Teachers like to share information, which makes sense :-) I was wondering how many other teachers are also Cuties, and what you teach or have taught! I know we have both teachers and principals on here.....

Did any of you notice a decline in the thinking abilities of your students over the years? It seemed my kids could read earlier and earlier, but their abilities to actually think and reason really took a dive over the years. It was like Mom and Dad did too much for them, instead of teaching them how to do things on their own. . . .

I loved being a teacher as much as I loved teaching the kids. I miss the kids, but being in a small community, I still get to see lots of them growing up. Yesterday there was a girl in the grocery store who gave me that look when I went in - you know the look - the one that says, " you remember me, don't you????" It was Haley, the little girl in kindergarten who had all those temper tantrums, and called me Mrs. Horrible. Her mother had died two years before in a car accident and this little girl didn't like anyone. She had shiny, glistening red hair and beautiful green eyes, a brother almost her size and a daddy who was doing his best. By the time I had her in second grade she had quite an attitude, but I was the teacher who tamed her, who brought her around. I think it was hugs, being firm, and teaching her to write, that did it for her. I ended up being her favorite teacher. She became a wonderful writer and won the spelling bee in fifth grade. We had a great hug yesterday and she filled me up again. It felt so good to see her and have that hug. That's what I miss the most.

Such interesting answers!!! I've had answers from some students like...'I don't have to learn to read - I'm going to use a computer'..... and .... 'Once I leave school I'll never do any Maths again.'
These children, now young adults, have surely found that reading and mathematics are fundamental to living and having fun.
I agree that Maths and quilting, in fact most crafts, go hand in hand as do reading instructions properly and following them (do as I say and not as I do......I skim read way too often and come up with some marvellous comments, e.g. Infernal Revenue for Internal Revenue.)
Isn't it great that we can come together on an even footing and enjoy our stitching hobbies with everyone, sharing and learning from each other, regardless of the fact that we did or we did not have a 'good, solid education'.
I've found that crafting is a great leveller.
AlmaG.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I think of sewing and crafting as life-long skills. I love to make the things I need exactly as I want them, and of course there is nothing like making something that is personalized as a gift. I always incorporated crafting into my classroom teaching too:-)

I am a retired Family and Consumer Science teacher from local high school. After college I was an Extension Agent, then taught 5-8 grades before children came along. While in high school, taught VBS & Sunday school classes at church & summer school at local high school. Taught knitting, crochet, beading, basket weaving & other crafts at 4-H camps. Past 26 years taught quilting classes in our quilt guild. Taught Kumiko Sudo's "Fabled Flowers" at a local quilt shop as a BOM series & at our 'Quilting on the Mountain Festival'. Taught at QOM for over 15 years & creating a paper-pieced pattern to teach this year. I will be teaching my guild in August how to make my Journal that I created, & I was the one that sent out the 'One Tie Purse' to over 50 ladies earlier this year. I love sharing what I learn with others. Retired 3 years but still going strong.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

The One Tie Purse Lady! Who'd a Thunk It! It sounds like you have been teaching all your life too - like so many other cuties! There is something special about sharing what we have learned isn't there!

by clawton 13 Jun 2012

Nice to hear from another FACS teacher!

I was a maths teacher, and my students were 16 to 18 years old.
I loved my profession, and i have tried to learn to them rigour which is necessary for the maths, and which is very useful for the whole lifz.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I think sewing and maths are closely related, don't you think so too? I think that is one reason I love sewing - it's like solving math puzzles :-)

I teach 7-12th grade science. I love teaching. I have been teaching for 12 years now and still love it and the students.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I think there must be some kind of connection to sewing and quilting, digitizing with math and science. I loved teaching sooo much and miss it terribly. How much fun to teach the bigger kids!

hi Jan
I taught science in lincoln. I stopped in 2010 when I got a bit poorly. I loved teaching and miss the children alot. However as others have said I did not miss the hoop jumping that had become such a huge part of the job!! The worst way to fatten a pig is to keep taking it away from the trough to weigh it!!
Love
Ann

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

That would make a good design! Those hoops were getting to be be the pits. The pendulum was swinging way too often for me too. We kept rewriting the same curriculum.

by scottie0930 14 Jun 2012

Hi Jan
You are right about the curriculum!! The powers that be never had to take responsibility for there actions because nothing stays long enough to be tested!!!!!!!!

by spendlove 15 Jun 2012

Good job you weren't an English teacher.

by hightechgrammy 15 Jun 2012

Is it just me, or does it seem to others that standard spoken English has deteriorated lately too?

wow very impressive all you folk here. I will give you all a mark now....straight A's to all of you, well done.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Thanks for the As!

