I'm not a big lover of Valentine's Day (really...who decided we should have one day in which we tell our loved ones we love them? Shouldn't that happen every day? I fully believe it was invented by Hallmark...yep, I worked there. That may be why I have such a loathing for the holiday and all the last minute shoppers). Now that rant is out of the way, let's get to the real reason for this post.
I've decided to take a cue from my friend Lindsay and put something I love on my blog everyday during the month of February. Some will probably be things you already know about me, others will be silly things that make me happy and others may just be random things that I love that day.
So here goes:
I love...
...teaching. I know I've complained about it a lot (especially with recent happenings) but I truly do enjoy it. It's such an enjoyable job. Who else gets to go hang out with a bunch of awesome kids and be such an influence in their lives? That's right...only teachers.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February Videos
Oh....babies....I love them!
Seriously? This is the most awesome save the date ever...but you've probably already seen it...it was on MSN's home page.
Singing kids...love them!
The Jersey Shore...made so much classier by 5 year olds.
Ok, How cool would this be? I really like the idea of having rings around the earth.
I want to be on the escalator when someone decides to do this:
I ran into these ladies while procrastinating. I thought they were pretty talented.
While watching this one, remember that it gets ridiculously amazing starting at about the 1 minute mark. Just hang in there...I don't know why they sing about potato salad.
Seriously? This is the most awesome save the date ever...but you've probably already seen it...it was on MSN's home page.
Singing kids...love them!
The Jersey Shore...made so much classier by 5 year olds.
Ok, How cool would this be? I really like the idea of having rings around the earth.
I want to be on the escalator when someone decides to do this:
I ran into these ladies while procrastinating. I thought they were pretty talented.
While watching this one, remember that it gets ridiculously amazing starting at about the 1 minute mark. Just hang in there...I don't know why they sing about potato salad.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
We Will Be OK
I thought by now I would have a plan for tomorrow but I still have no idea how to proceed with my students.
I'm at a loss.
This post was going to be so much more but I just can't think of the words I need to express the sadness I feel for my students. I can't figure out how to say how hurt I am because my students chose to hurt each other. Am I a bad teacher? Did I neglect to show them that our classroom is our home for 8 hours every day? Did I do something to make them think this type of behavior is acceptable?
I can't help blaming myself, it's what I do. The more I think about it, the more I question. Was I always kind? Do I show respect to my students at all times? Do I accept my students for who they are and what they bring to the classroom? Am I rude or do I lose my temper at times?
I think I'll just go in with this attitude,
I'm at a loss.
This post was going to be so much more but I just can't think of the words I need to express the sadness I feel for my students. I can't figure out how to say how hurt I am because my students chose to hurt each other. Am I a bad teacher? Did I neglect to show them that our classroom is our home for 8 hours every day? Did I do something to make them think this type of behavior is acceptable?
I can't help blaming myself, it's what I do. The more I think about it, the more I question. Was I always kind? Do I show respect to my students at all times? Do I accept my students for who they are and what they bring to the classroom? Am I rude or do I lose my temper at times?
I think I'll just go in with this attitude,
and see where we get.
Friday, January 29, 2010
This Doesn't Have a Title
I was just looking through my recent posts and came to this one about my super cool hobby and remembered how much fun I had that day with my students.
Then I thought about how crappy the last 3 days have been and I wondered how my mood could change so dramatically in such a short amount of time.
Seriously...my posts go: "Dominating 12 year olds at dodge ball...yep I rule" "Would you rather...Poop always wins!" "I cry a lot."
Ugh. I'm so glad it's the weekend. I'm going to read and relax and figure out how to help my students care about each other.
Then I thought about how crappy the last 3 days have been and I wondered how my mood could change so dramatically in such a short amount of time.
Seriously...my posts go: "Dominating 12 year olds at dodge ball...yep I rule" "Would you rather...Poop always wins!" "I cry a lot."
Ugh. I'm so glad it's the weekend. I'm going to read and relax and figure out how to help my students care about each other.
Universe in Balance
Ok. The universe definitely likes to keep my life balanced. Good things happen...immediately bad things happen.
Case in point: Universe says, "So you won a bloggy give-away of super cute note cards? How'd you like to go home to a caved in bathroom ceiling?"
