Someone drank the hateraid this morning...
5-2-08 to 12-31-2008 28 blogs
1-1-09 to 12-31-2009 23 blogs
1-1-10 to 3-26-201 1 blog
Do you see a trend??? And don't get all wound up and call me to tell me how busy you are (you know I just sit at home in a bean bag chair and eat cheetos). So go out and do something then write about it. Did you ever think for some of us that the only excitement we get is in your blog (pretty lame huh). See ya
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Too cool for school
Yes, after a two month long hiatus, I have returned. You know it's bad when you get a valentine card that says "thinking of you and waiting for some blogs." Yeah, you know who you are. Anyway, I vow to not let it go for two months again, mostly because I can't stand the nagging :)
Anyway, yes, it did in fact get cold in Mississippi. In fact, for some people it was too cool for school, literally. Some kids did not come to school because it was too cold out. How do I know? Well, they are 5, they don't know what they should tell you and what they shouldn't.
These last two weeks have been crazy ones. The end of January I 
was visited by Jeannie, Delbert and Darlene. A few highlights from their trip:
was visited by Jeannie, Delbert and Darlene. A few highlights from their trip:* Visited school I was told, "you all look alike." I said, "really? why?" "Cause you all white."
* "Muh Ward, I like your mama's hair. I like your grandmama's hair." Then they started petting my mom.
* Ice/sleet/closures throughout Memphis. Drove to Tunica instead (16 miles south) for a visit to the casino and Paula Deen's restaurant. We drove over the bridge to Arkansas, although looking back on it, that bridge is the place people stay away from in bad weather.
* We putzed around the house, listened to the dog bark under the house, catfish museum, got ice cream from Sonic, the usual.
Then after a hectic three days of catching up and trying to get ahead on work and grad school, Sara came to visit. And back to the Jackson airport I went! She came to school on Friday and didn't put up with ANY crap from the kids (who got to dress out for the second time EVER and were wild as a pack of monkeys). She spent the morning reading with small groups and trying to keep them from crawling in her lap. During my planning period we frantically finished and submitted a paper/powerpoint by noon when it 
wasn't due until Midnight--masters professors need to learn am & pm. Friday night was a lazy night...Sara said kindergarten tuckered her out (the reason I have gray hair). That weekend we toured Cleveland and Indianola. We went out for crawdad's with a big crew and then to a place called the Pickled Okra for a night out with locals. Sunday, after a slow moving Kami got kicked in gear-Memphis! We had BBQ and catfish at a place we LOVED the last time we were on Beale and then went to the Peabody to see the ducks march. Home for more Sonic, papers to grade and the superbowl. Who dat? It was a great weekend and an AWESOME two weeks. I L.O.V.E. visitors!! hint, hint :)
wasn't due until Midnight--masters professors need to learn am & pm. Friday night was a lazy night...Sara said kindergarten tuckered her out (the reason I have gray hair). That weekend we toured Cleveland and Indianola. We went out for crawdad's with a big crew and then to a place called the Pickled Okra for a night out with locals. Sunday, after a slow moving Kami got kicked in gear-Memphis! We had BBQ and catfish at a place we LOVED the last time we were on Beale and then went to the Peabody to see the ducks march. Home for more Sonic, papers to grade and the superbowl. Who dat? It was a great weekend and an AWESOME two weeks. I L.O.V.E. visitors!! hint, hint :)In kindergarten we are 1/3 of the way through...holy cow! Some of my kids are progressing really well. We have grown .6 years in reading mainly this semester. However, we still have a long way to go and a lot of LOW kids to get moving. I'm starting to get antsy for summer or warm weather at least. It's currently snowing outside, where did I move to?? My summer plans are to either work in the delta for TFA during their summer institute or be back in Minnesota sitting on a lake. Either one sounds amazing right now.
A few shoutouts:
* Happy birthdays to Rachel, Dani and Craig...
* Thanks to the MPI crew for keeping me informed of your antics over the weekend despite being 900+ miles away, much appreciated!
* Congrats to Joe (or as Sugarland says JOEY!!!) for getting into pharmacy school! Woop, woop, DULUTH!
PS...for those of you that do not have to work tomorrow. Don't even think about calling me. Bitter Betty over here has to make up a snow-day when half of the schools in our district do not. I don't EVEN want to talk about it. Ilovemykids.Ilovemykids.Ilovemykids.Ilovemykids.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
"Thank you Baylee!"
Santa be seein' you be'in bad. Oh yes, Santa is watching, ALL.OF.THE.TIME. However, for some reason the threat of Santa doesn't do much to tame down kids in elementary school. Heck, even an elf that moved places around the room each night didn't do much except cause a stir as kids came in the room and instantly looked around to find him. Mind you, the last few days before break, "he musta falled asleep cause he didn't be moved." Whoops, I may have forgot to move him those last two days.
Anyway, these three weeks following Thanksgiving break have been chaotic to say the least. It involved two weeks of instructional time and one solid week of testing. Because we have to give 5 tests, I tried to get started a day or two earlier, but of course, even on Monday morning (our original start date) the tests were still sitting on my Principal's desk, not copied. UGH, I was annoyed. We were already pressed for time to finish and that just added to the annoyance. But of course, it all worked out. The last week we were frantic to practice the Reindeer Pokey together to prepare for the Christmas program on Friday morning. Lo and behold we found out on Thursday at about 1:15 that we ALSO had to participate in the Thursday evening performance. We sent a note home, figured a few kids would show up and we would just do the best we could. Well, I ran to wal-mart after school and forgot to pick up lipstick to use for our red noses. We were a hurtin' unit. About 20 kids showed up, acted a fool in my classroom before the program, then got on stage and acted like they had no idea what was going on, thank you Kindertots, much appreciated. Friday's performance was much better.
18 kids and counting...not the tv show. Thanks to actions started last year by my co-teacher, I inherited shopping for families (kids) that would most likely not be able to afford Christmas presents this year. My principal and two other workers at school came up with the list of the families who needed the most. Thanks to two GENEROUS donors, I started shopping on Monday for 13 kids. In school on Tuesday I found out that my list had increased. One family had two younger children of non-school aged that couldn't be left out AND that family also stayed with another family of 3 children, therefore my list was up to 18 kids to shop for. I did the best I could to finish on Wednesday with the help of my roommate, we found shoes, shirts, uniform pants, socks, hats and mittens, not to mention toys for kids that were late additions. It took us almost as long to check out as it did to shop, thank you Wal-Mart. Following the Christmas program on Thursday, Lois and I spent a couple of hours wrapping and bagging presents by family and FILLING my jeep. As soon as kids got to school on Friday, I put in Home Alone (a debatable Christmas movie) and left my class with an assistant while another co-worker and I ran around town delivering the bags. It was truly heartfelt to see/hear the reactions of some of the families. As I left one house, the mother (whose daughter is in my class) could be heard outside screaming.
