When the little things are actually big things and mean the world to you. These are some of the best moments that last forever and mean the most.
•(3) When he was finally able to really talk, we FaceTimed, and Rylee gave him the biggest smile and interacted with him.
Overcrowding Classrooms: Is It On Purpose & The Opinions Of A Former Educator
/There is a video that went viral recently of a bullying situation at Creekland Middle School in Georgia. The video shows a 12-year girl taunting another female student. She then picks up a chair and eventually begins hitting the other student with the legs of the chair. As the bully laughs and turns to leave, you can hear the classmates talking and laughing, which encourages her to return for more. This time she physically hits the student in the face. You can see through the video the student being bullied is extremely scared and does nothing to retaliate.
Of course one of the main questions you hear from viewers being interviewed as well as comments on the Internet is, “Where was the teacher?!?” Now don’t get me wrong, this is a very valid question and of course they found out she was on the other side of the room assisting a student one-on-one. I am not taking up for the teacher, nor am I making light of the situation because this situation is terrible. However, this situation focuses on what I feel is one of the main issues in our public school systems… the overcrowding of classrooms.
Overcrowding in schools happen when the estimated number of students that enroll in schools is exceeded. Overcrowding in our classrooms has become more and more of an issue. It is increasing at such a high rate that in 2011 some states began to put in place an education reform known as CSR – Class-Size Reduction, to help with this. The idea in theory was good, however not truly beneficial. One reason was not all states participated and secondly money diminishes more quickly when you have smaller class sizes. Smaller classes equal more teachers. According to Brookings.edu, “increasing the pupil/teacher ratio in the U.S. by one student would save at least $12 billion per year in teacher salary costs alone…”
So this, in a sense, justifies why I feel education really is not a priority like it should be in our country. When it’s time to reduce funding, typically it will be taken away from education without the blink of an eye. In the example I gave you above, you see they would rather increase the size of classrooms to reduce the amount of money spent for the salaries of teachers… YET they do not reduce the responsibilities, pressure, and expectations of the teachers. So reduce their pay, find ways to cut their financial assistance, and the help and support they get from the school system and their school, all the while expecting them to be miracle workers with our future and do this in an overcrowded classroom with outdated or damaged books, supplies, and technology.
I’m just saying… if you want a doctor to be best at his/her job then you expect them to have the best tools, technology, and they expect to get paid what they deserve not what is “left for them.” If you hire a landscaping company to maintain your yard and do their best work each time, then you expect them to have top-notch equipment and tools, and trust me they will not keep your yard looking it’s best if you pay them less than they deserve. How about cleaning companies, dentists, cable companies, chefs, plumbers, etc.? Get the point now?!?
Here are my 2 cents on this topic and I am speaking from the standpoint of a former educator who actually dealt with overcrowded classrooms and as a parent who takes education seriously for my children.
Overcrowding in the public school system affects:
(1) Learning in the classroom:
Imagine walking into crowded hotel meeting room, where you are largely outnumbered, you can see and hear there are many different side conversations going on, and you have to get everyone’s attention to make an announcement without a microphone. How long do you think it will take to get everyone’s attention, keep their attention, be able to talk over all of them, and deliver your message?
Even though this example is not directly related to a classroom and I know there are way more people in that hotel meeting room than a classroom but the relevancy of the example still holds true. Why? Because when you have an overcrowded classroom this is what you encounter on a daily basis. As a teacher, you may have your classroom expectation and structure set up. Therefore, the students may know what they should and shouldn’t be doing and they even know what is expected of them. Now, stop for a moment and truly take into consideration what a teacher has to do before she even starts teaching her class:
Welcome the students into her classroom from wherever they just came from and in many situations there is a “calm down” moment. They could have been talking and laughing with friends, just had a bad experience at home or with another student or teacher, just finished having fun in a Physical Education (P.E.) class, etc.
Take attendance, which means all of the students have to be accounted for. If the class is overcrowded then of course it takes longer. Yes, you can have a system set up and even delegate this role to a very responsible student but again it takes up the time set aside for teaching.
Now it’s time to teach the lesson of the day, right? Nope, there are warm-ups, which are review type material to make sure the students understand what you have taught so far and then you have to go over these answers. Finally it's time to transition them and get them ready to learn the lesson. You know just as well as I know, kids will talk, won’t have supplies, have to find them what they need or have them borrow from other students, and now more time has passed. Honestly, if you are given 55 minutes of class time, you are really only teaching about 30-35 minutes after all is said and done.