Case number two: Universe says, "Your students are causing tons of trouble and making you cry like a baby? How about you win a super cute headband?"
Yep, the one I blogged about here, I won it. Wahoo! Here's to a hopefully great weekend!
Thanks, Jessica!
Case in point: Universe says, "So you won a bloggy give-away of super cute note cards? How'd you like to go home to a caved in bathroom ceiling?"
Case number two: Universe says, "Your students are causing tons of trouble and making you cry like a baby? How about you win a super cute headband?"
Yep, the one I blogged about here, I won it. Wahoo! Here's to a hopefully great weekend!
Thanks, Jessica!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I Cry A Lot
**Waring: This post is super long. I warned you, don't complain later.**
Here's the short story: I cried at school today.
Here's the whole story.
On Tuesday a student told me there was something "really bad" written on a stall in the bathroom about another student in the class. It's something that doesn't need to be repeated and involves things that I had no idea even happened between men and women until I was well into junior high...well into junior high.
So the other teachers and I called a "girl meeting" during recess and told the girls that the writing on the wall is completely inappropriate and it will not be tolerated. We told the girls that we would be more lenient if the girl who did it came forward than if we found out and the girl never came forward. We added "we always find out" at the end of the meeting.
Fast forward to just after lunch on Wednesday:
Two girls come in to me to tell me they know who wrote on the bathroom wall. So as soon as the class comes in I call a mini meeting with my class and tell them that I know who wrote on the wall and I will give the person until the end of the day to admit it to me.
Fessing up didn't happen...
...until right before school today.
This student came to me and told me that she did it. I asked why and she said it was because this other student made her mad. Ok, that's not good enough. Turns out this other student made fun of her hair. Ok, I can see being upset about that (hello, I'm a girl. Girls are all about hair. I get it.) but...what you did? Not acceptable.
Principal gets involved.
Student is suspended.
Other student is leaving our school because she doesn't feel safe (this is not the first incident with this student being the picked on one).
These three things happened during lunch.
After lunch we have writing. My students always have some little writing assignment they do when they come in from lunch so they can settle down and get back to work after 30 minutes of being insane with their friends at recess.
Today's little writing assignment was "What does it mean to be respectful to ALL students in this school?" As they were finishing their writing, I gave them the definition of respectful from our dictionary. I don't really know why I chose to do that, but I did...and as I did, I began crying.
I'm the BIGGEST baby ever. Especially when it comes to people being unkind, disrespectful, vicious to each other and even more so when those people are my students who I care about as much as if they were my children. It breaks my heart. I can't control it. I can't shut off my heart. I've tried to not care and not get involved but it's impossible for me.
Maybe you think that makes me weak and a bad teacher in some way but I think it makes me a better teacher. The kids I work with have such difficult lives and they need to know there is someone there that cares. I am that person in their lives. If these kids leave 6th grade and the only thing they know is that I care about them, I will feel like I am a successful teacher. Ok, and I want them to know how to work with fractions and read at grade level.
Anyway, after they wrote I talked to them about how much it hurts me to hear that they are being rude to each other. I told them what bullying includes and that it is something you do that makes people feel bad. I think before today, they thought that bullying was being physically aggressive.
I cried and I was a wreck and I was embarrassed and I was angry and I was sad and I was done.
Our principal is sick of the crap that is going on in 6th grade so she had us talk to the kids and had them write lists of the kids that they've seen or heard bullying others and also kids they've heard swearing.
After I got these lists (if you were wondering, EVERY student in my class was on someone's list), I passed out the lyrics to Imagine by John Lennon and read the lyrics to them,
I did learn that crying is a good weapon. These kiddos were so great the rest of the day. I loved it...aside from the feeling like crap part.
Here's the short story: I cried at school today.
Here's the whole story.
On Tuesday a student told me there was something "really bad" written on a stall in the bathroom about another student in the class. It's something that doesn't need to be repeated and involves things that I had no idea even happened between men and women until I was well into junior high...well into junior high.
