Happy New Year of School!

The summer vacation wasn't long enough for me, so I decided to not teach this year... So I can prolong my sleeping in days.

Just kidding.

I actually did try to get a job for this year, but I'm going back to subbing this year. (just for the record, I was not fired nor did I quit my last job - it was a one-year temporary assignment, so my contract expired in June).

I am not unhappy about subbing. Even though I really wanted that 8th grade language arts position I interviewed for, I am happy to not be starting out as a full-time teacher this year. I'm looking forward to subbing and enjoying 40 hour work weeks (I have forgotten what those feel like - last year, it was 50-65 hour weeks for me).

I'm thankful my insurance lasted through August, since I managed to fracture two ribs two weeks ago, (yet another reason why I'm glad to not be setting up a classroom currently).

The coolest thing that happened to me this summer was stumbling upon an owl puppet at Ikea for $4.99. That owl is gonna be my new best friend as a sub. "Whooooo can show me how to line up quietly for lunch?"

I know you think it's corny, but little kids are gonna love it. Trust me.

- Ms. J (once again, this blog actually IS a blog with stories from a sub!)

The Day of Reckoning... and a little worried about it

We start state testing tomorrow.

I am not prepared for it.

Neither are my students.

3rd grade is hard; these kids have never before taken a state standardized test. Half of them will most likely fail the first attempt, just because of the "I've never done anything like this before" thing. Even though they have taken practice tests, and we've gone over all the test-taking strategies, and I've told them to take their time, and reread, etc., they will probably bomb.

Today was a really rough day; they are stressed about testing, and wanting to instead be outside in the sunshine (yes, it is sunny - shocking for April in Oregon, for sure!).

Well, it is what it is. We'll get through it, and move on.

Oh yeah, and I have a new student starting tomorrow. It'll be like, "Hi, welcome to class. Here's the state test."

Ah, working in a standardized frenzy!
~Ms J

Spring Break Math

Ok, this is not what it sounds like. I'm not doing challenging math over break - though I am planning my fractions unit (how do you cram 2 months worth of learning into two weeks so they can pass the state test?).

Nope, nothing like that. I was just looking at our district calendar, and counting the days until Summer Vacation. Just that kinda math.

Length in weeks: 10.5
Length in school days: 59.5

I am really divided in my emotions about this. Here is the immediate reaction I had when I realized I am only teaching 3rd grade in this particular classroom and school for less than 60 days:

"OMYWORD, ONLY 59.5 DAYS LEFT! YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

Not that I don't love my classroom, school, colleagues, and students. I totally do. More than could ever be expressed in words. But I'm really happy to see this year end. Mostly because every time I enter my classroom and interact with my students, I am reminded of all the mistakes I've made, the learning we didn't get accomplished, and the routines I should have established (and didn't) that really have impacted the way our classroom runs. (Just for the record, in case any prospective employer reads this and thinks perhaps you shouldn't hire me - I have done a lot of things the RIGHT way - but those things don't jump out like the mistakes do).

My second reaction to my counting:

"GOOD GRIEF, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS, WHEN WE HAVE OAKS TESTING AND A FIELD TRIP AND THE WAX MUSEUM AND, AND, AND, AND......!"

My third reaction:

"Well, I'll be unemployed again in 10.5 weeks. Guess I should start looking for a job for next year."


My fourth reaction:

"This licorice sitting on my desk leftover from our fraction lesson last week is really tempting."

- Ms. J, soon to be unemployed (and excited, kinda)

PS: Mary, as soon as my KS purse arrives in the mail, I will send you a picture. It's navy blue and white *sigh*

Spring Break

Break out the celebratory exclamations - Spring Break has arrived! Let's hear a cheer- Spring is here (and for a week, students aren't).

Which is amazingly hard.

We need this break so badly. A time to rejuvenate, clean the house, see friends, and sleep in. I personally will be spending a lot of time at school, getting things accomplished for after break. We start OAKS testing after break (our state standardized test), and my kids are so not ready for it. If I spend a lot of time at school over break, I won't have to spend 10+ hours a day at school after break. It's a pretty good system I've worked out.

But the hard part is knowing some of my kids are going to have a rough spring break. Before I started teaching full time, I always knew the week before break was hard, but I always thought it was because kids were so worked up about having no school for a week. With my group, though, in the low SES area our school is in, the kids that had a really rough week this week are the kids whose only stable place is school. They were acting out because a week without school means being at home for a week.

Which makes me feel bad that I was so glad to see them leave today. I should feel bad for rejoicing by going and getting my favorite coffee and shopping at Nordstrom Rack. Oh yeah, and I bought that Kate Spade purse yesterday.

Valentine's Day Kindness

No school on Valentine's Day, so we celebrated today. It was such fun (though crazy at times).  

I didn't want to celebrate the day at all, just because I dislike the idea of candy anywhere near my delightful sugar-happy children. However, I knew I had to do something. 

We started out the day wrapping single tulips in tissue paper and tying them with ribbon. Then we went on a delivery parade. 

