GRRRRRRRRRRR Monday blahs...

I have a few words that describe today: tattling, whining, fussing, complaining! Ms. Lee called in sick again and many of the kids are still out sick. I sent one child home today with a fever 0f 103. The ones that were left at school were in a terrible mood. I have never seen them like this. I personally think a few of them are coming down with the flu and just don't feel good. I hope tomorrow is better. I really don't think Ms. Lee will be back tomorrow and I am getting pretty aggravated having to be pulled in 100 different directions. BOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO!

All By Myself...

Today was my first day of the year all by myself. Ms. Lee called in sick and I had to go it alone! Lucky for me, I had 6 kids out for one reason or another! We actually had a very good day.

Just another day...

Today was uneventful. We got outside before the rain came. YEAH! The kids were restless and inattentive this morning. I hate that I have to make them sit through structured "Literacy Block". They want to be up playing and doing "important" things with their time. One of my kids has the flu I think. She has been out for 3 days. Lots of coughing, sneezing and sniffing going on in the class. Ms. Lee came in today feeling under the weather. She made it 2 days with us before falling prey to their germs! Hopefully, we can make it through the flu season w/o too much sickness.

Two of my little Hispanic girls playing with magnetic dolls. This is the modern version of the old fashioned "paper dolls" I used to play with as a child. All the kids are adjusting well to life without Mr. Vega and with Ms. Lee. All the kids like Ms. Lee of course. She gets along well with everyone. DaKarie told Ms. Lee she was "a girl" and I was "an old lady" today!!! LOL I guess compared to her I do look like an old lady-hahaha. He actually thinks I am a GRANDMA. I tried to convince him that I am NOT a Grandma but he would not believe me. I actually have one parent that is 21 years old so I guess to these kids I am very old.

Great Friday!!!

We had a very good day today. The weather was good and I felt better. My new little guy is adjusting VERY well to our class, much to every ones surprise. I have some very sweet kids. In the picture you see a very "motherly" little girl feeding a little boy his lunch. This little boy has Muscular Dystrophy and is very frail. This little girl has taken him under her wing and helps him any time she can. It is so precious. When I saw this scene at lunch, it made my heart melt! This is why I teach!!!!! On a bittersweet note--my assistant is leaving us for awhile to substitute teach in another teachers classroom. She is going out on maternity leave Monday so he will leave us for approximately 6 weeks. The good news is my old assistant is returning to me while he is gone. I am sad to see Mr. Vega go, but happy to see Ms. Lee return. I didn't get a chance to tell the kids so Monday will be rather confusing for all of us.

The weather makes them crazy!

Today was a pretty rough day. Nothing in particular just a lot of talking, not listening, noise making, kids doing the wrong thing...I think it was the weather. It was very gloomy and rainy today. We did not get to go to afternoon centers--the fun stuff because I felt like the kids needed to rest. I think they were just overly tired and anxious. I didn't feel very good either so I am sure that was a big part of the problem. We did read a cute book called "Mouse Shapes" and made pictures using squares, circles, triangles and rectangles. Some were amazingly creative! The new student is doing well much to my amazement. I guess he relates to my method of classroom management. I am not letting myself feel too confident though because I know how fast kids can blow up when the mood strikes them. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a great day.

Another peaceful day!

Today went rather smoothly. I keep waiting for an explosion but it hasn't come. I see something brewing just under the surface though. I just don't want it to happen when I least expect it. Began some informal assessments today. One little girl (Raquel) said "What in the world is that?" when I showed her the letter "l". I had to laugh. I feel the same way when I see stuff that people think I am supposed to know about and don't have a clue. My class seems very happy, loving and pretty compliant for the most part. I have a few little wiggle worms and a LOT of kids that just want to blurt out whenever something pops in their heads. It reminds me of one assistant (Jennifer) who said to a child "What in the world do you have to talk about, your only 5!?!" LOL--they can always find something to talk about.

First day with "problem student"...

Today was scary at first because I was expecting the worst! I had heard so many horror stories about my new student that I just figured today would be a nightmare. When I met him, I made him look me right in the eye and I told him that I WAS THE TEACHER and I WAS IN CHARGE!!! He said OK and went on his merry way. I had to speak to him a few times for very minor things and he complied every time. SHOCKED me to no end! I admit I stayed on him like white on rice just to make sure he didn't forget who the boss was LOL! At the end of the day, he was fine. However, I am not letting my guard down because he might be lulling me into a false sense of security. One of my "regular" students gave me much more trouble than our new friend did today. We'll see how tomorrow goes. Many times a behavior problem will not manifest itself until the child feels very comfortable and "in control". I will make sure he NEVER feels that he is in control of my class. My other students just accepted him like he was one of them. Sweet kids. They will accept just about anyone into their circle of friends!

Today was great until...

O.K. today was wonderful...These are some of my girls at lunch. How precious they are! Children learning, laughing, and loving school. All was well until after school during a staff meeting, my assistant and I were pulled aside to inform us that WE would be getting the kid in another teachers class that has hit, kicked, punched and BIT her. He has serious emotional and behavioral problems. This is a temporary measure (haha) and considered an INTERVENTION! My world has come crashing down around me. My class was/is so sweet, kind, respectful and loving and I hurt for them because they will have to deal with this troubled kid until all interventions are exhausted. My poor babies. It is absolutely horrific what teachers must endure in the public school setting. I pray to God that maybe I can reach this little boy and do some good without him totally disrupting my peaceful classroom.

Building with Blocks

This was the first time in the block center for this little guy. Pretty amazing huh? He goes to the block center almost everyday. I have nicknamed him my little engineer.

Class of 2009-10

We have a really good class so far this year. My assistant, Mr. Vega speaks Spanish, so we have several ESL children in our class. It has been fun learning their language and vice versa. So far this year I have had:
1. A parent tell me I did NOT know how to deal with 5 year olds!
2. A 5 year old little girl tell me I needed to stop talking.
3. Many hugs from Kyndall--she always fills my bucket.
4. An email from a grandmother telling me should would pray for me everyday--YEAH! We could all use a little more of that.
5. Many, many laughs in the classroom. From now on, I will journal all those precious moments.

New Beginnings

I am beginning this blog to write my way through a year of school. I have been teaching for 22 years and wish I'd have preserved all the funny moments I have had during the years. I will begin today. This is a really cool poster I made to introduce myself to my class and parents. I basically created a giant scrapbook page of my entire life and hung it in the hall. Since the P.E. teacher has classes for the entire school in our foyer, all my former students got to see it too. I had kids who are now in the 5th grade coming up to me saying things like I didn't know you got your Master's degree in 2005. I want to have it framed in a shadow box soon.