It's disheartening to realize that there are no Angel Trees around there...there are probably too many people who would qualify and not enough people to buy for them. It's sad to realize that many families are getting government assistance for one reason or another, while families with a working parent are making even less. While I am in a tough situation when it comes to debating government assistance, living in a rural area that literally LACKS jobs/factories makes it hard for one to even attempt to make a living for themselves.
Enough of that topic...let's talk about the selfless and generous people in this world...ie the topic of this post, "THANK YOU BAYLEE!" I think I've mentioned before, but my friend Sara's cousin Baylee raised money last year for my classroom. She is in 4-H and thought it would be a good youth leadership project...and her mom is a teacher in their community in Iowa, so education is incredibly important. Baylee raised money at her school and through her church. Soup dinner donations went to my classroom, she raised money by talking to people at her school, and got donations of school supplies. Baylee and her mom filled 24 NEW bookbags with books (at least 3 in each bag), construction paper, pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, erasers and a pencil sharpener. I acquired them this summer and made the decision that I would wait until Christmas to give them to the kids, mostly because about half the class would come to school WITH school supplies. But by Christmas, those that had bookbags might already be in store fo
r a new one. Anyway, this HUGE box was on my table with a blanket over it on Friday morning for them to stare at. We made a big to-do about it and pulled the blanket off. They were smiling but not overly excited. THEN I opened one and pulled out the books (gasps) and plastic bag full of crayons, scissors, erasers, etc (more gasps), and finally I pulled out the handful of pencils (screams!). They were OVERJOYED. Each child got their bag and headed to the rug to take a picture. When they were released to their seats all I heard was, "muh ward, look at this!" "muh ward, we read this book!" "muh ward look!" "muh ward look!" OMG, they were in heaven. Because we were waiting for lunch at that point, I let them watch a movie and color on paper I had on their tables, I had to keep fussing at them to put their new things away, not to use their new crayons, take that stuff at home, etc. One boy didn't watch ANY of the movie, he read each and everyone of his books with SERIOUS intensity! Let's just say, Baylee.frickin.rocks :) Did I mention she is in the 5th grade? Love her!
**I'm going to try and make the video work, the kids are showing me what they got and saying thank you to Baylee, even though some of them were forgetting her name! PS..I was at the height of a cold and lost my voice that day, please don't judge! **
Well...Christmas is almost here and Minnesota has gotten snow everyday I've been home...amazing :) Although we don't have to travel on Christmas, I pray the roads aren't too bad and you are able to spend the holidays with the ones you love.
Gosh, I LOVE them :)
"Merry Christmas, thank you for the bookbags!"
Anyway, these three weeks following Thanksgiving break have been chaotic to say the least. It involved two weeks of instructional time and one solid week of testing. Because we have to give 5 tests, I tried to get started a day or two earlier, but of course, even on Monday morning (our original start date) the tests were still sitting on my Principal's desk, not copied. UGH, I was annoyed. We were already pressed for time to finish and that just added to the annoyance. But of course, it all worked out. The last week we were frantic to practice the Reindeer Pokey together to prepare for the Christmas program on Friday morning. Lo and behold we found out on Thursday at about 1:15 that we ALSO had to participate in the Thursday evening performance. We sent a note home, figured a few kids would show up and we would just do the best we could. Well, I ran to wal-mart after school and forgot to pick up lipstick to use for our red noses. We were a hurtin' unit. About 20 kids showed up, acted a fool in my classroom before the program, then got on stage and acted like they had no idea what was going on, thank you Kindertots, much appreciated. Friday's performance was much better.
18 kids and counting...not the tv show. Thanks to actions started last year by my co-teacher, I inherited shopping for families (kids) that would most likely not be able to afford Christmas presents this year. My principal and two other workers at school came up with the list of the families who needed the most. Thanks to two GENEROUS donors, I started shopping on Monday for 13 kids. In school on Tuesday I found out that my list had increased. One family had two younger children of non-school aged that couldn't be left out AND that family also stayed with another family of 3 children, therefore my list was up to 18 kids to shop for. I did the best I could to finish on Wednesday with the help of my roommate, we found shoes, shirts, uniform pants, socks, hats and mittens, not to mention toys for kids that were late additions. It took us almost as long to check out as it did to shop, thank you Wal-Mart. Following the Christmas program on Thursday, Lois and I spent a couple of hours wrapping and bagging presents by family and FILLING my jeep. As soon as kids got to school on Friday, I put in Home Alone (a debatable Christmas movie) and left my class with an assistant while another co-worker and I ran around town delivering the bags. It was truly heartfelt to see/hear the reactions of some of the families. As I left one house, the mother (whose daughter is in my class) could be heard outside screaming.
It's disheartening to realize that there are no Angel Trees around there...there are probably too many people who would qualify and not enough people to buy for them. It's sad to realize that many families are getting government assistance for one reason or another, while families with a working parent are making even less. While I am in a tough situation when it comes to debating government assistance, living in a rural area that literally LACKS jobs/factories makes it hard for one to even attempt to make a living for themselves.
Enough of that topic...let's talk about the selfless and generous people in this world...ie the topic of this post, "THANK YOU BAYLEE!" I think I've mentioned before, but my friend Sara's cousin Baylee raised money last year for my classroom. She is in 4-H and thought it would be a good youth leadership project...and her mom is a teacher in their community in Iowa, so education is incredibly important. Baylee raised money at her school and through her church. Soup dinner donations went to my classroom, she raised money by talking to people at her school, and got donations of school supplies. Baylee and her mom filled 24 NEW bookbags with books (at least 3 in each bag), construction paper, pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, erasers and a pencil sharpener. I acquired them this summer and made the decision that I would wait until Christmas to give them to the kids, mostly because about half the class would come to school WITH school supplies. But by Christmas, those that had bookbags might already be in store fo
r a new one. Anyway, this HUGE box was on my table with a blanket over it on Friday morning for them to stare at. We made a big to-do about it and pulled the blanket off. They were smiling but not overly excited. THEN I opened one and pulled out the books (gasps) and plastic bag full of crayons, scissors, erasers, etc (more gasps), and finally I pulled out the handful of pencils (screams!). They were OVERJOYED. Each child got their bag and headed to the rug to take a picture. When they were released to their seats all I heard was, "muh ward, look at this!" "muh ward, we read this book!" "muh ward look!" "muh ward look!" OMG, they were in heaven. Because we were waiting for lunch at that point, I let them watch a movie and color on paper I had on their tables, I had to keep fussing at them to put their new things away, not to use their new crayons, take that stuff at home, etc. One boy didn't watch ANY of the movie, he read each and everyone of his books with SERIOUS intensity! Let's just say, Baylee.frickin.rocks :) Did I mention she is in the 5th grade? Love her!**I'm going to try and make the video work, the kids are showing me what they got and saying thank you to Baylee, even though some of them were forgetting her name! PS..I was at the height of a cold and lost my voice that day, please don't judge! **
Well...Christmas is almost here and Minnesota has gotten snow everyday I've been home...amazing :) Although we don't have to travel on Christmas, I pray the roads aren't too bad and you are able to spend the holidays with the ones you love.
