Sometimes life happens and it changes the game plan. For me, part this change involves resigning my position at my current school effective the end of this year, moving back home, and hoping/praying/applying for a new job for September! Uncertainty stinks, but so does being isolated and alone. Fortunately, I have the option of going back home to a supportive situation!
On another note, we've been very in the classroom! Stay tuned this long weekend for a photo tour of the past couple of months in Kindergarten/Grade One!
Showing posts with label grade one. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grade one. Show all posts
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Valentines and 100th Day and Monkeys...oh my!
I knew that I was in for quite the week rather early in the school year when I discovered that Valentine's Day and the 100th Day of School would fall in the same week. Then add in an enormous (for PH) snowfall, a school-wide skating afternoon, and the week felt like a non-stop party (Also known as draining. Very draining.).
However, parties and party events can lead to excellent learning opportunities!
This activity was a great example of Teacher as Facilitator...and of interest-led learning! I had nothing to do with the art or ideas, and everything to do with running around madly changing paint water, getting more paint, replacing paper towels, washing brushes, and generally trying to keep things clean. Did I have "paint big scenes on the floor" in my lesson plans for the day? No, I sure didn't. I don't know if I would have ever even dreamed of taping down a big canvas and letting them go at it. It's a lesson that I definitely plan to repeat!
However, parties and party events can lead to excellent learning opportunities!
Decorating for Valentine's Day allows us to talk about symmetry and balance...
...and to learn about balanced diets (and eating the healthy stuff first!).
The 100th day of school...
...allowed us to count out 100 books, figure out how many each student should carry to the gym to make the loads fair, and to stack them up to see how high the pile was...
...before laying them out end-to-end to see how long the line was!
It stretched across the gym then almost all the way back again.
Streamers, of course, make everything more fun! Unfortunately, all of my balloon fun pictures, and images of other activities, have the students featuring prominently. Great for their parents, but not for my blog. :)
Then there was Curious George. We watched the movie over the course of the week (about 25 minutes each afternoon Monday-Thursday) to replace our Rest Time, and loved it completely! It was absolutely darling, the music was great, and appealed to the all of the children...and to their teacher! We've been reading Curious George stories, so watching the movie was a logical choice this week.
Not surprisingly, the students wanted to paint all over the walls like George did! While this wasn't possible, we did have a blast on Friday painting all over the floor! We measured off equal sections of the big drop cloth (more math!) which usually goes underneath our tables during art projects, poured out the paints (lessons in colour blending!)...
...and went wild! You'll notice that a couple of the students wanted to work together, hence the double-sized section. This activity also provided a lesson in natural consequences. We practiced (without paint!) how to start at the top of the section and then work down, to avoid kneeling on the paint, before getting down to the art. They all mastered this, though one sock got some paint marks...not bad! We also tested to see how thickly we could glop paint before it started to leak through to the carpet! The results of that will not be known until I go to the school on Sunday.
Our finished masterpieces included everything from trucks and coconut trees...to monkeys and robots!
Of course, Curious George was a very important part of the finished product!
This activity was a great example of Teacher as Facilitator...and of interest-led learning! I had nothing to do with the art or ideas, and everything to do with running around madly changing paint water, getting more paint, replacing paper towels, washing brushes, and generally trying to keep things clean. Did I have "paint big scenes on the floor" in my lesson plans for the day? No, I sure didn't. I don't know if I would have ever even dreamed of taping down a big canvas and letting them go at it. It's a lesson that I definitely plan to repeat!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Funny!
Top Grade One Moment of the Day...while the students were playing with Playmobil and setting up a forest camp:
R, a very entertaining and precocious little girl, said, "The men need to go off hunting and the women need to stay and set up the camp."
When I questioned the reason for the traditional roles (not criticizing, just questioning), I was told that it was "because the women actually know what needs to be done!"
How do you argue with that?
R, a very entertaining and precocious little girl, said, "The men need to go off hunting and the women need to stay and set up the camp."
When I questioned the reason for the traditional roles (not criticizing, just questioning), I was told that it was "because the women actually know what needs to be done!"
How do you argue with that?
