A Bit Too Honest

Today our music teacher came into my classroom to explain that one of her beaver puppets had been taken during music time yesterday. She didn't know if it was my class and was talking to all the classes. She politely and kindly told the kids how disappointed she was in it being lost, how the game was ruined without it, and if they had any information to let her know or the teacher. Before she could leave the room this conversation happened.

Student: (who shall remain nameless although he has been mentioned in most of the entries from this year and I suspect will continue, all year, to find his antics written about) I didn't take it, you know. Last year I had a bad habit. I was a stealer. I stole a lot of stuff last year. But, I've given up that habit. I haven't stolen anything this year .... at least not anything of importance.

Music Teacher: (because I had turned around and was laughing hysterically, yet silently) Well, [student] you shouldn't steal at all.

Student: I know that is why I have given up that habit. But, I bet someone else has stolen my bad habit and is now a stealer. Yep, I bet that is what happened.

My guess? That beaver puppet didn't look so important and is now at [student's] home, tucked under his bed until it will be dragged out and consumed by the family dog. Poor Mr. Beaver.

Of Mice and Boys

A couple days ago a dear friend of mine blogged about her son putting on boots that had been in the garage. He wore them for about 45 minutes when they were removed and a dead, rotting mouse was discovered in the inside. What made him take them off after 45 minutes? The maggots crawling around his toes. UGHHHH! But, seriously, can you let that story just remain on the screen without sharing it? NO WAY! I had to share it with my class. 2nd Graders love a good disgusting tale every once in a while, especially during the Halloween season. That led to this discussion that I thought just as great.

Student: "Mrs. Grant, we thought we had one mouse in our fridge once."

Me: (caught by surprise) "In the fridge? You mean like the refrigerator?"

Student: (as serious as can be) "Yes, in the fridge." He gestured with his head as he spoke those words.

Me: "UGGHH" "GASP"

Student: "But, when my dad moved a whole bunch of stuff around in the fridge we didn't have one. We had four mice in the fridge."

Me: (nearly vomiting the pineapple upside down yogurt I'd eaten for lunch) "Did you eat them?"

Student: "Well, no. We threw them away."

Just one of those things you gotta remember. His mother would die if she knew he had told me. That makes the story even better.

The Big Return

Going back to school after Potato Harvest is so much harder than starting the year. All the excitement of the new year is over. I already know what I'm facing and what problems have to be dealt with. But, I have to reteach all the class management stuff. I hate that. Why can the students remember the unimportant things like when free-time is, and signing up for lunch, and what time school ends, but they can't remember to raise their hands or don't talk when someone else is talking? I find that interesting.

It has been a good two weeks and I've been working on psyching myself up to meet "the student." I was already for him. I decided that I can deal with him for seven hours a day. I'll be okay. Then what happened? He had to go and move into my subdivision. I can't let him know I live here. Now I won't be able to go outside until June - when school ends. I hope he hates "'Trick or Treating!"

Wah wah wah!!

My first full week can be summed up in one word - respect (or the lack of it). Where has the respect gone. My classroom rules are three: Respect yourself; Respect others; Respect the school. But, so may children don't know what that word means. In my room I have one such student. He and I are going to be miserable all year long if something doesn't change. He needs to learn "R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me" (thanks Aretha) and I've got to start enjoying his presence. How is this going to happen? When is this going to happen? Who knows! Stay tuned. I'm sure I'll be blogging lots. I can't keep this all boiled up inside. As Junie B. Jones says, "My brains will squish out." Thank goodness for this blog.

P.S. My Kindergarten teacher friend is expelling three students next week. THEY ARE IN KINDERGARTEN!!! What is happening?

The First Day

So, no matter how long I stayed awake and tried to avoid it, the first day arrived. Despite my nerves and jitters, I tried to look smart, and authoritative, and MEAN. I even tried to convince the students that I was the "meanest teacher in the school." They just laughed at me. We handled the first day pretty well. Only two students fell asleep. One student fell asleep while putting his head down during recess for failure to follow the rules. (It was the first day, for heaven's sake, and he was in for his 2nd recess of the day.) When the students came back in we just let him sleep - it was MUCH quieter then and I was actually able to get a word in.

No one could have anticipated the chaos that occurred after school. I'm still trying to figure out why 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders can't remember what bus they rode on all last year, who their bus driver was/is, or their address (a landmark would be helpful). They have lived at the same location for years. Why can't they remember? Once we got all the older students on the bus then the real chaos began. All the Kindergartners, who have NEVER ridden a bus, and the 1st graders arrive from their temporary school on the bus. They hop off those buses at our school and then had to find a new bus that will take them to the junior high where they will hop off this middle bus only to find the final bus that will deliver them, hopefully, to their homes. You've got to be kidding me! A 5 year old cannot find one bus, let alone 3 buses. That situation must be remedied SOON!!!!

The first day is always crazy. I'm waiting for tomorrow and counting on it being better.

A New Beginning

So, where did Summer go? It seems we just got out but tomorrow, for some reason, we are starting again. Today I spent hours staring at a blank lesson plan book and wondering what I was going to fill it with. I can't seem to remember what to do on the first day. What do I teach? What do the little whipper snappers look like? Are my tables too high? Are the chairs too big? Should I have gone with desks instead of tables? Can they reach the top cubby? How do I make the rules of my classroom, of which there are only three, sound exciting and pleasing? Are they going to cry? Will it feel like the nursery at church when they are all crying and wanting their moms? Do 2nd graders cry? Why can't I remember the answer to all these questions.

I guess it comes down to this: I'm just as nervous for the first day of school as the students. I found a great book called First Day Jitters that talks about a person's first day at school and how she doesn't want to get out of bed, or get dress, or eat breakfast, or brush her teeth, or hurry to the car. At the end of the book the reader discovers that the story has been about the teacher. I feel that way this year. I'll share that with them. Whew! 10 minutes down. 390 minutes to fill. I'm in big trouble. Wish me luck!

School's Out for Summer

There are two feelings when school is out. Everyone feels them both - joy and sadness. As the end of the year approaches the students voice their opinions of school more loudly and more often. They hate school. They don't want to come to school. They never want to go to school again. I've heard this for several weeks. Of course, my feelings are close to the same. I hate dragging the students to do their work. I hate issuing all the tests that have to be done. And I don't necessarily want to come to school anymore either.

But, on the last day of school, everything changes. The student who told me he hated me yesterday won't stop holding my hand today. The students who hated 2nd grade last week, never want to leave and ask if they can stay in 2nd grade for one more year. And all those kids who didn't want to wake up for school today ask if they can come tomorrow - even though there isn't any school.

As a teacher I worry about all those students through the summer. Will there be someone to give them a hug everyday and tell them how great they are? Is there someone to push them when the going gets tough? Is there someone to pick them up when they fall? Will someone be there to fix them lunch? But, I have to let them go. That's my job. I love them all - even the one that caused migraines. Boy the end is tough.