{an open letter to Betsy, Senators, unions, and parents} I tried - Teaching

Dear Betsy,

Hi there, my name is Megan.  You don't know me, nor will you ever, more than likely. The reason you will never know me is because I am a public school teacher, I work in a public school in case you were wondering.  Our paths won't cross because I don't have the salary you have.  Our paths don't cross because I went to a university, using scholarships, pell grants/FASFA, and loans to be a teacher.  See, my career is ABOUT teacher "things"

Here's a list of the things us teachers know:

NWEA
MAP
RTI for classes
RTI for personal students
IEP (including ADD vs ADHD vs BD)
504
PBS (not the television station)
BIP
PIP
SLO
QUAD D
IDEAS
EPI pen
watch this video, every year, again and again.  Safety.
Common Core or standards or objective or curriculum
DATA and more DATA and more DATA and more DaTa

The above, well that's the fun part, all of those are the "hoops" we teachers jump through.  That's not what I teach.

I teach 7th grade math.  However, in my "free" time I have the "privilege" and "honor" to do some hoop jumping.  Fill out one form or the other. Look at data for one student or another. Email this upset parent, or another.  Check attendance - 7 times.  Enter grades 140 times a day. Breathe.

I teach math.  I try to teach math, while trying to build up students who are hungry, cold, homeless, abused in every way possible.   I try to teach numbers that are relevant like bills and banking.  I try to teach compassion and love - we are ALL people.

I tried teaching.  But it seems that year after year, I am trusted less in teaching and entrusted more with paper work to prove that I am teaching.  Trust me - I am a professional, I went to school for this.  I ENJOY teaching MATH.  I enjoy being around my 7th grade students and watching them learn. Please, as the Secretary of Education - PLEASE LET ME TEACH.  

But, Betsy, now I am worried.

I do the above paper work to prove to someone that I am a highly qualified teacher.  I have watched your hearings and speeches, and I am not for sure if you are highly qualified to be over so many teachers, principals, organizations, schools and funding.

Here's why I am worried.  My husband is a college student, we raise two boys off of a small teacher's salary and his part time job.  We are very blessed, please don't think that I am money hungry (I wouldn't be a teacher if I wanted more money), but there are times that I question how we even make it.

So, when I hear about you giving money, thousands and thousands of dollars to senators to secure their vote. My heart breaks.  

From my calculations, the money you gave could have paid at least 21 teacher salaries.  Now, they would be probably first year teachers, not the highest salary of the bunch.   But still,  If I continue with my calculations and each teacher has 140 students that is 2,940 students who could have been helped, taught, loved on, encouraged.   But instead, politicians' pockets are getting deeper.

It's an outrage.

Our education system is an outrage.  It's a problem.  

Betsy - it was reported that teacher unions also contributed money to politicians.   I do know that the unions are there to help protect teachers, and that might include giving money to lobby for people in office to vote in a manner that will protect educators and the system.  But politicians' pockets are getting deeper. 

Betsy - I don't know if you have ever seen "The Lottery" a 2010 documentary (on netflix) that follows around 4 New York kiddos on the journey to winning a lottery into a charter school, it's a good little viewing and I would encourage you to watch it.  Charter schools are supposed to have funding of their own, so please, when you suggest taking federal money from public schools to give to a group that already has their own funding - I am confused.   But teachers' pockets are getting shallower.  (Parents - if you are curious about the differences of schools, please go here:  Yes, it's a parenting site, but it does offer quick information on what type of schools there are.)

Betsy - our public education is broken.  Please be the piece that  helps put it back together.  I am begging.  I tried to teach.  I am worried.  I am worried financially for my family.  I worry financially for our country.   "American's Invisible Children" is another documentary also available on netflix about the homeless issue in America.   I know we have veterans that are homeless, but can you imagine not having a home, being hungry, and trying to learn.  It's hard - incredibly hard. Our schools are sometimes the warmest place a student has to shelter from the elements.  Our schools are sometimes the only place a child will get a meal.  Betsy, what are your plan for these children.  Are YOUR pockets getting deeper?

Betsy - So, with whatever you end up doing.  Please educate yourself about schools being accountable, where funding is used, what standards are, what's a healthy school and what's not.  Why some types of schools work and others don't (depending on the area) and how to help children in poverty.  

Betsy - I, as a teacher need you. Students, as our future need you.  Schools, regardless of level or type, need you.  Please, oh we beg for this to go well.

Betsy -  I pray that something good will come out of all of this.  I pray that your deep pockets open up and maybe you can buy $2.00 lunches for the students who go hungry daily.  I pray that your heart will see the children not as homeless numbers but as potential creative minds who have SURVIVED being homeless.  I pray that you look at abuse victims' test scores and understand and have compassion that they might not be scoring that of a non-victim; but yet the school they attend is held accountable.   I pray that our broken system, that I so desperately love, will be fixed.

Betsy - I have to be highly qualified.  Are you?

Sincerely,
A teacher who's trying

PS - Senators - how dare you take money.  Seriously.  I'm ashamed and sadden.  

PS - Parents - a plea for help.  Support your teachers.  Encourage them.  We have long days and more often than not, we see your child for more 'awake' hours than you. We really are doing our best. Just like you are doing your best to parent; let's be a team.

