I spent a great amount of time today grading the 4 tests I gave this week. As you all know, assessments are HUGE right now in education, so on Tuesday, I will have to present to my grade level the scores my students earned. Because it took me so long to grade, record and analyze them AND because I am pretty proud of them, I will post them here, too : )
Here are my Average Scores:
Spelling- 92%
Science- 88%
Math- 78%
Reading 72%
Not too shabby for the third week of school : )
Saturday, August 30, 2008
"That's Not Fair!"
There were a few incidents that occurred yesterday that I realized I should share...
1) During floortime yesterday morning, my kids were already wound up and having difficulty following directions. They were chatty and noisy. When I asked them to turn their bodies away from the whiteboard and towards my rocking chair, they did it lazily and noisily. Except for three girls. Without talking, they turned their bodies, stayed flat on the floor and had their hands in their lap. Wanting to promote these girls and their behavior, I said that because of their obedience, they could each pick a prize from the small prize box (as opposed to the big prize box- this one just has pencils and stickers...) This action produced 17 large sighs and "That's not fairs!"
2) Later on the floor, a child raised their hand to say "That girl is pushing him, over there!" I asked the boy who "that girl" and "him" was. "You know, them!" He said. Frustrated that after 15 days together the boy still didn't know everyone's name- I stopped what I was doing and said that if one person could tell me everyone's name- they could pick a prize from the big prize box (with toys, books, and other "larger" prizes). Of course, everyone's hand went up and we went through three kids before one could actually do it. Once that boy accomplished the task, I went back to teaching reading. This, again, produced 19 large sighs and "That's not fairs!"
At this point- I am dismayed at their behavior. Of course both of these events were fair. The boy was the only one who could do it. I didn't have time to give a prize to EVERY child who could say every one's name (although I feel like only 3 or 4 could do it). I frowned a frown of disapproval and asked the children if they were being good sports. (One boy shouted out, "I'm a New Yorker!" I asked him what that had to do with it : )
I used Jesus' example on the workers in the vineyard and asked the children if the prizes were not mine to give away. Later, Ross told me I should have told them that the fairest thing to do was to never give anything special to anybody. How would they like that?
3) Okay. So all this happens before Mom and Dad come with the special lunch for two of my kids. I was planning on having the FAIR conversation then. When lunch does arrive, I hear the same sighs and the same words and I repeat my same arguments. This is their time to be special. We need to be happy for them and hopeful for our turn...
4) Then, Aunt Pam shows up with Jamba Juices for my student of the week kids. Oh no! Another special treat. Now, mind you, my two little SOW's feel incredible right now. And they never showed off or taunted what they got in front of the other kids. But they felt amazingly special. Isn't that important??
But my other kids don't see it that way- and I hear my final round of complaints, groans and sighs. As I am again going through my speel, one girl stands up and goes "Melissa, Melissa, Melissa. You're always giving the good stuff to her!" Now, this girl does have a point, Melissa does get a lot of special treats, but it's because she is doing what she is supposed to be doing!
Right after this conversation, one of my other girls, who hasn't been complaining at all- shows me two open spots in her mouth where teeth used to be. She tells me about the dollar she made under her pillow last night. I ask the girl to tell her story to the whole class. Then I ask them to raise their hand if they made money last night under their pillow. Only the one girl raises her hand. Then I ask them to raise their hand if they ever have or ever will get money from the tooth fairy. They all raise their hand.
"See," I say. "Last night was her turn, another night it will be yours. Do you think the tooth fairy is unfair, too?"
The whole situation severely aggravated me. First, because I can't stand the fact that six-year-olds now have entitlement complexes and secondly, because of the kids faulty attributions. I did a presentation in college about attributions in Educational Psychology. It's the idea that kids (and grownups) have a healthy understanding of who is responsible for what. In this case, kids with healthy attributions would realize that the kids who were rewarded earned it somehow and that they, too, could earn it at a later date. I was unhappy to realize that the kids were attributing the other's successes on me. Like I was some kind of random prize giver and that they "never" had a chance of winning because they'd never won before.
I know this post has become incredibly long, but it is important! It makes me reflect on my own life and when I think "That's not fair" or "I really wish that would happen to me" when I really should be happy for that person and reflecting on how I have control on whether or not it could happen to me. Just a little food for fair thought : )
1) During floortime yesterday morning, my kids were already wound up and having difficulty following directions. They were chatty and noisy. When I asked them to turn their bodies away from the whiteboard and towards my rocking chair, they did it lazily and noisily. Except for three girls. Without talking, they turned their bodies, stayed flat on the floor and had their hands in their lap. Wanting to promote these girls and their behavior, I said that because of their obedience, they could each pick a prize from the small prize box (as opposed to the big prize box- this one just has pencils and stickers...) This action produced 17 large sighs and "That's not fairs!"
2) Later on the floor, a child raised their hand to say "That girl is pushing him, over there!" I asked the boy who "that girl" and "him" was. "You know, them!" He said. Frustrated that after 15 days together the boy still didn't know everyone's name- I stopped what I was doing and said that if one person could tell me everyone's name- they could pick a prize from the big prize box (with toys, books, and other "larger" prizes). Of course, everyone's hand went up and we went through three kids before one could actually do it. Once that boy accomplished the task, I went back to teaching reading. This, again, produced 19 large sighs and "That's not fairs!"
At this point- I am dismayed at their behavior. Of course both of these events were fair. The boy was the only one who could do it. I didn't have time to give a prize to EVERY child who could say every one's name (although I feel like only 3 or 4 could do it). I frowned a frown of disapproval and asked the children if they were being good sports. (One boy shouted out, "I'm a New Yorker!" I asked him what that had to do with it : )
I used Jesus' example on the workers in the vineyard and asked the children if the prizes were not mine to give away. Later, Ross told me I should have told them that the fairest thing to do was to never give anything special to anybody. How would they like that?
3) Okay. So all this happens before Mom and Dad come with the special lunch for two of my kids. I was planning on having the FAIR conversation then. When lunch does arrive, I hear the same sighs and the same words and I repeat my same arguments. This is their time to be special. We need to be happy for them and hopeful for our turn...
4) Then, Aunt Pam shows up with Jamba Juices for my student of the week kids. Oh no! Another special treat. Now, mind you, my two little SOW's feel incredible right now. And they never showed off or taunted what they got in front of the other kids. But they felt amazingly special. Isn't that important??
But my other kids don't see it that way- and I hear my final round of complaints, groans and sighs. As I am again going through my speel, one girl stands up and goes "Melissa, Melissa, Melissa. You're always giving the good stuff to her!" Now, this girl does have a point, Melissa does get a lot of special treats, but it's because she is doing what she is supposed to be doing!
Right after this conversation, one of my other girls, who hasn't been complaining at all- shows me two open spots in her mouth where teeth used to be. She tells me about the dollar she made under her pillow last night. I ask the girl to tell her story to the whole class. Then I ask them to raise their hand if they made money last night under their pillow. Only the one girl raises her hand. Then I ask them to raise their hand if they ever have or ever will get money from the tooth fairy. They all raise their hand.
"See," I say. "Last night was her turn, another night it will be yours. Do you think the tooth fairy is unfair, too?"
The whole situation severely aggravated me. First, because I can't stand the fact that six-year-olds now have entitlement complexes and secondly, because of the kids faulty attributions. I did a presentation in college about attributions in Educational Psychology. It's the idea that kids (and grownups) have a healthy understanding of who is responsible for what. In this case, kids with healthy attributions would realize that the kids who were rewarded earned it somehow and that they, too, could earn it at a later date. I was unhappy to realize that the kids were attributing the other's successes on me. Like I was some kind of random prize giver and that they "never" had a chance of winning because they'd never won before.
I know this post has become incredibly long, but it is important! It makes me reflect on my own life and when I think "That's not fair" or "I really wish that would happen to me" when I really should be happy for that person and reflecting on how I have control on whether or not it could happen to me. Just a little food for fair thought : )
Friday, August 29, 2008
Why Teachers LOVE Teaching...
Today was marvelous. Here is why:
1) My kids are beginning to exceed my expectations. They all brought their finished homework. They all had signed folders. I gave a reading test, spelling test and a science test. There was no talking, no ripping of papers; they held up really well.
2) I haven't graded them yet, but from what I can tell, my kids did well. And the ones who didn't- I have a better idea how to help them.
3) Mom and Dad came again. That in and of itself is a blessing : )
4) They brought lunch from McDonald's for me and two of my students- the student of the week from last week and this week. My kids and I had a LONG talk about fairness and how this is fair because they will get a turn (Mom and Dad agreed to bring lunch every Friday). But the best part was how it made the two little kids SO happy. They felt so special and we had a marvelous time together.
