Things I never knew . . .

Installment #20

Five things I never knew . . . until I became a teacher:

spelling is inconsequential to understanding someone’s written work
grammar and syntax is inconsequential to understanding someone’s written work
print and handwriting vary–tremendously
writing is an art . . . an abstract modern art to be exact
my ability to decipher writing has no limits

2023 Resolution Check

In January I posted a set of teacher resolutions for the year.

For many teachers, the academic year is either half over, or nearing it’s end. For the rest of us, the calendar year is approaching its halfway point. So, given the time of year — whether academic or calendar — I thought it important to revisit my teacher-resolutions.

On my list were:

Make a schedule, and stick to it, for writing here on C is for Camacho
- Still working on this one . . .
Renew all education licenses
- One state’s worth of licenses were renewed at the end of 2022, the other state’s license I decided not to renew . . .
Attend an educational conference
- Thanks to my current role, it looks like I will have to attend a conference in Salvador, Brazil–so: in progress!
Take one class or training on a subject, methodology, or technology tool that has interested me in the past year
- I have not done this yet, but I also feel like moving to a whole new country has occupied all my time for learning new things. So: sort of done?
Continue to expand my educational profile/resume
- I took a job in another country. I am absolutely expanding my educational range and resume.

As you can see, I am making some progress. I am meeting some originally intended goals.

At the same time, I have made some revisions. No one is beholden to their original plan because plans cannot be complete in their original form. Things change. I have adapted accordingly.

I think it’s important to circle-back, to hold oneself accountable. I enjoy reflecting on what I thought this year would be like, versus what it actually looks like–but what about you? How’s your year going? Any resolutions–teacher or otherwise–you’d like to share about? What did you meet, adjust, or remove altogether?

Teaching & Living Abroad: Brazil 🇧🇷

Roughly two years ago, I shared that I was starting a new chapter, and a long-held teaching and personal dream: living and working abroad.

I moved to Turkey for one job, and it didn’t work out as expected. I got another role in Turkey, and that role ultimately floundered as well. It was quite the turn-of-events.

Leading up to my move to Turkey, I felt that I was about to embark on something life-changing. I was going to move and live abroad for years, maybe forever. I really felt it in my soul. Six months later I was back home.

It was an adventure to say the least. Was it difficult? Yes. Would I do it again? I don’t know.

I enjoyed being a tourist and the opportunity to travel while between jobs, but uprooting myself, disrupting my routine and my career, just to be back to square one (just six months later)–I don’t know if I could do that again . . .

Fast forward two years, I was applying to live and work abroad again. But this time I was applying with experience, with knowledge of what went wrong previously, and a list of non-negotiables.

It came down to two opportunities: one in South Korea 🇰🇷, one in Brazil 🇧🇷.

In June of 2022 I signed to begin a life in Brazil 🇧🇷 –start date: February 2023. In the ensuing six months I was cautious. I tried not to put so much weight or pressure on myself, or this opportunity. I knew from experience that anything could change, anything could fall through.

Well, 2023 is here, and I have been in Brazil 🇧🇷 for 3 months. It hasn’t been easy; it’s actually been the most difficult cultural and language adjustment to date for me. But I’m doing it.

I once shared that it is a risk and a privilege to do something like this, to move abroad, to live abroad, to work abroad. Moving away from everything familiar takes gumption. Tremendous courage. Doing it again, when the first time didn’t work out, takes even more gumption, even more courage.

I don’t know if I made the right decision–Brazil 🇧🇷 over South Korea 🇰🇷. I don’t know if this is the best career move. I do know that trying again was brave, that pursuing a dream is brave, and that just as I want my students to be brave, so too must I be brave . . .

Teacher Humor

“A teacher’s nightmare: Tying a wet shoelace when it has NOT been raining!”

–Unknown

Note: I never tied shoes, even when I taught kindergarten. Among many reasons–this eventually was one! 🤪

Why do I teach?

Installment #12

I teach for the stories.

Now, this isn’t like Installment #9–this is not a nod or a reference to the stories I get to read; this is about the stories I get to live . . . because some of them are hilarious.

Remember “kids say the darnest things”? Yeah, there’s a reason for that saying — kids are hilarious, and blunt. Kids not only say the darnest things, they do the darnest things. And while there are times where I, as the teacher, have been at a lost for words–absolutely confounded; I, nevertheless, get to go to parties, dinners, any sort of get-together, with some of the best, most outlandish, stories.

Ever had a kid tell you a little too much about their parents’ . . . relationship?
Ever had a kid tell you exactly what their older brother or sister was doing . . . and probably didn’t want anyone to know exactly what they were doing?
Ever had a kid tell you how you look today . . . brutally tell you how you look?

I have–all of it and more–and they are among my best memories, and my favorite stories to share with everyone 🤗😅

🤗😅 I teach for the stories 🤗😅