Whew! What a day!
Program practice went GREAT. We are ready for Sunday. Present opening went okay. I had three kids who weren't finished with their work, so those three worked on their late work while everyone else opened presents. They did get their work done by the end of the day, so they were able to open their presents eventually. Thankfully. We watched Emperor's New Groove as our all-school movie. I forgot how funny it is! The kids seemed to enjoy it. I got all my correcting done during the movie, so my only homework for break is to write thank-you notes!
The boy who had the spelling words turned them in right away in the morning. I didn't hear another peep out of his mom, though I got a little anxious at the end of the day when they revealed that they were getting picked up. For a while I thought she was going to come in and chew me out in person, but the boys disappeared after a while and I didn't even see their mom. So. I think that's over and done with. Hopefully. The other teachers thought I was in the right though, so that makes me feel better about the situation.
Now, my classroom is tidy, Joe is almost packed up, and I am leaving town until Christmas Program #1 on Sunday! Thank-you for the prayers, this week. They really helped. Now, I'm off until January 2nd. Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 21, 2018
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Ready
I am so ready for Christmas break...
Program practice actually went super well today (thanks for the prayers!); I think we're ready. Only one day left and it will be packed full of last minute pre-Christmas things. We'll have one more program practice in the morning, take a spelling test, do religion, and open presents. The board of ed serves us lunch and we watch an all-school movie at the end of the day. This year's movie is Emperor's New Groove.
After school today we teachers exchanged gifts. I had Pastor who's 'initials' were CM. I made him a Christmas manger/message sign. He actually wanted a Christian movie. Still, I know he likes nativities, so I think he was happy with his gift. I asked for DB, which stands for 'dry bag' for kayaking. I got a dog book instead. There was just enough room for it on my books-to-read shelf at home! Other teachers got Zero Soda, Pot Holders (piano themed, for the piano teacher), Colorful Yarn, A Blanket, Christmas Tie, and a White House puzzle. Most people were pretty close with their gifts! (WH stood for warm hat, otherwise, everyone else got what they wanted).
I got a text from a parent who's child had lost a lab homework sheet that needs to be turned in tomorrow. I know I had emailed it to her once upon a time, so I logged on to my computer to resend it. There, I found an angry email from a parent who was upset with how I handled an issue in my classroom today. She called me 'the grinch who stole Christmas from [her child].' That's a new one.
There was a drill by one of the computer desks which was in the process of getting fixed. During our morning work time, one boy picked it up and was running it in the air. I told him to stop. Then I said if he did it again, he would have to write his spelling words. The kid said, "20 times!" Figuring it would keep his hands off the drill, I said sure. Less than five minutes later he was at it again! So he had to write his spelling words. He was in a funk after that and didn't want to get his food for lunch. He wouldn't talk to me about it. If he had, we could've come to some sort of a compromise or lessened the amount of times. But he didn't. He went home and told his mom, who got upset.
What's even worse is that other kids were also messing with the drill but I never said anything to them about it. I blame it on Christmas brain and the billion of other thoughts going through my head... it didn't even register. Or they were doing it when I was out of the room or working with another student and not paying attention, or it did register and I told them to stop, figuring it was a blanket statement for everyone. But to be honest, I don't remember the timeline of events except it ends with the kid running the drill after I told him not to. The mom said she tried to call me after school but I didn't answer. She must've called my school phone, but I wasn't in my room and I didn't see that there were any messages. She never tried to call my cell, and I know she has the number. So I called and explained why he had to write his spelling words 20 times. I rambled waaay too long and hopefully I didn't say anything that would make her even more upset. We'll see I guess. Either way, there's only one day of school left and we'll all get a break from each other. Sigh. It's always something.
Program practice actually went super well today (thanks for the prayers!); I think we're ready. Only one day left and it will be packed full of last minute pre-Christmas things. We'll have one more program practice in the morning, take a spelling test, do religion, and open presents. The board of ed serves us lunch and we watch an all-school movie at the end of the day. This year's movie is Emperor's New Groove.
