Today was a monumental day. I received my first apple- all golden and shiny- from a student. It was very sweet. It was also the highlight of my day.
The rest of the day was rather stressful. The kids are hyped up because Christmas is less than two weeks a way (crazy I know...) They also were crazy because both Mrs. Shever and Mr. Gentle came to school. And they were crazy because they are six and that is what six-year-olds do : )
We've been working on calendars for the kids to give to their parents for Christmas. They have 12 art pieces that they need to make with their handprints. January has snowflakes. February has hearts. March is a lion. April a butterfly. May a flower. Etc. Etc. It involves paint and lots and lots of patience - and following directions. The middle one is the most difficult for me, the latter difficult for the children.
I'm telling you-they don't listen! They get so excited and they assume so much and all the sudden they've totally messed up the whole thing. So that is why I have a bit of a headache. Because every time I turned around, someone had glued something upside down or drawn something on the wrong side. And we had 3 adults in there to help.
Oh, well. Each calendar will be super unique and priceless to their parents. Just as the kids are super unique, priceless, and teachers of patience to me : )
Ross and I are looking forward to the weekend. We need to get some Christmas stuff done around here and thoroughly enjoy each other's presence.
May your weekend be peaceful and productive : )
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Just Keep Smiling : )
I have way too much to do and not enough time to do it, but what happened today deserves a blog post...
First, we'll start with a funny story. This morning, I put on my cotton charcoal dress, black tights and a black shrug. I received many compliments on my outfit, but my favorite one was "Mrs. Gentle, I like how you got pretty today." Isn't that a funny way to put it?
Next, we'll get to the bad stuff... The state department has developed all sorts of laws and decrees designed to help better the education of our ELL students (this, in and of itself, is not bad) One of their new decrees is that students must receive 4 hours a day of intensive English language instruction. Another decree is that all teacher must post their daily objectives for every subject on the board- and that these must be written for content (say, math) and language (how you are going to use language during math. say, reading a story problem aloud)
These ideas, in and of themself, aren't bad either. In my student teaching, I had to post my objectives (the goals for the lesson) for every minute piece of reading instruction. It is beneficial to the students. They know what you're teaching them and what their job is. It helps keep them focused and on track. But... it is a whole lot of work to write the objectives and post them.
So... the state department is coming to 8 of our districts schools the first week of January to "audit" us, persay. To make sure that we are doing what we are supposed to do. Here's the trouble... we don't do what we are supposed to do.
There are many explanations for that. One is that after sending out these laws and decrees, there were no resources given- such as money, training, people who knew what they were doing, etc. And no one else bothered to check, so why do something that takes so much time if there is no accountability. Right??
So today, at our staff meeting, our objective was to begin writing objectives for that week. None of this, is really all that horrible or life-threatening, but the attitudes toward it are. Teachers complain and whine and talk about the good old days. They don't realize that all of this takes up valuable time, too!
So anyhow, I'm at home, trying to plan for next week and for Christmas- with this daunting task of language and content objectives for the week after Christmas looming over my head.
That's the part that I dislike the most. Their coming the week after Christmas break. We're all going to be very, very rusty...
Please pray that I finish this week strong and with an uplifted spirit. Pray that next week would go smoothly and that the kids' excitement would be used for good and not evil : ) Pray that the break is refreshing and encouraging. And pray that the week after break is not stressful, because I think I might quit...
Just kidding : ) Love and thanks to you!!!
First, we'll start with a funny story. This morning, I put on my cotton charcoal dress, black tights and a black shrug. I received many compliments on my outfit, but my favorite one was "Mrs. Gentle, I like how you got pretty today." Isn't that a funny way to put it?
Next, we'll get to the bad stuff... The state department has developed all sorts of laws and decrees designed to help better the education of our ELL students (this, in and of itself, is not bad) One of their new decrees is that students must receive 4 hours a day of intensive English language instruction. Another decree is that all teacher must post their daily objectives for every subject on the board- and that these must be written for content (say, math) and language (how you are going to use language during math. say, reading a story problem aloud)
These ideas, in and of themself, aren't bad either. In my student teaching, I had to post my objectives (the goals for the lesson) for every minute piece of reading instruction. It is beneficial to the students. They know what you're teaching them and what their job is. It helps keep them focused and on track. But... it is a whole lot of work to write the objectives and post them.