Gosh, I LOVE them :)
"Merry Christmas, thank you for the bookbags!"
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Phat Pants
Happy December! I'm not sure if I was exhausted last year at this time, phew! Once again, I'm recapping the last few weeks but it's what I do. November came and the countdown started. We were more than ready for a break. Of course, on our last day we spent the afternoon in a healthy extravaganza carnival, eating nachos and chips while coloring pictures of fruits/veggies and playing tug of war. Not only is everyone already nutso because you can almost taste break, but lets add the rest of this hoopla to it. The very last activity we did was a fruit walk and multiple kids went back to the room bawling because they didn't win. Well, one little boy was so distraught that he went into the room and threw a folder and tipped over a chair with insane force. Don't worry, he got the first swat on the behind in my room with those actions. I told him I would just take him home after school for those actions and talk to his mama. He cried for the next 20 minutes knowing full well what it means to his mama for him to show up at home in the car of his teacher (he witnessed it first hand with his brother I had last year). ON bus duty, I told his brother (L.G. from last year) that I would take him home, so he went sprinting to my room not caring he was staying after school when break had officially started. They helped clean up and get ready for post-break class. Minus the earlier temper tantrum, these boys are the sweetest children on the planet. IN my car, I asked if they were both buckled up, even though I was pretty sure my ginormous duffel bag was on the middle seat belt. However, L.G. pushed his little brother back and instantly buckled them both into his seatbelt. Instantaneous heart melt. Down the road, L.G., who was struggled in first grade, says to me, "this is a jeep." I responded quite surprised because my vehicle is known to everyone as a "truck." I asked how he knew that and he simply pointed to the steering wheel as the source of information. I felt like a proud parent in that exact moment, I taught that child how to read. He didn't have to sound it out or blend it on his arm, he read it. At that moment, I thought I was a lifer in Moorhead.
Thanksgiving break was wonderful, enjoyed a lovely jaunt through Dallas, St. Louis and then Minneapolis before finally making it home. Got to see lots of friends, family, eat way too much food, did some shopping, put off school work, the usual. I'm not sure how the week went so fast or how I came back from break exhausted? It could have been from black Friday shopping at 3:38 a.m. with Jeannie. She wanted a laptop from Walk-Mart, so we went to Blue Earth. Instead of being a huge waste of space, I decided to find a line to stand in as well...so I bought myself a new tv. No worries, it'll be stuck in Amboy until I can figure out how to get it to the Delta. It was a fun morning though...we really did get some great deals. I bought a few movies for $2....seriously cheaper than renting it! I can't say I would necessarily need to do that every year because I never NEED any of the big items, but for one year it was fun.
Last weekend we went to Memphis at the crack of dawn on Saturday because my roommate Jenn ran in the half-marathon there. Lois and I drove around downtown catching her at a couple of spots on the route, it was fun, minus the early morning. We all went back to our hotel and napped that afternoon then ended up laying in bed watching tv for our evening rather than venturing down to Beale St. We decided it was too cold, it was like 30, really, too cold for going out!
The past two weeks in Kindergarten have been CRAZY! While I was leading my Kindergarten/pre-k learning team today for professional development I was telling the first year teachers that they are GOING to be crazy, come on, it's December, SANTA IS COMING! Over break I bought my class an Elf on a Shelf. It's a book with a creepy little elf that "shows up" on your shelf after reading the story. The story is that the elf flies to Santa every night and tells him what he saw. Then when he flies back, he sits in a new spot. Therefore, each evening I have to remember to move the elf before leaving school! Really though, it doesn't make the kids behave, they are just too excited to function at this point. I will admit that I am doing a better job of being a Kindergarten teacher this year, we have made Santa pictures and made reindeer last week and have a few other activities that they will make and take home for Christmas.
Starting first this Monday morning are our 9 weeks test. We have to give 5 tests, and a large chunk of them have to be done individually. The reading/language test is like 6 pages, woof. It's going to be a stressful week getting tests done, doing Christmas like activities and practicing the reindeer pokey for the Christmas program on Thursday evening/Friday morning. And we have short days on Wednesday AND Friday. Who made this bogus schedule???
I decided that during ANY down time or typical instructional time, I was going to let my assistant give them squares of colored paper and let them trace their hand and cut it out. They LOVE to trace and cut things and we practiced our hands the other day with mild disaster, but it'll keep them occupied!! I have 140 pieces of paper ready for them. Perhaps I'll make a wreath with the hands, perhaps I'll just send them home, who knows?!
Yesterday two of my boys got in trouble in the lunch line for talking. I asked what was going on and the girl in between them says, "he called you fat." Well, I'm pretty sure this was fat with an F and not ph (phat). Haha, I laughed. I shouldn't laugh. But I'm one of few people at my school that doesn't eat fried chicken on a weekly basis. I WAS wearing two pairs of pants yesterday, but I'm pretty sure that had nothing to do with it. Ugh..maybe I'd better start training for a half-marathon too!!
I cannot believe Christmas break is in 5 VERY short days! I'm so excited, but nervous for everything to get done on time. I put in a request with a worker at my school to make a list of kids that were probably not getting Christmas presents this year. It's sad, but I haven't seen an angel tree or anything around here, probably because too many people need it. However, for kids in my class or kids I had last year...I want to make sure they get something.
Better jet, Lois and I are headed to a couple of parties tonight...we had a LONGGGG day of professional development today. But it was surprisingly a really good day and TFA provided some fun social events/dinner following pro sat. It's things like that which make me really love the delta and this sometimes harder than life situation.
Thanksgiving break was wonderful, enjoyed a lovely jaunt through Dallas, St. Louis and then Minneapolis before finally making it home. Got to see lots of friends, family, eat way too much food, did some shopping, put off school work, the usual. I'm not sure how the week went so fast or how I came back from break exhausted? It could have been from black Friday shopping at 3:38 a.m. with Jeannie. She wanted a laptop from Walk-Mart, so we went to Blue Earth. Instead of being a huge waste of space, I decided to find a line to stand in as well...so I bought myself a new tv. No worries, it'll be stuck in Amboy until I can figure out how to get it to the Delta. It was a fun morning though...we really did get some great deals. I bought a few movies for $2....seriously cheaper than renting it! I can't say I would necessarily need to do that every year because I never NEED any of the big items, but for one year it was fun.
