https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu Please reflect on the current challenges activity here by Friday. Then, respond to at least two others' responses by next Wednesday. en-us 2019-10-07 14:12:52 UTC 2019-10-25 01:26:29 UTC hello@padlet.com bxkrau17 https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/398954253 Most of the challenges that I listed all revolve around time. Time to get everything done in a day, having time to yourself away from students, balancing time between the multiple responsibilities I have in a week, and finding enough time to pump. Some of these things I have no control over (like how many recess and lunch duties I have in a week). I have found that I need to be very careful of how I utilize my time at work. For example, due to pumping during my breaks and having lunch/recess duty I don't have those fifteen minute chunks of time to quick make copies or prepare for the upcoming lesson. There was a chapter in our book that talked about doing the important tasks during times when you are the most alert. For me this is in the morning. After realizing that, I try to get to school early to complete my homework. I then spend the time my students are at specials lesson planning. During free time at the end of the day is when I prepare everything for the following day. By making myself reflect on how I can better utilize my time, it has helped me to more effectively balance out school, CCD, homework, and time with family and friends.]]> 2019-10-17 12:01:34 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/398954253 https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399719713 2019-10-18 19:40:46 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399719713 jaritc17 https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399720149   Time - something that many people do not seem to have enough of, myself included.  As a mom of three preteen girls, a wife, a full time teacher, and a graduate student, my days are packed.  I wake up early to make sure that my girls are ready for school before I leave for work.  After work, it is time to drive my daughters to Kyuki-Do, basketball, piano lessons, etc.  We usually don't have supper until 7 or later.  It is then time for dishes, homework, showers, etc.  I am lucky to fall into bed before 11:00.  
     It is because of my busy schedule that I have learned to utilize every free second that I have.  In fact, I have taken to eating lunch in my room so that I can plan or do schoolwork.  During my prep hour, I try to stay in my classroom so that I don't start a conversation with someone that takes up my entire planning time.  I recognize that this is not the healthiest way to deal with my challenges, however, it is what works for me right now.  I hope that once my graduate class is done, I will be able to venture out more during the work day to converse with others.  I also hope that I will be able to have a little more free time with my family.


]]> 2019-10-18 19:42:12 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399720149 c_yohnk https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399766425 I have been complaining forever about not having enough time to do everything that I feel has to be done in a day.  I thought it would be easier once my kids would be in school.  When it didn't seem like there was any more time when they were in school, then I thought maybe I would have more time when they moved out and were on their own.  Well, they have been out on their own for twelve to fifteen years and I still am complaining about not having enough time.  I mentioned that I would start keeping a log of where my time goes, but I haven't taken the time to do this!  
What I have been doing at school  to manage the challenges of not having enough time , IF I eat, is to  eat while working in my classroom.   But there are days that I do not take time to eat because I have lunchroom duty, have to set up a science exploratory, or do something else that I hadn't taken the time to do the night before.  Sometimes I will take some time to chat with our administrative assistant about things other than school (we have a few mutual friends plus one of her youngest grandchildren is about my grandchildren's age.)
Outside of school, I do take time for a hour massage once a month. It is almost an hour of pure bliss as my masseuse does not feel the need for small talk during the massage once we have exchanged a few pleasantries. ]]> 2019-10-18 23:59:41 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399766425 r_beaufeaux https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399849752 Through this activity I see that I am making it all happen in my professional life. My challenges are not insurmountable. I have a solid plan in place for managing stresses and challenges I face daily at work and I strive to make time to put this plan into action. I have the same amount of small and medium challenges and only one big challenge I’m facing this year- getting my TCC lessons ready for a long-term substitute teacher in the spring.  ]]> 2019-10-19 15:38:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399849752 j_rubenzer https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399890197 My biggest challenge is meeting all the needs of the new teachers and then having enough time at school to complete my own work.  This year we have many new teachers in our school.  We are a small school. Therefore, teachers have to take on other roles besides in the classroom.  I decided after I had finished my masters that I would use my new skills to help the new teachers coming into our school.  I already new that in our school there are always new teachers coming in. I am usually the one welcoming them into their classroom, helping them with the online gradebook and answering any initial questions.  They usually have already been through new teacher training.   This year there were five new teachers and they were not assigned a specific mentor.  I tried to help all of them.  With my own classroom, taking this class and responsibilities I have to my family, I was unable to keep up.  I was tired, cranky and worn out.  I prayed for some help and sought my husband's advice.  The answer came to me in a Sunday sermon, when I least expected it.  I went to school the next week and asked for help.  I assigned other teachers to be a mentor instead of waiting for someone else to do it.  They came through wonderfully!  I just have to ask how the new teachers are doing and they give me an update, or ask for my help.  I always knew that I worked with wonderful people and this is the proof.  I now just have two I regularly check in on and the others less frequently.  

I always thought that when my children were grown, graduated from college and had their own families, I  would have more time to do activities with my husband, sit around all day and do nothing, etc. Boy, was I wrong! I am busier than ever with my family.  My parents are older and need me more. I have five grandchildren to spend time with and our house is needing some extra help as well.  Managing my time well, and making sure I take time to celebrate and appreciate the people who I live and work with makes these challenges more manageable.

]]> 2019-10-19 20:52:17 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/399890197 b_canfield https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/402363739 My biggest challenge is time. I have so many responsibilities to complete in the day, like most teachers. With going to school, taking additional training courses, teaching, and personal life, it leaves very little time in my day. I want to make sure that my mentee feels that I am not rushing through conversations which is very challenging because I don't have much "free time" during the day. We have found that having multiple mini meetings a few times a week has worked for us. Being put on unexpected extended medical leave definitely doesn't help the other stresses at school. ]]> 2019-10-25 01:09:48 UTC https://padlet.com/jessicaaprilwilliams/2b2rpqhaftu/wish/402363739