Friday, August 20, 2010

Culture Shock

This week has been quite a time of adjustment for me. I went back to work and the kids went back to school. It is always difficult going back to work when you have had over two months off. Getting up at 6:00 AM every day has been a real adjustment, too. However, It's nothing like last year when I had to get up at 5:00 AM and sometimes earlier.

Thursday and Friday were the first student days. There are always adjustments to be made on these days. Lunch always runs over and afternoon classes have to be adjusted. That is just the nature of going back to school. I have never been in a school where lunch actually ended on time the first few days. It is all a part of the process.

The culture shock for me came with the students. After teaching in an inner-city school, my new school seems SO DIFFERENT! The first difference is in the attitudes of the students. I have students eager to learn! They want to know what we will be doing. They want to listen. They want to be taught! I think the major reason for this difference in attitude is that most of these students don't have to worry as much about where their next meal is going to come from, who is going to beat them, or if there will be a shooting in their neighborhood or house tonight.

Another culture shock for me has been the facility. The school is only a few years old. I have supplies! There is equipment to be used. There are science lab kits, microscopes, slides, chemicals, and MANY other things available to me in the STOREROOM off my classroom. I also have funds available to purchase more things. I don't have to stress as much about what I am going to do for labs or how to pay for it.

Yet another surprise for me was that I am not having to check the kids for dress code every day. Of course, with any school, there are guidelines to be followed. However, I am not having to make sure shirts are tucked in, belts are on, pants are pulled up, and the proper colors are being worn. It is so surprising to look at kids and see the variety of clothes they can wear to school, just because they want to.

I literally felt like crying yesterday because it felt so simple! Discipline? Seriously, when I asked the students to settle down, they did. When I asked the students to do an index card with information, they did it and the room fell silent. Today, I gave a writing assignment. They did it. They didn't complain about having to write in Science. They stayed quiet while they worked. I honestly didn't know how to handle myself.

At lunch yesterday, I actually took a picture of my room and sent it to Chris because the room was still clean! There was nothing in the floor except a small slip of paper. These children are respectful! I had one boy run back in today and grab the three sheets of paper that had fallen out of his notebook before he walked out of the room. They push their chairs back under as they leave! This is so amazing to me. Last year, I had to clean my room before the custodians could clean my room. There was always a HUGE pile of paper balls, broken pencils, colored pencils, etc. that had been left in the floor.

I am not trying to glorify my new job. I am not trying to make it sound like it is so much better than what I had before. I just feel so blessed. I realize that there will be days that I find difficult. I realize that there will be students who push my buttons or test limits. I know that I will be just as exhausted after a long day of teaching as I was (trust me, I felt it today!), but, I am just so thankful to be given the opportunity that I have been given. I love to teach and it is all the better to be able to do it with a willing audience :D

Monday, August 16, 2010

Some Couponing Thoughts

I used coupons for quite a while, then, I stopped. It got to be too much work. What I wanted wasn't always on sale. I had a coupon, but, it didn't bring the price down enough. I didn't have coupons for what I DID want when it went on sale. The Sunday paper didn't have many coupons in it. There were all kinds of reasons why I stopped. But, I did get started again.

The first thing that got me started again was CVS. I had started using their CVS bucks again. I then started matching up the bucks with coupons and getting better deals. Then, I started thinking about using them again in grocery stores. After that, I found out about coupon websites and manufacturer sites. You can download and print your coupons! This was amazing! The final kicker for me was when I learned of a couple of grocery stores that DOUBLED coupons! That was amazing! So, a $0.60 coupon is now worth $1.20?! Are you kidding me??? I am IN!

I learned from a great website that caters to southern stores that groceries tend to go on sale in six-week cycles. If your favorite brand is on sale, stock up with at least six weeks worth. In the long run, this WILL save you money. When you can use a coupon on top of a sale price, it always comes out better, check the ads. Once you check the ads, match your coupons to the ads. Something that is buy-one-get-one free is MORE than 50% off when you add a coupon! I like more than 50% off! It makes me feel good!

I was saddened to learn that there are no stores in Iowa that double grocery coupons. However, the average price of groceries here is a bit lower. So, in Tennessee, I was always shooting for at least 55% savings on my bill. Here, my goal is at least 45% savings. I feel I have really accomplished something if I can make that. Case in point: I have to feed a family of seven. Our average grocery bill for a month is less than $500. This includes toiletries, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. Also, I bought school supplies for four children. I also stocked up on a number of things for them to have throughout the school year. I spent less than $100 on ALL of their school supplies together.

Here is the last thing I have to say on this topic. You will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS do better if you shop grocery and drug stores with coupons and sales than you will ever do at major retail or bulk shopping stores. They may have the cheaper price initially. However, when you get a product in their store, and add a coupon, you will never save 50% or more on that item. In grocery stores, you can always save when you match up the sales with the coupons. I rarely pay more than $1.50 for some of my children's favorite NAME-BRAND cereals. (You know, the kind your mama told you not to eat because it would rot your teeth out...still got all mine, thanks Mom!) I NEVER pay more than $1.00 a box for microwave popcorn. Deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc...I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I paid actual cash for these things due to CVS bucks (which I can't get anymore, waaaaahhhh!!!) and Register Rewards at Walgreen's. Try a few of these tips and see how they work for you! Feel free to message me any time if you have questions or want help getting started!