Another student's mother died this week. What a horrible thing to happen to a nine year old. My heart breaks for her.
Don't have much time math and science assessments are calling. Anyway, my kids did their first podcast today. I'm more than a little excited about it. Click the title of this post and it should download. They did a great job.
I'm spending less and less time teaching and more and more time doing required assessments. Again, that's another rant for another day.
I will leave you with a quote from one of my little darlings this morning. It will be replacing my kids quote post haste.
Wise Beyond His Years: "Mrs. my stomach hurts."
Me: "Oh?"
WBHY: "Yeah, I think I have cramps."
Me: snort
Currently Listening: "Ever, Ever After" Carri.e Un.derwood - Enchanted Soundtrack
Confession: My kids have me completely hooked on Ha.nnah Mon.tana, the Jo.nas Brothers, and the High School Mu.sical songs. So much so that those are the songs I'm buying with my iTunes Christmas gift cards. What can I say? I'm a Disney girl through and through. If you make it a Disney musical, I'm done. I had no chance of resistance.
A New Year’s meme, swiped from Leesepea.
Last Thursday, I was starting to get sick when LMK's kids came down to meet my kids. My kids had a ball. I think LMK's kids had a ball. We made snow globes, drank cider, and chatted. After LMK's kids left my kids asked if they could come back tomorrow. So I think my kids were impressed.
However, it never fails. Every year around Christmas, I get sick. One year it was pneumonia. The next it was strep. Another it was the stomach flu. EVERY DANG YEAR PEOPLE!
You guessed it, I'm sick again. I made it three months without getting so much as a sniffle. Through kid's illnesses. Staph infection outbreaks. Everything. And now, I have bronchitis. Of course.
I'm not dumb though...well, by the end of this story, I may have changed my mind about that. I went to the doctor Monday hoping for antibiotics and something for the coughing. My doctor didn't give me any antibiotics (I have some leftover ones that I'm contemplating taking anyway) but she gave me some cough stuff with codeine. Me likey. She also finally switched my blood pressure medicine because my old one made me cough.
I went home, took my meds, and went to sleep. I woke up like this:
LMK assured me that it "wasn't that noticeable". In almost 7 years of marriage the man has learned the appropriate times to lie to me. It didn't really matter anyway as I was going to school. Yesterday was gingerbread house day. If I wasn't there, they didn't get to make their houses and they'd by heartbroken. I knew I was in trouble when everyone I greeted said, "Oh my God, what happened?" As the day got on, it got bigger and bigger. I sent LMK a picture message and he decided we were going to the ER after school. I felt so miserable at that point, I was ok with that.
The ER doc knew exactly what the problem was. Evidently, it is a classic reaction to blood pressure medicine. They pumped me full of steroids and Benadryl (which do NOT make me tired, unfortunately) watched me for an hour. One hundred fifty dollars and a script for prednisone later, off I went.
This morning, my lip still looks puffy, but it's feeling better. I'm not staying home today either. It's movie day! I'm taking my class to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Like hell I'd let a sub take that job. I've been looking forward to this for a month. I'm going to the movie.
And so begins another Christmas season.
So.
The students got wind of the "let's cut the soccer program" idea. Parents have been calling and complaining. Looks like soccer with remain next year. Ha! It's times like this that I love LMK's school. Rich people threaten to pull money and the administration rolls over. Heh.
LMK and I went to the girl's basketball game this evening. We left after a quarter. I have no problem going and supporting several of his girls who are playing basketball. However, I cannot stand the girl's basketball coach. He's a whiny little bitch. There really is no other way to phrase it.
First, the student fans were shouting "shoot it" to a girl standing outside the key. She was open. She shot the ball and missed. He freaked out. He started screaming at the students. "Hey, you don't coach my team! I coach my team." He looked incredibly stupid and very childish. Me, I just bit my lip. LMK later said he was proud I didn't say anything. I've become a soccer fan. I can harass a coach with the best of them. It took a lot not to say anything.
One of the girl's on the team is also a soccer player. Her parents were there. They made a comment to LMK about how glad they were that he didn't scream at the kids like that. He's nice and calm. That's because he's a good coach. (Don't worry, I didn't inform them of that little fact. I'll let them draw their own conclusions)
But the end of it for me was when they got a technical (whatever that is) because one of the girls had a different number on than the number listed on the roster. He screamed at one of the managers (from another country) because it was her fault. Uh, `scuze me? Who is the head coach? It didn't help that this girl is sweet and wonderful and I love her to death.
