The Happiest Place on Earth?

Every Thursday, I have playground duty. We are supposed to be out there by 7:15 to let the kids onto the playgrounds and to watch them until school begins at 7:45. There is a gate where the kids wait for the teachers on duty. Every morning they line up there well before 7:15. When they see us come out of the building they get an excited crowd noise. Today, I actually heard them rattling the gate. "You'd think they were waiting in line at Disney Land" I said to one of the other teachers on duty.

I'm Sorry

I wanted to write about something else, but I can't think of anything right now but the teacher I mentioned in my post about feeling guilty. All I feel comfortable saying about that situation is that things are getting worse for her and she's crying all the time. Kindness would go a long way.

I love teachers. It takes a lot out of you. It takes courage and persistence. I really look up to my colleagues--the ones at my school and in other places. I think everyone has bad days in teaching, though. I wish we would all remember that when someone has a hard time. We're on the same team.

What if, as colleagues, we made the extra effort to encourage when we were tempted to gossip? What if, as colleagues, we made the extra effort to empathize instead of brag?

I know, I know... I am talking about teachers--not saints. I just hate, hate, hate, hate seeing someone get torn apart in teaching. I have said it before and I'll say it again: It is a hard enough job; let's support each other!!!

I'm sorry, Ms. SpecialEd, that as a whole people haven't been kinder to you.

Quote Board

My students were reading a story set in Japan. They previewed the text by looking at the pictures. One picture depicted a Japanese family eating dinner.
"What do you predict will be the central problem in the story?" I asked.
"They don't have a table!" declared one of the kids in my class.

One of the spelling words was batch.
One of the kids in my class mispelled the word by replacing the "a" with an "i".
You fill in the blanks there...

I found this note on my desk.
Our Class is Red
Violets Are Blue
Your Smile is Yellow
I Love You!
Maybe I should lay off the coffee...

One of my colleagues accidentally cc'ed the following e-mail to the principal.
Dear Teacher Friend,
The new principal sent me an observation date on this day. I know I will be out of town. Should I tell him?

Let's Play: Woo Hoo or Boo Hoo!

My electronic pencil sharpener finally came!!!!! Woo Hoo!
I dropped it when I over zealously opened the package during silent reading. Boo Hoo...
It still works! Woo Hoo!

My new kid slapped a little girl in my class on the butt. Boo Hoo...
The new principal didn't make me call parents. Woo Hoo!

I completed my latest graduate course!!!! Woo Hoo!
I have seven more to go. Boo Hoo...

I was soooo tired by 7pm; I could barely stay awake for House. Boo Hoo...
Four more days until we have a week off for Fall Break! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!

Idea Update: Pencil Plan 2009

Idea (See original post here):

1. Write student names on pencils
2. Keep pencils in table pencil boxes
3. Put individual sharpeners in each box
4. Have a classroom job of pencil sharpeners

Success Rating: Three Out of Five Stars

Successes:

1. No one has said, "He jacked mines" in regard to a pencil
2. No problems with kids not having pencils or sharpened pencils this year

Problems:

1. I still don't have an electric pencil sharpener in my room (apparently, the one I ordered is still on back order), and it is very hard to have the kids sharpen pencils when I have to use the one next door
2. It is hard for the kids to share individual sharpeners and sometimes they argue over them
3. Sometimes they drop individual sharpeners and get stuff on the floor

Well, I still hate pencils more than anything else about teaching, but things are better. Hopefully, by the end of they year, I'll perfect my new system...

Unhappy Hour: What to Do When Your Ex Shows Up

Ex-Principal, that is.

I don't go to Happy Hour after work very frequently, but I decided to go this week because a friend from work who had a hard week was going and I wanted to go with her. It was at a teacher's house from work, and I showed up at about 3:30. The food was good, and I was thinking about what a nice time I was having. THEN... Guess who walked in?! Principal Sadie.

I haven't seen her since that awful last day of school and I was pretty happy about that. When she walked in, I must have looked like I saw a ghost. My heart started beating really fast, and I was trying to make an exit plan.

I really could not think of a tactful exit plan, so I went outside with everyone who was playing beer pong. I don't play beer pong, but I knew Principal Sadie would not go out there. So, I stayed out there for about an hour, but there was a problem: I left my keys on the table inside, and my Ex (principal that is) was sitting right by them. "Great," I thought, "there is going to be no leaving without talking to her."

I walked over to the table and we said uneasy hello/how are you's. I tried to open my mouth to make my excuses and bee line for the door. Unfortunately, it felt like my tongue was growing larger and I couldn't quite get any words out.

Unfortunately, the awkward silence I initiated led to her initiating an even more awkward conversation. I knew, if she saw me, she was going to go there, but it still shocked me a little.

"How's third grade?" she asked in a sugary sweet voice.

I tried to say "It's good." Did I say, "It good" or even "i goo" or something more incoherent? I don't know, at this point I was just wondering how long I had to wait to make my excuse and get out.

"I heard you're doing well?" she continued. Apparently, not noticing the you shot my puppy style look on my face. Mrs. Music, who was also at the table chimed in, "she's so good her class..."

At this point, I realized this conversation was not going to end naturally. As much as I wanted to be classy, I started to be rude. I asked the other teacher if she could please hand me my keys and I told them I had to meet my mom at six, and had to leave. I don't even think I apologized for being so abrupt.

I just needed to get away. I cannot play this game with her where she passive aggressively goes on about how great she was for doing the things she did. I don't want to argue with her either. I just want to have no contact with her. A clean break...You know?

Isn't that how it's supposed to be with ex's--even if they are ex-principals?

My Very Own Max

A new student started in my class last week. He announced to my class the first day that he comes from Harry Potter School. Yesterday he told another teacher that he is actually thirteen. Today, during his Reading intervention he announced to the K-3 teacher that he fell asleep when he was three and can't remember anything until he saw some colorful lights and then he was five!

This kid has such an elaborate fantasy life. At first, the other kids thought he was being outrageous. "What?" one of them exclaimed, "he said he went to Harry Potter School!" I downplayed it and watched to see what would happen. It seems like the other kids are actually appreciating his very active fantasy life. In some sense, though, he believes his tall tales are real. Developmentally, he should be way passed that phase, but his magical worldview is kind of charming and special.

His real life must make his life in his head so much more appealing. He is living in a hotel with his mom and brother and they are living of an annual income that is four figures. He hasn't been in school for the first seven weeks because his mom forgot to enrol him.

I understand why he is the way he is. I actually admire his imagination. Yet, I am torn about how to help him. Do I refer him to counseling where they might make him find a different way to cope? I don't know yet. I do know that even though he is obviously going to be a challenge and is grade levels behind, I am glad to know him. He really is special.