Little Sally Walker

Mother May I, Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light.  These are the playground games I remember from grade school.  And what was that jump rope game involving a song about robbers?  I don't remember at the moment.  Anyhow, I had no idea what I was missing until watching my students play games with a beat, funky lyrics, and dance such as "Little Sally Walker" and "Down by the River."  This is how we do it on the east side, the hood, when we don't want to be out in 100+ heat on the last day of school...

P.S.  I was supposed to be "teaching with rigor" right up until the last moment of school.  Seriously?  Okay, so the above video was a differentiated lesson on poetry using the multiple intelligences.  So there.

Contagious

I've had a pretty negative outlook towards my job this year, but it's not about the kids.  The kids are awesome.  And as I was running a couple minutes late this morning, which is rare for me, I could hear a couple of my kids around the corner and down by my room waiting out in the hall.  I heard "Mrs. Schaeffer" being said among the mumbling.  As I turned the corner, I was taken aback by the huge smiles and "There she is!" and "Hi, Mrs. Schaeffer!"  And oh the smiles.  They were so big and so genuine.  I couldn't help but break out into a huge smile myself.  What an awesome way to start the day.  If I decide to do something else one day, it's the kids that will bring me back to teaching.  And okay, those long summer breaks aren't bad either.

Ended the way it began

I didn't sleep well last night, which is quite the norm lately, but nothing that remembering to take a swig of Nyquil won't remedy.  I needed to get up really early to get to school and take care of a million things I hadn't done the day before.  But by the time the alarm was supposed to sound, I couldn't get myself to budge.  Needless to say, I was running late, didn't have time to pack my breakfast, my lunch, or get there in time to meet a paperwork deadline.  So I had school food - a gingerbread thing for breakfast and some interesting turkey and dressing for lunch.

I spent the day being one step behind, although it was a great day with the kids.  Funny how sometimes when you are "winging it," you have some of your best moments.

And then as the dismissal bell rang this afternoon at 3:45, I happened to look down at my sleeve.  My shirt was inside out and had been ALL DAY LONG.  All the stitching was exposed.  Lovely.

I'm now going to get the coffee ready and programmed for the morning, so that I don't experience de ja vu tomorrow morning.

Under my skin

Had a particularly interesting confrontation with a parent yesterday. I'd have to say that so far in my short career, this would rank as one of the more potentially hostile run-ins. It started with an ugly note from a rather large mom who likes to throw her weight around in the literal and figurative sense. Long story short - I confronted her, let her know what I thought of her note, and we moved on.

It's not that I'm not apprehensive about these confrontations. I was nervous and had no idea how she was going to react. Sort of wish I could have reined in the "bring it, bitch" look I had on my face, but I was so mad that I was almost anxious to see what would happen. That's kind of weird I guess, but honestly this mom pushed my buttons to the limit. Alan has this fear that I'm going to get myself hurt someday, because I feel really strongly about speaking up when someone's being a jackass. Sometimes too strongly I suppose.

It's the part of my job I hate, and with 65 or more sets of parents each year, there's just no getting away from it. Most parents are awesome - supportive, helpful, and willing to work as a team. Others just don't stop to think.

I think the issue with this parent is resolved, but I should probably watch those dark alleys for a while. ;-)

Time for the bell

Am super tired but will be super excited Monday morning when school starts. It's hard to describe the couple of weeks right before school. I'm amazed at how hard my fellow teachers work and the long hours they put in to get everything just right. And I guarantee they don't feel they've done enough or crossed enough off their lists. Anywho, I'm tired and going to enjoy a night of pizza with friends and some fun shopping with my cousin tomorrow. I'll post more later when I have something besides reading centers and supplies and lesson plans to talk about.

Crunch time

One week and three days until school starts. I can sit perfectly still without lifting a finger and become exhausted just thinking about how much there is to do before then. I'm exhausted right now after a day of meetings and everyone getting more confused rather than enlightened. I've yet to unpack my room. Lesson plans need to be written for a new curriculum that we've yet to receive training on. But I can honestly say that what needs to get done will get done in time. And the kids will never know about the chaos and panic that ensued before they arrive.

It's hot in Texas.

It's days like today, 95 degrees in the sun for over three hours:



that I fondly remember days like this:

(This is Alan. I like him.)

And this is one of many students that makes me love my job. She's as sweet as she looks.

Standardized

If I've been keeping to myself more than usual or coming home not wanting to do ANYTHING, this is a clue that it's testing season in Texas public schools. It'll all be over next Thursday, and whatever skills my students choose to apply or not apply on their tests will be out of my control. Some people are in favor of pay for performance for teachers. That's fine - just give us a fair playing field. Test every student's IQ, and while you're at it test them for learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD, and emotional disturbances. And don't forget to take into account their exposure to reading and correctly spoken English at home. These are many of the students I'm trying to reach every day and consequently wouldn't trade for a privileged group.

Today in one of my classes only ONE student raised his hand to answer the question, "explain what synonym means." I about died. I just hope the rest of the students were so worn out from lack of A/C that their brains were temporarily fried.

Pontius Pilate, that's me!

So many things I love about teaching, and then there are parents. I actually had a parent compare (on Good Friday, no less!) the consequence I gave her daughter for not having her homework to the crucifixion of Christ. The consequence? She had to walk at recess instead of play.

While it's still clean...

After taking these pictures, I kept trying to figure out why my room looks so dull compared to last year. And then I realized that all my walls in this new room are white. Dull, stark white.





It looks better in person, but you get the idea.

Pre-School (Get it?)

