Saturday, December 8, 2012
This week in elementary school
This week was a busy one at elementary.
On Monday, we had someone decide to take the elevator during bus calls and the elevator got stuck so the fire department had to be called.
On Tuesday one of my darlings who chat with me about their behavior fell asleep for nearly the whole afternoon. Not a good idea for a six year old to stay up all night playing video games. We also had a student answer the question "is nine more or less than eleven?" with "no." Teacher's response: "that was not one of the options."
On Wednesday, I went shopping at target for a school food drive. We had a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed being at target with their teachers. While there, a colleague shared a photo of a third grade story problem. The assignment was to write a story problem and then illustrate it. It read, "I drew two boobs. I also drew two nipels. 2x2=4 there was a diagram drawn next to it.
Thursday included someone losing their coat and not realizing the one on the floor next to them was it. I asked if it could be in their back pack and they said "No, just my lunchbox and an extra pair of underpants." It was also the last day of my after school art critique/writing group. We had a party. It involved the principal singing Sinatra and Oreos.
Friday was relatively uneventful but with the typical kid things. First grade us also doing math with coins and they keep leaving out the second p and e after i in the word pennies. There is a door decorating contest going on as well and the art teacher and I teamed up for a big project.
I really do love how much I laugh at my job.
On Monday, we had someone decide to take the elevator during bus calls and the elevator got stuck so the fire department had to be called.
On Tuesday one of my darlings who chat with me about their behavior fell asleep for nearly the whole afternoon. Not a good idea for a six year old to stay up all night playing video games. We also had a student answer the question "is nine more or less than eleven?" with "no." Teacher's response: "that was not one of the options."
On Wednesday, I went shopping at target for a school food drive. We had a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed being at target with their teachers. While there, a colleague shared a photo of a third grade story problem. The assignment was to write a story problem and then illustrate it. It read, "I drew two boobs. I also drew two nipels. 2x2=4 there was a diagram drawn next to it.
Thursday included someone losing their coat and not realizing the one on the floor next to them was it. I asked if it could be in their back pack and they said "No, just my lunchbox and an extra pair of underpants." It was also the last day of my after school art critique/writing group. We had a party. It involved the principal singing Sinatra and Oreos.
Friday was relatively uneventful but with the typical kid things. First grade us also doing math with coins and they keep leaving out the second p and e after i in the word pennies. There is a door decorating contest going on as well and the art teacher and I teamed up for a big project.
I really do love how much I laugh at my job.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Oh the comments
So, I never get comments on this blog. This is due in part to my lack of followers/readers. This is fine with me. I write infrequently and so do my 2 followers. Such a weird one "followers" it makes me sounds like an evil genius or something.
I need to never read the comments from a local paper ever again, I will but, I shouldn't. There was news about the tax levy for my school district and once again people just come out with the claws. I always want to respond but know I should not because it is maddening/I don't want to have work repercussions. I like being employed. Of course, most people don't know how tax levies work and all of the ways of school funding. I don't and I work in it.It is quite complicated.
So, as always, it is stated that teachers are money grubbers who are lazy, do nothing and really don't care about the kids. First in the money grubbing, if you really want to know my salary, go look it up. It is a law that all public teacher salaries are published and accessible to the public. If I wanted to make lots of money and put in the same amount of effort I would not choose teaching. Second, why are teachers not allowed to earn a living wage? We have advanced degrees (that we paid for ourselves) often required to do our jobs.
Lazy? How many hours was I at work today? I might have had only six hours of classroom contact time with the kids. Add the hour long meetings before work, up to seven. Then add another hour+ of after school club, we are at 8 the standard work day. Now, I stay and grade papers, create new lessons, create SMART board (my board was not paid for by the district) pages so my students who learn in more interactive ways have an outlet. I arrive to work close to 7:45 and leave near 5:30 or later every day. I could go on.
If I wanted to have a job that allowed less work or effort, I would have picked a profession that has less emotional toll. I know nothing about many professions and their emotional toll. I do know which of my students come to me hungry or ill cared for. Who cried in my room today because their parents were fighting last night or this morning. I know who is in my room now and is homeless. I know who just threw up on me because they were sent to school sick. I guess I really don't care.
I am not alone. I am not the minority. I think of the teachers I see every day and cannot think of one who does not fit this profile.
Feel free to comment.
I need to never read the comments from a local paper ever again, I will but, I shouldn't. There was news about the tax levy for my school district and once again people just come out with the claws. I always want to respond but know I should not because it is maddening/I don't want to have work repercussions. I like being employed. Of course, most people don't know how tax levies work and all of the ways of school funding. I don't and I work in it.It is quite complicated.