5) Five minutes before I had to pick the other kids up from recess, my aunt Pam's at my classroom door with little Jamba Juices! It was so fun to be surprised and to share my classroom with her. As usual, she made half a dozen friends while she was there (under and over the age of 6...)
6) My social studies centers were so much fun! Mom read them two stories, America Is... and The Pledge of Allegiance (both so good!) and helped them make American flags out of torn paper. Then dad read them a big book that had a house floorplan at the end and then they drew maps of their own houses. When they were with me, we read about running for president and made our own "Vote for Me" bumper stickers. They were supposed to write them about themselves, but half of them wrote "Vote for Mrs. Gentle!" They told me that they wanted me to be president. My one little boy wrote "Vote for Luis D. and Mrs. Gentle" He wants me to be his VP : )
7) My kids were able to clean up, pack up and have Choice Time with no issues. Hooray for procedures and practice!
1) My kids are beginning to exceed my expectations. They all brought their finished homework. They all had signed folders. I gave a reading test, spelling test and a science test. There was no talking, no ripping of papers; they held up really well.
2) I haven't graded them yet, but from what I can tell, my kids did well. And the ones who didn't- I have a better idea how to help them.
3) Mom and Dad came again. That in and of itself is a blessing : )
4) They brought lunch from McDonald's for me and two of my students- the student of the week from last week and this week. My kids and I had a LONG talk about fairness and how this is fair because they will get a turn (Mom and Dad agreed to bring lunch every Friday). But the best part was how it made the two little kids SO happy. They felt so special and we had a marvelous time together.
5) Five minutes before I had to pick the other kids up from recess, my aunt Pam's at my classroom door with little Jamba Juices! It was so fun to be surprised and to share my classroom with her. As usual, she made half a dozen friends while she was there (under and over the age of 6...)
6) My social studies centers were so much fun! Mom read them two stories, America Is... and The Pledge of Allegiance (both so good!) and helped them make American flags out of torn paper. Then dad read them a big book that had a house floorplan at the end and then they drew maps of their own houses. When they were with me, we read about running for president and made our own "Vote for Me" bumper stickers. They were supposed to write them about themselves, but half of them wrote "Vote for Mrs. Gentle!" They told me that they wanted me to be president. My one little boy wrote "Vote for Luis D. and Mrs. Gentle" He wants me to be his VP : )
7) My kids were able to clean up, pack up and have Choice Time with no issues. Hooray for procedures and practice!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Why Teachers Quit...
I wanted to blog yesterday, but didn't have it in me. Here's a list why...
1) I got to school before 7 yesterday and left just after 5. That's a ten hour day.
2) I was at school for forever because of... paperwork! Not like grading, but recording pre-assessment scores on-line and in permanent files. Neither of which can be taken out of the office. So, there I sat, in the front office with a red ink pen and writing folders and a computer with DIBELS scores.
3) I went down to the office expecting to do one pile of paperwork- and found another whole pile of paperwork waiting for me.
4) People expect me to be on the same page as everyone else- when my kids aren't on the same page as their kids. It makes quite a difference.
5) Yesterday, after 10 hours of working, I still wasn't quite ready for today. I had planned on giving 3 tests today (crazy, but doable : ) So I wanted something really fun for them to do this afternoon. And I just couldn't come up with it. So Ross and I went to two libraries trying to find something fun and educational. By the time we got home, I was done for...
6) I met with a case manager about my two boys. She said my one that's not so bad can get 2 extra hours of services- but that my other boy- who I thought might have MR, used to have an aid but doesn't need one anymore. I wanted to know who determined that! I don't know what I'm going to do with them...
Okay, enough complaining. Read my next post- it'll be way funner : )
1) I got to school before 7 yesterday and left just after 5. That's a ten hour day.
2) I was at school for forever because of... paperwork! Not like grading, but recording pre-assessment scores on-line and in permanent files. Neither of which can be taken out of the office. So, there I sat, in the front office with a red ink pen and writing folders and a computer with DIBELS scores.
3) I went down to the office expecting to do one pile of paperwork- and found another whole pile of paperwork waiting for me.
4) People expect me to be on the same page as everyone else- when my kids aren't on the same page as their kids. It makes quite a difference.
5) Yesterday, after 10 hours of working, I still wasn't quite ready for today. I had planned on giving 3 tests today (crazy, but doable : ) So I wanted something really fun for them to do this afternoon. And I just couldn't come up with it. So Ross and I went to two libraries trying to find something fun and educational. By the time we got home, I was done for...
6) I met with a case manager about my two boys. She said my one that's not so bad can get 2 extra hours of services- but that my other boy- who I thought might have MR, used to have an aid but doesn't need one anymore. I wanted to know who determined that! I don't know what I'm going to do with them...
Okay, enough complaining. Read my next post- it'll be way funner : )
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
13th Day of School
I woke up this morning to a sweet husband telling me that he had been talking to me last night for a few minutes before he realized that I was sound asleep and that at one point I was wheezing horribly. I'm sorry, honey : )
My illness has continued being sporatic. I actually felt pretty good during school hours. I think my body knew that for the safety of everyone it had to perform, so it did. But once those kids were gone and I was in my room alone- with no one counting on me- I felt icky again. Right now my nose is a little stuffy and my head a little cloudy. I took a nap when I got home because I just felt zapped. I hope I get better soon...
Today was crazy. I made two boys cry. Actually, I am standing firm that the two boys made themselves cry- that they made bad choices and that it is my responsibility to hold them accountable to those choices. You try telling a just-turned six-year-old that...
This afternoon we had no special- which is just a recipe for disaster. From 11:30-2:00, the kids are in our room only. I have high-interest things planned like math, science, social studies, etc. but the kids just get antsy. They need to move.
I also had issues with a girl who loves to have fun and is free spirited. I love those girls when I'm not in the classroom. She's always happy and friendly. But she has no self-control. I'm constantly repeating myself to her because she was busy playing or talking when I gave the direction the first time. Do you know how absolutely draining that is??? This afternoon, I was constantly repeating myself and I just couldn't take it any more...
I am happy to announce that we had a grade-level meeting this afternoon and everyone was civil to each other. Thanks for lifting that up in prayer : )
I am so thankful for fresh starts and new days. Tomorrow, my two boys will have no recollection of their tears and the little girl won't remember my words of frustration. It will be a brand new day. Hooray!
My illness has continued being sporatic. I actually felt pretty good during school hours. I think my body knew that for the safety of everyone it had to perform, so it did. But once those kids were gone and I was in my room alone- with no one counting on me- I felt icky again. Right now my nose is a little stuffy and my head a little cloudy. I took a nap when I got home because I just felt zapped. I hope I get better soon...
Today was crazy. I made two boys cry. Actually, I am standing firm that the two boys made themselves cry- that they made bad choices and that it is my responsibility to hold them accountable to those choices. You try telling a just-turned six-year-old that...
This afternoon we had no special- which is just a recipe for disaster. From 11:30-2:00, the kids are in our room only. I have high-interest things planned like math, science, social studies, etc. but the kids just get antsy. They need to move.
I also had issues with a girl who loves to have fun and is free spirited. I love those girls when I'm not in the classroom. She's always happy and friendly. But she has no self-control. I'm constantly repeating myself to her because she was busy playing or talking when I gave the direction the first time. Do you know how absolutely draining that is??? This afternoon, I was constantly repeating myself and I just couldn't take it any more...
I am happy to announce that we had a grade-level meeting this afternoon and everyone was civil to each other. Thanks for lifting that up in prayer : )
I am so thankful for fresh starts and new days. Tomorrow, my two boys will have no recollection of their tears and the little girl won't remember my words of frustration. It will be a brand new day. Hooray!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sore Throats, Reproduction, and Teamwork
There is so much to tell you! I'm going to do my best to stay organized, but forgive me if I don't : )
Let's start with the fact that I have had a sore throat all weekend. I was really hoping it was simply sore from over-use. Yesterday morning, it hurt when I woke up, but gradually hurt less as the day went on. This morning, I woke up with a sore throat and congested head. Great... My illness seemed to change in its intensity as the day went on. One point this morning, I was almost crying my eyes were watering so bad... then at lunch, I step into the cafeteria's kitchen and feel like I'm going to puke... then at about 1:00 I can't get my nose to stop running. At the time of writing, I am okay- but heaven only knows what 5:00 will look like...
I actually felt more like a real teacher today and less like a mom, a babysitter or a drill sergeant. It's nice to know that you are actually teaching the kids something and not just managing them.
In science, we talked about living and nonliving things. Our textbook discussed the fact that living things can create more living things... aka make babies. This lead to a lively discussion on reproduction. When one boy asked where babies came from (the same boy who earlier told me we all come from eggs) I hesitated- because I wanted to give him an answer that respected his family's input in the matter and yet gently portrayed a moral viewpoint.