After school today we teachers exchanged gifts. I had Pastor who's 'initials' were CM. I made him a Christmas manger/message sign. He actually wanted a Christian movie. Still, I know he likes nativities, so I think he was happy with his gift. I asked for DB, which stands for 'dry bag' for kayaking. I got a dog book instead. There was just enough room for it on my books-to-read shelf at home! Other teachers got Zero Soda, Pot Holders (piano themed, for the piano teacher), Colorful Yarn, A Blanket, Christmas Tie, and a White House puzzle. Most people were pretty close with their gifts! (WH stood for warm hat, otherwise, everyone else got what they wanted).
I got a text from a parent who's child had lost a lab homework sheet that needs to be turned in tomorrow. I know I had emailed it to her once upon a time, so I logged on to my computer to resend it. There, I found an angry email from a parent who was upset with how I handled an issue in my classroom today. She called me 'the grinch who stole Christmas from [her child].' That's a new one.
There was a drill by one of the computer desks which was in the process of getting fixed. During our morning work time, one boy picked it up and was running it in the air. I told him to stop. Then I said if he did it again, he would have to write his spelling words. The kid said, "20 times!" Figuring it would keep his hands off the drill, I said sure. Less than five minutes later he was at it again! So he had to write his spelling words. He was in a funk after that and didn't want to get his food for lunch. He wouldn't talk to me about it. If he had, we could've come to some sort of a compromise or lessened the amount of times. But he didn't. He went home and told his mom, who got upset.
What's even worse is that other kids were also messing with the drill but I never said anything to them about it. I blame it on Christmas brain and the billion of other thoughts going through my head... it didn't even register. Or they were doing it when I was out of the room or working with another student and not paying attention, or it did register and I told them to stop, figuring it was a blanket statement for everyone. But to be honest, I don't remember the timeline of events except it ends with the kid running the drill after I told him not to. The mom said she tried to call me after school but I didn't answer. She must've called my school phone, but I wasn't in my room and I didn't see that there were any messages. She never tried to call my cell, and I know she has the number. So I called and explained why he had to write his spelling words 20 times. I rambled waaay too long and hopefully I didn't say anything that would make her even more upset. We'll see I guess. Either way, there's only one day of school left and we'll all get a break from each other. Sigh. It's always something.
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Christmas Brain
You know how moms sometimes complain that they have 'Mom Brain'? Their thoughts are so scattered and they forget things all the time? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have Christmas Brain.
I sat in the wrong row at chapel (although in my defense, everyone sat one row back since the bell tables were set up in front of the first row). Then I forgot to bring the money from the Guatemala bake sale over to church to stick in the treasurer's box. I'm sure I forgot other things too. It's a crazy time of year!
It's also a giving time of year... Today after school a church member stopped by and gave school $10,000 to spend, a few thousand of it is set aside to help with tuition. But the rest of can be spent on classroom stuff. Mr. E gave me a budget of $500! Woohoo! Gotta start my list.
Then, we got a card from St. Paul's from Fulda. Their parochial school closed this summer (the school I attended up to 8th grade). Their PTL sent our PTL a check for $900! It was touching, humbling, and slightly sad and happy at the same time. We will definitely put the money to good use!
I sat in the wrong row at chapel (although in my defense, everyone sat one row back since the bell tables were set up in front of the first row). Then I forgot to bring the money from the Guatemala bake sale over to church to stick in the treasurer's box. I'm sure I forgot other things too. It's a crazy time of year!
It's also a giving time of year... Today after school a church member stopped by and gave school $10,000 to spend, a few thousand of it is set aside to help with tuition. But the rest of can be spent on classroom stuff. Mr. E gave me a budget of $500! Woohoo! Gotta start my list.
Then, we got a card from St. Paul's from Fulda. Their parochial school closed this summer (the school I attended up to 8th grade). Their PTL sent our PTL a check for $900! It was touching, humbling, and slightly sad and happy at the same time. We will definitely put the money to good use!
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Light a Fire
I think midterm grades are finally lighting a fire under the 7th graders. Most names are off the board! Finally!
Program practice went decently today. It's going to be a longer program, probably around an hour. We usually try to keep it about 45 minutes or so. The speaking parts are probably about that length, but we have a scattering of congregation hymns and special music, so that adds to the time.