Last weekend we went to Memphis at the crack of dawn on Saturday because my roommate Jenn ran in the half-marathon there. Lois and I drove around downtown catching her at a couple of spots on the route, it was fun, minus the early morning. We all went back to our hotel and napped that afternoon then ended up laying in bed watching tv for our evening rather than venturing down to Beale St. We decided it was too cold, it was like 30, really, too cold for going out!
The past two weeks in Kindergarten have been CRAZY! While I was leading my Kindergarten/pre-k learning team today for professional development I was telling the first year teachers that they are GOING to be crazy, come on, it's December, SANTA IS COMING! Over break I bought my class an Elf on a Shelf. It's a book with a creepy little elf that "shows up" on your shelf after reading the story. The story is that the elf flies to Santa every night and tells him what he saw. Then when he flies back, he sits in a new spot. Therefore, each evening I have to remember to move the elf before leaving school! Really though, it doesn't make the kids behave, they are just too excited to function at this point. I will admit that I am doing a better job of being a Kindergarten teacher this year, we have made Santa pictures and made reindeer last week and have a few other activities that they will make and take home for Christmas.
Starting first this Monday morning are our 9 weeks test. We have to give 5 tests, and a large chunk of them have to be done individually. The reading/language test is like 6 pages, woof. It's going to be a stressful week getting tests done, doing Christmas like activities and practicing the reindeer pokey for the Christmas program on Thursday evening/Friday morning. And we have short days on Wednesday AND Friday. Who made this bogus schedule???
I decided that during ANY down time or typical instructional time, I was going to let my assistant give them squares of colored paper and let them trace their hand and cut it out. They LOVE to trace and cut things and we practiced our hands the other day with mild disaster, but it'll keep them occupied!! I have 140 pieces of paper ready for them. Perhaps I'll make a wreath with the hands, perhaps I'll just send them home, who knows?!
Yesterday two of my boys got in trouble in the lunch line for talking. I asked what was going on and the girl in between them says, "he called you fat." Well, I'm pretty sure this was fat with an F and not ph (phat). Haha, I laughed. I shouldn't laugh. But I'm one of few people at my school that doesn't eat fried chicken on a weekly basis. I WAS wearing two pairs of pants yesterday, but I'm pretty sure that had nothing to do with it. Ugh..maybe I'd better start training for a half-marathon too!!
I cannot believe Christmas break is in 5 VERY short days! I'm so excited, but nervous for everything to get done on time. I put in a request with a worker at my school to make a list of kids that were probably not getting Christmas presents this year. It's sad, but I haven't seen an angel tree or anything around here, probably because too many people need it. However, for kids in my class or kids I had last year...I want to make sure they get something.
Better jet, Lois and I are headed to a couple of parties tonight...we had a LONGGGG day of professional development today. But it was surprisingly a really good day and TFA provided some fun social events/dinner following pro sat. It's things like that which make me really love the delta and this sometimes harder than life situation.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
I'll give you a dollar if you let me pull that tooth out?
La la la lots to write about...I even made a list. Except, I kept it in my purse for two weeks...whoops. Clearly that list has grown.
I hope your November's are as amazing as mine has been! I think I'm just so overjoyed that October is over with. Phew. Don't worry, I started Christmas music on November 1st...approximately 45 days after Jeannie asked for my Christmas list...you tell me who is early in celebrating the season?
Hm...let's rehash the last few weeks...we had our Halloween party and even though we were in competition with a jerk-wad from Clarksdale trying to show off his huge house by having a frat-style delta halloween party...we still had a lot of people show up. My roommate and I weren't overly intense in our costumes as hunters, primarily because we found nerf rifles at Wal-Mart and that basically captivated ALL of my attention that evening. This thing is insane, it even drops the bullet shells...why do they make things like this for kids?! Anyway, we had a fun night and clean up really wasn't THAT bad the next morning.
We FINALLY made it to the pumpkin patch! We rescheduled our trip at least 3 different times and it kept stinkin raining. However, we went...on November 3. No worries, the kids still got pumpkins, ha. Let me preface by saying that it wasn't nearly as thrilling as last year because we didn't go on the haunted walk (due to so much rain the woods were a mess). However, the kids still got to chase lightning, the baby pig who grew up A LOT over the last year and definitely slowed down with age. However, I was the only one who came close to catching him :) We also go to go on a boat ride aka "alligator hunting" and feed goats, sheep, a cow and see a llama. He even took a couple of kids into the llama's pen and they got to see her spit. It was gross and awesome at the same time. The kids got to pick if they wanted to ride on a couple of ponys or a horse and be led around a huge field that had inflatable games they could play on, a haymaze to go through or get their face painted. At one point I looked over and saw one of my favorite rolly-polly kids, Kayla, leading a pony with Ashley on it. Clearly this pony was going to follow whoever was walking in front of him but he stopped for a second, long enough for Kayla to say in her most demanding, high-pitched voice, "Ashley, tell your horsie to GO!" I was the only one who almost fell over from laughing so hard!
Last week we also had to sit in on a conference call from a woman in Wisconsin telling us how to decipher the results from this assessment that the school purchased called Star Early Literacy. She kept referring to printouts that you could send home to "show mom and dad" or "allow mom and dad to help..." or "point out to mom and dad..." I think I was the only one who sat there thinking that a lot of my kids don't live with their dad, don't know their dad, don't ever get contacted by their dad even if they see them around town. Family structures here really disturb me and make me disgusted at the number of children who do not have a solid home lives.
A majority of our Wednesday's are 60% days, meaning students leave at 1 and we have professional development. Last Wednesday, professional development was planned for grades 2-5, so Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers were sent to the school library to "learn what the librarian has." Basically it was a place to send us to fill time. However, after our 20 minute tour, we sat in the library and chatted for 2 hours. It was so wonderful. Except, we spent a significant amount of time discussing my semi-recent increase in my fear of snakes. Everyone had ABSURD stories to share which made me even more disgusted and paranoid! Clearly no one knocked on wood that day because the next day in our hallway a snake had gotten in. Of course I didn't go look at it, but my co-teacher saw it slide UNDER the exit door and then turn around and poke its head back in before going out for good. oh.em.gee. No more words need to be wasted on something as disgusting as this...
Mrs. Barner teaches Kindergarten with me this year...we had a conversation about teaching phonics the other day. The conclusion of our conversation led to wondering if the achievement gap in Mississippi could be attributed to a southern drawl. Think about it...kids cannot read/pronounce vowels correctly, mainly because people teaching them don't say the sounds right either. Hmmmm...it's all in good fun, we had a good laugh! The other night I went out with Mrs. Barner and her daughter and some friends to a clothing store that was having an open house...let me tell you...it was like my grand entrance into the life of a southern bell. I felt so out of place! Luckly I was dressed in school clothes still....because otherwise I would not have been dressed anywhere close to the 9's the way these women were. And I stood out like a sore thumb with burnette hair and minimal make up. Haha..it was so fun though. I love some of the people at my school and the fact that we're attempting to hang out and socialize. Our school has NO camaraderie, partly because it's not instilled or wanted by administration. typical drama....
