When the school district announced that we would be getting an additional day off for Memorial Day Weekend, of course, I was in fits of excitement. Little did I know, it would definitely be for my sanity's benefit.
This past 4-day week was the longest, most arduous week of the year. I had moments where I felt like just running around the pod, screaming just to throw the students into a shock of abnormalcy. Let me count the ways.
1. In C-1, T and J thought it'd be a good idea to keep throwing up in my classroom. Not just in a trash can, but on the carpet, on the desks, and on the bathroom floor. This has happened over 8 times in the past 2 weeks. The nurse won't let me send them down because they're "not sick." Which is true. BUT SEND THE MISFITS HOME!!! I got so frustrated because I knew J was doing it on purpose. Some fierce tone came out, and I ended up yelling at J that if he makes himself throw up again, I was going to send him home myself. His eyes bugged out and his head nodded frequently like a dashboard bobblehead. I called his parents that day, and so far, there has been no more throwing up. T, on the other hand, we think is lactose intolerant. He's not allowed to have any milk the rest of the year. So far so good in that category. T pops up later this week in another incident, don't worry.
2. After a first stern warning of appropriate language the week before, DS decided to call A the "n" word again.
I have absolutely ZERO tolerance for such a repulsive word. I called his grandmother (who is a volunteer in our class) and told her about it. She said she won't tolerate it either, but whether it helped that DS spoke to his grandma on the phone when I was there, I don't know.
3. That didn't end with DS there either. He decided to splash water in another kid's face and flick the bathroom lights on and off. Mrs. A caught him and when I told him to move his name to red, he snarled and flung folders and pencils to the ground. He calmed down for a moment, but then as we were taking our spelling pretest (remember, it is a PREtest... one that is not even graded), I find a cheating list in his desk. He cheated on a pretest. (My motto: If you're going to be stupid, be smart about it. Make it worthwhile on a REAL test, please!!) He got upset again and threw the pencil again. I called the office, and Mrs. E came to pick him up. Was he suspended? No. And that's what ticks me off... especially after a school-wide announcement was made to all students that now SOLs are over, there is zero tolerance for bad behavior. Umm, last time I checked, consistency and following through are the best disciplinary rules.
3a. So not only did DS cheat on the pretest, he did it on the REAL spelling test the day after. I'm not even going to expound upon this because I'm mentally through with the lack of integrity.
4. Also, R made the "smart" choice of hitting TJ and then calling her an "a**," after going on and on that she "doesn't understand my feelings about being separated from my parents." Yes, R is a foster child, but she has used this excuse many times over the year for things she has done wrong. I told her I was separated from my mom too, but that is NO EXCUSE for hitting people. You just do NOT do it; you will get in trouble. Maybe it's my own jaded heart, but you cannot let something like that rule your decisions. You'll be miserable for the rest of your life.
And when it physically affects another student, it is unacceptable. I also wrote her up (and of course, nothing was done about it), and I called her foster mom who was very remorseful for the other student and said she'd talk to her.
5. When we were trying to finish our Reading test, K decided to take his lovely time to clean up (after he won't let an argument go about M's chair being near his chair)... when the entire class was waiting on him. I said to pick up his test and go to Mrs. G's office to finish his test because we were not going to wait for him anymore. He went into his role of Moaning Cow and wouldn't stop for a long while.
6. And to wrap the week up since it's just been fabulous already, as we were walking INTO the building from recess, T pulled down his pants IN LINE and shows not only his rear, but also his private parts. His two bad influence friends egged him on. AND V saw all of it. WHAT THE!! IN LINE! FROM RECESS!! Mrs. G-H and I chastised him out, then I wrote him a referral just to cover my tail and to avoid any other further conflicts since this has been an issue all year (boys vs. girls, touching, hitting, playing together, etc.). I'm so tired of calling parents to let them know of their children's inappropriate behavior. And I'm so tired of having to repeat myself at least 50 times a week about not touching. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AT HOME! Mrs. E set up an ST-5 meeting with T's mom next week which could lead into possible suspension. When I called T's mom, she was so livid. So livid she was quiet. I felt somewhat bad, but it needs to dealt with before it escalates into something wrong years down the road. (P.S. Yeah, I'm still ticked that a flashing incident could get suspension but not hitting?! WTheck?!)
Sigh. The true highlight of the week was my conversation with S at recess. She is just so adorable. She reminds me of Winnie the Pooh because she has a round tummy that sticks out. So anyway, here is the gist of our convo:
S: Miss F, do you wonder what it would be like if you and me-- we met the Egypts?
Me: Like going back to Ancient Egypt and seeing the Egyptians?
S: Yeah!
Me: That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it?
S: The Egypts invented the clock.
Me: You mean Egyptians? That is true. We could write to them since we know some hieroglyphics, huh?
S: Yeah, I want to write them a letter!
Me: When you do, I'd love to read it.
S: Okay! [beams] And then they get put into boxes and fold their arms like this. [folds her arms across her chest like a mummy] The booby traps are everywhere. So they don't steal the gold.
Me: They have to protect their treasure!
S: Yeah, or the mommies will eat you.
Me: [thinking about lethal mothers going after someone] [tries to repress a laugh]
S: [acts like a mummy walking]
S: I had a dream last night and it was at a place where old Egypts stayed [[museum]]. And the mommy was there.
Me: Wow, you have some vivid dreams there, girlie.
S: Mm hmm. [bobblehead nod, though has no idea what 'vivid' means]
Best conversation ever. She's just full of randomness. I'll miss her. :)
And now, I will thoroughly enjoy my 4-day weekend. WOO HOO! No school today or MONDAY! I bought a new hybrid bike the other day and have been riding about 4 miles each day (only 30 minutes) around the neighborhood... I feel really good, and this is a healthy commitment I can make since the gym really was a nail puller for me... :) I hate exercising, but I LOVE biking. Mr. R and I are going over to NN Park tomorrow on the trails... super fun!
Miss F has taken a break and now she can be Chelsea again for awhile.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Attack of the 18-Germ-Factories Bug.
I've been slightly out of commission the past week due to a nasty cold, sinus infection, and pseudo-bronchitis. It knocked me out completely last weekend, and I was miserable. Thankfully, I'm almost all better now. Still remnants of my cough lingers, but I am heartily up in energy.
This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Each day had a theme. Monday was Flower Day. Tuesday was Sweet Day. Wednesday was Card Day. Thursday was Letter Day. And last but not least, Friday was Surprise Day.
I was so bombarded with gifts and thank yous that my little teacher heart surely must have swelled into an apple shape. The kids were so thoughtful and caring. The best part was that they really know my general interests. Children are quite the observant ones. I received teacher paraphernalia, pandas, bears, dark chocolate, cookies, letters, balloons, gift card to Subway, etc... overwhelming response. :)
Other than that, it's been an okay time. Kids are wired and crazy (due to only having 28 days left in the school year), so I'm having to be creative in my classroom management. You'd be surprised to what a gobstopper can do to an 8-year old.
At recess, the latest thing is finding ladybugs. S came up to me and told me the names of her ladybugs. One is Christine and the other was Chelsea. That girl is hilarious; I love hearing her just ramble on.
A (You-Know-What Boy... who went ALL out for Teacher Week) also came up to me during recess one day and said a quite profound statement.
A: Hey. Miss F.
Me: Yes, A?
A: You know what the best present for someone's birthday is?
Me: What is that?
A: [matter of fact expression with one eyebrow raised] Just being their friend.
I had to prevent some laughter there... because it seriously came out of nowhere. Oh, second grade.
It's SOL (no no, it's not a dirty acronym. It stands for Standards of Learning) testing this week, and I am NOT looking forward to it. Somehow I have to keep my kids absolutely silent during testing time. I'll have some of Ms. T's kids in my room, too... but the school is dead serious about not hearing a peep out of the younger grades who don't test. We won't be allowed to go outside either... absolute torture. You might as well strap me to a wall with duct tape. And don't forget to bind my frazzled hands into place. They have a mind of their own when chaos strikes.
- Miss Chelsea :)
This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Each day had a theme. Monday was Flower Day. Tuesday was Sweet Day. Wednesday was Card Day. Thursday was Letter Day. And last but not least, Friday was Surprise Day.
I was so bombarded with gifts and thank yous that my little teacher heart surely must have swelled into an apple shape. The kids were so thoughtful and caring. The best part was that they really know my general interests. Children are quite the observant ones. I received teacher paraphernalia, pandas, bears, dark chocolate, cookies, letters, balloons, gift card to Subway, etc... overwhelming response. :)
Other than that, it's been an okay time. Kids are wired and crazy (due to only having 28 days left in the school year), so I'm having to be creative in my classroom management. You'd be surprised to what a gobstopper can do to an 8-year old.
At recess, the latest thing is finding ladybugs. S came up to me and told me the names of her ladybugs. One is Christine and the other was Chelsea. That girl is hilarious; I love hearing her just ramble on.
A (You-Know-What Boy... who went ALL out for Teacher Week) also came up to me during recess one day and said a quite profound statement.
A: Hey. Miss F.
Me: Yes, A?
A: You know what the best present for someone's birthday is?
Me: What is that?
A: [matter of fact expression with one eyebrow raised] Just being their friend.
I had to prevent some laughter there... because it seriously came out of nowhere. Oh, second grade.
It's SOL (no no, it's not a dirty acronym. It stands for Standards of Learning) testing this week, and I am NOT looking forward to it. Somehow I have to keep my kids absolutely silent during testing time. I'll have some of Ms. T's kids in my room, too... but the school is dead serious about not hearing a peep out of the younger grades who don't test. We won't be allowed to go outside either... absolute torture. You might as well strap me to a wall with duct tape. And don't forget to bind my frazzled hands into place. They have a mind of their own when chaos strikes.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tears of Hysteria.
Well, I didn't think I'd have the chance to update this weekend since Miss K was supposed to visit. Unfortunately her car died 60 miles into her trip down here... so she's had to postpone her visit. :( Thankfully she got her car towed and everything's okay.
This week was too much of a week. K put on his moaning cow attitude THREE MAJOR TIMES.
So the third time this hysterical sobbing happened, I told him VERY FIRMLY that it was NOT acceptable second grade behavior, and that I would expect it from a preschooler. What? What were those magical words? Yes. Apparently being compared to a preschooler could halt all waterworks and sour faces. That's all it took!?!?!?! Needless to say, I called his Dad and told him about these incidents. I'm not surprised; the same behavior happens at home as well.
T also decided to rear her bully-head. She put glue all over her chair and tried to blame it on K (the reason of his third hysterical episode of the week). Three other students AND I saw her do it. Well, add another kid to the list of bawling hysterically because she was at it. When I called T's mom to report the incident, I got her voicemail... and normally I really don't like leaving those kinds of messages, but it was necessary. It was Friday. And I wanted to go home.
