**Spring Break is OVER and it is crunch time! Although I've been doing my best all year, it really hit me that the school year will be over in 2 months, and that it is time to push and learn everything possible before they move on. In the hallway, another teacher was walking past and stopped to say: "What a NICE line--you are getting so big--you look like 1st graders!" They all smiled. I frowned. I will be SO sad to see this sweet class move on. They have taught me so much.
*I remember before the school year started, I constantly said to my husband: I'm so scared to teach kids how to read. I don't know how to do that-it's a really important thing, I don't want to mess them up!! When I taught 5th grade, I had kids reading at 1st grade reading levels. In math, reading, science, etc. I saw how IMPORTANT it is to have a good base--how important EVERY year of school is, and that we can't let kids slip through the cracks. I felt a lot of pressure in K--I wanted to make a solid base for their education. But I've slowly but surely figured out how to teach them how to read. And it has been the most rewarding thing I have EVER done.
*My class is so funny right now--most of them came in not knowing any letters/numbers/colors/shapes/etc. I now have half of the class reading on grade level or above (or WAY above) and half of the class that is really struggling. It is to the point that I differentiate not only small reading groups, but also center games, whole group activities and sight word/word family books. This=a LOT more work for me (I feel like the beginning of the year again when I was working late every night and running around like crazy), because I end up planning about 5-10 reading activities each day, but it is worth it, because it meets the students where they are, and pushes them to where they need to be. I'm so excited.
*Yesterday in Library Checkout, one of my students who was not on grade level before Christmas when I tested them, was READING his book to himself with great expression. Every word. And laughing at the funny parts. --"Mrs....I know how to read!" Me-I know--I taught you ;).
*At book buddies this week, I went around to my higher kids, and asked them to read their books to the 5th graders instead of the other way around. Their faces were full of pride as they read stories to the BIG kids :).
*On Monday after spring break, all of us teachers were dragging. Hard to get up/workout/get to school early...SO much to do--but when my students came in, they hugged me and were so excited to be back. "Mrs. I missed you SO much. I kept askin my momma when I could come back to school!!!" "Mrs...home is boring. I LOVE coming to school." :)
*It's really hard for me to have peace about how unfair things are in our society. "Mrs...my mom's in jail. The po-po took her last night. I miss her." Student crying-"Mrs....my mom hates me. She cusses me out all the time." A note from a parent: "Mrs...is there any way you can send some food home. I'm sorry to ask, but we ain't got no food right now. Anything would help." Those are just a few--I know I can't solve their problems. I know I'm not supposed to. At church on Sunday, I forgot most of what the pastor said, but one thing stuck with me--"Are you carrying your own torch and trying to save people on your own? Or are you trusting the Lord and working for Him where He wants you to be?" Sometimes I slip into feeling like I can change things for my kids. Like they NEED me. One of my sweet students who I feel like I counsel on a weekly basis is supposedly leaving our school next week. I could not accept the fact. Because I am the one who tells her that she is safe, she loves coming to school because I do not cuss at her or hit her...the thought of her leaving scares me so much. Me-You know I love you. Student-I know, Mrs. I love you too! It would be a LOT easier to trust if I knew that our society cared more for people and children in poverty. We are all guilty of closing our eyes to it. I guess this is why I am working as hard as I can these last 2 months. I am scared for some of these kids to be home all summer AND I'm scared of going back to my comfortable life for the summer--I don't want to forget or close my eyes.
*We are starting to write "How To.." books in writing. We did our first book on "How to Brush Your Teeth". I brought a toothbrush and toothpaste and sat by the sink. I told them I forgot how to brush my teeth and needed them to remind me how. They were cracking up as I did exactly what I said: (ex. Students-"Put water on the toothbrush. **I set a cup of water on top of the toothbrush. Students-NOOOO! Me-I need more detail! :)) After we finished writing our How to Books, I gave them each a toothbrush and toothpaste to take home and to read their books to their parents and brush their teeth. "Mrs....I'm so happy. I don't have one of these. When I get home-I'm gonna brush my teeth!!!"
*My doctor told me I was very dehydrated, so the next day, I made a point to drink a TON of water. I probably drank 10 glasses of water at school. But there is a REASON teachers don't drink a lot of water. You can't just leave a room full of 5 year olds to use the restroom. I had to have a teacher step in for a second while I ran to the bathroom, and had to take my class to the restroom 2 extra times in the day just so I could go! :) Lol. Sorry doc--back to how it was. That was ridiculous. Ok..TMI.
