I just scrolled back through my archives and I started posting here in 2003. I used to post more but I have other diversions. I have four more weeks and go back to work. It will be my 40th year and pretty sure my last. 33 at the same school. My thoughts are racing about how I will react. I can see myself thinking "well this is my last unit to teach them how to shoot and dribble a basketball, this is my last soccer unit (their favorite sport) My last Jump Rope For Heart Even ( I have done almost fifty of them). I have loved my job and so many of my kids have been a joy. I told my daughter I will probably cry like a baby my last days. She is in 5th grade at one of my schools so I will have taught all four of my kids 6 years of PE. I even taught my two oldest reading a few years in addition to PE. So many changes since I began in 1978. But teachers still work hard with children and the kids still want to have fun and compete and want my approval and affirmation of their efforts. I am down to 180 more days of teaching. I would keep going but Im afraid the sun is working on my skin more than it needs to and my memory is not what it was (I have two schools of kids and all those names to memorize.). I may use this thread as a personal journal for my last year so just ignore me if it bores you. My first post 14 years ago was all about teachers needing to speak up against all the negatives being thrown at us. Sadly, it is even worse 14 years later.
I think that keeping a journal of sorts through your last year is a fabulous idea. There are so many moments that you'll want to be able to reflect on and remember. Enjoy your last year (and keep a box of tissues close at hand!).
All good things come to an end. That's really something when we think about it. Well, ponder each and every day of your last year. You may want to bring your camera occasionally throughout the year and snap a picture here and there...not necessarily of anyone, but those types of scenes when no one's around and the photos look as if you're the only person on campus. Make every interaction with an individual greater than usual. I assume they'll have a retirement party for you too in the last month of two of this year. Enjoy.
You've made a great commitment to children, stephenpe, and played an important role in many lives, I am sure. Kudos to you.
Aw Coach! What a nice post! I can't believe you are retiring, but after teaching all of your kids what a perfect time to go out! I know you will be missed. I want to say thank you for "hooking" me to this board, for your honesty, for your commitment to this great profession, for your friendship, and for your kindness over the years! If you ever need anything to do after the next 180 days, I've still got 900 to go and would love an awesome volunteer!
Ten days in. Sometime I think I am mailing it in a little but outside I am energized (even by the heat). Going to do some old school stuff from my early years. The strange thing is I have an assistant to do my other school each day. AND he is a real PE teacher being paid Para pay. I look at things now and say. "It will be fine for 170 more days".........but my goal is to keep them moving and safe and still having fun. I may volunteer some next year but very close to home. I have a morning running program this year, WET wet shoes in the morning for kids........ I have so many new kids (most seem great) and their names to remember. My youngest goes to middle school next year so I may go there to volunteer....................
Sounds great, stephen. Enjoy as much of it as you can. Yep, it will go quickly. I say, do all the fun things that the kids, and you, will remember for a long time.
It is going quickly but honestly, so has the last 10 years. I have a partner now for the first time. They fired the first one because of his management skills but this guy seems to like it and understands kids (his mom taught K for many years). The weird thing is I am now looking at stuff and thinking "it will keep till the new guy takes over" Instead of putting up new wooden backboards for basketball I patched them up and they work fine. May 25th is rushing toward me like a comet. I have not gotten any inservice done so my cert. actually expires in June. It is scary and exciting all at once. I keep thinking it will be odd cause summer is like retiring each year but you know the day you go back. Is that when it hits you. I remember my first class at this school and think I will always remember my last one. My calendar says I have 96 more days with kids. I know for sure I will probably volunteer some time if the finances are ok. Maybe even sub at either school. My only real regret is I will miss the quints. There are quintuplets in our Pre-K this year and I would have them in K next year. 4 girls and a boy. My daughter (5th grade safety patrol captian) has gotten to know them somewhat helping in the morning before school with PRe-K. I would love to say I taught quints and even more so see how the interact and behave. Updates later on.
Just letting you know I really find this thread enjoyable. I'm sure you're busy but I've been looking forward to updates. It's interesting to see your perspective as a teacher only 8 years in!
I like the journal idea but also maybe try to photograph special moments (excluding students obviously unless there is permission) but write a special memory of the day. PS GO GATORS
I observed the quints today up close. They did their first extended day in Pre K . Their mom was there. She is on her THIRD liver. It is amazing she is even alive. THe kids have grown a lot and the girls look very much alike. I explained to the older kids and my daughter that back in the 60s the quints were the biggest news at that time. As for my recent year we started one of my favorite units, soccer. My last year the local Chevy dealership donates $2000 dollars of soccer stuff. So now I have two small goals to use in small pickup games. I have a large field but put some of my lesser skilled and more timid kids on the small goals and they played GREAT. I saw girls running hard that never compete in the larger games. Wish I had those small goals 30 years ago. My boss today was all over me about our pre meeting for my observation and how she has a hard time letting me know about them. I told her I am not worried about observations or any of that nonsense. I told her put a hard copy in my mailbox if we have a meeting. So I meet her tomorrow after school. Probably gonna tell her do what she wants cause Im four months from leaving this behind. My other boss knows already,. My kids are so good this year but there are just a few I will not miss at all and worry about the new guy/gal dealing with them. I am pretty sure volunteering will be in my future at my old schools OR my two kid's middle school next year (the school I began at in 78)
My district doesn’t evaluate teachers who are retiring. Glad you are still mostly enjoying this year.
My boss gave me a form today that I have to fill out to let the district know my intentions. She said "No hurry , steve, but I will see Cassie tomorrow and she can also sign it." Cassie is my other principal. I have 25 more days at the school I have been in for 33 years. I see many signs that I need to let a younger person do it. My memory is just not good enough for two schools. I had a very successful field day at my smaller school (except my daughter had an asthma attack running a half mile right at the start and I had to run her home for treatment). But then it was perfect. I will run a much bigger field day at my main school in less than three weeks. Then it is some softball and archery. I find myself talking and listening more to my kids (if that is possible) these last 4 months. I guess you can say I am trying to savor this time I have left. My Fla certification expires this summer so that makes it more final. The day to day with the kids will be the thing I miss most. I hope I can fill that void with something close. btw the form was short but asked why Im resigning. My answer was: 40 years is enough but I loved it.