Summarily to say, I am glad this week is over. I can't believe it's May next week. It's CRAZY! Less than one-and-a-half months of school left. Yikes!
- Miss Chelsea :)
This week was too much of a week. K put on his moaning cow attitude THREE MAJOR TIMES.
Imagine this. It is Picture Day and all the children are lined up, tallest to shortest. The children start to get antsy as they await to be placed on the risers. One little boy decides to start touching another student, even after his teacher told him not to put his hands on another student. The teacher chastised his behavior. The boy starts crying. The crying escalates into wailing. You would think you were in a preschool classroom. The wailing worsens into sobbing-moaning. Finally, the class is corralled onto the risers and the boy falls behind, still crying. The photographer gives a look to the teacher like, "Oh geez. How could you be so mean!?" The "cruel" teacher then tells the boy to get into his spot in the picture because there are four classes waiting to be photographed. The boy still sobs his eyes out and continues to do so through the entire photographic process. The class only has two tries for a good picture, and so you will see a tear-ridden, "My world has ended" boy in the third row to the right. Watch for him. He will be forever known as the Boy Who Cried in Miss F's Class Picture, 2008.
So the third time this hysterical sobbing happened, I told him VERY FIRMLY that it was NOT acceptable second grade behavior, and that I would expect it from a preschooler. What? What were those magical words? Yes. Apparently being compared to a preschooler could halt all waterworks and sour faces. That's all it took!?!?!?! Needless to say, I called his Dad and told him about these incidents. I'm not surprised; the same behavior happens at home as well.
T also decided to rear her bully-head. She put glue all over her chair and tried to blame it on K (the reason of his third hysterical episode of the week). Three other students AND I saw her do it. Well, add another kid to the list of bawling hysterically because she was at it. When I called T's mom to report the incident, I got her voicemail... and normally I really don't like leaving those kinds of messages, but it was necessary. It was Friday. And I wanted to go home.
Summarily to say, I am glad this week is over. I can't believe it's May next week. It's CRAZY! Less than one-and-a-half months of school left. Yikes!
- Miss Chelsea :)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A bit o' quote.
It's getting to be a pretty busy month. May will be busier once it starts the "end of year" bustle.
GREAT NEWS!!
Since we never used our two snow days, the School Board approved a four-day Memorial Day weekend ANDDDDDD the last day of school will now be Friday, June 13th (instead of Monday, the 16th). YAYAY! We were pretty stoked.
Now here are some quotes for your reading pleasure...
T: Miss F, you're pretty.
Me: Thank you.
J: OF COURSE, Miss F is pretty. She's a lady.
****
V: M is being shellfish! She is being shellfish!
[V has a bit of a speech problem, and this one really amused me. I didn't know that I had sea creatures in my classroom.]
****
G: [This rose] is for you, Miss F! It was over the fence so we had to work together to get it.
[I love it when my "life lessons" make it into their everyday play. :) :) Working together has been a theme all year for us. :)]
****
Mrs. M sends me Snapple Caps via TXT message a few times a week (which, by the way, I want to get on a license plate as soon as I can figure out my titling number on my car registration: SNPLCAP). The best one this past week was "A goldfish has the attention span of 3 seconds." Her attached message was, "That's probably longer than your students!" ... it's funny because it's truuuuuuuuuue.
We've started growing our flower seeds inside the classroom now... we should be able to go outside to plant them in a few weeks.
- Miss Chelsea :)
GREAT NEWS!!
Since we never used our two snow days, the School Board approved a four-day Memorial Day weekend ANDDDDDD the last day of school will now be Friday, June 13th (instead of Monday, the 16th). YAYAY! We were pretty stoked.
Now here are some quotes for your reading pleasure...
T: Miss F, you're pretty.
Me: Thank you.
J: OF COURSE, Miss F is pretty. She's a lady.
****
V: M is being shellfish! She is being shellfish!
[V has a bit of a speech problem, and this one really amused me. I didn't know that I had sea creatures in my classroom.]
****
G: [This rose] is for you, Miss F! It was over the fence so we had to work together to get it.
[I love it when my "life lessons" make it into their everyday play. :) :) Working together has been a theme all year for us. :)]
****
Mrs. M sends me Snapple Caps via TXT message a few times a week (which, by the way, I want to get on a license plate as soon as I can figure out my titling number on my car registration: SNPLCAP). The best one this past week was "A goldfish has the attention span of 3 seconds." Her attached message was, "That's probably longer than your students!" ... it's funny because it's truuuuuuuuuue.
We've started growing our flower seeds inside the classroom now... we should be able to go outside to plant them in a few weeks.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Good, the Bad, and the Ridiculous.
Wow, definitely time for an update. A lot has happened in the past month. Some good, some bad... some ridiculous.
I'll start with the bad as to end on a more positive note.
The Bad
Over Spring Break, one of our second graders passed away due to a fatal asthma attack. Our school has unfortunately seen a lot of death this year. It's eerie. First, a teacher passed, then parents, and now a student. He was such a sweet little boy who always listened and paid attention when he came to my class on Fridays. Mrs. A, Ms. T, and I went to his funeral this past Tuesday. It was the first funeral I've ever been to. The thought that kept going through my head was that "he's never going to wake up." I wanted to avoid seeing his body, but it was an open casket when we first walked in and there he was. Thankfully, the initial shock is now over. I didn't know him well... so the shock didn't last for too long. It's just heartbreaking that a young child was taken back home so early in his life. I'm praying that his family is doing all right.
The Good
We made a huge purchase order right before Spring Break. Second grade is FINALLY going to get magnets, liquid measurement matierals, life cycle tools, butterfly kits, and etc... I made my case to the principal, and she gave us an extra $500 to get science supplies. How cool is that? I'm ALSO getting maps. Like real maps on a roll. To hang up. I can adequately teach these subjects now!
I've been dubbed the "science person" in second grade for some reason. Every time I talk to the principal, she mentions science in relation to me. She was in a VERY good mood this past week. I am bummed that I couldn't go to the Science Conference in July since I'm working at SIG again this year. Mrs. P said I was the one she wanted to send.
I just found out my Perkins loan could get forgiven in 5 years. 100%. BUT. I have to stay in a low-income school for that long. I'm getting 15% forgiven just for this year... and another 15% next year. As much as I have complained about CPI, I'm questioning whether I should stay next year.
However, I do not want to be one of those people who complains... AND had the chance to change the situation... and decided not to do anything about it. So as of now, I'm divided.
The Ridiculous
Here are some quotes to really remember.
IK: "Did you go to college, Miss F?!"
Me: "I had to... AND I went to another school after college, too."
IK: "Did you go to Mom school?!"
Me: "No, but if they had one I'd love to go! Did you go to Mom school, IK?"
IK: "I went to Mom AND Dad school."
Me: "Can you find a musical instrument at a grocery store?"
K: "Yeah!"
Me: "Umm, not really, sweetie..."
K: "Yeah huh, you can buy a flute there! And a flute is a musical instrument!"
DS was given a writing assignment about something "you and a friend do... and how you help each other."
Well, I went around looking at papers... and I saw DS'. It is as follows:
"DS and Miss F like to wickle are [sic] fingers.
DS and Miss F like to go on a picnic."
This was accompanied by a picture of DS and me wiggling our fingers (we do this when we find a vocab word in our reading). My face was clearly colored over with a white crayon. The picture of DS and me on a picnic apparently happens during the summer because my face was clearly colored in with a brown crayon. So apparently, I've gone on a picnic with DS before. haha I somehow missed that invitation.
T: "Miss F, I looove you. [hug] You're my best friend."
[Why don't these kids have best friends their own age?!?! haha]
My kids are on this kick of recycling right now. I couldn't be more proud since that's one little glimpse at being socially aware. We now have a recycling box for paper and everything that was initiated by A. So proud!
G: "I'm recycling this spoon into a shovel!"
S: "Someone's mouth was on that!"
G: "[peeved] I'm not using the mouth!!"
Well, there was probably more, but it's all blurry. Maybe I'll do an addendum when I find the paper I wrote stuff down on...
- Miss Chelsea :)
I'll start with the bad as to end on a more positive note.
The Bad
Over Spring Break, one of our second graders passed away due to a fatal asthma attack. Our school has unfortunately seen a lot of death this year. It's eerie. First, a teacher passed, then parents, and now a student. He was such a sweet little boy who always listened and paid attention when he came to my class on Fridays. Mrs. A, Ms. T, and I went to his funeral this past Tuesday. It was the first funeral I've ever been to. The thought that kept going through my head was that "he's never going to wake up." I wanted to avoid seeing his body, but it was an open casket when we first walked in and there he was. Thankfully, the initial shock is now over. I didn't know him well... so the shock didn't last for too long. It's just heartbreaking that a young child was taken back home so early in his life. I'm praying that his family is doing all right.
The Good
We made a huge purchase order right before Spring Break. Second grade is FINALLY going to get magnets, liquid measurement matierals, life cycle tools, butterfly kits, and etc... I made my case to the principal, and she gave us an extra $500 to get science supplies. How cool is that? I'm ALSO getting maps. Like real maps on a roll. To hang up. I can adequately teach these subjects now!
I've been dubbed the "science person" in second grade for some reason. Every time I talk to the principal, she mentions science in relation to me. She was in a VERY good mood this past week. I am bummed that I couldn't go to the Science Conference in July since I'm working at SIG again this year. Mrs. P said I was the one she wanted to send.
I just found out my Perkins loan could get forgiven in 5 years. 100%. BUT. I have to stay in a low-income school for that long. I'm getting 15% forgiven just for this year... and another 15% next year. As much as I have complained about CPI, I'm questioning whether I should stay next year.
However, I do not want to be one of those people who complains... AND had the chance to change the situation... and decided not to do anything about it. So as of now, I'm divided.
The Ridiculous
Here are some quotes to really remember.
IK: "Did you go to college, Miss F?!"
Me: "I had to... AND I went to another school after college, too."
IK: "Did you go to Mom school?!"
Me: "No, but if they had one I'd love to go! Did you go to Mom school, IK?"
IK: "I went to Mom AND Dad school."
Me: "Can you find a musical instrument at a grocery store?"
K: "Yeah!"
Me: "Umm, not really, sweetie..."
K: "Yeah huh, you can buy a flute there! And a flute is a musical instrument!"
DS was given a writing assignment about something "you and a friend do... and how you help each other."
Well, I went around looking at papers... and I saw DS'. It is as follows:
"DS and Miss F like to wickle are [sic] fingers.
