How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?

Why, do you ask, do I care how many licks it takes to get the center of a tootsie roll pop? Well, that would be because today was one of those school days where I wanted to run as far away from the school building as possible screaming “How it can only be TUESDAY????” Yes, I admit it, today was one of THOSE days. A day where my students saw the true nature of my inner beast and were warned to never awaken her again.


Now, the great thing about days like today, where everything that can go wrong or irritate you, does, is that you can blog about it! And it only seems appropriate that after sharing about the joys of teaching, that I would honestly admit the struggles of teaching.


You see, as much as I love my students, there are those moments when you wish they were you own children so you could hit them! And no, I don’t actually hit my children, but there are times when the idea of it or duck tape on their mouths is rather appealing. You see, there are times, when I want to look at my students and say “SERIOUSLY???!!! You are mad at me because I can’t stay after school the day you want me to because you missed the original school day? I’m here an extra 6 hours so you can make up time, though I was here for the first 8 hours, but you are the one who gets mad??”


And then there are the substitutes, who though I love substitutes, occasionally make me wonder why they even come? If you ever want to make me not like you here the three things you can do: 1) Make racist remarks about my students. 2) Call my students dumb. 3) Tell me how to do my job. Those are three sure fire ways to make sure that your name is added to the “no call” list. Now, I am not hard to please. All I ask is that you follow the directions the teacher left for you and be respectful to my students. It’s really not that hard!


And then there is that evil species that some like to call biology. If you teach biology or have a love for biology, I do apologize, but this English teacher hates it! You see, one of my responsibilities as an educator is to ensure that I help my students succeed in every way possible, even if it is not my designated specialty. As an ESL teacher, I frequently have to stretch my mind to assist my students with their other courses, but today was the day that my students got to see just how little Mrs. Surprenant’s mind can be stretched. Biology, biology, how I wish it was classified as the foreign language that it really is, so that my student’s could skip it and just take Spanish! Because, to me, biology is another language and I wonder how on Earth the state could expect my students to understand it, but then again, I also wonder why English as a SECOND language doesn’t get to count as their FOREIGN language credit!


Alas, all of this to say, that at the end of today I found myself sucking on the tootsie roll pops (that are meant to be motivation for my students, not me) wondering “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop??........I hope that the misery of my day brings humor to yours!

Pumpkins and Spice and Everything Nice

There's just something beautiful about the fall. The crisp air, the smell of apple cider and baking pies, the glow of orange pumpkins and changing leaves. I just can't help but love it all! It is a time of year I look forward to. I sincerely anticipate it's coming. Every September, my soul begins itching for the scent of fall. I stare at the trees and eagerly point out every hint of red and yellow I see. I begin dreaming of visits to the farmers market where I can peruse the aisles of prized pumpkins. I buy candles that will make my house smell like a warm pumpkin pie or glass of hot apple cider, even if I am not baking/drinking any. It's the only time of year I actually like the smell of vanilla and am willing to adorn my house with it's faint scent. There's something magical about it for me, because it really does make me feel warm inside. The little girl comes out in me as I happily step on every crunchy leave at my feet.  I eagerly track the fall foliage so I know when the ideal time is to visit the mountains of North Carolina. I begin concocting new recipes to try; what pumpkin flavored dessert can I make this time? It's finally slightly chilly enough to wear my beloved long sleeves and occasionally even worthy of a beef stew or bowl of chili! I can visit every coffee shop and know there will be a pumpkin spiced latte awaiting me there. If I'm lucky, there will even be a chocolate chip pumpkin muffin. What more could a girl ask for?

Forget the Coffee Shop, I’ve Got My Classroom!

I love my job! I really do. I know that may be hard to believe because so many of us usually hate our job, but I am blessed enough right now to love what I do. Now, don’t get me wrong it has been a long road to get to this place of beauty. Three years ago I was ready to quit teaching and go work in a coffee shop somewhere. I spent four years in college wondering why I was majoring in English Education in the first place. Teaching? Me? Isn’t there something bigger or better out there that I could do? Not that teaching isn’t a noble career, but for me??? Really??



Well, five years in and a second teaching license later, I am SO thankful that my whiny, questioning and feeble obedience has led me here. I am thankful that God constantly proves to me that HE really does know better. Four years ago, I aimlessly begin voluntarily teaching English as a Second Language classes. Now I do it full time, 40-55 hours a week and I LOVE IT!


I love waking up in the morning and looking forward to the day ahead of me. I love driving half an hour to get to my school, praying for the day God has laid before me and joyfully anticipating the students I will see. I love walking in the door of my school and smiling and waving at my students as they eat breakfast and I sign in. I love standing at my door screaming “Good Morning ________!” at the top of my lungs even though they are still several feet away down the hall. I love my pathetic and humorous attempts to greet them in their language and the joyful laughter that flows from them in response.

I love the smile that appears when they see me in the hall or when I visit their other classes. I love the overwhelming feeling I get during lunch tutorial when there are twenty of them  and only one of me. I love the panic and mayhem that occurs when I realize I still haven’t run my copies, I never ate lunch, I never called the hospital to help them schedule an appointment, my to do list is still 5 pages too long, but it’s too late because 3rd block started five minutes ago!

 I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when another class has come and gone and not only did they learn something, but they actually enjoyed it! I love the student who brings me to my wits end, only challenging me to be that much better the next day. I love that I teach the rare student who says “thank you.” I love that at the end of the day, work unfinished and exhausted, I look forward to facing the next day. I love that I carry my children home with me, exhausting my husband with all of my crazy stories. I love that thinking about them while I write this blog makes me smile. So, yes, I do love my job.




“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9