Friday, January 14, 2011
Babies
Good Gravy! What to say?
Three different center time conversations are going on right now...
The first group is talking about making babies, and how the mom in their game got a fever and died.
The second group is talking about changing each other's "diapers".
The third group was overheard saying to the "mommy" in their game...wait for it..."good night Mrs. Slappy Boobs".
I'm ignoring, I'm ignoring, I'm ignoring...
Three different center time conversations are going on right now...
The first group is talking about making babies, and how the mom in their game got a fever and died.
The second group is talking about changing each other's "diapers".
The third group was overheard saying to the "mommy" in their game...wait for it..."good night Mrs. Slappy Boobs".
I'm ignoring, I'm ignoring, I'm ignoring...
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Allergies, Politics, and Staff Meetings...
It's sad when a person has a wonderful day, which is then spoiled by the politics of staff meetings. What a way to spoil a day!
Then, how about adding a last minute cookie baking requirement to my Thursday? I actually knew it was a possibility, but was admittedly ignoring it. There is something really intimidating about the following scenario:
--make cookies with your class. Your students have the following restrictions: wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, no candy, no artificially coloured/flavoured ingredients. Oh yes, one student hates chocolate. Really, really hates it. The kitchen is unavailable. PS--you have no brown sugar, the store is closed, there isn't a chance to hit the only grocery store in town after it opens tomorrow.
Seriously?!?! This is not some random optional challenge, either! The cookie-making is part of School Spirit Week, and was just a victim of unfortunate timing when it comes to kitchen availability. The allergies/food restrictions are a very real part of my every day reality.
So, this is the plan. I've got a recipe for Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls. These are the listed ingredients: butter, brown sugar, vanilla, water, flour, chocolate chips. These are the ingredients that we are going to experiment with tomorrow: margarine, white sugar, vanilla, water, oat bran (I don't have any oat flour, of course), and chocolate chips (which the chocolate-hater can skip!). If I broach the idea as an experiment, a science project, the kids will love it. Using margarine will eliminate the need to soften the butter. I'll take my own mixer, and will fight for/beg for/borrow/steal freezer space. We'll make them early in the day...so that if it all falls apart I can call in reinforcements (aka: Soy Boy's mother to bring in a wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free treat!).
If they turn out, I will share the recipe tomorrow!
Then, how about adding a last minute cookie baking requirement to my Thursday? I actually knew it was a possibility, but was admittedly ignoring it. There is something really intimidating about the following scenario:
--make cookies with your class. Your students have the following restrictions: wheat-free, egg-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, no candy, no artificially coloured/flavoured ingredients. Oh yes, one student hates chocolate. Really, really hates it. The kitchen is unavailable. PS--you have no brown sugar, the store is closed, there isn't a chance to hit the only grocery store in town after it opens tomorrow.
Seriously?!?! This is not some random optional challenge, either! The cookie-making is part of School Spirit Week, and was just a victim of unfortunate timing when it comes to kitchen availability. The allergies/food restrictions are a very real part of my every day reality.
So, this is the plan. I've got a recipe for Frozen Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls. These are the listed ingredients: butter, brown sugar, vanilla, water, flour, chocolate chips. These are the ingredients that we are going to experiment with tomorrow: margarine, white sugar, vanilla, water, oat bran (I don't have any oat flour, of course), and chocolate chips (which the chocolate-hater can skip!). If I broach the idea as an experiment, a science project, the kids will love it. Using margarine will eliminate the need to soften the butter. I'll take my own mixer, and will fight for/beg for/borrow/steal freezer space. We'll make them early in the day...so that if it all falls apart I can call in reinforcements (aka: Soy Boy's mother to bring in a wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free treat!).
If they turn out, I will share the recipe tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Remembrance Day
Every year I am saddened by the declining health of our veterans. We had a special Remembrance Day ceremony this week, and had a local veteran come and talk to the students. Amidst all of the expected talk of war and guns (popular conversations, of course!) I really appreciated the way that this lovely gentleman emphasized that most veterans are "pro-peace, not pro-war." That's what we needed to hear! That's the focus I try to give for my students.
