I've had a few more "firsts"....
First students suspended for hitting (and consequent parent meeting) - unfortunately the suspension did nothing to change the underlying behavior of the instigator.
First parent/teacher conference - went very smoothly. I was a little intimidated since the parent has her PhD in educational psychology. She was awesome - very easy to talk to. Her son has been going home talking about Paddington and how he wants to get the books now too (awwww) but she was holding off until she knew if I was going to keep reading them. I'm switching to Miss PiggleWiggle so she can buy the next book for her son.
First full month - I'm still standing :) 'nuf said.
First reading assessments - new system so we're all learning it as we go.
First report cards - have to get the originals back from the other teacher since you just keep filling out the same form over and over again. Yes, kindergartners get report cards. They are due in 1 month (sounds like more time than it really is).
I've been very lucky to have the full support of the other two K teachers (the principal even remarked that he's impressed with the team and how well we're working together).
The next month is just chock full of stuff to deal with - V-Day, 100th day of school, Dr. Seuss Day, toy making, etc. etc.
School auction is also coming up - my class is doing an art project to donate. Not sure what it is but should be FABULOUS!!!
I'll be taking a breath sometime around June.....
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Learning while doing
OY! I'll have some interesting items to add to my resume this summer:
1. Documentation of student behavior to justify a SIT
2. Talking to parents in a tactful manner when they ask "how was his day?" and he's a holy terror
3. Reading testing results, which is a foreign language (still trying to decipher)
Feeling a little more organized and less confused after 2 full weeks. Only 1/2 as exhausted as I was a week ago.
1. Documentation of student behavior to justify a SIT
2. Talking to parents in a tactful manner when they ask "how was his day?" and he's a holy terror
3. Reading testing results, which is a foreign language (still trying to decipher)
Feeling a little more organized and less confused after 2 full weeks. Only 1/2 as exhausted as I was a week ago.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Adventures in teaching (kindergarten)
Wow, 2010 took quite the right turn. On Monday, 01/04, I got a call from the principal at Loyal Heights asking if I'd be interested in a long-term sub job? Um, DUH!!! I'd been subbing there on and off, went to school there, and basically love everything about the school. When first discussing the job, it would be to the end of March - cool, almost 3 months of knowing where I'm going to be everyday. He had me "audition" so he could choose between two possibilities so I had two days of a working interview. I was told that I had the job when he came to the room to give the kids a letter - "Take this letter home. It's telling your parents that Ms. Gaffney will be here until May 4th." WOO HOO!!!!
Then reality starts to sink in:
I have to come up with lesson plans now
I don't know where these students are academically or socially
I'm coming in to a situation where the teacher is taking leave basically because the parents made her life a living hell (the parents have some legitimate concerns about the teacher but I'm not sure they handled it the right way)
In other words, "Holy crap, what have I gotten myself in to???!!!"
First thing, the room needed some sprucing up. Have I mentioned how much I love buying school supplies??? I was in heaven!!! Bulletin board borders, pencils, charts - ahh, love it.
Monday was my "get to know the kids better day" and I quickly realized that they have had very little structure. Sitting still on the carpet was nearly impossible. Mission One - teach them how to focus and be students. After school, The second grade teacher helped me move furniture to open up the room and so my desk actually faced the room (it had been facing the windows with my back to the door).
Tuesday - I quickly figured out who the "difficult" parent was going to be. She griped about the desks being moved "Fifth time in three weeks!" and the fact that she didn't realize it was a testing week - "why wasn't I told???" - it's only been in every newsletter that went home in the last month and, quite frankly, how the hell should I know?
Wednesday - poor little things have another round of illness going through. Even though they were transfixed while the librarian read them a story, they coughed all the way through it. They are starting to figure out that Ms. Gaffney means it when she says "we're not going anywhere until I see a straight, quiet line."
Thursday - After spending 20-30 minutes each morning dealing with kids wanting to go to the bathroom as soon as the 2nd bell has rung, I told the kids that they were to go to the bathroom before coming in to the classroom. I hung a little sign reminding them of this "Remember to please go to the bathroom before coming in to the classroom." To me this was not an extreme request BUT difficult parent (please see above) blew a gasket "one more thing!! This just pushed me over the edge!!" Really??? Wow.
Friday - My class did the pledge and America the Beautiful at the MLK assembly and THEY ROCKED!!!! They were perfect and they totally behaved themselves while sitting in the audience. I was so proud and received many comments from the other teachers. I made sure to heap the praise on them. My first week ended with a rousing rendition of "Tony Chestnut" and then I went to happy hour :)
I'm spending most of this weekend working on the classroom and getting lessons ready for the next 5 days. I'm totally exhausted and excited at the same time. This should be an interesting 4+ months.
Then reality starts to sink in:
I have to come up with lesson plans now
I don't know where these students are academically or socially
I'm coming in to a situation where the teacher is taking leave basically because the parents made her life a living hell (the parents have some legitimate concerns about the teacher but I'm not sure they handled it the right way)
In other words, "Holy crap, what have I gotten myself in to???!!!"
