Teacher's Maintain-Your-Awesomeness Kit

Are you ever in the middle of an awesome day, and you finally get to go to the bathroom, and while washing your hands you check your teeth only to realize you've been doing this all day?

           The Teacher's Maintain-Your-Awesomeness Kit

Have 5 minutes and feeling a little worn down? Sudden headache? Right after lunch and about to work with 1:1 with students? Really good looking new staff member that just happens to be single and likes all the same things you do?

Be prepared. 

I have co-workers who bring entire makeup and toiletry arsenals to work, and then I have co-workers who bring nothing, and don't usually need it.

Side note: these are things I like to have in a day. Feel free to borrow ideas or change them entirely. Also, I keep snacks separate. Because I find myself needing them on a regular basis.

What I like to have:

1. good smelling things (rollerball or travel spray that you can spray close to your skin)

Middle of the day pic up, when the a/c stops working, right before a meeting, whenever. Smells are important to us (and the kids). Just make sure you pick one that isn't overbearing.

2. flosser sticks, mints, and/or those little mini toothbrushes

Because we've all had coffee breath. Or had that lovely moment when we get to use the bathroom for the first time all day and it's 8th period, and we look in the mirror, and realize we've had something in our teeth from breakfast (see above).

3.blotting sheets 

When my skin was at its worst, I needed these through out the day to absorb oil. For those of you with oily skin, you know it's more than looks, because your skin just FEELS gross, and you can't focus. Also, the really cheap school toilet paper? Totally works for this.

4. 'girly' things

No explanation needed.

5. lipbalm (tinted or regular)

this might be in your pocket, but if you're like me, you have chapstick stashed in 239842039 different places. 

6. hand lotion

Because we're teachers and using hand sanitizer and washing our hands is great, except for the whole crypt keeper's cracked hands syndrome.

7.aspirin

Seriously. You will need it.

8. hair stuff (comb, clear mascara ( for those pesky 'antennas'), gel, etc)

I'm not telling you that your job is to be a model. But we are professionals, and sometimes we just need to maintain. There is nothing wrong with that. As for the antenna thing,have you ever been standing in front of the projector and see those baby hair/fly-aways waving at your class on the board? Clear mascara will fix the bulk of that. 

Yes, this all seems like a lot. But for many teachers, the classroom turns into your second home very quickly, and you want to be prepared for the plethora of things that happen, and honestly, just to make yourself feel good (or better, like the aspirin)! Also, this isn't something that you are going to lug around back and forth with you every day. Find a spot for it in your room, your office, wherever, for it to stay the entire school year.

Now, you may be asking, where I am going to put all this stuff? Really it's up to you. Plastic shopping bag, makeup bag, travel bag with pockets that hangs. Go all out and buy a thirty one organizer, or repurpose a box. 

This is my kit using a small cosmetic case, although I have a slightly larger pencil case that works really well, but for the purpose of the pictures, I loaded them into the clear one. 

                 about 8 inches wide (<------>), 5 inches tall, and 11 inches long when rolled out

You do so much for the kids, the staff, the parents, it is OKAY to have a stash of goodies  that make you feel your best.

These are those little things that you make you feel like you're going from this:

to this

'Til next time

Coming Soon… the New School Year

When a friend reminds you school is starting again in a few weeks:

I love my job. Endlessly, really. But I think most teachers would agree that any time off is well deserved. Summer hits, and there are those who work a summer program (like I have done in the past), and those who rest up. Last summer I spent my time interviewing, prepping, and stressing. This summer, I was able to spend much more time focusing on the all important re-coup. 

And just as I found myself settling into the sweet summer sippin' life, I looked at my calendar and BAM: August is right there. As in tomorrow. So, this week I ventured into the building and starting revamping, reflecting, and prepping. And shopping at office supply stores. 

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but while I sat in front of the computer, tweaking last year's letters and opening expectations (a lovely distance from last year's make-from-scratch scenario), I couldn't help but feel a great sense of happiness- that little reminder of "Oh yeah, you DID pick the right profession." I have always felt that no matter how tired we are, and how much we enjoy our breaks (and are sad to see them go, as illustrated above), that deep seated excitement should still exist, even when the newness has worn off. 

Til next time.