Simply Sublime Stupidity

Week 2

2009-09-01T18:58:00.003-05:00

Wow! The honeymoon is OVER! I am having a very difficult time with the group I have. They are unable to self monitor at this point in the year and I am having a very hard time with instruction. I have a very low group of kids and need to work in small groups a lot. It's been challenging to get very much true academic work done. I'm sure it will all fall into place soon it's just frustrating right now. Not to mention the time taken away from planning with meetings and paperwork (enrollment packets)! Ahhhhh, I feel better. It's nice to vent.

On a more humorous note...

I was working with a small group of students today during journal writing. I had them write about a favorite birthday moment. I made sure to tell them I wanted to see lots of details. Where they were, what they ate, what they got, who was there, etc. One of my students asked me if I could help him spell peanut butter pizza. I, of course, said sure! Peanut butter pizza? He said, yes. I said, really? He said, yes. So we were working out the sounds and spelling then he said, not peanut butter, Peter Piper! We all had a good laugh and I explained I might like to try a peanut butter pizza one day! I might mention that this student has a severe speech impediment.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a GREAT day with lots of learning and focused children!

Week 1

2009-08-27T20:16:00.002-05:00

Wow! Third graders are a lot different than first graders! I think I'm gonna like them! This has been an exhausting week but I am looking forward to this year. I hope I can get them to where they need to be by April.

I am VERY fortuanate to work with an amazing, knowledgable, and helpful team. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to work with! Life is good!

Open House

2009-08-20T20:44:00.002-05:00

Today was our first actual day devoted to working on our classrooms and getting plans done for the first week. Overall, the day went very well. I got all of my bulletin boards covered with paper, got some more things put away and organized, and got some books into desks. My main focus now is the actual planning! I have got to get plans done for the first week! I'm beginning to get nervous about teaching third graders. I hope I can get them where they need to be and get their wonderful brains full of third grade knowledge.

Tonight was also our open house. I had several parents come and meet me and see our classroom. I'm very pleased that 2 of the 5 I met were students I had in first grade. I can't wait to see how much they have progressed!

Tomorrow I will, hopefully, be able to get all I need done to start off a great year!

New School Year!

2009-08-19T20:51:00.003-05:00

Well, it's the beginning of a new school year! I'm definitely going to miss the relaxed summer days I've been enjoying! I had a pretty amazing summer! I was able to work out a lot and drop some pounds, spent a lot of fun days with my daughter, and saw one of my best friends get married to an amazing guy. I would have to put this summer up amongst my top for sure!

But, alas, school has begun. We have had three days of "staff development" and now I get to work on my classroom and plan with my new team on my new grade level! I'm very excited about teaching third grade this year. I have taught first grade for the past 13 years but am looking forward to learning about a new age/ability level of kiddos. It should be an exciting and informative year! Wish me luck!

Kids Say the Darnedest Things

2009-02-26T21:22:00.002-06:00

Today as I was reading a book to my class, my new principal came in for a walk through observation. The book I was reading was titled "Crazy Hair Day". It's about a kid that is excited to go to school because it's crazy hair day. He gets his hair all crazy-like and goes to school. He soon discovers it's not crazy hair day but instead it's picture day. Crazy hair day is the next Friday. It goes on to deal with how the other students handle this little mix-up. It's a really cute book. So, after the story, I have the kids tell me what they would do for crazy hair day since that's what they will write about in their journals.

They all raise their hands eager to share some of their crazy hair ideas. The first student I call on says, "I would put poop on my head." I laugh and say that we would all have to hold our noses. I'm hoping not to draw attention to the fact that he just said he would put poop on his head during my observation! So, moving on, I call on another student for her brilliant idea. Her response is, "I would put pee on my head." OMG! Seriously! Have you all lost your minds? I respond by saying that somehow we have gone in a direction I wasn't expecting. Fortunately the next student response got us back on a normal track. She said she would put eggs and glitter on her head. Better I guess, right?

Anyway... they go to work on their journals and they actually turned out to be creative and not disgusting. (Sigh) Kids. They say the darndest things.

What A Day

2008-10-16T21:10:00.003-05:00

Well...

That's about all I can say.

I feel fortunate that I still have my same job, in my same school, in my same room, with my same kids. I feel a bit sad that I feel fortunate about that. Many of my colleagues can not say the same thing. Why should we be tousled about this way?

It's been an extremely draining day. The school day began at 7:30am and didn't end until 8:00pm. I think I experienced twenty different emotions within this one day. Our school lost many wonderful teachers today. We had 4 teachers take the voluntary release, our principal took the voluntary release, 3 teachers were RIF'd (laid off), 5 teachers were transferred to different schools, and 900 students will suffer. This doesn't include the many teachers that will stay at our school but be placed in different positions.

I'm bracing myself for a strange and difficult next few weeks.

Yes! Success!

2008-10-11T13:57:00.002-05:00

This has been quite an interesting year for me, as for all others teaching in the Dallas I.S.D. We have had a budget shortfall and teacher layoffs hanging over our heads.

It has been dreadfully stressful and next to impossible to maintain stability in the classroom with so much else going on around me. Thankfully, I have been able to focus on my students and enjoy the simple things that happen day to day.