DS and Miss F like to go on a picnic."
This was accompanied by a picture of DS and me wiggling our fingers (we do this when we find a vocab word in our reading). My face was clearly colored over with a white crayon. The picture of DS and me on a picnic apparently happens during the summer because my face was clearly colored in with a brown crayon. So apparently, I've gone on a picnic with DS before. haha I somehow missed that invitation.
T: "Miss F, I looove you. [hug] You're my best friend."
[Why don't these kids have best friends their own age?!?! haha]
My kids are on this kick of recycling right now. I couldn't be more proud since that's one little glimpse at being socially aware. We now have a recycling box for paper and everything that was initiated by A. So proud!
G: "I'm recycling this spoon into a shovel!"
S: "Someone's mouth was on that!"
G: "[peeved] I'm not using the mouth!!"
Well, there was probably more, but it's all blurry. Maybe I'll do an addendum when I find the paper I wrote stuff down on...
- Miss Chelsea :)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Row, row, row your boat.
The strangest of things always seem to happen to me right before I take a mental health day.
To start things off though, I would like to post a picture of my new portrait (the paper on top) drawn by G. I think it just adds a certain je ne sais quoi about me. Don't you think?
... at least I'm in my make-believe Butterfly Garden! :) I do think it's funny even when my skin color is different, my hair and pants are still the same. Awww, they know me well. :D
Thursday was such a day where anything and everything seemed to occur. Let's start off with the morning...
In Reading Remediation group, J and T kept playing around and not being serious at all; there's a time to play and a time to work hard (especially since these are the main two who are at risk of not passing second grade). I told them sternly that they needed to get their student faces on. So they said, "Yeah, we're going to get our student faces on!" And then they motion as if they were washing their faces...
And then T burst out with... "Yeah, my student face! I need to get some lotion on!"
Right after this incident, I asked them questions about "So what do you need to see?" They called out, "Eyes! Glasses!" Right. Then I asked them, "What do you need to speak?" J replied, "SPEECH BUBBLES!"
And then the day continued.
Now, I have started a collection of confiscated items. These items range from little papers, scissors used to cut up crayons and erasers, toys, etc. The best item thus far is apparently a "love potion." According to one student, G created this "potion" to "get girls to like him." Well, ladies and gentlemen, get your pencils ready because I'm about to divulge the secrets of a true 21st-century aphrodisiac.
The day carried on and was interrupted by a serenade of "Row, row, row your boat" emanating from the boy's bathroom. A very LOUD crooning. Mrs. A and I looked at each other and went "What the?!" as we went to explore.
"Who's in there?!" I called.
No answer.
"Get out here right now!" I called out again.
K peeked his head out and I literally want to smack my and his forehead.
"What are you doing?! Do you realize the entire pod can hear you?? When you get out, just go change your name to red!"
[Note: Our behavior system is a stoplight. Red, yellow, green. You can infer what red is.]
K stomped out of the bathroom and started wailing, putting on another Moaning Cow show.
I pulled him aside and again asked (with the greatest self-control possible... since I was on the verge of laughter from the ridiculousness of the situation), "What were you thinking?? The entire pod was disrupted!"
"I didn't do it!" K wailed.
"Who else was in there?! You were the only one, K!"
"I..." he quieted.
So it wasn't until the end of the day when another situation occurred. At this point, I was apparently on a roll with making children cry. Since a little before this at lunch, I made one of Mrs. A's students sit by himself at lunch because he kept getting up, talking to other tables, and walking around. He had the most unattractive crying face I've ever seen. I'm becoming the recipient of "Death Stares" a little too numerously. :P
Anyway, so at the end of the day, I was finishing up typing something on the computer while the kids finished our Cheez-It area activity. (Find the area of some squares with Cheez-Its! They loved it.)
I just happened to turn around and in slo-mo, DS, T, and T stared at me, frozen. DS held his hand over his mouth. T had the guilty look as she openly clutched three Hot Fries in her fist. T was in mid-reach of taking one. I was SHOCKED. We stared at each other for a moment until I got up and asked what in the world was going on.
Their blatant defiance/sneakiness of the "no snacks unless I provide them and there is enough for everyone" rule was just so SHOCKING to me. I was sitting RIGHT there!
Well, I told them to throw them away. T got up and threw her three away. DS stared at me, wondering if I were serious.
"Throw them away NOW."
He got up and walked to his Spongebob backpack (which was clearly past the trashcan), shoving them inside.
"NO. I said THROW them away in the trashcan!"
He stared at me as if he didn't understand English and were weighing the consequences if he didn't follow instructions.
"Throw them away NOW. You KNOW the rules."
I said this about ten times. Quickly, his face transfigured into one of anger as he took his Hot Fries out of his backpack and slammed them into the trashcan. DS stomped his feet in a circle and then the grand finale was when he threw his body to the ground and started wailing. Mrs. W came in and swooped him up to talk to him in another room.
It's like a drama in my classroom. There's always something.
The weirdest ending was when some boys were trying to go into the trashcan to retrieve these Hot Fries, even after I pushed my foot down in the trashcan because it was overflowing with paper. And the Hot Fries were clearly not theirs to even take.
And thus, this ends my week. I've probably traumatized some kids for life... but at least now I know that broken crayons in a hand sanitizer bottle is the key to a romantically successful life.
- Miss Chelsea :)
To start things off though, I would like to post a picture of my new portrait (the paper on top) drawn by G. I think it just adds a certain je ne sais quoi about me. Don't you think?
... at least I'm in my make-believe Butterfly Garden! :) I do think it's funny even when my skin color is different, my hair and pants are still the same. Awww, they know me well. :DThursday was such a day where anything and everything seemed to occur. Let's start off with the morning...
In Reading Remediation group, J and T kept playing around and not being serious at all; there's a time to play and a time to work hard (especially since these are the main two who are at risk of not passing second grade). I told them sternly that they needed to get their student faces on. So they said, "Yeah, we're going to get our student faces on!" And then they motion as if they were washing their faces...
And then T burst out with... "Yeah, my student face! I need to get some lotion on!"
Right after this incident, I asked them questions about "So what do you need to see?" They called out, "Eyes! Glasses!" Right. Then I asked them, "What do you need to speak?" J replied, "SPEECH BUBBLES!"
And then the day continued.
Now, I have started a collection of confiscated items. These items range from little papers, scissors used to cut up crayons and erasers, toys, etc. The best item thus far is apparently a "love potion." According to one student, G created this "potion" to "get girls to like him." Well, ladies and gentlemen, get your pencils ready because I'm about to divulge the secrets of a true 21st-century aphrodisiac.
- A small hand sanitizer bottle
- Three broken crayons (can be of any color, preferably pink and purple)
- Questionable water
- A little plant from outside
The day carried on and was interrupted by a serenade of "Row, row, row your boat" emanating from the boy's bathroom. A very LOUD crooning. Mrs. A and I looked at each other and went "What the?!" as we went to explore.
"Who's in there?!" I called.
No answer.
"Get out here right now!" I called out again.
K peeked his head out and I literally want to smack my and his forehead.
"What are you doing?! Do you realize the entire pod can hear you?? When you get out, just go change your name to red!"
[Note: Our behavior system is a stoplight. Red, yellow, green. You can infer what red is.]
K stomped out of the bathroom and started wailing, putting on another Moaning Cow show.
I pulled him aside and again asked (with the greatest self-control possible... since I was on the verge of laughter from the ridiculousness of the situation), "What were you thinking?? The entire pod was disrupted!"
"I didn't do it!" K wailed.
"Who else was in there?! You were the only one, K!"
"I..." he quieted.
So it wasn't until the end of the day when another situation occurred. At this point, I was apparently on a roll with making children cry. Since a little before this at lunch, I made one of Mrs. A's students sit by himself at lunch because he kept getting up, talking to other tables, and walking around. He had the most unattractive crying face I've ever seen. I'm becoming the recipient of "Death Stares" a little too numerously. :P
Anyway, so at the end of the day, I was finishing up typing something on the computer while the kids finished our Cheez-It area activity. (Find the area of some squares with Cheez-Its! They loved it.)
I just happened to turn around and in slo-mo, DS, T, and T stared at me, frozen. DS held his hand over his mouth. T had the guilty look as she openly clutched three Hot Fries in her fist. T was in mid-reach of taking one. I was SHOCKED. We stared at each other for a moment until I got up and asked what in the world was going on.
Their blatant defiance/sneakiness of the "no snacks unless I provide them and there is enough for everyone" rule was just so SHOCKING to me. I was sitting RIGHT there!
Well, I told them to throw them away. T got up and threw her three away. DS stared at me, wondering if I were serious.
"Throw them away NOW."
He got up and walked to his Spongebob backpack (which was clearly past the trashcan), shoving them inside.
"NO. I said THROW them away in the trashcan!"
He stared at me as if he didn't understand English and were weighing the consequences if he didn't follow instructions.
"Throw them away NOW. You KNOW the rules."
I said this about ten times. Quickly, his face transfigured into one of anger as he took his Hot Fries out of his backpack and slammed them into the trashcan. DS stomped his feet in a circle and then the grand finale was when he threw his body to the ground and started wailing. Mrs. W came in and swooped him up to talk to him in another room.
It's like a drama in my classroom. There's always something.
The weirdest ending was when some boys were trying to go into the trashcan to retrieve these Hot Fries, even after I pushed my foot down in the trashcan because it was overflowing with paper. And the Hot Fries were clearly not theirs to even take.
And thus, this ends my week. I've probably traumatized some kids for life... but at least now I know that broken crayons in a hand sanitizer bottle is the key to a romantically successful life.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Spring has almost sprung.
Just in case you didn't already know, I really don't like losing an hour of my sleep to save energy for the next 6 months. Sure, it's a grand idea and all... but one hour!! Sleep!! Okay, so I'm not completely an energy hog... but tomorrow is going to be a roooough morning.
The kids have been wired for the past two weeks, and it's exhausting. I waste about 45 minutes to an hour every day refocusing and dealing with behavior issues. It's getting ridiculous. I think we all need Spring Break like now.
Some adorable quotes kept me smiling though.
"What does a seed do or need, S?"
"All it needs is, uh, a little water, soil, and a little love."
"So, K, do you feel older and bigger today?"
"Uh huh. [sage nod]"
"That's great! Do you still have the same amount of eyes?"
"Yep, 4. Just like you!"
"How about ears?
"[sage nod] And I can smell real well! Like a gorilla!"
I'm going to Miss P's home state of Iowa for Spring Break! I'm pretty excited about it since I've never been. The flight was really affordable, and I may get to go on some random factory tours. Wooooo hoo. Watch out, corn fields!