These veterans are getting old. They're getting sick. They're not around anymore. I haven't checked this statistic for myself, but according to our guest the WWII veterans are dying at a rate of about 2000 each month. Even if his number is exaggerated, it's sad.
Despite this, I am so pleased by the responses of my students to our Remembrance Day discussions. They gave me such gems as this:
"The soldiers are like the Mommy at the end of Love You Forever...we have to finish the song for them."
What an amazing connection for a little one to make!
These veterans are getting old. They're getting sick. They're not around anymore. I haven't checked this statistic for myself, but according to our guest the WWII veterans are dying at a rate of about 2000 each month. Even if his number is exaggerated, it's sad.
Despite this, I am so pleased by the responses of my students to our Remembrance Day discussions. They gave me such gems as this:
"The soldiers are like the Mommy at the end of Love You Forever...we have to finish the song for them."
What an amazing connection for a little one to make!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Long Day is Over...
Today served as a good reminder for me...a reminder that two grades is easy, three grades isn't so very bad, but four grades is miserable. Our Grade 2-3 teacher was unable to teach today and her students joined my class. This still kept me well under the provincial classroom cap, but felt like easily twice as many kids as there actually were! It was really nice, actually, to see how my students from last year had progressed. The kids were all (K-3 inclusive) remarkably well behaved, especially seeing as everything was different with the addition of the second class. However, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. The amount of energy required to keep on top of all potential behavioural conflicts in this group needed twice as much coffee as I'd had this morning.
2. If I ever have to run a big grade spread again, I will ensure that I spend the extra kazillion or so hours to match up all of the curriculum and units of study (as much as possible) so that I'm not having to teach four entirely different curricula to the four grades. Differentiated levels within the units, absolutely. That said, my provincial curriculum just doesn't lend well to blended classrooms of more than two grades (in specific combinations).
3. A ration of 3-1 in the boys-girls category is just not fun.
4. It is especially important for teachers of many grades to get a break at some point in the day...at least for five or six minutes! The more grades you have, the more crucial it is to use absolutely every minute productively.
5. Finally, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to really hammer in the importance of being able to sit still for increasing periods of time in order to do seatwork/read stories, from a very early age. It made all the difference in the world today that all of the students were capable of working mostly independently so that I could work with other grades. (Granted, I don't have a tendency to plan very much "sit still and work quietly" time through the day. It is important, but active learning is so much more effective.)
So, now that I have crashed on my couch for the rest of the evening, I'll leave you with one of my favourite Norah Jones songs!
1. The amount of energy required to keep on top of all potential behavioural conflicts in this group needed twice as much coffee as I'd had this morning.
2. If I ever have to run a big grade spread again, I will ensure that I spend the extra kazillion or so hours to match up all of the curriculum and units of study (as much as possible) so that I'm not having to teach four entirely different curricula to the four grades. Differentiated levels within the units, absolutely. That said, my provincial curriculum just doesn't lend well to blended classrooms of more than two grades (in specific combinations).
3. A ration of 3-1 in the boys-girls category is just not fun.
4. It is especially important for teachers of many grades to get a break at some point in the day...at least for five or six minutes! The more grades you have, the more crucial it is to use absolutely every minute productively.
5. Finally, I am so glad that I had the opportunity to really hammer in the importance of being able to sit still for increasing periods of time in order to do seatwork/read stories, from a very early age. It made all the difference in the world today that all of the students were capable of working mostly independently so that I could work with other grades. (Granted, I don't have a tendency to plan very much "sit still and work quietly" time through the day. It is important, but active learning is so much more effective.)
So, now that I have crashed on my couch for the rest of the evening, I'll leave you with one of my favourite Norah Jones songs!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Muffin Tin Mondays
One of the exciting changes to my classroom this year is the addition of an event called "Muffin Tin Mondays", where our lunch every Monday is served in a muffin tin! All of it! This may not sound exciting to you, but to five and six year olds this is pretty darn thrilling. It's also pretty awesome for the parents (and teacher) who get to have a day off from packing a lunch.