HUGE thank you to grandpa and grandma Davis for the new DVD/VCR player that now inhabits my classroom. Soooo exciting to use it and not have all of my tapes eaten!!
I don't really write enough about my kids...let me tell you why I wear a side-part. I have grey hair. It's okay, I've faced that fact. If you don't believe me, I can prove it. However, we can attribute my side-part to select kids. You heard enough about one last year...this year is turning into a mildly similar story. He is mad 70% of the day. Like pouty/annoying mad (not throwing chairs or anything like that). Ugh, it drives me nuts. He doesn't do his work at centers because he cannot get along with other kids in his group. If he gets pulled out of his centers and has to do an independent center, he generally slides all of the picture cards across my floor, kicking his shoes off and yelling. No real reason for it...just being annoying. His mama comes in everyday after school to find out what color he is on. Generally he goes home to granddaddy for a whoopin. No lie, he sometimes deserves it. Twice this week he was pouting and mad and told me "I'm gonna tell my grandad to come up here and shoot you in the eye." The second day I took him to the office, he got paddled. He thinks he can say anything he pleases and has NO respect for me or the directions I give. It's progressing rapidly and he'll go to the office until he figures out that he is 5 and doesn't run things. Let me just say that my assistant has way more patience for him than I do, even though the other day he was mad and almost kicking her because she was sitting next to him. Ugh...I don't remember ANY child acting like this when I was in elementary. Does this happen elsewhere? I often get so caught up in the way things are in my daily life that I forget things aren't like this everywhere.
I'm doing a much better job of tracking my kids to find out which skills we have mastered and what we need to work on...all working towards making at least 1.5 years of growth in reading. Today I tracked their results from an assessment I gave on Friday and we are now at 80% for phonemic awareness skills which is HUGE! These skills are segmenting syllables, identifying beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds, blending and segmenting CVC words, (consonant vowel consonant words), and a ton of other skills. Last year I didn't track these things, I had no idea how well or poorly some of my students were doing. This year I know EXACTLY which subgroup of students I need to focus a lot of remediation on and which skills to be doing. It's such a great guide and saves my sanity on a daily basis!
Only 6 more days until I am headed O.U.T of the Delta for Thanksgiving break. So.flippin.excited! We are in such need of a break and I love the fact that the semester flies by at this point. And because I am getting more and more disgusted with little things, like ants in my room. I went to record their homework the other day and no lie, killed 20 ants that had made their way into and around that stack of papers. Why. And why do parents send their kids to school with teeth just hangin' out of their mouth. Shoot, they're going to be running at recess and the darn thing is just going to come loose...it's that bad.
Okay, this post is getting out of control with all of this random junk. Better go build our bonfire before it gets too dark..we're going 2 for 2 on bonfires this weekend! 6 days until I leave 80+ November weather for Minny-snow-ta. AHHHH...cannot wait :) :) :)
I hope your November's are as amazing as mine has been! I think I'm just so overjoyed that October is over with. Phew. Don't worry, I started Christmas music on November 1st...approximately 45 days after Jeannie asked for my Christmas list...you tell me who is early in celebrating the season?
Hm...let's rehash the last few weeks...we had our Halloween party and even though we were in competition with a jerk-wad from Clarksdale trying to show off his huge house by having a frat-style delta halloween party...we still had a lot of people show up. My roommate and I weren't overly intense in our costumes as hunters, primarily because we found nerf rifles at Wal-Mart and that basically captivated ALL of my attention that evening. This thing is insane, it even drops the bullet shells...why do they make things like this for kids?! Anyway, we had a fun night and clean up really wasn't THAT bad the next morning.
We FINALLY made it to the pumpkin patch! We rescheduled our trip at least 3 different times and it kept stinkin raining. However, we went...on November 3. No worries, the kids still got pumpkins, ha. Let me preface by saying that it wasn't nearly as thrilling as last year because we didn't go on the haunted walk (due to so much rain the woods were a mess). However, the kids still got to chase lightning, the baby pig who grew up A LOT over the last year and definitely slowed down with age. However, I was the only one who came close to catching him :) We also go to go on a boat ride aka "alligator hunting" and feed goats, sheep, a cow and see a llama. He even took a couple of kids into the llama's pen and they got to see her spit. It was gross and awesome at the same time. The kids got to pick if they wanted to ride on a couple of ponys or a horse and be led around a huge field that had inflatable games they could play on, a haymaze to go through or get their face painted. At one point I looked over and saw one of my favorite rolly-polly kids, Kayla, leading a pony with Ashley on it. Clearly this pony was going to follow whoever was walking in front of him but he stopped for a second, long enough for Kayla to say in her most demanding, high-pitched voice, "Ashley, tell your horsie to GO!" I was the only one who almost fell over from laughing so hard!
Last week we also had to sit in on a conference call from a woman in Wisconsin telling us how to decipher the results from this assessment that the school purchased called Star Early Literacy. She kept referring to printouts that you could send home to "show mom and dad" or "allow mom and dad to help..." or "point out to mom and dad..." I think I was the only one who sat there thinking that a lot of my kids don't live with their dad, don't know their dad, don't ever get contacted by their dad even if they see them around town. Family structures here really disturb me and make me disgusted at the number of children who do not have a solid home lives.
A majority of our Wednesday's are 60% days, meaning students leave at 1 and we have professional development. Last Wednesday, professional development was planned for grades 2-5, so Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers were sent to the school library to "learn what the librarian has." Basically it was a place to send us to fill time. However, after our 20 minute tour, we sat in the library and chatted for 2 hours. It was so wonderful. Except, we spent a significant amount of time discussing my semi-recent increase in my fear of snakes. Everyone had ABSURD stories to share which made me even more disgusted and paranoid! Clearly no one knocked on wood that day because the next day in our hallway a snake had gotten in. Of course I didn't go look at it, but my co-teacher saw it slide UNDER the exit door and then turn around and poke its head back in before going out for good. oh.em.gee. No more words need to be wasted on something as disgusting as this...
Mrs. Barner teaches Kindergarten with me this year...we had a conversation about teaching phonics the other day. The conclusion of our conversation led to wondering if the achievement gap in Mississippi could be attributed to a southern drawl. Think about it...kids cannot read/pronounce vowels correctly, mainly because people teaching them don't say the sounds right either. Hmmmm...it's all in good fun, we had a good laugh! The other night I went out with Mrs. Barner and her daughter and some friends to a clothing store that was having an open house...let me tell you...it was like my grand entrance into the life of a southern bell. I felt so out of place! Luckly I was dressed in school clothes still....because otherwise I would not have been dressed anywhere close to the 9's the way these women were. And I stood out like a sore thumb with burnette hair and minimal make up. Haha..it was so fun though. I love some of the people at my school and the fact that we're attempting to hang out and socialize. Our school has NO camaraderie, partly because it's not instilled or wanted by administration. typical drama....
