Advocate, Advisor, Problem Solver, Best Teacher EVER

These words are just some of the words I can use to describe my job. And that last one is not a personal opinion. My adorable monsters said that themselves after we used M&Ms in math. It's funny how the appearance of M&Ms makes me amazing and wonderful.

First: Advocate
My little girl who controls nothing in her life, she is gone. Her parent lost custody and she is now moving to a new state. It isn't fair! I have been working so hard to help this child feel safe, welcome, and loved and the whoosh. The rug gets ripped out from under me and my heart is broken. I have no idea what is going to happen to this little girl. I have prayed and prayed that her new teacher is sensitive to her needs, makes her feel loved, and genuinely cares about this child. As I was told she was leaving at the end of the week, my job dropped, my mouth and heart said no! and my brain could not comprehend it. I got a book and wrote her a small message telling her how much I loved being her teacher and how she can accomplish anything if she works hard. I then had all my students sign their names in the front of the book. While trying to accomplish this, we were watching an educational film. I called my first student over and I had to call his name a few times. When he finally came over he says exasperated, "Miss Gough, I didn't do anything!" I had to laugh and whispered, "No, sign the book!" He then got really excited. As whispers went around the room to go sign the book keeping it a secret from the student leaving, the girls in my class started bringing me cards and pictures they had made for this little girl. As Friday came, we cleaned out her desk, presented her with the book, and child after child went up to her and said they would miss her.
I was telling the school counselor about this (who was also heartbroken this little girl was leaving) and she told me how amazing I was. I asked how so and she replied, you made this little girl feel included and loved. She easily could have been ostracized and pushed aside, but through my hard work and dedication, it became more than a class. They became friends. I just hope her next class will look past her outbursts and see the beautiful little girl underneath it all.

Second: Advisor/Problem Solver
Our school is teaching the 7 Habits of Happy Kids. This includes being Proactive. I love it. I love it because when I start to hear the beginnings of tattling and see both hands shoot up in the air, I simple walk over to the students and say are you being proactive? This is usually met with But Miss Gough! I say no, are you being proactive. Then again But they, teacher! And again no, are You being proactive? At this point both students usually sigh and say no. I laugh on the inside and say alright let's work a little harder at that. I feel like it is a great program and the kids are actually using the terminology. It makes my heart smile a little each time.

As a teacher, we get involved, attached, take a personal interest, and sometimes want to take these children home to have them live with someone who loves them. As I leave the doors of the school, I have to physically shake off the day and leave the classroom problems there, inside the classroom. These children's lives can consume you and break your heart.

Why is the world such a hard place?

Who are You Online?

When I heard the words, "We met online" it didn't really phase me. I was happy they had found someone and the internet is a big part of our lives nowadays. I have a family member that is very happy with someone they met online. But even with the good things I have heard, I never really expected one day that I would have a profile on one. Well my cyber folks, the day has come. I am online. It is weird to think about for me. Honestly, growing up, I thought I would graduate, start college, find some Colin Farrell look-a-like and end up happily ever after at 21. Thankfully I grew up and smartened up just a little. As of three days ago, when my picture went up and my greeting was made available for all to see, I have had over 100 views of my page. Not that I am bragging at all by any means.
You have the ability to go and look at who has viewed your profile. I think it is a little weird but that is beside the point. And I am so sorry, but to the 56-year-old man that wants to "chat", it's not going to happen. You are only 4 years younger than my actual father and that makes me throw up in my mouth just slightly. And then you have the more unsavory gentlemen that think they are the best thing since sliced bread. I am so sorry to burst your overinflated balloon, but if you were getting it in the real world, you wouldn't be on the website now would you. Again horrible I know. I have been asked a couple times why I am on the site because I am a cute girl and seem like I have a fun personality. So, it begs the question, why did I join?
I joined because frankly, I do not have an overabundance of opportunities to meet men anymore. My job does not yield any eligible men and since I no longer go to UVU.... my chances have shrunk considerably.
I have a story about a certain unsavory character. This lovely gentlemen started the conversation unconventionally and caught me off guard. I guess my response was less than satisfactory and he responded pretty rudely. I apologized for my sarcasm which obviously did not shine through my words. It then seemed like the conversation was going to take a different direction that would lead to, well, actual conversation. I was wrong. The conversation lacked, fizzled, and drug on like toilet paper on the bottom of your shoe. Realizing I was wasting my time and his (at this point we were NOT going to become friends) I said it has been nice to meet you but I feel the conversation has fizzled. Have a nice day. Well, this was not to the liking of the individual and he said, "What, giving up already?" Me and my witty self said, "I don't do one way streets and if you are into games you should probably find someone actually willing to play." I am not one to mince words and if you are being a tool... I am going to call you out on it. And besides it is the internet. He acted like he was the world's gift to women and I am sorry but that does not sit well with me.
On the bright side I have met some very nice gentlemen who have asked me on dates, but I am soooo not ready. Ha. I still feel so weird about it all and I have been very honest about my hesitancy. These actual gentlemen completely understand and are willing to continue to talk through the sight to get to know each other more. Never in my whole life did I think I would be using the internet to find my eternal companion, but here we are. It is going to be an interesting experience and am sure this will not be the last time I bring it up.

Dating...... it's hard.

Halloween Now Has a Whole New Meaning

So, I have never been a big fan of Halloween. As a kid I rarely dressed up and went trick-or-treating. If I did, it was maybe for an hour and then I would run home. I loved staying home, being in sweats, and passing out candy. It was always a shock to the older kids when this little girl would open the door, give them a look of disgust, and give them the smallest piece of candy in the bucket. The best part of passing out the candy, I always made sure to keep the best candy for myself. I remember one year when we lived in Logan Canyon, my mom bought laffy taffy. Not the little mini ones, but the big, giant ones that were delicious. I could not wait for Halloween night because the only bag those babies were going into was the one I would hide in my room to eat later. It was that magical night that we didn't have one trick-or-treater and I got all the candy I wanted. Even as I got older, Halloween didn't hold the excitement and anticipation that gripped the hearts of so many other kids my age. Dressing up didn't excite me and going to random strangers houses sounded creepy. I love watching a movie in my sweats and being the one to answer the door. As a teacher, my outward attitude towards Halloween has had to change. There is nothing my students get more excited about than Halloween (at least until Christmas is almost here). They can't wait to talk about their costumes and what they're going to do. It was September 30th and we were talking about how tomorrow started October. I got 12 little hands in the air and one little boy said, "So teacher, I need to wear my costume tomorrow right?" No, I said. "But, tomorrow is October." Yes, it is. "And that means it is Halloween!!" It took a 10 minute conversation to get them to understand that tomorrow was October, but NOT Halloween. Also that day, we had an 8 minute conversation about how zombies are not real and mummies are. My kids were convinced it was the other way around and when we read a book about mummies, it started everything.
The wonderful (sarcasm) part of going to school on Halloween is that children and teachers dress up. That is right my amazing friends, I have to dress up. So, yes, it is a cop-out but I am wearing scrubs from one of my previous jobs. Comfortable and easy. My kids asked me what I was going to be and one yelled out, A WITCH! I said Hey! and they all started giggling.

So as you can see, I am still alive. And most importantly, so are all my students. Each day is an adventure with small treasures throughout. I am so grateful to be part of their lives for this season.