I began planning for this over the summer, found my muffin tins on sale at Michaels, and started planning what I hoped would be exciting menus for our meals. I had visions of mini sandwiches, muffins, cutely shaped fruits and veggies, etc. I knew that I would have a small class, so I pictured having parents rotate through helping provide the meals, each bringing in a "class set" of something every two or three weeks.
My school is a Peanut-Free zone, which is actually pretty easy to work with...but then I was hit with a triple whammy. One of my small fry is allergic to eggs, wheat, and dairy. Eggs, wheat, AND dairy! Not only that, but to get specialty food items which he can eat is freaking expensive and nearly impossible in this more isolated region. Another student is not allowed candy. Sweet treats, yes, but no candy. Ever. Even at Halloween. What a curveball!
So, our Muffin Tin Monday meals are slightly different than anticipated. Heavier on the fruits and veggies (a good thing, I know), very little dairy (and when there is cheese, this student brings soy cheese. He calls himself Soy Boy. It's hilarious!), lots of popcorn, very little wheat, and next to no treats. Fortunately this dear student's mother is a prolific baker who is always willing to provide the class with something safe to eat! For the most part, I've found it easier to provide much of the meal myself, in order to avoid all possible allergens.
It's a good thing that the little ones are always excited to eat their meals from the muffin tins...even if they are eating grapes and carrots. Again.
Tomorrow's menu? Carrots, blueberries, apple slices, pear slices, crackers with Nutella, popcorn, and cheese cubes. Yummy!
I began planning for this over the summer, found my muffin tins on sale at Michaels, and started planning what I hoped would be exciting menus for our meals. I had visions of mini sandwiches, muffins, cutely shaped fruits and veggies, etc. I knew that I would have a small class, so I pictured having parents rotate through helping provide the meals, each bringing in a "class set" of something every two or three weeks.
My school is a Peanut-Free zone, which is actually pretty easy to work with...but then I was hit with a triple whammy. One of my small fry is allergic to eggs, wheat, and dairy. Eggs, wheat, AND dairy! Not only that, but to get specialty food items which he can eat is freaking expensive and nearly impossible in this more isolated region. Another student is not allowed candy. Sweet treats, yes, but no candy. Ever. Even at Halloween. What a curveball!
So, our Muffin Tin Monday meals are slightly different than anticipated. Heavier on the fruits and veggies (a good thing, I know), very little dairy (and when there is cheese, this student brings soy cheese. He calls himself Soy Boy. It's hilarious!), lots of popcorn, very little wheat, and next to no treats. Fortunately this dear student's mother is a prolific baker who is always willing to provide the class with something safe to eat! For the most part, I've found it easier to provide much of the meal myself, in order to avoid all possible allergens.
(This is from our first special lunch!)
Tomorrow's menu? Carrots, blueberries, apple slices, pear slices, crackers with Nutella, popcorn, and cheese cubes. Yummy!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Summer! Or, "My Rebuttal to Those-Who-Believe-That-Teachers-Have-Summers-Off"
Well, look at this! It hasn't even been a full week, and here I go posting again. Woohoo!
I am so excited to only be teaching two grades this coming year: Kindergarten and Grade One. Yay for revamping the elementary end of the school! Suddenly, school life seems manageable again! Granted, I have absolutely no idea how many students I might end up with (due to tuition incentives and a public school in town closing)...but at least I know what I'll teach!
I'm also excited to have my Math, Language Arts, Science, and PE course overviews ready to go, my thematic units planned out by month, and all of the subjects planned for the year (I just don't have all of the learning outcomes/official stuff attached to each). I have to get my "theme boxes" filled with all of the resources and supplies for the different units, but that will be fun. Hours of work, but fun. I'm also hoping to get to my actual lesson plans for the first few weeks of school.
I have to buy the school supplies for all of my students, as they really aren't available up on the North Island. Unfortunately, without knowing how many students to buy for, this will be a challenge! I'm hoping to hold out until Teacher Appreciation Days in August at Staples!
Along with those, I've been down to Montana while Mom defended her Masters' Thesis, spent a small fortune at book stores, spent another small fortune at fabric stores, and made a baby quilt (well, it still needs to have the edges bound). I've made a running trip back to P.H., spent time cleaning out my classroom, re-did my apartment (thanks, in most part, to Mom's hard work!), and divided resources to send all of the Grade Two materials to the Grades Two and Three teacher.