Now with this class period, teachers are required to teach, interact one on one with students, make learning fun and find way to make the information “stick”, teach them to be able to “pass the standardized tests”, differentiate (modify to reach the different learning levels and styles of each student and the class as a whole), do group work, review, quiz/test, and MORE.
So how much can you really teach and accomplish in an overcrowded classroom? Can you imagine the interruptions? the questions? How many students can you really get one on one with, and how many times do you think the teacher has to stop to redirect the class of minors? Plus so much pressure is put on the teacher to be miracle workers with students and better yet, they are expected to be babysitters and teach children life lessons that definitely should be taught and/or reinforced at home and are not. I’ll leave that there for another blog in itself because I could go on for days on that topic!
(2) Behavior in the classrooms:
With the classrooms being overcrowded, this means more desks in closer proximity to each other, and ultimately tempts students to socialize more. If class sizes were small, then the idea of personal space is granted. When your personal space is invaded then that increases emotions and tempers, which can lead into arguments and disrupting the learning that is supposed to be taking place. Just imagine teaching and one side conversation starts or some sort of disturbance happens, the teacher stops to address it and now the focus has shifted. This now leads to more incidents happening in the classroom.
Let’s not even begin to discuss how the classrooms have shifted from the students being required to respect the teacher to now the teacher has to walk around on eggshells. So in an overcrowded classroom, it is hard to separate students and it gives them more of a “stage” to misbehave, get attention, and cause disruptions.
(3) Update Supplies, Materials, and Technology:
If the classrooms are overcrowded, then where can you house a computer station for the students to use? Equipment for experiments for a science lab won’t fit? With funding constantly being reduced, monies are not spent updating textbooks or technology. Typically the computer lab or library will get updated but they will not accommodate the entire school and they have to be reserved as first come first serve. Or shared small amounts of iPads or tablets that they house in a central location that also has to be reserved on a first come first serve basis. So how can you prepare and educate our future without dated materials?
(4) Morale and Quality of Teachers:
Teaching is already a stressful job that many take for granted but lets just recap in case you missed:
you have teaching in a crowded area,
hardly any support of funding,
low pay with no true raises,
having to be financial responsible for buying necessities for your class that SHOULD be provided,
dealing with unnecessary behavioral problems,
unhelpful and unsupportive parents,
and lastly dealing with the lack of support or backing from your school board and the administration in your school
This all adds up to one thing… STRESS!
All of this and we haven’t even taken into account everyday life stresses but as we all know, teachers are expected to not have a life outside of school. (If you can’t tell that statement about teachers not having a life was pure sarcasm.)
Teachers spend most of their time in the classroom, so if the classroom is overcrowded, there is no personal space for the teacher and whatever space he or she has is taken up by making room for other things that need to be in the classroom. I don’t think all of this puts teachers in a good space to go out and seize the day and teach at their best levels.
Oh, let me also mention, that the education field is not as respected as it should be. You have so many “teachers” becoming teachers only because it is a “guaranteed job and paycheck.” So it’s not in their heart to really make a difference in the lives of children and they really don’t care. This makes it hard for those teachers who really love what they do and have a passion for it. They have to overcompensate for what is not taught and what the students should have learned. Put this person in an overcrowded classroom, with behavior problems, and outdated materials, what exactly do you think will be accomplished? Can you say even more stress and frustration for teachers actually trying to teach in these conditions?
So all in all, overcrowded classrooms effects so much and this is an issue that seriously needs to be addressed ASAP! This is our future generations at stake. Education needs to be taken more seriously in our country. There are many countries that have large size classes but they have the necessary and update materials, their communities and school systems support them, the students are expected to attend school and strive for the best, they are REQUIRED to respect their teachers or a major consequence is given, parents are present, supportive, and helpful, and the environment as a whole is completely different. So everyone is able thrive in his or her designated roles in a school system.
We need to focus less on cutting our education funds, making sure students can pass tests and place more focus on really preparing our youth, assisting them in really learning what is necessary, preparing them for the real world and not failure, fixing this overcrowding issue, and giving our teacher the respect and pay they need and deserve!
Teachers, I salute you and respect all of you who give your all each day despite the lack of pay, respect, gratitude, support, and love you deserve!
Pointing Fingers
/On November 16, 2017, I did a Facebook live video on Pointing Fingers and how we may be self-sabotaging ourselves and your successes. Allowing negative people, naysayers, haters, and/or enemies/frienemies stop us. This is a must watch!!
