The Improbable Fiction

Sixth year English teacher at a vocational tech high school. Nerdfighter. Theatre lover. Closeted optimist. Walking contradiction. Awkward baby giraffe. Opinions here are solely my own.

[theimprobablefiction]

Snow day #2 coffee, in the best cup ever, courtesy of @wincherella ❤️ Definitely having some more of the amazing tea she sent too, when I inevitably need an afternoon pick me up after grading papers! ☺️

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Narrative Arc

About this time five years ago, I found out I was non-renewed as a first year teacher. Today, on my first year tenured teacher summative evaluation, I am officially a highly effective teacher.

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When you get messages on social media from extended family after you post something about struggling with depression and having to take medication, and their message is essentially “drink more water, eat more vegetables, and do yoga instead of taking pills”

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Today’s Thought

I have very little patience for adults who refuse to listen to what teenagers have to say, and dismiss the value of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Contrary to what you might think, teenagers are people too.

[magicalmissb]

Winter/Spring Educhum Buddies!!!!

Greetings lovely #Educhums!!!

December is the last month for Fall/Winter buddies so it’s time to start the application process for Winter/Spring buddies!

You do not need to be a teacher to sign up. You can work in any part of the education world! For example- I participated and ran buddies all through college while studying to be a teacher.

This exchange does not need to be extravagant or costly, a note of encouragement is always appreciated. I know money can be very tight, so please don’t feel obligated to join or send expensive gifts.

If you sign up for a buddy, it is asked that you ***FOLLOW THROUGH*** and send something to your assigned #educhum at least once a month. If you are not able to send something or if life is delaying your gift, PLEASE BE IN CONTACT WITH YOUR BUDDY!!! You can remain a secret buddy, or reveal yourself at any time. If you do not feel you can fulfill the requirements, please do not sign up for this round. Nothing is more bummer than having a buddy that doesn’t follow through! We are all responsible adults, I ask that you fulfill this commitment, if you sign up.

This series of buddies will run from January-April

To sign-up please fill out this Google Form:

https://goo.gl/forms/RH6BvsOEizX4Wbv63

DEADLINE FOR SIGNUP is December31, 2017!

I hope y’all are just as excited as I am! Please reblog to spread this within our community! If there are any questions, please just ask!

Thank you,

Mishele AKA MagicalMissB

[magicalmissb]

Only 14 people have signed up so far! Please reblog and spread the post! Only a few more days to sign up!

[theimprobablefiction]

I just signed up! I’m so excited. The last time I did this was about seven years ago. That’s how I met my OG tumblr buddy hithertokt! :)

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Some people listen to Christmas songs when they finish up last minute holiday crafting/gift wrapping

Some of us listen to the most random assortment of Broadway soundtracks ever.

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I texted my sister in law that someone made me cry today

Before I even had the chance to tell her what happened, she sends me a picture of her holding nunchucks with a maniacal look on her face.

Clearly, I picked the right family to marry into.

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Shared this exchange with one of my bbfs and she goes, "Who has nunchucks just lying around their house?" Sister-in-law then texted me the following to pass along to her: a photo of her mom decked out in full military fatigues and a giant gun (she was in the reserves) and the following conversation between her and her husband:

Her husband: What IS the most dangerous weapon in our house?

SIL: Probably the machete my mom got you for your birthday

[theimprobablefiction]

I texted my sister in law that someone made me cry today

Before I even had the chance to tell her what happened, she sends me a picture of her holding nunchucks with a maniacal look on her face.

Clearly, I picked the right family to marry into.

[theimprobablefiction]

A fellow teacher doing dancing with the staff made a comment today about my outfit for my dance (light colored jeans and a loose plaid button up shirt, mind you) and she said, "I can totally tell that you're uncomfortable in that outfit and you look really self-conscious about your body when you're dancing. You might want to work on that before tomorrow."

I was absolutely floored. I had no idea how to respond. So I didn't, and I hate myself a little bit for that. But legit, I'm here for my kids. The end. And yes, I am probably the most self conscious person on that stage, which is honestly the reason I did it-- in the hopes that maybe some exposure therapy of sorts would be good for me. I've had self-esteem issues since I before I even knew what self-esteem was. I'm a "bigger" (curvy, plus sized, fat, whatever you want to call me) and I always have been. I move like an awkward baby giraffe.

But I own it, as hard as it might be for me, because I have 14 and 15 year olds that need a strong female role model in their lives, who isn't afraid to push herself out of her comfort zone. Unfortunately, today the universe gave me a friendly reminder that there's a reason it's called the comfort zone.

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When people ask for your advice about something and you give them sincere input, and then they go and do the exact opposite of the advice you gave them

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So I'm doing dancing with the staff on Friday

I keep telling myself that I'm doing this for the kids and it doesn't matter how well I do (I'm not a dancer at all and I have ridiculous insecurities about by body), but rehearsal was tough today. Yay insecurities.

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My heart is so full

Hubs and I got to spend this evening with some amazing educhums in NYC, painting and eating all the pickles. I am so lucky to have met all of them in real life, but even luckier to have them in my corner from near and far for every step of my teaching career and major milestones in my non-school... and of course, general ridiculousness always.

Love you all ❤️😘

[theimprobablefiction]

So excited to see so many educhums today!! 😍

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When your babies who graduated three years ago come back to see you and they're thriving in the big bad world

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When you are craving social interaction so much that it hurts, but your brain says, "No, I won't let you do that today. We're hibernating."

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Also

Tonight for our Mr. (Name of School) show, we had a kid dress up as Chris Christie on the beach this summer when he shut the government down because of budget issues but still went to the beach, even though it was closed. It was glorious.

And a kid who did a drag lip sync for his talent. It was the fiercest thing I have ever seen and everyone loved it.

I want to adopt both of them.

[theimprobablefiction]

This job will tear you to pieces sometimes

But a lot of the time it gives you exactly what you need, when you least expect it. Tonight I am a proud part of an amazing school family that I wouldn't trade for the world. My heart is so full.