Here's another example: A girl named Melissa is our student of the week. She told me that when she grows up she wants to be a policewoman. That's a pretty cool aspiration for a 6 year old girl! But when I told Ross this, I mentioned that she had such a sweet spirit, I thought she'd make a great teacher, nurse or a mom. Ross nodded and then stared at me as my face sank into a frown. In my mind, I was thinking about how great a mom Melissa would make, but how likely it was she'd be an unmarried, uneducated mom.
So all of this makes me really want to take those teachable moments and gently speak God's will into these kids lives. The first read-aloud book I read mentioned boyfriends and girlfriends very briefly. This led to a discussion of me telling the kids that they didn't need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend until they were ready to get married.
Now, maybe all of them will disregard my advice, but even if one is affected by the comment and makes healthy relationship choices, isn't it worth it?
After school, I talked for a while with two ladies on our 1st grade team. I haven't mentioned it much here before, but our team is so diverse and divisive. It breaks my heart, really... Three of us are young, energetic and flexible. Two are older, tired and set in their ways. You'd think the division would be between age, but it's not. The older ladies don't speak to each other- which is a wonderful model of professionalism (insert sarcastic grin here...) One of the young ones student taught under one of the older ones, so she doesn't talk to the other older one, either...
Everybody is nice to me, and I am nice to everyone else, but I just feel like everyone is looking at who I am being nice to and is judging me based on my niceness. Isn't that nice??
Oh, well. All of us (except the one older one) are a bit unnerved about the pace the principal and district expect us to take and are a little overwhelmed by the kids who can't (or won't) do much of anything.
Sometimes talking it through makes it seem more manageable and other times it feels more daunting. This afternoon tilted towards the daunting side...
Please pray for encouragement and unity. We need it!
Let's start with the fact that I have had a sore throat all weekend. I was really hoping it was simply sore from over-use. Yesterday morning, it hurt when I woke up, but gradually hurt less as the day went on. This morning, I woke up with a sore throat and congested head. Great... My illness seemed to change in its intensity as the day went on. One point this morning, I was almost crying my eyes were watering so bad... then at lunch, I step into the cafeteria's kitchen and feel like I'm going to puke... then at about 1:00 I can't get my nose to stop running. At the time of writing, I am okay- but heaven only knows what 5:00 will look like...
I actually felt more like a real teacher today and less like a mom, a babysitter or a drill sergeant. It's nice to know that you are actually teaching the kids something and not just managing them.
In science, we talked about living and nonliving things. Our textbook discussed the fact that living things can create more living things... aka make babies. This lead to a lively discussion on reproduction. When one boy asked where babies came from (the same boy who earlier told me we all come from eggs) I hesitated- because I wanted to give him an answer that respected his family's input in the matter and yet gently portrayed a moral viewpoint.
Here's another example: A girl named Melissa is our student of the week. She told me that when she grows up she wants to be a policewoman. That's a pretty cool aspiration for a 6 year old girl! But when I told Ross this, I mentioned that she had such a sweet spirit, I thought she'd make a great teacher, nurse or a mom. Ross nodded and then stared at me as my face sank into a frown. In my mind, I was thinking about how great a mom Melissa would make, but how likely it was she'd be an unmarried, uneducated mom.
So all of this makes me really want to take those teachable moments and gently speak God's will into these kids lives. The first read-aloud book I read mentioned boyfriends and girlfriends very briefly. This led to a discussion of me telling the kids that they didn't need to have a boyfriend or girlfriend until they were ready to get married.
Now, maybe all of them will disregard my advice, but even if one is affected by the comment and makes healthy relationship choices, isn't it worth it?
After school, I talked for a while with two ladies on our 1st grade team. I haven't mentioned it much here before, but our team is so diverse and divisive. It breaks my heart, really... Three of us are young, energetic and flexible. Two are older, tired and set in their ways. You'd think the division would be between age, but it's not. The older ladies don't speak to each other- which is a wonderful model of professionalism (insert sarcastic grin here...) One of the young ones student taught under one of the older ones, so she doesn't talk to the other older one, either...
Everybody is nice to me, and I am nice to everyone else, but I just feel like everyone is looking at who I am being nice to and is judging me based on my niceness. Isn't that nice??
Oh, well. All of us (except the one older one) are a bit unnerved about the pace the principal and district expect us to take and are a little overwhelmed by the kids who can't (or won't) do much of anything.
Sometimes talking it through makes it seem more manageable and other times it feels more daunting. This afternoon tilted towards the daunting side...
Please pray for encouragement and unity. We need it!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Day 11
I had a new teacher meeting after school today- so I'm just getting home at 6:30. Ross is slicing vegetables for our dinner. Isn't he sweet?
I don't really feel like blogging right now- but wanted you to know that today was a good day and that I'm going back tomorrow.
Just in case you were worried : )
I don't really feel like blogging right now- but wanted you to know that today was a good day and that I'm going back tomorrow.
Just in case you were worried : )
Friday, August 22, 2008
An Overall Good Day
I am happy to report that today was a great day! Not without it's bumps of course, but overall I feel accomplished and successful. I feel confident, loved, and able. And all of that is wonderful to me.
Here are the highlights:
I gave my first spelling test this morning. I tell the kids my expectations, they repeat them back to me. We do this three times and 4 kids still get their papers ripped up for talking. But, I can guarantee you that next week no one will talk...
I lead my kids out to recess and the fire alarm goes off! I was probably the most panicked, but all of my kids managed to get out of the bathrooms, around the corner, and into a straight line with no trouble at all.
At recess, I'm talking to one of my sweet, bright and yet un-controlled boys. He looks at me funny and asks if I'm going to have a baby. I smile and say no. "Ever?" he asks. I reply yes, but not soon. He nods his head. "You just want one kid?" I smile at his appallment when I say I want four. Then he tells me that he knows where babies come from. "Really?" I ask. "Mmhmm. They come from eggs!" (At this point, I am praying he doesn't go on...) "Mommies go to the store and they buy eggs for babies to come out of, " he finished emphatically. I smile brightly while a girl says "You mean chicken babies." He turns his round head and says, "Nope baby babies." I smiled as I walked away.
This week one of my dear Luis's (not the one with the screaming mother...) was our Student of the Week. As a special treat, I ate lunch with him in our classroom. He felt so special. In the lunch line he told me he would wait outside the door for me. When I met up with him he had the biggest smile and a plate of chicken nuggets and ketchup. We walked down the hall and he just kept smiling at anybody we passed. We ate at my little U shaped table in the back of the room and he talked to me about his family and about how much he likes chicken and ketchup.
After lunch, I notice that I am missing two of my slow eaters. We had gotten to lunch late (totally my fault...) so I wonder if they are still in the cafeteria or just making their way back. I call the front of office and explain my dilemma. One little girl finds us on her own, by my little boy is still lost. Ten minutes later he is standing at my door with an office aid, his eyes bloodshot from tears. He had been running into the bathroom, through the door to the hall, down the hall, back outside and back into the bathroom. While doing these laps, he missed the fact that we had come inside....
In the afternoon the kids went to music and then came back for special science observation centers. They had fun tasting marshmallows, listening to a triangle, feeling cotton balls and smelling cilantro. I look forward to doing centers with them again.
Today was my first pay day and you can bet that my check has already been deposited. I'm certainly not in this for the money, but it is nice to get some sort of compensation : )
I'm ready and excited for a weekend of relaxation- and planning- but mostly relaxation. Thanks for hanging in there with me this week. Ten days down- 170 to go : )
Here are the highlights:
I gave my first spelling test this morning. I tell the kids my expectations, they repeat them back to me. We do this three times and 4 kids still get their papers ripped up for talking. But, I can guarantee you that next week no one will talk...
I lead my kids out to recess and the fire alarm goes off! I was probably the most panicked, but all of my kids managed to get out of the bathrooms, around the corner, and into a straight line with no trouble at all.
At recess, I'm talking to one of my sweet, bright and yet un-controlled boys. He looks at me funny and asks if I'm going to have a baby. I smile and say no. "Ever?" he asks. I reply yes, but not soon. He nods his head. "You just want one kid?" I smile at his appallment when I say I want four. Then he tells me that he knows where babies come from. "Really?" I ask. "Mmhmm. They come from eggs!" (At this point, I am praying he doesn't go on...) "Mommies go to the store and they buy eggs for babies to come out of, " he finished emphatically. I smile brightly while a girl says "You mean chicken babies." He turns his round head and says, "Nope baby babies." I smiled as I walked away.
This week one of my dear Luis's (not the one with the screaming mother...) was our Student of the Week. As a special treat, I ate lunch with him in our classroom. He felt so special. In the lunch line he told me he would wait outside the door for me. When I met up with him he had the biggest smile and a plate of chicken nuggets and ketchup. We walked down the hall and he just kept smiling at anybody we passed. We ate at my little U shaped table in the back of the room and he talked to me about his family and about how much he likes chicken and ketchup.