I was 33 years fifth grade teacher, the last five became Art teacher for the entire school, I thaught from PreK 3 to 8th grade! I miss that.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Thirty-three years! I am sure you miss those kids. Have you kept in touch with any of them? Wow, Mary!

I trained as a high school teacher of 'commercial subjects' i.e. shorthand, typing and book-keeping. In my first year out teaching I taught English, Maths, Social Studies, Science and Phys.Ed. to Year 8 students, Typing to Year 9 students and Shorthand and Geography to Year 12 students. I also ran the weekly film lessons and trained the softball team.

Years later, around about retirement age, DHDon and I bought a Kip McGrath Education Centre and we tutored students in English, Spelling and Maths. That 'semi-retirement' business lasted as a full-time occupation for 15 years and we retired, aged 72 and 71, five years ago.

I have also taught knitting, socks mainly, to adults; crafts of many kinds to children; softball coaching to one of the teams in one small town where we lived - it won the Grand Final that year; recorder music to one class (I also played piano, violin and concert flute); outdoor survival and fun to my Cub Scout pack for five years.

When we lived in Papua New Guinea and took newly-built high schools and developed them into going concerns I literally taught everything, from setting up and running the canteen shop, sewing lessons, and first aid station to teaching the Humanity Subjects, English, Maths, Commerce, Arts, Social Studies, (while DHDon handled the Science and Wordwork lessons), to running the sports teams and teaching the students the fundamentals of western culture toiletry habits.

It's been a fun life.
AlmaG.

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by spendlove 13 Jun 2012

Wow - what an amazing rollercoaster ride through education!

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Alma, that is just amazing. You have truly taught all your life, haven't you! I bet you are still teaching :-) I took shorthand in highschool and still remember it, and use it sometimes! I'm glad you included cub scouts and other teaching in your list, as we certainly teach more than just "school!"

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

list of teaching experiences, as teaching does go well beyond the schoolhouse! How neat you and your DH shared this love of teaching with the world. Thanks for sharing your life with us too!

I am in my 22nd year of education--15 years teaching algebra and geometry, and the last 7 as the math specialist for all grades in our district. My day can go from kindergarten to calculus. I love it. One of my daughters is also a teacher--algebra! I had the pleasure of having both my girls as students, and it was great.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Wow - you have had the experiences too! I can't imagine changing gears to teach the munchkins and then switch to the abstract thinkers so fast! I had Ben in my class one year. It was the only year I was completely happy with his teacher :-)

Taught all forms of decorative machine stitchery ie. free motion embroidery,applique, cutwork, Brazilian embroidery, hardanger, beadwork, quilting, etc at the national level for 30 years. Miss the interaction with all the wonderful people I use to meet, but enjoy the time to just create and do my own thing. Now I just do what inspires me for friends and family.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

You must have traveled a lot to do all that teaching. I always love doing demos in front of a group, but panic that I won't have everything I need -LOL. Were you called Crafty Critter then? Maybe we saw you when you were traveling...

by thecraftycritter 13 Jun 2012

Company logo is my avatar, and the name is still the same.

You went over 30,000 flowers! You Rock! also was wondering about Pavel, any word?

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I did! But I still haven't caught up with you - he he! You are 1,163 ahead of me!
No new word from Pavel, but I think he will be returning any day.

Held knitting, crochet and charting classes for 12 years in the yarn shop I used to own. Now I am retired and take classes.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I can't even imagine the patience it must take to teach others how to knit and crochet! Especially if they use the other hand from me - LOL!

Just to be different :) I teach engineering students at University in Australia

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Engineering! I always thought there was a lot of mathematics in sewing! Isn't it kind of a left brained adventure - like engineering???

