Blog Post #3
Who is your ‘Colleen’? Explain.
Blog Post #1
Co-author Laurie MacIntosh and her husband Cody went on a ten-month giving spree. While you may not have hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ellen to give away, can you see yourself going on a giving spree? What can you give? How will you do it? List all the details!
My person is my husband. He may not be a teacher, but he will sit and listen to me vent and ask questions if he needs to and we talk it out - whatever the problem is. He doesn't try to fix anything, he just listens and then, when and if I 'm ready, he will help me come up with solutions. He always makes me feel like I know what I'm doing, even when I'm being really hard on myself. He knows how much I care for the kids and he never gets upset about how much I spend on school stuff. He always has my back
ReplyDeleteI would say I have 2 "Colleens," and both of them are at my school. They are both teachers in the high school, one being the other Science teacher next door and the other the English teacher down the hall. We touch base with each other every morning, before classes start. We are able to bounce ideas off of each other and discuss the ups and downs of the day.
ReplyDeleteI would say that I have three Colleens. My first, and number one Colleen, would be my wife. She understands me more than anyone else, we talk about our days together through all experiences, and she gives a great outside look perspective on many topics. My in school Collen, would be the school business director, simply a good friend, who knows how to deescalate most situations. The third would be our Lord Jesus Christ, through reading daily scripture with reflection.
ReplyDeleteI have two Colleens. My first is my Husband. He is the best listener ever. He is way more calm and patient than I am, which is amazing. Once I am done talking he always gives me good advice. My second Colleen is my mom. My mom is a retired elementary school teacher which is SO helpful. She really understands where I am coming from when it comes to school. She also has great advice and tactics due to her experience! She gives me really good advice when it comes to classroom management.
ReplyDeleteOne of my "Colleen's" is my best friend Helen. She always answers when I call and helps me see through any tough times whether it is work related or personal. My other "Colleen" is my friend Zach. He always treats me kindly and without judgement. He is so good at helping me to forgive and forget. It is so cool to know that when I am in a lid-flip moment, that I can reach out to these two.
ReplyDeleteI would say I have a few "Colleens." The most prominent one would be the special education teacher who is also a co-teacher in my old classroom. She knew instantly when she walked in the classroom what kind of day I was having and could almost instantly tell why. This was incredible because there were days when she would walk in and she knew that I needed extra help or that she was going to take over the lesson that day and I would assist her instead of the other way around. This held true when it came to teacher parent conferences, we always were there for each other when talking to parents. It was also true during lesson planning together as well. We could always read each other and were always there for each other in the moments needed.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is Amy, our science teacher. We are across the hall from each other and have been together for 5 years now. We both like to come to school early and sit and talk about our own children while we drink our coffee. We bounce ideas around and lead our middle school team. She helps me look at data and find interventions. She reads emails before I send them and will tell me the truth if I need to hear it.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is my best friend, Amy. We have been best friends since high school and we are now in our fifties. She is a teacher at another school so we always bounce off the things we do at our schools. I know I can trust her with things that I share and she gives me constructive criticism when I'm looking for it. We can always pick up the phone and share our good and bad days, funny stories about our students or just vent if we have an issue with students, staff or parents.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" would be 3 people. The first, my husband. He does an amazing job of keeping me balanced, as a wife, mom, teacher & friend. He is patient & knows when to step in when I need it. He is understanding and a calm to my sometimes chaotic world/schedule I try to maintain. The 2nd would be my identical twin sister. We can communicate with a look, most times. I can confide in her and not have a fear of judgement. She is my sounding board and vice versa. Our relationship over the years has only gotten stronger & she is someone I can count on, lean on & is my best friend. The 3rd is my teaching partner. She is level headed & a dang good problem solver. We've now taught together for 8 years, and our connection is strong. We bounce ideas off of one another, we brainstorm & plan together. She started as a co-worker and has become one of my best friends.
