Gobble gobble.

Last week was an "easy" week since we only had 2 full days. I love this time of year; holidays seem more prevalent, and that means a bit more time off to recuperate from the beginning of the school year. My body has finally told me that it's not happy with the long hours. I've actually been able to sleep in on this Thanksgiving Break, and it's quite happy. I still reach my crashing point around 9:45-10pm. I'm getting old!

So two things.

1. Miss Chelsea's Life Lesson #32-- If there is a problem, you need to take responsibility to help find a solution.

My kids were pretty bad on Tuesday. They earned three strikes. When they earn three strikes, that means no recess. (Well, I still technically (by law) HAVE to take them to recess, but they don't know that.) I went into my soapbox and asked them why I should let them go out to recess. (I always tell them "I want to know why") Some kids gave some good points and arguments only after D volunteered first. There were some bad ones, too, and I told them that. One kid said that they weren't all bad. Me: "Then who's going to admit that they were bad?" The kid: "No one." Me: "Exactly."

I said, "Okay, good arguments. But I want a solution."

They were confused at first, but then the solutions started rolling in. They suggested the bad kids stand on the wall, the whole class stand on the wall, put our heads down until the teacher says, etc.

I WILL get my kids to think about their actions and the consequences from which they come. That's a general stereotypical problem in low-income areas. They do things just to do them, and it's a vicious cycle that happens over and over. According to a study on poverty (that we read about in our staff-development meeting a few months ago), not many break that cycle because it's all they've ever known. It's comfortable.

Well, listen up, children of the CL area, Miss Chelsea is going to get you to think beyond your capabilities and potential. Better wisen up to some change!

2. Chalk another one up for T. (I have a conference with her Mom on Monday). During morning business on Friday, T decided it was a good idea to say really LOUDLY, "DDDDDDDD***MMMMMNNNN!" The students got dead silent. Ms. T whipped her head around the corner. It didn't register with me until a moment later. I was SHOCKED. How could she say that IN CLASS?? I made her apologize to the class for her inappropriate language, and then wrote up a referral. Just one more thing to add to her disrespectful documentation.

- Miss Chelsea :)