It kills me that the administration thinks this guy is a "great coach". He's a prick and whiny bitch.
Bad coaches, just like bad teachers, give everyone a bad name.
Twice in one week, you say. There must be extenuating circumstances. You're right! Long live the snow pony! Our first snow day of the school year. Even though I know we'll have to make it up, it's wonderful to be able to bum around the house. Clean the house. Wait for my new clothes (which all fit) and generally relax for a day. And those lesson plans for next week. Finito!
The update list:
I finally picked up a book yesterday after a 5 month dry spell. It's the longest I've gone without reading since 4th grade. Honestly, I'm so busy and so exhausted most of the time I just can't concentrate on a book. However, I ordered this book as a fluke in my class's November book order. What can I say? The title caught my eye.
I knew the author was familiar (I finally figured out she wrote S.hiloh, which I can't bring myself to read after LMK confessed S.hiloh dies). Well, I read the back cover to see if I could figure out what other books she's written and I read the following exerpt:
"There really is a annual Stawberry Festival in the town of Buckhannon, West Virginia, which serves as the model for Buckman in this series."
Holy hell! LMK is from that town. You better believe I'm making it my goal to get every one of these books now. It's really neat reading about places I've actually been. It's almost as cool as when I found the name of where we're living now in a S.isterhood of the Traveling Pants book.
Back to grading math quizzes. Joy.
Actually, it's just a tale of one kitty. Hokie. Hokie tends to get neglected in the picture department because he doesn't generally like to "pose". He's happy sleeping under the covers or on LMK's red blanket and coming to be petted at night as LMK falls asleep. However, he was interested in the new camera, so I was able to get some pictures of him. Click `em to big `em.
Hey, Mom, what is that you have? A new camera? It sure looks pretty!
All right, you can take my picture while I sit in the box it came in - don't tell Socks or Ollie.
This is my happy face.
All right, Mom. A little personal space, please.
MOTHER! Enough!
Better late than never.
Things I am thankful for (direct from the activity I did with my students):
Since LMK is still swooning from his trip to the MLS finals yesterday and I'm off to school to worry myself into an ulcer until my meeting with the administration today. I leave you a meme. Stolen from Erin.
A Little About Us
The basic facts:
Who is your significant other? Lawn Mower King
How long have you been together? We met when I was 17 and he was 19. We've been together ever since. I'm 27 now. You do the math.
Dating/Engaged/Married? Married
How old is your S.O.? 29, going for the big 3 - 0 next February
What’s his/her middle name? James
Who eats more? It's usually a toss up. Depends on what day you catch us.
Who says “I love you” first? Him. He says it all the time. I'm very lucky that way.
Who weighs more? Sigh... me
Who sings better? Me!
Who’s older? Him. Ha!
Who’s smarter? Him, definitely. Not feeling too smart lately.
Whose temper is worse? Mine. I rant and rave. He seethes silently until he finally blows.
Who does the laundry? We share those responsibilities most of the time. Lately, him more than me due to busy-ness.
Who does the dishes? Usually me, unless there is a huge pile. Then he usually makes them disappear for me. He will also unload the dishwasher - which I hate.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does.
Whose feet are bigger? We wear the same size which means I can wear his shoes and he can wear mine. I'll give you a minute to picture that in your head. Hehehehe.
Whose hair is longer? He works for a military school. Mine.
Who’s better with the computer? Depends on what program you're talking about. Mathmatical/technical - him. Creative/ froufy - Me
Who mows the lawn? He does most of it now. Lawn Mower Queen HATES push mowing.
Who pays the bills? I do. I can work the online banking and Quicken faster. However, when I get really out of sync, he balances the checkbook.
Who cooks dinner? The crockpot! We take turns otherwise. He's a pretty good cook, except for chili powder in the spaghetti sauce. Ick.
Who drives when you are together? Me. I'm a control freak.
Who pays when you go out to dinner? Me, but the money all comes from the same place.
Who’s the most stubborn? Me, hands down.
Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong? LMK, even when he doesn't think he's wrong.
Whose parents do you see more? His. In fact, we've seen them more since we moved to VA then we saw them in the 4 years we lived in Ohio. We're the exact same distance away. Things that make you go hmmm.
Who named your dog? Me! The funsucker wouldn't let me name her Ariel Belle (I was going through a Disney phase), but he would agree to Lucy. He also wouldn't let me change Socks' name to Mickey. No fun, I tell you.
Who kisses who first? Me, he's not much for kissing. He's a hugger/cuddler.
Who asked who out? I talked to him first and drove to meet him first, so I guess me?
