It's Been a Loooooonnnnnnngggg Time!

Yes yes yes... It has been a VERY long time.  I graduated (seems like years ago) and am still on the hunt for a teaching job in my very own classroom.  While I am hunting, I am subbing and loving it... most days!  I consider myself very fortunate to be in a community of educators who love to use ME as their sub, so I have been quite busy meeting all kinds of new friends and of course coming across some old friends too!  I have been thinking about starting this back up again, especially because it is a great way for me to reflect on my day and to start remembering some techniques that I come across that are useful or not so useful to me!  So that means... you can look forward to more posts from me!!!

I Was Just Waving Hi!

The Triumph:  One of the little guys in my class seems to have decided that I am going to be his buddy.  Whenever he is reading, he asks me to read with him and I absolutely love it!  I love seeing how much growth he has made since the beginning of the year and thinking ahead to all of the progress that I'm sure he will make in the years to come!
Also, after I taught another new reading strategy today, a different boy comes up to me and says "I just read my first word!!!"  And he was SOOO delighted!  Warms my heart!

The Struggle:  Today as recess was ending, I was standing by the door watching the kids all run to the wall to line up.  As I am watching, I notice one of my kinder boys is flipping off someone who is on our wall.  I called him to stand by me so we could chat before he went inside.  I asked him what he was doing with his hand signals, never revealing that I know what it's called or saying the name.  He denied and continued to tell me that he was just waving at his friend.  By this time all of the kids were growing restless on the carpet and I had to let him come in the classroom and get all of the kids settled.  About 15 minutes later though, I called him to talk with me again, and again asked him if he could tell me what he was doing with his hand signals.  He looked at me and said "I wasn't fl---, I mean I was just waving hi!"  So he did know what he was doing, what it was called and probably that it was not ok to do.  I just told him that the hand signal that we were talking about was not nice and that I never wanted to see him do it.  Then he said, "I see people do it all the time where I live"  It's sad to hear and to see such a young kid doing and seeing such adult things.

The Ludicrousness:  Over the last two days we have been writing pages for a book for our teacher, Mrs. P because today was her birthday.  I asked the kids to think of things that we love about her and had them each draw a picture to go with the reasons they wanted to feature on their page.  While I was asking one boy to tell me about his picture I said "And what do you love about Mrs. P?"  He looks at me very concerned and says "I don't LOVE her, I just LIKE her!"  I just responded with " Oh, ok, what do you LIKE about her?!"
Also, two girls were trying to spell Mrs. P's name.  The girls tried their best to come up with the letter sounds that they were hearing and wrote them down.  What they came up with was "Mrs. Puss"  It still cracks me up, and sounds nothing like her name!!

I am the Teacher!

A third of the way through typing, I lost my stamina.  I'm just going to focus on the Triumph for today!  Enjoy!

The Triumph:  The more time that passes where I am in charge of the classroom, the more I think and know, "Yes, I can do this!" It seemed like such a daunting task at the beginning of the year to be in charge of the learning and transitioning of 20 some 5 year olds, but now I feel totally confident that I can do it!  I felt that I jumped over many hurdles today.  Hectic morning, no youtube for movement (eee!!  I had them run laps since it was so sunny outside!), and just other little mishaps that happen throughout the day!  Yay!!

Preparation is KEY!

The Triumph:  A successful, useful lesson was taught today using Digi-Blocks and it was great!  The kids were engaged, the transition from one activity to the other was awesome, and I think the kids all got something out of the lesson that was appropriate for their own learning!

The Struggle:  I don't think it was so much struggle, as it was realizing today, as I was preparing for my lesson, all of the things that I had to get ready.  I had about 15 minutes to get all of the Digi-blocks out and ready for the kids, test dry erase markers (which of course all needed to be the same color, otherwise there would be fights!), get each station set up, figure out snack, find a math book, get worksheets ready, and use the bathroom!  And of course they're all things that can't be done at the beginning of the day, because math happens in the afternoon!  There is a lot of prep work that goes into a lesson, and even more that goes into a lesson that has smooth transitions!

