The final stretch...

Well, there are only 17 1/2 days left with kids for me. WOOHOO!!! It's not that I don't like my job. It's not that I don't like the kids. It's that we are tired of each other! Actually, I think every 7th grade kid in my school has LOST THEIR EVERLASTING MINDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You would think we ran a school of wild animals at the moment! Why is that you ask? Our state-mandated testing is over. YEAH!

See, because of the high-stakes attached to the tests these days--NCLB, AYP and all of those other letters--schools place a great emphasis on the tests. Which they should since that should be the curriculum being taught. So, when the tests are finished, the kids think the year is finished. IT'S NOT!

We have had more kids acting like 5 year olds on a playground than ever before. The pushing/shoving/horseplay in general is DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!!!! Why can't 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16-year-olds keep their hands to themselves??? And, we aren't talking PDA! (Yes, you did read that correctly. Thanks to high-stakes testing and NLCB, we have students from age 12-16 IN THE 7TH GRADE!!!!! We half-way joke that we will need to build a student parking lot soon.)

That is another topic for another day.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! And, to all the teachers who play mom during the school year!

Stupid Questions....

I am having my students work on a project at the moment. It is about Mean, Median, Mode and Range. To complete the project, they have to survey their class mates to get data. The question should start with "How many...." and be able to be answered with a number. The goal is to get a range of numbers to use to find the measures of central tendency. Here were some of the "questions" that students wanted to ask. My replies are in parenthesis.

1. What is the exact value of pi? (First, there is no answer. Second, everyone should say the same thing!)
2. How many computers do you have? (Most people will have 0 or 1. Not a good selection.)
3. How many jewelry do you have? (I was thinking "WHAT?!?!?!?" I actually said--That is too big of a number.)

My personal favorite---
4. How many fingers do you got? (With the exception of Mrs. A, I believe EVERYONE in the building has 10!)

This is our future!!!! Kinda scary, eh?

working everyday

I apologize for not being here lately. I have been busy subbing! I have been in so many different classrooms it is crazy. Today I was in our special ed inclusion 3/4 and loved it! Yesterday, half day in the afternoon, first grade. I did do quite a few days for our phys ed/reading teacher as she had a family emergency to take care of. The differences I am allowed to enjoy as a sub are immeasurable. I find it amazing and exciting to have the chance to visit and be a part of the lives of so many students.

Student Teachers....and Substitutes....

First, let me describe the student teacher (ST) I had during the fall semester. She probably has her heart in the right place, but the rest of her is NOT THERE! She wants to teach math in grades 4-8. She says she ABSOLUTELY does NOT want to go lower or higher. Well, I don't think she should go higher than maybe 5th grade. It was a very bad experience for me. (Let's put it this way, if she were my first student teacher, I'd never have another one!!!)

Maybe I'm a "freak" when it comes to doing certain things in my classroom. But, I'm ultimately responsible for the learning, or lack of, that takes place in my room. I want my students to excel in everything they do. Is that wrong?

Let me give you a few examples of what my ST did wrong.

1. She told the gifted students "I don't know how to do this problem...I'll look at it later." (Hello??? YOU NEVER TELL THE "SMART" KIDS THAT!!!!!) Now, I've put some problems up for them to do and then realized it is WAY over their heads and will say "Ok--that won't work, you'll be confused, let's try this." But, I've never told them I don't know how to do a problem. (Once I told them I was having a brain freeze and called another teacher, but they didn't think bad of me!)

2. She was so mild mannered, she let the kids walk all over her. One day, they were so out-of-control. When I asked her what the consequences were, she said none. She said the whole class was bad. I replied "Then you write 15 detentions!!!!!! (Yes, this is a VERY small class and she couldn't handle it!)

3. She cried in front of them. OMG! This is the biggest mistake of all times. You know the commerical "Never let them see you sweat?" Well, for a teacher, it's "Never let them see you cry!" It was all over from that point on. She never had their respect. EVER!