I kept flitting about, telling the 3-4th graders where to go and how to act during their parts. They're our 'costume' people of the program: shepherds, angels, wise men. I'm not sold on how I have them moving... we'll see what bright ideas come to me overnight.
I have three kids not participating in the program. Two are brothers and have trouble sitting still during practice while everyone else is up front. Today, since practice is at the end of the day, their mom picked them up early so they wouldn't have to sit. That worked great! The other one is a girl who loves to read, so she brought her book and read the entire time. I kind of wish I could be her...
I corrected my few papers this morning over breakfast and had enough time to read a short book before I went to school. It was a graphic novel I wanted to preview before handing it over to my kids. I haven't read a physical book in a while; I've mostly been listening to audiobooks so I can do other things while I 'read'. I listened to one this weekend while I set up my tree, baked cookies, and wrapped presents. I finished listening to that book last night (cliff hanger ending!!!) so I'll hopefully be able to read a paper book tonight after doing my other tasks.
Program practice went decently today. It's going to be a longer program, probably around an hour. We usually try to keep it about 45 minutes or so. The speaking parts are probably about that length, but we have a scattering of congregation hymns and special music, so that adds to the time.
I kept flitting about, telling the 3-4th graders where to go and how to act during their parts. They're our 'costume' people of the program: shepherds, angels, wise men. I'm not sold on how I have them moving... we'll see what bright ideas come to me overnight.
I have three kids not participating in the program. Two are brothers and have trouble sitting still during practice while everyone else is up front. Today, since practice is at the end of the day, their mom picked them up early so they wouldn't have to sit. That worked great! The other one is a girl who loves to read, so she brought her book and read the entire time. I kind of wish I could be her...
I corrected my few papers this morning over breakfast and had enough time to read a short book before I went to school. It was a graphic novel I wanted to preview before handing it over to my kids. I haven't read a physical book in a while; I've mostly been listening to audiobooks so I can do other things while I 'read'. I listened to one this weekend while I set up my tree, baked cookies, and wrapped presents. I finished listening to that book last night (cliff hanger ending!!!) so I'll hopefully be able to read a paper book tonight after doing my other tasks.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Bummer
I am super bummed right now... Earlier today the 7th and 8th graders asked me what day we come back from Christmas break and I said we have school the Thursday after New Years. Except one kid thought we came back on Wednesday. It turns out he was right. :/ Christmas break is one day shorter than I thought it was... Man!!! Now we only get a week off for Christmas break.
Speaking of Christmas... program practice went well today. We had our first full run-through at church this afternoon and it took about 45 minutes. Now we enter Miss H crazy mode: all the thoughts buzzing around my head of where people should go, when they should move, how they should move, and every day new thoughts spring to mind as we go. Thankfully the kids usually like my ideas, so they don't mind changing things around.
A kind of funny (but also shocking) thing happened during Daily 5. A 5th grader is reading a graphic novel called Akissi which is named after the main character, a little girl who grows up in Africa. The boys have been having a hoot with the name of the book saying, "Give me Akissi... You want Akissi? Okay! Ha, ha, ha." The boy who's reading it left it somewhere in the classroom, so I had it on my desk and he grabbed it saying to his classmates, "Miss H just gave me Akissi!" Yikes!
Speaking of Christmas... program practice went well today. We had our first full run-through at church this afternoon and it took about 45 minutes. Now we enter Miss H crazy mode: all the thoughts buzzing around my head of where people should go, when they should move, how they should move, and every day new thoughts spring to mind as we go. Thankfully the kids usually like my ideas, so they don't mind changing things around.
A kind of funny (but also shocking) thing happened during Daily 5. A 5th grader is reading a graphic novel called Akissi which is named after the main character, a little girl who grows up in Africa. The boys have been having a hoot with the name of the book saying, "Give me Akissi... You want Akissi? Okay! Ha, ha, ha." The boy who's reading it left it somewhere in the classroom, so I had it on my desk and he grabbed it saying to his classmates, "Miss H just gave me Akissi!" Yikes!
Friday, December 14, 2018
Arms
The arm challenge was back again this morning... fewer kids did it today, but they did it for longer. This time, two of them managed to hold their arms up until lunch time! 3 hours!