The Ludicrousness:  As I was reading the math story to the kids today, there was a student sitting in front of me.  He typically sits in front and usually ends up playing with the lower half of my pant-legs.  Today I had a skirt on and he looks up at me and says, "What happened to the skin on your knee?"  I looked down and of course there was nothing there!  I was later talking with a friend and she said that she always had found skin on the knee to be strange! I guess he was thinking the same thing!

Picking Up the Slack!!

I'm back!  The last two weeks have been absolutely exhausting, but I'm comforted in knowing that teachers who have been teaching for years are as exhausted as I was for the whole first month of school.  There have been many triumphs (including a day off, where I worked for books!!!), struggles (including various student issues in the classroom and on the playground) and of course ludicrous moments (including a student singing this song).  AND of course, the day that the author of Enemy Pie came to visit the Kinders and 1st Graders!!

The Triumph:  I love love love the days with just the 10 kids who come everyday.  I feel so lucky to be able to have that experience, because I am so certain that it is so unlikely that I'll ever have a group of 10 all to myself for a day ever again!  I love the opportunities that I have to talk with them about their lives and find out things about them that they do when they aren't at school!  I love that I can get to know them more in-depth than I would in the classroom when all 19 of them are there!

The Struggle:  I think the hardest part about the days with the 10 is knowing that they need the most help, which is why they come everyday and still seeing some of them struggling to make advances in their learning.  For about two weeks, we have been working on our teen numbers.  We have listened to the song about teens several times and students can sing it, but one girl is just not getting it.  It's hard to see one student struggle so much, use something that does work for them, but still not see it stick!

The Ludicrousness:  I honestly can not think of any today, but here are a few from the last couple of weeks.
As the author of Enemy Pie is wrapping up his presentation he starts to take questions.  Of course, one of my students raises his hand and is called on.  Here is his question.  "Who wrote this book?"  I just looked across the room, made eye-contact with my co-Kinder Intern and laughed.

I was informed by one of the recess teachers that a student of mine was yelling a swear word as he reached the highest points on the swing.  Back and forth he just kept saying it.  I'll give you a hint:  It starts with the "Quiet Brothers."

And finally, with excitement, a boy student of mine ran up to me during work-time, grabbed my hand and said "You have to come with me! I have to show you something!!!"  He then dragged me to the cupboard where we keep the snacks, opened the doors, and said "We can make POPCORN! Look, there is popcorn in there!" and then he ran back to me, grabbed my hand and said "Come on!"  He continued to lead me around the room to the microwave and pointed to it excitedly.  I then said, "Oh, would you like for me to make popcorn for snack?"  He looks up at me and says, "I think I'm allergic to that kind of popcorn!"  Goofy kid!

You Don't Have to be So Mean!

The Triumph:  I have found something new that works for my Tues/Thurs students to get their attention and gets them quiet.  I have never really been a fan of clapping patterns and having the kids repeat it, but it was like magic!  They were so silent after I tried with them!  We'll see how long it lasts for!

The Struggle:  I have a headache from being so "mean."  After my observed lesson I realized that I needed to change something about how I let the students know that I am not happy with their behaviors.  I used my  "angry/disappointed/LISTEN TO ME/Teacher voice and faces.  I had to constantly move kids all day, and remind them of how they should behave when others are talking.  At one point a student had no idea where he should be sitting and did not listen to the directions (meaning, he did not get EVERYTHING he needed, i.e. folder to go home).  I walked over to him and just said "___, get your folder and sit on a letter now."  And the boy sitting behind him says, "You don't have to be so mean!"

The Ludicrousness:  As I was sending kids out to afternoon recess, there were kids from my class who started lining up on the wall by our door to have a race.  When the last kid got there, they yelled, "Ready, Set, GO!"  And then they all ran off in different directions!  It was the funniest thing to see.  I wonder how they determined who won that one!

I Hope She Isn't the Kind that Eats People!!!

The Triumph:  It was overall a successful day today!  We got everything done that I had planned, which included several new games and manipulatives throughout the day.  Plus I taught one of the boys the word 'obliterate' and it's meaning!  He was having a grand time making really great battle sounds and pretending that stuff was blowing up and I told him a fancy word for blowing stuff to pieces was obliterate!  He loved it!