I have my new classroom blog up and running, our new travelling buddy off on his first adventure, and lots of little projects lined up for the summer (doll quilts, new curtains for the classroom, etc).
Did I mention Camp Meeting? Yep, Mom and I are leading out for the 3&4 year old division again (yay!). We'll head down next week to clean out spiders and mice in preparation for all of our little people.
I have to take two courses this summer. Neither one holds a whole lot of interest for me, but they are required. *sigh* At least I am able to challenge the exams! I just have to do a lot of studying.
It's been busy so far, and the summer is only going to get busier.
Teachers' Meetings, August 24-26. during this time I will be labeling pencil boxes, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, erasers, notebooks, duotangs, waterbottles, and everything else which will go on the student desks. Each. And. Every. Crayon. Seems ridiculous, but saves a lot of hassle later on.
Race up to P.H. for an intense five days of reorganizing and setting up my classroom, prepping for all of the students who will (hopefully!) have registered, packing up the school supply kits, photocopying madly, laminating like a maniac, slapping name tags everywhere, labeling everything in the room so that students see real language at work, tripping over the horrible carpet in my classroom (unless, by some miracle, it's been really repaired or replaced. That, however, would mean hauling everything out of my room and then bringing it back in), and then racing back to Kelowna before Friday, September 3.
Labour Day weekend is my cousin Danielle's wedding (for which I am official coordinator). Then, race back to P.H. and get back just in time for school to start on Tuesday, September 7. There will only be a month of consistency before I'm racing back to Kelowna for my brother Shaun's wedding to Sarah (for which I'm helping to make the cakes, taste tests and such to be done in August)!
I'm tired just looking at the list! My saving grace is that so much of the studying, course outlining, label-making, supply sorting, and quilting can be done outside. In the sun. Or, in the shade. In the mountains. At the beach. Without getting up at 5:00am.
*bliss*
I am so excited to only be teaching two grades this coming year: Kindergarten and Grade One. Yay for revamping the elementary end of the school! Suddenly, school life seems manageable again! Granted, I have absolutely no idea how many students I might end up with (due to tuition incentives and a public school in town closing)...but at least I know what I'll teach!
I'm also excited to have my Math, Language Arts, Science, and PE course overviews ready to go, my thematic units planned out by month, and all of the subjects planned for the year (I just don't have all of the learning outcomes/official stuff attached to each). I have to get my "theme boxes" filled with all of the resources and supplies for the different units, but that will be fun. Hours of work, but fun. I'm also hoping to get to my actual lesson plans for the first few weeks of school.
I have to buy the school supplies for all of my students, as they really aren't available up on the North Island. Unfortunately, without knowing how many students to buy for, this will be a challenge! I'm hoping to hold out until Teacher Appreciation Days in August at Staples!
Along with those, I've been down to Montana while Mom defended her Masters' Thesis, spent a small fortune at book stores, spent another small fortune at fabric stores, and made a baby quilt (well, it still needs to have the edges bound). I've made a running trip back to P.H., spent time cleaning out my classroom, re-did my apartment (thanks, in most part, to Mom's hard work!), and divided resources to send all of the Grade Two materials to the Grades Two and Three teacher.
I have my new classroom blog up and running, our new travelling buddy off on his first adventure, and lots of little projects lined up for the summer (doll quilts, new curtains for the classroom, etc).
Did I mention Camp Meeting? Yep, Mom and I are leading out for the 3&4 year old division again (yay!). We'll head down next week to clean out spiders and mice in preparation for all of our little people.
I have to take two courses this summer. Neither one holds a whole lot of interest for me, but they are required. *sigh* At least I am able to challenge the exams! I just have to do a lot of studying.
It's been busy so far, and the summer is only going to get busier.
Teachers' Meetings, August 24-26. during this time I will be labeling pencil boxes, markers, crayons, pencil crayons, erasers, notebooks, duotangs, waterbottles, and everything else which will go on the student desks. Each. And. Every. Crayon. Seems ridiculous, but saves a lot of hassle later on.
