This week’s Tuesday Topic is: A Day in Your Life.  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I’ve done several Day in the Life of a Teacher posts.  The first one was on November 6, 2016, when things were “normal”.  The next one was on June 25, 2019.  I wrote it when I was teaching Summer School.  The last one was on May 11, 2021.  I wrote it during remote learning.  It was fun reading each one again and reflecting how each one is very different.  While I am glad I am no longer teaching from home, it is still different from my first post.

Here is a typical day for me (I chose Tuesday):

5:30-6:00 AM
I get up and make my coffee.  I check my school email and then my personal email.  I add my blog post to the link up.  I schedule it to go live on Tuesday at 12:01 am but need to manually add it in the morning.  Then I get ready and head out for my run.  Depending on the distance I am back by 6:30 or 7am.   

After my run, I shower, get ready, make my smoothie, and hit the road.

7:00-8:30 AM
I arrive at school during that time.  I no longer try to get there by 7am.  There’s been times when I’ve arrived at 8am and it was OK.  I live 6 miles from my school but the later I leave, the more traffic I encounter.  Still, I am not going to stress out if I get there late.

During this time I eat breakfast, check work email, make copies, talk to colleagues, go to bathroom, and get ready for the day. 

8:30-8:45 AM
The bell rings at 8:30 to let the kids in the school.  A few minutes later my students are lined up outside the classroom.  They come in and eat breakfast.  Those that do not eat, they color or do something else.  I take attendance and do lunch count.

8:45-10:15 AM
My kids have reading till 10:15.  We read again the book from Monday and discuss it.  This week we are reading about how pencils are made.  I will have an assignment for them as well.  Three of them leave at 9:30 to work with a reading interventionist.  The rest of us then do the same thing we did earlier but with either a Science or Social Studies book.  We have a different Reading Unit Plan every 5-6 weeks and alternates between Science and Social Studies.

10:15-11:00 AM
My kids have Music.  They line up and I take them to the teacher.  On Tuesdays I meet with the rest of my team for a meeting.  We go over upcoming assignments, data, test results, etc.  The other days I stay in my room to finish up my work or I internal sub.  There is a shortage of substitute teachers (well, teachers in general) and many of us are asked to internal sub.

11:00-11:30 AM
My students are back from Music.  They sit on their desk and log in iReady.  It is a math program that ties in with our Math curriculum.  During this time I do some work, grade papers, or check email.

11:30-12:00 PM
Lunch time!  I eat lunch with my coworkers.  Everyday someone is responsible for bringing lunch for the rest of us.  There were 4 of us but now there are 5 in our group.  It works out perfect because now I am not trying to figure out what to bring to school everyday.

12:00-12:05 PM
The bell rings and I go outside to get my kids.  My students are very happy it is finally warm for them to go outside for recess.  Last week it was awful because it was so hot.  Sometimes we stay a bit longer but definitely go back before the next group of students go outside.  

12:50-1:50 PM
Math.  My favorite subject.  Right now they’re working on fractions.  Honestly I find this unit boring.  I’d rather go over again adding and subtraction, place value, and word problems.  This is my first year teaching Math in English and it is so hard for me and for my students.  Everyone is struggling.  The reason I am now teaching it in English is because of our new dual language curriculum.  

1:50-2:05 PM
Recess time!  Our favorite time of the day.  😀  Sometimes we can a bit longer.  A few of my students leave for additional support from a reading interventionist.  

2:05-2:40 PM
We go back to the classroom for our English Unit (part of the dual language curriculum).  If we have time then the students color, watch a movie, read a book, or rest before going home.  

2:40-2:50 PM
Bell rings.  The students get ready to go home.  I also get my stuff ready.  I don’t stay late anymore like I used to.  Whatever doesn’t get done during the day can wait till the next day.  If it is urgent then I do it at home.  I just want to go home.  We head downstairs and wait for the bell to ring again.  We go outside and the students leave with whomever is there to pick them up.