Who’s more sensitive? That'd be me again.
Who’s taller? He is, by 4 inches. (The way he carries on you'd think it was 4 feet)
Who has more friends? We have a lot of common friends, so I'll say it's a tie.
Who has more siblings? I do...he's an only child. I've got a brother.
Who wears the pants in the relationship? LMK does a great job of letting me think it's me. He generally won't buck the system unless it's something he feels strongly about and then I usually defer to him.
Just another reason to love Virginia Tech.
Well, this and they beat the stuffing out of Miami. Mwahahahaha!
So, LMK finally got his fall coaching check. Ching, ching! I've been wanting a new digital camera for months. We (and by we, I mean I) decided we'd use this check toward a new camera.
Now that the time has come, I can't decide.
I've got it in my head that I want this one. But little brother has some great things to say about Canons.
Here are the things I KNOW I want in my next camera:
While my kids' first movie finishes saving I thought I would pop in here for a quick hi.
This week is going well. The school carnival is over (what a long day). I had a relatively nice day today, so I'm in a good mood. Smarty made my day as we lined up to go home. Check out her quote over in the left top corner.
First quarter tests are coming up and I'm getting nervous. It's like the dang state tests four times a year! Sheesh! Conferences next week. In-laws this weekend. Eep!
How is everyone else's week?
I'm still here. Things are better on a day to day basis. Some days are great. Others not so much. My first formal observation is over and I did well. So that's good news. Conferences are coming up and I'm the only one (besides the other new teacher) that seems to be getting ready for them. They're "optional" so it's up to us to schedule everything. Gee, thanks. Not too impressed with my team leader/mentor lately, but I'm sure I'll get over it.
I've decided we're going to read The Chocolate T.ouch in reading instead of the stupid basal (which is too hard for my kids anyway), so I'm gathering stuff for that. Any suggestions would be great.
Have a great weekend!
Yes, I'm still here. Hanging by a thread.
You know that graphic they show every first year teacher about the stages first year teachers go through? Well, I think I'm ahead of the game.
I hit Survival really quickly and I'm coasting at, what feels like, jet speed into Disillusionment. People keep throwing papers and meaningless testing at me. Things I "have to do" yet, we don't use for anything. I hate doing assessments just because everyone does them. Couldn't we get some more definite reasons why I have to give these tests?
Plus, I'm supposed to test kids during class. Uh, yeah, not gonna happen. I have one of the lower classes and they constant supervision. They're not bad, they just get into trouble when they're not perpetually busy.
Everyone is busy, so it's not just me. However, no one can seem to take a second to explain things to the new teachers. Just because you're familiar with how to give the Smith test, doesn't mean I am. Don't even get me started on W.ords Their W.ay. I think it's ridiculous to spend hours and hours planning for spelling when it's only 15 minutes (at best) of my reading block. I don't have time to piddle around with spelling.
Speaking of reading class, that one is keeping me up at night. Right now, I have a really good group. I have a mix. They're all below grade level so I chose a 3rd grade book to read as my reading instruction. It seems to be going well. They're comprehending and everything (who woulda thunk it?). That being said, Monday they're switching up my group. I'm getting anywhere from 5 to 10 new kids and sending a few up or down. I'm terrified I'm going to be stuck where the other new teacher is - with a "wild" group of kids and no curriculum because they're all so far below grade level. Add to that the fact that none of my kids qualify for Title I services so I can't get any help for my kids and I'm scared.
Luckily, I have a friend in the same boat. I'm so glad there are 2 new 4th grade teacher. I don't know what I'd do if everyone else had their shit completely together and I was the only one struggling. As I told my friend last night, I'm a great actor. I may act like I've got everything together, but on the inside, I'm drowning. All I'm trying to do right now is keep my head above water.
My house is a mess and we're hosting a party at the end of the month. Laundry is backed up. My car is mess. I've got piles and piles of papers to grade. I don't have time to cook therefore we eat junk and expensive junk at that. I bet I've gained weight since school began not lost it like my colleague. Have I mentioned money woes? I did exactly what I figured I would do. I got lax about keeping track of the money we spent and thus Quicken is out of date and I have no idea where our bank balance is currently teetering. If the rough numbers I put in tonight at right, we're in trouble for the next week and a half. Time to start cleaning out the freezer! I really should just stop eating. I'd be saving money AND losing weight. Two birds with one stone.
Pay also really bums me out. Between insurance, NEA dues, 403(b) withdrawls, and random taxes over half of my check is deducted. $1000 a month (give or take) sure seems like crappy pay.
