Sorry I haven't written in a while, but time has been short for me. I had a rough thanksgiving weekend, Family emergencies and such and work has been hectic for a while. I've been working trying to prepare for Christmas and I'm still no where near ready. I at least have my tree up and decorated. I finally went out last night to buy a few gifts, 9 down and 11 more to go, and that's not including my children or my school children. I don't know if I will ever get finished.
I guess that we are going to be hitting the mall this weekend to try to get a few more. My in laws talked us into it. I would rather take a beating than fight the crowd. I am rather impatient with people in stressful situations.
I loathe people who go shopping just to go shopping. I get rather irate with people who just stand in the middle of aisles and talk, knowing people are trying to get by them or block the entire aisle with their buggies. The lines at check-out are also a hot button for me. I would think that store owners/operators understand that it's the holidays meaning more crowds, more people purchasing items, but it doesn't seem so. All check-out lanes should be open, but most of the time they are not.
It doesn't make sense to me but I guess they feel that since it is the holidays, customers have no choice but stand and wait. Well I won't 15 minutes is my limit. If its longer than that, I lay my items on the shelf and walk away. Just one less sale for the big department store. I've decided that next year I will do all of my shopping online, to heck with the crowds and the waiting in line.
So department stores beware I only spend around 1500 a year on Christmas, but unless you have an online store next year good luck getting my money. It's no wonder I don't have a Christmas spirit anymore. Spend! Spend! Spend! Wait! Wait! Wait! What a crock! I want it to return to the days when I was young, when Christmas was fun and exciting. Tough #$@&! Right! Christmas is for kids now, I guess I will just have to lump it, because I don't like it.
I guess I better leave it at that. Maybe after the holidays, if you want to call it that. I will have time to write more often.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Last Day Before Thanksgiving Break
It all began the same way as any other day. I entered my daily work day as before, rushing to prepare materials that I would need for the day. I worked diligently until my colleague entered and informed me that I was going to be observed at 10:30. Wonderful, I did not know that.
5th grade reading went like clock work, we finished everything for the lesson before class change. 4th grade entered as well as my boss. My colleague went first, Spelling, it was supposed to take 15 minutes and turned into 30. Oh! Well it was time well spent. I jumped into the lesson, set up groups while my colleague checked fluency. At 11:15 my colleague left to go to another classroom. I continue with the lesson until 11:45 and my boss leaves the room. I finish all but the grammar and writing portion of the lesson. The extra 15 minutes of spelling would not have helped much in finishing.
I prepare my students for lunch and find my evaluation laying on my desk. Good Reviews! The day continues after lunch, nutrition class for 4th until 2:00. At 2:30, school spelling bee for 4th and 5th graders. I finally see my students again at 3:30. I prepare them for home, get them on the bus, and then the fun begins.
I was coerced into staying after school to help run concessions at the Anawalt Idol. This program is like American Idol, students practice a talent and perform it in front of an audience of parents and community members. It was a fundraising activity for school trips and parties. I did not expect many people in attendance. Boy! I was wrong.
I was amazed, we probably had close to 100 people. The price for admission was 2 dollars for adults and 1 dollar for children. We made over 200 dollars. Concessions did equally as well. We fixed 80 hotdogs and when I left we only had about 16 left. I left as the last song was being played. We may have sold those, but if not we still made 64 dollars just on hotdogs. We also had nacho's, chips, candy, and drinks. I would guess we made around 150 dollars. I would call that a success in our small school and community.
I finally arrived home at 8:02, my mother was sitting in the drive way with the baby. I ran a load of things inside (Mom, brought me a lasagna for supper! Bless her heart!) and transfered the baby to my car. I traveled the 20 minutes to my grandmothers to pick up my youngest son. He walked to her house after wrestling practice to wait for me. I spent about 45 minutes talking to my grandparents before leaving for Foodlion. My oldest son clocked out of work at 9:30, I grabbed salad fix-ins to go with the lasagna and headed home.
Finally at about 10:00, I am home. I quickly reheat the lasagna, cut up the salad mixture and eat supper. At 11:00, my daughter and I move to the bedroom. After a quick book and lots of laughter and hugs and kisses I turn out the light. Thank Heavens above I don't have to work again till Monday.
5th grade reading went like clock work, we finished everything for the lesson before class change. 4th grade entered as well as my boss. My colleague went first, Spelling, it was supposed to take 15 minutes and turned into 30. Oh! Well it was time well spent. I jumped into the lesson, set up groups while my colleague checked fluency. At 11:15 my colleague left to go to another classroom. I continue with the lesson until 11:45 and my boss leaves the room. I finish all but the grammar and writing portion of the lesson. The extra 15 minutes of spelling would not have helped much in finishing.
I prepare my students for lunch and find my evaluation laying on my desk. Good Reviews! The day continues after lunch, nutrition class for 4th until 2:00. At 2:30, school spelling bee for 4th and 5th graders. I finally see my students again at 3:30. I prepare them for home, get them on the bus, and then the fun begins.
I was coerced into staying after school to help run concessions at the Anawalt Idol. This program is like American Idol, students practice a talent and perform it in front of an audience of parents and community members. It was a fundraising activity for school trips and parties. I did not expect many people in attendance. Boy! I was wrong.
I was amazed, we probably had close to 100 people. The price for admission was 2 dollars for adults and 1 dollar for children. We made over 200 dollars. Concessions did equally as well. We fixed 80 hotdogs and when I left we only had about 16 left. I left as the last song was being played. We may have sold those, but if not we still made 64 dollars just on hotdogs. We also had nacho's, chips, candy, and drinks. I would guess we made around 150 dollars. I would call that a success in our small school and community.
I finally arrived home at 8:02, my mother was sitting in the drive way with the baby. I ran a load of things inside (Mom, brought me a lasagna for supper! Bless her heart!) and transfered the baby to my car. I traveled the 20 minutes to my grandmothers to pick up my youngest son. He walked to her house after wrestling practice to wait for me. I spent about 45 minutes talking to my grandparents before leaving for Foodlion. My oldest son clocked out of work at 9:30, I grabbed salad fix-ins to go with the lasagna and headed home.
Finally at about 10:00, I am home. I quickly reheat the lasagna, cut up the salad mixture and eat supper. At 11:00, my daughter and I move to the bedroom. After a quick book and lots of laughter and hugs and kisses I turn out the light. Thank Heavens above I don't have to work again till Monday.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Fun Friday
I awoke this morning, glad that today was Friday. I only had to work 4 days this week, but it seems like it has been 7 days. Sabrina woke up at 7:00 and I left her watching Franklin, drinking Chocolate Milk and eating dry Honey Nut Cheerios. I woke my husband and told him to listen for her. She did not cry, she just kissed me and said, "Bye Mommy!"
I knew today was going to be tough. Our resource teacher (gym) was going to take a half a day, so my planning period would be from 8:30 - 9:00. This was going to push my reading classes to 75 minutes long. The new reading series is tough to get in in 90. I did what I could, with what I had.
Today was also what we call Fun Friday. We participate in a behavioral program called "Respect and Protect". Students are give bifs (behavioral identification forms) when they break a rule. If a student has not received a bif in a 2 week period they are rewarded with Fun Friday. The R&P committee, plan fun things to do on these days. Today we had a concert.
Several teachers dressed up like rock stars and pretended to play instruments and sing to CD's. The students ran around the gym, dancing and laughing. I think they had a good time, but I am wore out. I am on the committee, but I was not a rock star today. I guess you could say I was the security/bouncer. I walked/danced around making sure students were not running full force or doing things that could get them or someone else hurt.
I also tried to encourage a few students to dance. I was about 75% successful, mostly with the older kids. They are at the age now that they are self conscious about doing things like this in front of others. I was actually surprised that a few boys began to approach me to dance with them. A couple of my students looked at me like I was crazy. I guess I might be sometimes.
All in all today was a fun friday, for the students and myself. I hope that the two days I have to work next week, will be as eventful as today just not as tiring.
I knew today was going to be tough. Our resource teacher (gym) was going to take a half a day, so my planning period would be from 8:30 - 9:00. This was going to push my reading classes to 75 minutes long. The new reading series is tough to get in in 90. I did what I could, with what I had.
Today was also what we call Fun Friday. We participate in a behavioral program called "Respect and Protect". Students are give bifs (behavioral identification forms) when they break a rule. If a student has not received a bif in a 2 week period they are rewarded with Fun Friday. The R&P committee, plan fun things to do on these days. Today we had a concert.
Several teachers dressed up like rock stars and pretended to play instruments and sing to CD's. The students ran around the gym, dancing and laughing. I think they had a good time, but I am wore out. I am on the committee, but I was not a rock star today. I guess you could say I was the security/bouncer. I walked/danced around making sure students were not running full force or doing things that could get them or someone else hurt.