After lunch, I notice that I am missing two of my slow eaters. We had gotten to lunch late (totally my fault...) so I wonder if they are still in the cafeteria or just making their way back. I call the front of office and explain my dilemma. One little girl finds us on her own, by my little boy is still lost. Ten minutes later he is standing at my door with an office aid, his eyes bloodshot from tears. He had been running into the bathroom, through the door to the hall, down the hall, back outside and back into the bathroom. While doing these laps, he missed the fact that we had come inside....
In the afternoon the kids went to music and then came back for special science observation centers. They had fun tasting marshmallows, listening to a triangle, feeling cotton balls and smelling cilantro. I look forward to doing centers with them again.
Today was my first pay day and you can bet that my check has already been deposited. I'm certainly not in this for the money, but it is nice to get some sort of compensation : )
I'm ready and excited for a weekend of relaxation- and planning- but mostly relaxation. Thanks for hanging in there with me this week. Ten days down- 170 to go : )
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Up and Down and Up and Down
Last night, I fell asleep on the couch at 8:30. At ten o'clock Ross woke me up and guided me to the shower. And then I went to bed. And when I woke up, I was still exhausted. Go figure.
My attitude was better this morning, partially because I was looking forward to our prayer meeting. It is so nice to have a Christian community on campus. Debra- the lady who hosts the meeting- is such an on-fire and alive woman. Her joy is so contagious. I thank God again and again for her : )
After that, I headed to my classroom. When I got there, the door was open and a man was on a ladder peeking into the rafters of my room. Turns out he was there to fix the air conditioning. He asked me when the students came and I told him 15 minutes. He said okay and got to work. 15 minutes later, the ladder is still up and I have to go pick up my kids. I greet them and debrief them on the ladder and how we need to act safely in our classroom. When we enter, the ladder is gone...
The kids get unpacked and start eating breakfast. Suddenly, the principal has let herself into my room. She asks if I would like to move out of our room, because the air will not start working for several hours. I go over all the logistics in my head, remember going to Mr. Dunger's room with kids all over the floor and say that I really think it would be better for us to just stay where we are. She frowns, and insists that the second I change my mind I call the head secretary and alert her of our new location. I half-smile and send her on her way.
The kids and I get started on reading and writing when the a/c man is suddenly back in our classroom. He says that he needs us out. That he is not finished and that he can not work with us in the room. I sigh a big sigh and ask if he can wait 20 minutes so that I can pack and the kids can go to recess. He says yes.
I very quickly come up with an independent project for the students to do and begin packing our things. Not knowing how long we will be gone, I take everything. Science and social studies big books-math packets-spelling transparencies and practice tests. I run around the room giving students masking tape to label their pencil boxes, then throw all of them into a crate (the pencil boxes, not the children... ) It was crazy.
While the kids are at recess, I am lugging all of this stuff up the stairs and into our Gifted Resource room. By this time, I am disgustingly sweaty. It turns out that our a/c got hotter before it got colder.
So after recess my kids are lined up and we talk about how we properly walk up the staircase. Then we go up the stairs and into our "new" classroom. Nothing terribly eventful happened during that time, I just kept thinking that I was too new of a teacher to be expected this kind of spontaneous teaching : )
Lunch comes around. I have a meeting with our Program Coach about my two special boys. She says one is due for a reevaluation (which is good) and the other was just evaluated and is fine. I frown and tell her that I would not use that word to describe him. I feel like I have a task in front of me regarding this child. He is certainly not fine... After our meeting, the Program Coach offers me chocolate. She tells me to take "as much as you need." : )
With ten minutes of lunch left, I run to the restroom and then into my classroom to grab some paperwork. Hey, it's actually cold in here! I run upstairs, grab the big books and lesson plans, run to pick the kids up off the playground, go over the stairs routine again, lead them upstairs, they grab their pencil boxes and we walk back down the stairs to our room. All for the sake of consistency, and my sanity.
The afternoon progressed well with an effective math lesson and an introductory social studies lesson. In SS we talked about rules and laws, communities and citizens, and voting. I explained to the children that voting is very important. That soon adults will be able to vote for the next president of the United States and that we will be voting in our classrooms, too. Four of my African American students get excited and say "Mmhmm. I'm gonna vote for Barack Obama." And one little boy says that there are places people can't vote- like China. My goodness, my kids are actually pretty politically aware. (Don't tell Ross...)
So today was a chaotic success. Tomorrow should be interesting with Science Observation Centers in the afternoon. My mom, a parent volunteer and Mr. Dunger are all coming to help students use their senses to learn more about the world around them. You can pray about that, if you'd like : )
My attitude was better this morning, partially because I was looking forward to our prayer meeting. It is so nice to have a Christian community on campus. Debra- the lady who hosts the meeting- is such an on-fire and alive woman. Her joy is so contagious. I thank God again and again for her : )
After that, I headed to my classroom. When I got there, the door was open and a man was on a ladder peeking into the rafters of my room. Turns out he was there to fix the air conditioning. He asked me when the students came and I told him 15 minutes. He said okay and got to work. 15 minutes later, the ladder is still up and I have to go pick up my kids. I greet them and debrief them on the ladder and how we need to act safely in our classroom. When we enter, the ladder is gone...
The kids get unpacked and start eating breakfast. Suddenly, the principal has let herself into my room. She asks if I would like to move out of our room, because the air will not start working for several hours. I go over all the logistics in my head, remember going to Mr. Dunger's room with kids all over the floor and say that I really think it would be better for us to just stay where we are. She frowns, and insists that the second I change my mind I call the head secretary and alert her of our new location. I half-smile and send her on her way.
The kids and I get started on reading and writing when the a/c man is suddenly back in our classroom. He says that he needs us out. That he is not finished and that he can not work with us in the room. I sigh a big sigh and ask if he can wait 20 minutes so that I can pack and the kids can go to recess. He says yes.
I very quickly come up with an independent project for the students to do and begin packing our things. Not knowing how long we will be gone, I take everything. Science and social studies big books-math packets-spelling transparencies and practice tests. I run around the room giving students masking tape to label their pencil boxes, then throw all of them into a crate (the pencil boxes, not the children... ) It was crazy.
While the kids are at recess, I am lugging all of this stuff up the stairs and into our Gifted Resource room. By this time, I am disgustingly sweaty. It turns out that our a/c got hotter before it got colder.
So after recess my kids are lined up and we talk about how we properly walk up the staircase. Then we go up the stairs and into our "new" classroom. Nothing terribly eventful happened during that time, I just kept thinking that I was too new of a teacher to be expected this kind of spontaneous teaching : )
Lunch comes around. I have a meeting with our Program Coach about my two special boys. She says one is due for a reevaluation (which is good) and the other was just evaluated and is fine. I frown and tell her that I would not use that word to describe him. I feel like I have a task in front of me regarding this child. He is certainly not fine... After our meeting, the Program Coach offers me chocolate. She tells me to take "as much as you need." : )
With ten minutes of lunch left, I run to the restroom and then into my classroom to grab some paperwork. Hey, it's actually cold in here! I run upstairs, grab the big books and lesson plans, run to pick the kids up off the playground, go over the stairs routine again, lead them upstairs, they grab their pencil boxes and we walk back down the stairs to our room. All for the sake of consistency, and my sanity.
The afternoon progressed well with an effective math lesson and an introductory social studies lesson. In SS we talked about rules and laws, communities and citizens, and voting. I explained to the children that voting is very important. That soon adults will be able to vote for the next president of the United States and that we will be voting in our classrooms, too. Four of my African American students get excited and say "Mmhmm. I'm gonna vote for Barack Obama." And one little boy says that there are places people can't vote- like China. My goodness, my kids are actually pretty politically aware. (Don't tell Ross...)
So today was a chaotic success. Tomorrow should be interesting with Science Observation Centers in the afternoon. My mom, a parent volunteer and Mr. Dunger are all coming to help students use their senses to learn more about the world around them. You can pray about that, if you'd like : )
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mental Stamina and Soggy Cereal
We've been watching the Olympics a lot at the Gentle household. We watch gymmastics, swimming, diving, running, all kinds of sports. And the commentators are all saying the same thing. "They're such great mental athletes... It's cause of their mental stamina that they can win" et cetera... et cetera. A week ago I told Ross that Michael Phelps had nothing on me when it came to mental stamina. This morning, I proved myself right.
I did not want to get out of bed. I wasn't too tired or ill- I just didn't want to go back to school. Really- I had a horrible attitude and then I felt bad about my horrible attitude. I actually started tearing up. I didn't want to go to that hot classroom to try to manhandle 22 6-year-olds. I just didn't have it in me.
So my dear husband told me that I was a wonderful teacher, that the kids desperately needed me, and that I shouldn't be afraid. When that didn't work, he yelled "Get your butt out of bed!" So I did and I mentally "got in the game", went to school and orderly handled 20 6-year-olds for approximately 6 hours.
