I am stuck in Rub.y Pa.yne hell.
I work in one of the poorest counties in NoVA or so I have been told. That's fine with me, poor kids still deserve a good education. Out of all the elementary schools, evidently I work at the poorest. Again, poor kids deserve a good education. I have a wonderful group of children. I can't imagine any "rich kids" being more compassionate, caring, or thoughtful. That being said, some days it pisses me off that we consistently lower our standards for these kids.
According to R.uby Pay.ne (or Ru.by Pay.ne according to my administrators), students should not be expected to complete homework. If in the event you give students homework, it should not be part of their grade and they should be given time in school to complete it.
`Scuse me?
So far, I'm bucking the system on that one, to a degree. My math kids have homework from time to time. They are rewarded for doing it, but not punished. That being said, the kids who have done the two digit by two digit multiplication and long division homework actually understand 2 x 2 multiplication and division. Wonder of wonders!
There are lots of statements I've heard from Rub.y Payn.e that make sense. I've seen it.
For example, in families of "poverty" the priority to make sure your child has a PSP, an iPod, and a cell phone even though you can't pay your bills. My mother taught me you pay your bills first, then you can get non-essentials. Call me crazy!
I just don't see how making excuses for these kids is going to do to help them in life. Nothing is done about chronic absenteeism instead we celebrate those who come to school all the time. Whatever happened court dates for children who miss too much school? People look at me like I'm crazy here. Get your butts to school. Period.
What kills me is all the excuses we make for these kids and then we have a meeting and are basically told, "you can have 12 kids fail" their state test and still make AYP. You have GOT to be kidding me. At least 50% of the 4th grade is below grade level. Most are improving, but I don't see some miraculous pass rate coming in. Why do I have students reading at a 2nd grade level, yet are supposed to pass their state test because they did it in 3rd grade? Something is not right.
When does Ru.by Pay.ne's work stop being an excuse and start to help these kids? Why are we not challenging these kids? Who is failing who around here? I'm not sure it's them that's failing me. I think it's the other way around.
If today's educational system doesn't do some changing we're going to lose some kids. Kids are falling through the cracks and I can't catch all of them.
Books. I love books. I love the smell of them. I love the look of a brand new book. I love the excitement of having a book I am dying to read yet saving it for a "special occasion".
Last year, I decided to attempt to read 52 books in a year. I did pretty darn well. By July I had read 37 books. However, when I started my first year of teaching time for reading was nonexistent. From August to December I read one book and it was a required reading for work. How depressing is that?
My current count is at three books. Considering it's only January, I think I am doing well. Anyone have any books that I might want to start looking at for the beach in July? I'd like to get a start on finding them now.
This year's goal:
Actually read 52 books. I'm not making any restrictions on books this year. As long as it has pages and is bound, I'm counting it.
Please excuse the mess. I'm looking to change my template around, but I promised some of LMK's students that I would come watch their basketball game this evening.
In the mean time, uh, Misty, how the heck did you do that? My template doesn't have the areas I evidently need to edit.
Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiix it.
Carry on.
Two words:
Snow. Day.
Two more:
Number 2
Five day weekend, woohoo! LMK got to witness my snow day dance twice this week. Of course, he shared it with his kids but luckily, I like them so I don't mind.
Please remind me of my joy in March when we have no spring break.
I've spent the last day catching up on DVR stuff. Yesterday I watched this:
Today I plan to finally finish this:
Oh yeah, there will be some schoolwork thrown in, but today I just want to relax. Maybe clean my house. It's nice to be able to take a breath and just relax.
That is all. Carry on.
Another student's mother died this week. What a horrible thing to happen to a nine year old. My heart breaks for her.
The other new 4th grade teacher (really gotta come up with a good nickname for her) lost track of the time this afternoon and her entire class missed the bus.
Poor thing. I can picture the look on her face when she walked out the door and saw all the buses leaving.
It could have easily been me.
It's still pretty funny when you think about it.
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
(They had me at Disney. Add a princess, a love story, and good music and I didn't stand a chance.)
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.
The first week of a year is over. I had school for 3 days of it. What a crock. All this V.irginia bull-shit paperwork is really getting on my nerves. I don't know if it's the state as a whole or just my district. The instructional time being wasted is criminal. But this is a rant for another post.
In other news, I actually missed my kiddos. I was shocked, too. They came back Thursday sleepy eyed but smiling. I love it when they're tired. They behave. They're too tired not to. Mwahahaha!
Two of my kids have yet to return to school. One I wouldn't be surprised to hear she moved. She's a nice kid, but her moving will boost my test scores. (How depressing that I've been driven to this type of thinking!) The other we heard from today. Her grandmother died last night. I'm heartbroken. Not only because I think most people can sympathize with losing a grandparent at a young age. I lost my grandmother when I was about this age. It's heartbreaking. What makes it worse is Grandma is more like a mother to this child. She lives with her. Grandma is the stable one in her life. Dad is in jail. Mom is a flake and in and out of jail. I'm watching the paper so I can go to calling hours. Sometimes, especially as a kid, life isn't fair.
A New Year’s meme, swiped from Leesepea.