2:50-3:00 PM
I stay there for 10 minutes and then at 3 go home.  Sometimes I’ll stop at Target or another store.  I will be moving to a new classroom next year so I will be staying late to pack up my stuff.  Not fun but it needs to be done.

At home I cuddle with my cats and rest for a bit.  Sometimes I take a nap.  I eat and check blog posts.  Sometimes I’ll watch a bit of TV before getting ready for bed.  It was a long day.

Topic for next week – Off Topic Tuesday: Write about your all-time favorite movie, musical, pizza topping or what have you.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: How does running help with your mental health?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

I know running is something I do to help me get through the day.  I enjoy the time alone and the feeling afterwards.  I’ve been running since 2005 but it was 3 years ago that I realized how much running has been helping me get through some difficult times. 

In March 2019 my mother had a stroke.  I was sad, angry, and confused.  I worked while helping to take care of her.  There weren’t enough hours in the day and it left me exhausted.  I also ran 5 races that year.  It’s been three years and it is somewhat better.  I am still tired but now I blame it on work.  😀

Then came March 2020 and everything changed.  More than ever I appreciated running.  I am an introvert and staying home was delightful.  I don’t have a treadmill and running outside put me in a better mood.  I was not happy when I had to quarantine and could not go outside.  Luckily, it was just a couple of days.  

Running helped me cope with the stress of working from home.  Yes, I know I said I enjoyed staying at home, but working from home is a whole different thing.  While I liked not having to drive or dress up, the work itself was too much for me.  I spent many days crying and wanting to quit.  Many of you might remember how awful it was for me.

I look forward to my runs each morning.  I love the time alone.  I love listening to Matty during my Peloton runs.  He makes me laugh and smile.  During my runs I also think about the past, present, and future.

I hope to continue running for as long as I can.  Running helps me stay healthy which will help me continue to run.

Topic for next week – A Day in Your Life.  Feel free to write about this or any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is: Tips or benefits of running a marathon for charity?   You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

Did you watch the Boston Marathon yesterday?  Wow!  The women’s race was INTENSE!  My students and I were jumping up and down and screaming.  I had my students watch it with me – not the whole thing but definitely the ending of the women’s race.  They were so cute!  I love spectating the Chicago Marathon and have decided that next year I will go to Boston to spectate.  Save the date for April 17, 2023!

It has been years since I’ve run a marathon for charity.  My very first marathon in 2006 I ran on behalf of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.  I think I had to raise $3000.  Other years I’ve also run on behalf of the American Cancer Society.  Two things that I loved about running for them were the free training programs through CARA and the hospitality tent after the race.

I think I was lucky when I was fundraising because I received a lot of money from family and friends.  I used to work at the American Bar Association and I also asked the members to donate money.  I remember them giving me $250, $100, and $50.  I had no trouble raising the money for the various races.

🟣  Back then I relied a lot on letters.  There was no Facebook or Instagram to ask for a donation.  I mailed everyone I knew a letter explaining why I was running the marathon and the reason for running for that specific charity (one of my sisters is a breast cancer survivor).  I also included a self-addressed and stamped envelope for them to send the form with a check or credit card information.  Very convenient for them. 

🟣  I sent emails.  Again, no Facebook to send messages.  I sent a couple to remind them to send their donations.  Many would thank me for the reminder.

🟣  Thanks for Facebook, friends that are raising money post about it there.  I like reading the story behind the race and the charity.  I want to know why they picked that charity.

🟣  I have asked friends to remind me about the donation.  As much as I would love to drop everything right there and then to click on the link and make a donation, most likely it won’t happen.  Life happens.  I get distracted and forget.  I tell them that I will NOT be annoyed if they keep reminding me – I want them to!

I don’t think I will run and raise money again for a charity but am more than happy to make a donation.  If you are running for an organization that has to do with children (extra points for education), breast cancer, or pets (cat lover here), then definitely count me in.

Topic for next week – FREE Topic.  Feel free to write about any running related topic.  We hope you’ll link up with us!