and Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse. Thank you Costco for making such delicious cakes! The best thing about your birthday is that you can eat cake for breakfast and not feel guilty. Or, at least, I didn't. I'm thinking we need the Red Velvet cake for our family gathering. No worries, I'll pick it up on my way to mom and dad's....
My birthday dress. I love it!!! I wore it to school a few days after my birthday and I overheard some 3rd graders talking about my outfit. One of the girls said, "How come Miss Vance always dresses so cute?" Another girl responded, "Yeah, she has the best clothes!" Praise from a 9 year-old? I'll take it!!
(This one is a weird angle, but I was trying to take a picture before I headed to church and no one else was around to take it. Well, Ella and Sam, but lack of thumbs kind of cancel them out.)
My birthday meant that I needed to renew my driver's license, something I last did 5 years ago. A lot can happen in 5 years.
Here's to a fantastic and astonishing year of my life!!
(P.S. I love how my post is almost all pictures of food and my last picture is celebrating my weight loss....Ironic.)
Afternoon Tea at the Grand America Hotel!
My fellow teachers and I were recognized as the 5th grade team with the most growth on our reading scores between the beginning of the year and the mid-year reading fluency test. We were invited to "Afternoon Tea" at this Hoity-Toity hotel in downtown SLC. This is where the presidential candidates and sports stars stay (we saw the Miami Heat leaving while we were there).
We started off with a little tea (or hot chocolate in my case). It was almond something. Pretty much amazing.
For the "tea" we had quaint little sandwiches. I felt very British.
Of course, we wrapped it all up with some pretty amazing desserts. The best ones were on the bottom.
We were also visited by a TV news anchor who expressed her appreciation for us and sat and chatted with us individually for a few minutes. It was really nice that she didn't just come in, say thanks and leave. It was nice to feel appreciated! I also got a autographed copy of a book by one of my FAVORITE authors (Shannon Hale). Pretty amazing afternoon!
I had a birthday! Shout hurray!
My cake(s) were pretty much amazing. Red Velvet and Tuxedo Chocolate Mousse. Thank you Costco for making such delicious cakes! The best thing about your birthday is that you can eat cake for breakfast and not feel guilty. Or, at least, I didn't. I'm thinking we need the Red Velvet cake for our family gathering. No worries, I'll pick it up on my way to mom and dad's....
My birthday dress. I love it!!! I wore it to school a few days after my birthday and I overheard some 3rd graders talking about my outfit. One of the girls said, "How come Miss Vance always dresses so cute?" Another girl responded, "Yeah, she has the best clothes!" Praise from a 9 year-old? I'll take it!!
(This one is a weird angle, but I was trying to take a picture before I headed to church and no one else was around to take it. Well, Ella and Sam, but lack of thumbs kind of cancel them out.)
My birthday meant that I needed to renew my driver's license, something I last did 5 years ago. A lot can happen in 5 years.
Here's to a fantastic and astonishing year of my life!!
(P.S. I love how my post is almost all pictures of food and my last picture is celebrating my weight loss....Ironic.)
(Insert cute, yet coy, title here)
I had lofty ambitions to blog more this year. However, because we talk as a family once a month, I have a hard time blogging about my daily activities. However, I thought I would share some pictures of my life...
Ski Reward Trip!
(Yes, those are Mom's ski pants from 1970!)
(Yes, I did spend more time up than down. And, for the record, I only fell while getting off the lift twice!)
(My ski buddy for the day!)
A Visit to Autumn's for Luke's Birthday!
(I totally want her to plan my birthday party!)
(It was a monster theme, in case you couldn't tell...)
(Of course, I had to pose with the party guests! I'm the one on the left...)
(We went and hiked Table Rock. It was GORGEOUS from the top!)
(We played in the snow and I built me a boyfriend. He turned out a little cold hearted and Matt took him down for me--ask him about that video. It's pretty sweet.)
(We went sledding. I thought Carter was going to hate me after I convinced him to go down the BIG hill with me! He screamed so hard!! Luckily, he has a spirit of adventure and loved it by the end!!)
(Ella LOVES playing with the boys, but it definitely wears her out!!)
Life is grand! Can't wait for Spring Break! (9 more school days!!!)
Ski Reward Trip!
(Yes, those are Mom's ski pants from 1970!)
(Yes, I did spend more time up than down. And, for the record, I only fell while getting off the lift twice!)
(My ski buddy for the day!)
A Visit to Autumn's for Luke's Birthday!
(I totally want her to plan my birthday party!)
(It was a monster theme, in case you couldn't tell...)
(Of course, I had to pose with the party guests! I'm the one on the left...)
(We went and hiked Table Rock. It was GORGEOUS from the top!)
(We played in the snow and I built me a boyfriend. He turned out a little cold hearted and Matt took him down for me--ask him about that video. It's pretty sweet.)
(We went sledding. I thought Carter was going to hate me after I convinced him to go down the BIG hill with me! He screamed so hard!! Luckily, he has a spirit of adventure and loved it by the end!!)
(Ella LOVES playing with the boys, but it definitely wears her out!!)
Life is grand! Can't wait for Spring Break! (9 more school days!!!)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
What do teachers make?
After a week of parent-teacher conferences, attending a funeral for a student's dad and dealing with students bouncing off the wall, I needed to hear this message.
After listening to this I reflected on so many blessings of the week. Perhaps the biggest one was the swell of pride in my heart for my AMAZING students who showed ASTONISHING progress on their math test!
Phew. Glad tomorrow is Friday!
P.S. My favorite part of the video is about the bathroom. It's true. However, I have to laugh when society gets mad at teachers for telling kids they can't go to the bathroom whenever they want. Ha! You try teaching. Then you'll see....
After listening to this I reflected on so many blessings of the week. Perhaps the biggest one was the swell of pride in my heart for my AMAZING students who showed ASTONISHING progress on their math test!
Phew. Glad tomorrow is Friday!
P.S. My favorite part of the video is about the bathroom. It's true. However, I have to laugh when society gets mad at teachers for telling kids they can't go to the bathroom whenever they want. Ha! You try teaching. Then you'll see....
Friday, January 20, 2012
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