My small group had a halloween party of which I thought would be hokey. Maybe it was hokey, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. We were considering not having small group this year, but I'm so glad we persevered. Our Thursday night gatherings are delightful. I looked around at how cozy everybody was; they body language and the conversation is relaxed and real.
R prepared a feast, and I feasted a little too hard. We had a costume contest: Z won with his Darth Vader get up. We told the scariest story that happened to us. We then completed a story. My finish the tale was the lamest. One lady wrote a limerick about a demented santa claus. One guy lampooned the election ads. Two were scary. It was so much fun. I missed N, but he's busy adventuring in Germany. God is good.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
glimpses from the trenches
This past Friday the band put on a BBQ for a fundraiser. My room faces the band building so our windows were an excellent vantage point to watch people picking up their orders walk to and from the parking lot. Finally after getting frustrated by the kids gazing out the window instead of writing their journal or doing their work on adjectives, in exasperation, I say, "It's SOO fas-ci-na-ting to watch strangers walk on a sidewalk." In earnest, one student responded, "Especially when they're this ugly!" I tried not to laugh but did not succeed.
***
Last Wednesday I found myself at another point of abject frustration. I asked my class sans the football players who had early dismissal to discuss the class's behavior and possible solutions that would provide a calm learning environment. I got helpful input like "You should seat us with our friends. That way we won't get in fights." And, "we need to do fun stuff." The brainstorming session proved a refresher in the maturity level of my students. But, this one droll kid came up to me after class. He said, "Ms. M, I have a suggestion. You know your blue storage cabinent back there. You should clean it out so you can put the kids who misbehave. They could still hear what's going on. You'd have to keep it locked, though." I said, "And, maybe make it sound proof." We chuckled at our humor.
***
In homeroom, I got a girl to take names on the board of people talking. After talking some procedure, I turn around and find my name followed by about 50 checks lined up all the way across the board. I laughed then said, "I was talking." Funnier still was when the board wouldn't erase. So my name with the row of checks remained the entire day. One of my brighter students in the following class asked me, "What did you do to get your name on the board?"
***
Last Wednesday I found myself at another point of abject frustration. I asked my class sans the football players who had early dismissal to discuss the class's behavior and possible solutions that would provide a calm learning environment. I got helpful input like "You should seat us with our friends. That way we won't get in fights." And, "we need to do fun stuff." The brainstorming session proved a refresher in the maturity level of my students. But, this one droll kid came up to me after class. He said, "Ms. M, I have a suggestion. You know your blue storage cabinent back there. You should clean it out so you can put the kids who misbehave. They could still hear what's going on. You'd have to keep it locked, though." I said, "And, maybe make it sound proof." We chuckled at our humor.
***
In homeroom, I got a girl to take names on the board of people talking. After talking some procedure, I turn around and find my name followed by about 50 checks lined up all the way across the board. I laughed then said, "I was talking." Funnier still was when the board wouldn't erase. So my name with the row of checks remained the entire day. One of my brighter students in the following class asked me, "What did you do to get your name on the board?"
Sunday, October 26, 2008
my weekend:
In answer to yesterday's question, the late bird gets scolded. I had an uncomfortable conversation, which ended up with me saying to take me off the list. There are just too many provisoes needed for me to go. I hate being so wound up in my job right now, but I am. And, I'm lucky/blessed to have one. And, it's good to have a friend miffed that I can't come; well, far better than her being indifferent.
Today I went to Greensboro to the Southern Baptist Church my mom grew up in. Afterwards, we went to the cemetary where my grandparents are buried. Then, we ate a delicious meal my aunt prepared. It was a solemn and wacky time. My family is always a bit wacky. We listened to the Carolina Panthers game on the way home.
I'm up past my bedtime, which means nothing good for me come 5:30am tomorrow. I like sleep. I'm not the average sleep-deprived American. I respect sleep and am scared of the person I am without it.
I planned lessons after getting home from Greensboro. I'm teaching adjectives, Tale of Despereaux, portraiture and the Arabian Peninsula next week. I'm also teaching 7th graders. I'm trying to be excited. It's jeans week. There's a Halloween dance on Friday (2 hours--we'll have a shortened schedule). I have a four-day week the following two weeks. We're off election day and Veteran's day.
Life is good even if it seems somewhat perfunctory and mundane. Yay, for my tweed skirt.
Today I went to Greensboro to the Southern Baptist Church my mom grew up in. Afterwards, we went to the cemetary where my grandparents are buried. Then, we ate a delicious meal my aunt prepared. It was a solemn and wacky time. My family is always a bit wacky. We listened to the Carolina Panthers game on the way home.
I'm up past my bedtime, which means nothing good for me come 5:30am tomorrow. I like sleep. I'm not the average sleep-deprived American. I respect sleep and am scared of the person I am without it.
I planned lessons after getting home from Greensboro. I'm teaching adjectives, Tale of Despereaux, portraiture and the Arabian Peninsula next week. I'm also teaching 7th graders. I'm trying to be excited. It's jeans week. There's a Halloween dance on Friday (2 hours--we'll have a shortened schedule). I have a four-day week the following two weeks. We're off election day and Veteran's day.