I haven't been staying late at school much lately. Neither are the other teachers really... we're just too tired to want to think about the next day. So on a good healthy note, I've been balancing life a lot better than before. It helps that I have my own place to come home too... there's more incentive to flop into my own bed, lounge on my own (well, Miss EB's) couch, bake in my own (well, landlady's) oven. It's wonderful.
C's coming out for my Easter party, too, and so I may be taking a Mental Health Day on Friday... just so I can A) get ready for the party and B) relax a little bit.
Once Spring Break passes, I know I'm going to be counting down the days until summer... there are a lot of things being planned... and Mr. R and I may be doing a California Road Trip and then attend T's brother's wedding (we all never would have thought he'd ever get married.. he's surprised himself! haha). I have to be in Texas by July 10th for SIG. I believe Miss J is working there this year too, so at least I'll know someone.
Anyway, I want to go bum around and fiddle with gadgets...
Until next time,
Miss Chelsea :)
The kids have been wired for the past two weeks, and it's exhausting. I waste about 45 minutes to an hour every day refocusing and dealing with behavior issues. It's getting ridiculous. I think we all need Spring Break like now.
Some adorable quotes kept me smiling though.
"What does a seed do or need, S?"
"All it needs is, uh, a little water, soil, and a little love."
"So, K, do you feel older and bigger today?"
"Uh huh. [sage nod]"
"That's great! Do you still have the same amount of eyes?"
"Yep, 4. Just like you!"
"How about ears?
"[sage nod] And I can smell real well! Like a gorilla!"
I'm going to Miss P's home state of Iowa for Spring Break! I'm pretty excited about it since I've never been. The flight was really affordable, and I may get to go on some random factory tours. Wooooo hoo. Watch out, corn fields!
I haven't been staying late at school much lately. Neither are the other teachers really... we're just too tired to want to think about the next day. So on a good healthy note, I've been balancing life a lot better than before. It helps that I have my own place to come home too... there's more incentive to flop into my own bed, lounge on my own (well, Miss EB's) couch, bake in my own (well, landlady's) oven. It's wonderful.
C's coming out for my Easter party, too, and so I may be taking a Mental Health Day on Friday... just so I can A) get ready for the party and B) relax a little bit.
Once Spring Break passes, I know I'm going to be counting down the days until summer... there are a lot of things being planned... and Mr. R and I may be doing a California Road Trip and then attend T's brother's wedding (we all never would have thought he'd ever get married.. he's surprised himself! haha). I have to be in Texas by July 10th for SIG. I believe Miss J is working there this year too, so at least I'll know someone.
Anyway, I want to go bum around and fiddle with gadgets...
Until next time,
Miss Chelsea :)
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Memorable quotes.
For your reading pleasures, I have collected some pretty great quotes from the past few weeks.
(Side note- It's been a hectic few weeks... lots of school stuff and then the VEA weekend thing was awesome (I did learn how to ski, and it only took about 3 fallings!)! If you have access to Facebook as well as my profile, then you can check out my pictures from there.)
(Another EXCITING side note- our Painted Lady butterflies finally hatched today! When I left school, we were still waiting for the sixth one to hatch. The sixth's chrysalis was getting darker and darker though, so it's bound to be out by tomorrow. We're hoping! We will be releasing the 'flies out into its natural environment on Friday. They need to make babies so the life cycle can happen over all again! ;) )
"All right, it's time for the butterfly video!"
[Magic School Bus theme song begins]
... from the corner of my eye, J (from Ms. T's) rose his arms and started grooving to the song, pumping his fists in the air. This kid NEVER talks or moves much... but here he was just rockin' it up to MSB. I love him and I want to adopt him.
"This is for you, Miss F! I told you I'd bring it!"
- A, gave me a Valentine's heart with a fake rose and bear. Two weeks after the famous heart holiday.
"Miss F, can I go home with you? I wanna be a white person! They have more fun and they laugh more."
- T
"What else can you use a measuring tape for?"
"My mom uses it when she works out!"
- M
"[hand on my arm] Miss F, your monarch butterflies are just so beautiful."
- B, from Ms. R's class
[One-- she randomly came up to me at lunch to say this. Two-- They are Painted Ladies, not Monarchs. lol Sooo adorable!]
So that's it for now until the weekend. I needed to appease the M's on the west coast with an update. I can't have completely ruined her week!! I must repent and ask forgiveness for such negligence. ;)
Miss Chelsea :)
(Side note- It's been a hectic few weeks... lots of school stuff and then the VEA weekend thing was awesome (I did learn how to ski, and it only took about 3 fallings!)! If you have access to Facebook as well as my profile, then you can check out my pictures from there.)
(Another EXCITING side note- our Painted Lady butterflies finally hatched today! When I left school, we were still waiting for the sixth one to hatch. The sixth's chrysalis was getting darker and darker though, so it's bound to be out by tomorrow. We're hoping! We will be releasing the 'flies out into its natural environment on Friday. They need to make babies so the life cycle can happen over all again! ;) )
"All right, it's time for the butterfly video!"
[Magic School Bus theme song begins]
... from the corner of my eye, J (from Ms. T's) rose his arms and started grooving to the song, pumping his fists in the air. This kid NEVER talks or moves much... but here he was just rockin' it up to MSB. I love him and I want to adopt him.
"This is for you, Miss F! I told you I'd bring it!"
- A, gave me a Valentine's heart with a fake rose and bear. Two weeks after the famous heart holiday.
"Miss F, can I go home with you? I wanna be a white person! They have more fun and they laugh more."
- T
"What else can you use a measuring tape for?"
"My mom uses it when she works out!"
- M
"[hand on my arm] Miss F, your monarch butterflies are just so beautiful."
- B, from Ms. R's class
[One-- she randomly came up to me at lunch to say this. Two-- They are Painted Ladies, not Monarchs. lol Sooo adorable!]
So that's it for now until the weekend. I needed to appease the M's on the west coast with an update. I can't have completely ruined her week!! I must repent and ask forgiveness for such negligence. ;)
Miss Chelsea :)
Friday, February 22, 2008
MIA... for the weekend.
I haven't had internet on my computer for awhile... hence one of the reasons for the lack of update.
Anyhoo, this is just a short post saying...
If nothing else, the biggest perk about forking out dues every month to be part of the VEA (teacher union-like organization) is the free-all-expenses-paid mini vacay to a ski resort for the weekend. Yeah, yours truly is headed there this weekend. I do fear for my fellow skiers, trees, and other snow creatures though... I have never skied before, and so there is much to fear when boards are strapped to my feet on an incline. :P
It'll be very interesting since I have a lot of questions to ask while there... especially the legality of some things. And it'll be great to talk to other new teachers.
Another cool thing is that I'm going with Miss P and Mr. M, so VEA is also reimbursing our gas expense! Yay for carpooling! We're totally stopping by Trader Joe's for snacks on the way over. WOO HOO!
Time to don my snow boots, ski bib, and thermal wear!
- Miss Chelsea :)
Anyhoo, this is just a short post saying...
If nothing else, the biggest perk about forking out dues every month to be part of the VEA (teacher union-like organization) is the free-all-expenses-paid mini vacay to a ski resort for the weekend. Yeah, yours truly is headed there this weekend. I do fear for my fellow skiers, trees, and other snow creatures though... I have never skied before, and so there is much to fear when boards are strapped to my feet on an incline. :P
It'll be very interesting since I have a lot of questions to ask while there... especially the legality of some things. And it'll be great to talk to other new teachers.
Another cool thing is that I'm going with Miss P and Mr. M, so VEA is also reimbursing our gas expense! Yay for carpooling! We're totally stopping by Trader Joe's for snacks on the way over. WOO HOO!
Time to don my snow boots, ski bib, and thermal wear!
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, February 09, 2008
New to VA! Statue of Liberty!
I still don't like Benchmark Tests... they are the bane of my educational existence. But we got through the week despite one of the worst days so far in teaching. Whoever thinks that not having recess and enforcing "dead silence" lock-down is a good idea needs to get their head checked.
On Tuesday, K came up to me, holding one of those "4 chocolates in a box" Valentine hearts. It had a cat on the front that said, "You are so cool!" Well, K smiled and said, "This is for you, Miss F! My sister ate the other 3, but I left you one." I opened it to see a grimy milk chocolate in the middle. I smiled all big and thanked him. Cutest thing. Ever. (Disclaimer-- I did not eat the lone chocolate. Sorry to disappoint. ;) )
Well, that Tuesday was the worst day ever, and I was really dreading going to work for the rest of the week. I had to deal with bad attitudes and general whininess all because they couldn't go out to recess (even though Kindergarten and 1st grade could). It was sucky for all of us. I did not have one break all week, and the kids had no "real" break either. The morale of our pod was like opening up your favorite peanut butter jar and finding it empty and scraped clean of all peanuts. My love for my kids and my legally-binding work contract were sadly the only two things keeping me from walking out the door.
I had a bad dream that night, and upon waking to my alarm clock on Wednesday, I wanted to curl up under my comforter and forget my place in the world. After a moment of prayer for a significantly better day, I dragged my feet out of bed and managed to follow through with my morning routines.
Miraculously, the end of the dreariness happened the moment 9am struck. A came running into the room (as he always does) and whipped his backpack off, unzipping it. He pulled a little teddy bear figurine with a heart on his lap that said "I love you" (cutely ironic, it had beady eyes just like him.).
If I had a love language, mine would certainly be words and acts of affirmation. I almost started crying right there when I asked him who the bear was for. "It's for you, Miss F!" Talk about really needing a visible sign of encouragement and getting it. All morning, A was asking if I showed it to the other teachers and what they thought of the bear. The figurine has now taken residence on my desk and has been the talk of C-1.
As for the talk of Valentine's Day, I heard some students talking about wanting to go to China to bring back a panda for me, but they don't know "how to get it over." I've got my kids trained and thinking. ;)
So, moving onto the quote of the week... this one comes from G as he was looking through one of his library books.
There are so many things wrong with that statement, and so it made me laugh pretty hard.
Today, I've been making awards on Scholastic's Printables website for the students who made 1) above a 90% score, 2) most improved score from last time, or 3) improved score to an 80% or better on their Benchmarks. I wanted to do something for everyone, but I really need to be better about not praising "fake mediocrity." They say teachers fall into that trap too much and therefore indirectly encourage weaker work ethics and put up a rose-colored curtain of dishonesty. I agree with it to an extent, especially in regards to the lazy students. But for those who have a low self-esteem/confidence (like S), I feel very strongly about giving encouragement, even if it's for "below mediocre" work. It's just necessary.