1. Will you be looking for a new job? I hope not! But if something comes up at LMK's school, I'm going to apply. This b-s paperwork is ridiculous.
2. Will you be looking for a new relationship? Sure, new friendships. As for a new hubby, nah. I've spent all this time training this one. Why would I throw it all away now?
3. New house? I wish.
4. What will you do different in 08? Save money. Be adults. Lose weight.
5. New Years resolution? Save money!
6. What will you NOT be doing in 08? Getting any more cats. Drat.
7. Any trips planned? We're going to Myrtle! I'm already excited. LMK's dad was talking about it over break. He's excited too. He promised a whole grocery bag of flyers of stuff to do after their Spring Break trip. I must be entertained!
8. Wedding plans? For Twin, hopefully.
9. Major thing on your calendar? Uhhhhhhh...last day of my first year of teaching?
10. What can’t you wait for? My next school break....which isn't for 3 months, if I'm lucky.
11. What would you like to see happen differently? See money saving and lack there of.
12. What about yourself will you be changing? Hopefully my weight.
13. What happened in ‘07 that you didn’t think would ever happen? I never thought we’d move 5 states away. However, it's been a great thing for both of us.
14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about? That would always be a good thing, especially for me.
15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in 07? More professionally. You have to when you're teaching 5 days a week.
17. Will you better your relationship with your family? I wish, but to me, that means living closer.
18. Will you do charity work? Ewww...I really need to do that. Must get on that.
19. Will you go to bars? Nah, I don't much care for drinking.
20. Will you be nice to people you don’t know? I have to be nice. Never can tell who is related to a student, parent, colleague, or boss. Gotta love education.
21. Do you expect ‘08 to be a good year for you? Let's hope so!
22. How much did you change from this time last year til now? Let's see, I'm a Virginian. I'm employed. I'm an adult. I'd say a whole hell of a lot.
23. Will you plan on having a child? Yep.
24. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now? And then some, I hope.
25. Major lifestyle changes? Motherhood would be nice.
26. Will you be moving? God, I hope not. I hate moving.
27. What will you make sure doesn’t happen in 08 that happened in 07? Again, moving!
28. What are your New Years Eve plans? LMK's surgery. Yeah, that's how we roll.
29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight? Yes, AND he can't run away. Mwahahaha!
30. One wish for 2008? Motherhood or on the road to motherhood.
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:
- My new clothes arrived. They all fit and I only got one thing that I didn't order and don't want. Hello...me and white pants do NOT mix.
- I spent about $30 on books from Scholastic's Dollar Days sale. I ordered them Saturday and they're still processing. I WANT MY BOOKS!
- I found a cockroach in my room last week. G-R-O-S-S. Luckily, the other new teacher was nice enough to come take care of it for me. Ewewewewewew.
- LMK is having knee surgery on the anniversary of our move to Virginia. Oh how far we've come.
- Am I crazy for making LMK take me to the store this weekend to buy a cheap little doghouse for the stray cats that live under our porch? I'm going to put some wood chips in it for them to stay warm. They're cold and hungry. I'm not totally crazy right? I just cannot stand to see an animal cold or hungry.
- Twin got a promotion at work. She's going to be making more money. I'm so happy for her. She's getting away from the part of the job that is stressful and unappreciated and moving into management. Way to go, Twin!
- LMK is going to Baltimore in January for some soccer conference thing. (I listened, I just heard blah, blah, blah) Who is going to get me up for school? Start my car for me? Start fires to keep me warm and otherwise entertain me? I need entertainment, damnit!
- I was complaining this morning because the cancelled school after I showered. Until I got a call from my colleague who had no idea school was cancelled and was already at school.
- They're trying to cut the soccer program at LMK's school. It's such bullshit. Half of me thinks they'll never be able to do it. The other half of me almost wants them to do it so I can see the parents throw a fit and the administration roll over. True colors are being shown all over. It's all about football. Just like always.
- LMK's kids are coming down next week to meet with my kids. I'm so excited. My kids are so excited. Now, if I can only get enough baby food jars so we can make snow globes. Back up plan. Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
- I have little to no Christmas shopping done. LMK doesn't get paid until the 14th. Looks like we may be charging some gifts this year. I hope we can do it and not go overboard.
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):
- LMK
- My parents - who are here, thus why I am so busy
- My brother - who I miss because he's not here. Good luck next week, Little Brother!
- My other family
- My friends - who I also miss
- My job - even though some days I just want to bang my head against the wall
- My colleagues - especially the other new teacher, I'm so glad I have someone who knows how I feel
- My students - they make me laugh, they make me smile, they're a good group of kids
- Target
- Olive Garden
- My new camera - she's purdy
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:
- Higher resolution - the one we have now is a 4mp and I'm not impressed.
- Plug in battery. - I've spent a fortune on those lithium batteries.
- The ability to take pictures at LMK's games. - I can sit pretty close (100-150ft) so I don't as long a zoom. If I can't get this in the camera, then I want the option to purchase a lens that will let me get in closer.
- I'm also not very steady handed yet, so something that helps me do that would be great too.
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?