HUGE thank you to grandpa and grandma Davis for the new DVD/VCR player that now inhabits my classroom. Soooo exciting to use it and not have all of my tapes eaten!!
I don't really write enough about my kids...let me tell you why I wear a side-part. I have grey hair. It's okay, I've faced that fact. If you don't believe me, I can prove it. However, we can attribute my side-part to select kids. You heard enough about one last year...this year is turning into a mildly similar story. He is mad 70% of the day. Like pouty/annoying mad (not throwing chairs or anything like that). Ugh, it drives me nuts. He doesn't do his work at centers because he cannot get along with other kids in his group. If he gets pulled out of his centers and has to do an independent center, he generally slides all of the picture cards across my floor, kicking his shoes off and yelling. No real reason for it...just being annoying. His mama comes in everyday after school to find out what color he is on. Generally he goes home to granddaddy for a whoopin. No lie, he sometimes deserves it. Twice this week he was pouting and mad and told me "I'm gonna tell my grandad to come up here and shoot you in the eye." The second day I took him to the office, he got paddled. He thinks he can say anything he pleases and has NO respect for me or the directions I give. It's progressing rapidly and he'll go to the office until he figures out that he is 5 and doesn't run things. Let me just say that my assistant has way more patience for him than I do, even though the other day he was mad and almost kicking her because she was sitting next to him. Ugh...I don't remember ANY child acting like this when I was in elementary. Does this happen elsewhere? I often get so caught up in the way things are in my daily life that I forget things aren't like this everywhere.
I'm doing a much better job of tracking my kids to find out which skills we have mastered and what we need to work on...all working towards making at least 1.5 years of growth in reading. Today I tracked their results from an assessment I gave on Friday and we are now at 80% for phonemic awareness skills which is HUGE! These skills are segmenting syllables, identifying beginning sounds, ending sounds, middle sounds, blending and segmenting CVC words, (consonant vowel consonant words), and a ton of other skills. Last year I didn't track these things, I had no idea how well or poorly some of my students were doing. This year I know EXACTLY which subgroup of students I need to focus a lot of remediation on and which skills to be doing. It's such a great guide and saves my sanity on a daily basis!
Only 6 more days until I am headed O.U.T of the Delta for Thanksgiving break. So.flippin.excited! We are in such need of a break and I love the fact that the semester flies by at this point. And because I am getting more and more disgusted with little things, like ants in my room. I went to record their homework the other day and no lie, killed 20 ants that had made their way into and around that stack of papers. Why. And why do parents send their kids to school with teeth just hangin' out of their mouth. Shoot, they're going to be running at recess and the darn thing is just going to come loose...it's that bad.
Okay, this post is getting out of control with all of this random junk. Better go build our bonfire before it gets too dark..we're going 2 for 2 on bonfires this weekend! 6 days until I leave 80+ November weather for Minny-snow-ta. AHHHH...cannot wait :) :) :)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
38 years old when this class graduates high school, ick
Blogspot has me irate right now...I typed up an entire post today during my planning period in my e-mail and it won't let me copy and paste..WTF??? So, now it's 10:45 p.m. and I'm retyping this stupid thing...AH-NOYED. Here was the original post...
Ahhh...I realize I haven't written and we were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch...well, no worries, I'll DEFINITELY post right after that field trip, however, we cannot go until stops.frickin.raining. Ugh...we were scheduled to go last Thursday. Then it was forecasted for 90% change of rain. We canceled it and postponed it until Tuesday (today) (only 10% chance of rain). Well, by Monday, Tuesday was at 70% chance of rain. UGH...Wednesday is 10% but we have a short day so we can't go that day. Thursday is 70%, BLAH. Friday is 40%, we're shooting for Friday, it looks like we're going next Monday and the kids will get pumpkins on November 2....worse things have happened I guess?
To add to the chaos that naturally ensues around here...we had Dad's day last Friday. Holy crazy. Turns out we had 150 dads show up (um..guarantee they've never had that many dads in there at one time) to the program at 10 a.m. Well it was over around 11:30 (just as we were lining up to go to lunch), however, ALL of the dads could go get their kids, their step kids, the kids that live with them, kids that live with their cousins, their nephews, their neighbors, practically anyone I guess and eat lunch with them. The line was DOWN the hallway, like all the way to the end. We couldn't eat until the dads and rando kids went through and it was TOTALLY straight out of a snickers commercial, "not going anywhere for awhile?!" We didn't eat lunch until 12:30 and by then only 7 kids hadn't eaten. What a hot mess! However, with our schedule being messed up, we did a short math worksheet and took a long nap. It was Friday, we deserved it (and I needed to get work done...sorry achievement gap, not closing you much today).
Also, a random plea...if you know of anyone wanting to get rid of an old VCR I would TOTALLY take it. The one I have in my classroom is eating tapes like they're hot cheetos. This sounds mundane, however, anytime we can't go to the computer lab or library (due to rain aka ALL the time) we stay in the room and watch VHS movies. This VCR is making me nervous and mildly stressed out that I might have to start giving them work to do during my planning period...eeekk!
Anyone, don't know too much else. Hopefully by Friday we will be boarding the bus for the pumpkin patch. Then Saturday is the halloween party at our house...anyone want to join? My roommate, Jenn, and I are going to be hunters and carry nerf guns. I really only want to do this for the nerf guns! my other roommate, Lois, can't be a hunter because she's Buddhist and killing animals is like killing a relative in their second life...I don't know? But she's going to be the zodiac and read fortunes or something along those lines. Anyone, find a cheap flight and come join in the fun? I usually don't get excited about halloween....but this weekend looks like it is going to be really fun!
Tidbit for the day...D'Marco STRUGGLES with letters and sounds and has a HARD time telling me the beginning sound for any word. However, he CLEARLY knew that the birds we were counting in math were parrots, "cause that's what they be lookin like." Then later we did a sounds worksheet and I was explaining the last picture to them and before I said "sub" he shouts out "that's a submarine." Really child? Who are you? And why can't you tell me that you hear /s/ in that word. Oh well....
PS...I feel a migraine or the flu coming on....taking off Thursday to catch up on life. Ridiculous, I know. But I need to write a research paper and you better believe it's not getting done this weekend. Plus..I've got all sorts of grand plans for getting my eyebrows done, an oil change, getting party stuff, cleaning my house, organzing my office, going to the post office....all things I CANNOT do during the week. So...my first order of business is that darn paper...then the rest of the stuff. I'm SOOOO excited. Feel free to call and check in on my progress...would love to hear from you :)
Over and out girl scout.