Their job was to deliver tulips to every adult in the building. They had to go in pairs- one boy, one girl. They entered the classroom or office, walked up to the teacher or instructional assistant or staff person in the room, handed them the tulip and said, "Thank you for everything you do for our school." 

The adults loved it. They raved about how sweet it was, and how wonderful the kids acted. They also thought it was awesome that I was modeling for the kids the concept of making others happy and thereby being happy yourself. 

Hey, I totally didn't even realize I was doing that - I just wanted to do something nice for my coworkers, and thought it would be cute to have the kids help. I LOVE it when I do awesome teacher-y things without realizing it! :)

We continued the amazing "make others happy" stuff by sneaking into our buddy class' classroom while they were at recess and leaving handmade valentines and candy on their desks. 

I got lots of chocolate and candy today. I was also presented with a handmade card saying "I wish I could spend more time with you at school." Awww... Wait, I'm constantly telling you to stop shouting out and you want more of that?!?!?

Speaking of handmade, one little girl presented me with a scarf her mother made for me! So thoughtful and sweet. Those kinds of things mean so much to me. 

Happy Valentine's Day (and four day weekend! Woot woot!)

- Ms. J 

February

They say that February is the longest month of the year. Which makes no sense mathematically; the month is 28 days long, while every other month is 30 or 31 days. 

I suppose it's because February is that funny month where the end of winter is nowhere in sight, and the end of the school year seems so far away. 

I thought February wouldn't be too bad. Our school calendar only has 1 five-day school week in February, due to President's Day and some furlough days. And once February is over, it's March, which is so close to Spring Break! So I really was happy about the month of February. 

And then February hit. Hard. My darling students, who had miraculously grown up and matured over Winter Break, lost their minds. I suddenly started wondering if there was a way to legally break my contract and go back to subbing. My fellow teachers told me no one is allowed to quit in February because it's a crazy month. Our hallway mantra this last week has been "is it June yet?" 

Then, yesterday, we had early dismissal due to the Winter Storm warnings issued for the Metro area. I drove home amid flurries, and hoped for a snow day today. Sure enough, every school in the Metro area is closed today. Admittedly, our two-five inches of snow is nothing compared to what some places in the country are going through, but it seems like a big deal to us. 

Looking out my living room window at the snowflakes and enjoying the coziness of my blanket, couch and fireplace makes me happy. 

I still wish it was June, though. Like, the third week of June. 

- Ms. J 

Groups of Two

Doing the multiplication thing currently. Talking about groups of two today. Asked "What are some things that come in groups of two?" 

Got some pretty typical answers. Gloves. Earrings. Hands. Eyes. Legs. Ears. 

Twinkies. 

.......... Ah yes, thank you, Hostess, for helping my students understand multiplication. 

- ms. J

Eventful Return

After much toil and tribulation (aka getting stranded overnight in Denver), I made it home to my classroom this afternoon. I was really missing my babies, and it was nice to be mobbed by 27 kids all at once with hugs and shouts of "Ms. J's back! We missed you!" 

I got a lot of hugs all afternoon, as well as comments about all the stuff I missed, and personal accomplishments ("Ms. J, my behavior was really good!"). 

So glad I made it out of Denver; these kids are my life. They may be crazy children, but I sure do love them.

-Ms. J, happy to be home

Funeral

So there was a death in the family, and I am flying out for a funeral. I told the kids today that I would be out 2.5 days next week for it. I got some very sweet notes! This one makes me laugh :) 

- ms. J

An Apple a Day...

So one of my students has started bringing me an apple every morning. Very sweet gesture. But this morning's apple was a little, as some friends of mine say, "sketch." 

One of the other kids said "that apple you gave Ms. J has a bite out of it!" 

He said, "Oh no, it's not a bite. There was a black spot on it." 

Think I'll skip the apple today... 

-Ms. J 

Compliments

Today during compliments, one of my kids complimented me, "Because you haven't been crabby for two weeks!"

Apparently that's a record for me.

~Ms. J

Asthma?

My little girl with the active imagination has done it again, ladies and gentlemen!

She came to math group with one of those handheld balloon pumps that people use to blow up balloons. I said, "go put it in your backpack." 

"But, Ms. J, the doctor says I have to have it. I have asthma and sometimes I need extra air!" 

She demonstrated this by giving a few puffs of air in her face. 

I have no words. Just laughter. 

-Ms. J

Cute Writing

How adorable is this?!?! 

- the "pritty and nice" Ms. J 

New Year's Resolutions

I made 3 resolutions this year. 

1- Organize that crazy classroom of mine. So I am very happy with the work I accomplished over break! I spent so. much. money on storage and stuff, but it's tax-deductible and if I end up moving schools, I can take it all with me. 

I am so totally organized now! Hooray! Check it out! 

Check those shelves out! I put them together all by myself! I didn't have a screwdriver, so I improvised :)

2- Don't go in earlier than 7:15am and leave by 4:30pm. So far, I've kept to this one! 

3- Dress up more. It makes me look older and more like a teacher. Here is a picture of my outfit today (courtesy of a student). 