Race up to P.H. for an intense five days of reorganizing and setting up my classroom, prepping for all of the students who will (hopefully!) have registered, packing up the school supply kits, photocopying madly, laminating like a maniac, slapping name tags everywhere, labeling everything in the room so that students see real language at work, tripping over the horrible carpet in my classroom (unless, by some miracle, it's been really repaired or replaced. That, however, would mean hauling everything out of my room and then bringing it back in), and then racing back to Kelowna before Friday, September 3.
Labour Day weekend is my cousin Danielle's wedding (for which I am official coordinator). Then, race back to P.H. and get back just in time for school to start on Tuesday, September 7. There will only be a month of consistency before I'm racing back to Kelowna for my brother Shaun's wedding to Sarah (for which I'm helping to make the cakes, taste tests and such to be done in August)!
I'm tired just looking at the list! My saving grace is that so much of the studying, course outlining, label-making, supply sorting, and quilting can be done outside. In the sun. Or, in the shade. In the mountains. At the beach. Without getting up at 5:00am.
*bliss*
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Rant...
Dear _________________,
When you come in for an unplanned and unscheduled "observation" on the first day back after a four day weekend (which was immediately preceded by 100th Day and then Valentine's Day celebrations, please remember that what you see is neither normal nor typically considered to be "acceptable" in my eyes.
Please do not comment on the disorder (or disaster) in my classroom. Don't "suggest" that I have my students help to clean up periodically throughout the day. Trust me. I pick my battles. This was NOT the day for that battle. Most days we have clean-ups before recess, lunch, PE, and after centers. Most days we have a routine.
Please do not pick up workbooks from the (admittedly messy) piles. Honestly, they are none of your business. Telling me that it appears that I am behind in leaving "teacher tracks", and that prompt corrections/responses are vital in primary grades is a given. What you do not know, because you didn't ask, is that I check the work carefully as they do it, making corrections as we go. The fact that I am behind in leaving stickers on pages is regrettable, but more regrettable is the fact that you didn't check to see if the answers were correct. Also, when there are incorrect answers on the page, it's probably because I was dealing with one of my "strong-willed" students. Again, it's called picking my battles. One page with wrong answers will not kill anyone.
Please do not tell me that you can see that I have "strong-willed" students in my classroom. I know that what you are really saying is that the kids are out of control. I know! Did you not see my face!?! It is also bothersome that you commented on the fact that you know that students play up when you are in the room (unannounced). I know it, you know it, they know it...don't rub it in.
Finally, please understand that 80% of my class is male. Not only that, they range in age from a young 5 to barely 8 years old. This means that every day is full of strong-willed children doing things that make normal human beings shudder with either disgust, fear, or dismay. Dealing with hitting is a normal part of my day. Rude jokes/words/pictures are part of my day. Tantrums are part of my day. Sometimes pretending not to see things is the best plan. If I occasionally ignore the much-deserved retaliatory punch, it's ok...everyone deserves pay-back sometimes.
Please know that I do appreciate that you noticed that I consistently follow through with consequences/discipline/expectations.
My bottom line is this: Unless you have taught my group of kids, in my classroom, on the first day back from holidays, then take a lesson from me...pick your battles.
Sincerely,
Shannon
When you come in for an unplanned and unscheduled "observation" on the first day back after a four day weekend (which was immediately preceded by 100th Day and then Valentine's Day celebrations, please remember that what you see is neither normal nor typically considered to be "acceptable" in my eyes.
Please do not comment on the disorder (or disaster) in my classroom. Don't "suggest" that I have my students help to clean up periodically throughout the day. Trust me. I pick my battles. This was NOT the day for that battle. Most days we have clean-ups before recess, lunch, PE, and after centers. Most days we have a routine.
Please do not pick up workbooks from the (admittedly messy) piles. Honestly, they are none of your business. Telling me that it appears that I am behind in leaving "teacher tracks", and that prompt corrections/responses are vital in primary grades is a given. What you do not know, because you didn't ask, is that I check the work carefully as they do it, making corrections as we go. The fact that I am behind in leaving stickers on pages is regrettable, but more regrettable is the fact that you didn't check to see if the answers were correct. Also, when there are incorrect answers on the page, it's probably because I was dealing with one of my "strong-willed" students. Again, it's called picking my battles. One page with wrong answers will not kill anyone.