I also tried to encourage a few students to dance. I was about 75% successful, mostly with the older kids. They are at the age now that they are self conscious about doing things like this in front of others. I was actually surprised that a few boys began to approach me to dance with them. A couple of my students looked at me like I was crazy. I guess I might be sometimes.
All in all today was a fun friday, for the students and myself. I hope that the two days I have to work next week, will be as eventful as today just not as tiring.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
What are we teaching!!!
I attended a book study this evening, arriving home at 6:45. After our book study, my boss had to speak with the group about a student in the school and not requiring homework for him and a few others. I found this hard to take.
I do not assign anything that the students don't already know how to do without help. Often I go over the assignment, giving answers to some and giving hints to others, before I give it to the students. I understand that sometimes students forget it at home or have things that happen to keep them from doing it one day. I do not begin to fuss or keep them in detention until it begins to become a daily problem.
I see homework as a way of reenforcing things that are taught in class. A way for students to remember what they learned during the day and a way for parents to help their children if they choose to do so. I grade homework for one reason, because often the grades received on homework are the only things that save many kids from receiving bad grades on progress reports.
Several of my students can do well with homework, but bomb on tests. This is not caused by them not knowing how to do it, it's because of what I call test blocking. They know the answers until the test is in front of them and then they go blank. I have had it happen myself. Many of my students will not do homework if they are not made to do so, but most do well on them.
I realize that most students today are not raised the way in which I was raised. I know that many students have very rough and tough lives when they leave my classroom, I empathise with these kinds of problems, but not requiring them to work toward their education is not going to help their situation.
When they leave elementary school, beginning middle/high school and eventually real life, people are not going to care what their homelife is like. They are going to expect them to keep up with everyone else. I do not really care for homework or paperwork either, but I can say I have problems that require me to be excused from it. I do not think I would have a job for very long. Do You?
Not requiring/expecting the same things from students that are having troubles at home, is only enabling these students to be a victim for the rest of their lives. I want to give them a way out of their situation by showing that I will not allow them to be one in my classroom. I want them to succeed and excel, and if you don't practice what you have learned you will loose it. It is not like riding a bike.
What are we teaching our kids? Do we really want a student to be judged on what they should do or accomplish by their what their parents/family do or accomplish? I don't. I will ask no child to do what I feel that they can't handle and I will not enable my students to slide through the system unchallenged.
I do not assign anything that the students don't already know how to do without help. Often I go over the assignment, giving answers to some and giving hints to others, before I give it to the students. I understand that sometimes students forget it at home or have things that happen to keep them from doing it one day. I do not begin to fuss or keep them in detention until it begins to become a daily problem.
I see homework as a way of reenforcing things that are taught in class. A way for students to remember what they learned during the day and a way for parents to help their children if they choose to do so. I grade homework for one reason, because often the grades received on homework are the only things that save many kids from receiving bad grades on progress reports.
Several of my students can do well with homework, but bomb on tests. This is not caused by them not knowing how to do it, it's because of what I call test blocking. They know the answers until the test is in front of them and then they go blank. I have had it happen myself. Many of my students will not do homework if they are not made to do so, but most do well on them.
I realize that most students today are not raised the way in which I was raised. I know that many students have very rough and tough lives when they leave my classroom, I empathise with these kinds of problems, but not requiring them to work toward their education is not going to help their situation.
When they leave elementary school, beginning middle/high school and eventually real life, people are not going to care what their homelife is like. They are going to expect them to keep up with everyone else. I do not really care for homework or paperwork either, but I can say I have problems that require me to be excused from it. I do not think I would have a job for very long. Do You?
Not requiring/expecting the same things from students that are having troubles at home, is only enabling these students to be a victim for the rest of their lives. I want to give them a way out of their situation by showing that I will not allow them to be one in my classroom. I want them to succeed and excel, and if you don't practice what you have learned you will loose it. It is not like riding a bike.
What are we teaching our kids? Do we really want a student to be judged on what they should do or accomplish by their what their parents/family do or accomplish? I don't. I will ask no child to do what I feel that they can't handle and I will not enable my students to slide through the system unchallenged.
Monday, November 12, 2007
KIDS
I love kids! I must I spend every waking hour with them. I have three of my own and 24 at work. I have yet to meet two children that are the same, though.
My oldest son, Shane, is now 17. He is working as many hours as Foodlion will allow him and going to school. He is a junior in high school. He has a girlfriend, Nikki. I rarely get to see him much these days. The days he works he does not see Nikki. The days he doesn't, he makes up for lost time. He is trying to grow up, but still needs me for important things, such as driving him to work and back, fixing him something to eat and occasionally I am his counselor. Prediction: He will get married young, finish high school barely and work a menial job that he will dread doing.
My youngest son, Joey, is almost 16. He is a freshman in high school and has just begun training for the wrestling team. He is very strong headed and independent. He needs me less than his brother. He is more mature, girl crazy, and unpredictable. He has never had a girlfriend for more than 6 months at a time. He changes girls more often than I would prefer. He tells me nothing about his life. Prediction: He will not marry young, he will finish high school although he will struggle, and he will attend a trade school, assuring himself a job that he will enjoy doing.
My daughter, Sabrina, is 3. She is a ball of energy. I written about her previously in another blog. She is the light of my life and I am so glad that God has blessed me with the privilege. I know that she will be my problem child when she becomes a teenager. Prediction: She will be a hard to handle, finish high school without even trying, and attend college (possible graduate school) to determine her calling.
Neither of my boys are the type that do well in school. School is not the most important things happening in their lives. Shane is capable of doing more, with a little effort. Joey on the other hand has learning disabilities that prevent him from doing more.
I noticed there was something wrong when he was in first grade. He was having major problems with reading. Many words in the English language, we are expected to just recognize. Words such as a, the, it, she, he, we, etc... Joey could not do this in first grade. I fought with teachers, principals, and Special Ed. teachers for 3 years to have him tested.
I finally had him tested during his second year of third grade. Now he was not only having difficulties in reading, but in math, social studies, and science as well. Surprise! Surprise! If you can not read, you are not going to do well in any subject. When he was tested, his reading level was that of a first grader. He has worked really hard the past six years to make up this deficit.
He is doing much better in reading, math, social studies, and science with the help of modifications. He has modifications such as extended time on assignments, the use of a calculator in math, word banks on tests and alternative assignments. He still covers the same materials as the rest of his class and is responsible for learning the same content. I just wonder how much better he would be doing, If I could have gotten the system on his side sooner.
My students at school are in many ways the same as my own kids. I have 3 students that I would consider Gifted. They are advanced in most of the assignments that they are given. I have 4 that have been tested and are considered Special Ed. The other 17 are supposed to be average learners.
My oldest son, Shane, is now 17. He is working as many hours as Foodlion will allow him and going to school. He is a junior in high school. He has a girlfriend, Nikki. I rarely get to see him much these days. The days he works he does not see Nikki. The days he doesn't, he makes up for lost time. He is trying to grow up, but still needs me for important things, such as driving him to work and back, fixing him something to eat and occasionally I am his counselor. Prediction: He will get married young, finish high school barely and work a menial job that he will dread doing.
My youngest son, Joey, is almost 16. He is a freshman in high school and has just begun training for the wrestling team. He is very strong headed and independent. He needs me less than his brother. He is more mature, girl crazy, and unpredictable. He has never had a girlfriend for more than 6 months at a time. He changes girls more often than I would prefer. He tells me nothing about his life. Prediction: He will not marry young, he will finish high school although he will struggle, and he will attend a trade school, assuring himself a job that he will enjoy doing.
My daughter, Sabrina, is 3. She is a ball of energy. I written about her previously in another blog. She is the light of my life and I am so glad that God has blessed me with the privilege. I know that she will be my problem child when she becomes a teenager. Prediction: She will be a hard to handle, finish high school without even trying, and attend college (possible graduate school) to determine her calling.
Neither of my boys are the type that do well in school. School is not the most important things happening in their lives. Shane is capable of doing more, with a little effort. Joey on the other hand has learning disabilities that prevent him from doing more.
I noticed there was something wrong when he was in first grade. He was having major problems with reading. Many words in the English language, we are expected to just recognize. Words such as a, the, it, she, he, we, etc... Joey could not do this in first grade. I fought with teachers, principals, and Special Ed. teachers for 3 years to have him tested.
I finally had him tested during his second year of third grade. Now he was not only having difficulties in reading, but in math, social studies, and science as well. Surprise! Surprise! If you can not read, you are not going to do well in any subject. When he was tested, his reading level was that of a first grader. He has worked really hard the past six years to make up this deficit.