Ahhh...I realize I haven't written and we were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch...well, no worries, I'll DEFINITELY post right after that field trip, however, we cannot go until stops.frickin.raining. Ugh...we were scheduled to go last Thursday. Then it was forecasted for 90% change of rain. We canceled it and postponed it until Tuesday (today) (only 10% chance of rain). Well, by Monday, Tuesday was at 70% chance of rain. UGH...Wednesday is 10% but we have a short day so we can't go that day. Thursday is 70%, BLAH. Friday is 40%, we're shooting for Friday, it looks like we're going next Monday and the kids will get pumpkins on November 2....worse things have happened I guess?
To add to the chaos that naturally ensues around here...we had Dad's day last Friday. Holy crazy. Turns out we had 150 dads show up (um..guarantee they've never had that many dads in there at one time) to the program at 10 a.m. Well it was over around 11:30 (just as we were lining up to go to lunch), however, ALL of the dads could go get their kids, their step kids, the kids that live with them, kids that live with their cousins, their nephews, their neighbors, practically anyone I guess and eat lunch with them. The line was DOWN the hallway, like all the way to the end. We couldn't eat until the dads and rando kids went through and it was TOTALLY straight out of a snickers commercial, "not going anywhere for awhile?!" We didn't eat lunch until 12:30 and by then only 7 kids hadn't eaten. What a hot mess! However, with our schedule being messed up, we did a short math worksheet and took a long nap. It was Friday, we deserved it (and I needed to get work done...sorry achievement gap, not closing you much today).
Also, a random plea...if you know of anyone wanting to get rid of an old VCR I would TOTALLY take it. The one I have in my classroom is eating tapes like they're hot cheetos. This sounds mundane, however, anytime we can't go to the computer lab or library (due to rain aka ALL the time) we stay in the room and watch VHS movies. This VCR is making me nervous and mildly stressed out that I might have to start giving them work to do during my planning period...eeekk!
Anyone, don't know too much else. Hopefully by Friday we will be boarding the bus for the pumpkin patch. Then Saturday is the halloween party at our house...anyone want to join? My roommate, Jenn, and I are going to be hunters and carry nerf guns. I really only want to do this for the nerf guns! my other roommate, Lois, can't be a hunter because she's Buddhist and killing animals is like killing a relative in their second life...I don't know? But she's going to be the zodiac and read fortunes or something along those lines. Anyone, find a cheap flight and come join in the fun? I usually don't get excited about halloween....but this weekend looks like it is going to be really fun!
Tidbit for the day...D'Marco STRUGGLES with letters and sounds and has a HARD time telling me the beginning sound for any word. However, he CLEARLY knew that the birds we were counting in math were parrots, "cause that's what they be lookin like." Then later we did a sounds worksheet and I was explaining the last picture to them and before I said "sub" he shouts out "that's a submarine." Really child? Who are you? And why can't you tell me that you hear /s/ in that word. Oh well....
PS...I feel a migraine or the flu coming on....taking off Thursday to catch up on life. Ridiculous, I know. But I need to write a research paper and you better believe it's not getting done this weekend. Plus..I've got all sorts of grand plans for getting my eyebrows done, an oil change, getting party stuff, cleaning my house, organzing my office, going to the post office....all things I CANNOT do during the week. So...my first order of business is that darn paper...then the rest of the stuff. I'm SOOOO excited. Feel free to call and check in on my progress...would love to hear from you :)
Over and out girl scout.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Case of the Octobers...
I know, I know...it's been a month. I'll do better, I promise. Luckily, I sit in grad class every Tuesday, so now I take the liberty of writing things down to write in my blog since there is really no reason to listen to the discussion happening around me. Speaking of which...is it ironic that I am getting a masters degree IN education in one of the worst states educationally speaking? 35% of high school students drop out before graduating in Mississippi and yet we're getting our masters degrees here. Something doesn't seem right...
Highlight/lowlights of the last 4 weeks of my life...
(-) instead of giving 9 weeks tests, I was told that during my planning period I needed to be working on filling out basic contact information/shots/SSN for each child on their cumulative folder. Apparently cumulative folders trump 9 weeks tests when you know there is an audit around the corner.
(-) Speaking of 9 weeks tests, one of the days I had no assistant, a crabby class and it was raining which equals being stuck inside all.stinkin.day. ick.
(-) it's getting cold here. Our house has been 60-65 the last couple of days, although I think it gets colder than that at night...I know, it doesn't seem bad, but when you go outside and the temperature is the same as it is inside, you know there is a problem.
(+) The colder temperatures have greatly reduced the number of steroid-induced mosquitoes around these parts, particularly in my bedroom. I have been seeing more cockroaches though :(
(-) Cody and I broke up...stop asking when you're going to get to meet him.
(-) I ask my class how they are doing each morning when we get to the rug. They have to give me a variety of responses using different vocabulary. One day I asked them if they want to know how I am. One kid instantly responded, "sad." truth. I started to tear up in front of them, what on earth, no rhyme or reason for it, I was fine. Don't worry, it didn't affect them, they were still bad for the rest of the day. No compassion I tell you.
(+) Last weekend we got out of the Delta and went to stay at Mike and Gretchen's house (even though they were on vacay) and went to the Mississippi State Fair...if you know me, you know this was a big deal. My roommates and I did a ride just like the Power Tower at Valleyfair, which is kind of sketchy to think that this was a carnival and therefore none of the rides or objects were stationary. It was so fun though!
(+) Guests: I had two nursing students in my room observing and assisting one day. The next day came and I knew my assistant was going to be out so I asked my principal if the nursing students were coming back, just to gauge how I was going to fill 1 1/2 hours on my own with everyone doing the same thing (they need to be split into groups). Well, she said no they were not coming back. Anyway, they were on the rug listening to me tell and illustrate a picture about snakes and I was modeling how to add text to our picture. All of a sudden we had 3 visitors knock and ask if they could watch, they had heard good things yadda, yadda, yadda. Sure, I figured they WERE nursing students, just dressed differently. Well, two things...my kids were FRICKIN amazing and thank goodness I did not talk to these women whom I thought were nursing students. Awhile after they left I realized they left me a note, turns our they were from TFA visiting the Delta. They are the institute design team and the core group of people planning the Delta's first summer institute (teacher training thing that I had to attend in Houston). Ohhh...emmmm......geeeee. I almost screamed, what are these big wigs doing here and in my room? Talk about nerve-racking, thank goodness I was not forewarned, I would have been a total nervous nelly. I went to a session about working at institute this weekend and the woman leading it told me I looked so familiar, after I said that she had been in my classroom a few weeks back, she just said, "Oh yeah, I knew that I recognized you, you did wonderful." Wow, my horrible-prosat-induced-mood was just lifted.
(+) Our pumpkin patch/farm trip is THIS THURSDAY. WHO WANTS TO COME?!?!?! This year they have a new haymaze, so I can't guarantee the haunted walk, but I can only hope for it. My camera will be out and ready either way.
