Meet the parents

I must say that the report card conferences have been a very "interesting" experience. I met a huge range of parents. There were ones that were so pleasant and you could see that they truly cared about their children and were helping them out at home. While there were ones who could care less about their children's studies. The conferences were supposed to only last about 15 minutes top. I had one that went for around 45 minutes. Let's just say that it was quite an uncomfortable conference...the parents were very defensive and you could cut the tension between them and my co-op with a butter knife. But I did get to experience a lot and learn a lot as well, so the long week was worth it in the end.

One of my students will be going into a special ed class starting on Monday. It was really sad actually, I wanted to cry when I was talking to him. While we were getting all of his materials ready for the move, he said to me, "I don't want to go to the other classroom. I want to stay here. Are you moving me because I'm bad?" My heart just dropped when he asked me this and I had to keep my cool. I explained to him that it had nothing to do with his behavior, it was simply that he needed extra help and this new classroom would be an even better experience for him. I did tell him that everyone would miss him greatly but that he still could eat lunch and play with his old classmates. Granted that he has been one of my more difficult students, but in all honesty, he's a sweet kid. He's actually quite a funny kid, so many times I want to crack up at what he says and does but I don't because that would just egg him on more. I feel that moving him into the new classroom now isn't going to help because it's too late into the school year. Plus, the other classroom already has too many students in there and I don't think he's going to get much more individualized help. I'm just hoping that by having a male figure as a role model, as well as the new environment and dynamics, maybe it'll help him out in someway.

On a different note, how do you know when you're overworking yourself? How about when the principal comes into your class and tells you to leave, to go home already, and pretend that the school doesn't exist in your life? Yep, I had a ton of work to do today and everyone was leaving early because of the end of conferences and the beautiful weather. So she walks in, telling me to go home and enjoy the weather! I did end up taking her advice and I just packed up their notebooks and the work I needed to do for the weekend.

Our frog displays

We're working on a huge tadpole/frog research project because we got the tadpoles in our room. The students are writing questions and researching the answers and will complete a book on frogs. I decided to draw frogs and tadpoles, write the facts that they learned on them, and put them all over the pond. I also made a huge frog with some key terms they would need to know. The plates are on the life cycle of a frog. Cute huh? You'd be amazed by all the facts that they know. I've actually become quite the frog nerd with my random facts and frog jokes.

Fishy lanterns

Check your baggage at the door

I had an incredibly horrible Sunday night which ended up creating one of "those" days for Monday. Those who I spoke with know what went down. All that I'll say is that I broke down over shoes. I couldn't find my boots in the morning and I just started crying hysterically. I know it wasn't about the boots, but I guess that event was the seal breaker. Now I can laugh at myself because I must have looked like a 5 year old, sitting on my staircase crying over my boots. It was definitely hard going into school, especially when I had an observation ad well. But I did my best to calm down and look presentable. I put on my game face and walked into the office but I was definitely still feeling really crappy. However, the moment the kids walked in with smiles, I knew I had to let it all go for them. It's definitely a hard thing to do but you just have to tell yourself that no matter what's going on, there's nothing you can do about it at that very moment so you just need to let it go. Also, whatever the case may be, the kids need you more. I still can't believe I lasted a few weeks ago when I was extremely sick. It was so bad that I couldn't stand up on my own. I was either holding myself up with one of their desks or leaning against the chalkboard.

Realize that the moment that you step into class, you now have a great responsibility and must put your life on hold for others.

Friend interviews

They each got to interview a friend and type up a story about them. It's so amazing what they can do with the computers. I definitely am not Apple friendly. I sucked it up for my computer based ed class but other than that, I'm a PC lover.

Kids say the darnest things

There were some pictures of signs in the text and I was asking my students to tell me what they thought each one meant. Well, we came across the handicap parking sign and I asked for someone to explain it. What does one girl say? She says, "Oh, that's a parking spot for only grandmas and grandpas!" It was so cute and I couldn't help myself but snicker a bit. But I did explain to them that handicap doesn't go hand in hand with being old. There was also a railroad crossing sign and one of the boys started to tell a story about it being against the law to play on railroad tracks. I thought that his whole point was that his parent's friend got in trouble with the police for playing on them (since this was how he started the story). How did his story end? He said, "My dad's friend was playing on the railroad tracks. It's against the law to play in those areas. Well, a train started coming, and he didn't see it, so he died." I realized where he was going with his story but it was too late to try and stop it.

I had forgotten about this but last week one of the girls was so funny. We now have tadpoles in our room and we started with 7 but 3 of them didn't make it. Strangely, the 3 that died were all brought in by the same girl. She's really smart and I love her to pieces. So she realized that they were the ones she brought in because her 3 were much fatter than the other 4. What does she say to me after she found out they died? She goes, "My mother wasted $15 for nothing!!" Haha, but I explained to her that we got a chance to observe them and that it just taught us that nothing is guaranteed in life.

