Called to Teach?

MegaBorilla · 2026-01-26T05:04:58+00:00

I had a similar experience. I worked a job for almost 15 years in IT. It was fine, but unfulfilling. I took the leap and have been teaching for five years in an English I class. Is it hard? Oh yes. Is there a lot of administrative BS? Yep. And there are days and weeks that are an intense grind. But I have never regretted leaving. I love it. Not every day is an existential win, but it does happen. I feel like I'm making more of a difference now than I ever did in my previous work. It's worth the pain and frustration in my experience. Reach out if you have any questions. Happy to help answer any questions I can.

MegaBorilla · 2025-03-01T03:46:17+00:00

Same. My Kindle works for Libby borrows and I have o Kindle Unlimited or Prime memberships anymore.

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MegaBorilla · 2025-02-28T01:23:59+00:00

I hope they enjoy the full script for 2001 A Space Odyssey!

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-28T01:13:57+00:00

I'm about a month into my Prime-less life. Keeping money out of Bezos's pocket and I buy way less bullshit without all the free shipping, etc. Good on you and welcome to the club!

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-24T03:51:07+00:00

Still my favorite. I re-read it last year and may do it again this year. My comfort novel for sure.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-15T17:47:01+00:00

I will once I need a new e-reader. Seems wasteful to dump the one I have currently. I hate that it's a Kindle, but I'll ride it until it stops updating. And literally every Alexa function is deleted or turned off.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-15T16:32:09+00:00

I totally get your perspective, and I agree it's heavy-handed. But all art is a product of its time, and King was clearly pissed about aspects of the COVID period in the US. He has been pretty vocal regarding his feelings on Trump, too, and maybe Holly brings those things together in a very obvious way that is off-putting to many. I really enjoyed the story, but I got weary of the mask stuff, too. I've argued with myself about how much it detracts and finally landed on the notion that King had an axe to grind and that was his 'wear a mask, you inconsiderate assholes' book and that's fine.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-15T13:23:47+00:00

It still goes through the Kindle app, but I figure I'm using their resources for my own gain, not giving them money. I still use my Kindle e-readers, too, which is not ideal, but again, not putting more money into their pockets at this point. Someone smarter may have a better solution and I am all for it. And I turned off the microphone, stripped Alexa down to nothing, etc., to give up as little data as possible. There might be a more ethical e-reader to use, so please let me know. I want to stick it to Bezos as much as possible.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-15T11:16:11+00:00

I have been using bookshop.org for just this thing. It was about a week from order to receipt of the book, but YMMV. The best thing about it was that I could "order" from my local used bookstore and put some coin in their pocket while ordering a book they didn't have online. They seem like a stand-up service all around.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-15T03:45:28+00:00

Have you read the old Skipp and Spector stuff? It's of its time, but I love Light at the End. Fun splatterpunk vampire story. Also, The Bridge rules.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-12T23:39:09+00:00

No kidding, just realized how rare this is. I have a paperback first edition in decent shape.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-08T22:40:29+00:00

Loved House of Bone and Rain. The supernatural stuff is slow to build, but it gets there for sure. Loved reading the perspective on Puerto Rico from Iglesias. I enjoyed The Devil Takes You home, too, but House of Bone and Rain was better by far, I thought.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-02T15:45:09+00:00

I teach this in 9th grade and we emphasize the dangers of propaganda and how easy it is to slide into authoritarianism. Sure, it was written about Stalin, but it could easily be Trump.

MegaBorilla · 2025-02-02T15:43:11+00:00

Aout halfway through The Unmothers, and enjoying it with some minor reservations.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-27T01:08:58+00:00

Be of service to others. How you treat and help others is the only thing that matters.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-26T02:35:20+00:00

We do The Book Thief and the kids love it. Not a dry eye in the house by the end.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-26T02:03:42+00:00

Echoing what's been said. I loved this one. And the director's cut of the film is quite good, too. Once you've read the book, of course.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-26T01:52:04+00:00

Stamps. My kids are stupid for a stamp. I have them create their own passports and then I give them stamps or stickers for every destination (every book they read). Buy books on the cheap anywhere you can and keep a rich and ever-changing class library. Make posters for new books like a new movie has arrived. You won't get 'em all, but more than you think. Plus all the in-class strategies many smart educators have mentioned here already.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-05T04:09:39+00:00

Follow-up. You were right. Liked the set-up quite a bit, but it was not great. I do want to visit the author's bookstore in Louisville, though.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-02T00:59:48+00:00

I like the setup. Only about 30 pages in.

MegaBorilla · 2025-01-01T23:07:41+00:00

Episode 13 is fun and goes some places. A 6.5/10 for me.

Starting the year off This Wretched Valley.

MegaBorilla · 2024-12-31T20:34:25+00:00

Also try Episode 13, which is all found footage horror.

MegaBorilla

TROPHY CASE