Today one of my students told me she likes to read because I showed her how. She said she tries so hard because she can tell I want her to learn. Wow! Thanks for noticing!

1 down... 18 to go. :)

Procrastination At It's Finest

2008-05-08T18:17:00.003-05:00

Today was a very busy day for me. I am, admittedly, a procrastinator.

Today was the day the science fair projects were due. As a first grade teacher, we are to do a project as a class and turn in a project board. The board was due by our planning/specials period. I, in true form, did not even start the project until 8:30 this morning. My planning period is at 9:55. Our project was to see if plain ice, ice with rock salt added, or ice with table salt added froze homemade ice cream better. We made three batches of "bag" ice cream, wrote out our project, and put the board together in 1 hour. It actually turned out pretty good. Oh, in case you were wondering, rock salt and ice froze the ice cream better.

Moving on...

We have had a junior achievement volunteer who comes once a week and does great lessons with our class. Tomorrow is her last lesson and I wanted to have the kids write some things they enjoyed about her visits. We were working on that and got a book completed for her today. That took about an hour as well.

Still moving on...

Sunday is Mother's Day. I took pictures of all of the kids and had them decorate a frame to put the pictures in. That also took about an hour.

Amazingly, everything got done! I don't know how, but it did. And it all turned out great!

Procrastinators ... Unite!!!

Just Keep Swimming

2008-05-05T18:40:00.002-05:00

In the immortal words of Dory, this week I feel like I'm just swimming and trying to keep my head above water. I have many deadlines coming up and lots of little brains to continue to fill with important and useful information.

The little bodies that incompase the little brains are out of control lately. What's going on? Has anyone else noticed this? They are acting like it's the last week of school. The next few weeks should be interesting!!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Too Much Togetherness

2008-04-29T19:43:00.002-05:00

Today was a TAKS testing day, as it was in all other Texas schools as well. Because I teach in a grade that does not take the test, we were not allowed in the building other than to move in and out for specials and getting lunch (to go back to class and eat).

I have several groups of kids that are pulled out of class throughout the day. I am fortunate to have a very academically and behaviorally challenging group this year. I will admit, the fact that they are pulled out for counseling, math tutoring, reading tutoring, dyslexia classes, and speech does help. It keeps the numbers low in my room and I can actually teach. I know! A teacher that can actually teach, not just maintain order and control all day long.

Well... today I had ALL of my students ALL day long and it was exhausting!!!! They were whining, arguing with each other, and talking nonstop all day. I love my students but it was a bit too much today.

More of the same tomorrow! Woo-Hoo!!

On a more positive note...
One of my students did an adaptation of a book we have been reading in his journal today and it was AMAZING!! I predict wonderful things for this kid. Hopefully he can get his act together behaviorally and accomplish greatness in his lifetime.

** Good luck again tomorrow Texas teachers!

TAKS

2008-04-28T19:24:00.001-05:00

Just want to send a big hug and hello to all of the Texas teachers out there doing TAKS this week.

You've done all you can... my fingers are crossed for you and your students!!!

Tag... You're It

2008-04-26T16:10:00.002-05:00

Mr. Teacher tagged me for this a while back. I have not been blogging or reading them lately so I just now noticed. Lots of stuff going on lately. It looks interesting though. I'm not going to tag anyone but would love for some others to post it if they would like.

Rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence
4. Post the next three sentences
5. Tag five people and acknowledge who tagged you.

The closest book to me is a book I am currently reading to my daughter. We read a few pages a night. It's, The New Kid on the Block, poems by Jack Prelutsky. Not too interesting but here goes.

It's hard to fault the Zoosher's taste
(a mushroom belt adorns its waist),
and gaily wrapped about its head
are radishes-some white, some red.
Just why the beast behaves this way
is rather difficult to say,
as here beneath a bush it lies,
with mashed potatoes on its eyes.

Justice?

2008-03-03T17:34:00.002-06:00

Today was a VERY rainy day for us. The power was out in the school this morning which caused the kids to be a little rambunctious. My students know what behavior I expect from them and normally comply. Others, however, do not. As we were walking down the sidewalk today towards our portable, two children were running full speed past us. I told them to slow down. They did not. I stuck my arm out and said louder for them to slow down. As soon as they passed me they continued their sprint into the building. Just as my class and I made it to our portable we heard the two students screaming and running back down the sidewalk. As they rounded the corner, one of them slipped and fell into a HUGE puddle of water that collects where the sidewalks meet. Can I just say how funny that was! I know it's mean. It's almost like when a car is cutting you off and speeding and you hope to see them pulled over by a police car on the side of the road ahead. I looked at my kids and said, "That is why we don't run on sidewalks children." The boy that fell jumped up, soaking wet, and went back into his classroom. I talked to his teacher after school today and she said he told her the other boy pushed him in. The nerve! :) To lie about sweet justice! No running boys and girls! Lesson learned? Probably not. He will still run everywhere he goes. But for me, a great lesson on cause and effect! And... a great lesson as to why we have rules and that they actually do make sense.

Have a great week everyone . . . and slow down! ;-)

The Nerve!

2008-02-21T18:01:00.003-06:00

Another teacher on my grade level always says, "the nerve" when a student does something they shouldn't. I think it's an appropriate title for my wonderings today.