I was teaching about rules and laws for social studies today. To begin the lesson, I thought of a really good introduction. I told them that we would start with a game first. I knew I had to pick a student that would be cooperative but also not flip out on me once they realized what I was doing. I had one of the boys come up to the board to play tic-tac-toe with me. I told him he could go first but as he was starting, I started marking as well. Then I would take two turns in a row, I would erase his marks, I would change his marks to my marks, I would be the X's and the O's, etc. As we were doing this, the whole class was flipping out screaming, "You're cheating!! You can't do that! That's not fair! No one will like you or play with you if you cheat!" Luckily, the boy I picked out to help reacted how I thought he would. He wasn't happy about it but he kept on playing. I was so pleased how it all worked out because it got them to really understand the importance of rules. (Yes, I'm giving myself a pat on the shoulder).

Guardian dragon

This dragon is so HUGE! There's actually two of them, one of the other classrooms has one too. I think the kids did an awesome job coloring it in and putting on the gem stones and stuff.

Footlicious


A work of art, as the sales lady called it.

An awesome deal

This is very sad on my part but when I've had a really crappy week and I'm feeling really down, buying something always makes me feel better. Granted with the money situation, it's not always the wisest move but it's not like I do it all the time though. So I drowned my sorrows in sandals this weekend. Look at it this way, if my feet are happy, then I'm bound to be happy! I absolutely love the wooden pair and they'll be my "not allowed to buy anymore" pair. The floral heel pair was more of a spur of a moment buy. They were on sale and I also had a $20 coupon that was going to expire soon so I grabbed the deal. Plus, since my feet are so freaking tiny, I really should just get shoes when I find them in my size! (Yes, this is what I tell myself to make it alright).

50,000? More like 55,000

It's official, I suffer from mileage amnesia (4th time in a row). Ask me on any random occasion and I can spit out the mileage on my car. But once the mechanic asks me for it during an oil change, my mind draws a blank. I'm talking about giving the guy the "huh?" face while trying really hard to scrounge up a number. What's even worse is that I always give a ridiculous number that is nowhere even close! It sucks because most of the mechanics I come across already have these preconceived notions that girls know jackschitt about cars. Then with my response, I just help reinforce these stereotypes.

Sexy technology


Cordless baby, here I come!

I finally used up the $90 I had in reward certificates from BestBuy today. Behold, the sexy and sleek gift I brought back home! This keyboard and mouse was supposed to be $150 before taxes and I got it for around $30 after the rebate and certificates. Sweet deal! I was like a little kid walking out of the store, carrying it in my arms and singing, "Mmm, I love technology!" I was pleased that it came with a charging dock (yes, I'm that lazy that I don't want to have to change the batteries for the mouse). What are the coolest features on it? The LCD panel and the left hand panel! The LCD displays the names of the songs that I have playing, calculator calculations, and a bunch of other stuff that I haven't figured out yet. Oooh, and the left side panel is touch sensitive....I can slide the volume and zoom on it, as well as play and go back/forth with songs. The funny thing is that I didn't enter the store wanting to buy the computer accessories. I started with MP7 and iDog, then it was MP7 and Will & Grace Season 3, then I switched to MP7 and a Logitech mouse, then finally I decided to go with the cordless set.

I got to see Failure to Launch today. I'll watch SJP anyway I can, can you tell I'm in Sex and the City withdrawl? I liked it, it was cute. I know critics ripped it but it made me laugh, especially SJP's roomie in the movie, she was a strange one. It was nice to see Kathy Bates clothed though...haha. Though I can't say that her hubby in the movie keeps his on. All I can say is saggy and pastey white.

Stars of tomorrow

We had a talent show at school on Friday. There were 4 of my girls in the show, 2 of them played the piano and the other 2 did a ballet act. They had on the cutest outfits! So many of the kids were so talented. There were these 2 sisters who sang acapella and their voices were amazing. I think much better than a lot of the "so-called" singers out there. There were also a lot of dance numbers where the students choreographed their own routines. However, most of the dance moves I thought were so inappropriate. Lots of shaking and they were doing the stripper dips. It's nice being the young teacher there, most of the other teachers had no clue what any of the songs were. Shamefully, I recognized all of them. Even the song that came from the end of the Lizzie Maguire movie.

Completely off topic though, there's something I'm a bit annoyed about. I talk to the other student teacher next door and we're pretty friendly with one another. Like I had mentioned earlier on, there's a huge difference in the amount of work that we both have to do and choose to do. Well, I just found out that she had borrowed some of my posters and taken pictures of my work and is putting it into her portfolio. I don't even know how to address something like that. I'm cool with sharing some stuff but not when you are going to pass it off as your own. If she was like my best friend or something, I'd be alright with that but that's not the case. I wouldn't want this to blow up or have me come off as unwilling to share, that kind of thing.