My speech about presents worked. By the end of the day, only two kids had their names on the board for missing work (well three, but one of them is a girl who is was absent today). Mr. E finally gave me math midterm grades for the 5-6th graders. It was after school, so I'm not able to send them home today. Monday will have to be soon enough.
Program practice is going pretty good. We're catching on to the songs more and more. We had song practice in the morning like usual and this afternoon we went to church for the first time. We just got the kids lined up in their spots and sang a bunch of the songs. Sunday after church we'll set up the risers and the manger scene. Then every day next week we'll practice running through the whole program over at church.
The Christmas hymnal angels are slowly but surely making their way to homes. A bunch of my kiddos 'wrapped' them in brown paper bags and stapled the tops shut. I only got a few pictures of them after the mass exodus, but here are a few of them (some of the ones already wrapped turned out even better than these! my kiddos like to decorate).
My speech about presents worked. By the end of the day, only two kids had their names on the board for missing work (well three, but one of them is a girl who is was absent today). Mr. E finally gave me math midterm grades for the 5-6th graders. It was after school, so I'm not able to send them home today. Monday will have to be soon enough.
Program practice is going pretty good. We're catching on to the songs more and more. We had song practice in the morning like usual and this afternoon we went to church for the first time. We just got the kids lined up in their spots and sang a bunch of the songs. Sunday after church we'll set up the risers and the manger scene. Then every day next week we'll practice running through the whole program over at church.
The Christmas hymnal angels are slowly but surely making their way to homes. A bunch of my kiddos 'wrapped' them in brown paper bags and stapled the tops shut. I only got a few pictures of them after the mass exodus, but here are a few of them (some of the ones already wrapped turned out even better than these! my kiddos like to decorate).
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Forgot
This morning I realized I forgot to post last night. We had bible study a half an hour earlier than usual (my church doesn't do advent services for some reason) and I had thought to write it when I got home. Yep. I forgot.
The day was pretty typical. We didn't finish our read aloud book yesterday. We didn't finish it today either. We have two pages left. They were just talking too much and I had to quit reading. Sigh.
Oh well.
The day was pretty typical. We didn't finish our read aloud book yesterday. We didn't finish it today either. We have two pages left. They were just talking too much and I had to quit reading. Sigh.
Our religion story today was Aaron and Hur holding up Moses's hands in the battle against the Amalekites (probably spelling that wrong). It always gives my kids the idea to hold their hands above their heads for as long as possible, and this year's class was no different. So they had a contest to see who could do it the longest. They lasted over an hour! I made them do it with only one hand so they could still write and do stuff with their other hand.
Tuesday night a parent of a former student dropped off a bin of books for me/my classroom. I've been going through them the past two days. Lots of good books in there! Hopefully my kids will want to read them; there aren't any graphic novels.
It's only one week until our Christmas party. I can't believe the year has gone this fast. To light a fire under the pokey little puppies, I told my class today that their names have to be off the board in order to open their presents next Friday (basically, get all their late work turned in). There's been a great rush to finish things up and hand them in! So far, so good. I gave the 7-8th graders the same mandate. They're a little harder to get going than the 5-6th graders...
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Outside
We finally went outside for afternoon recess. Most of my kiddos remembered to bring snow gear, and they spent recess tumbling down the big snow pile near the school. Some used sleds, some used their bodies... Three boys got on a sled together and coasted down the hill singing the theme to the popular kids show "Little Einsteins".
We're getting to the end of our latest read-aloud book... only two chapters left! I have a feeling we'll finish it tomorrow. They made a deal with me to read extra today since the chapter ended on a cliff hanger. It worked out all right; they worked on their MN history projects (a town plot) while I read, which is not something they have time to work on during a typical day.
Tonight I'm headed over to Pastor's house for the teacher cookie-baking night they host every year. I mixed up a batch of chocolate mint flats last night and they're ready to be baked tonight. They have Andes mints on top, so I'd bought a package at the store, but then I reread the recipe and realized I need three packages. Oops. We'll just cut them small. I have some mint Dove chocolates I brought along too; I think they'll also work. It should be a fun night!