Please do not tell me that you can see that I have "strong-willed" students in my classroom. I know that what you are really saying is that the kids are out of control. I know! Did you not see my face!?! It is also bothersome that you commented on the fact that you know that students play up when you are in the room (unannounced). I know it, you know it, they know it...don't rub it in.
Finally, please understand that 80% of my class is male. Not only that, they range in age from a young 5 to barely 8 years old. This means that every day is full of strong-willed children doing things that make normal human beings shudder with either disgust, fear, or dismay. Dealing with hitting is a normal part of my day. Rude jokes/words/pictures are part of my day. Tantrums are part of my day. Sometimes pretending not to see things is the best plan. If I occasionally ignore the much-deserved retaliatory punch, it's ok...everyone deserves pay-back sometimes.
Please know that I do appreciate that you noticed that I consistently follow through with consequences/discipline/expectations.
My bottom line is this: Unless you have taught my group of kids, in my classroom, on the first day back from holidays, then take a lesson from me...pick your battles.
Sincerely,
Shannon
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Highlights and Lowlights...
This week has been a very up and down sort of week! If you read my post from yesterday, you saw most of the lows. Having to start school again after the holiday was also a low! Sending two of my students to the principal in the first 5 minutes of the day today? Low.
There have been highs too. Today the entire class sat still and quietly for almost 10 minutes while we read a story at the end of the day. Trust me, this is a miracle! (Mom, it was the new book that you sent them. They were THRILLED to get a present from you!) The fact that no one has been late, no one has gotten sick, and no one has gotten hurt is also a high! The kindergartener's lucky day was also a definite high.
There are also the high/low moments. They manage to be both a downer and an upper at the same time. Being told by a sixth grade girl that my hair was "ummm...slightly frizzier than normal" was hilarious! It also sent me to a mirror. Having one of my darling kindergarten students drop her jaw upon finding out how old I am turning this month, and then exclaim in shock "TEACHER! You are YOUNGER than my GRANDPA!" was almost devastating, but also incredibly funny! Dear child, I will be turning 25. That's an "ouch".
Very few things, or people, make me laugh like my kindergarten students. While I love the first and second graders dearly, there is just something about a kindergartener! Today we had this conversation while working on our seat work.
Student 1: Teacher, just WHY aren't you married yet?
Teacher: Umm..I guess I'm just not ready. (What? It seemed like a safe answer at the time. No need to share my point of view on the eligibility of the options here in PH!)
Student 2: What, your mom won't allow it? (Direct quote, by the way.)
Teacher: ... (Really, I had no words)
Student 3: Oh come on, stop being mean to teacher!
Then, just minutes later, we had this gem of a conversation.
Student 3: Teacher! This is a "you" angel!
Teacher: Well, thank you A, that's very sweet of you!
Student 2: There are no teacher angels. That's just very unusual. (Again, a direct quote.)
*sigh*
Even on a rainy, whiny, hectic Thursday, they make me smile!
There have been highs too. Today the entire class sat still and quietly for almost 10 minutes while we read a story at the end of the day. Trust me, this is a miracle! (Mom, it was the new book that you sent them. They were THRILLED to get a present from you!) The fact that no one has been late, no one has gotten sick, and no one has gotten hurt is also a high! The kindergartener's lucky day was also a definite high.
There are also the high/low moments. They manage to be both a downer and an upper at the same time. Being told by a sixth grade girl that my hair was "ummm...slightly frizzier than normal" was hilarious! It also sent me to a mirror. Having one of my darling kindergarten students drop her jaw upon finding out how old I am turning this month, and then exclaim in shock "TEACHER! You are YOUNGER than my GRANDPA!" was almost devastating, but also incredibly funny! Dear child, I will be turning 25. That's an "ouch".
Very few things, or people, make me laugh like my kindergarten students. While I love the first and second graders dearly, there is just something about a kindergartener! Today we had this conversation while working on our seat work.