He is doing much better in reading, math, social studies, and science with the help of modifications. He has modifications such as extended time on assignments, the use of a calculator in math, word banks on tests and alternative assignments. He still covers the same materials as the rest of his class and is responsible for learning the same content. I just wonder how much better he would be doing, If I could have gotten the system on his side sooner.
My students at school are in many ways the same as my own kids. I have 3 students that I would consider Gifted. They are advanced in most of the assignments that they are given. I have 4 that have been tested and are considered Special Ed. The other 17 are supposed to be average learners.
The 17 are the ones that bother me the most. They fall in a full range of categories.
- Ones that try really hard and put forth everything they have; 8. These students will become my B/C students. They can and will succeed. They will graduate and attend a two or four year college.
- Those that are just like my sons, not really into school; 5. These students do not have the drive to do their work. They never hand in homework, unless made to. They only do the minimum to get a grade. They will probably become the teens and adults that will drop out of school and work menial jobs for the rest of their lives or get married and continue to pop out babies for welfare.
- Finally those that can't do, but have never been tested; 4. These 4 are the most problematic to me.Knowing what my son has been through, I feel that I should be pushing for a Special Ed determination. Two of the students mother's will not even talk about the possibility and the other two there is not enough documentation to warrant testing. I worry about these students and want to help them, but how? If I modify their assignments, it will most definitely help them achieve passing grades this year, but what happens next year. If I don't they will most likely fail this year and be retained, but I would have enough documentation to warrant testing. I am torn. I want to teach to the best of my abilities and to theirs. I am afraid that these kids will fall through the cracks in the system and will become a detriment to society as whole.
It would be so much easier to teach and be a mother, if all students were the same; They learn the same way, act and think the same. But what kind of world would that be, we would never have the diversity that the world contains today. We would never have greatness. We would never have choice. I'm glad we are not the same, but dang it sure is hard for a teacher.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
THe next couple of days, good golly
It's about 7:45 and I have only been home about an hour. I had a professional development workshop (a book study) this evening dealing with how we teach math and what we should include in math instruction. I would not have attended, but Christmas is coming and the $25 per hour will soon come in handy. I have one more day of this workshop (next Wednesday) and a Math/Reading fun night (the last Wednesday of the month) before Christmas vacation.
Tomorrow it will be interesting to see how things transpire. Whats the big deal about tomorrow? Well I'll tell you, whether you want to know or not. As I have stated before I teach 4th and 5th grade. The school basketball team and cheerleader squad are made up of 4th and 5th graders only. They have an away game tomorrow that starts at 1:00. They will be leaving school at 11:30, but will have to eat and prepare before.
I teach 4th grade reading beginning at 10:30 or so. At 11:00, all but 2 of my 4th graders will be leaving. I have gained permission from the boss to not teach my 4th grade reading lesson, since no one will be there. But what will I do???? I'm really not sure with only 2 students. I guess I will just have to wing it. The afternoon will be just as difficult. All but 4 of my 5th graders are leaving as well.
Friday will not be much easier. We have a home ballgame starting at 1:00. The only work that will be done will be in the morning. I guess that will be fine, considering all grades at Anawalt teach their math and reading before 12:00. I usually have to teach the grammar and writing portion of the reading in the afternoon. I guess I will be rushing both days trying to get in as much of this as possible before 12:00.
Tomorrow it will be interesting to see how things transpire. Whats the big deal about tomorrow? Well I'll tell you, whether you want to know or not. As I have stated before I teach 4th and 5th grade. The school basketball team and cheerleader squad are made up of 4th and 5th graders only. They have an away game tomorrow that starts at 1:00. They will be leaving school at 11:30, but will have to eat and prepare before.
I teach 4th grade reading beginning at 10:30 or so. At 11:00, all but 2 of my 4th graders will be leaving. I have gained permission from the boss to not teach my 4th grade reading lesson, since no one will be there. But what will I do???? I'm really not sure with only 2 students. I guess I will just have to wing it. The afternoon will be just as difficult. All but 4 of my 5th graders are leaving as well.
Friday will not be much easier. We have a home ballgame starting at 1:00. The only work that will be done will be in the morning. I guess that will be fine, considering all grades at Anawalt teach their math and reading before 12:00. I usually have to teach the grammar and writing portion of the reading in the afternoon. I guess I will be rushing both days trying to get in as much of this as possible before 12:00.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Don't Know what I'm doing!
Have you ever felt like you really have no idea what you are doing? I have felt that way all day long. I rarely get the feeling, but when I do I truly feel it.
I returned to work today after being out sick for two days. I came into a new environment, at least if felt that way. I was not sure what to say to my co-workers and how to approach them. Being out for just a few short days you really get out of the groove of things. I went straight to my room and found that I wasn't the only one arriving early. Everyone seemed to be there.
I had not planned any lessons for today, because I did not have any of my things at home to prepare. I had to do a fast review of what had been done and what needed to be done. I ran to the copy room and made copies that I would need and was told that we were having a visitation today from a group of individuals about our new reading series. Yes! I knew about this, but being absent for a few days, I forgot.
The whole school seemed to be in a pressure cooker. Everyone was trying to prepare and brace themselves for the visit. I was just trying to prepare for the kids, never mind the visit. I checked my mailbox, full, just as I expected. I did not even look at it, I did not have the time to spare. I finally got everything ready just as my students were beginning to enter the room. Several of my students acted differently. One of my students that normally is quiet, decides today that he wants to act out. I guess he wants attention.
Today was Tuesday, so my students had nutrition classes after lunch, OH, Bother! as Pooh says. I will lose time again today. I re-configure my lessons for the afternoon. I decide that while 4th is in nutrition, 5th could access Riverdeep, a computer program, to work on this weeks skill (Fact and Opinion). This worked out great because I could use this time to prepare a script for my students. Our school has reader's theatre one Friday a month to boost reading fluency. I forgot but this Friday is the day. I work diligently to copy, sort and staple a script 11 pages long for each of my 24 students.
4th grade returns from nutrition and I put them on the computers. 5th grade works on grammar, writing, and sentence correction from our reading series. I work with the 5th graders until 2:30, at this time we return to the classroom. Surprise!!!! The counselor wants to take my 4th graders to guidance. I guess the 4th grade will not get their grammar, writing or sentence correction done today. At 2:45 my 5th graders head off to nutrition. I spend the next 45 minutes finding and typing the 4th and 5th grade vocabulary for the month, writing new questions for tomorrow and preparing my stuff for home.
I walk over to the boss's office to have her approve my reader's theatre scripts, only to be told that she informed everyone yesterday that we would not be having it this week. She has planned an in school basketball game for Friday. Wonderful! I spent all of that time for nothing. I handed her my vocabulary for the month. She smiled and asked me if I read the memo's from my mailbox. I didn't remember! She no longer wants this list.
I really feel like I am in another dimension today. I walked into a new school, under new management, with newly transferred students and faculty. In a few days it will be back to normal, I hope, until then I will just try to go with the flow.
I returned to work today after being out sick for two days. I came into a new environment, at least if felt that way. I was not sure what to say to my co-workers and how to approach them. Being out for just a few short days you really get out of the groove of things. I went straight to my room and found that I wasn't the only one arriving early. Everyone seemed to be there.
I had not planned any lessons for today, because I did not have any of my things at home to prepare. I had to do a fast review of what had been done and what needed to be done. I ran to the copy room and made copies that I would need and was told that we were having a visitation today from a group of individuals about our new reading series. Yes! I knew about this, but being absent for a few days, I forgot.
The whole school seemed to be in a pressure cooker. Everyone was trying to prepare and brace themselves for the visit. I was just trying to prepare for the kids, never mind the visit. I checked my mailbox, full, just as I expected. I did not even look at it, I did not have the time to spare. I finally got everything ready just as my students were beginning to enter the room. Several of my students acted differently. One of my students that normally is quiet, decides today that he wants to act out. I guess he wants attention.
Today was Tuesday, so my students had nutrition classes after lunch, OH, Bother! as Pooh says. I will lose time again today. I re-configure my lessons for the afternoon. I decide that while 4th is in nutrition, 5th could access Riverdeep, a computer program, to work on this weeks skill (Fact and Opinion). This worked out great because I could use this time to prepare a script for my students. Our school has reader's theatre one Friday a month to boost reading fluency. I forgot but this Friday is the day. I work diligently to copy, sort and staple a script 11 pages long for each of my 24 students.
4th grade returns from nutrition and I put them on the computers. 5th grade works on grammar, writing, and sentence correction from our reading series. I work with the 5th graders until 2:30, at this time we return to the classroom. Surprise!!!! The counselor wants to take my 4th graders to guidance. I guess the 4th grade will not get their grammar, writing or sentence correction done today. At 2:45 my 5th graders head off to nutrition. I spend the next 45 minutes finding and typing the 4th and 5th grade vocabulary for the month, writing new questions for tomorrow and preparing my stuff for home.