- Miss Chelsea :)
On Tuesday, K came up to me, holding one of those "4 chocolates in a box" Valentine hearts. It had a cat on the front that said, "You are so cool!" Well, K smiled and said, "This is for you, Miss F! My sister ate the other 3, but I left you one." I opened it to see a grimy milk chocolate in the middle. I smiled all big and thanked him. Cutest thing. Ever. (Disclaimer-- I did not eat the lone chocolate. Sorry to disappoint. ;) )
Well, that Tuesday was the worst day ever, and I was really dreading going to work for the rest of the week. I had to deal with bad attitudes and general whininess all because they couldn't go out to recess (even though Kindergarten and 1st grade could). It was sucky for all of us. I did not have one break all week, and the kids had no "real" break either. The morale of our pod was like opening up your favorite peanut butter jar and finding it empty and scraped clean of all peanuts. My love for my kids and my legally-binding work contract were sadly the only two things keeping me from walking out the door.
I had a bad dream that night, and upon waking to my alarm clock on Wednesday, I wanted to curl up under my comforter and forget my place in the world. After a moment of prayer for a significantly better day, I dragged my feet out of bed and managed to follow through with my morning routines.
Miraculously, the end of the dreariness happened the moment 9am struck. A came running into the room (as he always does) and whipped his backpack off, unzipping it. He pulled a little teddy bear figurine with a heart on his lap that said "I love you" (cutely ironic, it had beady eyes just like him.).
If I had a love language, mine would certainly be words and acts of affirmation. I almost started crying right there when I asked him who the bear was for. "It's for you, Miss F!" Talk about really needing a visible sign of encouragement and getting it. All morning, A was asking if I showed it to the other teachers and what they thought of the bear. The figurine has now taken residence on my desk and has been the talk of C-1.
As for the talk of Valentine's Day, I heard some students talking about wanting to go to China to bring back a panda for me, but they don't know "how to get it over." I've got my kids trained and thinking. ;)
So, moving onto the quote of the week... this one comes from G as he was looking through one of his library books.
"Last weekend, I drove for 6 hours in Virginia Beach, and I saw the Statue of Liberty!"
There are so many things wrong with that statement, and so it made me laugh pretty hard.
Today, I've been making awards on Scholastic's Printables website for the students who made 1) above a 90% score, 2) most improved score from last time, or 3) improved score to an 80% or better on their Benchmarks. I wanted to do something for everyone, but I really need to be better about not praising "fake mediocrity." They say teachers fall into that trap too much and therefore indirectly encourage weaker work ethics and put up a rose-colored curtain of dishonesty. I agree with it to an extent, especially in regards to the lazy students. But for those who have a low self-esteem/confidence (like S), I feel very strongly about giving encouragement, even if it's for "below mediocre" work. It's just necessary.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Sunday, February 03, 2008
School Mom.
(Sorry, readers, this won't be as riveting and action-packed as my Anti-FUN Dragon story. Perhaps there will be a sequel in the future... :) )
Even though Tuesday was an early release day and Wednesday was a teacher workday (aka no kids), this week was exhausting. I don't know why exactly. I'm just mentally spent. By Friday, my eyes were overly tired and red. With all sleeping jokes aside, I should probably get checked by a doctor to see if my love of sleep is normal! I think I don't have too much to worry about though if I've been like this since I was a tot. I wonder if the picture of baby Chelsea falling asleep while eating a french fry from her hand is still around... it is the start of many, many blackmail pictures. :P
I received my "final evaluation" from the principals. They're recommending me to be rehired next year... which is a nice thought. On the paper, they said that I do "an excellent job teaching Science to all students." Ms. R got slightly unsettled because she didn't get an extra comment like that on hers... but I tried to reassure her that "trust me, no one even saw me teach a Science lesson," sooo I'm not sure how they would know. I hope she doesn't take it to heart... even though I am pretty excited that they wrote that.
Anyway, there were some cute moments this past week. (Don't know how many will happen this week since it's Benchmark testing... please, God, help my students do well on these tests...)
M: Momma---- ahh, I mean Miss F! [nervous laugh]
Me: [laugh]
M: Well, you're like a mom. A mom at school!
T: Yeah, she's our School Mom!
T: Miss F, you're the best school mom EVER!
You don't even have to know me that personally to know that made me smile.
Another was on Thursday...
Me: The Ancient Egyptians had to wear very light clothing because it was so hot! Boys wore skirt-like things [teacher stare to prevent incessant giggling] since pants would be terribly yuck! Girls wore dresses. [drawing of the boy Egyptian] So here's the boy and probably what he wore... and here's the girl. [drawing of girl]
TB: That's great, Miss F!
Me: Oops, probably should give her some hair.
TB: NOooo, I like her bald! Leave her bald!
Our new place is officially a home now. Last night, I broke in the oven with the first batch of chocolate chip cookies. Everything is finally coming together; it's a new chapter in my life that I'm eager to read.
I woke up this morning to the sounds of a mourning dove; it was very close if I could hear it that clearly (we know my hearing isn't the most fabulous--- don't tell my students that though! I still have them trained that I can hear an ant walk AND see with my 15 eyes). This made me incredibly overjoyed. It's going to be a good day. :)
I want to go buy a bird feeder, so some birds can hang out on our patio... especially now that I know that mourning doves are pretty close around here. I bet Home Depot could hook me up! ;)
Breakfast time now.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Even though Tuesday was an early release day and Wednesday was a teacher workday (aka no kids), this week was exhausting. I don't know why exactly. I'm just mentally spent. By Friday, my eyes were overly tired and red. With all sleeping jokes aside, I should probably get checked by a doctor to see if my love of sleep is normal! I think I don't have too much to worry about though if I've been like this since I was a tot. I wonder if the picture of baby Chelsea falling asleep while eating a french fry from her hand is still around... it is the start of many, many blackmail pictures. :P
I received my "final evaluation" from the principals. They're recommending me to be rehired next year... which is a nice thought. On the paper, they said that I do "an excellent job teaching Science to all students." Ms. R got slightly unsettled because she didn't get an extra comment like that on hers... but I tried to reassure her that "trust me, no one even saw me teach a Science lesson," sooo I'm not sure how they would know. I hope she doesn't take it to heart... even though I am pretty excited that they wrote that.
Anyway, there were some cute moments this past week. (Don't know how many will happen this week since it's Benchmark testing... please, God, help my students do well on these tests...)
M: Momma---- ahh, I mean Miss F! [nervous laugh]
Me: [laugh]
M: Well, you're like a mom. A mom at school!
T: Yeah, she's our School Mom!
T: Miss F, you're the best school mom EVER!
You don't even have to know me that personally to know that made me smile.
Another was on Thursday...
Me: The Ancient Egyptians had to wear very light clothing because it was so hot! Boys wore skirt-like things [teacher stare to prevent incessant giggling] since pants would be terribly yuck! Girls wore dresses. [drawing of the boy Egyptian] So here's the boy and probably what he wore... and here's the girl. [drawing of girl]
TB: That's great, Miss F!
Me: Oops, probably should give her some hair.
TB: NOooo, I like her bald! Leave her bald!
Our new place is officially a home now. Last night, I broke in the oven with the first batch of chocolate chip cookies. Everything is finally coming together; it's a new chapter in my life that I'm eager to read.
I woke up this morning to the sounds of a mourning dove; it was very close if I could hear it that clearly (we know my hearing isn't the most fabulous--- don't tell my students that though! I still have them trained that I can hear an ant walk AND see with my 15 eyes). This made me incredibly overjoyed. It's going to be a good day. :)
I want to go buy a bird feeder, so some birds can hang out on our patio... especially now that I know that mourning doves are pretty close around here. I bet Home Depot could hook me up! ;)
Breakfast time now.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Once upon a time...
... there lived a young woman who loved children, pandas, and cereal. She wanted to change the world one student at a time and to foster lifelong learners... because that's just what damsels like to do. She swore she would never make a child grow up too fast since that is what happened to this young woman, too. She would be protector of students' rights and dreamed of finding a dashing gentleman with the same ideals of wanting to help others, standing up for the little, and eating chocolate chip cookies when necessary.
But, one day, a scaly, fire-breathing dragon stormed into town, squashing the base-10 blocks and the ever-so popular Matter Matters game (cleverly thought up by our heroine). Children shrieked and scattered, but our heroine stood tall, brandishing her purple Crayola marker and perfected teacher stare.
"Never will you destroy these young minds! They need life in their education! Be gone!" she cried with her palm waving in the monster's face.
The dragon roared and hissed. "FUN!? I do not like this FUN! I have contracts to keep and appearances to make! Things to destroy!"
"You will have to find somewhere else to meet your requirements! They are not welcomed here, and I shall banish you with... with..."
From out of some misty fog yonder, a dashing gentleman (just the very one that we hoped for!) rode onto the scene on a dappled-gray horse named Specks. The horse neighed and whinnied, letting its mane ruffle in the wind. It was quite the dramatic entrance. Moreso for the pony.
"What goes on here?" he exclaimed after giving the trademark cool kid nod and wink to the young woman.
"This dragon threatens these children's love for school and all things educational!"
"WHAT! That cannot be done!" he yelled and pulled a large soccer whistle out of his saddlebag.
The dragon roared and stomped on some more money games and missing addends flashcards. "Educational FUN is bad!!" The dragon was quite testy now and becoming a big headache for our heroine.
"You know what, you're giving me a headache with your ranting, dragon. Make it easy on yourself and just go weave on a loom or something."
This really ticked off the dragon and, with one fell swoop, snatched up the damsel in its grimy claws. Smoke seeping out of its fiery nostrils. "What did you say to me?! I can squeeze you to pieces!! You'll never have FUN again, now will you!?"
Now the gentleman gasped in horror at the monstrosity, and since his lady friend was in distress, knew he had to resort to the ultimate secret weapon. He blew the whistle and hollered...
"DAMSEL IS IN TROUBLE, KIDS!! She's in trouble!! It's Dragon Playtime!! Let's see who can measure its length first!!"
Out of the woodworks, kids of seven and eight years of age poured into the streets and flooded the dragon's feet. They swarmed the dragon, spinning yarn, measuring tapes, and other educational math tools around and around. The dragon huffed and puffed, waving its smoky arms (with damsel in tact, of course, causing her to not only have a headache, but a little bit of a stomachache).
Kids were squealing with delight as they whipped their tapes and tools around. A few scrambled up the dragon's belly and started a little rumble with each other because of someone moving their measuring tape two inches off. The gentleman corralled the oncoming giggling children with determination. Within ten minutes, the dragon was soon overtaken by the immensity of children and their fun, and its body soared to the ground.
The dragon's claws ripped through the air, trying to grasp onto anything... and the damsel went sailing down towards the sea of youth. The gentleman leapt onto his mighty steed and galloped towards the falling damsel. Into his arms, she landed with perfect ease and grace.