Bottom line. I'm really missing my mom right now. She could be such a huge help to me in the classroom. LMK tries to help and he's a good guy to have around (Except when he says, "Well, you knew you'd be busy and have to put in a lot of time when you went into this career." Not helping, honey.).
I just feel so lost. So tired. So overwhelmed. So inferior.
How is your week going?
After school today, I grabbed my gear and raced out of the building so I could make it to LMK's soccer game this afternoon. The first one I've been to all year! Of course, I think I left some book order money at school. At least, I hope it's at school. Otherwise, I've lost it and that's just a whole kettle of fish I'm not ready to open right now. I'll worry myself an ulcer this weekend and find it first thing Monday.
LMK's game was pretty darn good. The guys played well and even though they only tied, it was a great game to watch. Yaaaaay, team. That being said, LMK has had quite a week. When I met him after the game, we immediately got into a conversation about soccer, his job, and his department head (**cough, cough** jack ass **cough, cough**). My usually observant husband never asked me about my day. So dear blogging world, you get to hear about it instead.
One of my kiddos has been diagnosed with OCD. I'm not surprised at all. This student walks around with his arms up so that he doesn't have to touch anything, washes his hands constantly, and won't eat his lunch if he thinks someone looked at it crossways. They put him on a medication and all I can do is hope it makes a difference for the best. His mom doesn't know just how closely I've dealt with mental illness. I'm grateful I can be his teacher. Just another reason I had to get through LMK's illness. Maybe I can help this student.
My new student is proving to be quite the behavior problem. Yesterday, I sent home detention slips with him and another young thug-in-training (do the abbreviation.....ahahahaha, ok, moving on) because they were caught where they aren't allowed when they were to be at breakfast plus some other misbehavior here and there. I threatened them with loss of recess until I got the forms back and both showed up today. I no more than saw those than the principal came to get them, again.
Evidently, they've been "stealing" food in the cafeteria. I use the word stealing loosely because the aides have been allowing them to eat whatever food is left on the trays that are "pushed to the middle of the table". They're putting the kabosh on the food free for all, but the principal investigated further. My two darlings basically told her they're just hungry. Lunch isn't all that impressive - a protein and 2 pieces of fruit/sides. It's all to common in this country. One goes home to ramen noodles shared with two teenage brothers and the other doesn't have much either. Since our lunch is very late, we've been allowing the students to bring snack.
Well, now we have to have snack for the entire class. The principal made the comparison of inviting someone to your home, eating, and not letting them have any. I can understand that, but here's the problem.
Just where do I draw the line at providing for these kids?
I already provide notebooks, composition books, pencils, crayons, markers, science supplies, books, etc, etc, etc for the students who need them. It's a common teacher lament, I know. Now I'm supposed to get enough snack for the class, too?
Luckily, the principal is aware of the financial strain that causes and is looking into ways to supplement the snack, which I appreciate. Half of me feels sorry for these children. That's all they are afterall, children. I never had to sit through school and be hungry. They shouldn't have to either. No child should have to be hungry.
That being said, they are in trouble constantly. Constantly. Every class, the teacher is telling me how they were misbehaving. They don't do it in my class because I've come down on them. Hard. I'm even pulling out the "I'm so disappointed in you" speech. So I spend my day vacillating between wanting to strangle them and wanting to bring them home and "save" them from this horrible life.
In other news, I finally got a smart board in my room. It's not mine, I'm using one of the one's the school has for teacher's to checkout. I love it! How did I ever teach without this thing? How will I teach when they take it back? It's the bestest toy - EVER! There is so much I want to do with it. I'm already doing my morning journal on the Smart Board. The kids love to come up and correct sentences on it. Today, I found a spelling game where the kid's can click and drag computer magnets. I love technology.
Add to that new teacher responsibilities, house responsibilities, LMK's school responsibilities, and family responsibilities and I'm just zonked. No wonder so many teachers quit in the first three years!
Hand in hand with all the "bad" things about teaching are the good things. I like to think I'm pretty strict with my students regarding behavior. I expect them to be leaders in the school and make good choices. Nine out of ten of them live up to that. Then there are the kids who live to please you. The silliness. The laughter and the learning. The hugs - except from Touchy Feely Kid, I don't want to have my boobs nuzzled like my colleague. Eek. Teaching is the hardest, longest, best job I've ever had. I just can't wait to feel like I'm doing it well, not just acting like a teacher.
Thanks for reading through all this, if you're still here, I needed to share it with someone. Have a great weekend!