First thing, the room needed some sprucing up. Have I mentioned how much I love buying school supplies??? I was in heaven!!! Bulletin board borders, pencils, charts - ahh, love it.
Monday was my "get to know the kids better day" and I quickly realized that they have had very little structure. Sitting still on the carpet was nearly impossible. Mission One - teach them how to focus and be students. After school, The second grade teacher helped me move furniture to open up the room and so my desk actually faced the room (it had been facing the windows with my back to the door).
Tuesday - I quickly figured out who the "difficult" parent was going to be. She griped about the desks being moved "Fifth time in three weeks!" and the fact that she didn't realize it was a testing week - "why wasn't I told???" - it's only been in every newsletter that went home in the last month and, quite frankly, how the hell should I know?
Wednesday - poor little things have another round of illness going through. Even though they were transfixed while the librarian read them a story, they coughed all the way through it. They are starting to figure out that Ms. Gaffney means it when she says "we're not going anywhere until I see a straight, quiet line."
Thursday - After spending 20-30 minutes each morning dealing with kids wanting to go to the bathroom as soon as the 2nd bell has rung, I told the kids that they were to go to the bathroom before coming in to the classroom. I hung a little sign reminding them of this "Remember to please go to the bathroom before coming in to the classroom." To me this was not an extreme request BUT difficult parent (please see above) blew a gasket "one more thing!! This just pushed me over the edge!!" Really??? Wow.
Friday - My class did the pledge and America the Beautiful at the MLK assembly and THEY ROCKED!!!! They were perfect and they totally behaved themselves while sitting in the audience. I was so proud and received many comments from the other teachers. I made sure to heap the praise on them. My first week ended with a rousing rendition of "Tony Chestnut" and then I went to happy hour :)
I'm spending most of this weekend working on the classroom and getting lessons ready for the next 5 days. I'm totally exhausted and excited at the same time. This should be an interesting 4+ months.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Book Reviews
These are the first three books that I have read as part of my New Year's Resolution (OK, the first one I read earlier - so sue me!)
Quick book reviews – Children’s and Young Adult Literature
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” - Sherman Alexie
Semi-autobiographical story about a young Indian (and Alexie always refers to himself as an Indian) from the Spokane reservation who decides to go off “the rez” to go to high school. It is set in the present but you can tell that these are many of the experiences Alexie went through when he made the same decision. You can feel what it must be like to have a foot in the “white world” and a foot on “the rez” and the conflicts, both internal and external, that one would experience. There are great cartoon illustrations that lend a humorous insight to the words on the page.
“Number the Stars” – Lois Lowry
Copenhagen in 1943 has been occupied by the Nazis for three years. There are soldiers on every street corner. Annemarie Johansen is a 9 year old girl and Ellen Rosen is her best friend. The Nazis have made the decision to “relocate” the Danish Jews and begin the roundup on the Jewish New Year, 1943. Ellen’s parents make the decision to “hide” Ellen in plain sight – the Johansen family will pretend that Ellen is their daughter. The story isn’t just about two young girls living through Nazi occupation but about Denmark and the country’s resolution to save their Jewish countrymen.
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” – Kate DiCamillo
Edward is a self-centered and arrogant china rabbit. The story follows Edward’s journey, both physical and emotional, after he is separated from Abilene (his 9 year old owner). Along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again. I first experienced this book in a 3rd grade classroom but it is a story for all ages. For my teacher friends, there is even a teacher’s guide with discussion points and activities: http://www.edwardtulane.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Yny%2bzUwaGF0%3d&tabid=76
Quick book reviews – Children’s and Young Adult Literature
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” - Sherman Alexie
Semi-autobiographical story about a young Indian (and Alexie always refers to himself as an Indian) from the Spokane reservation who decides to go off “the rez” to go to high school. It is set in the present but you can tell that these are many of the experiences Alexie went through when he made the same decision. You can feel what it must be like to have a foot in the “white world” and a foot on “the rez” and the conflicts, both internal and external, that one would experience. There are great cartoon illustrations that lend a humorous insight to the words on the page.
“Number the Stars” – Lois Lowry
Copenhagen in 1943 has been occupied by the Nazis for three years. There are soldiers on every street corner. Annemarie Johansen is a 9 year old girl and Ellen Rosen is her best friend. The Nazis have made the decision to “relocate” the Danish Jews and begin the roundup on the Jewish New Year, 1943. Ellen’s parents make the decision to “hide” Ellen in plain sight – the Johansen family will pretend that Ellen is their daughter. The story isn’t just about two young girls living through Nazi occupation but about Denmark and the country’s resolution to save their Jewish countrymen.
“The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” – Kate DiCamillo
Edward is a self-centered and arrogant china rabbit. The story follows Edward’s journey, both physical and emotional, after he is separated from Abilene (his 9 year old owner). Along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again. I first experienced this book in a 3rd grade classroom but it is a story for all ages. For my teacher friends, there is even a teacher’s guide with discussion points and activities: http://www.edwardtulane.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Yny%2bzUwaGF0%3d&tabid=76
Sunday, January 3, 2010
New decade....and not a year too soon....