As I mentioned before, one of our classes was "dissolved" and that teacher now does reading groups with our low students. Instead of pulling them out she does the groups in our class. She was out Monday and Tuesday so has only done this two days now. Yesterday she sat in a corner of the room, did the two groups, and then left. It seemed to work just fine. Today, however, she sat where I usually have the kids go to share journals. Because we don't have much space, I was unable to do journal sharing and the kids went to centers while I did my reading groups and she did hers. As I'm doing my group, I hear her getting onto my kids in centers for being to loud. She is sitting in "the library" area and that is their center. They are reading. Why did she think she could tell them to be quiet? She is just a visitor in our room, not the teacher. Ugh! Then, about five minutes later, I hear her yelling at the kids in the group for not "trying" hard enough to read. She then tells one of the kids to go move their clip on my behavior chart. This just happens to be a very quiet, academically low child. Hence the need for extra reading tutoring. Why would she think she can discipline my students with our classroom behvior chart? Shouldn't she have her own "system" for getting them to participate. Maybe by not scaring the crap out of them and yelling at them. Just a thought! Anyway...

The nerve!

Broken

2008-02-18T15:54:00.003-06:00

Well, today was a looonnngg day. I still feel very under the weather. I haven't been able to eat so I'm extremely tired. The new kids I got last week from the "dissolved" class are still adjusting to a new teacher and new procedures. One funny thing did happen at recess today. A sweet little girl in my class came up to tell me that another one of our students was crying. I asked her if she new why. She said that some other girls "broke" her feelings. Broke her feelings... how cute is that. Not that her feelings got broken, of course, but the language she used. Fortunately all was worked out and she was able to continue to play, broken feelings and all.

Have a good one!!!

I'm Back!

2008-02-17T17:10:00.003-06:00

Hey guys! I have been crazy busy lately and unable to find any time to write. I've certainly missed it. It's been so long, I'm surprised I remembered my password! I'm just getting over a stomach virus. Yuck! As always, it hit me Friday night and I am now, Sunday night, feeling a little better. No weekend for me!

This coming week should be an interesting one. We have "dissolved" one of our classes and now have that teacher as a reading tutor that will be in our rooms tutoring for an hour a day. I'm all about extra help but I think I could make more of an impact with fewer students all day. Why take a teacher out of a classroom and give other teachers more students? Especially in February.

We also will be doing "learning walks" next week. These seem a bit pointless and stressful to me. Oh well, not my call. :)

Glad to be back! Hopefully I'll be able to find the time to write more regualarly again.

Dialects

2007-12-20T20:46:00.000-06:00

The way we say things differently has always interested me. I love accents and dialects of all kinds and have gotten very used to the "accents" of my students. We have a large Hispanic and African American population at my school and they do pronounce words a little differently. Today we were practicing the long o sound when oe is at the end of a word. We were reading a book about Joe and the Doe. I always use these opportunities to expand on their vocabulary. I asked my students if anyone knew what a doe was. Only one child raised her hand. I asked "E" what she thought a doe was. She pointed to the front door of our room and said, "One of dem". I'm not kidding folks! You just can't make stuff like that up!

2 down, 3 to go!

2007-12-18T18:23:00.000-06:00

Well, we are now two days into the last week before winter break. As expected, the kids are not focused on anything educational. I have resorted to writing activities and math problems based on "holiday" customs from around the world. Today we focused on customs in England and how Americans have adapted them. It reminded me of a student I had 7 years ago.

We were talking about the tradition of caroling and spreading cheer. I asked the students if anyone new what "carolers" were. I got this response, "The things my momma puts in her hair at night". I have never forgotten that response and it still makes me smile to this day.

Another student I will never forget will be "G". I wrote about him and the vision screening. He truly is the best reader in my class and has amazing recall of everything he hears. Today we were walking down the hall to go to the restrooms. I noticed something strange about G. He had his coat on upside down. The hood was hanging down in the back. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him his coat was on upside down. He looked, shocked, and took it off and then couldn't quite figure out how to put it back on. Poor kid! He is book smart but definitely not common sense smart. Gotta love 'em! They make me smile!

Three more to go!!!!

Common Sense?

2007-12-16T15:57:00.000-06:00

The group of students I have this year never cease to amaze me with their lack of common reasoning skills. Last week we had a mass hearing and vision screening for students. We were called by class to come to the auditorium. The nurses explained the process and showed the kids what to do when they were called. They were to go to the "hearing" table and then sit somewhere else for "vision" so the nurses would know who had both screenings done.

My students were wandering everywhere, they didn't know where to go or what to do. My favorite was G, when he had his vision screening. They have to put on a pair of glasses with one side covered up and then read the letter the nurse points to. They then switch and do the other eye. G was told to put on the blue glasses first. He stares at the two glasses (which are blue and red) and can't quite figure out which one to pick up. It's not that he doesn't know colors, he is actually a fluent reader and a very smart boy. He just gets REALLY confused. I go over and point to the blue glasses and tell him to put them on. He doesn't know how. He rests them on his nose but not behind his ears. I had to physically put the arms behind his ears. Next, the red glasses. He picks them up and puts them on... upside down!

Next week is gonna be an interesting one, being the week before our winter break. Wish me luck!!