I walk over to the boss's office to have her approve my reader's theatre scripts, only to be told that she informed everyone yesterday that we would not be having it this week. She has planned an in school basketball game for Friday. Wonderful! I spent all of that time for nothing. I handed her my vocabulary for the month. She smiled and asked me if I read the memo's from my mailbox. I didn't remember! She no longer wants this list.
I really feel like I am in another dimension today. I walked into a new school, under new management, with newly transferred students and faculty. In a few days it will be back to normal, I hope, until then I will just try to go with the flow.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The doctor, insurance dilema
I took a day off Friday to try to get in to see a doctor. I do not have a family doctor, because I do not regularly go to one. I might see a doctor once or twice a year if that. I woke up at 8:00 and called every doctor in the phone book within the Tazewell area. The majority of the time I never got an answer. I guess most doctors work so hard during the week that they need a three day weekend to recoup. Yea! Right!
Other times I tried and got the answer that is hard for me to believe: He/She is not taking on anymore patients. I just need to see a doctor for 10-15 minutes tops, I'm not going to be a permanent fixture in their office. Give Me A Break! Lastly I got the answer, Well, we can see you but we don't accept your insurance, you'll have to pay cash for the entire cost. Like I have that kind of money! I'm a teacher for God sake!
I have never been the kind of person to go to the doctor, or dentist for that matter, unless it is an absolute necessity. I have family insurance which includes myself, husband, and three children. I pay monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments and the majority of the time my insurance might have to pay out 1 to 2 hundred dollars a year, if that.
I hate to see people in the hospital for minor things such as colds, but I can see why they do now. If doctors won't accept new patients, work on Fridays or accept insurance that you have, people will not have a choice but to go to the hospitals to get seen. I did not go myself! Why? Because I really did not want to sit in a hospital waiting room for a couple of hours and then wait in the patient room for another hour or so to be seen. Plus I had my daughter, no way I was about to put her through that.
I probably need an antibiotic, but right now Dayquil and NyQuil are keeping the symptoms under control. My daughter is still running a fever and beginning to show the same symptoms. I did get through to her pediatricians office Friday, she has an appointment for 12:00 Monday, yes he was out Friday too. I guess I will be taking another day off work. Maybe Monday after I take her to the doc, I can find one.
Other times I tried and got the answer that is hard for me to believe: He/She is not taking on anymore patients. I just need to see a doctor for 10-15 minutes tops, I'm not going to be a permanent fixture in their office. Give Me A Break! Lastly I got the answer, Well, we can see you but we don't accept your insurance, you'll have to pay cash for the entire cost. Like I have that kind of money! I'm a teacher for God sake!
I have never been the kind of person to go to the doctor, or dentist for that matter, unless it is an absolute necessity. I have family insurance which includes myself, husband, and three children. I pay monthly premiums, deductibles and co-payments and the majority of the time my insurance might have to pay out 1 to 2 hundred dollars a year, if that.
I hate to see people in the hospital for minor things such as colds, but I can see why they do now. If doctors won't accept new patients, work on Fridays or accept insurance that you have, people will not have a choice but to go to the hospitals to get seen. I did not go myself! Why? Because I really did not want to sit in a hospital waiting room for a couple of hours and then wait in the patient room for another hour or so to be seen. Plus I had my daughter, no way I was about to put her through that.
I probably need an antibiotic, but right now Dayquil and NyQuil are keeping the symptoms under control. My daughter is still running a fever and beginning to show the same symptoms. I did get through to her pediatricians office Friday, she has an appointment for 12:00 Monday, yes he was out Friday too. I guess I will be taking another day off work. Maybe Monday after I take her to the doc, I can find one.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Halloween and its after effects
What a day! It's the day after Halloween and I'm so sick I can barely breathe. Yesterday was a long, cold and tiring day. It wasn't the ideal situation to help me feel better.
I left home yesterday at 7:20 to go to work. I spent all morning in the computer lab giving my students a Unit 1 benchmark test on computer. At 2:00, we toured a haunted house set up by the parents in our library and proceeded out to the parking lot for trunk or treating. Trunk or treating is our schools way of trick or treating. Parents, faculty and community members decorate the trunks of their cars and hand out treats to the students as they walk by.
We have less than 100 students in K-5 and each vehicle gave out treats to each student. My students walked away with a bag overflowing with treats. I left school at about 4:00, drove home to pick up my youngest son, Joey, and headed to my mother-in-laws. I arrived about 5 to dress my daughter for Halloween.
We did the house to house running in Brewsterdale, WV and finished at around 6:30. I loaded everyone up and headed to Thompson Valley, VA to my Dad's home. We left there around 7:45. I arrived at my grandmother's in Tazewell at around 8:00. We finished there and headed to my Aunt and Uncles. We left there at about 9:30 and went to Foodlion to pick up Shane, my oldest, at work, at 10:00.
I finally arrived home at around 10:20, cold, tired and sick. I bathed the baby, fixed her a quick bite to eat, and began my homework. I finally crawled into bed at 12:00 am. My daughter enjoyed herself and I liked getting to see and talk to family. I do not get that privilege much these days, because of the overload of work I have this year. But today, I'm feeling the after effects of stretching myself to the limit.
I was already sick, but today I can't go for more than 20 minutes without sneezing. I have wiped my nose until its raw and my chest feels like someone has poured oil into my lungs. My mouth is dry, no matter what I drink and my whole face hurts. Its like someone has placed a balloon behind my cheekbones and then blew them up. The pressure is terrible.
I am not going to work tomorrow. I stayed after school for 30 minutes today to prepare lessons for the sub and got into trouble with my mother-in-law for doing it. She had a fit because I was late today. Man! I just can't catch a break! She knows that I have been sick, and that I probably need to see a doctor. What does she expect? For me to take a day off, I still have to do a great deal of work to get the privilege.
I was planning to go see a doctor tomorrow, but now the baby is running a fever. I may end up taking her instead; if I can get an appointment for either one of us. Her pediatrician never works on Friday and I do not have a family doctor. I will have to get up early in the morning and begin chain calling all the doctors in the area until I find one that will be able to see us or her.
I hate feeling this way, but I would gladly take on her fever if I could. She is very irritable and you can tell she does not feel well this evening. She has eaten very little, but she is drinking. I'm not worried about dehydration at this point. I on the other hand, am starving. I just finished eating and I am still hungry. Odd isn't it! Normally I eat very little and sporadically.
I guess I will try to get some rest tonight and hope that tomorrow brings better health for everyone.
I left home yesterday at 7:20 to go to work. I spent all morning in the computer lab giving my students a Unit 1 benchmark test on computer. At 2:00, we toured a haunted house set up by the parents in our library and proceeded out to the parking lot for trunk or treating. Trunk or treating is our schools way of trick or treating. Parents, faculty and community members decorate the trunks of their cars and hand out treats to the students as they walk by.
We have less than 100 students in K-5 and each vehicle gave out treats to each student. My students walked away with a bag overflowing with treats. I left school at about 4:00, drove home to pick up my youngest son, Joey, and headed to my mother-in-laws. I arrived about 5 to dress my daughter for Halloween.
We did the house to house running in Brewsterdale, WV and finished at around 6:30. I loaded everyone up and headed to Thompson Valley, VA to my Dad's home. We left there around 7:45. I arrived at my grandmother's in Tazewell at around 8:00. We finished there and headed to my Aunt and Uncles. We left there at about 9:30 and went to Foodlion to pick up Shane, my oldest, at work, at 10:00.
I finally arrived home at around 10:20, cold, tired and sick. I bathed the baby, fixed her a quick bite to eat, and began my homework. I finally crawled into bed at 12:00 am. My daughter enjoyed herself and I liked getting to see and talk to family. I do not get that privilege much these days, because of the overload of work I have this year. But today, I'm feeling the after effects of stretching myself to the limit.
I was already sick, but today I can't go for more than 20 minutes without sneezing. I have wiped my nose until its raw and my chest feels like someone has poured oil into my lungs. My mouth is dry, no matter what I drink and my whole face hurts. Its like someone has placed a balloon behind my cheekbones and then blew them up. The pressure is terrible.
I am not going to work tomorrow. I stayed after school for 30 minutes today to prepare lessons for the sub and got into trouble with my mother-in-law for doing it. She had a fit because I was late today. Man! I just can't catch a break! She knows that I have been sick, and that I probably need to see a doctor. What does she expect? For me to take a day off, I still have to do a great deal of work to get the privilege.
I was planning to go see a doctor tomorrow, but now the baby is running a fever. I may end up taking her instead; if I can get an appointment for either one of us. Her pediatrician never works on Friday and I do not have a family doctor. I will have to get up early in the morning and begin chain calling all the doctors in the area until I find one that will be able to see us or her.