ReplyDeleteI have several people in my life that I would consider a "Colleen". Our preschool teacher continues to provide clarity and focus when things get difficult on the day to day. She has had many of my students and can provide insight that I might be lacking or too emotionally involved to see. My principal (and friend) helps me to let things roll of my back when I want to pick them up and left it all marinade a bit. She sends memes and videos to keep me focused on my "why". Our music teacher is amazing gal who has the ability to bring things back to the truth of the matter at hand and provide practical ideas for individual students.
ReplyDeleteMy Colleen would be my paraprofessional who has also been my good friend since 1st grade. We check in with each other, discuss the kids including their successes & needs. We also help each other to remember our why on those tough days as well as problem solve together what we can do differently the next time.
ReplyDeleteMy “Colleen” would be my husband. When I have bad days at school, he’s able to bring my spirits up. When I need to vent or need advice, he’s there for me. He helps me move on from the stress or the overwhelming feeling I feel on school nights.
ReplyDelete"Colleen" is no doubt my husband. Good days or bad, he is the first person I want to talk to about it. Even when I am having a hard time swallowing something, just calling him to 'vent it out' helps. Getting it off your chest with no judgement is sometimes all you need.
ReplyDeleteMy husband would be my Colleen. He lights up when we both get home from work and listens as I share my day. He is the one I go to when something is bothering me and the one I can't wait to share with when something positive has happened.
ReplyDeleteWho is your ‘Colleen’? Explain.
ReplyDeleteI have a few Colleens in my life. My first would be my husband as he is always happy and excited to see me and hear about my day. He lets me share the good and the bad of each day and never puts me down, but always is so encouraging. Another one would be my sister as she is who I call on my way to school in the mornings and she is always cheery and full of excitement to talk to me. Talking to her on the way to school about anything and everything just makes my day start off happy and on the right foot.
My Colleen is my wife who is also a teacher. I will always ask her for input if I need advice about how to handle a situation. She is also a veteran teacher who is good at her job so I value her advice. I have other colleagues who I will occasionally ask as well. My advice to younger teachers is to find the best teachers and model them and ask for their input. At my previous school, there was a veteran teacher next door to me who had a good repour with students and was a good teacher. I watched what he did and would ask him for suggestions. Being around positive people who love their job is key. Avoid people who are always complaining or counting the days until the next weekend.
ReplyDeleteMy “worklife Colleen” is my colleague, Laura Haberman, who I have the pleasure of working alongside each day as we monitor the hallways at Riggs. During that time, she consistently offers advice, encouragement, and affirmations that make the day both more positive and more productive. Laura is also the person who encouraged me to participate in this book group together so we could discuss the ideas and reflect on the content as colleagues. I truly appreciate her upbeat personality, supportive nature, and genuine enthusiasm for professional growth. Her willingness to seek out new professional learning opportunities and share them with others is both motivating and inspiring, and it makes working with her an especially rewarding experience.
ReplyDeleteMy ‘Colleen’ is my partner. He listens carefully and always asks whether I want to brainstorm solutions or just vent. He offers unbiased ideas, helps me see things from others’ perspectives, and encourages me when I feel stuck. He makes me feel empowered, supported, and capable of handling challenges, both in my teaching and in life.
ReplyDeleteI would say I have several people who could be considered my Colleen. The one I will speak to in this post is my husband. I chose to go back to school to get my teaching degree in my late thirties. Our two children were young at the time, and my husband encouraged me to start the journey. He was very helpful while I was going to school whether it was helping with a math problem, science partner, or getting the boys out of the house for a while, so I could study.
ReplyDeleteI have been a teacher now for four years, and he is always there to listen to me when I need him. On days that are hard, he reminds me that I’m a good teacher, and that I’m making a difference every day. I appreciate the patience and support he has shown me through the years.
Regarding school/work, my Colleen is two people, my 4th grade colleagues. We are all great listeners and support and encourage one another. We're able to chat not only about school, but our personal lives as well. I have been given lots of great advice from both of them since they've been teaching longer than me. I love that we share ideas and plan together, too.
ReplyDeleteWho is your ‘Colleen’? Explain.
ReplyDeleteMy Colleen at school is the elementary art teacher. We ride together 30 minutes from one building to another building and back every day together. During our car rides we collaborate, talk about our lives, and of course vent to each other when we need to. We also are in similar teaching situations as we teach every student in our elementary, so we can talk through behaviors that we see in our classes and give advice to each other on what works and what doesn't.