Exhausting

2007-12-10T18:01:00.000-06:00

My first December blog! My school world has been a bit boring lately so I haven't had much to write about. My personal life, on the other hand, has been nothing but jam packed! So... here's a day in the life of "ME"!!

My daughter woke me up at 3am Sunday morning crying. Her throat was hurting and she couldn't swallow. I got up and took her temperature. She was running a 101.1 temperature. She stayed in my bed until morning. I got on-line and "checked in" to an urgent care center. We got up and ready to wait for them to call and let us know when we could come. They called about 9:00. We left and were on our way to get my baby better.

The area where this center is located is very building saturated. I couldn't find the place! I kept making u-turns and looking around everywhere. I finally decide to pull over in a parking lot to see if I can find an address and get my bearings. I look and there is a police car behind me, WITH IT'S LIGHTS ON!!!! I lean out the window and apologize for not seeing him there. I tell him I'm looking for the urgent care center. He looks at my pitiful daughter in the back seat and says, "Did you know your inspection sticker is expired?" Are you kidding me?! My freakin' inspection sticker. He was apparently sitting in this parking lot and happen to see my inspection sticker was expired. Oh my goodness!!! So, he gets my license and insurance and comments on how he too is an underpaid public servant (teacher... police officer) but still writes me a freakin' ticket! UGH! He points me in the direction of the center and we leave.

We get to the center and sit down. They tell us to wait about 5 minutes for the room. About 3 minutes after that, we hear a woman screaming for help and a man screaming OMG, OMG. The nurse grabs the phone and calls 9-1-1. Five minutes later an ambulance pulls up and they go in to the rooms. 45 minutes later, they wheel a woman out with bandages wrapped around her head. Apparently this woman fell and hurt herself pretty badly. So, now that we have been waiting for almost an hour, we finally go back to see a doctor. She says it appears my daughter has strep throat but she wants to do the strep test where they rub a swab on the back of the throat. My daughter freaks out, starts crying, and is getting herself very upset. She hates having that done, as do I. I ask the doctor if it's truly necessary and she says she would be able to diagnose better if she knew. I convince my daughter to do it. The doctor does the swab and my daughter begins to gag. She then begins to heave and spit up blood. Her throat is so irritated it is bleeding. This goes on for about 15 minutes. The doctor and I are holding a trash can under her and taking turns getting towels to wipe her mouth. My daughter convulsed so hard she broke the blood vessels on her checks and in her eyes. My poor baby!

The doctor leaves to do the lab test and doesn't come back for about 20 minutes. Apparently the lab tech was doing x-rays on a crying toddler and couldn't do the labs for a while. Well, the test came back negative but the doctor wanted to give my daughter a shot because of the severe throat infection. She said the shots were very painful so I opted against them. She instead said she would give a high dosage of antibiotics, an anti-nausea, and a throat numbing gargle. We finally get to leave!

We go by the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions. They are done and I go to pay. There are only two. The doctor forgot the antibiotics! The pharmacist had to call and finally we were able to get our medicine and leave. We got home, finally, 4 hours later. She took her medicine and fell asleep.

She is doing better today, thank goodness!

Well... that's a look into the fun-filled life of a teacher and single mom! Woo-hoo!

Beds

2007-11-29T20:48:00.000-06:00

I love my daughter. She is six years old and keeps me laughing daily (not always on purpose). Here is a conversation we had earlier this evening:

Daughter: Mommy can we put your sheets on my bed?
Me: No, our beds are not the same size.
Daughter: They look the same.
Me: No, my bed is a queen size and yours is a full size.
Daughter: Oh.
Me: (smile)
Daughter: So you are a queen and I am a full (fool).
Me: Yup!
Daughter: Hey!
Me: You said it!

And So It Continues...

2007-11-15T20:22:00.000-06:00

So today, I'm in the cafeteria with my students who are eating breakfast (I have the pleasure of taking my whole class to breakfast) and a certain TA walks up directly behind me and yells, for me to hear, to another TA if they are ordering food for lunch today. The other TA says not that she knows of and asks why. Annoying one says because she's not allowed to order out anymore. She's obviously saying this to make sure I hear her. It's purely for my benefit. I decide to be the bigger person and not turn around. I act as if I don't hear anything. Hard to do when someone is basically yelling in your ear and you can feel them staring at you. The TA she was talking to had no clue what she was doing and she eventually walked away. I don't think she fully understands that I don't care who, what, when, where, why, or how she eats. None of this would have been an issue if she hadn't yelled at me in the first place. UGH!!!!

Later during the day...

I'm walking down the hall during my planning period. She and two other TA's are loitering in the hallway. One of them says to another, "Hey, E, do you have a minute?". The infamous TA, let's call her "B", (make your own assumptions) says, "No, but some people have ALL day!".

I guess it was suppose to be a jab at me. Maybe she thinks that a teacher has nothing to do all day. I guess her job and life are WAY more difficult than a measly first grade general education/ESL teacher and single mom.

My question to all of you is...

What do I do? She has made my workplace a hostile environment. I am very uncomfortable when she is anywhere around me. I'm not sure what she's going to do next? I need some words of wisdom from my blogger friends.