The Struggle:  I had a little chat with my darling friend today, who I often have power struggles with.  He had stolen some SillyBands out of another boys backpack, so he was sitting in the Cheetahs, waiting for me.  We talked about what he did, why it was wrong, etc.  He was clearly upset, and then said to me "I'm a bad person."  That put tears in my eyes.  It is so upsetting to hear a kid so young saying something like that about himself, and I'm sure it is the same type of language that he hears at home.  I told him to look me in the eyes and told him that he is a good person, a good kid, but has just been making choices that aren't good.  We talked some more and he told him that he wanted to be good and then came up with some ways that he could be good and could make good choices.  And then he followed through with what he said.

The Ludicrousness:  I overheard two boys talking today, after I told them that the woman standing behind them was my mom.  "WHOA!"  "I hope she's not a witch"  "I hope she isn't the kind that eats people!"

The other two quotes happened after the above student returned from the principal's office.  We were all seated on a letter on our alphabet carpet and I said to the student "Have a seat on the carpet.  Sit on the "U" that would be a perfect spot for you!"  He looks at me and says, "My name doesn't start with 'U'!!!"  

I'm glad he is learning his letters! :)

And a few minutes after the "U" comment, he heard some words that weren't nice and said "I'm going to go tell the prince!"  And another boy says "Who is the prince?! What prince?!"  

Princ-ipal!!

What Are You Doing?!

The Triumph:  Another successful writing lesson today!  There were only a couple of students who did not have writing that they added to their books today, and one boy said to me "I need help adding words, because I'm writing books that have words now!"  I was so excited to hear him say that!  He actually had another quote during my writing to them that I wrote down on the last page of my story because I thought it was such a great quote about what writers should do.  I love the connections that kid makes!

The Struggle:  There are still a lot of not nice words circulating throughout the room.  We have been reading manners books all week and the kids are great at making connections, however, they can not make the connections from the books to themselves!

The Ludicrousness:  Today, while I was reading, I noticed a student of mine, showing his middle finger to a group of girls next to him.  I looked right at him, and with my angry voice said "What are you doing?!!!" He turned to me, still with his middle finger out, now pointing to me and he says "I got a cut on my finger, SEE!?!"  I just said, "Ohhhh... ok!" and started laughing to myself!

Progress, Progress, Progress!

The Triumph:  It is so great seeing the progress that students have been making since the beginning of the year!  One student has progressed by 100 points on the K-Screen! At the beginning of the year, and throughout the kids have been assessed to see where they are at, and what progress has been made!  The K-Screen looks at letters (upper and lower), letter sounds, numbers (1-31), as well as some basic math concepts.  The overall score is 130.  So great to see the progress they have made on those and in the classroom.  I keep telling them that 1st grade is coming soon.

The Struggle:  I think that trying to figure out how to help the resistant student was what was most difficult today.  He really needs to be at school to learn, but once he starts digging his heels in, I just have to send him away.  Usually the heel digging involves a lot of yelling, or other disruptive behaviors that makes learning difficult for the whole class.  I just have to figure out at what point do I say, "Ok you need to do this!"  Today, he had a power struggle with me in front of the whole class because he wanted to sit on the computer instead of joining us for movement on the carpet.  He stated that he was going to do computers.  I gave him his choices, which were to join us on the carpet or to sit in the Cheetah Chairs.  We went back and forth a few times, but he knew that I would not back down and he finally came to a decision (Cheetahs)!

The Ludicrousness:  During the plan-do-review part of the day, which we call Worktime, the kids discovered the new hollow blocks that we are borrowing from the other Kinder room.  One of the boys made a tower with them that was really tall, and I asked him if he would like to take a picture of it.  I could not find our classroom camera, so I let him use mine.  They were hilarious!  They took pictures for about 20 minutes.  They took turns, the took interesting photos, and they were having such a great time!  I would post some, but most have the kids in them.  I'll have to look through and post the ones that don't have kids in them!!

Baby Got Back

The Triumph:  I had a successful writing lesson today (yesterday too, actually!)!  The focus of writing has been that the writer adds words for the reader.  Without words in the books that the kids make, I can't read or remember what every single story is about!  The kids got the teaching point and there were so many who have been adding words in the last two days that have never even attempted words before!

