Halloween

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Presents

I seem to get a great deal more gifts as a second grade teacher. To date:

  • a necklace
  • banana bread
  • pumpkin seeds
  • a bracelet
  • a copious amount of art
  • and this GIANT apple

Casual Friday

After a year of dressing up to fit into "how a principal looks" (ugh!), this is a happy teacher on a Friday.

Gum Day

Kids choose rewards in my class. First one this year: Gum Day! Post celebration feedback: I've never chewed so much gum in my life. My jaw hurts!

Monday, October 10, 2011

You know you work at a hoity toity school when...

...you get an email like this:

Some students are wearing hooded sweatshirts that zip over the face.  Nothing should be worn over the face inside or outside the  building.  Also, many of these sweatshirts have disturbing images on them like skeletons.  Please speak to your students about not wearing sweatshirts with these types of images and let them know that although they can wear a hood on their heads to keep them warm or protect them from the rain, that they are not to cover their faces for safety purposes (so they can see and staff can see them).  Thanks.


Really? We have time to worry about hoods? Who is complaining about this to the principal and not just handling it and moving on? That's what I want to know.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Wunny Day

-I'm having a very wunny day!
-Really? How's that?
-I keep getting all ones in this math game we're playing!
-Ahh. That does sound like a one-y day.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Worrier

Second graders are different in many ways from the fourth graders of my past. One such way--they're apparently not afraid to share and are very trusting of their teacher. Exhibit A: A little one came up to me after recess today and I could see the tears welling. Her chin started to quiver as she told me that her parents were arguing a lot at home and they're "just thinking about each other and no one's thinking about me and I'm worried." This is when the no hugging policy is null and void in my book. Life can be hard. Anyone know how to explain that to a 7-year-old?

A New Year...A New Grade

Last year was grueling. I think I lost blogging ground after about two posts. I pretty much sold my soul for the chance to become a principal and came up short. Slowly I've been picking up the pieces--spending time working in a funky resale shop, reconnecting with those I love, and turning a significant chunk of my hair a sound shade of purple. The last part is a bit of big deal because I think I mentioned that I changed schools last year. This school is muy differente than my previous one. It's high scoring, composed of families with 2.5 kids and students I can't tell apart--Are you Sam or Fred 'cause you both have blond hair and blue eyes--and "unnaturally" colored hair is again the rules. I'm serious. It's in the handbook. Last year I did my best to fit in in the new neighborhood. This year I showed up with purple hair and I'm trying to hang on to my spunk a midst the serious stuffiness.

I'm in a second grade classroom now, learning how to downshift and teaching how to perfect the art of the elbow sneeze. I hope you'll check back often as I hope to be posting regularly during this new adventure.