De-Stressing

2007-11-13T19:31:00.000-06:00

Today during our planning periods we had an "optional" meeting with a psychiatrist for tips about de-stressing. Teaching is certainly a stressful job and I could see how these meetings could be useful. I'm actually a very laid back and happy person. When I do get stressed or upset by external forces, I tend to step back and tell myself that no one can "steal my joy" or control how I feel.

I went to the "session" mostly to show support and hopefully to gain a few tips. I was the only one to show up during my planning time. It turned out to be a bit of a "venting" session. Seeing as I really don't have much to vent (I do that here and at happy hour) I just answered her questions about school environment and overall feelings around the campus.

I was honest and told her that I truly don't have very many issues. I told her I try to not take anything personally and that usually works for me. Apparently, there are many others feeling stress because of negativity in our building. I think she is going to try to get more positives and fun things to happen at our school which would, of course, be great.

Later that same day...
I go to pick my students up from lunch. I'm about 5 minutes early so I just talk to the kids for a bit. I realize there are no TA's in the cafeteria and it's 2 minutes until we leave for recess. None of the children have taken their trays to the trash. We have 200 kids in there and I know it's going to be chaos very soon. I tell my kids to stand up and take their trash and trays. I turn around and a TA is yelling at me. Here is the conversation.

TA: "So, I GUESS we are ALL just DISMISSING our OWN kids NOW!"
Me: "No one was in here."
TA: "I WAS in HERE! YOU SAW ME!"
Me: "No, you were not in here."

Side note- another TA had gone to get them all lunch from Applebees (not their lunch time, lunch duty) and the custodian and TA's were in the hallway paying her.

TA: "I GUESS I will just STAY in one SPOT!"
Me: "Un-freakin-believable!"

All of this in front of my student teacher and students. Very unprofessional and rude. I immediately went to inform an administrator. This TA was actually suspended for 3 days for yelling at an assistant principal. Some nerve.

She's obviously a VERY unhappy person in the wrong profession. It made me think about what I said to the psychiatrist. I had to take a few minutes and relax and realize that this woman can not and will not "steal my joy" or control how I feel.

Here's to a fantastic tomorrow!

Rude Awakening

2007-11-01T20:51:00.000-05:00

I awake this morning at 5am to the sound of a dog barking. It's a very unusual bark. A high pitched, annoying, continuous barking. I'm so angry that someone's dog has woken me and now I can't get back to sleep. I then realize, it's one of MY dog's barking! It's a bark I've never heard before. I'm so startled, I jump out of bed and run out into the back yard. I call the two dogs and they won't come to me. They continue to bark. All of a sudden, I hear yelping. Then it's quiet. I'm screaming my dogs name and there is no response. No movement, no sounds, nothing. I'm completely freaking out. I can't see anything because I don't have my glasses on, it's pitch dark, I'm in my jammies, and I have no shoes on. All I can think is that my dog's have been attacked by something and hurt badly.

I run into my house, grab my glasses, put some shoes on and then run back outside. It's still dark and I can't find a flashlight.

I run to where I last heard noises in the back yard. I see my dog's. They are standing, quietly, staring at a... POSSUM! There's a freakin' possum in my backyard! I am so confused and thankful that my dogs are okay I don't even know what to do. What was the yelping? How do I handle this situation? They won't come in the house with me. They just continue to stare at and bark at this possum laying on it's side. I'm assuming it's dead. I don't want them to do anything to it but they still wont come in.

I finally give up and go back in the house. By now, it's time for me to be up. I take my shower, get my daughter up, get ready for school, and look for a flashlight. Still can't find one!

I go back outside to check on "the situation".

IT'S GONE! The possum was playing possum!

It's still so dark outside I can't tell if it's gone or just somewhere else. Seeing as there is nothing else I can do and I have to get to school, I leave, hoping for the best.

I was dreading going into the back yard when I got home today. Great news! No possum anywhere. It was indeed playing possum and made it's escape. Yay little possum! Run! (And don't come back and cause my dogs to wake me up again!)

Boo!

2007-10-31T20:29:00.000-05:00

Boo... to Halloween. This is such a silly holiday.

As a mother...
I have a 6 year old so I understand how much a child loves an excuse to dress up and go show off their costume. If it were a day to dress up and have fun, I would have no problem with that. The kids could go house to house and just look cute and say hello to neighbors and friends. I think that might be more fun and less stressful.

As a teacher...
The kids were so wound up today with the excitement and anticipation of the night to come it was difficult to get any teaching done. My student teacher did a great estimating activity with candy in a jar and we wrote about Halloween in our journals. That seemed to contain them a bit and focus the excitement in a more academic way. I just hope that they are all on a sugar crash instead of a sugar high tomorrow!

Boo!

Let the power of "Diet Coke" compel you

2007-10-25T17:54:00.001-05:00

I know. It's a bit tacky to substitute "Diet Coke" for the word "Christ" but it's so fitting for what happen to me today.

I was teaching my class today and became thirsty. I grabbed my Diet Coke and took a big drink. As the first of the drink went down my throat I realized it was going down too hard and I was going to choke if I swallowed any more. Seeing as I was in front of all of my students I quickly decided I would go outside (I'm in a portable) and spit the Diet Coke out so as not to die trying to swallow and choke. Before I could even react, I coughed. Yes, I coughed with a mouth full of Diet Coke. It spewed everywhere! On top of that, I then couldn't catch my breath and continued to cough.