The Struggle:  I think I may have to start cracking down more on the kids.  They are starting to act-up and act silly.  Which, I know they are five, but I want them to know that there are times for them to be silly and there are times for them to be good learners!

The Ludicrousness:  I overheard a boy Kinder of mine singing "I like big butts and I can not lie."  I stopped and looked at him and he says, "What? It's a song!"  Yes, it is!

Also, I was hugged by a Kinder in the other classroom today.  And her leg was wrapped around me in the process!  It was hilarious!

Can I have a Tracker?

The Triumph:  This is related to teaching, but not specific to the kids today... I got the approval for my Substitute Certificate.  That means I can sub in my classroom from now until the end of the year.  AND get paid for it!!  Yippee!!!

The Struggle:  We have been reading books lately that have to do with the social issues that are coming up in our classroom.  It is interesting to see how the students can make connections with the stories, but when it comes to acting out and living the advice they are discussing they just can't do it.  They can point out that lying is not good, that good friends share and that we use nice words, but they just can't do what they say or know they should do!  Again, I just have to remind myself that they are 5!

The Ludicrousness:  We have been doing Sand, Dirt and Water for our science unit.  Today was the first day that one of the groups had time to explore each table.  The kids had a chance to visit each table.  By the final rotation, the group of kids that were at the dirt table had witnessed the other kids getting dirt in their eyes because of the wind.  The third group of kids was so fun to watch.  They would use the different tools in their table, and then started ducking below the table.  It was so funny to watch them problem solve and figure out how to avoid getting sand in their eyes.  They are just so creative!

Sometimes I'm Silly!

The Triumph:  The big Mondays with all of the Kinders are always a little more difficult, so I consider getting through the day a triumph.  I got the kids where they needed to be, on time, all throughout the day.  We didn't have to wait to wash our hands at the sink before lunch (which we mostly have to do on Mondays since we come straight from P.E.) AND they all made it home!  Success!

The Struggle:  Hearing heart-breaking information about students is just hard.  I wonder how some teachers manage to be so involved in the home lives of their students, when others seem that they just don't care what happens once they leave the classroom.  I feel like I am always thinking about how my students are doing at home and how that effects them when they come to school.

The Ludicrousness:  Some teacher and student quotes today.  I had some time to go observe in the other Kinder classroom today (Thanks!) during a lesson on Thinking-Maps and analogies.  The book being read was "Tacky the Penguin,"  and it is about a penguin that is very different from the other penguins.  The teacher asked her students if they ever felt like Tacky and one boy next to me says "I'm silly a lot of the time!"  And he most certainly is!

My favorite teacher quote today was in the hall, as one Kinder class (mine) was passing the other Kinder class.  And the other teacher stated to her students:  "Remember, mobs scare people and lines make people happy!"  I lost it and just started cracking up!  My kids were curious and wanted to know why.  I just said, "Because Mrs. _ is funny!"

I Don't Wanna!

The Triumph:  Friday was successful!  We had a full day, including computer lab time (which went smoothly), writing (also smooth), lunch (ALWAYS smooth), and a new schedule for plan-do-review/science.  The two Kinder classes will start mixing for work-time and science, so the kids will be seeing more of each other, which is AWESOME!  I think they all enjoyed it for the most part.  I know that I did!

The Struggle:  We have been noticing, more and more, where certain kids are at, including the kids that come every day.  One would think, perhaps even assume, that a kid who comes to school everyday, is going to make more progress than a kid who only comes two days a week.  Well, it seems that in our class it isn't quite happening that way!  I think for some of the Kinders it is a difference of language, and the fact that they only hear English when they are at school.  Then when they get home they speak their L1, or first language.  I found myself becoming frustrated with one of these students today.  But I had to remind myself, she is an ELL.  AND she is FIVE!  Already, there is so much going on in her brain.  Two languages, writing in English, knows most of the alphabet, but not the sounds that the letters make...  The list could go on and on.

The Ludicrousness:  For the last two weeks, I have been tying one boys shoes about 6 times a day.  Every day.  He has those shoe laces that slide really easily.  They are that cord like material.  And this kid is a.l.w.a.y.s. pulling and tugging and playing with those darn things.  This week I told him I was going to staple his shoelaces down so I wouldn't have to tie them anymore.  He has pulled the laces out completely twice, and since the plastic parts at the ends have worn down or fallen off, I have to put a safety pin through the end to thread it through his darn shoes!  I think he is obsessive with them.  He is always touching them!  I just want to duct-tape them.  Or get him velcro!

