Thank A Teacher. #LifeThisWeek 26/52. 2018.53.
It’s coming up to end of first semester or end of term 2 2018. School holidays are about to commence, or have and are not far off in most states and territories of Australia. I know that folks in the Northern Hemisphere are also on the long school summer vacation.

My old Primary School: I went here and taught here for 2 practice teaching times.
There’s a saying around that ‘teachers have it so good’ :
9.00 a.m to 3.00 p.m. It is a great career. Look, the hours AND the holidays!
Do you believe it?
Well, here I am to de-bunk that myth right now!
These days here’s what most teachers are up to in the so-called holidays….
- attending professional education conferences as attendees and presenters, most often at their own costs
- planning the work that they will be presenting as part of the beginning of Term 3 called ‘SDD’ or ‘School Development Day’
- meeting colleagues in schools and other venues to share ideas, make programs and plan for the educational needs of the students in the schools for Term 3 and beyond
- marking essays, projects, assignments and adding to the program requirements for the term ahead to enable kids’ best learning to occur
- making most of the child-free environment in their classrooms/halls/libraries and faculty areas to plan, file, cover books, accession records, add information and ‘get the work’ done so that when the kids return the priority is teaching and learning
- attending to their personal and professional development by working on their portfolios and making plans for meeting the teaching standards as per the Australian Curriculum and their Education Authority.

My first…and last photo! This High School was where I attended 1962-67. Then in August 2015 I re-visited and presented for the last time to a professional meeting of teachers.
- attending Winter Residential schools as they complete their post-graduate courses or degrees. Others may be teaching at Universities which often have holidays outside school holidays.
- volunteering to help kids in school holiday care settings & camps where they may be paid to supplement wages.
- One person who is very close to me, completed her Masters In Education (Teacher/Librarianship) over the years during HER school holidays, taking some long service leave to finish the last semester (busy single mother with 4 differing needs’ kids) She also volunteers at a Museum in Sydney in her not-spare time.

My Graduation M.Ed & our daughter’s over 23 years later!
They also make some time, I am hopeful, for caring for themselves physically and mentally by having some time out to personal care, relax, meet with friends and spend time with family as it is important to come back to school well and ready to go and….
Term 3 here we come. but not quite yet..
Maybe when you see your child’s teacher(s) next how about saying ‘thanks!’
My very best wishes to my family and friends who are teachers.
I KNOW how much you needed the ‘break’ and how hard you work.
The ways in which to thank a teacher are many but I always loved those who took the time to tell me face to face or to write it. It was never about the gifts. Always about how I was made to feel. Appreciated.
Once a teacher, always a teacher. It’s in me. I cannot let it go but I also love that too!

End 2009 official last days as a teacher. Unsurprisingly there were a few more!
Denyse.
Joining with Alicia here for Open Slather. She is a teacher too.
Life This Week 26/52. We are HALF-WAY everyone!!
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Next Week’s Optional Prompt: 27/52. Taking Stock 3. 2/7/18.
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