Student 1: Teacher, just WHY aren't you married yet?
Teacher: Umm..I guess I'm just not ready. (What? It seemed like a safe answer at the time. No need to share my point of view on the eligibility of the options here in PH!)
Student 2: What, your mom won't allow it? (Direct quote, by the way.)
Teacher: ... (Really, I had no words)
Student 3: Oh come on, stop being mean to teacher!
Then, just minutes later, we had this gem of a conversation.
Student 3: Teacher! This is a "you" angel!
Teacher: Well, thank you A, that's very sweet of you!
Student 2: There are no teacher angels. That's just very unusual. (Again, a direct quote.)
*sigh*
Even on a rainy, whiny, hectic Thursday, they make me smile!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
What happened to my good intentions?
They went out the window, to allow for planning, instructing, and enjoying my three-grade classroom experience! Yes, this year has been very busy. Last year I felt like I was getting into a groove with my two grades...grades one and two...despite all of the behaviour problems that were going on. The kids were learning, some were excelling, and I was hitting all of the necessary learning outcomes. Woohoo!
Then came this year. Welcome to the classroom, Kindergarteners! The groove is still forming. Sure, I am very blessed to have only grades one and two in the morning, for our serious academic time. This is a very small class (isolated community, small private school)...and the potential for learning is great. Most days, the actual learning is great too! I love my students dearly, and the day just gets more exciting when the kindergarteners arrive at lunch time.
What does Miss G. do? I boot the older kids to the lunch room, have approximately 20 minutes to eat, use the washroom (on a good day!), clean up the class room, photocopy, set up for kindergarten, and BOOM! There they are! I have 25 minutes with just kindergarten. On a good day we can accomplish calendar time, worship, and some sort of math lesson. On a bad day we can barely check the weather before the grade one and two students return.
I whole-heartedly advocate for a multi-grade classroom. The benefits for socialization are huge. The opportunities for learning are incredible. It's awesome! Most weeks I am sufficiently planned to have all three grades working and learning the correct material for their class, and I have (if I can toot my own horn for a moment) become pretty darn good at creating group activities which are differentiated enough for all of the students.
But every once in a while I would love to teach one grade. Just one. It really doesn't matter WHICH one. One set of Ministry of Education requirements. One set of learning outcomes. One set of lesson plans. One set of everything!
Why am I feeling this way today? Could it be the fact that I have 6 distinct reading groups (out of 10 students)? Could it be that I am in desperate need of a holiday?
Could it be that it is report card time and I have three distinct report cards to create, with a reporting requirement which nearly doubles my workload?
...I think that I have found my answer.
Then came this year. Welcome to the classroom, Kindergarteners! The groove is still forming. Sure, I am very blessed to have only grades one and two in the morning, for our serious academic time. This is a very small class (isolated community, small private school)...and the potential for learning is great. Most days, the actual learning is great too! I love my students dearly, and the day just gets more exciting when the kindergarteners arrive at lunch time.
What does Miss G. do? I boot the older kids to the lunch room, have approximately 20 minutes to eat, use the washroom (on a good day!), clean up the class room, photocopy, set up for kindergarten, and BOOM! There they are! I have 25 minutes with just kindergarten. On a good day we can accomplish calendar time, worship, and some sort of math lesson. On a bad day we can barely check the weather before the grade one and two students return.
I whole-heartedly advocate for a multi-grade classroom. The benefits for socialization are huge. The opportunities for learning are incredible. It's awesome! Most weeks I am sufficiently planned to have all three grades working and learning the correct material for their class, and I have (if I can toot my own horn for a moment) become pretty darn good at creating group activities which are differentiated enough for all of the students.
But every once in a while I would love to teach one grade. Just one. It really doesn't matter WHICH one. One set of Ministry of Education requirements. One set of learning outcomes. One set of lesson plans. One set of everything!
Why am I feeling this way today? Could it be the fact that I have 6 distinct reading groups (out of 10 students)? Could it be that I am in desperate need of a holiday?
Could it be that it is report card time and I have three distinct report cards to create, with a reporting requirement which nearly doubles my workload?
...I think that I have found my answer.
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