A Film-maker and Scientist in the Making

The Triumph:  The more my CT leaves the room, the more confident I am that I can manage these children, I can teach them, and I can handle the issues that come up.  I appreciate the trust that she has in me and the time that she has allowed me to have such a presence in the classroom!  I know that not every student intern has that same type of experience!

The Struggle:  Cloning myself.  Really though, at one point today, I had 6 kids around me, vying for my attention.  If only there were 8 of me, I could help so many more kids.  I guess I'll just have to teach, hope that one of my future students gets hooked by science and figures out how to clone humans.

The Ludicrousness:  There are so many silly, ridiculous, and outrageous things that are happening in the classroom that it's hard to narrow down to just one.  I think my favorite from today was when my CT was teaching science.  She wanted to record the lesson and put the Flip Camera in the hands of one of the Kinders.  She asked him to follow the discussion, and move the camera to point at whoever was talking at the time.  At one point, I looked over and he was so focused on what he was doing.  Then, a student got up to use the bathroom, and the cinematographer pointed the camera on him and followed him all the way to the door.  While a science discussion was taking place.  But boy, was he focused!  I can just imagine what commentary was going on inside his head.

What's a Nice Way to Say "Be Quiet"?!

The Triumph:  Another successful reading strategy lesson today.  One thing that I like about having two groups of students is I really get to practice teaching.  I can teach a lesson one day, reflect, change, and reteach it the next day to different kids.  I think that more kids got the idea of what 'Skippy Frog' does today, than they did yesterday.

The Struggle:  There seems to be quite a few issues going on having to do with the types of words our Kinders use in the classroom, on the playground and in the cafeteria.  There were many times throughout the day that I was told "_____ told me to shut-up."  There were others besides this, but 'shut-up' has been very common lately.  I always ask kids what types of words we should use in the classroom and how we should talk to our friends.  They are always able to respond with "Nice words."  After thinking about it more though, I can remind them all I want to about the types of words we should use, but once they leave the school at 3:30, they are back at home, listening to their parents, their older siblings (and friends), and the T.V.  I have no control over what they hear at home or what type of language they are allowed to use when they are with their families.

The Ludicrousness:  More quotes today!  :)

One of the boys was knocking on the door during lunch recess.  When asked why he wanted to come in he said "  Because _____ and his girlfriend are taking away my fun!"  I have no idea what he meant by that, but I laughed.

And another lovely connection, from student to the world.  At the beginning of the science lesson this afternoon, our guest science teachers were reviewing with the children and up pops a hand.  One of the teachers calls on the boy with his hand up and he says "I've been to New York!"  All I could think was, "Me too, friend."

I Can Read!

The Triumph:  Successful facilitation of a small reading group today!  The kids were so motivated, and by sticky notes, which I totally did not see coming!

The Struggle:  I have just been so tired this week.  I need to figure out how to get more energy.  (As you can probably see from the minuscule post tonight)

The Ludicrousness:  This one's not so much funny as it is just darn cute!  One of the boys came up to me this morning, so excited to share a drawing with me that his younger brother had done.  He was so happy to share with me what his brother had done as well as explaining the story behind the drawing!  I love their enthusiasm!

Today was Awesome!

The Triumph:  Being able to work so closely and learn more about my students on these Mondays.  Today was another of the Mondays where I only have 10 students.  It's either 10 or 28 and oh do I love the days with 10.  The kids that come every day really need to have that one on one or small group interaction and the days where they are the only ones to come really allows that to happen!  And I love it!!

The Struggle:  Today, really just realizing that kids benefit from coming everyday, as well as having smaller class sizes.  Something needs to be done with the way that the education system and how they fund early childhood education!

The Ludicrousness:  Ok, quotes again today.  I love hearing the stuff that the kids say...
We were reading a book about a dog that gets into a lot of trouble, including a day when the dog 'wets the rug.'  One of my students raised his hand to ask me what that meant and other kids let him know that it meant the dog had peed on the carpet.  Well, later in the book the dog does the same thing, and one of my boys says "oh, well he pissed on the carpet again!"

