Back to the Fucher...

The kids nominated movies they'd like to see for movie night.  I had to do a double take on this one.

Fruit leather made me lose control

Our practice during snack time in the classroom is for everyone to wait until the snack passers and hand sanitizer finish their jobs.  Then we all thank them and start eating at the same time.  I do this to instill manners and show our appreciation for the service. 

We served fruit leather today which is a rare treat.  One kid started stuffing his face BEFORE the servers were done so he would be finished earlier and get seconds.  I glared at him and when he caught my gaze, his eyes widened much like the chipmunk.  Then he stuffed the rest of the leather in his mouth as fast as he could to hide the evidence.

It's not hot at all..

We made Mayan Stew (squash, corn, peppers, beans) in the classroom to simulate the ancient Mayan food.  Although the ancient Mayans used chili peppers for spice, I didn't put it in the stew.  Instead, we had chili pepper hot sauce on the side.  I had some adventurous and proud kids in the room who tried the hot sauces.

Boy (with a beet red face and tears streaming down):  "I couldn't feel it at all!  It's not hot!"
Girl:  Gasp, choke, cough, "It's good!"  Gasp, choke, cough, "I want more of it!" Gasp, choke, cough, "Put it in my stew!"  Gasp, choke, cough.
Kids (running to the sink): "WATER!"

So I cried...

To celebrate Martin Luther King Day, our school held a Peace March where we walked around our neighborhood with signs.  I heard one of my students talking to a classmate, "I asked my dad to come but he said he couldn't."  She paused, "so I cried and now he will join us for the march!" 

Emotional blackmail works.

Passing it forward

Some students did not turn their homework.  As a result, I told them they had to make it up in the office while the rest of the class enjoyed a celebration (movie reward for filling up the marble jar with compliments on behavior).  When the first one came up to complain, I told him I already gave them four days to remember and it is not fair to those who turned it in on time.  I need the homework in my hands and I was not giving out any more time extensions.

The next one came up to complain.  This time the first complainer turn to the second and righteously preached "She already gave us four days to remember and it is not fair to those who turned it in on time!".  

Kids grow up

I taught this same group of kids last year and when I blew kisses at them as a compliment to the whole class, they were proud to be complimented.  This year when I did the same, they responded in a collective "EWWWWWWW!"  My son is now 14 and when I want to take photo of him, I get the paparazzi hand.  It's sad to see them grow up sometimes.

Aromatherapy for fieldtrips

We had a field trip today where the buses were late, very late.  It was a big field trip and 90% of the school was going.  As we waited and waited, the children grew louder and louder, and the chaperones grew more and more tense.  One chaperone brought an aromatherapy stick where you dabbed the relaxing fragrance of lavender on the inside of your wrist and breath deeply to invoke a calming state.  The news spread and I looked up to find the parents en mass sniffing deeply of their wrists. 

What do you tell these kids?!

To model a persuasive letter, I wrote an example letter where I'm trying to persuade my husband not to curse so much.  The kids were intrigued and delighted at the insights they are gaining about my family (and were quite engaged during the lesson).  When I recalled this at home, my husband was first wary, and then perturbed.  "I may be too embarrassed to ever see your class now!", he finally managed.

Don't go out of town again!

I am currently teaching a persuasive letter unit.  One of the kids wrote an eloquent and poignant letter trying to persuade her parent not to go out of town.  She expressed her loneliness and feelings of isolation, her desolation from looking at the empty space where her parent would sit.  After she finished reading her letter during our writing share time, the class was quite moved.  And then several kids asked to use some of her phrasing; they want to persuade their parents not to go out of town too! 

My spit is all over it...

Part I:  During library time when the librarian was presenting, a student was throwing a chestnut up and down, clearly not paying attention.  I held out my hand for the chestnut.  He looked at me and said, "I had it in my mouth and it has my spit all over it.  Are you sure you want it?".  My thought was NO! GROSS! OF COURSE NOT!  But I'll be dammed before I would let him know how I truly feel.  I continued holding my hand out and he dropped it in.  I won...I think.

Part II:  As I walked away looking for serious cleanser to sanitize this object, I heard him talking to the librarian.  I overheard, "What a wonderful idea to share your chestnut!  It can start our seeds display!"  Then, "Ms. Kathleen", she chirped, "Do you have the lovely seed?"  Stopping to plaster a pleasant smile on my face, I told  her about the spit currently coating said lovely seed.  She recoiled.  Then she showed me where she keep her deep cleaning supplies.

Gentlemen and Guys

I was reading from a book where a gentleman held out his arm to escort a lady in to dine. A male parent volunteer demonstrated how it was done with a student.  I thought it was cute and told the class we can try escorting each other to lunch.  The girls were ecstatic and squealed with excitement.  The time came and I asked the boys to be gentlemen and hold out their arms.  Every one of them started slouching and told me they are guys, not gentlemen.  Sigh.  I tried.

Most memorable moment from summer...

In our sharing circle, we shared an artifact that best evoked memories of this past summer. One student brought two photos.  One of him holding a snake and the other a snake bite he got from that snake.  Yup.  That was a memorable moment!

No Strike, School Can Start!

The past few weeks has been somewhat tumultuous and stressful.  While preparing to teach a new grade and set up the classroom with a new partner teacher, the union and school district couldn't come to an agreement for a new contract!  Finally, with 3 days to go, we have a tentative agreement.  We will vote on it the day before school starts.  Better late than never...

Everyday is a Good Day

Oftentimes I get asked how was my day (my teaching day) and if it was frustrating, I would say so but always add "I need to have bad days to appreciate the good days".  I thought I was living a positive life.  Then I talked to my neighbor who has cerebral palsy and lives in a wheelchair. He can't use any of his limbs and has limited movement in his neck.  It is difficult to understand him because his vocal cords are impacted.  When we said bad days are needed to appreciate the good days, he politely disagreed.  "Nooooo! Everyday is a good day".   ...All things are relative.

Interviewing from the other side of the table

For a long time, I interviewed for teaching jobs.  Now that I've been hired, I am on the other side of the table doing the interviewing.  It is a MUCH different experience.  Here are a few things I gleaned as advice to pass on for applicants...

1.  Bring your own writing pad to jot down notes to interview questions - most likely you will be given a list of questions to ponder while waiting for your interview.  You will not be allowed to take those questions home.  I noticed sharp applicants would read the questions and jot down notes on their own paper which they can take home.  Then they have additional information for their next interview.

2.  Take a risk in your application -  almost every decent application have words like differentiation, lifelong learner, buzz words from the curricula we are using...and that is good because I expect that at the minimum.  To bring the application to the next level, show some original ideas of your own.  For example, an applicant wrote about a yearlong expedition incorporating technology and writing in the production of a video.  That is different and showcase a talent/experience/original idea that separated him from the herd.

3.  Don't be overly familiar if you know someone on your interview committee - an applicant was acquainted with 2 teachers on the interview committee.  He kept using their names in his responses, probably as an attempt to establish rapport.  However, the teachers were uncomfortable because they felt he presumed on the acquaintance.  He was also interviewing for a different grade level than what his contacts taught but did not focus on the teacher he needed to most impress -- the one teaching his grade level band.

A New Start, A Summer's Resolution

Time for a new start.  I started a blog about my substituting days and had great fun.  But now that I've been teaching for a couple, the old blog just didn't quite fit anymore.  So here goes a new launch with links to blogs from all the people who make education possible - the substitutes, bus drivers, principals...