Émilie

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

1/4 c. sugar

2 c. flour

2 t. baking powder

1 t. salt

1/4 t. soda

6 T. shortening

3/4 c. buttermilk

Sift dry ingredients.  Cut in shortening.  Add milk and stir with fork.  Put dough in two round, glass pie pans.  Bake in 450 degree oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Strawberry Topping:

Crush about 1/2 lb of strawberries (I use a potato masher).  Add half-and-half (don’t ask me how much… I really don’t know…about 1 cup?) and sugar to taste.

To Thoroughly Enjoy:

Cut yourself a wedge of shortcake and slice it through the middle as if to make two pieces of “bread” for a strawberry sandwich.  Layer some delicious strawberry slurry/topping stuff on the bottom layer of shortcake.  Put the top back on.  Add more strawberry goodness.  Add dollop of whipped cream.  Taste heaven in strawberry form!

…and week …and school year.  (If you don’t recognize the reference to a certain marvelous children’s book, I pity your lacking childhood.)

Alright, so as marvelous as it feels to slander my entire experience as a first-year teacher, I have to admit that the few golden moments should not be overshadowed by the fact that these last few days before spring break have been some of the most miserable in my life.  I hate my job.  For now at least.

We’ve had some rainy days this week which means indoor recess, and I’m not sure how you could possibly measure who hates this condition more: the students or the teachers.  The kids go nuts, and it’s bad for all involved.  However, I decided to pull a copy of The BFG by Roald Dahl out of the trunk of my car.  (Hey–you can’t deny that this is a handy thing for an elementary school teacher to have at all times.)  I drew on some of my long unused dramatic flair to bring the book to life, and I got several kids hooked, which pretty much made my day.

Similarly on Monday I was so miserably and deliriously tired by the last period of the day (3rd grade math), that while trying to do a brief review of addition and subtraction rules for large numbers,  I randomly pulled out this crazy old Transylvanian/Italian/witch lady accent.  (I am not suggesting that there are any elderly women of this mixed origin, but more that I went with the flow, and the kids thought it was hilarious.)  Suddenly, addition and subtraction became the most interesting and engaging lesson I’d taught in a long time.  I had the absolute attention of every child, and my weakest student became very helpful as old lady Mays insisted that she was “not-a so goood with-a beeg numbers” and could she please promise me that subtraction would not be too hard.  It wasn’t.

So I guess that even with no support, no materials or curriculum that it’s possible to have fun sometimes.

Never in my life have I been this furious. I frightened myself on the way home I was having such malicious thoughts towards my AP. God help him if he comes within 30 feet of me tomorrow.

I managed to have a GREAT day today. I have been working my butt off to get our team (3rd/4th/5th grade) organized seeing as how our team leader resigned and has not been replaced. I was so delighted to see everything come together and to see the kids so engaged in the presentations by several VIF teachers about their home countries. Furthermore, I came up with a brilliant suggestion for a persistent problem with the 5th grade behavior, and Mr. C (who has previously treated me like a whining incompetent greenhorn) was really impressed and excited to work with me on the implementation next semester. I spent over an hour putting together math packets for my students to work on over the break to satisfy my furious parents… something which the other math teacher is not doing. I spent an hour with Mr. C and was feeling very proud of myself and my students, and for once felt like a professional who’s part of a team.

Then at 3:00 (25 minutes from the end of the day), Mr. T came by to chew me out for not having prepared a presentation about France. He then further DEMANDED that I complete one for tomorrow and that I find a way to reorganize the schedule for my entire team so that every student can see it.

Not only do I not have time to jump through his bullshit hoops, but I am FURIOUS that he and the principal continue to look down their noses at me as if I’m cutting corners and being lazy. I FUCKING ORGANIZED THE WHOLE GODDAMN DAY AND COMPOSED THE LETTER TO THE PARENTS WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM MY TEAM YET SOMEHOW I JUST SAT ON MY ASS AND WAS NOT A TEAM PLAYER.

On top of all this, my mentor finds a way to comply. She’s doing all of the planning for it, but that’s not the point. She shouldn’t have to do this bullshit work that I refuse to do for good reason.

I learned later that I was not the only teacher whom Mr. T had lambasted today, so I don’t know who peed in his fucking cornflakes, but I’d like to fucking punch his teeth out.

I kicked ass yesterday! I had one of those (regretfully common) days where I felt like everything at my job prevented me from doing my job: teaching. However, I was running around the school like a chicken with my head cut off getting lots of clerical teachery stuff done. Despite the fact that I am “not allowed” to be the team leader for 3rd/4th/5th grade, we still don’t have one, and I seem to be falling into that role if for no other reason than to reduce the chaos which reigns on our hallway. I am still devoid of confidence in my teaching abilities, but at least I’m a good leader.

Actually, I did a clever thing in my 3rd grade math class yesterday, too. I hadn’t even done a lesson plan, but I guess I was already on a roll. Unfortunately it’s too visual to explain here, so I can’t brag about it. The EC teacher (Exceptional Children) did at least say that it was so neat and creative that I should patent the idea. It’s kind of her job to get excited over people’s small successes, but I still appreciate the compliment from a colleague.