I tried - saving money {diapers}

First - as usual - I am on my phone.  So any major spelling/grammatical errors are probably my fault but let's just say it's the phone.  

Soren is two months old today!  

He's is doing great!  I am trying not to be emotional, but if I said I wasn't, it would be a lie.   With Gideon I got almost 6 months being at home with him.  Not 5.5 weeks. But he is so loved; not just by me but by Gideon, daddy, grandparents, friends, family, community, and coworkers.   He is a pretty good sleeper at night (jinxing myself) with only waking up once, if that. He is still learning how to be friends with naps.  His best friend - other than his brother - are ceiling fans.   It's cute.  

Anyyyyy wayyyy ... In the last two months we have changed a lot.  A lot of diapers!   Some yellow.  Some neon green.  Some off daddy at a baseball game and some out of the bath.   He's been changed in laps, on an airplane, back of vans, and pretty much any where.  A lot of diapers. 

But before we started changing diapers I started buying. 

When we first found out our blessing I started to debate between cloth and disposable.  This blog is not to say which is better or to start any mommy wars. I am just sharing how my family saved money doing what was best for us. 

Because Soren might be our last, my mom watches him full time four days a week, I do all of our laundry once a week (that's for another post on homemade laundry detergent) and don't care to do more, we decided to go with disposable.  

I have several friends who have had great success with cloth, and I do support the fact that in the long run they can be sold back for a bit of money back.  But if you are wanting cloth info - this is not the blog for you. 

My average, for my stockpile size 1 -3 is $0.115 that's less than 12 cents a diaper.   Pampers can run as high as 33 cents a diaper!!!! 

With Gideon we had about 6 months of diapers given to us. And then luckily we switched to walmarts brand - parents choice - and only had to buy a case a month for the next two years.  Gideon was potties trained at 2.25 years.    

In March I started researching diaper stock piling and coupons.  Having never couponed before, I was up for the challenge.  

I decided on my buying range and stuck with it.   In the picture below you have what I paid for in size three, my total pile size 1-3, what I believe i need based off other parents, followed by the buying range.  

Based off of other parents I am only about 500 shy of a years worth of diapers.  And based my on my numbers that's a years worth of diapers for roughly $325.   Not the couple thousands other sites make you believe.  

Now as baby grows diapers get more expensive.  However, you tend to use less.  Soren sleeps through the night and we are down to 5-7 diaper changes a day.  Give or take.  That's only about 2555 diapers a year (less than other parents claim to use).   

So.  

How do I do it? 

My phone number and my husbands phone number.   

---> I HAVE YET TO CUT OUT A COUPON <--- 

I started with walgreens. I have their app.   You can look at their add, "clip" digital coupons, and save up reward points.   I was doing pretty good with them - BUT I was mainly buying their store brand - well beings.   

I then discovered dollar general had an app.   Although very similar to walgreens (except no rewards) they had better starting prices, making "clipped" digital coupons go further.   I started buying Huggies and pampers from DG.   

NOW, we are very fortunate in the fact that Soren doesn't break out or leak out of any particular brand.  I personally don't care, as long as he is clean and happy.    If you have to have a particular brand, stock piling might be more difficult.    

****side tip - any diapers opened at the hospital have to go home with you.  So take them.  They are yours!**** 

Here are my starting prices.  Meaning I have researched and these are the typical non-sale prices at the store.   Now be careful, not all sizes have the same numbered packaged.   

As you can see, walgreens is expensive. Even the off brand is pricier than huggies.

ITS LIKE HUNTING. YOU MUSR WAIT FOR YOUR PREY.  ok, another lame metaphor. But seriously, don't just buy to buy.   Hint the name says stock pile - so you are ready, not rushing.  

So here is a sample of one of my buys.  

Dollar general does $5 off $25 (after other coupons).  But they also do, usually week days, $2 off $10 - which if you don't need anything else, a better buy so you aren't spending extra money on pointless items.   

If you pair that with a receipt coupon 

And a digital (what you see in the paper that you didn't buy) manufactur (the brand) coupon. 

Or wait for a sale on the item. 

You can start saving money.    

Now.  

You have to play by the stores rules.  So make sure you know them.  Or ask when you go in.     

Other great deals and hints. 

Target - they will give you gift cards when you buy two cases. If you time it right with their digital coupons and cart wheel you can get a good buy.  Also, if you put them on your registry, use a registry 15% off and a 5% off red card you can get a super buy.  

Notice my comment on my start prices that eventually a box at Walmart becomes the best buy.   But if your child is sensitive to different brands - then you might have to buy bigger sizes longer. 

Don't buy too many size 2.   The overlap with 1 and 3 only misses about 2-4 pounds between each other.  However, you get more diapers with two - so buy them longer.  

Don't open them!!!!  If you find an allergy or your child is a different size, you can take them back or at least exchange them for a bigger size.  Or you can always find a good home for them.  

Brand points.  Because I am buying huggies and pampers, each package comes with a code.   Every so often I will log in and update a bunch of codes for points.   

So. That's how I am saving our one income four person family money.   

Tell me about your success? Do you have any questions.  

Ok. It's bed time. Good night.