So, as always, it is stated that teachers are money grubbers who are lazy, do nothing and really don't care about the kids. First in the money grubbing, if you really want to know my salary, go look it up. It is a law that all public teacher salaries are published and accessible to the public. If I wanted to make lots of money and put in the same amount of effort I would not choose teaching. Second, why are teachers not allowed to earn a living wage? We have advanced degrees (that we paid for ourselves) often required to do our jobs.
Lazy? How many hours was I at work today? I might have had only six hours of classroom contact time with the kids. Add the hour long meetings before work, up to seven. Then add another hour+ of after school club, we are at 8 the standard work day. Now, I stay and grade papers, create new lessons, create SMART board (my board was not paid for by the district) pages so my students who learn in more interactive ways have an outlet. I arrive to work close to 7:45 and leave near 5:30 or later every day. I could go on.
If I wanted to have a job that allowed less work or effort, I would have picked a profession that has less emotional toll. I know nothing about many professions and their emotional toll. I do know which of my students come to me hungry or ill cared for. Who cried in my room today because their parents were fighting last night or this morning. I know who is in my room now and is homeless. I know who just threw up on me because they were sent to school sick. I guess I really don't care.
I am not alone. I am not the minority. I think of the teachers I see every day and cannot think of one who does not fit this profile.
Feel free to comment.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Thankful part three
Ok; these first ones are a little repetitious but they each have their own place. So there.
21. My Grandma Pat, she is smart and tells you exactly what she is thinking. There is no filter to her and that is what sometimes is the best. She also has been so generous to me for my whole life. Much of what I have is because of her.
22. My Great-Grandma Ruth. At 96 years old she is sharp as a tack and still willing to learn new things. I think she is so "with it" at 96 because she is still learning every day.
23. My Grandma Kathleen for giving me a huge creative streak and a need to be well dressed.
24. My Grandpa Jerry for his love of nature and fine food. He lets me take over his whole kitchen to try a new recipe and usually gives advice on how we can make it even more superb.
25. Those relatives who are no longer here for those gifts they have given me and stick with me still.
26. Garlic. I could not live in a world where garlic was not in my cooking.
27. Flowers. I have learned to love flowers more and more every year. The amount of colors and shapes and smells are ever new and fascinating.
28. Photography for the new creative outlet is has become to me.
29. Did I say my big family yet? If not, then that. There is so much love in this big crazy family of mine. I have more than 20 aunts and uncles and 20 first cousins. Then there are the family members who lie outside of that first level out of the nuclear family. We are numerous and caring
30. Laughter. As I write this, my dog is upside-down and scratching her back on the rug. It is hilarious. Nothing much else makes you feel good like laughter does.
21. My Grandma Pat, she is smart and tells you exactly what she is thinking. There is no filter to her and that is what sometimes is the best. She also has been so generous to me for my whole life. Much of what I have is because of her.
22. My Great-Grandma Ruth. At 96 years old she is sharp as a tack and still willing to learn new things. I think she is so "with it" at 96 because she is still learning every day.
23. My Grandma Kathleen for giving me a huge creative streak and a need to be well dressed.
24. My Grandpa Jerry for his love of nature and fine food. He lets me take over his whole kitchen to try a new recipe and usually gives advice on how we can make it even more superb.
25. Those relatives who are no longer here for those gifts they have given me and stick with me still.
26. Garlic. I could not live in a world where garlic was not in my cooking.
27. Flowers. I have learned to love flowers more and more every year. The amount of colors and shapes and smells are ever new and fascinating.
28. Photography for the new creative outlet is has become to me.
29. Did I say my big family yet? If not, then that. There is so much love in this big crazy family of mine. I have more than 20 aunts and uncles and 20 first cousins. Then there are the family members who lie outside of that first level out of the nuclear family. We are numerous and caring
30. Laughter. As I write this, my dog is upside-down and scratching her back on the rug. It is hilarious. Nothing much else makes you feel good like laughter does.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Thankful part two aka. the next ten
11. The beautiful apartment I live in. Not only is it an amazing apartment in a place I love but, it is above my grandmother. I get to see her everyday.
12. Beth B. my outstanding friend and Co-worker. She has kept me sane this year and her enthusiasm for things often matches mine.
13. MB and SM the art teachers I work with. They have become much more than just good co-workers.
14. The ability to cook delicious food. Thank goodness for inheriting my mother and grandfather's abilities in the kitchen. I am so blessed to be able to feed myself well.