"The children! How will we ever know who got the correct measurement!?" the damsel cried.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn," he grinned and gave her a dreamy rated-G smooch.
The children cheered as they played on the dragon's legs and used its tummy as a Moon Bounce. One little boy ran up to the damsel and gentleman, waving his torn measuring tape in the air, "I want to learn forever, Miss Damsel and Mr. Gentleman! Learning is fun!"
They smiled at each other, pleased at their conquest. No dragon would ever ruin the children's education again. As soon as all the children were picked up by their parents, the two rode off into the dusky sunset, awaiting their next adventure... but until then, they lived happily ever after.
The End.
By Miss Chelsea :)
But, one day, a scaly, fire-breathing dragon stormed into town, squashing the base-10 blocks and the ever-so popular Matter Matters game (cleverly thought up by our heroine). Children shrieked and scattered, but our heroine stood tall, brandishing her purple Crayola marker and perfected teacher stare.
"Never will you destroy these young minds! They need life in their education! Be gone!" she cried with her palm waving in the monster's face.
The dragon roared and hissed. "FUN!? I do not like this FUN! I have contracts to keep and appearances to make! Things to destroy!"
"You will have to find somewhere else to meet your requirements! They are not welcomed here, and I shall banish you with... with..."
From out of some misty fog yonder, a dashing gentleman (just the very one that we hoped for!) rode onto the scene on a dappled-gray horse named Specks. The horse neighed and whinnied, letting its mane ruffle in the wind. It was quite the dramatic entrance. Moreso for the pony.
"What goes on here?" he exclaimed after giving the trademark cool kid nod and wink to the young woman.
"This dragon threatens these children's love for school and all things educational!"
"WHAT! That cannot be done!" he yelled and pulled a large soccer whistle out of his saddlebag.
The dragon roared and stomped on some more money games and missing addends flashcards. "Educational FUN is bad!!" The dragon was quite testy now and becoming a big headache for our heroine.
"You know what, you're giving me a headache with your ranting, dragon. Make it easy on yourself and just go weave on a loom or something."
This really ticked off the dragon and, with one fell swoop, snatched up the damsel in its grimy claws. Smoke seeping out of its fiery nostrils. "What did you say to me?! I can squeeze you to pieces!! You'll never have FUN again, now will you!?"
Now the gentleman gasped in horror at the monstrosity, and since his lady friend was in distress, knew he had to resort to the ultimate secret weapon. He blew the whistle and hollered...
"DAMSEL IS IN TROUBLE, KIDS!! She's in trouble!! It's Dragon Playtime!! Let's see who can measure its length first!!"
Out of the woodworks, kids of seven and eight years of age poured into the streets and flooded the dragon's feet. They swarmed the dragon, spinning yarn, measuring tapes, and other educational math tools around and around. The dragon huffed and puffed, waving its smoky arms (with damsel in tact, of course, causing her to not only have a headache, but a little bit of a stomachache).
Kids were squealing with delight as they whipped their tapes and tools around. A few scrambled up the dragon's belly and started a little rumble with each other because of someone moving their measuring tape two inches off. The gentleman corralled the oncoming giggling children with determination. Within ten minutes, the dragon was soon overtaken by the immensity of children and their fun, and its body soared to the ground.
The dragon's claws ripped through the air, trying to grasp onto anything... and the damsel went sailing down towards the sea of youth. The gentleman leapt onto his mighty steed and galloped towards the falling damsel. Into his arms, she landed with perfect ease and grace.
"The children! How will we ever know who got the correct measurement!?" the damsel cried.
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a darn," he grinned and gave her a dreamy rated-G smooch.
The children cheered as they played on the dragon's legs and used its tummy as a Moon Bounce. One little boy ran up to the damsel and gentleman, waving his torn measuring tape in the air, "I want to learn forever, Miss Damsel and Mr. Gentleman! Learning is fun!"
They smiled at each other, pleased at their conquest. No dragon would ever ruin the children's education again. As soon as all the children were picked up by their parents, the two rode off into the dusky sunset, awaiting their next adventure... but until then, they lived happily ever after.
The End.
By Miss Chelsea :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Money, money, money.
Even though I rock at Skee Ball, going to Chuck E. Cheese's for a fundraiser night right after school did not set me running. The kids who were able to attend had fun, but I kept thinking about those kids who couldn't afford it?? I had a real problem with the whole CEC idea (CFA would have been a better choice... and that's not just a biased opinion! It's more affordable for those families with multiple kids or stretchy pockets). You want parents to go spend at least $30 in food and tokens, yet we can't even ask them to give our classroom a box of tissues or hand sanitizer?? Where's the justice in that?
Last night, I saw 4 of my students at CEC (and 3 more went after I left)... out of 18. That's not a big representation. You should have seen the forlorn looks on some of the children who didn't go, and it broke my heart... and knowing a bit of their home lives, I know why.
Then we flip to the other side of the coin... parents who buy their children ridiculous name brand clothing and jewelry and give them snack money EVERY DAY (roughly 85 cents), but won't send in $1.25 for a special Powhatan Indian in-school field trip (with replica artifacts!!) from the Jamestown settlement that is ALL about our upcoming Benchmark exams. Where are the priorities??
Now, I do have one student (the newest one) for whom I will have no problem paying... R would be the only one though because she's in a foster home right now. (She had some behavior problems today which drove me NUTS!!) There are a few others that I might... but then there are those who... no.
Ms. T was saying that some of her parents already told her that they weren't sending in money because "why should they? It's in school." UGH! Hello, Jamestown settlement people are coming to show your kids some amazing things! They need to keep the program open... and it's ONLY one dollar and twenty-five cents-- that barely covers their gas and it's CHEAPER than an actual field trip! If it were $5, then I wouldn't have organized this-- that would be a bit much for a presentation! I'm trying very hard not to be judgmental, but when I hear comments like that, I get so peeved because they don't see how this will leave a lasting impression from something so simple. The kids get to touch Powhatan weapons, clothing, etc... they get to SEE it!
I think this summer I'm going to look into writing grants to fund some of the stuff I want my class to have... but then again, I need to use the grant I already earned... eek, it's almost spring, too. I have NO idea where to begin for gardening supplies.
Dangit!! I need to get that list together asap for the principal.
But first... need to go finish the Reading Remediation paperwork... oh, the fun! ... but I really want to go to sleep now... my eyes hurt. Hmm... I may have to give into the snooze temptation...
- Miss Chelsea :)
Last night, I saw 4 of my students at CEC (and 3 more went after I left)... out of 18. That's not a big representation. You should have seen the forlorn looks on some of the children who didn't go, and it broke my heart... and knowing a bit of their home lives, I know why.
Then we flip to the other side of the coin... parents who buy their children ridiculous name brand clothing and jewelry and give them snack money EVERY DAY (roughly 85 cents), but won't send in $1.25 for a special Powhatan Indian in-school field trip (with replica artifacts!!) from the Jamestown settlement that is ALL about our upcoming Benchmark exams. Where are the priorities??
Now, I do have one student (the newest one) for whom I will have no problem paying... R would be the only one though because she's in a foster home right now. (She had some behavior problems today which drove me NUTS!!) There are a few others that I might... but then there are those who... no.
Ms. T was saying that some of her parents already told her that they weren't sending in money because "why should they? It's in school." UGH! Hello, Jamestown settlement people are coming to show your kids some amazing things! They need to keep the program open... and it's ONLY one dollar and twenty-five cents-- that barely covers their gas and it's CHEAPER than an actual field trip! If it were $5, then I wouldn't have organized this-- that would be a bit much for a presentation! I'm trying very hard not to be judgmental, but when I hear comments like that, I get so peeved because they don't see how this will leave a lasting impression from something so simple. The kids get to touch Powhatan weapons, clothing, etc... they get to SEE it!
I think this summer I'm going to look into writing grants to fund some of the stuff I want my class to have... but then again, I need to use the grant I already earned... eek, it's almost spring, too. I have NO idea where to begin for gardening supplies.
Dangit!! I need to get that list together asap for the principal.
But first... need to go finish the Reading Remediation paperwork... oh, the fun! ... but I really want to go to sleep now... my eyes hurt. Hmm... I may have to give into the snooze temptation...
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Fifteen eyes.
Thank goodness for MLK Jr. Day... three day weekend!!
I forgot to write a quote from a week or so ago that definitely needs documenting. It seems the most random funny stuff comes from students who aren't even in my class. They're in another second grade class... and they seem to always mention things that make me believe that they are listening in on my class and not their own. haha
Okay, readers, put on your imagination caps and imagine a really thick redneck accent, a really fair-skinned blonde boy with slightly protruding teeth... and you've got one of the funniest and sweetest boys ever in Ms. T's class. This is the same kid who at the very beginning of the year when the beetles were outside said "It's a HUMAN BEETLE!!"
"Yes, K?"
"Miss F, I just love your clothes! I can't remember what they're called though..."
"?? ... Oh, my capris??"
"Yes! I just love them! So good."
"Well, thank you, K. I appreciate that."
"You're welcome. [sagely nod]"
Another episode happened on Friday. K always raises his hand. Even when he's right in front of me. But when he raises that hand, I know he has something profound to say.
Turn your imagination caps onto the scene of Ms. T's class standing in line, waiting to return to their classroom. K shoots up his hand...
"Yes, K?"
"Miss F, these boys are saying not nice stuff about me. And I know!"
"??"
"I know because I've got big ears [[and yes, readers, he does]] and two eyes on the back of my head!"
[[Pardon this other interruption, but this is a clear case of "I've been listening to Miss F's class!"]]
"K, we must be twins! So do I! Fifteen of them!"
"[another sagely nod]"
Again, I live for these moments. I really hope one day when I'm a mother that I'll have hilarious kids like these. They really do make the world go 'round.
- Miss Chelsea :)
P.S. Here's a good news article on a study about personalities. I completely agree with it. I see it in my own students.
I forgot to write a quote from a week or so ago that definitely needs documenting. It seems the most random funny stuff comes from students who aren't even in my class. They're in another second grade class... and they seem to always mention things that make me believe that they are listening in on my class and not their own. haha
Okay, readers, put on your imagination caps and imagine a really thick redneck accent, a really fair-skinned blonde boy with slightly protruding teeth... and you've got one of the funniest and sweetest boys ever in Ms. T's class. This is the same kid who at the very beginning of the year when the beetles were outside said "It's a HUMAN BEETLE!!"
"Yes, K?"
"Miss F, I just love your clothes! I can't remember what they're called though..."
"?? ... Oh, my capris??"