My Colleen is my wife. She is a sped teacher so she has a lot of patience with me and always listens to and I really value her advise on issues that I am dealing with. I know she can’t fix everything but she always provides me with different options to handle situations that I didn’t think about.
ReplyDeleteWho is your ‘Colleen’? Explain.
ReplyDeleteMy Colleen is a co-worker down the hall. We can share everything. We can talk about the struggles of the district, our rooms and our lives. We can talk about goals, dreams and plans for the future (and the week ahead). He listens to me and I listen to him. We love many of the same things but we go our own way on others things. Both are important. We have a light up for each other. We can talk every day or skip a week and we pick it up perfectly no matter what. Its amazing to have a person like this to count on and lean on.
Who is your "Colleen'? Explain
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is my teacher besties. I have a select few. Some of these girls were in my wedding. They have been there for me on the hard days, the good days, and the in between days. We encourage each other, are loyal to each other, help each other and overall make our work environment wonderful. If you don't have any "Colleens" work would not be as fun.
For me, my Colleen is a close friend and colleague who stays right there in the trenches with me. We’ve spent plenty of time navigating the highs and lows of the school year together, whether we’re decompressing over a meal or just grabbing a few minutes of quiet between classes. She’s the person I turn to when I feel a lid-flip coming on because she knows exactly how to help me find my footing again.
ReplyDeleteMy ‘Colleen’ is my husband. As an educator himself, he is willing to sit and listen to me vent about my work frustrations, offer solutions and sound advise. We are fortunate to work in the same building which gives him a better understanding of situations. He seems to know the right thing to say or do to make me feel better about situations that we face. I know that I can trust him and have him by my side for the long-haul.
ReplyDeleteMy “Colleen” is a coworker of mine. This coworker has been teaching for 25 years. A brief back story, I went to a university a little over an hour from where I grew up. I just so happened to connect with another future student there and we decided to be roommates. Fast forward, I ended up getting a teaching job at the same school that her mom worked at. That is how I found my Colleen. Her mom is absolutely amazing and has been through so much. Yet in everything she’s been through, she continues to give her all to her students. She became a second mom to me. She teaches 4th grade ELA and I teach 3rd grade ELA. I go to her with many struggles and frustrations. She is my calm in a Storm. She is always there when I need to vent out any frustrations I may have and is also there to help push myself and make me better. We love bouncing ideas off of one another and chatting about past students I had and future students she will have! Just a quick look and we know if one of the other needs a hug which always seems to make things better, or just a second to “word vomit.” We are always encouraging one another and offer advice when needed. Another Colleen I’m lucky to have in my life is my mom. She has been teaching for 31 years and was truly my inspiration for becoming a teacher myself. The way the kids love seeing her and learning from her reminds me why we do what we do! I am so thankful to have so many wonderful women in my life who can be there for me and remind me of my why when times get tough.
ReplyDeleteAccidentally posted above comment as anonymous at 11:18am. That is my post for grading purposes.
DeleteI would say my "Colleen" is my wife. She tends to keep me grounded when I want to flip my lid. She checks in on me and I check in on her. We are both educators in the same building, however at opposite ends. We never see each other because of schedules but if I needed a quick check-in, I could easily walk down and see her and she would listen to me and calm the chaos.
ReplyDeleteMy “Colleen” is the paraprofessional who works in my classroom. She is someone I can talk to, I trust and is fun to be around. She listens, is positive and someone to collaborate with. My “Colleen” makes work a better place.
ReplyDeleteWho is your ‘Colleen’? Explain.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is one of my paraprofessionals who work in my room as she is also one of my best friends. She is a person that listens to my stories and random rants and always there when I need someone to talk to. I can talk to her about everything and anything and won't feel any judgement from her because I am that same person to her. Nothing can express how lucky and grateful I am to have a friend like her in my life. Another person who is my "Colleen" is my mom. Since I have moved away for college and still on the opposite side for work, I tend to talk to my mom even more than I did when I lived with her growing up. I call her to vent and complain, and I also call her to share all the positives that happen in my life. She is always there to listen, give advice when needed, and just someone to talk about girl/life things with.