So... the state department is coming to 8 of our districts schools the first week of January to "audit" us, persay. To make sure that we are doing what we are supposed to do. Here's the trouble... we don't do what we are supposed to do.
There are many explanations for that. One is that after sending out these laws and decrees, there were no resources given- such as money, training, people who knew what they were doing, etc. And no one else bothered to check, so why do something that takes so much time if there is no accountability. Right??
So today, at our staff meeting, our objective was to begin writing objectives for that week. None of this, is really all that horrible or life-threatening, but the attitudes toward it are. Teachers complain and whine and talk about the good old days. They don't realize that all of this takes up valuable time, too!
So anyhow, I'm at home, trying to plan for next week and for Christmas- with this daunting task of language and content objectives for the week after Christmas looming over my head.
That's the part that I dislike the most. Their coming the week after Christmas break. We're all going to be very, very rusty...
Please pray that I finish this week strong and with an uplifted spirit. Pray that next week would go smoothly and that the kids' excitement would be used for good and not evil : ) Pray that the break is refreshing and encouraging. And pray that the week after break is not stressful, because I think I might quit...
Just kidding : ) Love and thanks to you!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Christmas is Coming!
Good news! Today is Monday and Ross didn't have to drag me out of bed. I had to drag him...
More good news! Just 8 days left of instruction before vacation! Yay!
Today was an interesting day at school. Five of my kids were absent. Let me tell you, having 19 children is so completely different from having 24. It's amazing. Other than being able to accomplish much, nothing too terribly exciting happened today. Except for the fact that everybody in the class had a tummyache at some point or another. Please pray for wellness among us : )
These weekend, however, was full of excitement. On Friday night, after my parents came to visit, we had a big family dinner. We tried going to this Mexican restaurant that had been recommended to us, but it was soooo loud in there, we couldn't hear ourselves think-- so we went across the street to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that was out of everything from Dr. Pepper to tomatoes. Good times. At least they weren't out of Chocolate Brownie ice cream...
Saturday was busy busy with two parties. One was for extended family and the other one was a school staff party. Ross and I had a great time at the teacher party. He is such a good social lite. I would be talking to someone I knew and turn around and he'd be introducing me to someone I hadn't met before with all kinds of info about them. He's a fantastic date : ) My favorite part of the evening was being able to relax and enjoy each other's company, rather than just run by hurriedly.
My second favorite part was when Ross was able to meet Debra, the lady I meet with for prayer on Thursdays. It was so special to have them meet and to have Debra share with Ross about how much our times have meant to her. I am so thankful for this godly woman : )
On Sunday, Ross and I served in the infant nursery together. He played with a 9 month old boy, while I cuddled with a 1 month old boy. More great fun : ) Finally, Ross's mom and I went Christmas shopping for him last night. Oh, boy... is he going to be happy and surprised!! I love giving him good gifts.
Please pray that tomorrow goes well and that we finish the week strong. And please continue to pray for my health. I feel good right now, but would hate to feel icky over Christmas.
Blessings to you (and hopefully another post very soon)
P.S. Oh yeah, Ben came to school on Friday. The kids adored him! Obviously, all the girls thought that he was cute and the boys thought he was "so cool." I hope to get him into my classroom again soon...
More good news! Just 8 days left of instruction before vacation! Yay!
Today was an interesting day at school. Five of my kids were absent. Let me tell you, having 19 children is so completely different from having 24. It's amazing. Other than being able to accomplish much, nothing too terribly exciting happened today. Except for the fact that everybody in the class had a tummyache at some point or another. Please pray for wellness among us : )
These weekend, however, was full of excitement. On Friday night, after my parents came to visit, we had a big family dinner. We tried going to this Mexican restaurant that had been recommended to us, but it was soooo loud in there, we couldn't hear ourselves think-- so we went across the street to an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that was out of everything from Dr. Pepper to tomatoes. Good times. At least they weren't out of Chocolate Brownie ice cream...
Saturday was busy busy with two parties. One was for extended family and the other one was a school staff party. Ross and I had a great time at the teacher party. He is such a good social lite. I would be talking to someone I knew and turn around and he'd be introducing me to someone I hadn't met before with all kinds of info about them. He's a fantastic date : ) My favorite part of the evening was being able to relax and enjoy each other's company, rather than just run by hurriedly.
