Sharon's By The Sea

12/02/2023

​There are renewed signs of life for an overhaul of much-maligned Social Security policies that cut some public workers’ retirement benefits.

06/15/2022

I retired 14 years ago, which was 2 years earlier than my original plan. A family caregiving situation left me no other choice. For 10 years I maintained a private tutoring clientele. Unfortunately, at age 75, I don't have the energy to do that any longer. After a 30 year career in public education, I do have a decent pension and decent health insure. I appreciate what I have. However, family health issues undermined my other investment efforts. I worked sumners in order to add to my social security, but at only $91 per month, that doesn't cover my Medicare Part B insurance.

The state’s Teacher Retirement System does not adjust its pension payments for inflation.

01/24/2021

Never stop learning, that’s my motto.

❤️ if you're a teacher who's a learner, too!

09/25/2020

Teachers who ask students questions while demonstrating how to solve problems increase engagement and facilitate a deeper understanding.

09/09/2020

We are all doing the best we can with the resources on hand. 📚

Do you feel that you only had 30 minutes of successful parenting yesterday? I hope you documented it. Today, maybe you’ll double it and have an hour of effective parenting.

09/09/2020

“To my child's teacher,

If you need my kid to sit on the floor while you figure out numbers, and flexible seating and seating plans- that’s ok.
If my kid has to wear one pair of shoes to school all day- that’s cool- I do the same thing all day long, they can too while you figure out how to manage high traffic areas and teach the kids the importance of social distancing- Groovy!

If you need me to supply you with a bottle of wine, or vodka, or coolers every Friday so you can go home and destress and cry about your highly emotional and stressful week- I got you... name your poison.

If you need me to search high and low for every available container for Lysol wipes so you can spend your unassigned time after school wiping down every surface in your classroom- Done! I will keep my eyes peeled!!!

If my kid has to wear a mask so he can sit with you and read a story- which is his favorite activity on the planet, or sit beside a friend and work in their journal or on an art project- no worries! I will make sure they understand the rules for mask wearing at school.

What I won’t do:
1- Berate you on social media
2- Undermine you and your profession at every turn
3- Buy into the hysteric and irrational things I read online that have not been fact checked
4- Fear monger others

Why?

Because I know that, at the end of the day, you don’t have any control over the decisions that are made by higher ups, and you are just doing your job.

I know that you are a mother too, and you will treat my child as your own.

I know you are killing yourself putting in a ridiculous amount of hours on your own time to make your classroom a safe and welcoming place.

And I know in your heart of hearts you are doing everything in your power to make my child feel loved and successful in the school year.

You have been tasked with a seemingly insurmountable task of keeping kids safe and happy and engaged during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC- and regardless of how I personally feel about Covid and masks and shoes and seating plans and all the craziness this new school year will bring... know I have your back!

I got you, and all my teacher friends and support staff- you are valued and you are worthy... and I see you!”

*Not mine - don’t know who the author of this is, but it resonates deeply. Please share.*

09/03/2020

That classroom looks like classrooms from the schools I attended in Hopedale, Ohio. We did have electricity. The oil lamps were no longer a fixture during those years.

Based on structural factors alone, we might expect teacher retirements to proceed along normal lines. But will they?

04/03/2020

11/17/2019

Good advice for sure!

Whether you’re a new teacher or a veteran, try these tips for taking care of yourself and staying energized throughout the school year.

11/17/2019

Talking less, wait time, asking students to try three ways on their own before asking for help - just some effective strategies.......

Productive struggle is important for students to retain what they learn.

11/12/2019

Teaching young students how to write by hand before moving on to keyboarding can help improve their reading fluency as well.