The kids were just looking up at me, shocked. They didn't know what to do. I began laughing uncontrollably. I couldn't stop. It was so funny! Nothing like that has ever happen to me in front of anyone. Especially not in a classroom full of children!

Oh well! Makes for a funny story!

Live, laugh, learn!

Too Many Questions!

2007-10-24T21:25:00.000-05:00

I think I, unfortunately, have reached a point where I'm done. I'm done answering everyone's questions. I'm done explaining everything that I do. I'm done. It's so hard to be happy and live life when you feel like you are constantly having demands put upon you. I want to just BE ME! I want everyone to do their job (correctly) and leave me alone. Ugh! Just one of those days I guess. Tomorrow will be better...right?

Take A Breath

2007-10-21T17:24:00.000-05:00

Why is it that we get so caught up in the "to do's" of life that we don't take time to actually enjoy the gift of life and the world around us?

Today I ... just was.

I didn't make a to-do list. I didn't worry about the millions of things I have to do in the week to come. I didn't worry about every speck of dust in the house.

Today I ... just was.

I sat outside and watched the trees blow in the wind. I watched the birds and squirrels go about their busy lives. I was at peace.

Today I ... just was.

I played games with my daughter and enjoyed EVERY minute. I watched my dogs run around the yard in complete bliss. I caught up with some old friends.

Today I ... just was.

I hope I can have more days such as today. Last week was so overwhelming and hectic, I don't remember it all. I hope I don't allow myself to do that again.

Enjoy life to the fullest daily.

That's my new mission.

Kids... Gotta Love 'Em

2007-10-19T20:09:00.000-05:00

After such a crazy and stressful week, it was nice to pick my daughter up today. I was looking forward to quality time with her. We got home, sat out on the front porch and she read a book to me. We then got her bicycle out and went around the block. The weather is great here and it was nice to go for a long walk and watch her ride her bike. We read another book when we got home. It was turning out to be a very peaceful and relaxing evening. I made her dinner and then she wanted me to read to her. I read her two more books. She wanted me to read more but I told her my throat was hurting and we would read later. She came and sat in my lap. We talked about her day and about the boy that sits at her table that distracts her all day long. She said he was moved to a seat by himself. I told her that sounds like it should help her pay attention in class now that he sits away from her. She said he still gets up and walks around and bothers her all day.

She then says, "I don't know why Mrs. A doesn't just tape or glue C to the chair. Then he wouldn't get up and bother me anymore. Tape might be better because she could cut it when he needs to get up to go the the restroom or lunch. Yeah, tape would be the best one."

What a great idea coming from the mind of a 6 year old! I'm sure no teacher has ever thought of or wanted to do that. (yeah right!!!) We need to start allowing children to come up with solutions that will help them actually learn and not be bothered by others in school.

It truly bothers me, A LOT, that this child is allowed to distract my child so much in school that she is beginning to fall behind. I work my ass off teaching all day long and then come home and teach until I go to bed. Teacher/mother/counselor/referee/cook/chauffer/entertainer/ organizer... This is my new title, 24/7!

Gotta love it!

Overwhelmed!

2007-10-17T18:32:00.000-05:00

I feel completely overwhelmed today.

This has been a very busy week, and it's only Wednesday!
I had a million (exaggeration) books delivered to my classroom Monday afternoon that had to be distributed to other teachers. I divided them all out (they took up all of my "carpet" area) and had teachers come in a pick them up. The teachers brought their entire classes into my room to help them get the books. At one point I had two entire classes in my room being very loud and disruptive. Another teacher's class ran up and down the portable steps screaming and playing the whole time. Ugh!

Tuesday I had a meeting during my planning about testing information. I had a meeting with my daughter's teacher about her progress after school. Tuesday night when I got home I prepared for my parent conferences that will be this Thursday night from 4-8. I typed out what the kids should know by now and forwarded it to the other members of my team. I then got a phone call from a team member who was unfortunately selected to be on a jury. She will not be at school for the next three days. I told her I would write a letter to her student's parents informing them that she would not be there for parent conferences Thursday night and she would reschedule. She was also concerned about SST (referrals for testing or interventions)meetings she had for Friday. I told her I would get them rescheduled. So, I type the letter for the parents and e-mail the woman in charge of SST's to let her know. Finally, at midnight, I get to sleep.

I wake up this morning with all of the things I need to do on my mind. I have a horrendous migraine. I can barely walk it hurts soooo bad. I check my e-mail and see a message that says I will need to attend the other teacher's meetings. What? I don't know her kids or their issues. How is this beneficial at all? Why should I miss teaching time with my students to go to a meeting for someone else's students?

Moving on...
I get ready, get my daughter to school, and get to my school. As soon as I pick my students up the principal says she needs to speak with me. My student teacher takes my class back to the room. The principal says that the teacher who has jury duty does not have a sub and I will be subbing in her room all day. What?!? I'm not a sub. My student teacher is not suppose to be teaching all day by herself. This stresses me out beyond belief. I am a teacher. I have my own students. I also have an ARD at 8:30. I convince her to let us "split" the kids amongst the rest of the classes. So, at 9:45, I am able to split the kids up and deliver them to other classes. I finally get to my classroom. I am now trying to organize my thoughts and decide what I need to do. I have conferences tomorrow night, I have 2 SST's of my own Friday to finish paperwork on, I have another teachers SST's Friday to work on, and, oh yeah, I'm suppose to be teaching! And... I still have the damn migraine. My head is almost numb at this point.

