Last week was weird. It alternated between feeling like a typical February in the classroom (Children climbing the walls! Teachers climbing the walls!) and something totally atypical. Between worries on Wall Street and people bracing for the possibility of a pandemic, things just felt strange. Still, saving and earning took priority over worrying in our … [Read more…]
I tend to prioritize saving over earning more money. It’s worth noting *why* I do this. Obviously, if you have a big mountain of debt to move, the best way to move the needle is to make more money. However, we don’t have an income problem so much as a spending problem. Or at least, … [Read more…]
I envy my toddler for so many reasons. No one bats an eye if he spills on himself. Naps are part of his daily routine. Making friends is a piece of cake. And he loves Mondays. Truthfully, he loves every day. He never stops adventuring and always finds something to look forward to. I’m positive … [Read more…]
After spending an actual lifetime in the classroom, you would think that I would know a thing or two about the best teacher gifts. But this is a hard post to write. Not because I can’t pick a favorite gift (I really can’t!), but because there is so much noise surrounding teacher gifts right now. … [Read more…]
Years ago, I made a fairly bold declaration as a total newbie poking around the FIRE space. I said I wasn’t leaving my classroom, and I meant it. Now, wonderfully, more and more people are realizing that financial freedom doesn’t have to mean retiring early…or ever. Even so, there is so much talk about the … [Read more…]
In a wild turn of events, my blog was nominated for a Plutus Award again this year. I still can’t find the right words–or really any words–to do this nomination justice. I am beyond thrilled and totally shocked. via GIPHY It was a great reminder to me that there’s always room to celebrate in the … [Read more…]
Summer is winding down as anyone who has recently set foot in a Target can attest. You can’t move your shopping cart three feet without being assaulted with back-to-school reminders, especially those towering shelves at the Dollar Spot. Just that sentence is enough to send new and veteran teachers alike deep into fantasies about cute … [Read more…]
You know the three reasons why people go into teaching, right? June. July. And August. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this joke. But I can tell you that I’ve never actually heard a teacher tell it. Why? Because we know how short summers are getting, and we also understand how much … [Read more…]
Over the past year, I received two remarkable gestures from two Internet heroes. While I’ve certainly thought about their actions, I haven’t quite been able to find the words to tell the stories. I’m still not sure I have those words. But I want to share their gestures now for two reasons. I want to … [Read more…]
You can always make more money, but what you can’t get more of is time. This statement is both profoundly true everywhere and logistically false in education. The idea that any teacher can simply work hard to earn more income shows little understanding of a profession that is governed by salary schedules, lane changes, and … [Read more…]