A QUEEN!

It's September's end, and so I figured I should post before October hits.

Two weekends ago, I was in a friend's wedding in Minnesota, so I wasn't around. That Friday was my first experience with a substitute. Note to all: Subs do not ever follow the plans you have left them. This was confirmed by every teacher I talked to regarding this issue. My sub did not administer an important reading selection test and put me behind this past week; the kids also didn't do as well on it because they had a whole weekend to forget about the details. Needless to say, my confidence in the reliability of the substitute is nil. What made it slightly more awkward was when the sub came by the following Tuesday and introduced herself. My mouth said, "Oh, hi, nice to meet you!" but what my mind was saying, "I'm sorry, but I'm not requesting you again!"

I'm finally getting into the routine of things at school. I don't feel completely exhausted by the end of the day. I'm still tired. That's inevitable though due to my chronic always-tired and introvertedness. I can't wait until it all becomes second hat to me. I'll really be flyin' then!

My students are really into Magic School Bus, and this, of course, makes me very happy. I have successfully passed on my obsession. :) I'm really surprised how most of my kids said they love Math and Science more than Reading/Writing. Maybe it's because numbers seem more connected to them than the stories we're reading.

I still don't like that we have to read stories out of a textbook... and I WILL find ways to make it interesting or better for them. Quite honestly, CP's reading program is kinda sucky. The materials are great, but the way the program is executed is not so much.

The best quote from last week was a gem from T...

We were creating our Open House booklets to show parents, and one of the questions was to fill in the rest of "Someday I hope to be..." Without hesitation or thinking, little T shot up his hand. I called on him first and asked, "What do you hope to be one day, T?" His priceless response: "A QUEEN!" All of the kids whipped around their heads, bug eyes, and were like, "He means a king! He can't be a queen!" I stuttered to hide my laughter, "Well, he... he canbutsomoving along now... who else?" He didn't take back his comment, flinch, or anything.

I'm creating a reader incentive bulletin board sometime this week. Each kid will have a rocketship, and they have to get through the solar system by reading everyday at home. At the end of the week, they bump up to the next planet. Once they get to Neptune/Pluto, they get a special book from me! I just have to get the black bulletin paper from Miss EB... she gets it free!!

All right, time to go eat some dinner. I have finished my schoolwork for the night.
- Miss Chelsea :)