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!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Week 1
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!
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!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Open House
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!
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!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
New School Year!
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!
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!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
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.
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.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
What A Day
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.
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.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Yes! Success!
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. :)
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. :)
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