I am officially on Summer Break.  Remember that Jumpstart to Kindergarten job I applied for?  The Director called me on Monday to let me know that they will no longer move forward with the program.  The reason is because they did not have enough teachers apply.  I completely understand the reason.  Teachers are exhausted and need a break.  However, I am a little bit sad about it.  I was looking forward to continuing with my work routine and making more money this summer.  But again I completely understand the reason.

I felt good running this week.  I took one picture but all of my runs did happen!  😆

On Tuesday I had to run 5 miles but my mother had an early doctor appointment and I did not have enough time in the morning for it.  Then I dropped her off at my sister’s, came back home for a meeting, did my run, and then went to my doctor appointment.  However, I wanted to finish the work from my meeting so then there wasn’t enough time to run 5 miles.  Still 2.25 miles is pretty good!

I enjoyed my run on Saturday morning.  It was cloudy, with some wind, and in the low 70s.  I ran by feel and walked when I needed.  Pleased with how I did and almost got negative splits!

I may be on break but I made time to work on some school projects.  I also went to Target and spent way too much money there.  🤦🏻‍♀️ I have an idea of how I want to set up my room but know it will take me several days to get it done.  Remember that I was moved to a different classroom room last year.  When I went back to work in January I unpacked my boxes and set up my room but just with minimal things.  Students are expected to be back in the classroom next month and my room needs to be ready for them.  

I did a FlipBook to have ready for the first day of school and to pass out again on Open House.  It isn’t finished yet but the bulk of it is done.  I also put together a list with various links to have ready for school.

This isn’t really school related but I learned how to change the icons on my iMac to make them cuter!  

A nephew is coming in tomorrow from San Antonio and then another one will be here the following week.  He lives in Seattle but has been traveling these past few weeks (jealous!).  Right now he is in Austin then will be going to Miami before coming here.  I am excited to see them because I have not seen them in over 2 years.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

Hello there!  I hope everyone is doing well.  I am back running (well I never really stopped) and will continue since I got the OK from my doctor.  He also runs so he understands me.  🙂

I began feeling better on Monday.  I ran/walked with minimal pain.  The rest of the week I kept the runs easy and “slow” for about 20-30 minutes.  On Thursday I ran with no pain.  I was very happy!  My appointment was the next day and I debated on whether I should still go.  What convinced me to go is that it was too late to cancel my appointment.  My copayment is $30 and if I cancelled with less than 24 hours then I would incur a $25 fee.  Might as well go and I am so glad I did!! 

My doctor diagnosed me with strain of medial head of gastrocnemius and tibialis posterior and mild plantar fasciitis.  He sent me a few YouTube videos of exercises/stretches to do.  I also need to do calf stretches with hands against the wall every day and use Bengay/Icy Hot/Biofreeze on area of discomfort.  Finally, he said to use the foam roller to roll out my calf and the bottom of my foot.  I am glad it is nothing more serious!

I know July 4th is a special day but it is even more special day for my family.  On that day in 1978 my mom, sister, and brother emigrated from Mexico (my father was already living here).  Once in Chicago I remember being in a car and seeing the Sears Tower.  I think I also remember being on Lake Shore Drive.  I will always be grateful for my parents for bringing us to this country to have better opportunities.  And we did!!

Saw this on my run last week.  Cute!

I am done with Summer School.  How did the time go by fast?  I applied for another job (Jumpstart to Kindergarten) which starts July 26th but don’t know if I’ve been hired or not.  Regardless, I turned on my Out of Office and will not respond to emails till August 23rd (the first day of school).  I know I will still check my email and might respond to a few.  I signed up for a few PD sessions to get ready for the new school.  

One of the things I did to get ready for next year is I purchased a fun email signature.  I could not decide which one to keep so I ended up with both.  The girl that designed it for me and did not charge me extra.  She also told me that if any of the information changes (name, school, title, etc) that she will make the changes free of charge.

This week my students did some fun art projects.  They need a lot of practice to cut, color, and glue pieces of paper.  They still had fun!  For sure I will do these with my new students next year.

Excited to know what my coach will have me do this week!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

This week I had 5 days of easy runs and 2 speed workout days.  On Tuesday I ran 3 miles and then 4-1 minute intervals.   All negative splits!  Then on Thursday it was the same workout but with 4 miles and 4-1 minute intervals.  Almost negative splits again but faster times!

On Saturday I ran 7 miles in the rain.  It wasn’t that bad because it wasn’t raining the entire time but it was humid.  I was soaking wet when I got home but overall felt good on my run.

I was about to head out with my mother to get a haircut when my phone went off with a weather alert.  There was another tornado watch.  This time it was much closer to where I live.  My sister, mother, and I watched the news and put together a basket with basic necessities in case we had to take refuge in the basement.  We didn’t.  It stopped raining and it was sunny again.  My mother and I ate lunch and then went to get a haircut.  The last time I got one was in December and it felt good to get another one.  Mateo wasn’t too excited with what was happening.

I wished I had taken a picture before my haircut.  It could be the humidity or age but sometimes my hair isn’t all straight.  