My person is my wife, Kim. She listens to my day. She understand my hopes, dreams, and frustrations with all things being a teacher. She listens and shares my struggles and triumphs. She understands how much I love my students. She gets that for teaching is the easy part of the job, and admin, politics, etc. are the hard part. She played in band herself, so she can even relate to what is happening.
ReplyDeleteMy Co-Band Teacher is another one. We can laugh about something a students does. Do a deep dive into what I should be doing differently. Offer positive criticism to make me a better band director. Share the struggle when admin messes up our concerts.
I have a couple of "Colleen's" in my life. One would be my husband; he is great at always having a different perspective to think about situations in various ways. He seems to help me think through and pause before reacting to a situation. Talking through situations and outcomes before reacting is key to not overreacting, in my opinion :) I would also say I talk through many conversations with my brother; a multitude of conversations have been had and no judgement or expectations are set in stone, just a safe space to bounce thoughts and ideas off of.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is definitely my husband. He is the calm to my chaos all the time and can help me when I tend to "flip my lid". He helps me to remember my "why" every day. He always seems to see the good and helps me to see it also. When I'm feeling defeated, he knows how to build me back up. I hope that I do the same for him as we are both teachers and at times need to bounce ideas off of one another. I also have a great team of teachers that I work with. Even on the tough days, we remind each other of the good things and try to help each other remember to smile and laugh every day.
ReplyDeleteI would say my "Colleen" would have to be my husband. He is not a teacher but instead he's a farmer. Of course he would be my "Colleen" since he is the one I chose to spend the rest of my life with. It makes it almost easier for me to come to him to vent and let everything out on him because we have different work lives. He listens to what I have to say and is usually the calm and rational between the two of us.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher friends at work are also great "Colleens" for me. We all can vent to each other about things we all can relate to. It just feels good to have a good set of work friends to help with keeping each other sane and enjoy work.
2 of my "Colleens" would be my coworkers. I've been teaching side by side with my one coworker for over 15 years. Without her, I wouldn't be able to keep doing what I do. She gets me, she gets this job we're in...the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. She knows her why, she keeps me to my why and she helps me when I need to get my lid back on. My other coworker is also there for me. We can all communicate openly. We support each other when we need it and lift each other up to keep us all going strong. We see each other at our lows and help get us back to our highs.
ReplyDeleteI have two Colleens that are my co workers. One is my cousin and her and I think alot alike! I don't know what I would do without her at work. She keeps me grounded and thinking on the right track if anything is ever negative. My other one is my para who has been working with me for quite some time. She is my sounding board and my steady one who I can count on through thick and thin! They manke my life easier and more special each day!
ReplyDeleteMy “Colleen” is my wife. She is also a teacher, butat another school. It always inspires me how she consistently puts relationships first, leads with care, and understands that connection with students often matters just as much as the content being taught. She plays a big role in helping me grow into the kind of educator and coach I want to be. She is my rock in many ways, but having her to support me and offer me candor advice is invaluable. She pushes me to slow down, be more intentional with people, and stay focused on what really matters when things get busy or stressful. She helps me reflect on how I’m showing up for students and athletes, and often brings me back to leading with patience, care, and understanding. In a lot of ways, she keeps me grounded and helps me live out the same values I try to bring into my classroom and coaching every day.
ReplyDeleteMy "Colleen" is my coworker Jenessa. We have been working on the same EC team for 2 years now, but the moment we met, I knew we would have a life-long friendship. She is so supportive and always challenges me to be the best I can be for my students. We have similar teaching histories and when I need advice, I know she'll have great past experiences that she can lean on to give advice. She keeps me grounded and motivated even on the toughest days.
ReplyDeleteI have 3 "Colleen's." Two of them are friends that I began working with 36 years ago. One has left the district and one has retired but we have remained close friends. They are always there are always very supportive with lending an ear and giving advice. My other "Colleen" is my husband. He is a great support and a person I can count on to be there for me when I have a tough day and keeps me going.
ReplyDelete