One of my students thinks I look like Faith Hill from the Monday night football intro. YES.
I have not yet killed the klepto fire alarm puller. YES.
With the help of Skittles, my students are now sitting in their seats 75% more of the time than they were 2 weeks ago. YES.
Thanksgiving break has officially started. YES.
I have tomorrow to cook, do errands, catch up, and sleep in. YES.
My only plans for the weekend are eating and hanging out with family. YES.
It's cold outside. YES.
Basketball season is here. YES.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Tornados in November
Student: Ms. Lock, it's tornado weather!
Ms. Lock: No, it's just a lot of wind and rain. There's no tornado.
three minute interlude of writing instruction
Class is interrupted by another teacher.
Teacher: Ms. Lock, we're under a tornado warning. We're moving classes to the hall.
Ms. Lock: Everyone line up!
We spent 30 minutes of our afternoon sitting on the floor in the commons area trying to keep 240 students quiet and sitting calmly on the floor. My students just assumed it was a drill and quickly began complaining that it was boring and why couldn't we go back to class yet. As far as I know, there was never a funnel cloud spotted but some hail and strong winds. The area was under a warning for the better part of 30 minutes until the conditions passed. Good times in Kindergarten.
Ms. Lock: No, it's just a lot of wind and rain. There's no tornado.
three minute interlude of writing instruction
Class is interrupted by another teacher.
Teacher: Ms. Lock, we're under a tornado warning. We're moving classes to the hall.
Ms. Lock: Everyone line up!
We spent 30 minutes of our afternoon sitting on the floor in the commons area trying to keep 240 students quiet and sitting calmly on the floor. My students just assumed it was a drill and quickly began complaining that it was boring and why couldn't we go back to class yet. As far as I know, there was never a funnel cloud spotted but some hail and strong winds. The area was under a warning for the better part of 30 minutes until the conditions passed. Good times in Kindergarten.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Keeping Up
This last week had it's share of big ups and downs. It started off rather terribly with a visit from the school psychologist as she was trying to observe one of my students. The entire class was just really restless and not doing anything particularly well. She was aghast and I was feeling pretty insignificant. It led to a couple of conversations with my principal about what we can do to get everybody back on track and my mean face firmly planted on. It was only a four day week but it definitely ended better than it started. The next 7 days before Thanksgiving break will be a lot of going back to the basics. We are going to keep it simple and matter of fact. Stay in your seat. Raise your hand.
Sometimes I wonder what it will be like to teach for 30 years. That's a LONG time. I think for the most part it would be good. However, I wonder about how I will survive things like packing a sack lunch everyday. How many containers of yogurt will I eat in 30 years? I'm not so sure about that.
2 more things
Illini football makes me depressed. I will forever be fan but I'm also not sure how I'll survive 30 years of that either.
I am 98% sure my van would not have started when it was cold last week. When I was scrapping the frost off my windshield, that's what I was thinking, "I made a good choice to get rid of the van."
Sometimes I wonder what it will be like to teach for 30 years. That's a LONG time. I think for the most part it would be good. However, I wonder about how I will survive things like packing a sack lunch everyday. How many containers of yogurt will I eat in 30 years? I'm not so sure about that.
2 more things
Illini football makes me depressed. I will forever be fan but I'm also not sure how I'll survive 30 years of that either.
I am 98% sure my van would not have started when it was cold last week. When I was scrapping the frost off my windshield, that's what I was thinking, "I made a good choice to get rid of the van."
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Thursday Thoughts
This is going to sound very shallow and lame but the only thing that gets me through Thursdays is Thursday night TV. I am wearing sweats and waiting for Bones, Grey's, and The Mentalist. While I'm waiting, I'm watching NCIS and Castle from earlier this week. I'm also doing laundry and writing this blog. By the way, NCIS from last Tuesday is HILARIOUS.
We have decided that Thursdays aren't really the best days. As teachers, we're feeling the weekly drag and the kids are typically just all kinds of riled up. I've also noticed that the end of the first quarter tends to bring out whining. I've had loads of whining lately which is just about driving me crazy. I think everyone is over tired from Halloween, 5 day weeks, and the drag of school. It's the reason year round school is a good idea. I don't know if we will get to it as fast as next year but here's to hoping we try. We need two week vacations about mid-October. The extra sleep would do everyone a world of good.
In three years, I've improved at some of the little things. I'm still working on others. I've remembered to teach my students how to push in chairs. I've yet to figure out how to teach them to pick up their trash.
There is a mouse that lives my ceiling. I hear him chewing on the tiles during my plan time and believe you me is it disconcerting. The janitors have put in a trap for him but it's yet to catch anything. He's just running around up there trying to get down to the crumbs. I hope he finds the trap first. I need him to go away.
We have decided that Thursdays aren't really the best days. As teachers, we're feeling the weekly drag and the kids are typically just all kinds of riled up. I've also noticed that the end of the first quarter tends to bring out whining. I've had loads of whining lately which is just about driving me crazy. I think everyone is over tired from Halloween, 5 day weeks, and the drag of school. It's the reason year round school is a good idea. I don't know if we will get to it as fast as next year but here's to hoping we try. We need two week vacations about mid-October. The extra sleep would do everyone a world of good.
In three years, I've improved at some of the little things. I'm still working on others. I've remembered to teach my students how to push in chairs. I've yet to figure out how to teach them to pick up their trash.
There is a mouse that lives my ceiling. I hear him chewing on the tiles during my plan time and believe you me is it disconcerting. The janitors have put in a trap for him but it's yet to catch anything. He's just running around up there trying to get down to the crumbs. I hope he finds the trap first. I need him to go away.
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