We're getting to the end of our latest read-aloud book... only two chapters left! I have a feeling we'll finish it tomorrow. They made a deal with me to read extra today since the chapter ended on a cliff hanger. It worked out all right; they worked on their MN history projects (a town plot) while I read, which is not something they have time to work on during a typical day.
Tonight I'm headed over to Pastor's house for the teacher cookie-baking night they host every year. I mixed up a batch of chocolate mint flats last night and they're ready to be baked tonight. They have Andes mints on top, so I'd bought a package at the store, but then I reread the recipe and realized I need three packages. Oops. We'll just cut them small. I have some mint Dove chocolates I brought along too; I think they'll also work. It should be a fun night!
Monday, December 10, 2018
Quiet
My room was so quiet this morning... it was amazing. During Daily 5, everyone worked quietly. I had a bunch of boys reading in the reading corner (thank-you graphic novels!), some girls working on word cloud Christmas presents for their parents, a few doing spelling or reading at their desks. Sigh. Lovely. I'm just worried about what will happen when the boys run out of graphic novels, because they will, and I have the feeling they don't want to go back to regular books. :p
'Tis the season for secrets... A parent told me her book order for her 6th grader was a secret, so don't let her know she ordered the book the student wanted. Another parent wants me to keep an eye out for the school apparel order that's due to be delivered this week (Christmas presents again). I have most of my shopping done; I just need to wrap them.
After school we nailed down the seating chart for the kiddos for the program. The hymns/verses have been finalized for the bulletin, I just need to finish editing the electronic document for the AV coordinator and the church secretary. Whew. More things off the to-do list, but Christmas is coming fast!
'Tis the season for secrets... A parent told me her book order for her 6th grader was a secret, so don't let her know she ordered the book the student wanted. Another parent wants me to keep an eye out for the school apparel order that's due to be delivered this week (Christmas presents again). I have most of my shopping done; I just need to wrap them.
After school we nailed down the seating chart for the kiddos for the program. The hymns/verses have been finalized for the bulletin, I just need to finish editing the electronic document for the AV coordinator and the church secretary. Whew. More things off the to-do list, but Christmas is coming fast!
Friday, December 7, 2018
Angels
Holy cow I was ready to pull my hair out this morning... So many names on the board for late/missing assignments!!! They got most of them off, but there are a few kids who just can't seem to get their work done. Especially memory work. Grr...
We're making hymnal angels as parent presents this year. Today a bunch finished folding the pages and moved on to the hot gluing phase... adding a head and various frippery. They sure look cool, all of them standing on the lab table. But that hot glue gets EVERYWHERE. And so do the little schniblets they cut off the edges of the ribbons they're adding.
Some of the 7th graders decided to make one with the extra hymnals I had. They got really far today and two girls already glued the angels' heads on. I found the hymnals at the MLHS rummage sale and got more than enough for my class for about $2. The angel heads are gold Christmas bulb ornaments also from the MLHS rummage sale. Those fit in a bag full of other stuff, so the total cost of these angels for my entire class is roughly $3. Maybe $0.10 each kid? Regardless, the price is right!
We're making hymnal angels as parent presents this year. Today a bunch finished folding the pages and moved on to the hot gluing phase... adding a head and various frippery. They sure look cool, all of them standing on the lab table. But that hot glue gets EVERYWHERE. And so do the little schniblets they cut off the edges of the ribbons they're adding.
Some of the 7th graders decided to make one with the extra hymnals I had. They got really far today and two girls already glued the angels' heads on. I found the hymnals at the MLHS rummage sale and got more than enough for my class for about $2. The angel heads are gold Christmas bulb ornaments also from the MLHS rummage sale. Those fit in a bag full of other stuff, so the total cost of these angels for my entire class is roughly $3. Maybe $0.10 each kid? Regardless, the price is right!
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Trips
The 7th and 8th graders presented their Europe trips today. I was actually pretty impressed, seeing as most of them were nowhere close to being finished yesterday... They had found some decent things to do at their locations! Trip locations: Rome, Italy; Reykjavik, Iceland; Tromsø, Norway; Paris, France. Tomorrow we have two more presenters.