I hate feeling this way, but I would gladly take on her fever if I could. She is very irritable and you can tell she does not feel well this evening. She has eaten very little, but she is drinking. I'm not worried about dehydration at this point. I on the other hand, am starving. I just finished eating and I am still hungry. Odd isn't it! Normally I eat very little and sporadically.
I guess I will try to get some rest tonight and hope that tomorrow brings better health for everyone.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Better day but still not optimal
I woke up this morning as usual tired, but ready to go to work. I got all of my things together, while I was making sure my boys were up and getting ready. I transported the Halloween treats that I made for my students to the car. I had to let it warm up while I finished getting ready. It has been really cold the last few nights; this morning it was 28 degrees.
I have had my Halloween treats ready for about two weeks. I started buying things to put in them about a month ago; as soon as Halloween stuff hit the store shelves. I have 24 students this year, so the treats were not cheap. I spent approximately 75 dollars on them. They each have two treats that I will be giving them. One is from me (the teacher) no sugar or candy allowed. The other is from me (the mom) and my family. This one contains sugar and candy. I do this so I won't get into trouble.
I arrive at school and immediately take off to the copy room. I make copies of selection tests for Wednesday. I am informed that we (the school) have no water again! This is nothing new this year. We have been without water for altogether about 2 1/2 weeks this year. Ms. East informs me that I will be getting an ELMO for my room. I'm ecstatic, I've wanted one for a while. I return to my room and prepare for my students, who begin to trickle in. Ms. Howington comes in to observe my reading lesson at 9:00 until 10:30. I am nervous but confident that we (Mr. Cruey and I) will do well. We do! She shows me her remarks, no bad words to say.
At 10:30, we line up the 5th and 4th grades to travel down two flights of steps to the only bathrooms we can use in the building. We can use them, because the board has paid someone to transport water into the restrooms so we can flush the toilets after all of the students (around 100) have finished. Still not very sanitary. We provide all of the students with an antibacterial hand wipe as they exit.
They return upstairs and 4th comes to my room for reading. At 11:50, again we take the procession downstairs for a bathroom break before lunch. I have lunch duty, so I watch the children eat before I have my lunch at 12:30. I make my customary track to the top of the hill and have a couple before returning to work.
We have interventions after my lunch, but I did not get to do mine. My advanced and on level students normally go to enrichment, but both teachers that do this with them are not there. I have all but about 4 or 5 of my students. I can't do interventions with my 6 with everyone else so I work with 4th grade to finish reading.
At 1:15 my 4th grade travels down the hall to nutrition class. They attend these classes every Tuesday for about 7 weeks. I'll be glad when they are over. After they leave I take my 5th grade to the computer lab and show them how we can use the smart board to play games online, educational games. We play one together and at 2:00 my 4th graders return. When they return they all have a tootsie roll sucker in their mouths. I put 5th grade on the computers and pull up 4th daily fix-its on the smart board. I walk out of the computer lab and head straight for the office.
I inform the principal about the suckers and we all laugh about how a nutritionist would give candy to kids. I return and I review homework with 4th and 5th grade. We leave the computer lab at around 2:30. I line them all up again to take a trip down to the restrooms. When we return it is now 5th grades turn in nutrition class. I tell them to line up at the door and we wait.
I can't teach or do anything with my 4th graders because I have to stand in the doorway and watch the 5th grade until they enter the class. I wait 15 minutes and finally I had to do something. I opened the door and informed the nutritionist that the 5th graders have been waiting 15 minutes. She retorts that 3rd grade was late. Wow! I respond in the same tone, we don't do things that way! If a group is late then they just lose their time, we don't pull it from another time. I don't think she liked it, but I really don't care.
Now it is my planning period. I prepare things that need to go home. I run down my boss and speak with her a minute. A parent walks into my room to talk about her son and we talk for about 10 minutes. I finally get all of the students out the door and where they need to be. I drive straight home, my mom kept the baby, I don't have to pick her up. I am still sick, but at least I'm not Sick and Tired today!
I have had my Halloween treats ready for about two weeks. I started buying things to put in them about a month ago; as soon as Halloween stuff hit the store shelves. I have 24 students this year, so the treats were not cheap. I spent approximately 75 dollars on them. They each have two treats that I will be giving them. One is from me (the teacher) no sugar or candy allowed. The other is from me (the mom) and my family. This one contains sugar and candy. I do this so I won't get into trouble.
I arrive at school and immediately take off to the copy room. I make copies of selection tests for Wednesday. I am informed that we (the school) have no water again! This is nothing new this year. We have been without water for altogether about 2 1/2 weeks this year. Ms. East informs me that I will be getting an ELMO for my room. I'm ecstatic, I've wanted one for a while. I return to my room and prepare for my students, who begin to trickle in. Ms. Howington comes in to observe my reading lesson at 9:00 until 10:30. I am nervous but confident that we (Mr. Cruey and I) will do well. We do! She shows me her remarks, no bad words to say.
At 10:30, we line up the 5th and 4th grades to travel down two flights of steps to the only bathrooms we can use in the building. We can use them, because the board has paid someone to transport water into the restrooms so we can flush the toilets after all of the students (around 100) have finished. Still not very sanitary. We provide all of the students with an antibacterial hand wipe as they exit.
They return upstairs and 4th comes to my room for reading. At 11:50, again we take the procession downstairs for a bathroom break before lunch. I have lunch duty, so I watch the children eat before I have my lunch at 12:30. I make my customary track to the top of the hill and have a couple before returning to work.
We have interventions after my lunch, but I did not get to do mine. My advanced and on level students normally go to enrichment, but both teachers that do this with them are not there. I have all but about 4 or 5 of my students. I can't do interventions with my 6 with everyone else so I work with 4th grade to finish reading.
At 1:15 my 4th grade travels down the hall to nutrition class. They attend these classes every Tuesday for about 7 weeks. I'll be glad when they are over. After they leave I take my 5th grade to the computer lab and show them how we can use the smart board to play games online, educational games. We play one together and at 2:00 my 4th graders return. When they return they all have a tootsie roll sucker in their mouths. I put 5th grade on the computers and pull up 4th daily fix-its on the smart board. I walk out of the computer lab and head straight for the office.
I inform the principal about the suckers and we all laugh about how a nutritionist would give candy to kids. I return and I review homework with 4th and 5th grade. We leave the computer lab at around 2:30. I line them all up again to take a trip down to the restrooms. When we return it is now 5th grades turn in nutrition class. I tell them to line up at the door and we wait.
I can't teach or do anything with my 4th graders because I have to stand in the doorway and watch the 5th grade until they enter the class. I wait 15 minutes and finally I had to do something. I opened the door and informed the nutritionist that the 5th graders have been waiting 15 minutes. She retorts that 3rd grade was late. Wow! I respond in the same tone, we don't do things that way! If a group is late then they just lose their time, we don't pull it from another time. I don't think she liked it, but I really don't care.
Now it is my planning period. I prepare things that need to go home. I run down my boss and speak with her a minute. A parent walks into my room to talk about her son and we talk for about 10 minutes. I finally get all of the students out the door and where they need to be. I drive straight home, my mom kept the baby, I don't have to pick her up. I am still sick, but at least I'm not Sick and Tired today!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Down days
You know that feeling you get when nothing seems to be worth it anymore. Well I've had it for almost 4 days now. Seems like everything you do or say is wrong. I feel like filling up the car and driving until I run out of gas and doing it over and over again until I run out of money. All the while never turning around, moving in a straight line, to no where in particular.
Friday as I wrote earlier was the start of my feeling worthless and unnecessary. Saturday was not much better. Sunday ended with family problems and today, I seem to be coming down with a cold or maybe the flu. I feel like crap. My head hurts, throat hurts, I feel like I can't get enough air in my lungs and my back and legs hurt. Wednesday is Halloween and I'm really not in the holiday mood.
My kids today were quite well behaved. I informed them that I really was not feeling well so they must have tried to cut me some slack. The school environment did not help my feeling sick today. The temperature of my classroom never rose above 60 all day. My students and I wore a coat all day to try to keep warm. My foster grandmothers, older individuals who are in the room to help children in need, went home after lunch. They were freezing. I don't blame them. I would have left too if I could have.
Tomorrow is Tuesday, the final day for work to go on this 9 week report. Tuesday night I will be grading any papers that are piled up, inserting those into the grade book and averaging grades. All work and no play is making me crazy. I really need a break, I might take a day Thursday or Friday. I might not have a choice if I don't start feeling better. A doctor's visit and a new bill just what I need to boost my moral. Woo Ho!