Cute, huh?

I have a funny story from our first day back! We reviewed and revisited our routines and procedures all day. One of my darlings brought his hat into the room and wore it. I told him to put it in his backpack. A while later, he had it on his head again. I said, "I told you to put that in your backpack!" 

He responded, "It just magically appeared on my desk!" 

I love teaching. It's so funny!

-Ms. J 

Projects Over Break

I decided to get some serious cleaning and organizing done over break. Before the school year started, I never had time to get rid of all the stuff left to me by the teacher whose position I filled. So I'm doing it now! 

Check out what I found in the pocket of a binder (I didn't check to see if they were winners I just threw them away). 

I'm sure the custodian loves me right now. When I got to the school yesterday, they had just waxed all the floors. Well, after all my rearranging, the floors aren't so shiny. Oh well. It was going to happen eventually anyway. 

This is how the room looked when I left yesterday. Sometimes you have to create a total disaster to actually create some order. 

And check out these cute foam penguins I found at Target! I am writing their names in metallic sharpie and will make a cute winter bulletin board with them. The boys have bow ties and the girls have hair bows. This is just an example - Fred is a make-believe student in my class :) 

Well anyway. I am getting excited about the next few months! We are going to get so much learning done!!! 

-ms. J 

Happy Break!

Yay! Winter Break!!!! 18 days of bliss. 

We had such a calm last day today. I determined that all my students celebrate Christmas, so I brought out the Christmas music and Christmas picture books. We hosted a party for our fifth grade buddy class, then ended the day reading The Polar Express. 

Some funnies: 

- today, a little one hugged me and said, "I'm gonna miss you so much!" I silently repented for lying as I replied, "I'll miss you, too." 

- I got a Starbucks gift card today from a little girl. About four hours later, she asked me what my plans for break were. I responded that I was going to sleep in. She said, "Oh, and you can drink coffeeeeeee from Starbucks toooooo!" Haha yes. I guess I didn't make as big of a deal about her present as she was expecting. 

Today was so nice and chill. I loved it. 

Of course, after school, the party began. The teachers gathered together to sing a teacher version of "Walking in a Winter Wonderland," and of course, there was the wheelie chair race down the hall. I of course, was the mature one and did not skip down the halls singing Christmas carols. 

Ok, maybe just one song... 

- Ms. J

Gifts

This time of year, teachers typically are given gifts. They also typically give out gifts. I gave each of my students a book - they got to choose the one they wanted. Much better than candy, people. Just saying. 

I thought I would share a few of the gifts I received. I chose these for various reasons, which will be explained along with each picture. 

Isn't that a cute little arrangement? My families are so creative and thoughtful! 

This snowman (with bath salts) was made by this family - how adorable is that?!? And the little sibling picked some seeds for me. Can we say awww?

This kid drives me crazy sometimes with his antics but he was so proud of his gift! And of course I love it!

I told my students that the thing I value most is little cards and notes. Here's one that makes me laugh so hard - how cute is this???

- Ms. J 

Sick Day

Yeah, I know it's only 2 days before winter break, but I don't feel good, so I stayed home. 

Well, actually, I tried to stay home but no subs were available. So I went to work, only to be sent home by my principal, who said, "we have a plan." 

I guess the plan was getting our reading specialist to take my class. Which I feel really bad about, in case you wondered. 

While I was waiting for her to get there, I watched the custodian come and sanitize everything in my classroom. I guess that was part of the plan, too. 

I'm not THAT sick, but I am glad they sent me home. I've slept a lot, and been taking plenty of Vitamin C. 

Going back to sleep now, 

- Ms. J

Third Grade Spelling

The spelling cracks me up sometimes. I asked this kid to explain why he thought this was a line not a line segment or ray. 

Derwekchuns - I can sense that there was a lot of difficulty spelling directions. Maybe that should be on the word wall... 

Oh! Btw, one of the kids told me he was giving me diamond earrings for Christmas (haha kids always say goofy things like that). One of the other kids said, "wait a minute, I've never seen you wear earrings." I said, "yeah, I don't wear earrings. My ears aren't even pierced." But I'll be glad to sell the earrings if you give them to me! Cha-Ching! 

Oh my. Such funny kids. Gotta love em.... Most of the time. 

I'm trying a new system with my most challenging student - it worked Friday! I'll have to keep going and see if it continues to be successful. And then I'll tell y'all about it. Because if it works, my life just got soooooo much easier. 

Very glad there are only four days left until winter break (we can do this, people!) 

- Ms. J 

Slight Exaggeration?

One of my darlings has a hard time deciphering between her very active imagination and reality at times. Today she was telling me about how she spilled glue on her desk in kindy and it made a big mess. It took quite a lot of work to clean it up. 

I stopped her. "I don't believe you." 

"You don't?"

"Nope. I don't believe it took the WHOLE CLASS to pull your paper off your desk, and it couldn't have taken 15 days to pull it off."

"Oh. Well, maybe that was a slight exaggeration." 

Haha. Yeah maybe so. 

- Ms. J, lie-buster