April is Financial Literacy Month: "Can I Pay Off Debt?"
/Do you or someone you know have debt? Tired of letting debt control your life and decisions? Need some tips, strategies, and resources to start the process? Watch this video that covers 2 strategies, 7 easy tips/steps, and 2 resources that you can use during your "Get Out of Debt" process.
April is Financial Literacy Month: Are Holidays Taking Over?
/Does it seem like you have more Holiday than Money each month? Are preparing for these events each month putting a dent in your pocket? Or do you strategically prepare for them each month?
Watch this video on how Capitalism and Big Businesses are getting in our heads and 3 tips I have on how to not let holiday's take over your life.
Self-Doubt: I Can Overcome It!
/There is a well-known saying that a lot of people can agree with… “We are our own worst critic.” I am the type of person who is very hard on myself and I can openly admit that I am my own worst critic. We are all human and whether we are very emotional or very stoic, we have days when we may question different aspects of our life. Some people also refuse to acknowledge that they ever question anything about their lives and claim to have it all together. Which is not true. If this was the case, no one would learn and grow. Some may question their careers, living situation, financial situation, relationship/relationship status, and goals, just to name a few. From these topics we may start to ask ourselves, “Am I doing enough? Is this where I want to be? How did I get here? Am I happy? Why are things happening for others and not me? Am I good enough?” These questions and thoughts could lead to more and eventually end up making us begin to doubt our abilities and ourselves. From time to time, as women, we try to do so much, get so stressed out trying to handle it all, that we begin to feel like we are doing so much for others and not enough for us. Then we beat ourselves up for not doing for us and this could eventually lead to asking whether or not we are even worth doing for ourselves because we have no time, energy, or mind space. If you can agree with any of the above or know someone who can, I introduce you to self-doubt.
Self- doubt, according to Webster-Merriam and FreeDictionary.com respectively, is “a feeling of doubt about one's own abilities or actions. A lack of faith or confidence in oneself; lack of confidence in one's own motives, ability, etc.” Self-Doubt can have two affects on a person. It can drive them to perform better and grow because they know they can do better or it can bring a person down and make them stagnant or even lead to depression and feeling inadequate. The later is believed to happen more. I will be the first to admit that I have experience both and even let it control me to the point of not perusing goals, standing up for myself and what I believe, and to even staying in relationships or friendships a lot longer than I know I should have. My own self-doubt led me to put on my dream of this website on hold for over 7 years! I have another blog (or vlog – which is a video or recorded blog) that will go into more details of that.
There are 8 tips that I used to help me overcome self-doubt and even deal with it head on when it rears its ugly face again. Oh yes, self-doubt will pop up again and again throughout your life and if you do these tips, you can put self-doubt back in its place and show it who is stronger… YOU!
8 Tips to Overcoming Self-Doubt
They are in the form of “I” statements for a reason. We have to ingrain it in our brains that “I” can do something. “I” statements allow us to begin taking the responsibility for our growth and ourselves. So I am helping you take the first step in your process! Remember we take this journey together!
1. I must recognize and admit that I’m actually doubting myself!
Once you can catch that you are doing it, you can redirect yourself to get away from it. You cannot grow and/or change if you stay in denial.
2. I will start my day with positive affirmations.
This helps to gear your mind in a positive and encouraged direction from the start of each day. You can repeat these throughout the day, as needed, especially when unpleasant situations arise.
** Remind yourself each morning by looking in the mirror and saying this out loud, “HE MADE ME IN HIS OWN IMAGE AND I AM WORTH IT!” Yes, you are worth it!
3. I will change my surroundings and the people I hang around.
You have to be cautious and beware of naysayers! If you are trying to move in a positive direction and upward growth, you cannot continue to spend a vast majority of your time with people who want to belittle you and keep you in a place and space you know you do not need to be. The people you hang around should also want to see you improve and they should want to grow as well. There is a saying my husband use to say, “If you can’t change the people you hang around, change the people you hang around.” At first it didn’t makes sense but when I finally understood what it meant, it was like a light bulb lit up. If you cannot make a positive impact on the people you hang around or if they can’t do that for you, then change the people you hang around. Pointblank period. AND know this is ok to do.