Friday as I wrote earlier was the start of my feeling worthless and unnecessary. Saturday was not much better. Sunday ended with family problems and today, I seem to be coming down with a cold or maybe the flu. I feel like crap. My head hurts, throat hurts, I feel like I can't get enough air in my lungs and my back and legs hurt. Wednesday is Halloween and I'm really not in the holiday mood.
My kids today were quite well behaved. I informed them that I really was not feeling well so they must have tried to cut me some slack. The school environment did not help my feeling sick today. The temperature of my classroom never rose above 60 all day. My students and I wore a coat all day to try to keep warm. My foster grandmothers, older individuals who are in the room to help children in need, went home after lunch. They were freezing. I don't blame them. I would have left too if I could have.
Tomorrow is Tuesday, the final day for work to go on this 9 week report. Tuesday night I will be grading any papers that are piled up, inserting those into the grade book and averaging grades. All work and no play is making me crazy. I really need a break, I might take a day Thursday or Friday. I might not have a choice if I don't start feeling better. A doctor's visit and a new bill just what I need to boost my moral. Woo Ho!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
IS Days for me
IS days are built into our school calendar at the beginning of each school term. These are days that students are not required to attended school, but teachers do. At my first school appointment, we used these days to do things in our classroom, such as clean, prepare materials and plan. This helped a great deal. I could rearrange seating plans, post new material on walls, decorate for upcoming holidays, grade papers that have piled up and file materials so that they were easy to find in my file cabinets. I could also take time to review student work and plan for individual strategies to help those students. I had less to take home to do and more time with my family for a week or so. We also had a staff meeting that usually lasted only about an hour or so.
IS days at my current school is set up differently. We are required to send home invitations for students who need help to attend these days. I sent 7 invitations this time. Two of which decided to attend; a brother and sister pair that are both in the same grade. I teach reading, while another teacher does the math. She sent home about 6 invitations, One came. She did not work on IS day.
Here is the way the day transpired.
I arrived at the school at 8:00, my normal time. I went straight to my room and began to work on trying to get a online test posted for my students for Monday, to no avail. The math specialist came in to tell me that she would take my attendees for the first 30 minutes and send them to me at 9:30. I state that would be fine. I prepare graphic organizers, for each of the three students to take home to use when they read and write.
At 9:30 the three students enter my classroom. I explain the graphic organizers to them and allow them to sit at the computers and work on Riverdeep (a program that works with reading, language, vocabulary, and math). They are only allowed to work with reading. During this time, my boss enters the room to ask me if I would take time later that day to show a colleague how to get her lesson plans from the success net website. At 10:15 I send the three to our title one teacher, why I'm not sure, because our math specialist tells me to.
I leave my room and travel downstairs to the first grade classroom with my lesson plans in hand. I show these to the teacher and she informs me that she is not about to do hers like mine. Yes, mine are detailed and time consuming. I spend about 30 minutes talking with her and the 2nd/3rd grade teacher. I leave her room and travel up two flights of stairs to the cafeteria.
Title one has scheduled a fund raiser today as well and asked me on a previous day if I would help. We are selling spaghetti and ham dinners for pick up by the community. I arrive to find that only one person is helping beside me. Surprise! I jump in with both feet and help. At around 12:00 other teachers arrive to eat their lunch, while the other teacher and I are still preparing dinners for the fundraiser.
At 12:25 my boss arrives to find us still working on dinners. She informs us that we will be having a faculty meeting at 12:30. Wait! We haven't had our lunch break yet! I want to say, but I don't. I are almost done with the dinners, so I leave to get my lunch. I walk into the staff lunch room and heat my can of beef stew. I tell those in attendance that I would see them after I eat.
I never eat in the lunch room for one major reason. Lunch time is the only time in the day that I can have my addiction, a cigarette. I have to go outside to my car. Drive off of school grounds and park at the top of the hill in a wide spot to have one. I eat my stew and smoke one cigarette. It takes me about 15 minutes to do this. I immediately drive back to the school and back to work.
I walk into the room expecting someone to say, Where have you been?, and I am ready (not in the mood for any lip). No one says a thing. We have a staff meeting until 2:15 and we are told we can leave today at 3:00. Now I can finally get back to my room. Wow! a whole 45 minutes to spend on what I want to do! Catch me I'm falling!
I walk into the room and begin by cleaning the blackboard; it's now shiny and black. I rearrange the student desks into groups of 6. I clean the tops of all 24 desks, they were nasty. I shut down the four computers located in the room and gather my stuff. I have a rolling crate and today it is filled to the top with books, papers and manuals. I guess I will be spending my Saturday on work.
I walk out the door at 3:15. I would call this a wasted IS day. Nothing important was accomplished and I still will have to take my own time this weekend to complete work I should have had the chance to do in school today. I guess my point is, why invite these students for reading help? I can't move ahead, because I just have to teach the rest of the class at a later time. Math help was playing games on the Internet, no specialized help there. What was the purpose? I know! I know! To make the school look good, on our days free, we invite students and do things for the community.
IS days at my current school is set up differently. We are required to send home invitations for students who need help to attend these days. I sent 7 invitations this time. Two of which decided to attend; a brother and sister pair that are both in the same grade. I teach reading, while another teacher does the math. She sent home about 6 invitations, One came. She did not work on IS day.
Here is the way the day transpired.
I arrived at the school at 8:00, my normal time. I went straight to my room and began to work on trying to get a online test posted for my students for Monday, to no avail. The math specialist came in to tell me that she would take my attendees for the first 30 minutes and send them to me at 9:30. I state that would be fine. I prepare graphic organizers, for each of the three students to take home to use when they read and write.
At 9:30 the three students enter my classroom. I explain the graphic organizers to them and allow them to sit at the computers and work on Riverdeep (a program that works with reading, language, vocabulary, and math). They are only allowed to work with reading. During this time, my boss enters the room to ask me if I would take time later that day to show a colleague how to get her lesson plans from the success net website. At 10:15 I send the three to our title one teacher, why I'm not sure, because our math specialist tells me to.
I leave my room and travel downstairs to the first grade classroom with my lesson plans in hand. I show these to the teacher and she informs me that she is not about to do hers like mine. Yes, mine are detailed and time consuming. I spend about 30 minutes talking with her and the 2nd/3rd grade teacher. I leave her room and travel up two flights of stairs to the cafeteria.
Title one has scheduled a fund raiser today as well and asked me on a previous day if I would help. We are selling spaghetti and ham dinners for pick up by the community. I arrive to find that only one person is helping beside me. Surprise! I jump in with both feet and help. At around 12:00 other teachers arrive to eat their lunch, while the other teacher and I are still preparing dinners for the fundraiser.
At 12:25 my boss arrives to find us still working on dinners. She informs us that we will be having a faculty meeting at 12:30. Wait! We haven't had our lunch break yet! I want to say, but I don't. I are almost done with the dinners, so I leave to get my lunch. I walk into the staff lunch room and heat my can of beef stew. I tell those in attendance that I would see them after I eat.
I never eat in the lunch room for one major reason. Lunch time is the only time in the day that I can have my addiction, a cigarette. I have to go outside to my car. Drive off of school grounds and park at the top of the hill in a wide spot to have one. I eat my stew and smoke one cigarette. It takes me about 15 minutes to do this. I immediately drive back to the school and back to work.
I walk into the room expecting someone to say, Where have you been?, and I am ready (not in the mood for any lip). No one says a thing. We have a staff meeting until 2:15 and we are told we can leave today at 3:00. Now I can finally get back to my room. Wow! a whole 45 minutes to spend on what I want to do! Catch me I'm falling!
I walk into the room and begin by cleaning the blackboard; it's now shiny and black. I rearrange the student desks into groups of 6. I clean the tops of all 24 desks, they were nasty. I shut down the four computers located in the room and gather my stuff. I have a rolling crate and today it is filled to the top with books, papers and manuals. I guess I will be spending my Saturday on work.
I walk out the door at 3:15. I would call this a wasted IS day. Nothing important was accomplished and I still will have to take my own time this weekend to complete work I should have had the chance to do in school today. I guess my point is, why invite these students for reading help? I can't move ahead, because I just have to teach the rest of the class at a later time. Math help was playing games on the Internet, no specialized help there. What was the purpose? I know! I know! To make the school look good, on our days free, we invite students and do things for the community.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
My little girl!
Background
Anyway, when I arrived to pick Sabrina up today she was sitting on my mother-in-laws lap reading. No she can't really read yet, but she pretends that she can. My mother-in-law was talking about how smart she is for memorizing many of the books she likes to read. I think she is very smart as well, but I feel that memorizing is just something that all kids do at this age.
Sabrina has never liked to watch a lot of TV, unless it is The Backyardigans or Dora. She draws, reads, and plays with her toys to amuse herself. She helps me cook, clean and even tries to help me drive. WHAT? No, she does not physically help me drive, but she does remind me to put on my seat belt, tell me where to turn and scolds me for going to slow or fast. My two boys are older and take care of her for me when I am busy or just need a break for a few minutes.