So...
Here I am, Wednesday night, overwhelmed, with a migraine, and not loving the crap that comes along with teaching. AT ALL!!!!

Wow! That was a lot of venting! Feels good!

Return of SpiderQueen

2007-10-10T19:43:00.001-05:00

As we were walking out to our classroom today, we passed by a huge spiderweb. We stopped to look at it. We have been talking about life cycles and our big book story was titled... SPIDERS. This was a perfect opportunity to connect learning! The kids oohed and awed and then we began walking again. I was next to a student who turned around and grinned at me and said in a whisper, "You know, I'm the spider queen". This is the same student I wrote about a few weeks ago that had a long conversation with me about her being the spider queen. Gotta love those first graders!

Literally Literal

2007-10-08T19:57:00.000-05:00

I want to start off by thanking a few people for positive thoughts last week. (FrumTeacher, JP, MH, AJ, MS) It really helped! I'm still struggling but I'm dealing.

Today I decided to do a rubric for quality work. Just a reminder... I teach first grade. We all gathered on the floor, I made a poster and asked them to tell me what a "good" paper would look like. This would be the middle row. I would then go higher for excellent work and lower for poor work. So, we start with what a good paper looks like.

Some responses:
straight
flat
not crumpled up
not torn

I then clarify that by "paper", I mean work products. The answers improve. I get appropriate responses like capitalization, name, date, neat handwriting, punctuation, etc.

Now we go to what a "not quality" paper looks like.

Some responses:
crumpled up
torn
spit on
balled up in a tiny wad and spit through a straw

First graders are very a literal creature! We eventually got through the process and I think they understood and took a little more control over their learning.

Made the day interesting though!

Have a good one!
(Tell someone you love them today!)

Day by Day

2007-09-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

I try to live my life day by day. Unfortunately, lately, I have been looking in the past and worrying about the future. Along with all of the stress of teaching my students and dealing with the annoyances at my school, I'm still dealing with losing my mom. She was my favorite person. I miss her so much. Her birthday would of been tomorrow, October 1st. This has been an extremely hard weekend. Everything I do or see reminds me of her. I am reminded daily of how great she was, what a love for life she had, and how much I have benefited by just knowing her. Tomorrow is going to be very difficult for me. I know it's just a "day" but I am truly dreading all of the memories that are sure to fill my head and my heart. Life seems so unfair sometimes.

Here's to a stress free, reflective Monday.

(Tell someone you love them today!)

Howl at the Moon

2007-09-27T18:26:00.000-05:00

Wow! What a couple of days!

There's a full moon, the weather is changing, and Mercury is in retrograde. Not really sure about Mercury but the other is definitely true! I have noticed how differently the children act when there is a full moon. It's true! Animals and kids go bonkers when the atmosphere is upset at all.

Examples:
As a social studies lesson we were talking about transportation of long ago compared to today. I showed pictures of horses, wagons, etc. for long ago and buses, cars, etc. for today. I had the kids tell me some other modes of transportation. I got great answers, planes, cars, trucks, apples... Yes, I said apples. Apparently now we get around by way of apples. The apple, a magical mode of transportation.

We are doing simple, simple, simple addition. 1+0=1, 2+0=2, 1+2=green. Yup, I said green. According to one of my students, 1+2=green! Jackpot! We have a winner!

I'm tellin' ya, I'm gonna howl at the moon tonight! (And pull my hair out if I have another day like today!)

Saturday's Horoscope

2007-09-22T09:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks Anonymous! I decided to look at the horoscope in the morning instead of at the end of the day! :)

____________________________________________________
The collapse of much that you had taken for granted is sure to have you reassessing your current position. A new attitude will serve you well.
____________________________________________________

And, indeed, in the words of Ms. Patti LaBelle, I've got a new attitude!

Reflections

2007-09-21T12:50:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was not a good day. I had a difficult time communicating with my student teacher, I saw an e-mail sent to the entire school that only listed people who did NOT get all exceeds on their evaluation last year that I am on, and I had a meeting with people who don't listen, participate, or care about what I'm saying. One of the teachers complained the whole time, another threw a fit and walked out, the others were just, well, unresponsive.

I felt horrible after Wednesday. I cried. I got angry. I was DONE! Poor me.

Why? These people don't matter to me. I don't care what they think about me. Why would any of this effect me so deeply?

I have an amazing daughter, family, and group of friends.

I heard from a friend that night about what she's been going through the last 2 weeks. Her 16 year old daughter ran away, was doing drugs (a lot), sleeping and living with a 20 year old, and, not planning to come home. My friend is going through hell! Here life is truly turning upside down. They did find her and get her into a lock down treatment facility. Hopefully things will turn around for them.

After hearing this and reflecting on my "problems", I realized that what I learned when my mom passed away had left me. Life is what you make of it and no-one can change that or should change that. I'm not going to let anyone control how I feel or act.