My second favorite part was when Ross was able to meet Debra, the lady I meet with for prayer on Thursdays. It was so special to have them meet and to have Debra share with Ross about how much our times have meant to her. I am so thankful for this godly woman : )
On Sunday, Ross and I served in the infant nursery together. He played with a 9 month old boy, while I cuddled with a 1 month old boy. More great fun : ) Finally, Ross's mom and I went Christmas shopping for him last night. Oh, boy... is he going to be happy and surprised!! I love giving him good gifts.
Please pray that tomorrow goes well and that we finish the week strong. And please continue to pray for my health. I feel good right now, but would hate to feel icky over Christmas.
Blessings to you (and hopefully another post very soon)
P.S. Oh yeah, Ben came to school on Friday. The kids adored him! Obviously, all the girls thought that he was cute and the boys thought he was "so cool." I hope to get him into my classroom again soon...
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Week AFTER Thanksgiving...
Hello!
I haven't blogged in about a week again.... sorry : ) Thankfully, the week is getting better as it goes on. Monday was awful- just awful. What did you expect? Anything having to do with work after 4 days of relaxation and family fun is going to be disappointing. It's written down somewhere...
To make it worse, I had a grade level meeting and a new teacher meeting. So I left the house at 7:00 am and got home about 7:00 pm. And Ross still wasn't even home yet! More disappointment... By the time he did get home, we were both pretty exhausted and not very entertaining. Oh, well. Tuesday was better : )
The kids have been terribly chatty the past three days. I'm having a very difficult time getting them to ALL be quiet at once. Then I have kids who cover their ears and shout "It's too loud in here!!" I try reasoning with them and explaining that screaming does not make the room quieter- no matter what your message is....
So there's been lots of wasted time and "I'll just wait until your ready" speeches. They promised me they'd make better choices tomorrow. I'll be sure to give you an update on that : )
Today was good-even with the staff meeting : ) I like short days-many teachers complain that you can't get much done, but I feel like it's just the right amount of time for 6-year-olds. I could teach from 7:40-12:30 every day- and everyone would be happier.
Please pray that the week just keeps on getting better and better. I need it to : )
One quick story-- a vocabulary word we have this week is "reassured". I was giving the kids examples of times that people had reassured me. I told them that somedays I did not feel like a very good teacher- but that Mr. Gentle was quick to reassure me that I was the best teacher in the world. At this, the children looked at me and said "You are!" Then turned to each other and said "She really is, you know" and the room became suddenly very noisy as they all shared their opinions on my greatness. It was fun... except for the noisy part : )
I haven't blogged in about a week again.... sorry : ) Thankfully, the week is getting better as it goes on. Monday was awful- just awful. What did you expect? Anything having to do with work after 4 days of relaxation and family fun is going to be disappointing. It's written down somewhere...
To make it worse, I had a grade level meeting and a new teacher meeting. So I left the house at 7:00 am and got home about 7:00 pm. And Ross still wasn't even home yet! More disappointment... By the time he did get home, we were both pretty exhausted and not very entertaining. Oh, well. Tuesday was better : )
The kids have been terribly chatty the past three days. I'm having a very difficult time getting them to ALL be quiet at once. Then I have kids who cover their ears and shout "It's too loud in here!!" I try reasoning with them and explaining that screaming does not make the room quieter- no matter what your message is....
So there's been lots of wasted time and "I'll just wait until your ready" speeches. They promised me they'd make better choices tomorrow. I'll be sure to give you an update on that : )
Today was good-even with the staff meeting : ) I like short days-many teachers complain that you can't get much done, but I feel like it's just the right amount of time for 6-year-olds. I could teach from 7:40-12:30 every day- and everyone would be happier.
Please pray that the week just keeps on getting better and better. I need it to : )
One quick story-- a vocabulary word we have this week is "reassured". I was giving the kids examples of times that people had reassured me. I told them that somedays I did not feel like a very good teacher- but that Mr. Gentle was quick to reassure me that I was the best teacher in the world. At this, the children looked at me and said "You are!" Then turned to each other and said "She really is, you know" and the room became suddenly very noisy as they all shared their opinions on my greatness. It was fun... except for the noisy part : )
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