Well, my dear ST was a sub in our hallway (next to my room) on Friday. She did ok for the first class, but not so well the rest of the day. During fourth period, I opened the connecting doors and yelled at the class. See, my kids were working quietly (which is amazing in itself for that class!), and all of a sudden we hear a student yell "What the hel-?" I looked at my kids and before I could say "Did I hear what I think I heard?", they all shook their heads and said YUP! When I said something to that room about profanity, ST looked at me like a deer in the headlights. After school when I saw her, she said she couldn't figure out what I was talking about. She said maybe I thought I heard her say only part of the word class. When I told her what was said, she went "Oh, I know who said that." I looked at her like "WHAT?!?!?!?!?" She told me the kid who said it and then so profoundly stated "I heard her say it, but I guess I just didn't realize it was wrong." HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Since when is that acceptable in a school????

Well, I just really, Really, REALLY, REALLY wish the sub could be a sub in our school. At least then our classrooms would be run like they should!!!!

State pledge....

In the state of Texas, our great congressmen and women decided that every school child would say the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag and the Texas Flag and have a moment of silence (to do whatever) every day.

(For those of you who don't know it, the Texas Pledge goes like this: Honor the Texas Flag, I Pledge Allegiance to Thee, Texas, One State Under God, One and Indivisible.)

Now, I disagree with this. Everyone here says it's because I'm a "Yankee." Call it what you want, but it's because I'm an AMERICAN!!!!! In our Pledge to the U.S. Flag, we say "One NATION, under God...." We don't say 50 individual states under God! So, why would ONE STATE believe they could be on the same level as our country? Well, because Texans think they can do whatever they want!

(For the record, one other state has a pledge to it's state flag. That would be Louisiana--and if you get a chance to read it, it's pretty similar to the U.S. pledge.)

So, everyday, I stand and say the U.S. pledge and remain standing respectfully while the class says the Texas pledge. I don't participate. Some co-workers say I'm being disrespectful. I say I'm respecting my country. It takes all 50 states to be our great country--all 50 are EQUAL!

What do you think?????

...till the end

Can you believe it is March 1st? This time last year, I could say I only had 3 months of school left since our last day was in May. This year, however, we go until June 4th. Lot's of teachers, students and parents are complaining because we are going to school in June. I personally don't see what the big deal is. I always went to school in June when I was a student. (My birthday is at the beginning of June, and I always got to celebrate with my classmates.)

Dear readers, do you think it is a big deal???

23

It has been a busy week. I was in third grade on Monday and Tuesday...the highlight was being called a jerk in front of the entire class. The student pointed at me, yelling, "JERK!" on his way out.

It was exhausting! I wish there was more hands on to teach...I felt like I was rushing the entire day. Rather, both days. Teachable moments came up and I felt as though there wasn't any time for teachable moments. must get back to dittos, must get back to dittos...

Tomorrow is second grade and then into first grade on Friday. I am looking forward to the slower pace. And the great morning song in the first grade room.

State Testing

We are getting ready for our state standardized testing. At the 7th grade level, our kids take a writing, math and reading test. The 8th grade kids take a reading, math, science and social studies test. When the kids take the tests, the teachers can do NOTHING but stare at them. I'm so glad I only have 3 tests!

I have a problem with these tests. We are requiring kids to meet a minimum expectation. Most people would assume this would be at 70% passing rate. Oh, no, it isn't. It depends on the test and the grade level. Some tests require a passing rate of 72% and some only require a 56% passing grade. Yet, many people in the general public think we are holding these kids to higher standards than what we are.

POLITICIANS NEED TO STAY OUT OF EDUCATION!!!!!!!!!!

One bad apple...

Does indeed spoil the whole bunch! My one "bad apple" has been in In-School Suspension for the last two days. Can you believe the entire class has been PERFECT? He will be gone for a few more days since he received 5 days "away" for his lovely comment. Since it was directed at me, he earned a harsher sentence. Boy am I glad we have great administrators!

Full moon? Change in weather?

Something is up. I don't know what. I can not stand it any longer. Whoever/Whatever is taking control of these children needs to stop! I can not teach when these kids are having out-of-body experiences like they did last week. What was the deal?!?!?!?!?!?