15. Coffee. 'Nuff said
16. My vet. When you have a dog who has issues, you need a good vet. It took 4 tries but now we have someone who is so good to my dog and also to me.
17. Honest mechanics. I am so not knowledgeable about my car. With my past luck I have needed these guys and gals to tell me in laymen's terms what is really going on.
18. Technology. I rely on technology every day. My smartphone is with me everywhere and my SMART board at work has changed my teaching.
19. Crafting. I am a person who needs to keep busy and this helps me keep busy and relax all at the same time.
20. My students for being continually cute, funny, challenging, and so much more.
12. Beth B. my outstanding friend and Co-worker. She has kept me sane this year and her enthusiasm for things often matches mine.
13. MB and SM the art teachers I work with. They have become much more than just good co-workers.
14. The ability to cook delicious food. Thank goodness for inheriting my mother and grandfather's abilities in the kitchen. I am so blessed to be able to feed myself well.
15. Coffee. 'Nuff said
16. My vet. When you have a dog who has issues, you need a good vet. It took 4 tries but now we have someone who is so good to my dog and also to me.
17. Honest mechanics. I am so not knowledgeable about my car. With my past luck I have needed these guys and gals to tell me in laymen's terms what is really going on.
18. Technology. I rely on technology every day. My smartphone is with me everywhere and my SMART board at work has changed my teaching.
19. Crafting. I am a person who needs to keep busy and this helps me keep busy and relax all at the same time.
20. My students for being continually cute, funny, challenging, and so much more.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is Thursday and there has been a facebook thing going around where people post their daily thankfulness for the month. I can't do that because I am too flighty to remember every day. I do think I can do three posts of 10. Here is the first third of the list for the month.
1. My Husband, Kyle, who stands by and lets me be who I am and is still smiling after 3+ years of marriage and way more than that of being together.
2. The Dog. Charlotte Eloise Snufflepants is my furry, non-verbal child. She provides endless hours of entertainment and love.
3. My mother. She is so smart and cares so hard about what she does. I know that she makes a huge difference in the lives of the students in her school. She shapes my ideas of what it is to be a great teacher.
4. My father who is talented, generous, and so very funny. He is always there to bail me out and make me laugh until my sides hurt.
5. My sister and brother who understand my quirks and where they come from. Even if they do make fun of me for them.
6. My general health. I may work in the germiest of environments and get the occasional cold, strep, etc.. I am a healthy person and I really am thankful for that.
7. My carreer for being constantly challenging and rewarding.
8. Susan G. for being the best friend that anyone could ask for. No one can out weird us.
9. My second job of working at the garden center. Who knew I would live plants so much?
10. My sofa. It is the most comfortable and after a long day of teaching small humans to be creative, nothing beats it.
1. My Husband, Kyle, who stands by and lets me be who I am and is still smiling after 3+ years of marriage and way more than that of being together.
2. The Dog. Charlotte Eloise Snufflepants is my furry, non-verbal child. She provides endless hours of entertainment and love.
3. My mother. She is so smart and cares so hard about what she does. I know that she makes a huge difference in the lives of the students in her school. She shapes my ideas of what it is to be a great teacher.
4. My father who is talented, generous, and so very funny. He is always there to bail me out and make me laugh until my sides hurt.
5. My sister and brother who understand my quirks and where they come from. Even if they do make fun of me for them.
6. My general health. I may work in the germiest of environments and get the occasional cold, strep, etc.. I am a healthy person and I really am thankful for that.
7. My carreer for being constantly challenging and rewarding.
8. Susan G. for being the best friend that anyone could ask for. No one can out weird us.
9. My second job of working at the garden center. Who knew I would live plants so much?
10. My sofa. It is the most comfortable and after a long day of teaching small humans to be creative, nothing beats it.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Said by or to small people
Teacher: no I don't think skittles are a good choice for snack
Student following a rhythm with eighths and quarter notes: chuckie chuckie chuckie cheese, chuckie cheese, chuckie cheese, chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie cheeeeeeeese! (Bonus points intou can guess the song)
I can write my teacher's name for her on the ROAR award (behavior award) student then proceeds to spell their teacher's name with almost half of the letters missing.
Student following a rhythm with eighths and quarter notes: chuckie chuckie chuckie cheese, chuckie cheese, chuckie cheese, chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie chuckie cheeeeeeeese! (Bonus points intou can guess the song)
I can write my teacher's name for her on the ROAR award (behavior award) student then proceeds to spell their teacher's name with almost half of the letters missing.
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