Lesson Learned

With only two weeks left of my long term position, I am wrapping things up, cleaning up, inputting grades, and getting ready for conferences (which are my last day on the job). I'm also getting mentally prepared for my last day. My goal is to not cry until after the kids leave for the day. That might be too lofty of a goal, though.

I'm also still learning stuff. The school I am at is having some major budget issues, and rumors are flying about who is getting cut, what programs are getting the ax, etc. it's been a great opportunity for me to see how morale drops when people are scared about losing their job.

I also was reminded of an important lesson about being a grown up. I hardly ever play with my kids at recess. Usually I might start a game of tag if they are standing around doing nothing. Thursday, however, I started a game of four square. I forget that I am a little competitive. So is one of my students. We ended up diving for the ball at the same time. And colliding. Thankfully, he is one of those kids that plays hard all the time and therefore gets get a lot, so his mom was pretty awesome about it. If I had given someone else a lump on their head, my head would probably roll. Yikes! I'm sticking to starting tag games on rare occasion!

Sandy Hook

No words can describe how horrific this event was.

I try not to think too hard about it; but we need to think about it.

I am sad about the lives lost - especially those whose lives were ahead of them, with bright futures.

Those adults who lost their lives trying to protect innocent children are my heroes.

They gave the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives they nurtured every day.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire community.

I figured it out!

It took me forever, but I finally figured out why I got the batman coffee cup!
The kid's mom mentioned today that he loved my joke, and that's why he got me the coffee cup.

I didn't want to be rude and ask what joke. I tell lots of jokes, sometimes on purpose, but mostly on accident. But I couldn't for the life of me figure out when I had made reference to batman!

Then it hit me. I had told them my favorite corny joke. And he had bought me a batman mug because he wanted me to know he thought my joke was awesome. And I didn't realize it for 2 weeks. What a horribly absent minded teacher I am!

And of course, you're dying to hear the joke, right? OF COURSE YOU ARE!

Q: what did batman say to robin right before they got into the batmobile?

A: "robin, get in the batmobile."

Told you it was corny.

~the absent minded Ms. J

Drama, a Bad Sub, and Mrs.

Ahh drama. The one thing I don't miss about teaching long term assignments. My fifth graders are very much into drama - boy/girl stuff and friend stuff and fun things like that. I have to keep a very watchful eye at recess and during transitions in class.

Last week I was out of town and had a sub for two days. I came back to a classroom that was totally trashed. It was a mess, and that drives me crazy. She also left me one page of notes which gave me no knowledge of what actually happened.

I guess I have high expectations when it comes to subs?

Oh funny story. It has always been slightly annoying to me when kids call me "Mrs. J" because I'm not married, but I figure it's not their fault if they accidentally mix Ms and Mrs up, especially since most teachers are Mrs and so it's confusing to them.
I'm chagrined to report that I've referred to myself as "Mrs. J" multiple times this week on accident. I have no idea why my brain is processing it that way, but it sure isn't helping reinforce to the kids my official title.

Oh well. Whatever. If they stay out of drama trouble, I guess they can call me Mrs. J if they want to.

Love those kids. So fun! - Mrs. J

5th grade... for the next 3 months

I have gotten a very cool opportunity to experience a charter school atmosphere for the next three months. Starting Monday, I am a full-time 5th grade teacher. I have 26 students, and they are a lot of fun. I spent the last week with them, shadowing their teacher (how many schools pay for the long term sub to shadow the teacher for a week so the transition is smoother???), and also got to sit in on all the parent-teacher conferences.

I found myself unconsciously comparing charter and typical public schools in my mind. I have promised myself that I will keep an open mind and wait until the end of my time there to make an official judgment. One of the things I have been comparing is the presence of a strict dress code. Yes, it is a uniform school. Students and teachers are required to conform. At some levels, I love it. I get 10-15 minutes extra sleep because I don't have to figure out what I'm wearing, iron, etc. However, I miss being able to wear my personal style.

Here is the dress code, in all of it's specifics and generalities.
-White button-up collared shirt
-Navy blue pants, skirt or dress
-Fire-engine red accents
 -Navy, brown or black shoes (socks must show). No boots or heels

So in some ways, I feel stifled, but not completely. I can still do my hair nice. Accessories are allowed (hooray for belts, scarves and headbands!!).

My class is fun. One kid (whom I have already nicknamed Mr. Messy Desk, or MD) asked if he was my favorite student. Wish I had had the presence of mind to ask if I was his favorite teacher... ~Ms. J

Kindy

Same class as last week. Cute kids, a lot of fun. And always good for a laugh.

Take the twins for example. We'll call them Jack and Jill. The PTA is collecting donations of candy for the Harvest Festival. Jack came to class today, pulled out a bag of Babe Ruths, and said "this is for the festival!"

Fabulous! Thanks, Jack.

An hour or so later, when I told the kids to take out their snack, Jill pulls out a bag of Babe Ruths, and asks the high school helper, "can you help me open this? Mom sent this for my snack."

When I looked over in that direction, I saw Jill with her hands full of Babe Ruths, handing them out to other students (hey, at least she shares in her conniving schemes).

My dear, your mom sent that in for the Harvest Festival - not so you can give the entire class a sugar high!

Kindy - they never cease to amaze me.

2 days of Kindergarten!

Heaven help me. Kindy is exhausting! I did a two day stint in kindy, and boy am I tired! That quad mocha helped, but not completely.

I have a million crazy things kinders say, but I'll limit it to two funny stories.

Tuesday, a kid brought a cricket to share. I told him to keep the lid on the Tupperware, but when you're 5, you sometimes forget. Anyway, he took the lid off, and I watched in horror as the cricket jumped out of the Tupperware, seeking freedom. I quickly considered my options.
1- let the cricket dwell in the classroom for as long as his life lasted (not something I relished)
2- hope the kids caught the cricket
3- squish the cricket and cause major trauma for 28 five-year-olds
4- try to catch it myself *shudder*

Thankfully, as I was grabbing a tin pail to put over the cricket, the little boy caught him and put him back in the Tupperware. Whew! Disaster averted!

Wednesday, I had a very interesting surprise. As we were getting their backpacks and coats put away, a little one grabs something out of their backpack and says to me, "LOOK!"

It was a couple pairs of underwear.

Me: oh, put those back in your backpack, sweetie (trying to be calm and not succeeding - they didn't tell me these things in teacher school!)

Student: they're for accidents!

Glad to know you didn't just decide to bring underwear to school for show and tell.

-"Teacher" (because in kindergarten, they cannot remember a sub's name)