Hi Jan, I taught Home Economics for many years. I also teach Science and Biology. I have also held embroidery workshops for our sewing guild, teaching machine embroidery.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

So, you are still teaching :-) Is that in high school then? I think there must be a special place in heaven for high school teachers -AND middle school teachers especially - LOL. You must really know machine embroidery to teach it :-)

wow hats off to all of you ladies Teaching is a very noble profession & I personally want to thank you all for teaching our children what we can't! Hugs & Blessings are wished for you all! Loralye

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by pldc 12 Jun 2012

this also explains why many of you are sew patient with cuties like me!

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I agree - there must be some relationship - Cuties are pretty patient :-)

hi Jan, I taught Home Economics in high school, all standerds, but also was trained to teach Needlework, and it was the needlework that won in the end.
I was offered a job teaching grown ups in a lovely sewing shop atmosphere where I could realy do my thing. The classes were plus minus 10 ladies each.
Now I have been doing the same thing at home for a good two years, and I am loving it.
Have morning and evening classes every morning, except Friday and weekend, and every evening the same.
Cannot see myself stopping soon. It keeps me sane.

Jan I taught Kindergarten years and years ago for 5 yrs but decided nursing was where I wanted to work and the 1st couple of yrs after receiving my nursing Degree I worked in pediatrics. Geriatrics was where I wanted to be and where I finally wound up. I love taching also so my 4 yr old Great g.son is reading at 4. LOL/Lillian

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

You could have been a school nurse - he he! No wonder your GGS reads so early. You have really served the whole range too with both pediatrics and geriatrics! I love working with the geriatric crowd too. Such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom!

I taught Family and Consumer Sciences for 41 years. Retired in 2007. I now volunteer at the school helping with the Project Linus group.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I don't know about the Project Linus group?? What is it???
41 Years is a long, long time - that's incredible!

by clawton 13 Jun 2012

Project Linus is a national volunteer organization that make quilts/blankets for children that have suffer a trama of some kind (death in family, hospital stay &etc.) There are chapters in almost all states in the US.

I was an instructor for the U.S. Army. I taught all kinds of arts and crafts classes both in Germany and New York. Very enjoyable and rewarding work.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I believe it's the Arts and Crafts that have been life-long, sustainable skills for me. They are the skills that I turn to to fullfill my whole creative side that fills my soul! IT must have been rewarding teaching them. I always enjoy teaching what I know with others. How neat you did this for the Army!

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I can do to others. How neat you did this for the Army. Did you do this while you were in the Army - or was this a special deal? Sounds fun!

by rsehorse 13 Jun 2012

My husband was in the Marine Corps and the Army. I was hired by the government to teach. It was very rewarding. Ialways think back to my dad when I was a child. he would get after me and tell me to get bust and do something that amounted to something. Well my handiwork has paid off I tell him. Look at me I made a career of it. I always say " Do what you love, it won't be work and you'll be happy".

by rsehorse 13 Jun 2012

My husband was in the Marine Corps and the Army. I was hired by the government to teach. It was very rewarding. Ialways think back to my dad when I was a child. he would get after me and tell me to get bust and do something that amounted to something. Well my handiwork has paid off I tell him. Look at me I made a career of it. I always say " Do what you love, it won't be work and you'll be happy".

by rsehorse 13 Jun 2012

My husband was in the Marine Corps and the Army. I was hired by the government to teach. It was very rewarding. Ialways think back to my dad when I was a child. he would get after me and tell me to get bust and do something that amounted to something. Well my handiwork has paid off I tell him. Look at me I made a career of it. I always say " Do what you love, it won't be work and you'll be happy".

by rsehorse 13 Jun 2012

My husband was in the Marine Corps and the Army. I was hired by the government to teach. It was very rewarding. Ialways think back to my dad when I was a child. he would get after me and tell me to get bust and do something that amounted to something. Well my handiwork has paid off I tell him. Look at me I made a career of it. I always say " Do what you love, it won't be work and you'll be happy".

by rsehorse 13 Jun 2012

My husband was in the Marine Corps and the Army. I was hired by the government to teach. It was very rewarding. Ialways think back to my dad when I was a child. he would get after me and tell me to get bust and do something that amounted to something. Well my handiwork has paid off I tell him. Look at me I made a career of it. I always say " Do what you love, it won't be work and you'll be happy".

