Melanie S.

Retired

[0HOUR1 @__0HOUR1_]

Soon to be the face of Mass Deportation

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

I just started a few weeks ago as a 2nd grade teacher in a small private Christian school. After almost 30 years in public school and into my 3rd year of retirement, an opportunity to go back to teaching came my way and I couldn’t pass it up. We are in school Mon through Thur with kids from 9:00 to 2:30. Class limit is 15. I happen to have 9 kiddos and my partner has 9. We are both self contained. At first, I panicked a bit- there’s not enough time! But then, I was forced to focus on only the most important things. After three weeks, things are falling into place and we are rocking and rolling and getting it done! Focus, clarity, none of the fluff, quick transitions because we are small- it makes a giant difference. It’s part time, but I’m loving it! A nice supplement to my teacher retirement- which isn’t much to begin with. I didn’t realize how being in a private Christian school where we are praying daily with the kids would impact my heart and mind and attitude so much! I feel very blessed! Today, we heard a 96 year old WW II veteran speak to our kiddos as well as other younger veterans. We prayed with them and for them. Their stories were inspiring. So many of the kids and all the teachers dressed in patriotic colors and I felt a renewed spirit and hope I haven’t felt in a long time. Gosh, to hear the 96 year old vet talk about WW II and see how he’s still going strong today- to be in the presence of one of the few that are left from the greatest generation- it was awesome. Thank you to all the Veterans- especially my dad! ❤️🇺🇸🙏

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

I teach in a small private Christian school. I feel lucky to be there. We say the pledge every morning, followed by the Texas pledge, then sing the first verse of My Country ‘Tis of Thee, followed by the Lord’s Prayer. We just got an email from admin to remember to wear a patriotic shirt this Tuesday for Veteran’s Day. I’ve recently gone back to teaching after 3 years of retirement. 27 years in public school but now private- I’m loving it, but it’s still kind of strange our morning routine- like- wait? I’m allowed to do this? Haha! Yes, I am. 😊❤️

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@Lex_Jurgen @MarcoFoster_ My thoughts exactly. I was thinking, “Uhhh… ok, so you stated what you think is true, but WHERE is the comedy?”

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@karenvaites @FordLrf23 A whole can isn’t quite big enough to hold it all. 😬 But you are spot on.

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@TheKevinDalton He looks like he’s flossing his teeth. 🤔

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

To me engagement happens not when I’m entertained, but rather I’m engaged because I have the background knowledge to understand a lesson being taught. I think a lot of students are not engaged with lessons when they don’t have resources to connect new material to some kind of background knowledge they have. Reading a difficult text and diving into it deeply to understand it’s themes or to write about it after reading it can be engaging if understanding happens and understanding happens because some type and amount of background knowledge is present. Just my thoughts. Engagement doesn’t equal entertainment or even new learning. I think that’s where some (not all) teachers get hung up.

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

A sentence, sentence, sentence is complete, complete, complete with five simple rules it meets, meets, meets.

It has a subject, subject, subject, and a verb, verb, verb.

It makes sense, sense, sense with every word, word, word.

Add a capital letter and an end mark too- that’s what a sentence is supposed to do!

Joe ran.
Who ran?
Joe- subject.
What is being said about Joe?
He ran- verb.

Go back to the verb, divide the subject from the predicate.

Ahhh- good ol’ Shurley Method. ❤️ Used it with my elementary kiddos for 20+ years. @shurleyenglish

We used songs (they call them jingles) to learn about parts of speech and how sentences work, from simple to complex. It was direct, explicit instruction with plenty of immediate practice. And yes, the learning transferred to their compositions and writing in general. And God forbid (insert sarcasm), we practiced out of a textbook and with worksheets. Gasp! 😏

Was it all we did? No. But we did it often so the knowledge was there when they were writing and editing.

How did we lose our way? (Rhetorical question- sadly, I’m well aware of how we lost our way).

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@MrZachG I thought it would be interesting to see what Grok would say of @DTWillingham’s perspective of this article. https://t.co/TmlQYRTXs7

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@elonmusk The last time my dad (now 78) saw his father alive was when he was about 15. His dad died of black lung from working in the coal mines. I sent this to my dad and he was so happy to see it.❤️

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@elonmusk Maybe so, but today I spent my time making old family photos come alive. I never got to meet my grandfather from my dad’s side. I’ve seen this this pic a thousand times, but today I felt like I met my grandad. 🥹

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@FactsAboutTexas The Spot in Normangee! https://t.co/D4xSLGeiyH

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@kamikaz1_k @rastokke @AlexKontorovich Yes, I would agree and add that as a person that can read music/play instruments, it was NOT always fun to practice scales/fingerings on instruments. I just wanted to get to the part where I got to “play music.” But because I did the not so fun stuff, it paid off in the end.

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@ehansalytics “Tear here” or “Tear across” on these type packages run a close second.

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@Shaughn_A2 Wow- now that you say Casey Kasem! I totally hear it!

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

Hilarious!!! 🤣

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@CEBartsch @MdBreathe @grok 👀 Well, well.

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@ElonMuskAOC Grok said this. So does Grok get a Tesla job ?

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@TamaraDoglover @MdBreathe @Berkeley4peace “Forgiveness is the gift I give myself.” Well said!

[Melanie S. @smithtexasteach]

@the_no_mind I know you have to state this is not medical advice for legal reasons, but I always find it funny how when info like this is given, the medical advice you would get would not tell you to do any of this because they don't know. Go figure. Thanks for sharing this info.