Some say 2009 sucked (and it kinda sorta did) but I'm part of the group that thinks that the whole decade deserves a re-do. When I really started looking back I found a lot to not be happy about:
health issues (damn clots)
earthquake (and ensuing panic attacks)
heartbreak & betrayal
financial issues (just like everybody else)
loss of a friend
really crappy job
first layoff and first time on unemployment (and, unfortunately, not the last)
But then I started looking at all the things to be happy or proud about and that list is pretty good too....
made new friends (not easy when you're an adult)
got myself to a more reasonable weight (keeping 60+ pounds off for 7 years is pretty good)
doing things I never would have imagined (triathlons and half-marathons??? WTF???)
realizing that I am not the three-eyed medusa I picture myself as
finally finding myself doing what it is I was meant to do.
My first goal for 2010 is to maintain a positive outlook even when it's really hard to do. I find myself getting mired down in negativity (what ifs?). I have to take "one day at a time" and not worry about next fall until this school year is over. I need to set up my summer job and that's it.
I'm going to focus on being healthy and not so much what I weigh. I need to start a training regimen (now that I'm not a gym member, should be interesting) and work on my running. I know that this will help my mood big time. My first goal is going to be consistency and then working on speeding things up. My event schedule for this year (assuming that I am able to register for them) is pretty full:
2010 Events:
February - Love 'em or Leave 'em 5K (#1)
March - St. Patrick's Day Dash 5K (#7)
April - Boardwalk 5K for Kids (#2)
May - Beat the Bridge 8K (#1)
July/August - Triathlon (#3)
September - IronGirl 5K (#6)
October - Nike Women's Half-Marathon (#5)
My 3rd goal is a little bit me and a little bit out my hands (sort of). To begin with I need to get out more. I need to make time for friends and socializing. This doesn't need to center around food and, if it does, I need to get over it and learn how to moderate. Hand in hand with that is, I'm really tired of being single. Logically I know that I'm not going to meet anyone hanging out in my apartment with Jethro (even though he's very cute and loves me unconditionally). I've got to stretch my Cougar wings - lol!
Finally, I've got to keep working on improving my odds at getting hired as a full-time teacher. I'm going to take all opportunities for professional development. I'm going to read one young-adult book a month - I want to be able to speak to these in interviews (well known authors but not necessarily the first books you think of). I may even write reviews of them. I've read a couple of really good ones already:
Sherman Alexie "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" - middle school +
Kate DiCamillo "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" - 3rd-5th
Lois Lowry "Number the Stars" 5th + (a great alternaltive or addition to Anne Frank)
health issues (damn clots)
earthquake (and ensuing panic attacks)
heartbreak & betrayal
financial issues (just like everybody else)
loss of a friend
really crappy job
first layoff and first time on unemployment (and, unfortunately, not the last)
But then I started looking at all the things to be happy or proud about and that list is pretty good too....
made new friends (not easy when you're an adult)
got myself to a more reasonable weight (keeping 60+ pounds off for 7 years is pretty good)
doing things I never would have imagined (triathlons and half-marathons??? WTF???)
realizing that I am not the three-eyed medusa I picture myself as
finally finding myself doing what it is I was meant to do.
My first goal for 2010 is to maintain a positive outlook even when it's really hard to do. I find myself getting mired down in negativity (what ifs?). I have to take "one day at a time" and not worry about next fall until this school year is over. I need to set up my summer job and that's it.
I'm going to focus on being healthy and not so much what I weigh. I need to start a training regimen (now that I'm not a gym member, should be interesting) and work on my running. I know that this will help my mood big time. My first goal is going to be consistency and then working on speeding things up. My event schedule for this year (assuming that I am able to register for them) is pretty full:
2010 Events:
February - Love 'em or Leave 'em 5K (#1)
March - St. Patrick's Day Dash 5K (#7)
April - Boardwalk 5K for Kids (#2)
May - Beat the Bridge 8K (#1)
July/August - Triathlon (#3)
September - IronGirl 5K (#6)
October - Nike Women's Half-Marathon (#5)
My 3rd goal is a little bit me and a little bit out my hands (sort of). To begin with I need to get out more. I need to make time for friends and socializing. This doesn't need to center around food and, if it does, I need to get over it and learn how to moderate. Hand in hand with that is, I'm really tired of being single. Logically I know that I'm not going to meet anyone hanging out in my apartment with Jethro (even though he's very cute and loves me unconditionally). I've got to stretch my Cougar wings - lol!
Finally, I've got to keep working on improving my odds at getting hired as a full-time teacher. I'm going to take all opportunities for professional development. I'm going to read one young-adult book a month - I want to be able to speak to these in interviews (well known authors but not necessarily the first books you think of). I may even write reviews of them. I've read a couple of really good ones already:
Sherman Alexie "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" - middle school +
Kate DiCamillo "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" - 3rd-5th
Lois Lowry "Number the Stars" 5th + (a great alternaltive or addition to Anne Frank)
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