my first complete rant (no positive thoughts today...)

I am a teacher. A non-conventional teacher. My hours are not 9-5, and not even 9-3. I teach classes in the evenings from 4:30-8. I do not teach regular curriculum, but a specialized one (okay, one positive thought today: I love my job). I get to interact with roughly 100 kids a week, and while that may seem like a lot, they each are special to me and they always make my week special, either by teaching me something or by making me smile. Each class of 20-25 kids I have is different and brings something different to my week. This leads me to my rant: people who think I do nothing during the day.

1. Teachers have to plan. In fact, because I only get 1 1/2 hours a week with my class, I really have to plan to make sure I don't waste a precious minute. My curriculum may be set and standardized, but that also means I have to make sure my job gets done in that hour and a half. This requires some forethought.

2. Teachers have to grade. I ask you all: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS. Many people make the assumption that just because grade 3 work is easy that it is not difficult to grade. Let me correct your thoughts. I currently teach grades 3-6. In grades 3 and 4, there is more volume, but the material is easier. However, there are also more projects because projects are fun for kids. These projects require much more time to grade. In grades 5 and 6, there are less assignments and each is longer. Don't think any teacher's grading is a walk in the park. It all requires a lot of thought and takes time.

3.Teachers keep connected with parents. In a world of instant access and e-mail, connecting is not something that can be ignored.

4. Teachers do things outside of the classroom. They help coach extra curricular activities, they contribute to the well being of the school, they assist the principal. They are also undergoing continuous professional development.

The hardest part about being a teacher is the lack of stability. My job requirements change every week, and while this is part of what makes it so great, it is also what makes it so hard. Many people do not get that. So I ask you all, have you recognized all the hard work of your kids' teacher?

In addition to all of that, I am a woman. And despite sociologists' studies about gender equality over the last decade, many household duties still fall upon the woman. I cook, I clean, and I help care for 3 elderly people over the age of 75 (my grandparents).

So to answer all of you who are so quick to jump and ask: what on earth do you do all day? I work. I work on improving our next generation. I work on keeping standards high in education - unless you want to hire someone who can't add 6+5 or who spells before as b4. I work on helping children feel successful, so that they can have self-confidence in their own abilities. I work on keeping parents updated on their kids' progress, so they can see into a part of their kids lives that they may not have time to monitor. I work on improving my own skills, so that I can give my best (isn't that they only way to expect my students' best?). I work on nurturing my own family, because families are the lifeblood of my occupation.

Most addictive website EVER

www.freerice.com

This site lets you play trivia games (vocab, geography, math) and for every correct answer, it donates 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program.