The things we do...

So today I went to Build-A-Bear to build a bear for a project I am going to do with my class. I went in to see if they had a stuffed animal size backpack, and ended up building an entire bear because they had a special. It was very interesting. First, the people that work their must pop pills all day because they are way too excited about being there.
Now, I am an adult. I understand that building a bear is not this magical experience and that the bear will not have any sort of soul or emotions. I'm not entirely sure that the people that work there understand this. I would have been perfectly happy with them just stuffing the animal and giving it to me, but nooooo...I had to go through the whole build-a-bear motions. I had to step on the peddle and fill my bear's body with fluff. I had to pick out a heart, make a wish, kiss it, and put it in the bear's body. I felt completely ridiculous the entire time, and drew the line when asked to name it and give it a birth certificate. I think the salesgirl was surprised I didn't want a birth certificate for my stuffed animal. I wanted to be like "Lady, I'm 29!" She also offered the Build-A-Bear rewards program to me. Seriously...do I look like someone that's going to come into B-A-B frequently enough to join an rewards program? The most awkward part was carrying the big B-A-B cardboard house around the mall. Not only is the thing bulky, but when an adult carries one and there is no child in sight, there are lots of stares. I bet people thought I was special.
It's amazing the things we do for our class. Hopefully, the project will go well and this experience will not have been in vain.

Here's the end product! He is ready for school, and he does look really cute!

Those who can't do...teach?

Well here I am. About to begin my 5th year of teaching. I'm excited because I just got transferred to a new school (at the beach!!!!). This is a big deal because my previous 4 years of teaching have been at a tiny, urban school in town. I have many stories to tell about this school. Stories that, as I reflect back on my first years in the teaching profession, I will post here on this blog, which is the true purpose of this blog. However, this post is more of a reflection of what is to come.
It has been said that those who can't do, teach. Well, what if you became a teacher because you didn't really know what to do. And what if the teaching experiences you have had thus far, have been those of sheer terror. I'm really quite surprised that I have had the resolve to stick with this profession for 4 years. And, to be perfectly honest with you, I probably would have quit had it not been for the lovely transfer to a wonderful beach school. Of course there is a huge part of me that is very reluctant. How different can it really be? Aren't all kids pretty much the same? Do socioeconomic differences really make a difference? I ask these questions because if I have the same type of experiences at my new school then teaching is not for me. And if teaching is not for me, then what is?
If you can't teach, what can you do?