I had to write 3 kids up on office referrals last week. One kid, once. One kid, twice. One kid, three times. I felt like the wicked witch of the west! However, when you get mad after being told to stop talking, push everything off of your desk, and say "F*$% That!", you just gotta go! (In fact, before I could say goodbye, he said "I know, leave.")

Life is never dull in 7th grade!

the office, day four

You will never believe what happened today in THE OFFICE today. Let me set it up...

The phone rings. Hello, "____ School"....it is a parent. Can I please speak with my child? He is in class, I say. I also ask if it is an emergency and the response is yes. I tell the parent I will request the child come to the office (there it is again) and he will call home. I call the student the office (again, my show) and he calls home. After listening to the conversation, another staff member in the office asks, so what is the emergency? Does the school need to know? The student proceeds to tell us the mom needed to know where the TV remote was.

WHAT? Are you kidding me?

Later in the day, another teacher tells me that a parent had left a message on her voice mail for her son to call her at home. This teacher did not have the student call as it was not an emergency. A bit later, the parent calls again (the line can go into the classroom) and she asks to speak to her son. Long story short, she wanted to know where the battery charger for something TV related is....!!

Imagine, two in one day. What would these parents do without their remotes?!

Update from the teacher....

Well, I didn't have the substitute subbing for me last week. I sure wish I did!!!!!! The first sub I had could not follow my directions. I find this hard to believe since I am kind of anal and leave very detailed plans (I think the final count was 5 pages of instructions, 4 pages for attendance, 3 pages of pictures, and one page of a seating chart--for three days!). I think the only thing I didn't tell him was to breathe every few seconds. The students were so lost!!!!! I received an email that first night that wasn't very complimentary, to say the least. I was able to throw it back on the kid though, so it wasn't too bad for me. (Thank heaven I have a good relationship with that mom!) I also had a voice mail from another parent after that first day. YIKES!

When I returned to school, I found out from the kids that he asked student X to take the attendance down to the office first period. I left a note that students, A, B, C, or D may take the attendance. I did not say student X could go. I can't trust student X. (Student X has been caught in about 10 different lies this year--including one where she accused me of something I did NOT do!!!!--and has been in a fight with student Y, who is also in that class. I broke up the fight...It was quite fun, but I digress...I must be ADHD!!!) Mr. Not-Very-Good couldn't even figure out how to start the powerpoint. Double click...it runs by itself! Then, he told the students to do the homework completely wrong. UGH!

The next sub was great!!!!! In fact, I received a compliment from our assistant principal today about her. I'm so happy A could sub for me. First of all, A is going to college to be a teacher. Second, she has subbed for me before and knows what I "expect." Third, she sat through an entire year with me when she was in 7th grade. (Man do I feel old!) This is what the AP said, "I walked by your room one day and not only was the class in control, but A was up and TEACHING! A sub TEACHING! Can you believe that?" I was so proud. She said the kids were well behaved but talkative. So, I compromised on the contract. They don't get the soda/chip party, but they don't get tortured either. No one has complained.

After I returned, I found out a lot of gossip about things that happened while I was away. Man, I missed all the good stuff!!!!! (fights--students and teachers--moonings, truancies, assaults, weapons, terroristic threats, irate parents, teachers passing out, kidnappings--not all on my campus. These events took place in our county.)

the office, day three

I have subbed in the office for the past three days. I am not sure about tomorrow...my friend, the secretary, still did not sound too well when I talked with her this morning. She said she was going to try to go in but who knows...to be honest, I like subbing in the office....even with all the vomit, diarrhea and temperature taking. I think I took about 15 temps today! The big complaint today was headaches and tummy aches.

The principal gave me a compliment, too. He said that he was glad it was me subbing. I suppose if you get a sub in who doesn't know how things run, he may end up doing most of the secretary's job, too.

I do the best I can, stay cheerful and hope for the best.

(I did have a parent pretty much call me a liar today. Her child was ill, I called home= no answer. I then moved onto the next number in line...her cell. It went to voice mail. I left a message that I was trying to reach her and was then going to call the dad. Long story, when she came in to retrieve her child, she wasn't nice and in a very round about way, accused me of NOT calling her home or cell first.)