Today was better than yesterday by a whole bunch. I talked with Julie- one of the younger 1st grade teachers- and told her that I just couldn't handle the pace our other colleague was taking. Julie assured me that that was okay and that I needed to do what was best for me and my class. I can't tell you how liberating that statement was. Today was much better because of it.
My kids are still getting used to school mode by constantly asking me what time it is and when the next "fun" thing is going to happen. After breakfast, they want to know about recess. After recess, they're eager for lunch. After lunch, they can't wait to go home. I get them to behave until P.E.- but when they come back from that with a whole extra hour of instruction, they melt down and suddenly become 2 year olds.
I walked into the P.E. room where Mr. Luna (another 1st year teacher) is trying to get them to line up. Everyone is yelling- one boy is on the floor crying- one boy is bopping other boys on the head with his fist-- it was bad (humorous, when it's not you in charge, but still bad...) I scolded the children in front of Mr. Luna and then back in our classroom, but they were still crazy.
At the very end of the day, after everyone was packed up, I wrote 4 notes home because the children were talking as I was trying to give final instructions. That got everyone to shape up and be quiet. Finally- at 1:58!!
Oh well. I keep telling myself that if I am firm and consistent now that later they will be trained. I just can't let up....
One more story: This morning I was distributing breakfast when the class became suddenly quiet. Being the positive reinforcer that I am, I start praising my children for how "nicely and quietly they are eating breakfast." A little girl comes to me and pats me on the arm to say that a boy had an accident. Then there's a parent at my classroom door. I quickly greet the parent, turn to the child with the "accident" and see that this student has, somehow, dropped his entire bowl of cereal into his lap. There is milk and soggy Kix everywhere- on the desk, in his lap, on the chair, on the floor. What do you do at that point but laugh??
I did not want to get out of bed. I wasn't too tired or ill- I just didn't want to go back to school. Really- I had a horrible attitude and then I felt bad about my horrible attitude. I actually started tearing up. I didn't want to go to that hot classroom to try to manhandle 22 6-year-olds. I just didn't have it in me.
So my dear husband told me that I was a wonderful teacher, that the kids desperately needed me, and that I shouldn't be afraid. When that didn't work, he yelled "Get your butt out of bed!" So I did and I mentally "got in the game", went to school and orderly handled 20 6-year-olds for approximately 6 hours.
Today was better than yesterday by a whole bunch. I talked with Julie- one of the younger 1st grade teachers- and told her that I just couldn't handle the pace our other colleague was taking. Julie assured me that that was okay and that I needed to do what was best for me and my class. I can't tell you how liberating that statement was. Today was much better because of it.
My kids are still getting used to school mode by constantly asking me what time it is and when the next "fun" thing is going to happen. After breakfast, they want to know about recess. After recess, they're eager for lunch. After lunch, they can't wait to go home. I get them to behave until P.E.- but when they come back from that with a whole extra hour of instruction, they melt down and suddenly become 2 year olds.
I walked into the P.E. room where Mr. Luna (another 1st year teacher) is trying to get them to line up. Everyone is yelling- one boy is on the floor crying- one boy is bopping other boys on the head with his fist-- it was bad (humorous, when it's not you in charge, but still bad...) I scolded the children in front of Mr. Luna and then back in our classroom, but they were still crazy.
At the very end of the day, after everyone was packed up, I wrote 4 notes home because the children were talking as I was trying to give final instructions. That got everyone to shape up and be quiet. Finally- at 1:58!!
Oh well. I keep telling myself that if I am firm and consistent now that later they will be trained. I just can't let up....
One more story: This morning I was distributing breakfast when the class became suddenly quiet. Being the positive reinforcer that I am, I start praising my children for how "nicely and quietly they are eating breakfast." A little girl comes to me and pats me on the arm to say that a boy had an accident. Then there's a parent at my classroom door. I quickly greet the parent, turn to the child with the "accident" and see that this student has, somehow, dropped his entire bowl of cereal into his lap. There is milk and soggy Kix everywhere- on the desk, in his lap, on the chair, on the floor. What do you do at that point but laugh??
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
German Chocolate and Mr. Dunger
I neglected to tell you last Tuesday that when I came home, I helped myself to a rather large slice of Marie Callender's German Chocolate pie. Although it gave me a terrible tummy ache, I must say it did much for my mood : ) To summarize how today went: I'm sorry we don't have more German Chocolate pie...
My mornings always begin well because I am eager and refreshed and I read a fabulous teachers' devotional along with scripture passages I look up from biblegateway.com. Every Christian teacher (well, really, every teacher...) should start their day in the Word. If I didn't, heaven knows what would happen in the first ten minutes...
I was determined this morning to get my core reading teaching done in 45 minutes- because next week I will have to have it done in that time. I'm sorry that I tried it today. I felt like I was blowing the material past half the kids. I think an hour would be just about right.
Then, I dug into the Reading Pre-Test. This is a miracle- the kids and I finished it! 50 bubble-in questions read-aloud to 22 first graders completed in chunks equalling 1.5 hours of instruction. And most of the kids were on-task the entire time. That's a long time to bubble in! I'm not quite sure how God got us through that one : )
So, by lunch, we're pretty tired, all 23 of us, as you can understand. We were the last ones to lunch, too. Which sucks! (Excuse my language, that word is not allowed in my classroom, but sometimes it's the only word that accurately describes the situation...) As the kids are still getting used to the cafeteria routine and punching in their 6 digit cafeteria code (even 1st graders are having to go cashless...) I have to stay until ALL of them go through the line. Finally, I get my own lunch, go to my classroom, look at my food and just wish that I could have an hour off to eat it and take a nap...
I pick my kids up from recess and they all want to know when they can go home... I want to tell them right now. Then for some reason, I must have been secretly very brave, we migrated out of our 87 degree classroom to the band room for 1 1/2 hours. I knew that if I stayed in that hot classroom anymore I'd die, so we went ahead and carried our little pretests, pencil boxes and journals to Mr. Dunger's room.
Overall the kids did well. They wouldn't have been any more rambunctious in my room- and the change of scenery was probably good for them. Mr. Dunger, however, was an angel. He is also a first year teacher. When I asked the kids to use their journals to write on, he appears with clipboards. When I tell the children I will give them an example for their journals, he's erasing the whiteboard and bringing out the "best" markers. When we are getting ready to leave and I haven't had a moment to myself for the past two hours, he asks if I need to use the restroom. All I can say is "God bless Mr. Dunger!" We may travel to his room tomorrow afternoon. It doesn't look like the a/c will be fixed anytime soon. Today God provided Mr. Dunger. Tomorrow He will provide, too : )
I'm still having issues with my two boys. I need to be careful for confidentiality reasons not to reveal too much. Just pray for self-control and feelings of value for both of them.
You know how your mom (or you, if you're the mom...) would get upset sometimes and start crying because she didn't want to tell you no anymore. She didn't want to be on you all the time. That's kind of how I feel with some of my kids. I feel like I have to be on them all the time- like I'm the only person in world who expects them to sit still or listen when others are talking. And I don't want to nag them anymore. Please pray that I would have perseverance in my discipline and that the kids would learn to be disciplined...
Some of you have asked how I can manage to blog after all of this adventure. I don't know if I could go on if I didn't have an outlet like this... I'm tired now, but think I'll try exercising a bit (wait, wasn't the last 8 hours of your day exercise?). It's a better choice that pie : )
My mornings always begin well because I am eager and refreshed and I read a fabulous teachers' devotional along with scripture passages I look up from biblegateway.com. Every Christian teacher (well, really, every teacher...) should start their day in the Word. If I didn't, heaven knows what would happen in the first ten minutes...
I was determined this morning to get my core reading teaching done in 45 minutes- because next week I will have to have it done in that time. I'm sorry that I tried it today. I felt like I was blowing the material past half the kids. I think an hour would be just about right.
Then, I dug into the Reading Pre-Test. This is a miracle- the kids and I finished it! 50 bubble-in questions read-aloud to 22 first graders completed in chunks equalling 1.5 hours of instruction. And most of the kids were on-task the entire time. That's a long time to bubble in! I'm not quite sure how God got us through that one : )
So, by lunch, we're pretty tired, all 23 of us, as you can understand. We were the last ones to lunch, too. Which sucks! (Excuse my language, that word is not allowed in my classroom, but sometimes it's the only word that accurately describes the situation...) As the kids are still getting used to the cafeteria routine and punching in their 6 digit cafeteria code (even 1st graders are having to go cashless...) I have to stay until ALL of them go through the line. Finally, I get my own lunch, go to my classroom, look at my food and just wish that I could have an hour off to eat it and take a nap...