So the other teachers and I called a "girl meeting" during recess and told the girls that the writing on the wall is completely inappropriate and it will not be tolerated. We told the girls that we would be more lenient if the girl who did it came forward than if we found out and the girl never came forward. We added "we always find out" at the end of the meeting.
Fast forward to just after lunch on Wednesday:
Two girls come in to me to tell me they know who wrote on the bathroom wall. So as soon as the class comes in I call a mini meeting with my class and tell them that I know who wrote on the wall and I will give the person until the end of the day to admit it to me.
Fessing up didn't happen...
...until right before school today.
This student came to me and told me that she did it. I asked why and she said it was because this other student made her mad. Ok, that's not good enough. Turns out this other student made fun of her hair. Ok, I can see being upset about that (hello, I'm a girl. Girls are all about hair. I get it.) but...what you did? Not acceptable.
Principal gets involved.
Student is suspended.
Other student is leaving our school because she doesn't feel safe (this is not the first incident with this student being the picked on one).
These three things happened during lunch.
After lunch we have writing. My students always have some little writing assignment they do when they come in from lunch so they can settle down and get back to work after 30 minutes of being insane with their friends at recess.
Today's little writing assignment was "What does it mean to be respectful to ALL students in this school?" As they were finishing their writing, I gave them the definition of respectful from our dictionary. I don't really know why I chose to do that, but I did...and as I did, I began crying.
I'm the BIGGEST baby ever. Especially when it comes to people being unkind, disrespectful, vicious to each other and even more so when those people are my students who I care about as much as if they were my children. It breaks my heart. I can't control it. I can't shut off my heart. I've tried to not care and not get involved but it's impossible for me.
Maybe you think that makes me weak and a bad teacher in some way but I think it makes me a better teacher. The kids I work with have such difficult lives and they need to know there is someone there that cares. I am that person in their lives. If these kids leave 6th grade and the only thing they know is that I care about them, I will feel like I am a successful teacher. Ok, and I want them to know how to work with fractions and read at grade level.
Anyway, after they wrote I talked to them about how much it hurts me to hear that they are being rude to each other. I told them what bullying includes and that it is something you do that makes people feel bad. I think before today, they thought that bullying was being physically aggressive.
I cried and I was a wreck and I was embarrassed and I was angry and I was sad and I was done.
Our principal is sick of the crap that is going on in 6th grade so she had us talk to the kids and had them write lists of the kids that they've seen or heard bullying others and also kids they've heard swearing.
After I got these lists (if you were wondering, EVERY student in my class was on someone's list), I passed out the lyrics to Imagine by John Lennon and read the lyrics to them,
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Again, I cried. My kids cried. We cried together. I feel like I need to help the kids work on being kind and respectful every day.
If you have any songs, poems, stories, ANYTHING that would be good for these kids to hear, please leave a comment and let me know. I'm at a bit of a loss right now. I don't know what else to do with them.
If you have any songs, poems, stories, ANYTHING that would be good for these kids to hear, please leave a comment and let me know. I'm at a bit of a loss right now. I don't know what else to do with them.
I did learn that crying is a good weapon. These kiddos were so great the rest of the day. I loved it...aside from the feeling like crap part.
Would You Rather...
I work with kids. Obviously, I hear some pretty funny things.
I like to play "Would you rather..." with my students. I like hearing their reasons for why they choose things. It also gets a good discussion going. Occasionally, I have them write their own. What did I learn from this? They really like talking about poop.
Here's one of the gems that I got today:
"Would you rather...marry the ugliest person in the world and you could never divorce them or kill them or kill yourself...OR...eat poop for every meal for 3 days?"
Guess what won.
That's right...POOP!
I like to play "Would you rather..." with my students. I like hearing their reasons for why they choose things. It also gets a good discussion going. Occasionally, I have them write their own. What did I learn from this? They really like talking about poop.
Here's one of the gems that I got today:
"Would you rather...marry the ugliest person in the world and you could never divorce them or kill them or kill yourself...OR...eat poop for every meal for 3 days?"
Guess what won.
That's right...POOP!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Magical Monday
Top 3 reasons today was magical:
3. The 16 year old kiddo at Office Max didn't make me pay for my copy. Yep, it was probably like 10 cents but it made me feel awesome so here's to you sophomore with your first job...virtual high five!