4. I will begin the process of not comparing myself to others.
Oh, this one right here was probably one of the HARDEST ones for me! I am not sure if you can relate to this but I would look at others and ask why do they have so much and not me, what is it that I am not doing that they are because everything seems to be going right, or why does it seem to come so easy for them and not me? Comparing yourself to others makes you feel even more inadequate and ultimately makes you stagnant. You begin to find more faults and make more excuses. You will give up or not go after whatever your heart desires with that extra oomph. Please, please, please remember that you do not always know the full story of what it took for them to be where they are and even if you think you do, their success is not your success. My pastor once said, “God will give it to you when you’re ready for it. You see if you got it too early, you wouldn’t know how to appreciate it or keep it.” All in all, compare YOU to YOU!
5. I will Remove, Relax, and Regroup.
When you have those “off” days, it is ok to take the time to remove yourself from situations. If it is at home, with friends, even at work, it is ok to take a breather from whatever it is. Go to the bathroom, walk outside, take a different route home, but remove yourself from wherever you are that is throwing you off. Use this time to relax, whether it be a few deep breathes, a moment to meditate, take a jog, see a movie, listen to music, or whatever. Make sure it relaxes you and takes your mind off of whatever is throwing you off. Then, regroup and go tackle it head on. With a refreshed mind you can complete the task, face the person, knock out your goal, push yourself a little further, etc. Just do not take days and days off. Let your “remove and relax” time period be for that moment. Remember the longer you take, the harder it is to get back on track and “regroup”.
6. I will read and/or listen to positive material each day.
While I am taking a shower, I will play a positive message from an audiobook or podcast, or listen to uplifting music. There are daily passages you can read in apps and tons of books that have daily passages or devotionals that you read each day. Play it in your car as your drive to work, drop your children off at school, etc. You need to feed your mind and spirit with as much positivity that you can. I even suggest talking to someone on a professional level. There are a lot of cultures that think negatively on speaking to therapists or counselors but please know that they are there for unbiased feedback. You also speak to them about the positivity in your life. Some people only believe the professionals are there to help with negative issues. There could be a bigger rooted cause for your self-doubt and once it is addressed, this could catapult your growth process.
7. I will reward myself for my accomplishments.
You have to reward yourself for making strides. Set a goal, start small, go for it, accomplish it, and give yourself a reward! For example, you can say for 2 weeks I will go to the gym 3 times a week. Once you have done that, celebrate yourself. It doesn’t have to always be a reward that costs money. It can be a spa day, some ice-cream, sleeping in on your day off, a new pair of shoes, going to a movie, a pat on the back, a girls day out, etc. Whatever you like to do.
You have to also realize that if you do not accomplish something, failing does not make you a failure. You grow and learn from failing. DO NOT beat yourself up. If you do, this starts the cycle of self-doubt all over again. Failing or setbacks are a part of life and you should use them to help make corrections, strive for better, and actually learn better skills to master it next time. Think about all of the inventors or successful people in general. They did not create those inventions on the first try and they did not become successful immediately without any failures or setbacks. So don’t quit and FORGIVE yourself.
8. I will have Faith with Action!
As the Bible states, “faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Did you know that doubt is the opposite of faith? Have faith and believe that God, or the higher being that you believe in, will bless you. Have faith in yourself that you can do what you are striving for. Faith gives you strength and courage to continue in the good and the bad.
It takes more than just faith, hope, and believing. It takes action, work, and power. It also states in the Bible that, “…faith without works is dead….” (James 2:26). If you do not put in the work, the action, and the power, then you cannot create the change and the improvement you seek. Not to get overly spiritual but I do believe that all that I have been through and overcome has been a result of my faith and works, along with the support of others who want to see me become better and grow. There is something about this belief and faith that is indescribable and it gives you a power to dig deep and allow you to pull out strength that you never knew you had, to be able endure what you never thought you could.
Overcoming self-doubt will not happen overnight; it may not even happen in a month or a year. It all depends on you and the stick-to-it-ness that you have. It depends on your consistency and your support system. It depends on how bad you want change and to better yourself, not only for your family, children, and friends but also for YOU. It depends on how tired you are of being tired and not accomplishing what you want (no matter how big or small). You have to have more faith than fear!
Today is the day you begin to overcome the mental immobility of self-doubt. Today is the day that you begin your journey by taking small steps and increasing them as you grow. Today is the day that you begin to believe and have faith that you can do it and that you are worth it… because YOU CAN and YOU ARE!
For more information on my outfit in the picture about, head over to the Fashion section under the "Swirl" tab or click here.