I set a budget of 3,000 per person (not including airfare). The most expensive flight was a $15,000 first class flight to Rome, Italy on the United Arab Emirates airline. Wow. I can't believe anyone would pay that much money for a flight.
We might need to make a new requirement about cars... Most of them rented cars for the trip to 'make it easier and faster to get to places.' I've tried to get them to use public transportation, but they're very skeptical of it. Or else they'd rather drive cool cars. So next time we'll have a rule that if you are going to drive, you need to look up rules of the road such as speed limit, which side of the road they drive on, how crazy their traffic is, etc. I suppose I could set the budget for the trip lower too. Our next continent is the Middle East. I'll have to do some research to find out average costs of things to make it a realistic limit.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Kraken
My kids were on a token spending spree this morning. Three girls bought mystery animals. Each mystery animal costs 20 tokens plus one food token. One ended up with a giant sloth (worth 100 tokens), another ended up with a unicorn (250 tokens), and a third ended up with a kraken (also 250 tokens). The first two were totally random, but the last one, I think one of the other girls figured out my secret...
They kept telling me 'we know Miss H!' I played it coy, but they had... I had the list of animals in a document, changed the bullet points to numbers, and let my students choose a number. Whatever animal it was, that's what they got.
Now, I've updated it. I have some of the animals listed more than once (the cheaper ones) and I pasted the list into a random list generator, so now they're really mixed up. I can keep pasting the list into the random generator so the numbers aren't ever the same twice (unless it happens randomly). Ha! Take that, sneaky smart 6th graders!
They kept telling me 'we know Miss H!' I played it coy, but they had... I had the list of animals in a document, changed the bullet points to numbers, and let my students choose a number. Whatever animal it was, that's what they got.
Now, I've updated it. I have some of the animals listed more than once (the cheaper ones) and I pasted the list into a random list generator, so now they're really mixed up. I can keep pasting the list into the random generator so the numbers aren't ever the same twice (unless it happens randomly). Ha! Take that, sneaky smart 6th graders!
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Iodine
The 5-6th graders did a lab today trying to determine if starch (aka amylose) is present in various foods. I had them bring a fruit/vegetable from home and we dripped iodine on the items to see if they turned a blackish purplish gray color. It was pretty neat! And it didn't take super long.
I'd given a big speech before we started about how we needed to be careful with the iodine because it can stain your hands and it can be toxic if you get it in your mouth... I was probably a bit over dramatic. We used pipettes to drip iodine on the items and one of the pipettes sputtered iodine all over one of the 6th grade girls! She was not happy. Her mouth was closed and we were wearing aprons and goggles, but still, the iodine splattered all over a sleeve of her sweatshirt.
In an interesting development, the iodine that landed on her lab sheet turned black, indicating starch present in the paper. (Coffee filters we found didn't have any starch). The drops on her sweatshirt stayed brown, so we concluded there isn't any starch in her sweatshirt. At least we got something out of the little spill!
I'd given a big speech before we started about how we needed to be careful with the iodine because it can stain your hands and it can be toxic if you get it in your mouth... I was probably a bit over dramatic. We used pipettes to drip iodine on the items and one of the pipettes sputtered iodine all over one of the 6th grade girls! She was not happy. Her mouth was closed and we were wearing aprons and goggles, but still, the iodine splattered all over a sleeve of her sweatshirt.
In an interesting development, the iodine that landed on her lab sheet turned black, indicating starch present in the paper. (Coffee filters we found didn't have any starch). The drops on her sweatshirt stayed brown, so we concluded there isn't any starch in her sweatshirt. At least we got something out of the little spill!
Monday, December 3, 2018
Tallies are in!
Final NaNo numbers are in! ALL 12 students (plus me) made our November word goal! Woohoo!
We started the month with a goal of writing 69,600 words and ended the month with a goal of 79,540 words. We wrote... 82,372 words total. Wow! That's 13,372 words over our first goal! Over the course of the month, six students raised their goals to challenge themselves.
I passed out winner certificates today, but one kid was sick, so we're waiting to take a picture until tomorrow. Hopefully everyone will be in school then!
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