I blog. I blog too much. I don't blog at all. I'd say I'm in the latter stage right now. I've been busy at school the last couple of weeks and will be doing much of the same for the next three weeks. I guess you could call it "teacher nesting," where we prepare, prepare, prepare for the arrival of a new batch of kids. It's kind of exciting actually to anticipate what they'll each be like, what they'll be capable of, or what challenges they'll have. You can't imagine how much we enjoy talking about the kids behind their backs. It's like we get to gossip all day. It's also a good way to vent about the ones you just can't stand. Good times!

So this Saturday is Alan's triathlon. I have no doubt he'll do well, as long as his bike holds up. And then about two months from now he'll run in his second marathon in Odessa. I'm hoping to round up a local group to go cheer him on. In Albuquerque for his first marathon, it was just Alan, myself, and his dad, so I'm hoping for a cheering section this time.

Maybe I'll post some pictures of my classroom. I'm still a new enough teacher that I get excited (i.e., corny) about my room.

10 days!

Just stuff. That's my reason for not blogging. Nothing exciting or life-changing, just stuff. School is simply crazy right now, partly due to activities and deadlines, and partly due to the OVERWHELMING discipline issues. They fight, hit, kick, argue, bicker, tease, cry, tattle, cuss. I'm gonna hurt someone soon. Here's a sample of what my kids did this week to a teacher:

Student to teacher: "They're talking about you."

Teacher: "I don't care if you call me names."

Another student: "Okay, then you're stupid and ugly."

After a full day everyday of playing mediator, police, counselor, and maybe teacher, I'm tired. The summer break is a time to get away, refresh, forget. Otherwise we'd never come back!

Earth Day

A couple of weeks ago on Earth Day, I passed out large newsprint paper and told the third graders to write "Why I Love the Earth" at the top. They were to artistically demonstrate that statement, and this was a time when I did NOT give them a choice on whether or not the statement applied to them. I'm no tree-hugger, but I was determined to force a love for Planet Earth on these kids whether they liked it or not! The wall outside my classroom is now decorated with all of their posters, but here are a few samples:

Did I mention it was an interpretative assignment?

Procrastination

Love the job, hate the grading. It's time to get settled in front of the t.v. and start my weekend. Joy!

Fault

Last week one of my students popped off that the our state standardized test "is to show if the teachers are doing their jobs or not." I know she's not really the one who said it, that one of her parents probably said it and she just repeated it. Still, I didn't give the most polite response.

And yesterday as I walked around my students' desks as they took the test we've all been preparing for, I watched a nightmare unfold throughout the day as a child here and another child there rushed through the test, didn't use a single flippin' strategy I taught them, and basically failed the test before my eyes. Although most of them did fine and will pass, it's the ones that chose to do nothing that will do the most harm - to our district, our school, and to my credibility.

Alan reminded me that in a couple weeks when the results roll in, there'll be success stories to celebrate. But unfortunately, the system doesn't work that way. We'll focus on the failures, including the ones who tried so, so hard and just couldn't quite "get it."

Pivotal Week

There are many things I love about teaching, but preparing students for a state standardized test is not one of them. This week is crunch time, and therefore I'm working late, not sleeping well, and crashing when I come home. I can't wait until it's over, and we can get back to having more fun with our lessons. When I was in third grade, I never dreaded going to school. Elementary school was fun! Now it's high-pressure and way too stressful for a 9-year old...and the teacher. Wish us luck!

Countdown

I've been looking forward to tomorrow (today actually) all week, and not just because there are moments I want to dropkick those kids out the door for the Christmas break. I really do look forward to those days where I get to relax and enjoy the time with the kiddos, and not worry about test scores and silly mandates from the district. We get to have FUN tomorrow and have a Christmas-packed half-day of school!

Now if I could just get some sleep and be AWAKE for tomorrow.

Thank You!

Just wanted to say thanks to our veterans out there, and especially the ones I can call family!



Our school made a wall of fame, so I placed "bricks" with Dale's, Leigh's, and Karl's names on it. We went outside by the flagpole for a short memorial, and I thought it was sweet to see such a large group of kids saying the pledge (even if they don't know where their hearts are). We say the pledge every day in class, but it's not something most of us do on a regular basis. We have some kids that don't recite the pledge because of religious reasons, which sometimes annoys me, but I guess I appreciate that we live in a country where they're allowed to honor their beliefs.



Just thought the photos were cute and wanted to share!

The old yeller dog

I cried in front of my homeroom class today.

At the end of every day we have Read Aloud, where I read a chapter book to them. It's my special time of the day with my homeroom. We sit on the carpet at the reading center, we turn off the lights except for a cozy lamp, and they sometimes draw what they "see" in their heads. For the past three weeks, we've been reading Old Yeller. I told them early on that I was probably going to cry at the end, which wasn't giving anything away, since the main character tells you on the very first page that he kills his dog.

Knowing we were almost to that part today, my eyes had already glanced ahead at the exact part on the page where it happens. So there I am, two paragraphs before, having to stop and take deep breaths. Of course some of the kids thought it was amusing that I was getting upset, while others were chastising the ones who were making fun of me! And then there was the little girl sitting at my feet who was crying before I was. But I trudged on and with my voice breaking up read the line, "so I put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger." Here came the tears! I was thankful for the dimmed lights - ha.

But seriously, what is it about a dying dog that brings out more emotion than a dying human?

Maybe Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle?

I need ideas. I have to dress up as a storybook character for Halloween at my school. So far I've thought of Mary Poppins, Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus series, Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn, Little Red Riding Hood (Bailey's suggestion), and...yeah that's about it. I teach Reading and can't think of a good storybook character. Help!