This poem was published today on Edudemic.com. Here is a visual about the reality of teaching on a daily basis. The slide also covers the dedication to students and the endearing love of the profession.

1. A Day In The
Life Of A
Teacher
A Poem Dedicated to the Students and Teachers for the 2012-2013
School Year!
Yes, Most Of What You Are About To Read Happened In One Day...

2. “I’ve put you on door duty, and hope you don’t
mind. Can you be down 20 minutes before the bell?
Thanks, you’re one of a kind.”
“Oh, and I almost forgot to inform you, we are down
one sub today, so I will be sending down 5 extra
students, I hope that’s okay.”

3. I pop my head in and stare at my team, as they are
debating the common core.
“Sorry, can’t make our morning meeting, heading
down to the door.”
“Wait!” A co-worker screams. “You know we are
down a sub?”
“Yes, I know, I’ve already joined that club.”

4. Down the halls and toward the
door I go.
No parent would drop off his
child so early in this kind of
snow.
But wait, who is that I see? A
student already? It cannot be.
No boots, no hat, and a
shivering little face.
I call him in to share this
warm place.

5. To the lost and found we go, hoping to find a pair of
boots, a set of gloves, anything extra for the snow.
He looks up at me, with eyes so big and so grateful.
I find him a pair of boots and a hat, and for this I am very
thankful.

6. The bell rings, the kids come flying in,
and as it goes, let the drama begin.

7. Into our room, all 32 of us
go, packed like sardines in
this tiny space (more like a
dorm).
I begin to call for attendance,
disperse lunch tickets and
collect all forms.
“Don’t forget, field trip
money is due. Who didn’t
bring their money? That
would be about half the
class, yes, half of you.”

8. “Eyes on the board, it is time for question of the day!
Yes, you must think about it, provide some reasoning
and defend what you say!
No, the answer is not on the Internet or found in a book,
cover your papers, and please, don’t give me that look.”

9. Reading, Math, Science and
finally Art. A little free time to
catch up, grade papers and…
“What? What is that you say?
Art is now on a cart?”
Oh no, the art teacher no
longer has her own space.
I hear her, she’s coming down
the hall angry, at a very fast
pace.

10. No time to plan or grade today, no specials in
the afternoon. I’ll take this long 20 minutes
to….

11. “Ms. S., I forgot to tell you
that I am going on vacation
and will need my homework
for the next 8 days.
My trip is real soon.”
“How soon is soon?”
“My mom is picking me up at
noon.”

12. Art on a cart is on her way
out.
Lunchtime is on its way.
“Silent reading for 20
minutes,” I proudly say.
“Take out a book, think,
imagine and read, read, read.
Did I just see someone
posting on friend feed?”

13. “No, you cannot go to the
bathroom, again. Believe
me, I know the game
face, and I know the look.
Put your hand down,
please stop talking, and
open a book!”

14. “Before we go to lunch, I want to show you
this little mailbox on my desk, where you
can leave me a note. If you have anything
you would like to discuss… BEEP!...Go get
your coats.”

15. It’s time for lunch lady land, and that means no break. I was asked
to take on lunch duty this year and everyone warned me…it would
be a mistake.
20 minutes to eat my soggy lunch, while I watch the kids eat and
talk. We head out to recess, finally, some time for fresh air and a
short walk.
I see her, yes, it’s the teacher who insists on telling me her life
story every day.
I escape to the other side of the field. How much more can she
possibly have to say?

16. The afternoon must now be changed, as
we will now have to cram.
I think and think and think ahead, as fast as
I can.
Those two will be in ESL, I will modify for
the gifted, working in groups…hmmm…
sounds like a plan.
Language Arts, Social Science, Spelling
words and more. An afternoon filled with
work…and 37 students at my door.

17. The new mailbox won’t
open after lunch, as it
seems jammed, but how
could that be?
Yes, it is, it is filled to
capacity with little notes
all for me.
I will take this mailbox
home tonight and read
every note, you’ll see.

18. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and more…
A little bit of schoolhouse rock and who is at the door?
The principal has stopped by for an unannounced peek.
On a Monday, so scattered, at the beginning of the
week?
She sits in the back of the room and types
away on her small Mac.
The kids are unusually quiet and one
student proudly says:
“Don’t worry Ms. S, we’ve got your back.”

19. There she goes, she’s about to
leave. Ahhh..I can finally breathe.
“Onto history we go, open your
books, today we are talking about
WWII.
Let’s move it, we have an entire
chapter to get through.”
The ESL teacher comes in, and the
reading specialist takes students out
with her too.
Modifying, helping, making life
changes, yes, this is what we do.

20. The end of the day is drawing near, and now for some
quiet time, time to think clear.
On the intercom, an announcement, a reminder about the
required district meeting, and I must stop by.
I gather every book, every paper, and I drop the loaded
mailbox. All the notes fly.

21. I pick up one note to read and it states: “Ms. S, I had a
great day and it was all because of you. I wanted you
to know,” from your student this morning, the boy in
the snow.
My feet are achy, my throat is dry, and off to the meeting
I go. I hold the note close to my heart, and now I know…
Why….

22. I do this every day, for a small amount of pay. For kids with bright eyes filled
with hopes and dreams. For those who are new to this country, still discovering
what it means.
I will get up each morning, even after the hardest of days. I will do my best to
make sure every child finds their way through this maze.
Modify work, standardized tests, classroom management and all of the rest.
As busy, stressful, hectic and a bit less unappreciated, the teaching profession is
still the best.

23. Thank You For Watching This Presentation!
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24. Photo Credits
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/aetern/4278660585/sizes/m/
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/lily_darke4/406831341/sizes/m/
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/danielcazcom/6996240640/sizes/m/
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/urbanwoodswalker/4130270981/sizes/m/
http://www.(lickr.com/photos/21370412@N05/2084731347/sizes/z/