*It was "Wacky Hair Day" at school yesterday. On Thursday, I promised my kids that if they would do theirs, I would do mine. I wore my hair in crazy pigtails (promising my husband that I would take a shower and fix my hair before we went out that night! ha!). The class who has the most "wacky hair" wins a trophy, so I was counting the kids with wacky hair after taking attendance. Lol It was hard to tell whose hair was crazy on PURPOSE and whose was just crazy. :) Most of my girls have hair EVERYWHERE anyways. haha I also wore some casual tennis shoes with jeans yesterday. "Mrs....Your hair is funny and so are your shoes!!" It is so strange how bothered they are when I wear tennis shoes. Lol
*Happy March Madness. Happy Spring. Happy Weekend. I cleaned my house all morning so I could spend all afternoon outside with my hubby!
:)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
You want us to eat GREEN eggs?!
*SPRING BREAK!!!* What an amazing week off it has been. I don't think I realized how tired I was or remembered what it was like to "be a person" until this break. I probably told my husband 5 times a day how much I loved feeling like a person again. I wasn't tired, my house is now totally clean & organized, the laundry is done, my closets are organized, my fridge is full & we spent hours at the park everyday. Even though my husband's Spring Break was last week, it was an easy week for him, so we got to spend a lot of time together.
*I had a lot of "me" time this week--I sat on a chair in the sun and read dumb books, I watched TV, I ran a lot, played at the park with friends, we played board games, stayed up late talking to my husband every night, the windows have been open every day...yet I am think I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow.
*We were driving home last night from spending time with family, and it hit me how easy it is to forget. To forget the pain people live in, to forget poverty, to forget children in need. I have spent my whole week in "safe" neighborhoods...and it made me thankful that I get to be reminded of the pain of this world every day. I wish it didn't exist, but it does...and I think we keep it hidden from ourselves. Whether to make us feel safe or to help us not feel guilty, we don't put ourselves in circumstances that make us remember. Because of my job, I am hit in the face everyday with the reality of poverty. Because of my job and my love for my students, I have purpose for my life. I am excited to see my babies tomorrow.
* I was on Pinterest this week and found SO many games/activities I want to make this summer for Centers...Every time I saw something, I thought: My kids would LOVE that...And then it hit me--I won't have these same kids next year. It will be a different class. :( I told my husband, I still have SO much to teach them--I have to embrace every second for the rest of the year.
*A lot of friends have been asking me what I am doing this summer. My paycheck is divided out through the whole year, so thank the Lord, I don't have to work, but I think I would go crazy just cleaning/hanging out...So I am really praying about volunteering at a center that a lot of my kids go to...to help with reading, etc. I also really want to start a Bible Study/Breakfast once a week with the moms at one of the housing areas. My husband is a little worried that it is dangerous, but I really feel it would be an amazing opportunity to reach out to the moms and to help fill them up. A lot of those moms don't have anyone to talk to and have a LOT they deal with on a daily basis. There are VERY few men living in those housing areas....but I won't get started on my thoughts on that. We are also planning a small vacation to the beach & of course we'll go to a lot of weddings!
*We celebrated Dr. Seuss' bday and it was so fun. My husband came in to help with our party--they LOVE him. When he left the room to go get me something from the teacher's lounge, they were all really worried--"Where'd he go?!" I read them Green Eggs & Ham and they drew a picture and wrote where THEY would eat Green Eggs & Ham...I took their pictures dressed as Cat in the Hat--and then at the end of the day, we made Green Eggs & Ham. I brought a skillet & they all sat around me in a circle. I help up an egg, and asked them if they knew where eggs we eat come from....They guessed everything from ducks, to birds...they had no idea. I told them they were from chickens and then broke it open to show the inside. I scrambled them a little, and then let every kid whisk it a little. They were SO cute and interested. We then cooked it, and talked about what happened as it started to get hotter. When they were almost done, I added the "magic" potion-(Green food coloring). They were SO grossed out to see green eggs. I then had them go back to their seats and my husband picked the "quietest" kids to help pass out juice/plates. We then had a FEAST of eggs/ham & juice. I bought a lot of extra, so they would be full going home. They scarfed it down. One student however, was so scared of the eggs, she was almost in tears. The other kids tried to convince her they were good, but she was too freaked out. :)
*At the end of the day, we packed up our stuff, and they were sure to remind me to give them their granola bars on the way out the door. :) THANK you to my Aunt & Grandma for buying those for my class! This week we are going to make a thank you card & a picture with all of the kids holding their bars to take home! They bought so many, that I have given one to every kid, EVERY day before they go home for the last 2 weeks-and I think I have enough to do that for the rest of the school year!! "Mrs, I LOVE those things. You like them too, huh?! They're REAL good. I always eat it when I get home!"
