Halloween

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Guest Speaker

Last year we had an NFL player come speak to our intermediate students about the importance of school. It quickly devolved into a Q&A session (mostly about football and the player's tattoos). Then it moved on to a singing session where he was handing the microphone to any brave student willing to perform. You'd think the principal would have wrapped it up by now, but no. And the crowning moment was when one of the fourth graders in my teaching partner's class got up and belted out, "I like big butts and I cannot lie..." all the way to the part about a round thing in your face. You get the picture. My teaching partner was bright red, but the student was beaming with pride for the rest of the day.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Our Nation's History

While editing a student's social studies writing recently I found a reference to the "Nat of" Americans. What exactly is a "nat?" I wondered. Well at least I know I taught one thing to one student this year.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Waddle Waddle

To: You

From: The Rugrats

The Duck Song

You're welcome. :)

P.S. Click on the words "The Duck Song" oh ye of little technology.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Puke Patrol

Usually it's the kiddos tossing their cookies, but not today. All morning my team teacher was complaining of feeling lethargic and I was doing a great job of commiserating. After lunch she literally ran for the girls' room and could be heard up and down the hallway. I guess she really meant it. Poor thing! I followed her back to class and sent her home stat.

Another exciting day...just wait 'til conferences start at the end of the week.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Substitutes

Many of the ones I meet are good with kids, but rough with adults. When you come back the next day your teaching partner is NOT happy with you (not that this has happened to me lately).

We all seem to agree, though, that the best ones are the ones that get everything you left in your plans done and really keep the kids on task and learning. Then the kids hate them and welcome you back with cheers. Perfect!

The worst ever was when I came back to food crumbs all over my desk and a mysterious stain on my chair...MY chair! I called the district controller of subs and had her banned for life. Gross.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cry for Help

I bought a bright orange stuffed crab to cushion my teacher stool a while back. One day I went to sit down and "Crabby" had a little sticky note on him that read:

Please don't sit on me anymore.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Bonus Points

I used to live just a short walk away from school and one day the parent of one of my students rolled down her minivan window to ask if I'd like a ride. I politely declined and she emailed me later to say that her 7-year-old had been in the back seat and asked, "If we gave the teacher a ride home, would we get extra credit?"

Sunday, November 8, 2009

First Field Trip

We recently went on our first field trip downtown, which brought back the fond memory of the first time I took kiddos on this trip. When looking through the thank you notes they wrote to our tour guides I found one that said, "Thank you for taking us on the tour. I saw a hobo eating chips out of a trash can."

Glad to know that he learned so much on our academically enriching trip.

P.S. Where in the world did he learn the word hobo?!?

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Honesty is the Best Policy

I have a reward system where the class chooses something to work toward and I put blank spaces for each letter of the reward to be filled in at my discretion based on their behavior. After being absent for a day, a girl came back to class and noticed some more letters filled in. "I know how all those letters got there, " she said. "I wasn't here and I talk too much."

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Fourth Grade Funnies

You can add this joke to your repertoire courtesy of one of my kiddos today:

What time is it when an elephant sits on your car?

Time to get a new one! *grin*

Monday, November 2, 2009

Momentary Classroom Departure

Facebook is a fun thing. Apparently my nephew told his mom this week that he was a little bit naughty in church, but that Santa didn't see him.

I'll have to remember to pinch his cheeks for that next time I see him.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Hey you!

If you're reading, don't forget to leave a reaction. Just click one of the little boxes at the bottom of each post. It's completely anonymous, but I love to see what you think. If you don't, I'll feel like no one is listening...*sniff*

Halloween Hoopla

Every good teacher loves a class party. We really tear it up with cookie decorating in one area, a movie in another, and crafts The highlight of the event came my personal favorite component., the dance party room. A round and ever-smiling little one of mine came up to me (after putting Thriller on for the umpteenth time) said, "There's a reason they call me Mini Michael" and then moonwalked away. He's got the tipped hat and the 180-twisted-foot moves down too! Eee Hee!