She has a room (decorate with Backyardigans) full of toys and books. She has her own furniture, bed, table with chairs, and toy shelf, again Backyardigans. On her dresser she has her own TV, hooked up to satellite, a VCR and a DVD player. On her wardrobe she has approximately 100 movies that have been bought just for her. The only problem is she will play, watch movies or TV, and read in her room, but she will not sleep in it. She sleeps with mommy and daddy.
She has the undivided attention of the whole family, both at home and elsewhere. She is loved by everyone that meets her, she just has that personality. It's no wonder she has all of these things. Christmas is coming, I'll bet she has another room full then. I always wondered about the term spoiled. Do you think all of this qualifies her as spoiled? I don't think it should because besides getting about anything she wants, she is really a good child. She minds well most of the time and listens. I'm just not sure about that label.
- Name: Sabrina Nicole
- Age: 3
- Place in family: youngest child, only daughter, and most of the time "the boss" in the immediate family: First Granddaughter on my side of the family and the only one who lives around here in my husband's family.
- Personality: friendly (doesn't meet a stranger) active (on the go constantly) inquisitive (wants to know about everything she encounters) talkative (thought she'd never start, can't wait till she stops now) attention seeker (she wants to be the center of attention) impatient (she wants what she wants NOW)
- Physically: Height: approximately 3 foot Weight: about 28 pounds Eyes: hazel Hair: long and brown.
I pick up my little girl at my mother-in-laws home on workdays. My mother-in-law is a great person. Yea! I said it. We have always gotten along well. She keeps Sabrina when I work, unless they have an appointment. On those days my mother or my father keep her for me. I feel safer doing it that way; I know they will take good care of her.
Anyway, when I arrived to pick Sabrina up today she was sitting on my mother-in-laws lap reading. No she can't really read yet, but she pretends that she can. My mother-in-law was talking about how smart she is for memorizing many of the books she likes to read. I think she is very smart as well, but I feel that memorizing is just something that all kids do at this age.
Sabrina has never liked to watch a lot of TV, unless it is The Backyardigans or Dora. She draws, reads, and plays with her toys to amuse herself. She helps me cook, clean and even tries to help me drive. WHAT? No, she does not physically help me drive, but she does remind me to put on my seat belt, tell me where to turn and scolds me for going to slow or fast. My two boys are older and take care of her for me when I am busy or just need a break for a few minutes.
She has a room (decorate with Backyardigans) full of toys and books. She has her own furniture, bed, table with chairs, and toy shelf, again Backyardigans. On her dresser she has her own TV, hooked up to satellite, a VCR and a DVD player. On her wardrobe she has approximately 100 movies that have been bought just for her. The only problem is she will play, watch movies or TV, and read in her room, but she will not sleep in it. She sleeps with mommy and daddy.
She has the undivided attention of the whole family, both at home and elsewhere. She is loved by everyone that meets her, she just has that personality. It's no wonder she has all of these things. Christmas is coming, I'll bet she has another room full then. I always wondered about the term spoiled. Do you think all of this qualifies her as spoiled? I don't think it should because besides getting about anything she wants, she is really a good child. She minds well most of the time and listens. I'm just not sure about that label.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Workshop Days
I began my day as any normal school day.
- Waking up at 6:30
- Getting dressed, fixing my hair, putting on my makeup, etc.
- Waking my boys at 6:45
- Gathering all of the materials I would need for the day
Then I changed my routine. I did not have to go to the school where I teach, I had to travel to Beckley, WV for a workshop on Differentiating Instruction. I left home at 7:00 and stopped by Bud's Shopping Center in Adria. Bud's has the best biscuits that I have every eaten anywhere and my mom is the one who makes them most days. I always get a bacon, cheese, tomato and mayo biscuit, but mom already knows that.
I leave Bud's and travel the 1/2 mile to my colleagues home to pick him up: we are riding together today. I reach his house at around 7:15. We leave Tazewell and head to Bluefield to get on I-77. I make a quick stop in Bluefield to pick up breakfast for my colleague. We finally reach Tamarack Conference Center near Beckley at around 8:40.
We walk in to find that breakfast was provided. Good Grief! I wish we had known. Well anyway we walk in to find a seat and begin our day. The workshop was very interesting and informing. I did not see much in the way of differentiation, but it was informing none the less.
We discussed a great deal about learning modalities and how children in today's classroom are predominately tactile/kinesthetic learners. I liked many of the suggestions and plan to implement several on my return to class tomorrow. Some of which are:
- Work masks
- Colored Acetate strips for reading
- Class stepping stones
- Index card responses
During our workshop, RESA 1 provided breakfast, like I said before. They also provided a lunch (grilled chicken salad with (we think) Parmesan dressing and cheesecake)and a snack (cookies) around 2:00. Drinks consisting of water, coffee, soda, and juice was available the whole time. I never knew that going to a workshop would give so much. I'm told by others it usually doesn't.
We left the workshop at around 3:30. I had to make a stop at the pet store in Bluefield to pick up a rat (for our Ball Python) and crickets (for our 3 tree frogs). Yes we have a zoo at my home. Another quick stop at Walmart to buy materials to implement our newly found ideas and a few other things.
I finally get my colleague home at about 5:05. I get home shortly after and pick up my youngest son from home (leaving all of my acquired stuff). I travel another 20 minutes in the direction of Bishop Va. to pick up my daughter at my mother-in-laws house. I finally return home at around 6:30.
Supper is still not done and I probably will not make any tonight. You know! Eat what you can find. I am currently working on preparing our materials and planning for tomorrow. I would like to go to bed early, but I have to travel again tonight: picking up my son at Food Lion when he gets off work at 10:00.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Taking a day
Monday I will be taking a day off work to attend a workshop with a colleague of mine. I don't like taking a day off work anymore. I used to look forward to laying out of work a few years ago and planned for it accordingly. I would wake up and decide I just did not feel like working, pick up the phone and make up some excuse for being absent. Not anymore.
Teaching means a lot to me. I enjoy going in and getting materials ready. Standing in front of a classroom of kids, knowing that they are looking to me for answers and knowledge, excites my intellect. When I do not attend, I feel that I am letting them down. I know that one day is not going to permanently stunt their educational growth, but that's one day they lose direct input from me.
I also worry that the substitute will not be kind to my kids, will not follow what I want the kids to accomplish, and will find that my classroom routines are not up to their expectations. I guess you could say I am a control freak. I know the lady that will be substituting for me Monday. I know that she will treat my kids fairly, but the rest is up for grabs.
Another reason that I hate taking a day is the work that must be done to take a day. I spent 4 hours Thursday preparing lessons and materials for the substitute to use. I used to be a substitute and I hated to walk into a classroom, where I did not have a clue what was going on. My substitutes should never have that problem.
I write out detailed lesson plans that include time, subject and word for word instructions for the lesson. I place all materials in a file folder and lay them on my desk, so they have no problem finding them. They never have to open my lesson planner and try to decipher them, everything is typed, edited, and laid out in time sequence order. I always list two to three students that know what is going on to help with activities and include lunch and bus duties that need to be followed. AGAIN! A CONTROL FREAK!
After all of this pre-planning, I should feel comfortable right. Wrong! I will continue to worry till I walk in Tuesday and read the note left by the substitute telling me how Monday went. I will also ask my students what they did, how they felt and if they were good for the sub. Maybe one day I will lose this feeling of worry when I take a day, but I doubt it.
I really hope that in a way I never lose it, because when I do it might be time for me to get out of the profession.
Teaching means a lot to me. I enjoy going in and getting materials ready. Standing in front of a classroom of kids, knowing that they are looking to me for answers and knowledge, excites my intellect. When I do not attend, I feel that I am letting them down. I know that one day is not going to permanently stunt their educational growth, but that's one day they lose direct input from me.
I also worry that the substitute will not be kind to my kids, will not follow what I want the kids to accomplish, and will find that my classroom routines are not up to their expectations. I guess you could say I am a control freak. I know the lady that will be substituting for me Monday. I know that she will treat my kids fairly, but the rest is up for grabs.
Another reason that I hate taking a day is the work that must be done to take a day. I spent 4 hours Thursday preparing lessons and materials for the substitute to use. I used to be a substitute and I hated to walk into a classroom, where I did not have a clue what was going on. My substitutes should never have that problem.
I write out detailed lesson plans that include time, subject and word for word instructions for the lesson. I place all materials in a file folder and lay them on my desk, so they have no problem finding them. They never have to open my lesson planner and try to decipher them, everything is typed, edited, and laid out in time sequence order. I always list two to three students that know what is going on to help with activities and include lunch and bus duties that need to be followed. AGAIN! A CONTROL FREAK!