2. I got a water softener. Oh happy day...and hair...and laundry...and dishes...and...showers...and everything else that uses water.
1. Since I started going to college all my hobbies went away but people still asked me "What are some of your hobbies?" I never had an answer...until today. I found my new hobby that I will gladly share with anyone who asks (and those lucky few who follow my blog). I will also write it on anything and everything that asks me for a hobby. No one will ever wonder what my hobby is again...Dominating 12 year olds at dodge ball. Yep, I rule.
3. The 16 year old kiddo at Office Max didn't make me pay for my copy. Yep, it was probably like 10 cents but it made me feel awesome so here's to you sophomore with your first job...virtual high five!
2. I got a water softener. Oh happy day...and hair...and laundry...and dishes...and...showers...and everything else that uses water.
1. Since I started going to college all my hobbies went away but people still asked me "What are some of your hobbies?" I never had an answer...until today. I found my new hobby that I will gladly share with anyone who asks (and those lucky few who follow my blog). I will also write it on anything and everything that asks me for a hobby. No one will ever wonder what my hobby is again...Dominating 12 year olds at dodge ball. Yep, I rule.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Cute Headband...For Free!
I'm addicted to blog give-aways lately (if you haven't noticed) so I found A Few Good Things.
She's giving away a super cute headband. Go comment so you can win.
Give-away ends January 31.
She's giving away a super cute headband. Go comment so you can win.
Give-away ends January 31.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Bathroom Calamity
I like making movies of myself. I'm also now obsessed with the mini calamity in my bathroom.
Not only do I have this hole in my ceiling but it's also moldy...great. I'm probably going to die. Apparently it's just been a slow drip forever and the drywall finally couldn't hold any more water and it began to crack last night. So due to the fact that my bathroom is moldy and smells like a garden and old men and is connected to my bedroom, I slept on the couch last night.
How's your weekend been?
Not only do I have this hole in my ceiling but it's also moldy...great. I'm probably going to die. Apparently it's just been a slow drip forever and the drywall finally couldn't hold any more water and it began to crack last night. So due to the fact that my bathroom is moldy and smells like a garden and old men and is connected to my bedroom, I slept on the couch last night.
How's your weekend been?
Time for Free
Do you want to be a winner just like I am? (I'm referring to the note cards...not the missing ceiling.)
Well, then today is your lucky day. That's So Cuegly is having a give away for a really sweet juicer. I know you all made resolutions to be more healthy and what's a better way to be healthy than to make your own juice every morning?
Also, here's some great bar stools.
Well, then today is your lucky day. That's So Cuegly is having a give away for a really sweet juicer. I know you all made resolutions to be more healthy and what's a better way to be healthy than to make your own juice every morning?
Also, here's some great bar stools.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Prepare to be Super Un-Jealous
I came home from work today to a horrible thing...
a dripping bathroom ceiling. I wish I would have taken a picture of the severe damage done by the water before the severe damage done by the plumber.
If you were laying on the floor of my bathroom, this is what you would now see.
I guess the universe likes to even things out...win a super give-away...have your ceiling fall in on you...the universe is now back in perfect harmony.
a dripping bathroom ceiling. I wish I would have taken a picture of the severe damage done by the water before the severe damage done by the plumber.
If you were laying on the floor of my bathroom, this is what you would now see.
I guess the universe likes to even things out...win a super give-away...have your ceiling fall in on you...the universe is now back in perfect harmony.
Prepare to be Super Jealous
I found Lelan of The Goodness Behind the Gravy from Mique of 30 Days.
Well, lovely Mique had a giveaway of amazing things from Lelan.
Guess what. I won. Yep. Me. The girl who never wins anything actually won something. Yippee team Ash J!
Well, lovely Mique had a giveaway of amazing things from Lelan.
Guess what. I won. Yep. Me. The girl who never wins anything actually won something. Yippee team Ash J!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sarcasm
It's here...punctuation for your sarcastic comments...the SarcMark.
Click here to download it, it's $1.99. I don't think I like it. I'll stick with having to explain that I was being sarcastic.
Click here to download it, it's $1.99. I don't think I like it. I'll stick with having to explain that I was being sarcastic.
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