In lieu of a real post, I leave you this picture of a sign in Chicago. It has not been doctored in any way.
Well, after almost 60 hours spent at school this week I am finally home! Tuesday was Open House until 8. Wednesday was staff development until 5. Thursday was new teacher stuff. Add meetings every day during my supposed break and I'm sick and tired of school.
I stayed until 6 tonight to get my lesson plans done. I'm very excited about them. They're my best ones yet. They won't make it until next Friday, but darn it, I hope one of the administrators comes in to observe me on Monday (I've gotten informal observations every week so far). I'm ready, dag nabbit!
Highlights of the week:
Had my first fight Tuesday. One of my kids got punched in the face by one of the other new 4th grade teacher's kids. Suspensions all around and the parents of my kid are pressing charges. Good for them!
As I was leaving tonight at six o'clock I ran into the new 1st grade teacher. "Oh, I figured I was the only one here." I commented. Then New 3rd Grade Teacher walked in. Soon after New Music Teacher arrived. Yep, the new people were the only ones left at school - and no wonder with all the meetings we've had this week. Sheesh.
I've got a grade full of five finger bandits. I caught three of them stealing candy from me on Tuesday. Want to know what makes Mrs. cuss like a sailor? Stealing. LMK will attest that I dropped a lot of F-bombs that evening. Today, someone stole another student's snack. They're gonna push me too far and then be in a world of hurt.
One of the other 4th grade teachers leaves as soon as the bell rings and takes nothing home with her. What am I doing wrong!?
I still feel like I'm floundering. I guess that's how I'm supposed to feel. New Fourth Grade Teacher feels the same way only she's got a cold, too. She's really down. It's no wonder so many teachers quit in the first 3 years. Good gravy.
I'm kind of annoyed because the two new teachers have the low reading group and then we have the opposite grouping for math. Sounds fair, right? Wrong. Our reading textbook is too hard for our kids. So we're having to dig up resources just to fill our 45 minutes of reading and spelling. Yes, you read that right, 45 minutes. Good luck getting anything accomplished in that amount of time. Even if we had the low math kids, we'd still have a textbook to use. Right now, my kids are doing a book study (which means I'm sure they'll fail their first quarter district test) and the other teacher is just trying to get her kids to read. I'm sorry, it just seems like we got the short end of the stick.
How was YOUR week?
Second week of school is almost done and I'm still ok. I must be doing something wrong because I don't seem to be struggling as much as the other new fourth grade teacher.
I love my kids. They're wonderful. LMK and I spent the evening yesterday in the ER. One of his players was injured and needed medical attention. (We're afraid its a torn ACL, but we're hoping and praying its not. Please keep him in your thoughts.) So I mentioned to my kids that we were out late because one of Mr.'s soccer kids got hurt. I explained that his family lives in another country so we went to the hospital with him like his mom and dad would have if they were here. Pretty soon, I have kids coming up to me asking for paper. "What do you need paper for?" I asked.
"We want to make Mr.'s player a get well card."
Can we just stop a minute so I can gush about my kids?
They came up with this on their own! I'm so proud of them.. The cards are hilarious by the way.
Student #1: "What's his favorite color? Is it pink? Pink's my favorite color so I think I'll use that."
Me: "I'm sure he loves pink. Your card looks great."
Student #2: "What color is his hair?"
Me: "Red."
Student #2: "Does he have an earring?"
Me: "Uh no, they're not allowed to have earrings at his school."
Student #3: "What's his favorite animal?"
Me: "Ummmm, I don't know. Why don't you draw your favorite animal and ask him his?"
The only bad thing about the day was when I tried to share their wonderfulness with my team. LMK's injured player is from a middle eastern country, no, not that one, the other one. I was telling them how we had to take him to the ER since his ACL might be torn and Team Leader, trying to be funny says, "Wow, I'm surprised they didn't shoot him."
Everyone thought that was just sooooooooooo funny.
I'm sorry. I didn't find it funny. I still don't. This kid is 17 years old and just because of where he was born he's a bad person? Seriously!? He's a good kid. He's polite, well-mannered, and a hard worker. He made a point to tell me "they grow up to be bad people." ARE YOU SERIOUS!? Call me naive, but he's in this country trying to get an education so that he can have a better life. Doesn't that count for anything?
As I told LMK, this player is my official favorite. He's also the player I yelled at a few weeks ago because he was pushing and he's better than that. He and I have a bond.
How can people be so ignorant? It makes me really sad. Really. Really. Sad.