I pick my kids up from recess and they all want to know when they can go home... I want to tell them right now. Then for some reason, I must have been secretly very brave, we migrated out of our 87 degree classroom to the band room for 1 1/2 hours. I knew that if I stayed in that hot classroom anymore I'd die, so we went ahead and carried our little pretests, pencil boxes and journals to Mr. Dunger's room.
Overall the kids did well. They wouldn't have been any more rambunctious in my room- and the change of scenery was probably good for them. Mr. Dunger, however, was an angel. He is also a first year teacher. When I asked the kids to use their journals to write on, he appears with clipboards. When I tell the children I will give them an example for their journals, he's erasing the whiteboard and bringing out the "best" markers. When we are getting ready to leave and I haven't had a moment to myself for the past two hours, he asks if I need to use the restroom. All I can say is "God bless Mr. Dunger!" We may travel to his room tomorrow afternoon. It doesn't look like the a/c will be fixed anytime soon. Today God provided Mr. Dunger. Tomorrow He will provide, too : )
I'm still having issues with my two boys. I need to be careful for confidentiality reasons not to reveal too much. Just pray for self-control and feelings of value for both of them.
You know how your mom (or you, if you're the mom...) would get upset sometimes and start crying because she didn't want to tell you no anymore. She didn't want to be on you all the time. That's kind of how I feel with some of my kids. I feel like I have to be on them all the time- like I'm the only person in world who expects them to sit still or listen when others are talking. And I don't want to nag them anymore. Please pray that I would have perseverance in my discipline and that the kids would learn to be disciplined...
Some of you have asked how I can manage to blog after all of this adventure. I don't know if I could go on if I didn't have an outlet like this... I'm tired now, but think I'll try exercising a bit (wait, wasn't the last 8 hours of your day exercise?). It's a better choice that pie : )
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday... Monday...
Today was somewhere between fabulous and crazy...
This morning we worked hard on phonics, word building, introducing our reading books, and echo reading. The kids did very well. After lunch, however, they just get really antsy to go home. I must admit that I can not blame them...
I had a special today- Art with Mr. Luna. His room has been taken over so he was going to come teach art in my classroom. All my specials start at 12:15- so when 12:30 rolled around, he wasn't there, and I was scrambling to keep my kids busy... I called the front office. Mr. Luna was paged and was in our room by 12:35. He apologized and said that one schedule says he comes at 12:15 and one says he comes at 1:00. He agreed to stay longer if I could run to the office and make sure he didn't need to be somewhere else at 1:00.
I run up front and, low and behold, I am scheduled from 1:00-1:4o- my schedule said that and I just ASSUMED all of my schedules were at the same time. It worked out that he could come at 12:30 because he was supposed to teach kindergarten at that time, but they are still going home early.
Long story short- I read the schedule wrong, but there was, yet again, a compassionate person working with me : )
After art, we celebrated one boy's birthday. He is just now turning six. This explains a lot in regards to his behavior/maturity/wigglyness, etc....
Dismissal for my class was fine. Everyone knew where they were going and how to get there. I was on bus bay duty (which is CRAZY!) and encountered a boy who did not know his bus number. The boy and I quickly walked to the office, found his number, and quickly walked back. On the way, the boy stepped right on my shoe and broke a strap on it. This is what happens when you work with six-year-olds...
Broken shoes...Excited faces...Bear hugs..."You're the best teacher ever"comments and tattle telling.... In the end, it's actually a very good job : )
Prayer Requests: The air is still not working! The principal is now aware of others who are having the same problem. Please pray that it would all be fixed promptly. I'm also feeling a little stress in regards to getting all my academics in. One teacher is already giving her first math test! I was hoping to start math tomorrow. They would like us to be on the same page in every subject so we can compare test scores, graphs, charts, etc, etc.... Our first grade team is very diverse in every way possible. Please pray that we would have unity in regards to our pacing and our goals and that we would be kind and graceful to those who work differently than we do.
Thanks!
This morning we worked hard on phonics, word building, introducing our reading books, and echo reading. The kids did very well. After lunch, however, they just get really antsy to go home. I must admit that I can not blame them...
I had a special today- Art with Mr. Luna. His room has been taken over so he was going to come teach art in my classroom. All my specials start at 12:15- so when 12:30 rolled around, he wasn't there, and I was scrambling to keep my kids busy... I called the front office. Mr. Luna was paged and was in our room by 12:35. He apologized and said that one schedule says he comes at 12:15 and one says he comes at 1:00. He agreed to stay longer if I could run to the office and make sure he didn't need to be somewhere else at 1:00.
I run up front and, low and behold, I am scheduled from 1:00-1:4o- my schedule said that and I just ASSUMED all of my schedules were at the same time. It worked out that he could come at 12:30 because he was supposed to teach kindergarten at that time, but they are still going home early.
Long story short- I read the schedule wrong, but there was, yet again, a compassionate person working with me : )
After art, we celebrated one boy's birthday. He is just now turning six. This explains a lot in regards to his behavior/maturity/wigglyness, etc....
Dismissal for my class was fine. Everyone knew where they were going and how to get there. I was on bus bay duty (which is CRAZY!) and encountered a boy who did not know his bus number. The boy and I quickly walked to the office, found his number, and quickly walked back. On the way, the boy stepped right on my shoe and broke a strap on it. This is what happens when you work with six-year-olds...
Broken shoes...Excited faces...Bear hugs..."You're the best teacher ever"comments and tattle telling.... In the end, it's actually a very good job : )
Prayer Requests: The air is still not working! The principal is now aware of others who are having the same problem. Please pray that it would all be fixed promptly. I'm also feeling a little stress in regards to getting all my academics in. One teacher is already giving her first math test! I was hoping to start math tomorrow. They would like us to be on the same page in every subject so we can compare test scores, graphs, charts, etc, etc.... Our first grade team is very diverse in every way possible. Please pray that we would have unity in regards to our pacing and our goals and that we would be kind and graceful to those who work differently than we do.
Thanks!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Children's Books
Last summer I began a new adventure of falling in love with children's books. Not picture books, exactly, (although those are wonderful, too) but middle-school-geared chapter books.
I love them because, if well written, they have deep, meaningful themes, characters that you can admire and feel for and you walk away from them feeling like a better person. Unlike most adult-geared books, they steer clear from anything dirty, suggestive or crude. And that is so refreshing to me. Just think, a piece of literary art that doesn't include a swear word or scandal. It's a beautiful thing... Oh, and one more benefit, many can be finished in just one afternoon.
Yesterday, after lesson writing and laundry, I dove into Edward's Eyes a book by Patricia MacLachlan. It's so short that if I were to give you a synopsis, I would give the entire book away. I'm just going to say that you need to read it. It will make you a better person : )
I love her books and would highly suggest: Sarah, Plain and Tall (the Newberry winner for my year of birth) Journey, Baby, or Seven Kisses in a Row. I'm reading Seven Kisses in a Row to my first graders during the "after lunch recess cool down" and they are loving it.
I'm sure you will love it as well : )
I love them because, if well written, they have deep, meaningful themes, characters that you can admire and feel for and you walk away from them feeling like a better person. Unlike most adult-geared books, they steer clear from anything dirty, suggestive or crude. And that is so refreshing to me. Just think, a piece of literary art that doesn't include a swear word or scandal. It's a beautiful thing... Oh, and one more benefit, many can be finished in just one afternoon.
Yesterday, after lesson writing and laundry, I dove into Edward's Eyes a book by Patricia MacLachlan. It's so short that if I were to give you a synopsis, I would give the entire book away. I'm just going to say that you need to read it. It will make you a better person : )
I love her books and would highly suggest: Sarah, Plain and Tall (the Newberry winner for my year of birth) Journey, Baby, or Seven Kisses in a Row. I'm reading Seven Kisses in a Row to my first graders during the "after lunch recess cool down" and they are loving it.
I'm sure you will love it as well : )
Lesson Plans and Grocery Lists
So on Friday I asked for prayer in regards to lesson plan writing. I must now say thank you to everyone who faithfully lifted that need up and to the One who is always faithful.
Yesterday I spent a good three hours developing a system that I am confident will work in a) keeping me on schedule b) pleasing my principal by outlining standards, objectives, and kid-friendly objectives and c) be helpful and readable if the need for an emergency sub ever arises.
My plans also make me feel great about this upcoming week. We are going to venture into the academic field a bit- introducing science and social studies, sending home our first spelling list and working on short vowel /a/. It should be exciting : )
While working on plans, I also did 3 loads of laundry, washed plenty of dishes, changed the bedsheets and nurtured a semi-sick husband. This weekend went well and gave me confidence, but it's hard to not be anxious about managing a whole classroom as well as a newly-wed house.