*The day before spring break, it was raining. So instead of taking them out for an extra recess, I brought things to make mini-fruit pizzas. I frosted the cookie for them and they put the fruit on it. I had them count out 10 pieces of fruit and then try to make a number sentence with it--"2 strawberries + 1 banana + 7 blueberries=10 pieces of fruit. It fit in to school that way, right?! :) "Mrs--I sure wish my mom could cook like you."
*A few principals came in to observe my centers last week. They wanted to see the transitions/games...I warned the kids that there might be some adults in the room and that if the principals came up to them to ask what they were doing, they would answer and talk to them (I thought they might be a little freaked out). The kids did such a great job. The principals were so impressed and spent quite a bit of time watching them work.
*I have really been investing my time recently in working on my centers/small group time. Testing my students for grades really affirmed how my kids are at SUCH different levels and that small groups are imperative. In order to get my kids ready for 1st grade, and for them each to reach their full potential--We have to kick it up this last quarter. On our inservice day before Spring Break, I ran around like a crazy person cleaning my room, organizing, getting stuff ready for next week, but also working on my centers. I color labeled each center game to correspond with their reading group color. (ex. High kids=blue, medium high=green, low kids=red, medium low=orange). The kids don't really know or care why they were divided up as they are, but now my kids who are reading hard books, have very challenging games that I get to teach them in small groups and they can play at their centers, and the kids who are still having trouble sounding out basic words have games at their levels. I also found a few stuffed animals in my basement that I am going to put at the library center. At that center they have lots of books in tubs divided up by category (bears, rabbits, school, etc.) but they also have baskets of books from our small group time at THEIR level in a bag for them. If they want to hold a stuffed animal and read to it--they have to read books out of their bag--actually read to them. :) I'm excited to see the kids continue to grow this quarter.
**Our TV has been on constantly with basketball--day and night. As I type this, my husband is reading his Bible & the TV is on mute as he ocassionally looks up to check the scores. Gotta love March Madness.
*I know it's going to be ROUGH to get up early tomorrow/work all day/my house will not be as clean/not so much time to cook/not much QT with my hubby...but at church this morning, the second I started to sing, tears started flowing down my cheeks. I don't know why--maybe all the stuff going on with my family & my sister, maybe the unfair things my kids experience everyday....but I know it's time to go back to work--for my sake and theirs. We have a few more months of them cracking me up & me teaching them everything I can.
I LOVE spring--windows open/fruit slushies/time at the park/time on the porch...the Lord is good!
:)
*I had a lot of "me" time this week--I sat on a chair in the sun and read dumb books, I watched TV, I ran a lot, played at the park with friends, we played board games, stayed up late talking to my husband every night, the windows have been open every day...yet I am think I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow.
*We were driving home last night from spending time with family, and it hit me how easy it is to forget. To forget the pain people live in, to forget poverty, to forget children in need. I have spent my whole week in "safe" neighborhoods...and it made me thankful that I get to be reminded of the pain of this world every day. I wish it didn't exist, but it does...and I think we keep it hidden from ourselves. Whether to make us feel safe or to help us not feel guilty, we don't put ourselves in circumstances that make us remember. Because of my job, I am hit in the face everyday with the reality of poverty. Because of my job and my love for my students, I have purpose for my life. I am excited to see my babies tomorrow.
* I was on Pinterest this week and found SO many games/activities I want to make this summer for Centers...Every time I saw something, I thought: My kids would LOVE that...And then it hit me--I won't have these same kids next year. It will be a different class. :( I told my husband, I still have SO much to teach them--I have to embrace every second for the rest of the year.
*A lot of friends have been asking me what I am doing this summer. My paycheck is divided out through the whole year, so thank the Lord, I don't have to work, but I think I would go crazy just cleaning/hanging out...So I am really praying about volunteering at a center that a lot of my kids go to...to help with reading, etc. I also really want to start a Bible Study/Breakfast once a week with the moms at one of the housing areas. My husband is a little worried that it is dangerous, but I really feel it would be an amazing opportunity to reach out to the moms and to help fill them up. A lot of those moms don't have anyone to talk to and have a LOT they deal with on a daily basis. There are VERY few men living in those housing areas....but I won't get started on my thoughts on that. We are also planning a small vacation to the beach & of course we'll go to a lot of weddings!