(+) Finally booked my flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas...I love Minnesota....
(+/-) Tomorrow is a teacher "work day." We do not have kids, but we sit at school from 7:30 until 4 while parents come in to get report cards and talk about progress. I sent home notes with 4 kids requesting URGENT parent conferences because their student was getting one or more F's. Sorry, had to.
(-) It's just after 8 p.m., I wasted most of my day putzing on my computer and reading the hilarity on mylifeisaverage.com If you're bored, you should check it out. I feel awful, I took my temperature and it read 96, ugh, clearly that doesn't indicate a fever. I only ate a poptart today and am not hungry, something has to be wrong. My head is throbbing. WebMD told me nothing, blah.
Clearly the list I just made has more negatives than positives, i.e. the Octobers. October is the month that traditionally feels the longest. No end in sight. Children are restless, uninvested, crabby, needing a break...clearly I feel the same. It doesn't help that it has been raining for the last 3 weeks straight. Swear to it. The sun came out briefly on Friday and I made everyone look out the window because we haven't had a day that was NOT overcast in weeks.
Since everything has been negative in this post, I'll add one more. Friday was Ruleville's homecoming. I walked in the parade with the elementary cheerleaders from my school because they need extra help in these homecoming parades (Indianola's and Ruleville's). We found out after the parade that a high school senior girl was shot and killed by her boyfriend who then shot himself. Word was spreading during the parade. Students were gathering at the school, the high school football cheerleaders came over to out house since my friend is their coach and they needed to get out of there for awhile. It broke my heart, kids should not have to go through that. No one should have to go through that, but especially kids. The football game was somber, not packed, not enthusiastic; this town is about the size of Mapleton if that helps put anything in perspective.
Okay...I'm out, sorry for the depressing post. But after Thursday's trip to the farm/pseudo pumpkin patch, hopefully I'll have some great stories! :)
Highlight/lowlights of the last 4 weeks of my life...
(-) instead of giving 9 weeks tests, I was told that during my planning period I needed to be working on filling out basic contact information/shots/SSN for each child on their cumulative folder. Apparently cumulative folders trump 9 weeks tests when you know there is an audit around the corner.
(-) Speaking of 9 weeks tests, one of the days I had no assistant, a crabby class and it was raining which equals being stuck inside all.stinkin.day. ick.
(-) it's getting cold here. Our house has been 60-65 the last couple of days, although I think it gets colder than that at night...I know, it doesn't seem bad, but when you go outside and the temperature is the same as it is inside, you know there is a problem.
(+) The colder temperatures have greatly reduced the number of steroid-induced mosquitoes around these parts, particularly in my bedroom. I have been seeing more cockroaches though :(
(-) Cody and I broke up...stop asking when you're going to get to meet him.
(-) I ask my class how they are doing each morning when we get to the rug. They have to give me a variety of responses using different vocabulary. One day I asked them if they want to know how I am. One kid instantly responded, "sad." truth. I started to tear up in front of them, what on earth, no rhyme or reason for it, I was fine. Don't worry, it didn't affect them, they were still bad for the rest of the day. No compassion I tell you.
(+) Last weekend we got out of the Delta and went to stay at Mike and Gretchen's house (even though they were on vacay) and went to the Mississippi State Fair...if you know me, you know this was a big deal. My roommates and I did a ride just like the Power Tower at Valleyfair, which is kind of sketchy to think that this was a carnival and therefore none of the rides or objects were stationary. It was so fun though!
(+) Guests: I had two nursing students in my room observing and assisting one day. The next day came and I knew my assistant was going to be out so I asked my principal if the nursing students were coming back, just to gauge how I was going to fill 1 1/2 hours on my own with everyone doing the same thing (they need to be split into groups). Well, she said no they were not coming back. Anyway, they were on the rug listening to me tell and illustrate a picture about snakes and I was modeling how to add text to our picture. All of a sudden we had 3 visitors knock and ask if they could watch, they had heard good things yadda, yadda, yadda. Sure, I figured they WERE nursing students, just dressed differently. Well, two things...my kids were FRICKIN amazing and thank goodness I did not talk to these women whom I thought were nursing students. Awhile after they left I realized they left me a note, turns our they were from TFA visiting the Delta. They are the institute design team and the core group of people planning the Delta's first summer institute (teacher training thing that I had to attend in Houston). Ohhh...emmmm......geeeee. I almost screamed, what are these big wigs doing here and in my room? Talk about nerve-racking, thank goodness I was not forewarned, I would have been a total nervous nelly. I went to a session about working at institute this weekend and the woman leading it told me I looked so familiar, after I said that she had been in my classroom a few weeks back, she just said, "Oh yeah, I knew that I recognized you, you did wonderful." Wow, my horrible-prosat-induced-mood was just lifted.
(+) Our pumpkin patch/farm trip is THIS THURSDAY. WHO WANTS TO COME?!?!?! This year they have a new haymaze, so I can't guarantee the haunted walk, but I can only hope for it. My camera will be out and ready either way.
(+) Finally booked my flights for Thanksgiving and Christmas...I love Minnesota....
(+/-) Tomorrow is a teacher "work day." We do not have kids, but we sit at school from 7:30 until 4 while parents come in to get report cards and talk about progress. I sent home notes with 4 kids requesting URGENT parent conferences because their student was getting one or more F's. Sorry, had to.
(-) It's just after 8 p.m., I wasted most of my day putzing on my computer and reading the hilarity on mylifeisaverage.com If you're bored, you should check it out. I feel awful, I took my temperature and it read 96, ugh, clearly that doesn't indicate a fever. I only ate a poptart today and am not hungry, something has to be wrong. My head is throbbing. WebMD told me nothing, blah.
Clearly the list I just made has more negatives than positives, i.e. the Octobers. October is the month that traditionally feels the longest. No end in sight. Children are restless, uninvested, crabby, needing a break...clearly I feel the same. It doesn't help that it has been raining for the last 3 weeks straight. Swear to it. The sun came out briefly on Friday and I made everyone look out the window because we haven't had a day that was NOT overcast in weeks.
Since everything has been negative in this post, I'll add one more. Friday was Ruleville's homecoming. I walked in the parade with the elementary cheerleaders from my school because they need extra help in these homecoming parades (Indianola's and Ruleville's). We found out after the parade that a high school senior girl was shot and killed by her boyfriend who then shot himself. Word was spreading during the parade. Students were gathering at the school, the high school football cheerleaders came over to out house since my friend is their coach and they needed to get out of there for awhile. It broke my heart, kids should not have to go through that. No one should have to go through that, but especially kids. The football game was somber, not packed, not enthusiastic; this town is about the size of Mapleton if that helps put anything in perspective.
Okay...I'm out, sorry for the depressing post. But after Thursday's trip to the farm/pseudo pumpkin patch, hopefully I'll have some great stories! :)
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