Please pray that I would find the right balance between school and life- that Ross and I would have quality time together and that our home would be a place of love and rejuvenation, that we would be strengthened and supported here, so that we can be effective in the academic and rocket science worlds : )
Yesterday I spent a good three hours developing a system that I am confident will work in a) keeping me on schedule b) pleasing my principal by outlining standards, objectives, and kid-friendly objectives and c) be helpful and readable if the need for an emergency sub ever arises.
My plans also make me feel great about this upcoming week. We are going to venture into the academic field a bit- introducing science and social studies, sending home our first spelling list and working on short vowel /a/. It should be exciting : )
While working on plans, I also did 3 loads of laundry, washed plenty of dishes, changed the bedsheets and nurtured a semi-sick husband. This weekend went well and gave me confidence, but it's hard to not be anxious about managing a whole classroom as well as a newly-wed house.
Please pray that I would find the right balance between school and life- that Ross and I would have quality time together and that our home would be a place of love and rejuvenation, that we would be strengthened and supported here, so that we can be effective in the academic and rocket science worlds : )
From E-mail to Blog
So last week was my first week as a real teacher. There were so many memorable moments that just had to be shared, that I started sending out daily e-mail updates. The responses were so fun and so completely encouraging that I had to continue them : )
Many people (including Ross) suggested that I get a blog. So, here we are. I have posted my five e-mails from last week, so everyone will be up to date and my blog complete. I encourage you to continue responding to what I write (you don't have to be a blogger to leave one...) Your words of encouragement and wisdom are desperately needed!
I probably will include a few random things other than teaching as well. But everything will centralize around me as a brand new teacher.
Here we go! And as always, thanks again for hanging on to this wild ride!
Many people (including Ross) suggested that I get a blog. So, here we are. I have posted my five e-mails from last week, so everyone will be up to date and my blog complete. I encourage you to continue responding to what I write (you don't have to be a blogger to leave one...) Your words of encouragement and wisdom are desperately needed!
I probably will include a few random things other than teaching as well. But everything will centralize around me as a brand new teacher.
Here we go! And as always, thanks again for hanging on to this wild ride!
My First Friday
Oh, dear. I am sooooo tired! I guess it is 9:47- but I just took an hour long nap on the couch. This teaching stuff is tiring : )
My day today was exciting, to say the least. At about 9:00 we had our first fire drill of the year. My kids did great - and I mean fabulous. I wanted to reward them for doing so well, so I let them all pick something out of my prize box. Oh, dear. That only took 20 minutes- and a few fights over who was getting what and 18 bored kids while 4 chose what they wanted....
Mom and Dad came today to help with art projects and meet the kids, oh, and bring ice cream. I made the mistake of telling the kids all this yesterday, so I got plenty of "When do we eat ice cream?" "When is your mom coming?" "Who's at the door? Is that your mom?" The kids had fun and made some very cute things for our hallway and for their moms, but I wore out my family, too : )
Please continue praying for my two special boys. It was nice to have my parents there to affirm my thoughts about them. It looks like I'm going to have to pursue outside help with them (Child Study Teams and such...) I also made my first parent phone call today as I sent one of my kids to another teacher's room because of his behavior and she sent him to the office. (I'm thankful for her help and assertiveness...) I'm pretty sure the mother's first language is NOT English. I was talking about behavior and she kept talking about his IEP. I feel like this will be a challenging situation...
A lady from the district office stopped in to see "Mr. Gentle" after school today (people don't know what to do with my legal name Dru Gentle...) She walked into my room and immediately began complaining about the "105 degree weather." She insisted that I insist on switching rooms (doesn't that just sound complicated to you- to move 22 6 year olds????) It turns out that when she left my room she spoke with the principal- who lovingly scolded me for not telling her. She wants me to relocate on Monday (again, doesn't that sound difficult??) Please pray that it is fixed and that it won't come to that : )
What else to tell you?? I have tons of plans to write and rewrite for next week. Please pray that I have wisdom and discernment in regards to what I should do next week and how long it will take.
Thanks again for your support and love. I need 'um!
Love,
Dru Gentle (that's Mrs. Gentle to you : )
P.S. The principal and secretaries had a JOYOUS time telling my mom and dad the Luis story. I am happy to say that I had a tummy ache from belly laughing... It really is a funny story : )
My day today was exciting, to say the least. At about 9:00 we had our first fire drill of the year. My kids did great - and I mean fabulous. I wanted to reward them for doing so well, so I let them all pick something out of my prize box. Oh, dear. That only took 20 minutes- and a few fights over who was getting what and 18 bored kids while 4 chose what they wanted....
Mom and Dad came today to help with art projects and meet the kids, oh, and bring ice cream. I made the mistake of telling the kids all this yesterday, so I got plenty of "When do we eat ice cream?" "When is your mom coming?" "Who's at the door? Is that your mom?" The kids had fun and made some very cute things for our hallway and for their moms, but I wore out my family, too : )
Please continue praying for my two special boys. It was nice to have my parents there to affirm my thoughts about them. It looks like I'm going to have to pursue outside help with them (Child Study Teams and such...) I also made my first parent phone call today as I sent one of my kids to another teacher's room because of his behavior and she sent him to the office. (I'm thankful for her help and assertiveness...) I'm pretty sure the mother's first language is NOT English. I was talking about behavior and she kept talking about his IEP. I feel like this will be a challenging situation...
A lady from the district office stopped in to see "Mr. Gentle" after school today (people don't know what to do with my legal name Dru Gentle...) She walked into my room and immediately began complaining about the "105 degree weather." She insisted that I insist on switching rooms (doesn't that just sound complicated to you- to move 22 6 year olds????) It turns out that when she left my room she spoke with the principal- who lovingly scolded me for not telling her. She wants me to relocate on Monday (again, doesn't that sound difficult??) Please pray that it is fixed and that it won't come to that : )
What else to tell you?? I have tons of plans to write and rewrite for next week. Please pray that I have wisdom and discernment in regards to what I should do next week and how long it will take.
Thanks again for your support and love. I need 'um!
Love,
Dru Gentle (that's Mrs. Gentle to you : )
P.S. The principal and secretaries had a JOYOUS time telling my mom and dad the Luis story. I am happy to say that I had a tummy ache from belly laughing... It really is a funny story : )
4th Day
Well, it seems like we are all settling in quite nicely : )
Today went well, especially in the morning. By the afternoon, they were eager to go home and get out of the heat... The air is still not working right : (
Oh, I met with Debra this morning. She's the Christian lady I prayed with earlier this week. Thursdays will be our set prayer meeting time. She is such a wonderful lady! We spent 20 minutes this morning praying for every teacher and staff person on campus. Today was certainly a blessed day for all! Debra also went through the list and showed me who all were believers on campus. There are so many! In 4th and 5th grade, 3 out of 4 teachers are. How blessed are those children? Please pray that God continues to use us in mighty ways.
My little boy who has developmental issues went to Resource for the first time today. I am eager to talk with that teacher and see what other interventions we can provide for him. I'm hoping that God has given her wisdom and insight into his situation : )
I had bus duty this afternoon, instead of Parent Pickup. Boy, is that a crazy duty! We were 3/4 of the way to the buses when a little girl starts screaming "Where are we going??" I told her to the bus bay and she started crying that her mother was supposed to pick her up. "How did you get in this line?" I asked. Seems like all of you are right, these little ones can get themselves lost pretty easily, too : )
I'm feeling very confident right now in my decision to become a teacher. I'm eager for the academics that we will dive into these next few weeks and for my abilities to teach and love children well. Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride : )
Much love,
Mrs. Gentle
P.S. After two weeks of driving to school and a couple random trips to the grocery store, my tripodometer (Ross says that's a real word..) reads 8.9 miles. Am I completely blessed or what?
Today went well, especially in the morning. By the afternoon, they were eager to go home and get out of the heat... The air is still not working right : (
Oh, I met with Debra this morning. She's the Christian lady I prayed with earlier this week. Thursdays will be our set prayer meeting time. She is such a wonderful lady! We spent 20 minutes this morning praying for every teacher and staff person on campus. Today was certainly a blessed day for all! Debra also went through the list and showed me who all were believers on campus. There are so many! In 4th and 5th grade, 3 out of 4 teachers are. How blessed are those children? Please pray that God continues to use us in mighty ways.
My little boy who has developmental issues went to Resource for the first time today. I am eager to talk with that teacher and see what other interventions we can provide for him. I'm hoping that God has given her wisdom and insight into his situation : )
I had bus duty this afternoon, instead of Parent Pickup. Boy, is that a crazy duty! We were 3/4 of the way to the buses when a little girl starts screaming "Where are we going??" I told her to the bus bay and she started crying that her mother was supposed to pick her up. "How did you get in this line?" I asked. Seems like all of you are right, these little ones can get themselves lost pretty easily, too : )
I'm feeling very confident right now in my decision to become a teacher. I'm eager for the academics that we will dive into these next few weeks and for my abilities to teach and love children well. Thanks for joining me on this crazy ride : )
Much love,
Mrs. Gentle
P.S. After two weeks of driving to school and a couple random trips to the grocery store, my tripodometer (Ross says that's a real word..) reads 8.9 miles. Am I completely blessed or what?