Life is good even if it seems somewhat perfunctory and mundane. Yay, for my tweed skirt.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
what does the late bird get?
My week was quick and crappy. I dreaded my last period-- the leaden lump in my stomach, don't eat kind of dread. Then, everything came to a head, and I survived. My students were relatively subdued Friday afternoon; perhaps, their antics exhausted them as well.
I'm supposed to head to DC next weekend for a friend's PhD party, but it seems that I've waited too late and the airline tickets are exorbidantly high. I'm brilliant.
I sewed a cute, tweed skirt today at G's. Spending time with her is always such gift. She's so different from my family-- she thinks before she speaks. She's a sewer not a reader. She's so patient and wise.
I have some tales to tell. Alas, I'm tired.
I'm supposed to head to DC next weekend for a friend's PhD party, but it seems that I've waited too late and the airline tickets are exorbidantly high. I'm brilliant.
I sewed a cute, tweed skirt today at G's. Spending time with her is always such gift. She's so different from my family-- she thinks before she speaks. She's a sewer not a reader. She's so patient and wise.
I have some tales to tell. Alas, I'm tired.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
union
So, I'm a union member nowadays. Thanks to my mom's stern sentence: "Not joining NEA is unethical." So, as tiny as my salary is I shell out the $450 dues. I get nothing tangible for it, but I do have a clean conscience.
Anyway, I got a note in the mail that shows my problem with education (pay attention to the wording).
"Dear New NEA Member,
Welcome to the National Education Association, the organization that stands for great public schools for every child and never stops working for you...."
I read this sentence and got really upset. Then I realized that this word choice defined the difference between my goal as a teacher and the school systems. I want to EDUCATE my students; they want to SCHOOL them. "Educate" comes from the Latin "educare/educo" which means "to lead out". "School" comes from the Greek "schole" which means "free time". Schooling and education are separate yet connected. This philosophical difference is the crux of my frustration. I could educate my kids if I had 16-20 in a classroom, but with 32 in my room I provide them with schooling.
Anyway, I got a note in the mail that shows my problem with education (pay attention to the wording).
"Dear New NEA Member,
Welcome to the National Education Association, the organization that stands for great public schools for every child and never stops working for you...."
I read this sentence and got really upset. Then I realized that this word choice defined the difference between my goal as a teacher and the school systems. I want to EDUCATE my students; they want to SCHOOL them. "Educate" comes from the Latin "educare/educo" which means "to lead out". "School" comes from the Greek "schole" which means "free time". Schooling and education are separate yet connected. This philosophical difference is the crux of my frustration. I could educate my kids if I had 16-20 in a classroom, but with 32 in my room I provide them with schooling.
Friday, October 17, 2008
थे बेस्ट लैड plans
Ah, in August I planned a field trip to this science place. I thought a nature center and trails and a rapture center would be really fun and entertaining. We'd get to play outside and learn cool stuff. Then, only about 3/4 of our kids signed up, so I had to stay back. I was bummed that I didn't get to go. Today was field trip day. It turned out, I got the better end of the bargain. I stayed back with twelve kids... another eight or so of our kids played hookie. One of our kids broke his collar bone playing football last night. Another was suspended, etc.
My day rawked!! We read O'Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief" to start off. Some complained it was too long. Others enjoyed the crazy humor. Red Chief was a lot like Laurie in Shirley Jackson's "Charles". Then I had them different picture books of folk and fairy tales that they needed to map out the plot. Then they did collages. Then we went for a long(er) walk. Then, we read a play. It was a fabulous day. Apparently, the field trip was a bit of a bust. The girls didn't want to get dirty (they had to collect insects and fungus) so they just stood around. The raptor lecture was really good. But, they had to walk a lot. (Actually, I think I would have really enjoyed it... but I'm a geek.)
I didn't get to enter as many of my grades as I was planning to this week due to technical difficulties and time constraints. So, I went to enter the grades and the site is having scheduled maintenance from 5pm Friday to 6am Monday. Awesome. I'm screwed. I guess, my weekend just got more fun.
My day rawked!! We read O'Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief" to start off. Some complained it was too long. Others enjoyed the crazy humor. Red Chief was a lot like Laurie in Shirley Jackson's "Charles". Then I had them different picture books of folk and fairy tales that they needed to map out the plot. Then they did collages. Then we went for a long(er) walk. Then, we read a play. It was a fabulous day. Apparently, the field trip was a bit of a bust. The girls didn't want to get dirty (they had to collect insects and fungus) so they just stood around. The raptor lecture was really good. But, they had to walk a lot. (Actually, I think I would have really enjoyed it... but I'm a geek.)
I didn't get to enter as many of my grades as I was planning to this week due to technical difficulties and time constraints. So, I went to enter the grades and the site is having scheduled maintenance from 5pm Friday to 6am Monday. Awesome. I'm screwed. I guess, my weekend just got more fun.
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