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Friday Fiver (early)
Jun. 26th, 2025 06:59 pm1. Who was your favorite teacher?
Mrs. Mullican, my 4th grade teacher.
2. Why was that teacher so special?
Everything was a celebration. We had projects that seemed to have some sort of fun ending so many times. Her reward system was called the Heart Box. For whatever reason, you would be told to put your name in the heart box. Once a week, the slips would be tallied, then you could buy prizes with however many times your name was there. She also called the space behind her desk (which was ah semi-circle table) the Golden Gate. There was space between the table and the wall to walk through (instead of going around it) but she made it like an invisible "gate" that stopped us from walking there. We were not allowed to cross the Golden Gate. Even though it was physically possible, we all respected the rule enough to not walk there.
3. Do you think teachers get paid enough?
NOPE. Ok, some do, but where I taught, nope. In fact, if I broke my final year salary down (for 185 contract days paid over 26 paychecks) to contract hours, it was not much more than the minimum wage being proposed in several states. I worked far, far more than contract hours. Arizona has (or had) pretty low cost of living, so I survived. Some of my colleagues with families, I have no idea how they got by, especially after health insurance was deducted.
4. Do you have a favorite year of school?
4th grade, or senior year of high school.
5. If you could travel back in time and tell yourself something now that would have helped you get through school, what would you say?
Understanding is more important than memorizing. Ask for help more often, even if you're so lost you don't know what questions to ask.
Mrs. Mullican, my 4th grade teacher.
2. Why was that teacher so special?
Everything was a celebration. We had projects that seemed to have some sort of fun ending so many times. Her reward system was called the Heart Box. For whatever reason, you would be told to put your name in the heart box. Once a week, the slips would be tallied, then you could buy prizes with however many times your name was there. She also called the space behind her desk (which was ah semi-circle table) the Golden Gate. There was space between the table and the wall to walk through (instead of going around it) but she made it like an invisible "gate" that stopped us from walking there. We were not allowed to cross the Golden Gate. Even though it was physically possible, we all respected the rule enough to not walk there.
3. Do you think teachers get paid enough?
NOPE. Ok, some do, but where I taught, nope. In fact, if I broke my final year salary down (for 185 contract days paid over 26 paychecks) to contract hours, it was not much more than the minimum wage being proposed in several states. I worked far, far more than contract hours. Arizona has (or had) pretty low cost of living, so I survived. Some of my colleagues with families, I have no idea how they got by, especially after health insurance was deducted.
4. Do you have a favorite year of school?
4th grade, or senior year of high school.
5. If you could travel back in time and tell yourself something now that would have helped you get through school, what would you say?
Understanding is more important than memorizing. Ask for help more often, even if you're so lost you don't know what questions to ask.