3rd Day
Hi all!
It is both comforting and yet slightly boring that each day is becoming less and less eventful : )
Today was good, even without my special. We got started on some academic material- naming letters and their sounds, practicing our handwriting and developing patterns with Unifix cubes.
My class is somewhat chatty, but overall very well behaved. We have some serious language hindrances, but everyone can speak some English, seems motivated and are willing to learn. I'm concerned most for my one child who has developmental delays. He can not sit still, so I have him in the back so he won't distract anyone, but he won't produce anything unless you are right next to him. Please pray that I won't forget about him and provide him the attention he needs.
Also- and this is a BIGGIE- the A/C in my classroom is not functioning properly. It must be at least 80 degrees in there all the time. The fan runs, but the air is not cool. It's sooooo hot outside and just icky and muggy in my room. It's actually refreshing to step out into the hallway... Please pray that it is fixed soon. It's very hard for kids (and teachers...) to stay on task when uncomfortable.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Always,
Mrs. Gentle : )
It is both comforting and yet slightly boring that each day is becoming less and less eventful : )
Today was good, even without my special. We got started on some academic material- naming letters and their sounds, practicing our handwriting and developing patterns with Unifix cubes.
My class is somewhat chatty, but overall very well behaved. We have some serious language hindrances, but everyone can speak some English, seems motivated and are willing to learn. I'm concerned most for my one child who has developmental delays. He can not sit still, so I have him in the back so he won't distract anyone, but he won't produce anything unless you are right next to him. Please pray that I won't forget about him and provide him the attention he needs.
Also- and this is a BIGGIE- the A/C in my classroom is not functioning properly. It must be at least 80 degrees in there all the time. The fan runs, but the air is not cool. It's sooooo hot outside and just icky and muggy in my room. It's actually refreshing to step out into the hallway... Please pray that it is fixed soon. It's very hard for kids (and teachers...) to stay on task when uncomfortable.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Always,
Mrs. Gentle : )
2nd Day
Hooray! Today went beautifully!!
First off- both Luis's came on the bus to school- properly labeled : ) and both came to my classroom. Both were on my class rosters so I kept them and taught them both all day. And they are both wonderful boys : ) Neither of them said a thing about yesterday and neither of them were afraid of or angry with me.
Secondly- my little boy who would not cooperate yesterday became a whole new child. Today he was eager and excited. Yesterday I could not get him to draw a thing, and today he kept coming over so I could see his pictures. Thank you for your prayers for this little boy. They made all the difference! This afternoon I took him aside and told him over and over again how great his behavior was- I wrote a nice note home to his mom and hope that he'll keep it up with all this encouragement : )
Before school started I met up with a Christian lady at school who asked that I come into her office for a minute. I did and she shared a situation with me that she wanted us to pray about. I told her about my situation yesterday and she prayed for both of us. It was a wonderful moment and I feel so blessed to know other Christian women on campus!
Yesterday was also difficult because I did not have a special. I only have them on days 2-4-6. That 40 minutes I had today was a wonderful time to get some housekeeping things done, reflect on the day and be still for just a moment : ) Please pray that tomorrow I would have peace, even without this small break.
Thanks to all of you who responded to yesterday's e-mail with encouraging words and thoughtfulness. I could not do what I am doing without the LORD's strength and without you all demonstrating His faithfulness. Thanks for loving me so well!
Much love to you!
Mrs. Gentle : )
First off- both Luis's came on the bus to school- properly labeled : ) and both came to my classroom. Both were on my class rosters so I kept them and taught them both all day. And they are both wonderful boys : ) Neither of them said a thing about yesterday and neither of them were afraid of or angry with me.
Secondly- my little boy who would not cooperate yesterday became a whole new child. Today he was eager and excited. Yesterday I could not get him to draw a thing, and today he kept coming over so I could see his pictures. Thank you for your prayers for this little boy. They made all the difference! This afternoon I took him aside and told him over and over again how great his behavior was- I wrote a nice note home to his mom and hope that he'll keep it up with all this encouragement : )
Before school started I met up with a Christian lady at school who asked that I come into her office for a minute. I did and she shared a situation with me that she wanted us to pray about. I told her about my situation yesterday and she prayed for both of us. It was a wonderful moment and I feel so blessed to know other Christian women on campus!
Yesterday was also difficult because I did not have a special. I only have them on days 2-4-6. That 40 minutes I had today was a wonderful time to get some housekeeping things done, reflect on the day and be still for just a moment : ) Please pray that tomorrow I would have peace, even without this small break.
Thanks to all of you who responded to yesterday's e-mail with encouraging words and thoughtfulness. I could not do what I am doing without the LORD's strength and without you all demonstrating His faithfulness. Thanks for loving me so well!
Much love to you!
Mrs. Gentle : )
1st Day in the 1st Grade...
Hi, everyone!
First off, I want to say thanks for all of your support, kindness and prayers. I needed it today : )
Overall, the day went really well. I have some very sweet kids and (almost) everyone seemed to enjoy their first day in the first grade. I have one child that did NOT want to be at school and their bad attitude was rather depressing. Towards the end of the day I figured out that the child has a bad self esteem. He kept telling me he didn't want to do what we were doing because he wasn't smart- because he couldn't do it. Please pray for his self-esteem.
I have another child who has some developmental self-control issues. He can not sit still and shouts out a lot. Please pray that the Spirit would give him self-control and that I would have wisdom in helping him move along developmentally.
Lastly- the worst part of my day : ) I have two boys named Luis in my class. Both of them came to school by bus, so I did not meet either of their parents. I meet the first boy and ask are you Luis D---- and he says yes. I meet the second boy and ask are you Luis S---- and he says yes. So I ASSUMED that they were who I thought they were. I didn't find out that they had been mixed up the ENTIRE day until I sent the kids home on the wrong buses.
Oh, yes, it was a complete disaster. One mom comes in yelling and screaming that we lost her son- then the bus brings back the boy we think is hers who is really not. Then I'm freaking out because now this boy's mom doesn't know where he is...
We got it figured out and both boys got to their respective homes without harm- but they both were hysterical because the one family was hysterical. This family has also decided that I am not capable of teaching their son so he has been pulled from my class...
However, everyone at Orangewood was entirely supportive. After the fiasco had been settled, I went back to my classroom to cry : ) The principal sought me out to give me a huge hug, say that it happens to everybody and not to worry one bit.
So, if nothing else, I know that my colleagues support me and I'm hoping you still do, too : )
Thanks again for your prayers. Because of them, both Luises are safe and I am confident that I am still a good teacher : )
Much love,
Mrs. Gentle
P.S. More than 1/2 of our kids go on buses. We lost about 6 kids just in 1st grade today! It's not just me : )
First off, I want to say thanks for all of your support, kindness and prayers. I needed it today : )
Overall, the day went really well. I have some very sweet kids and (almost) everyone seemed to enjoy their first day in the first grade. I have one child that did NOT want to be at school and their bad attitude was rather depressing. Towards the end of the day I figured out that the child has a bad self esteem. He kept telling me he didn't want to do what we were doing because he wasn't smart- because he couldn't do it. Please pray for his self-esteem.
I have another child who has some developmental self-control issues. He can not sit still and shouts out a lot. Please pray that the Spirit would give him self-control and that I would have wisdom in helping him move along developmentally.
Lastly- the worst part of my day : ) I have two boys named Luis in my class. Both of them came to school by bus, so I did not meet either of their parents. I meet the first boy and ask are you Luis D---- and he says yes. I meet the second boy and ask are you Luis S---- and he says yes. So I ASSUMED that they were who I thought they were. I didn't find out that they had been mixed up the ENTIRE day until I sent the kids home on the wrong buses.
Oh, yes, it was a complete disaster. One mom comes in yelling and screaming that we lost her son- then the bus brings back the boy we think is hers who is really not. Then I'm freaking out because now this boy's mom doesn't know where he is...
We got it figured out and both boys got to their respective homes without harm- but they both were hysterical because the one family was hysterical. This family has also decided that I am not capable of teaching their son so he has been pulled from my class...
However, everyone at Orangewood was entirely supportive. After the fiasco had been settled, I went back to my classroom to cry : ) The principal sought me out to give me a huge hug, say that it happens to everybody and not to worry one bit.
So, if nothing else, I know that my colleagues support me and I'm hoping you still do, too : )
Thanks again for your prayers. Because of them, both Luises are safe and I am confident that I am still a good teacher : )
Much love,
Mrs. Gentle
P.S. More than 1/2 of our kids go on buses. We lost about 6 kids just in 1st grade today! It's not just me : )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)