Later another one of my boys was sitting at the computer and called me over to him.  Then he yells out to me (because he has ginormous headphones on) "Ms. Castleton, I smell gunpowder!"  All I could do was look at him and say "What?!"  The substitute who was sitting near by just burst into laughter!  I don't know how he knows what gunpowder smells  like, or why he thought he was smelling it, but it was hilarious!

I've Been to Fred Meyer!!

The Triumph:  I really just enjoyed the kinders today.  I had a great day with the kids and then had the opportunity to sit down after school and plan out next week with my cooperating teacher!  There's not really any one thing that stands out to me that made it such a good day.  It just was.  I had lots of conversations with kids, which made it really great!

The Struggle:  I think the hardest part about today was during writing time.  I'm struggling with how much work I think they should get done, and how much they do get done.  The kids go so long without seeing each other and when they get to the tables where they write, they just want to chat with each other.  But then it starts to get loud, and kids aren't working while they are writing.  I need to find a happy medium where kids are talking, but also working at the same time that is acceptable for me and for them.

The Ludicrousness:  Today was a day of memorable quotes:

"This sandwich is paradise."

Reaction to a cloth shopping bag with the Fred Meyer emblem:
Student A: "Hey, I have one of those at home!"
Student B:  "That's from Fred Meyer!"
Student A:  "Hey, I've been to Fred Meyer!"

And my favorite.  One of the boys was waiting for his mom to come get him, and usually she is there waiting for us, but today she wasn't.  He says: "What is she dead or something?  Where is she?!"

I love the things they say!

Read, Read, Read!!!

The Triumph:  One of my little English Language learner guys, who came into the school year knowing only 1or 2 numbers and zero letters asked if he could read me a book today!  It was "David Goes to School" by David Shannon, and this boy did memorize what happened on each page, but it was so wonderful to hear him excited about reading and excited about sharing with me!  He has really come far since the beginning of the year!

The Struggle:  Still having those conversations with certain children, who should know better, about appropriate behavior for school.  It is agitating, and I feel like I am always having the same conversations with the same kids.  I have to find a way to get through to them, and am not looking forward to the repeated conversations that I will have tomorrow for those problem behaviors.

The Ludicrousness:  Listening to Kinders read!!  I was listening to one boy read today.  I had asked him to be sure to look at all of the words on the page and try to match the sounds that went with the letters he was seeing.  At one point he read a few words in the sentence wrong, looked up at me and said "Well that just doesn't even make sense!"  I told him, "Well, you're right, it doesn't make sense!  What can you change so that it will make sense?"

Can I Have a Grape?

The Triumph:  Since I am in a classroom with two part time classes, I often have the chance to reteach lessons, and make changes based off of the first run of the lesson.  After my lesson yesterday on ways that authors sometimes organize their books (Days of the Week), I was able to re-word my lesson delivery and students today seemed to have a better grasp on the idea!

The Struggle:  Teaching with a headache!  I woke up 15 minutes before I had to leave and have had the most awful headache all day long (I think from the lack of caffeine!).  It really makes it hard for me to enjoy the day when I just want to close my eyes and go sleep.  I did my best for the kids today, but geez it was difficult!!

The Ludicrousness:  We got a new student today!  Cutest little girl ever.  I walked in to lunch with the kids,  as a usually do, and stayed with them a little longer than usual to help a student with his sopping wet lunch bag.  I made sure to go around and check in with our new student to see how she was doing so far and ask her what she had for lunch.  She showed me her delicious looking sandwich and then I left the lunchroom. At the end of the day we have been doing sharing as a whole class and students can share something that they brought in from home or share a story about something that they have done.  It has also become a time when kids will take remainders from their lunch boxes and munch on them.  Our new student had noticed this and asked me if she could eat one of her grapes.  I told her yes of course.  She opened her lunch box and there was her sandwich, completely untouched!!  She then told me she didn't have time to get to her sandwich.  She decided to eat her sandwich, and ate it quicker than I have ever seen any kid eat their lunches!!  She must have been so hungry!