*We celebrated Dr. Seuss' bday and it was so fun. My husband came in to help with our party--they LOVE him. When he left the room to go get me something from the teacher's lounge, they were all really worried--"Where'd he go?!" I read them Green Eggs & Ham and they drew a picture and wrote where THEY would eat Green Eggs & Ham...I took their pictures dressed as Cat in the Hat--and then at the end of the day, we made Green Eggs & Ham. I brought a skillet & they all sat around me in a circle. I help up an egg, and asked them if they knew where eggs we eat come from....They guessed everything from ducks, to birds...they had no idea. I told them they were from chickens and then broke it open to show the inside. I scrambled them a little, and then let every kid whisk it a little. They were SO cute and interested. We then cooked it, and talked about what happened as it started to get hotter. When they were almost done, I added the "magic" potion-(Green food coloring). They were SO grossed out to see green eggs. I then had them go back to their seats and my husband picked the "quietest" kids to help pass out juice/plates. We then had a FEAST of eggs/ham & juice. I bought a lot of extra, so they would be full going home. They scarfed it down. One student however, was so scared of the eggs, she was almost in tears. The other kids tried to convince her they were good, but she was too freaked out. :)
*At the end of the day, we packed up our stuff, and they were sure to remind me to give them their granola bars on the way out the door. :) THANK you to my Aunt & Grandma for buying those for my class! This week we are going to make a thank you card & a picture with all of the kids holding their bars to take home! They bought so many, that I have given one to every kid, EVERY day before they go home for the last 2 weeks-and I think I have enough to do that for the rest of the school year!! "Mrs, I LOVE those things. You like them too, huh?! They're REAL good. I always eat it when I get home!"
*The day before spring break, it was raining. So instead of taking them out for an extra recess, I brought things to make mini-fruit pizzas. I frosted the cookie for them and they put the fruit on it. I had them count out 10 pieces of fruit and then try to make a number sentence with it--"2 strawberries + 1 banana + 7 blueberries=10 pieces of fruit. It fit in to school that way, right?! :) "Mrs--I sure wish my mom could cook like you."
*A few principals came in to observe my centers last week. They wanted to see the transitions/games...I warned the kids that there might be some adults in the room and that if the principals came up to them to ask what they were doing, they would answer and talk to them (I thought they might be a little freaked out). The kids did such a great job. The principals were so impressed and spent quite a bit of time watching them work.
*I have really been investing my time recently in working on my centers/small group time. Testing my students for grades really affirmed how my kids are at SUCH different levels and that small groups are imperative. In order to get my kids ready for 1st grade, and for them each to reach their full potential--We have to kick it up this last quarter. On our inservice day before Spring Break, I ran around like a crazy person cleaning my room, organizing, getting stuff ready for next week, but also working on my centers. I color labeled each center game to correspond with their reading group color. (ex. High kids=blue, medium high=green, low kids=red, medium low=orange). The kids don't really know or care why they were divided up as they are, but now my kids who are reading hard books, have very challenging games that I get to teach them in small groups and they can play at their centers, and the kids who are still having trouble sounding out basic words have games at their levels. I also found a few stuffed animals in my basement that I am going to put at the library center. At that center they have lots of books in tubs divided up by category (bears, rabbits, school, etc.) but they also have baskets of books from our small group time at THEIR level in a bag for them. If they want to hold a stuffed animal and read to it--they have to read books out of their bag--actually read to them. :) I'm excited to see the kids continue to grow this quarter.
**Our TV has been on constantly with basketball--day and night. As I type this, my husband is reading his Bible & the TV is on mute as he ocassionally looks up to check the scores. Gotta love March Madness.
*I know it's going to be ROUGH to get up early tomorrow/work all day/my house will not be as clean/not so much time to cook/not much QT with my hubby...but at church this morning, the second I started to sing, tears started flowing down my cheeks. I don't know why--maybe all the stuff going on with my family & my sister, maybe the unfair things my kids experience everyday....but I know it's time to go back to work--for my sake and theirs. We have a few more months of them cracking me up & me teaching them everything I can.
I LOVE spring--windows open/fruit slushies/time at the park/time on the porch...the Lord is good!
:)
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