I know... easier said than done. Hopefully I will be able to stay strong to myself and who I am, and who I want to be.

Today's Horoscope

2007-09-17T18:27:00.000-05:00

As I have mentioned before, I like to read my horoscope at the end of the day and see how accurate, or not, it is. Here is today's:

Why are you complaining? The fact is that you're in a position that others envy, and many would gladly change places with you given the chance.

All I have to say is...

Take the chance people! Take the chance!

No... I actually enjoy organizing and being in the "know". I'm just having a hard time dealing with all of the inexperience and neediness of this year. Funny horoscope though, all things considered!

Nit-Picky Parents

2007-09-15T15:20:00.000-05:00

The hardest part of my job, sometimes, is dealing with overly demanding or unreasonable parents.

I do have several involved parents this year which I love! Only 2 of them are a bit high maintenance but they are nice about it and only have their kids best interests at heart. As a parent myself, I understand and appreciate their involvement.

Something interesting happened yesterday as I walked the kids to buses and parents waiting at the front of the school.

A fellow teacher is having a difficult time getting her kids where they need to be on time so I am walking my students as well as her parent pick up students and daycare bus students. I walk around to the front of the school with my students and this other teacher's students as an adult comes up to introduce herself to me. She says she is there to pick up one of the other teachers students and will each day so she wanted to meet me. That's great. I should know who is taking these kids each day. She then proceeds to ask me why it took so long. I tell her we are on the other side of the school and have to walk around. She asks again why we have to walk around. At this point, I'm done. I've walked the kids, I'm on my way to daycare drop off, it's Friday, and I have answered her question already. So, I tell her we walk the kids to buses first and then to the front for parent pick up. I'm starting to turn and walk away and she continues! She asks why we can't go through the building. I tell her, AGAIN, we walk to buses and then around to the front. Now I'm REALLY done. She's not though. She asks, AGAIN, why we can't walk through the hallway. I tell her because the other kids in the building are going out and we'd be going "against" the flow. She continues by saying that they are not, they are already outside. Well, I just can't take it anymore! I have given her WAY more than she needed and this is not even my student! So... I throw my arms in the air and tell her, "I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you should go inside and make that suggestion to someone." UGH!!!! I'm usually so calm and collected and rational. She definitely pushed me to the point of frustration. I do NOT like being at that point. It's so hard to control my responses when I'm frustrated!

Hopefully this woman went home and reflected on her actions as I did on mine. I certainly do not want to have any conversations with her.

Funny First Graders

2007-09-11T18:03:00.001-05:00

Today, again, was a much better day. The kids are testing us, my student teacher and I, but that's normal at this point in the year. A couple of things they said today cracked me up. I love it when they are funny but don't mean to be.

Story 1:
We took the kids for a walk around the school today for our 30 minutes of P.E. I was at the front and the student behind me, V, talked to me the whole time. She told me a spider bit her on her tongue one time and now she is the queen of all spiders. That's funny by itself but she continued her story. She said her dad doesn't like spiders and they crap her out too. I ask her to repeat. She does saying they crap her out again. I ask if she means creep her out. She says, "Yeah, they creep and crap me out". It was so hard for me not to bust out laughing. She was very serious about it. Gotta love the queen of spiders that crap her out. Ouch! Poor spiders!

Story 2:
We went to the library today for the first time. Our librarian is AMAZING!!!! I absolutely love her. She does a fantastic job! She was asking the kids what some of the rules in the library were and how we treat our books. Most of the kids said things like be quiet, don't yell, treat the books gently, etc. E, however, says, "Don't bite the books." Our librarian keeps a straight face as I am grinning at the back and adds that we don't bite, or bend, or mistreat our books. I don't know how she did it! Like I said, she is awesome.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully I will have many, many more stories!

First Grade Follies

2007-09-10T19:25:00.001-05:00

Well... today was much better as far as the adults go. I have been avoiding social contact with most of them. It seems to be working to maintain a bit of sanity.

As for the kids, they were all asleep and non-responsive most of the day. I felt as if I were teaching to a bunch of empty desks. Repeating everything over and over and forcing their participation. It could possibly be because of the massive amounts of rain or the fact that it's a Monday.

I always forget what babies the first graders are at the beginning of the year. I have to "retrain" their bladders to only go to the restroom when we go as a class. I'm in a portable and it's not really safe to let them go from the classroom by themselves. I take the kids to the restroom four times a day and there are always a few that need to go at other times. Today I took them to the restroom after our specials. I told them to go now or they may have to wait until or next break in an hour. We get back to class and not one minute later a student, G, asks to "go pee" in a very loud voice. I explain to him we don't go "pee", we go to the restroom. I then ask him why he didn't go one minute ago when we were all inside. His response is, "I have to go pee". I'm frustrated because I can't get a response from him other than that so I tell him to just go, but to hurry. He opens the door and goes nowhere. I tell him to go again. He just stands there. I tell him again, in a much more stern voice, to go. He says, "but I'm scared". Scared? Of what? The rain. We go back and forth like this five times. I finally tell him to decide if he wants to go or sit back down. He goes and sits back down. I finally can't stand it anymore. I'm afraid he will "wet" himself so I send a child to take him. Babies! Unbelievable.

Hopefully it won't be raining tomorrow!