Round 1: science kits vs. me

As I was walking towards the back of the classroom this afternoon, one of the giant ass science kits fell over on me! Picture one of those giant tubs filled with bags of sand, rocks, clay, gravel, etc. The thing probably weighed over 20 pounds. I was completely pinned down to the floor with the tub on me and all the crap inside was everywhere. My kids freaked out, I think they all thought I was dead. I did feel dead for a moment because I just laid there not moving. Eventually I was able to get myself up and put everything back in. I wasn't even anywhere near the box so I still have no clue what caused it to fall. But it's so on the ground right now because I do not want that happening again! I don't see any bruises on me yet but I'm definitely feeling pain and soreness now.

Bathroom etiquette

Why can't women lock their bathroom doors?!? Twice this past week I've opened up the door on someone. I was in the faculty bathroom on Friday and it's usually very dark in there. So I went to push open the stall doors and bang, there's a teacher sitting there. I freaked out and was so embarrassed! Thank goodness she quickly covered up herself or I would have been a peeper. Luckily, she teaches like 4th or 5th grade so she's upstairs. That way I won't be running into her all the time. This happened again at the restaurant yesterday. Strangely for a nice restaurant, their bathroom was so tiny and only had 2 stalls. Beth told me to try and push the handicap stall one so I did and woah nelly, there was someone in there! I thought that maybe the lock was broken but when I went in there, the lock worked. Why is it so hard to lock your door?

Stuffed and entertained

Earlier this morning I was at the library dropping off a huge amount of books. As I was piling the books onto the desk, this guy kept staring at me and saying "Woah..." as I took more and more books out. So what line does he decide to use? He says to me, "It's so sexy when a woman reads!" I respond by saying that they were children books. Yeah that's real hot. Why would he think that line would even work?

I finally got to go into the city for our play. Instead of exchanging Xmas gifts this year, the girls and I decided that we would go out and do something. We made reservations for Carmine's for dinner over a month ago. We could only get a time slot for 3:30 so I had dinner at that time today. The food was pretty good. All the dishes there are served family style so one dish could really feed 3 people. We got a pasta dish, a chicken dish, and of course dessert.

Originally we had wanted to see Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate but they ended up canceling the show for the start of the new year. Instead, we got tickets to see I Love You Because. It's a small theater but I liked that it was more intimate. We were literally like 5 feet away from the stage. I loved the play! It was really funny and sweet.

A rant

I'm not going to get into details about the recent behaviors and demands. One way to sum it up is: (insert scream here). What am I most annoyed about? How about the fact that I am no longer able to photocopy anything? The district took away the photocopying machine. We all got nasty notes in the mailboxes saying: "Blah blah blah, now you must suffer the consequences of your actions." Uhm yeah, who's really suffering? The kids. It's not like we run off personal stuff. It would have been nice to be given a warning, like the machine will be taken away in a week, get your stuff copied. Nope, we got the letter and the machine was gone.

There's been this boy who's always absent. I know that if you miss a certain amount of days, you're in danger of failing. So this is a serious issue. Well, today the mother came in and said that the reason for his absence was because he had "gonga-rrhea". Oh yes, I said, gonga-rrhea. When I first heard it, I thought she meant gonorrhea. I was thinking, "What?!? Why would a 1st grader have that?" Then she started talking about the symptoms and I finally realized that she meant diarrhea. It was so hard to not start laughing. The thing is, she was saying that she's pulling him out for home school. Uhm yeah, how can a woman who thinks diarrhea is called gongarrhea (she kept repeating this so it's not like it was a slip) be allowed to homeschool her child? Not only that, we know that she's been the one doing his homework (because it's her handwriting) but the thing is, all the answers are always wrong. Really wrong. I just don't get it. I don't even know if the school has any say over her competency.

A few weeks ago, I had signed for these supposed "live" samples that would be coming in for science. I knew that we would be getting guppies. Uhm yeah, yesterday my co-op gave me the letter listing what would be coming. Guess who is flipping out and is probably going to hurl herself over a cliff before she'll want to be touching these specimens? The list included: pill bugs, bess beetles, and millipedes!!!! I saw a picture of all these things, they are huge and so gross! I have a huge phobia, I don't know how I am going to deal with this. It's one thing that I've been keeping my cool when 1 or 2 are creeping around the classroom. But having these huge freaky things is another thing! I am just keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be done with student teaching before those things come in.

Our frog display

We're working on a huge tadpole/frog research project because we got the tadpoles in our room. The students are writing questions and researching the answers and will complete a book on frogs. I decided to draw frogs and tadpoles, write the facts that they learned on them, and put them all over the pond. I also made a huge frog with some key terms they would need to know. The plates are on the life cycle of a frog.