Jan for the past 18 years I have been a librarian, reading specialist, and computer teacher in a Middle school grade 6-8. I also co-teach confirmation classes in our church and I have taught Bible school on 2 different Indian Reservations over the years. I just finished my school year on the 5th of June. I would love to retire , but I have to put in at least 2 more years to qualify for Social Security.

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by lbrow 12 Jun 2012

Jan both my daughter and her daughter are Librarian's and each is at a different High School, both have Masters in Media specialist and currently my grand daughter is working on her Phd they both taught in H.S. before deciding to be Librarians. This same daughter's son already has his Phd and is a professor at the Univerity of west Alabama.

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

You would have been my best friend in Elementary! I couldn't teach without the Library and the librarians always kept me rockin'! And my first teaching experiences were in Sunday School too! Those two years will fly by and then you are really going to miss those kids!

I taught Science (mostly Chemistry and Biology) in Secondary Schools for 30 or so years. For the last few of those I also specialised in Personal, Social and Health Education (Sex and drugs etc) which was very rewarding indeed. I gave up teaching in 2008 but I have been doing teacher training for PSHE since then although I am trying to give it up!

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by zoefzoef 12 Jun 2012

should she my daughter to you. She is having exams at this moment...and chemistry was a disaster :-(

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

Sue, don't you also teach kids in performing arts? I didn't realize you did Sciences too! And I guess we can come to you with all our sex and drug questions - he he. You have had quite a well rounded experience in teaching!

by spendlove 14 Jun 2012

Music and performing arts were my extra curricular activities!

I am a piano teacher and have taught students, ages 3 through adult, for over 40 years! I will be semi-retiring at the end of this summer as I continue to teach via internet. My husband and I will start traveling all over North America in a custom 5th wheel that is being built this summer. It has a special place for my digital piano, computers and a large screen monitor. I've already been teaching internet lessons for the past 8 years as students have moved to other cities, states and countries.
Teaching full-time has not left me much time to explore learning to use my Janome 11000, so am looking forward to some time to start using it and perhaps learn to digitize. All you Cuties have inspired me so much! I love this website!
During Christmas this past year, my website got hacked and a lot of files were removed. So I just recently had some time to start fresh with my internet presence if you want to check me out.

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by zoefzoef 12 Jun 2012

impressive ! that's what I call using the computers and internet !

by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

How neat!! You are going on the road! That was terrible getting hacked - and had to be really difficult to replace all those files. I'll check it out! I still want to learn to play piano. You will love digitizing :-)

As you already know, Jan, I taught kindergarten for several years. Those were some of the best years of my life. Had Cindy, my daughter with Downs, had not needed more of my attention, I would probably still be teaching kindergarten today! Five year olds are so loving and sincere! I had 20 students each year, and usual one or more of them each day came into the classroom with a special gift for me, like a frog, bug, or wildflower they discovered on the way across the schoolyard! It became my job to pull a dangling tooth for the toothfairy, occasionally, as they told their parent that I knew how to do it, and it would not HURT!! LOL
Good memories!
Hugs,
Angel

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

I loved those little surprises too! I have a whole drawer full of some pretty weird stuff and It's amazing how many I can remember were from. Some really funny ones. I pulled lots of those teeth too - LOL. I miss them soooo much!

Jan I was a teacher. Stopped last year. My love was teaching kindergarten age children although I taught upto 12 year olds as well. I am still volunteering in a school one morning in the week.Absolutely loved the teaching but was fed up with being lots of time out of the classroom to do (Quite often non teaching related)administration tasks.

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by hightechgrammy 13 Jun 2012

For some reason I'm not surprised you were a teacher, Lique - LOL! Don't you miss it terribly? Wouldn't it have been nice if we could just spend our time teaching kids? It was all the extra garbage that went along with the teaching that really got me down. I adored the kids, too!

by lique 13 Jun 2012

Same with me. Do I miss it? I miss the children and the relation you had with them but I do not miss the 80 hours per week working! Still have a child's mind though!