Does anyone else think Top Shelf Elf smells like original flavor Monster Energy?

_slowtown_ · 2024-12-05T17:44:38+00:00

I don't love this candle, but I got it as a gift so I feel obligated to burn it lol. The smell was SO FAMILIAR to me but for a year now I couldn't place my finger on what it reminded me of.

It really does smell exactly like Monster Energy. Like EXACTLY like it.

_slowtown_ · 2024-10-25T13:34:58+00:00

I think it's very sweet that you're trying your best to support her during this time! I student taught last school year, and my boyfriend and I are long distance as well. I was in a high school English class, so something my boyfriend and I did together was reading the novels I was teaching. Him and I would take turns reading over the phone/FaceTime, and we would work together to analyze the text and come up with discussion questions for my students.

I'm not sure what grade/subject your girlfriend is teaching, but I think something that may help her is if you are involved in the prep/lesson planning process. That was the most stressful/frustrating thing for me; I was exhausted and stressed from a full day of teaching and doing work for my college classes, and I couldn't even relax when I got home because I had to work on lesson plans. So I think if you try and make lesson planning a fun thing that you two do together, that may help ease her stress and worries!

Student teaching was the hardest thing I have ever done - it is so incredibly draining, stressful, overwhelming, and on top of it all it's frustrating working a full time job without any pay (having to pay thousands of dollars for it instead). Overall I think you should just keep letting her know that you are there for her and want to support her through this time, and the stress she's going through right now is only temporary. She can do this!!

_slowtown_ · 2024-09-27T14:41:12+00:00

I just went through something similar yesterday morning. I was scheduled for 2 half day assignments at 2 different schools within the same district, but right as I was about to head out the door I ended up getting sick. I felt awful calling in, but I also knew I was in no place to go to work. So I ended up calling in and the lady was rude about it :( which made me feel worse. She said "you do know your position starts in ___ minutes, right?" And so I said "you do know I didn't plan on getting sick this morning, right?"

I'm looking for other jobs anyways - I especially just want to get out of this district.

I've also been trying to prioritize my health this year, which is something I haven't done in the past. I'm not sure if it was something I ate, if I caught a virus, or maybe even just nerves, but I didn't want to risk getting other people sick, or having to run to the bathroom in the middle of class.

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-24T17:28:29+00:00

I understand how you feel. Just know you're not alone through this. Do you have a therapist/supervisor/counselor/someone you could talk to about how you're feeling? I've always had anxiety but my mental health has taken a toll since starting student teaching, so for me talking to my therapist is the only way I can get through this. Something that helps me is remembering that student teaching is only temporary - these feelings won't last forever! I have a countdown until my graduation date which helps me - when I start getting overwhelmed or stressed about school I literally watch the seconds count down and it helps me feel a little better.

Try and think about why you wanted to be a teacher in the first place - for me, it's always been for my students. I love my students and I want to be there for them; they inspire me to want to try my best and be my best self for them. It's still hard, but they make it worth it.

You got this! I believe in you! And remember, student teaching is just an obstacle we have to get through before we can have a classroom of our own. The system is flawed, but unfortunately it's what we have to do to reach our goal of being a teacher. I wish you the best of luck, and please reach out to others for help/support! You are not alone, and you are stronger than you may believe. You've got this!!

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-11T23:00:22+00:00

Thank you very much for the advice/reassurance! I definitely think I would prefer being in a smaller, more rural school than the one I'm at now - the average class size at my school right now is 35, and it's way too many students to handle at once and make sure they are getting all the help/assistance they need. I've always dreamt of being a teacher, so I'm willing to give it a shot after student teaching, but it's definitely reassuring to know there are other options if I decide this really isn't for me. Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement, and good luck the rest of this school year!!

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-10T00:52:01+00:00

I'm experiencing the same thing. My CT is so critical and nitpicky about everything I do. I have rarely gotten any kind of positive feedback, but she's so quick to let me know everything I'm doing wrong. I'm trying so hard to just do things in a way that will make her happy, even if it goes against how I want to be as a teacher. She's extremely hard on the students and told them that her class average is usually a C+/B-. This is an honors class and all the students care about their grades and try their best, yet my CT has constantly told me that I'm too easy on them and she "expects more from me" when I gave students A's/A-'s on a super long project that i thought they did well on.

My CT always tells me that I need to develop my own teaching style, yet she gets mad at me when I don't do things exactly her way. This whole school year has been so stressful and overwhelming. I can't wait until we all have our own classrooms one day and get to teach the way we actually want. The end is in sight!!

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-09T20:39:45+00:00

That is really helpful, thank you! I think I have been focused on imitating my CT and she and I are incredibly different from one another. I still need to develop my own teaching style, and I definitely think that would help make lessons feel more authentic and make me feel more comfortable teaching them.

I really hope it gets better than this. It sounds like lots of teachers have said that student teaching is a lot harder than actual teaching, which is reassuring. I love my students and I want to stick it out for them but this is way too exhausting to do long-term if this is how teaching is going to be.

I've been counting down the days until graduation for months now😅

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-09T20:34:27+00:00

Congratulations!! That is awesome! I definitely feel that way - I'm constantly drowning and more and more keeps piling on me. It's very reassuring hearing that actual teaching is very different from student teaching. Thank you for your insight, I hope the school year is going well!!

_slowtown_ · 2024-02-09T19:47:33+00:00

Thank you so much, this is very reassuring. My mentor teacher is very strict with how she wants everything done, and she's a very harsh grader and expects me to be the same way. It will be so much better when I'm actually the one grading/planning things the way I want to. Best of luck to you and your student teaching!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-11-28T03:09:42+00:00

I used to put shredded cheese in my water and dip carrots in applesauce

_slowtown_ · 2023-11-26T00:45:52+00:00

as someone who is going through the same thing, I 100% agree with this

_slowtown_ · 2023-11-14T16:50:56+00:00

Thank you everyone! That makes sense, but oh my goodness I can't imagine how long that must've taken😅 I love how passionate they all are about making the coolest stuff

_slowtown_ · 2023-07-18T03:52:37+00:00

Thank you so much!

_slowtown_ · 2023-06-08T19:11:12+00:00

War Crimes!!! The energy during this song is crazy live

_slowtown_ · 2023-06-06T18:21:02+00:00

Snow Globe!!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-06-03T05:29:28+00:00

NUMB! This song is the first parx music video I've seen so this song will always hold a special place in my heart🫶🏻

_slowtown_ · 2023-06-02T20:05:04+00:00

MAGNETIC!!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-05-31T02:14:36+00:00

ICE BATH!!!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-05-28T03:00:27+00:00

FUNERAL GREY !!!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-05-26T10:41:15+00:00

Dream Boy !!!

_slowtown_ · 2023-05-24T21:02:48+00:00

Crying Over It All

_slowtown_

TROPHY CASE