"Yes! I just love them! So good."
"Well, thank you, K. I appreciate that."
"You're welcome. [sagely nod]"
Another episode happened on Friday. K always raises his hand. Even when he's right in front of me. But when he raises that hand, I know he has something profound to say.
Turn your imagination caps onto the scene of Ms. T's class standing in line, waiting to return to their classroom. K shoots up his hand...
"Yes, K?"
"Miss F, these boys are saying not nice stuff about me. And I know!"
"??"
"I know because I've got big ears [[and yes, readers, he does]] and two eyes on the back of my head!"
[[Pardon this other interruption, but this is a clear case of "I've been listening to Miss F's class!"]]
"K, we must be twins! So do I! Fifteen of them!"
"[another sagely nod]"
Again, I live for these moments. I really hope one day when I'm a mother that I'll have hilarious kids like these. They really do make the world go 'round.
- Miss Chelsea :)
P.S. Here's a good news article on a study about personalities. I completely agree with it. I see it in my own students.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Don't scare the Verbs!
Nothing too big happened this week, except a little heated mis-agreement with the principal. We're slightly under pressure at the moment because the third graders aren't performing how people want them to. So... of course, it's now on the backs of us because we were the ones who "prepared" them. Rather annoying and quite frustrating. There are further more passionate details but I'd prefer not to plague my musings with them. It was a sour moment in the week, and now it's the weekend!
I did a "Verb Safari" today for Fun Friday (again, aka Frantic Friday). The kids LOVED it! I set the scene that we were in the C-1 Jungle with some very rare creatures... these creatures were called the "Verb Animals" and they were camouflaged like striped index cards. If they found one of these and it had a verb on its tummy then they had to write it down on their Safari Checklist. Oooh, I strictly enforced the two important rules, too.
I did a "Verb Safari" today for Fun Friday (again, aka Frantic Friday). The kids LOVED it! I set the scene that we were in the C-1 Jungle with some very rare creatures... these creatures were called the "Verb Animals" and they were camouflaged like striped index cards. If they found one of these and it had a verb on its tummy then they had to write it down on their Safari Checklist. Oooh, I strictly enforced the two important rules, too.
1. Don't SCARE the Verbs! Tiptoe and whisper.
2. Put the Verbs back in their habitats!
2. Put the Verbs back in their habitats!
The consequence was they'd get sent back to sit on the Safari Grass for the rest of the Hunt. These two kids from Mrs. A's class were adorable... they literally tiptoed everywhere. Pretty cute.
T and T's typical "I want to go home with you, Miss F" statement is kind of making me worry. They both say it a lot and are generally clingy kids... and it makes me wonder what's going on at home. As much as both Ts drive me up the WALL with their misbehavior, I can't help but think about it... even though for my own sanity, I try to repress it to some extent.
SOAPBOX MOMENT:
I'm kinda ticked at PPS in general because of all these "surprise" requirements they want me to do. I saved ALL the emails I got from HR before I accepted the offer because I had a feeling something might be up. Once they got me well and secured, they decided to say, "Oh, BTW, you need to do X, Y, and Z for VA licensure and for our district requirements." Uhhh, no, PPS, you CONFIRMED to me that I didn't need to do anything beyond my out-of-state certification and Praxis II. How convenient now that I inconveniently need to take more tests, create more portfolios, and give up my left kidney.
The only possibly-reassuring thing is that I really don't see myself in Virginia in 5 years... and that's the deadline for some of the requirements. QUIT SUCKING MONEY OUT OF ME, DEPTS. OF EDUCATION!! I have none!! I already paid nearly $900 just to get initial certification!! I have a lot of student debt!! I need a haircut!!
Perhaps I should boycott. Tell them that I'll take their tests if they pay one month of my student loans. ha! See how they like it.
Well, I'm moving my stuff out of storage tomorrow. I'm REALLY excited (and Feb. 1st can't come soon enough!). One more step closer to officially being moved in to my new beautiful condo. C's parents are driving down from Richmond to help... and Miss EB and Miss P will be helping as well. Thankfully, C's dad is coming because I have NO upper body strength whatsoever... so to try to carry a bookcase by myself would be quite the disaster. And I would have no more bookcase.
- Miss Chelsea :)
T and T's typical "I want to go home with you, Miss F" statement is kind of making me worry. They both say it a lot and are generally clingy kids... and it makes me wonder what's going on at home. As much as both Ts drive me up the WALL with their misbehavior, I can't help but think about it... even though for my own sanity, I try to repress it to some extent.
SOAPBOX MOMENT:
I'm kinda ticked at PPS in general because of all these "surprise" requirements they want me to do. I saved ALL the emails I got from HR before I accepted the offer because I had a feeling something might be up. Once they got me well and secured, they decided to say, "Oh, BTW, you need to do X, Y, and Z for VA licensure and for our district requirements." Uhhh, no, PPS, you CONFIRMED to me that I didn't need to do anything beyond my out-of-state certification and Praxis II. How convenient now that I inconveniently need to take more tests, create more portfolios, and give up my left kidney.
The only possibly-reassuring thing is that I really don't see myself in Virginia in 5 years... and that's the deadline for some of the requirements. QUIT SUCKING MONEY OUT OF ME, DEPTS. OF EDUCATION!! I have none!! I already paid nearly $900 just to get initial certification!! I have a lot of student debt!! I need a haircut!!
Perhaps I should boycott. Tell them that I'll take their tests if they pay one month of my student loans. ha! See how they like it.
Well, I'm moving my stuff out of storage tomorrow. I'm REALLY excited (and Feb. 1st can't come soon enough!). One more step closer to officially being moved in to my new beautiful condo. C's parents are driving down from Richmond to help... and Miss EB and Miss P will be helping as well. Thankfully, C's dad is coming because I have NO upper body strength whatsoever... so to try to carry a bookcase by myself would be quite the disaster. And I would have no more bookcase.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Teacher turned prophet.
I've had to explain many life lessons in my class. If they parrot me enough on how I tell someone to sit or how someone's behavior is not cute, then if I drum in these life lessons, surely they will parrot those as well. At least I hope??
We have been having a problem lately with people needing to apologize. Kids will say nasty things to each other, the offendees will tell me, the offenders will get stubborn. Neverending cycle.
So, when it happened on Friday, I stopped the class and gave Miss Chelsea's Life Lesson #12: "How to Apologize." It was received with nods and actual attentive eyes. And like usual, kids say the darnest things.
Me: "When you apologize to someone, you look them in the eyes, say sorry, and WHY you're sorry. If you JUST say sorry, then you could be apologizing that the sky is blue. [Insert kids' murmuring questions "why would you apologize for the sky?!"] And that's just not fair to the person you offended. If they accept your apology, then shake their hand to show friendship and sincerity."
T: "Miss F, did God tell you that?"
Me: "Well, I've had a lot of experience with apologies."
T: "I think God did. I'm going to ask [or talk to?] God."
So add on "prophet" to the many hats that I wear during the week. Never thought that would come up in public school.
- Miss Chelsea :)
We have been having a problem lately with people needing to apologize. Kids will say nasty things to each other, the offendees will tell me, the offenders will get stubborn. Neverending cycle.
So, when it happened on Friday, I stopped the class and gave Miss Chelsea's Life Lesson #12: "How to Apologize." It was received with nods and actual attentive eyes. And like usual, kids say the darnest things.
Me: "When you apologize to someone, you look them in the eyes, say sorry, and WHY you're sorry. If you JUST say sorry, then you could be apologizing that the sky is blue. [Insert kids' murmuring questions "why would you apologize for the sky?!"] And that's just not fair to the person you offended. If they accept your apology, then shake their hand to show friendship and sincerity."
T: "Miss F, did God tell you that?"
Me: "Well, I've had a lot of experience with apologies."
T: "I think God did. I'm going to ask [or talk to?] God."
So add on "prophet" to the many hats that I wear during the week. Never thought that would come up in public school.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Thursday, January 03, 2008
The many types of liquids.
Since we're completing our "magnets" unit, I introduced "matter" and had students take out their notebooks to create a little web. We named "liquid, solid, and gas"... which apparently was a mere review from first grade.
Me: "What's an example of a liquid, boys and girls?"
M: "Juice!"
D: "Water!"
T: "Soda!"
Me: "Very good! Let's get one more example to write in our web. A, what is another liquid?"
A: "Beer!"
I wanted to laugh and go "what the"!? But every student went "OoOoOOOooooooo" and got large eyes, looking to him, looking to me... just waiting to see if there was going to be a scolding. Probably much to their surprise, I calmly told him, yes, it was a liquid but we won't put grownup stuff on our lists. We smiled, the tension dissipated, and they went merrily to filling out more examples.
The next moment was when we got to the "gas" category. You can imagine what a bunch of 7-8 year olds gave as an example. Try quieting them after that. :P
- Miss Chelsea :)
Me: "What's an example of a liquid, boys and girls?"
M: "Juice!"
D: "Water!"
T: "Soda!"
Me: "Very good! Let's get one more example to write in our web. A, what is another liquid?"
A: "Beer!"
I wanted to laugh and go "what the"!? But every student went "OoOoOOOooooooo" and got large eyes, looking to him, looking to me... just waiting to see if there was going to be a scolding. Probably much to their surprise, I calmly told him, yes, it was a liquid but we won't put grownup stuff on our lists. We smiled, the tension dissipated, and they went merrily to filling out more examples.
The next moment was when we got to the "gas" category. You can imagine what a bunch of 7-8 year olds gave as an example. Try quieting them after that. :P
- Miss Chelsea :)
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Dear Parents,
This is just a friendly note from your local teacher. My message is simple and straightforward. I give no sugar-coated statements or down-the-back-alley comments. My message simply bears the connotation of hope for providing your child with a smooth education. So without further ado...
BE NICE TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER!
Don't insult her teaching methods. If you feel you can come into the classroom and teach 17 children, nearly half of which are struggling learners and well below grade level, while instructing all 17 in life lessons that you're clearly not teaching at home, then PLEASE do come in and take my job. Actually, let me observe so I can become a better teacher. Yes, that would be wonderfully informative and enlightening.
Also, I really advise not insulting the teacher because it clearly shows why your child is a misfit and won't listen. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree... and that apple is a sour one to have in the classroom barrel. It's not appreciated because teachers have to deal with it 180 days of the year. Quite frankly, you are a contributor to the misery that plagues classrooms. How you treat others is how your child will treat authority and his/her peers. You are your child's most influential role model.
Choose your battles. Speak up when things are really important and really affect your child. Form a partnership with your child's teacher.
If you show that you are willing to work with the teacher and choose your words carefully and politely, the teacher WILL be more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure absolute success with your child. No matter how equal and fair teachers try to be, it's human nature to respond kindly to kindness.
