Raccoons at the pumpkin patch? I'm not so sure...

I would like to document that today, October 6, is the fourth time I have had a attempted bite happen. And, today is either the second or third time this same little lovely has kicked me. Basically, it doesn't matter to me anymore. It doesn't hurt, in fact, it doesn't even make me mad. I just realize that his temper is far beyond out of control and to walk away, with or without him following me to the office. Today, after he kicked the wall for a little while causing a scene, he followed me to the office. As I was getting his momma on the phone, he had the guts to go out the main door with the principal standing there with a stick in her hand. I let her chance him and I didn't look back. He only went a couple of feet, but she inevitably gave him a swift reminder about whether or not that was a good choice. How does all this start? Because he lays on the rug instead of doing centers claiming he wants to go see the school's Life Help Therapist. Well, I would too, she gives them prizes and treats and all sorts of other stuff, ONLY if they are good. I don't let him go see her acting like a punk-rocker like this. "Do you work, you can go see her." Apparently, he misheard me and thought I said, "kick the door 10 times and you can go see her."

Pretty sure the Delta is giving me a false sense of what world-wide public school systems are like. However, it doesn't really bother me. These occurrences phase me less and less each day, although the more they happen, the more I realize I need to change something in order to prevent them, or at least minimize them. They say October is the longest month because it drones on, you feel like you've lost complete control over your class, and there really isn't a vacation insight. Well, the losing control part is correct, although let's be honest, have I ever had complete control? Doubtful. haha, it's okay, I laugh about it too.

This weekend Lois and I ventured down to Quiver River (as Eric Lear asks, "what drunk guy did they let name that one?") and went fishing. We didn't catch anything except a log at the bottom of the river which forced me to break the line of my new pole....grrr. Oh well, it was fun just sitting outside now that it is nice out (and not sweltering hot) and not seeing a single person in the 2+ hours we were there! Next time our goal will be to actually catch something!

This week is homecoming for the high school in Indianola. Majority of the Moorhead kids go there for high school. Let me tell you, homecoming around here is OUT.OF.CONTROL! They have queens for EVERY class, like freshman spanish, sophomore english, sophomore US history, etc. It's nuts. There is even a king and queen from my school. All of these people wear white ball gowns and ride on a car in the parade. Two of my students are cheerleaders (not cheering for a sport, just learning cheers for fun I think) so they will be in the parade too. I'm excited to see that! I love going to Ruleville football games and of course I get a kick out of the marching bands and their half-time shows. If you ever watch drumline, this is SO SIMILAR, except in high school!

This week marks the end of our first nine-weeks....baaaah. Okay, the end of the first nine isn't that bad, it's the nine-weeks test that we have to give that is the bad part. We give a test in reading, math and language. And, since our kids can't read, majority of the test is individual or small group. It's literally going to take me almost ALL day, ALL week to get all of these tests done. Oh well, the week should fly by then, right?! I could hardly sleep last night because I was so nervous...I knew that I got test anxiety, but I didn't realize I got test-administration anxiety. I just know that if my kids do badly, that is a reflection of my teaching, and well, the self-confidence doesn't really need that blow at this stage of the game. Anyway....from today they were doing so-so. Some were doing better than I expected, some worse. Guess we'll see what happens when it's done.

Next week we get to go to the pumpkin patch....good lord that was an exciting announcement in KB today! It also means if they are going to act like a pain in my behind, they will stay at school. Little JaQualon raised his hand for the VERY first time today when I asked what kind of animals we might see at the pumpkin patch? "Raccoons." Um, interesting, but doubtful. This trip should be turned into a one-episode tv show! I have one who I can hardly contain within the confines of my classroom, he just runs all over the place and refuses to follow directions. What on EARTH will happen when he gets into the middle of a pumpkin field with miles and miles of endless earth. Good lord, I don't even want to imagine. He is the child that will be on one of those made-for-toddlers-but-looks-like-a-dog-leash. Random realization of the day: although he sucks two of his fingers like it's going out of style, he doesn't touch the whole world with those fingers...thank goodness. His immune system would be out of control trying to ward off all of those germs! I'm excited for this pumpkin patch adventure and secretly hope that 10+ parents volunteer to go with because we're going to need it!

Wow, getting long-winded....totally missing the fall colors of Minnesota, haunted forest, RASCAL FLATTS CONCERT :( :( :(, but realizing that although this whole experience has been hella hard, I am so lucky in so many ways. My assistant is amazing, what WOULD I do if I didn't have a great assistant? Probably cry all of the time! The other Kindergarten teacher has saved my butt soooo many times and done MORE than her share of the lesson planning knowing that it would keep me from wiggin' out. And my kids...although they can be bad, they are still so wonderful at the same time! I say that now...ask me again after the pumpkin patch adventure/fiasco. Keep cutie-pie Kylie Jean in your thoughts and prayers as she has probably gone through more than I have in my entire life. No five-year-old should have to spend the weekend in the hospital being pricked as many times as she probably was. Nor should any kid have to deal with shots daily. But hey, she's 37 pounds of tough-cookie...and if there's one thing you can be thankful for, Kayla, at least she doesn't pass out each time she sees a needle!