there are never dull moments in teaching

so i was driving (apparently that's where lots of my random ideas pop up) and decided that i want to record some of the highs and lows that happen to me when i'm around students at school...i hope to have this go on well into my teaching years to remind me why i love teaching =)

Some Highs:

-having several of my students tell me i'm a good teacher (even though i've only known them for a few weeks)...one of my student's exact words during the middle of my science lesson: "ms. castillo when are they gonna hire you cause you're really good!"

-having my guiding teacher tell me i'm going to be a good teacher...her exact words after one of my lessons: "i'm impressed with how organized you are. you're good...you're gonna be a good teacher"

-having a kindergartener (whom i've never seen before since he is not one of my students) run to me and hug me when i was going to pick up my class...he wrapped his arms around my legs, looked up to me and said "hi"

-having a 4th grade student comfortably approach me because i smile a lot =)

Some Lows:

-not having my own class yet! =(

student teaching has been a great experience but i want to have my own class and try my own things!

SOLUTION: FIND A FULL TIME TEACHING JOB...SOON!

PROBLEM: Teaching jobs are scarce right now. But I must keep my head up...oh job opportunity, cross my path soon please! Thank You.

funny that my awakening would beginning while sitting in traffic

My High: My closest friend from undergrad (Ari aka my loverest!) provided me with the audiotape for one of three books I bought a few weeks ago (thanks to her recommendation): A New Earth...

I have the book and I can't wait to start reading it but for now I've been listening to the audiotape during my looooonnnnnggggg commute to and from school these past two days and I must say I am slowly but surely slipping into a new consciousness...one that I know will help me see that being one with life is being one with NOW...live in the moment!

Quote from the book that resonated with me today: "If there is unhappiness in you, first you need to acknowledge that it is there. But don't say, 'I'm unhappy.' Unhappiness has nothing to do with who you are. Say: 'There is unhappiness in me.' Then investigate it."

Sooooooo I say onward investigation...onward...

My Low: Having to listen to the audiotape from my ipod...wearing headphones while driving...well technically sitting... in traffic...yikes...police anywhere???

---Solution: Find out how to hook my ipod to my car's radio...possible?!?

weekends doing homework...when will u end?!?

My High: Taking a break from all these grad school assignments I've been bombarded with that I need to do to get my teaching credentials! I watched "Love Happens" while eating some of mom's home cooked food and picked up some good quotes from the movie:

"Sometimes despite your best efforts otherwise, life will give you lemons. When this happens, you have two choices: you can wear a sour face or you can make lemonade!"

"Happiness is a state of mind and like all things it takes practice. Devote 5 minutes a day to smiling...just smiling...and after a while, it will come naturally."

"During your travels, it's always important to keep one thing in mind: when one thing ends, something else begins."

My Low: Realizing that despite all that I got accomplished today, I still have lots to do!

---Solution: Remind myself that I have done enough for today, there is time to do more tomorrow, and that everything will get done eventually!!!

ohhhhhh i am loved!!!

My High: Getting small yet powerful cues that reminded me that there are people in my life who care and think about me every single day!

…My mommy’s message for me (left on my fridge this morning)…

…My bladdy’s wish for me (she wrote it on one of my assignments)…

…My guiding teacher’s yummy treat for me (which I enjoyed for dinner)…

My Low: Not smiling enough today! According to the book I’m reading (365 Ways to Live Happy), “your smile will evoke a smile…you’ll feel happier, too, because your body responds to your smile, even if you are faking the grin…so fake it until you genuinely feel happy”

---Solution: SMILE!!! Even when I don’t feel like there is much to smile about because truthfully I KNOW my life is worth smiling about!!!

when i woke up this morning i didn't think i was going to end up poorer and richer by the end of the day...

My Low: Finding out I owe the IRS about a thousand dollars for this year's tax returns! Don't they know that I'm a poor and struggling grad student?!? WTF!!!

---Solution: Take a deep breathe and write this stressful thought in my soon-to-be-made Burn Book...

My High: On the drive back from Borders, Barbie came up with the idea of creating a "Burn Book." It will be a composition book where I write down any and all of the problematic thoughts that pop into my head (which lately have been many!!!). Then, I'll rip the page out and throw it away...maybe even burn it! It's a creative way for me to physically and metaphorically throw my problems out the window as oppose to letting them linger in my head! What an ingenious idea!

---My Goal: Have this book made and in my possession by the end of the week! I still need to figure out what book to get...it's appearance must inspire me to write so I must look carefully...

Another High: I bought this book at Borders and will read it as a way to remind myself to be happy!

1st post

My High: Waking up in the morning and seeing this on my kitchen table! I am lucky to have such an amazing and wonderful mommy! I am grateful for the little ways she shows how much she loves me each and everyday! I am lucky to have her in my life!

My Low: Staying in the entire day doing grad school work! I did not give myself time during the day to enjoy the wonderful weather...ugh!

---Solution: I'm going to get up and get out! Just got a text from Barbie (one of my closest friends...aka my love!) and I will force myself to leave the comfort of my home sweet home and enjoy some fresh air and some much needed company!