If your goal is to break the enthusiastic spirit of a new teacher, then you will have killed a valuable resource. New teachers are in education to change lives with no jaded bitterness. We are not paid much, and your difficult attitude and backhanded remarks surely are not worth the pay. Again, I reiterate, NOT WORTH IT.
So, I hope that you take this into consideration when you write your notes and speak your words. Who do you really want to make it harder on? The teacher or your child? Honestly, they go hand in hand.
Have a wonderful day and may all your weekends be blissful and educational!
Also, I really advise not insulting the teacher because it clearly shows why your child is a misfit and won't listen. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree... and that apple is a sour one to have in the classroom barrel. It's not appreciated because teachers have to deal with it 180 days of the year. Quite frankly, you are a contributor to the misery that plagues classrooms. How you treat others is how your child will treat authority and his/her peers. You are your child's most influential role model.
Choose your battles. Speak up when things are really important and really affect your child. Form a partnership with your child's teacher.
If you show that you are willing to work with the teacher and choose your words carefully and politely, the teacher WILL be more than happy to go the extra mile to ensure absolute success with your child. No matter how equal and fair teachers try to be, it's human nature to respond kindly to kindness.
If your goal is to break the enthusiastic spirit of a new teacher, then you will have killed a valuable resource. New teachers are in education to change lives with no jaded bitterness. We are not paid much, and your difficult attitude and backhanded remarks surely are not worth the pay. Again, I reiterate, NOT WORTH IT.
So, I hope that you take this into consideration when you write your notes and speak your words. Who do you really want to make it harder on? The teacher or your child? Honestly, they go hand in hand.
Have a wonderful day and may all your weekends be blissful and educational!
With love,
Miss Chelsea
Miss Chelsea
Friday, December 21, 2007
Laryngitis: A Teacher's Worst Enemy.
When it looked like things couldn't get worse, they did. The past 3 days have been the most frustrating days of my teaching life. I have a new appreciation and sympathy for those unable to communicate at all with others. I can't imagine being like that all the time... the first day I cried because no one could understand me. To not be able to speak when you're supposed to maintain some sort of order with 17 children right before Christmas Break is like finding out you are being unjustly admitted to a place with a strait jacket and padded walls.
How did it happen? Well, because I was getting over a sickness, it apparently wanted to make things worse. At recess on Tuesday, K decided it was a smart choice to continually hit another student on the playground for no good reason at all. I tried to use my gut to project my voice, but when you're across a playground and there is hitting going on, you just do what you have to do. I was screaming for K to get over to me, and of course, all week he drove me up the wall with his senseless crying, so I was already at my wits' end with him.
An hour after this happened, my voice was gone and a goose took residence in my throat. Body=good. Voice=bad.
We had a field trip on Wednesday, and thank goodness, I had a parent volunteer. She at least helped corral the kids. Thank all that is good that we had Christmas movies the last two days. I would have called in sick otherwise.
My kids were as sweet as they could be right before a vacation. I made out in student gifts, too. (Funny enough, I received gifts from the already-great students... not my troubling ones. EXCEPT DS. He gave me a nice Yankee Candle Christmas set.) Gift cards to Olive Garden and B&N... are divine. AND I received my very first "Best Teacher" paraphernalia from G. It's a keychain with an apple that says "Best Teacher" and a pencil. Of course, it's on my keychain now, especially because it is my very first student-given teacher knickknack. :)
So, the final counts are in for the first half of the year...
... the times I've been called Mom : 19
... the times I've been called Grandma : 1
... the times T has said he wants to live with me : 4
... the times K has cried over something ridiculous : 25
... the times I had to tell TA to sit down : ~100
... the times I was called beautiful by my kids (ultimate heart-toucher) : ~10
... the times I had to say 4+0=4 : 5
... the times DS stood next to me to lean his head on my side : 6
... the times I had to hear questions about eating astronaut ice cream : 15
... and finally, the times I received student drawings of random things : 27
As I conclude this, I give up many cheers and hoots that I am now on Winter Break. It's delicious bliss, and I will bask in it for the next two weeks... even though I've already started thinking about fun things to do when we go back.... DOH!
I will be away in California until New Year's Eve, so I hope that all goes well. I get to see Boston friends, meet M, spend Christmas with LK and M&M, eat at Souplantation (only the best place ever)... and see my pandas! It just has to go well.
- Miss Chelsea :)
How did it happen? Well, because I was getting over a sickness, it apparently wanted to make things worse. At recess on Tuesday, K decided it was a smart choice to continually hit another student on the playground for no good reason at all. I tried to use my gut to project my voice, but when you're across a playground and there is hitting going on, you just do what you have to do. I was screaming for K to get over to me, and of course, all week he drove me up the wall with his senseless crying, so I was already at my wits' end with him.
An hour after this happened, my voice was gone and a goose took residence in my throat. Body=good. Voice=bad.
We had a field trip on Wednesday, and thank goodness, I had a parent volunteer. She at least helped corral the kids. Thank all that is good that we had Christmas movies the last two days. I would have called in sick otherwise.
My kids were as sweet as they could be right before a vacation. I made out in student gifts, too. (Funny enough, I received gifts from the already-great students... not my troubling ones. EXCEPT DS. He gave me a nice Yankee Candle Christmas set.) Gift cards to Olive Garden and B&N... are divine. AND I received my very first "Best Teacher" paraphernalia from G. It's a keychain with an apple that says "Best Teacher" and a pencil. Of course, it's on my keychain now, especially because it is my very first student-given teacher knickknack. :)
NOTE TO PARENTS:
As unbiased/objective/equal as teachers try really hard to be, if you show your appreciation for them (i.e., with a note, card, gift, etc), we unknowingly create a little soft spot for your child, and when they have difficulty learning a new skill, we ARE ever so slightly more patient with them because we know their parents support and respect our positions. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! ... we will never outwardly admit it because we do want to be equally fair to ALL kids. But heck, it's the truth. Show the love to your kids' teachers. I guarantee when something rough happens, they will be a lot more willing to work with you. :)
[This ends our service announcement.]
As unbiased/objective/equal as teachers try really hard to be, if you show your appreciation for them (i.e., with a note, card, gift, etc), we unknowingly create a little soft spot for your child, and when they have difficulty learning a new skill, we ARE ever so slightly more patient with them because we know their parents support and respect our positions. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE! ... we will never outwardly admit it because we do want to be equally fair to ALL kids. But heck, it's the truth. Show the love to your kids' teachers. I guarantee when something rough happens, they will be a lot more willing to work with you. :)
[This ends our service announcement.]
So, the final counts are in for the first half of the year...
... the times I've been called Mom : 19
... the times I've been called Grandma : 1
... the times T has said he wants to live with me : 4
... the times K has cried over something ridiculous : 25
... the times I had to tell TA to sit down : ~100
... the times I was called beautiful by my kids (ultimate heart-toucher) : ~10
... the times I had to say 4+0=4 : 5
... the times DS stood next to me to lean his head on my side : 6
... the times I had to hear questions about eating astronaut ice cream : 15
... and finally, the times I received student drawings of random things : 27
As I conclude this, I give up many cheers and hoots that I am now on Winter Break. It's delicious bliss, and I will bask in it for the next two weeks... even though I've already started thinking about fun things to do when we go back.... DOH!
I will be away in California until New Year's Eve, so I hope that all goes well. I get to see Boston friends, meet M, spend Christmas with LK and M&M, eat at Souplantation (only the best place ever)... and see my pandas! It just has to go well.
- Miss Chelsea :)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Worst Week.
Sorry to say, but this was the worst week. The one highlight happened on Monday.
Q, a student whom I rarely see from Mrs. A's class, walked up to me in the morning and held out a purple piece of folded paper. "Oh, what's this, Q?" I asked. He replied, "It's a birthday card." Not even thinking anything involving me, I asked, "For who?" He didn't say anything and so I just opened it. And this is what it said:
Q, a student whom I rarely see from Mrs. A's class, walked up to me in the morning and held out a purple piece of folded paper. "Oh, what's this, Q?" I asked. He replied, "It's a birthday card." Not even thinking anything involving me, I asked, "For who?" He didn't say anything and so I just opened it. And this is what it said:
Dear Mrs. F. Happy belated birthday Mrs. F. I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner, so here it is rite now. Happy belated birthday Mrs. F.
Love, Q
Love, Q
There are many funny parts to this story. 1) My birthday was a month ago. 2) I was thought about by a student not even in my class over the weekend. 3) The card's words have all the correct meanings (i.e., belated), so he must have gotten some adult advice somewhere in the card-making process. 4) Still doesn't realize I'm not a Mrs.
I told him thanks and gave him a hug, and he looked all pleased with himself. It definitely made my day/week. Most hilarious thing ever.
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Aside from being a teacher, life has been pretty down lately. A new development is that I've also been getting daily migraines (dull, but annoying). After talking to a few other teachers, apparently headaches/migraines are part of the educator territory. Greeeeeaaat. Something to really look forward to! ...
I'm really hoping next school year will be a lot more organized... I haven't had time to write out Christmas cards (which probably won't happen now), wrap presents, send off out-of-state gifts, or anything. Everything will arrive late. :( I feel stressed just thinking about it. I literally can't cut anything out of my current teaching schedule to get this holiday stuff done.
AND I also have to start buying garden stuff for the grant I earned. I'm freaking out ever so slightly. I told them I would do it over winter break.
Progress reports are due on Wednesday, and knowing the current school administration, they will want to see them tomorrow... so guess what I'm doing today? Yeah.
Can't wait for Christmas. I need the break desperately.
- Miss Chelsea :S
I told him thanks and gave him a hug, and he looked all pleased with himself. It definitely made my day/week. Most hilarious thing ever.
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Aside from being a teacher, life has been pretty down lately. A new development is that I've also been getting daily migraines (dull, but annoying). After talking to a few other teachers, apparently headaches/migraines are part of the educator territory. Greeeeeaaat. Something to really look forward to! ...
I'm really hoping next school year will be a lot more organized... I haven't had time to write out Christmas cards (which probably won't happen now), wrap presents, send off out-of-state gifts, or anything. Everything will arrive late. :( I feel stressed just thinking about it. I literally can't cut anything out of my current teaching schedule to get this holiday stuff done.
AND I also have to start buying garden stuff for the grant I earned. I'm freaking out ever so slightly. I told them I would do it over winter break.
Progress reports are due on Wednesday, and knowing the current school administration, they will want to see them tomorrow... so guess what I'm doing today? Yeah.
Can't wait for Christmas. I need the break desperately.
- Miss Chelsea :S
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