After all of this pre-planning, I should feel comfortable right. Wrong! I will continue to worry till I walk in Tuesday and read the note left by the substitute telling me how Monday went. I will also ask my students what they did, how they felt and if they were good for the sub. Maybe one day I will lose this feeling of worry when I take a day, but I doubt it.
I really hope that in a way I never lose it, because when I do it might be time for me to get out of the profession.
When will I see you?
My husband and I both work, but that's not new. Most couples today have to have two family incomes to live Compare that to 30 years ago, when dad worked and mom took care of the home and kids. This does not bother me, considering I grew up wanting to work. What bothers me is the fact that my husband and I work different shifts.
I wake up of a morning at 6:30 and go to work, while my husband is still in bed asleep. He sleeps till about 11:00 and leaves for work at 1:00. I return home around 5:00, do what I need to do and get in the bed around 11:00. At around 3:00 am he returns home to find me asleep and turns in himself. This cycle continues Monday - Friday.
There are some good aspects of this arrangement. I no longer have to take my three year old daughter to my mother-in-laws in the morning: my husband does this. We don't fight or argue much, because we do not see each other enough to get on each others nerves. And finally now someone is available during the day to go to the bank or make phone calls to businesses that are only open from 9 - 5.
The truly awful part of this arrangement is the fact we don't see each other. When we do on the weekends, its as if we really have nothing to say. We kind of lose touch with each other, like there is a emotional distance between us. I love him dearly and always will, but I don't know how long our relationship can last with this situation. We do converse, by way of post it notes we leave each other on the counter.
Most of our post it notes have the usual jargon; Your mom called she will be picking the baby up at 10 today or I wrote a check today for gas it was $$$$. We state we love and miss each other on a daily basis. My husband hates to write, so the post it situation is odd for him. He has written me more in the last month than in our total of 19 years of marriage.
Well it is Saturday, my husband is working till around 11 tonight. We have Sunday to reconnect, before beginning a new week of post it notes. I pray that he will soon get a day shift position and we can truly be a husband and wife again.
I wake up of a morning at 6:30 and go to work, while my husband is still in bed asleep. He sleeps till about 11:00 and leaves for work at 1:00. I return home around 5:00, do what I need to do and get in the bed around 11:00. At around 3:00 am he returns home to find me asleep and turns in himself. This cycle continues Monday - Friday.
There are some good aspects of this arrangement. I no longer have to take my three year old daughter to my mother-in-laws in the morning: my husband does this. We don't fight or argue much, because we do not see each other enough to get on each others nerves. And finally now someone is available during the day to go to the bank or make phone calls to businesses that are only open from 9 - 5.
The truly awful part of this arrangement is the fact we don't see each other. When we do on the weekends, its as if we really have nothing to say. We kind of lose touch with each other, like there is a emotional distance between us. I love him dearly and always will, but I don't know how long our relationship can last with this situation. We do converse, by way of post it notes we leave each other on the counter.
Most of our post it notes have the usual jargon; Your mom called she will be picking the baby up at 10 today or I wrote a check today for gas it was $$$$. We state we love and miss each other on a daily basis. My husband hates to write, so the post it situation is odd for him. He has written me more in the last month than in our total of 19 years of marriage.
Well it is Saturday, my husband is working till around 11 tonight. We have Sunday to reconnect, before beginning a new week of post it notes. I pray that he will soon get a day shift position and we can truly be a husband and wife again.
Classroom Observations
As a new teacher, I must be evaluated by my supervisor (principal) a certain number of times a year. I always hated to be the center of attention by adults. I get an extreme amount of butterflies and devastating stage fright. I break into cold sweats and my heart rate rises to an alarming rate.
My day was Thursday, my first evaluation of the year. Being evaluated by your superior is nerve racking, but for some reason I don't seem to go into the fits as mentioned above. I plan all of my lessons down to the last detail. I usually know exactly what I am going to say and do before I begin. I guess this could be one of the reasons I don't mind so much.
Another reason I believe is because it is a controlled environment, one which I am comfortable in. I am a teacher, I teach children, so what is there to be nervous about. I love to teach and the group that I have this year is very receptive to how and what I am trying to get across to them. I can act crazy, raise my voice, sing and even dance in front of my students without feeling silly or stupid.
During my planning period today, I found out my results from Thursday. Now I was nervous. What if I did something wrong? What if she didn't like how I taught? Can I accept her criticisms without taking them as personal? Will she want me to change my approach or my mannerisms?
I walk in, sit down, and try to prepare myself for a beating. I am shocked and amazed. She begins by stating that she appreciates me. ME! She began to show all of the good things that I was doing in the classroom. Many of which I did not realize that I was even doing. She commended me on my planning and preparedness. Wow! She noticed that! I was ready for the worst and got the best out of this encounter.
I guess my being ready for the worst in the classroom, brought out the best in my classroom.
My day was Thursday, my first evaluation of the year. Being evaluated by your superior is nerve racking, but for some reason I don't seem to go into the fits as mentioned above. I plan all of my lessons down to the last detail. I usually know exactly what I am going to say and do before I begin. I guess this could be one of the reasons I don't mind so much.
Another reason I believe is because it is a controlled environment, one which I am comfortable in. I am a teacher, I teach children, so what is there to be nervous about. I love to teach and the group that I have this year is very receptive to how and what I am trying to get across to them. I can act crazy, raise my voice, sing and even dance in front of my students without feeling silly or stupid.
During my planning period today, I found out my results from Thursday. Now I was nervous. What if I did something wrong? What if she didn't like how I taught? Can I accept her criticisms without taking them as personal? Will she want me to change my approach or my mannerisms?
I walk in, sit down, and try to prepare myself for a beating. I am shocked and amazed. She begins by stating that she appreciates me. ME! She began to show all of the good things that I was doing in the classroom. Many of which I did not realize that I was even doing. She commended me on my planning and preparedness. Wow! She noticed that! I was ready for the worst and got the best out of this encounter.
I guess my being ready for the worst in the classroom, brought out the best in my classroom.
School Fire Drills
On average, schools have two to three fire drills per semester. Today my boss, decided that we needed a fire drill. That's not so bad, right! Well! yesterday I was told that we needed to have students in the computer lab daily. This puts a kink into my lesson plans.
I teach only reading of the morning (4th for 1 1/2 hours and 5th for 1 1/2 hours), but after lunch I have to teach social studies, science, language, health, art, music, and computer. I only have 2 hours in which to get it all in and this does not include gym that occurs on a almost daily basis.
Anyways, I am already stressed for time. I read this morning that Prism volunteers will be reading to the students at 2:00, so again there goes my lesson plans. At 2:10, the fire alarm blares (my heart pops into my throat)and I say "Lets go". We walk quickly and wait outside until the boss allows us to return.
We return to an empty computer room and resume our work, only to be interrupted again 5 minutes later with another drill. Oh Boy! Out again into the parking lot to wait. I lost 20 minutes today, when I really did not have any to spare.
Hooray! At least they were drills and not the real thing, I might have lost a lot more.
I teach only reading of the morning (4th for 1 1/2 hours and 5th for 1 1/2 hours), but after lunch I have to teach social studies, science, language, health, art, music, and computer. I only have 2 hours in which to get it all in and this does not include gym that occurs on a almost daily basis.
Anyways, I am already stressed for time. I read this morning that Prism volunteers will be reading to the students at 2:00, so again there goes my lesson plans. At 2:10, the fire alarm blares (my heart pops into my throat)and I say "Lets go". We walk quickly and wait outside until the boss allows us to return.
We return to an empty computer room and resume our work, only to be interrupted again 5 minutes later with another drill. Oh Boy! Out again into the parking lot to wait. I lost 20 minutes today, when I really did not have any to spare.
Hooray! At least they were drills and not the real thing, I might have lost a lot more.
A new experience for me
I am a teacher, mother, and wife. My life is full and rewarding, but tiring at times. I deal with children 24/7 and need a way to return to the adult world. I enjoy what I do, but need to remember that as an adult, adult conversation and input is needed periodically.
I live in a very small town in Southwestern Virginia. I work in a school located in West Virginia, which is only about 20 miles from my home. I have been a teacher for 3 years. I choose to work in this area, because class sizes are small and the children come from homes that have similar morals and beliefs as my own.
I have 3 children, ages 17, 15, and 3. I have been married for 19 years to the same wonderful man.
I live in a very small town in Southwestern Virginia. I work in a school located in West Virginia, which is only about 20 miles from my home. I have been a teacher for 3 years. I choose to work in this area, because class sizes are small and the children come from homes that have similar morals and beliefs as my own.
I have 3 children, ages 17, 15, and 3. I have been married for 19 years to the same wonderful man.
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