I mentioned in Friday’s post (still catching up on reading everyone’s post) that now that I have students in the classroom, I can see how much schooling they lost last year.  Most of my students are 1st graders going to 2nd grade and they are struggling in reading, math, and writing.  Next year I feel like we will spend a few months reviewing that with them.  As of now I have 20 students in my roster and that number could change.  Let’s hope I don’t have 28 again!

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

This week was my first week of Summer School and it left me exhausted.  I have 13 students on my roster but 11 have shown up.  I like having them in the room.  I like being able to talk to them in person.  I like that I can give them assignments online and on paper.  I can see their actual work.  I was doing OK in the beginning and then I was very tired.  The heat could have been a factor too.  I was so tired that I didn’t do my usual workouts on Thursday or Friday but went out for a run/walk for one mile.  I am so close to 300 days and will not stop now.

I was up and ready to go Monday morning despite being up late the night before prepping for this week.  It was cooler in the morning which made the run more bearable.  I did enjoy it!  I came home and both cats were sleeping after being up all night.  ¡Caramba!

Tuesday and Wednesday’s weather was decent too in the morning.  It did warm up later in the day.  But by Thursday and Friday I just wanted to stay in bed.  Ha, I didn’t.  It rained hard on Friday morning and there was a lot of wind and lightning.  

Saturday morning I woke up early and didn’t feel as tired.  I had 7 miles on my plan.  I thought 5 would be good enough.  I made it to 6 before heading home.  I saw two black bunnies which surprised me because I hadn’t seen any that color.

This is the school I am teaching this Summer.  It is new and I want to work here from now on.  Everything is new and clean.  Even the bathrooms are very clean!

One of the things I struggle with being an educator is speaking out.  I can voice my thoughts and opinions to my coworkers.  However, I “have” to be careful when I do that with an administrator.  Last year I received a call from my Principal after I responded to an email sent by the the top tech guy.  I guess I was not nice enough and either he called or emailed the Principal.  She told me that she knew I was going through some rough times and to pretty much stay off email.  I was very upset!  I think I cried too.  I wasn’t upset at her but more that it got to that point.  So I am not supposed to email the the top guys?

I do worry about repercussions.  Teachers have been demoted and moved simply because they do not agree with administrators.  A few of my coworkers have told me not to be afraid to speak out.  I guess that happens in every workplace?  🤷🏻‍♀️ As I mentioned before, the days prior to Summer School were very confusing.  There was very little communication from the administrator.  Things are definitely better.  However, on Friday I found out that I will not get paid for the hours I spent last week prior to the first day of school.  We didn’t get any time to get ready nor to plan.  We couldn’t even go into the classroom to set up.  Teachers from other schools did get that option.  We were basically expected to show up Monday morning and be ready.  I don’t work like that.

Before school ended my coworker helped me draft a letter to the person in charge of Summer School.  In it she wrote about how disorganized the process has been and the lack of communication.  I did not send it.  I was irritated on Friday and told myself that once I calmed down I was going to update the letter and send it to her and other people.  I haven’t yet but I will.  It isn’t so much about the money but the principle.  The District always expects us to do extra work outside our work hours (many of us already do that anyway) with no compensation.  They do not realize that they give us more work than necessary but no time to get it done.

The same thing happens prior to the start of the school year.  Many teachers spend hours and days setting up the classroom prior to the first day of school.  This year our first day of school is August 23rd.  I am tempted to show up that Monday morning with nothing set up nor planned.  But I know if I do that then I will regret it because then I will spend hours and days later on to prepare.  I like to be ready.  I do not well when I am not.

What a week!  Lots of emotions but moving along.  Let’s see how it goes next week.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.

Another great week of running!  The weather sure made it tough but I got it done.  The best thing that happened this week was the end of the school year.  I was so done with the school year that I didn’t even attend the end of school year parade.  I just wanted to go home.

It’s been sunny and warm in the morning and I have to get out earlier.  I get up around 4 to use the bathroom and feed my cats.  I go back to sleep and wake up at 6am.  By the time I get dressed, drink my coffee, and use the bathroom, it is almost 7am.  That is the the time I need to be done with my run.

Saturday’s run went much better than the week before.  This time I wore a hat and carried two small water bottles.  My Oiselle pocket jogger shorts are perfect to store/hold the bottles!

Today’s workout felt hard.  I ran 4 miles and then 4-45 second surges with one minute recovery, and then a cool down till I reached 5 miles.  The 4 miles were slower than usual.  I did manage negative splits on my intervals which surprised me.  I did the same workout on Monday and even though I ran 5.02 miles, I finished 6 minutes faster.

I start Summer School tomorrow and I am already frustrated with it.  As of now I have 13 students.  Communication has not been very good between Administration and staff.  I had a meeting with the Principal on Wednesday and another one with the English Learners Department on Thursday.  I left those two meetings frustrated and not wanting to work anymore this Summer.  We did not get time to plan/set up classroom but yet we’re expected to be ready tomorrow morning.  I am planning to spend a few hours this evening planning for this week.  And yes I have asked about being compensated.

In non-running nor school related news, a mama pigeon has been living in the balcony.  She has been there for two weeks.  We know there are 2 eggs.  One more week and the eggs will hatch.

Today marks 6 years that I brought Lola home.  She was so little!  She follows me everywhere.  I know she misses me when I leave the house.

Linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down.