With 7 weeks of school under my belt, I think I am prepared to make some observations about the school year thus far. Here are some of the things I've figured out:
1. This year has been a crash course in dealing with confrontational situations. Usually, I avoid unnecessary confrontation whenever possible. Some confrontation is undeniably necessary, but there are a lot of things that just don't matter that much. However, this year there has been a lot of confrontation that I could not avoid if I did not want to be steamrolled. But it's certainly been a growing experience!
2. I have come to the conclusion that if the school KNOWS they are giving you students with disabilities severe enough to effect the rest of the classroom, they REALLY ought to train you on the basics of that disability. That way you'd know what to expect, or at least how to react when your student does something way out in left field.
3. Working with friendly people makes a huge difference. Astronomical.
4. I have a problem asking for help, and I don't like to feel like I'm in trouble. (I already knew that.) So it sucks when I feel like I'm getting in trouble for asking for help.
5. 6th graders can seriously rise to the occasion. And one of the surest ways to get them to do so is to give them a responsibility and a little praise.
6. It's good to know that someone's got your back!
7. Sometimes, one positive incentive works better than all the scoldings in the world.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Tagging
What were you doing 5 years ago?
1. Living with "my destiny" but sleeping on the love couch.
2. Mentally cursing that statue of Karl G. Maeser after all but failing a ZOO 102 exam.
3. Making runs to Cosmo's Connection to get rid of Dining Plus money.
4. Cringing away from any hint of Bobbella.
5. Setting records for solitaire, but not getting nearly enough sleep.
5 things of the to-do list today:
1. Assign a Circulation Road Trip Story in Science.
2. Search through the shared reading library because my class apparently read Treasure Island in 4th grade.
3. Check the tomatoes.
4. Buy tags for the cats' collars.
5. Feed Pax.
5 things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Move to Northern California. (Redwood Region)
2. Set up a manatee sanctuary. (I know manatees don't live in No. CA, but this is MY blog, ok?!)
3. Feed the manatees heads of cabbage, and ride them around the tank.
4. Travel, travel, travel.
5. Get a dog.
5 snacks you enjoy:
1. Celery
2. Jonathan Apples
3. Cheetos Puffs
4. Boursin cheese with crackers.
5. Turkey Pepperoni
5 places you have lived:
1. Pittsburg, PA
2. Idaho Falls, Idaho (777)
3. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Idaho Falls, Idaho (559)
5. Provo, Utah
5 people to tag:
1....anyone who would like to!
1. Living with "my destiny" but sleeping on the love couch.
2. Mentally cursing that statue of Karl G. Maeser after all but failing a ZOO 102 exam.
3. Making runs to Cosmo's Connection to get rid of Dining Plus money.
4. Cringing away from any hint of Bobbella.
5. Setting records for solitaire, but not getting nearly enough sleep.
5 things of the to-do list today:
1. Assign a Circulation Road Trip Story in Science.
2. Search through the shared reading library because my class apparently read Treasure Island in 4th grade.
3. Check the tomatoes.
4. Buy tags for the cats' collars.
5. Feed Pax.
5 things you would do if you were a millionaire:
1. Move to Northern California. (Redwood Region)
2. Set up a manatee sanctuary. (I know manatees don't live in No. CA, but this is MY blog, ok?!)
3. Feed the manatees heads of cabbage, and ride them around the tank.
4. Travel, travel, travel.
5. Get a dog.
5 snacks you enjoy:
1. Celery
2. Jonathan Apples
3. Cheetos Puffs
4. Boursin cheese with crackers.
5. Turkey Pepperoni
5 places you have lived:
1. Pittsburg, PA
2. Idaho Falls, Idaho (777)
3. Oklahoma City, OK
4. Idaho Falls, Idaho (559)
5. Provo, Utah
5 people to tag:
1....anyone who would like to!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Trouble With Lipids
We've been fostering kittens for the Humane Society. We refer to them as the lipids.
One of them is the strangest cat I've ever come in contact with. Her name is Dannon. She's a hairy ball of idiosyncrasies. For example, cats are supposed to be relatively clean creatures but this one delights in throwing litter all over the laundry room. She attacks anything that moves, and a lot of things that don't move. Her most frequent nemeses are door frames, large pieces of furniture, and shoes. She takes shoes seriously... as if they wronged her in another life. She has horrible gas, slumps and lolls like a dog, and attacks her own tail.
But the most alarming problem with Dannon is that she gets into everything. She's been closed in several closets, and has climbed into the fridge, cupboards, garbage can, and dryer. The other night we realized we hadn't seen Dannon in a while. We checked all her usual haunts, but after 10 minutes of looking, she had not turned up. I was worried because there is a coverless vent under the bathroom counter, and I kept imagining her falling down beneath the floor.
Finally, we realized we could hear her in the bedroom. Russell found her closed in his sock drawer. I still don't understand how she got in there.
One of them is the strangest cat I've ever come in contact with. Her name is Dannon. She's a hairy ball of idiosyncrasies. For example, cats are supposed to be relatively clean creatures but this one delights in throwing litter all over the laundry room. She attacks anything that moves, and a lot of things that don't move. Her most frequent nemeses are door frames, large pieces of furniture, and shoes. She takes shoes seriously... as if they wronged her in another life. She has horrible gas, slumps and lolls like a dog, and attacks her own tail.
But the most alarming problem with Dannon is that she gets into everything. She's been closed in several closets, and has climbed into the fridge, cupboards, garbage can, and dryer. The other night we realized we hadn't seen Dannon in a while. We checked all her usual haunts, but after 10 minutes of looking, she had not turned up. I was worried because there is a coverless vent under the bathroom counter, and I kept imagining her falling down beneath the floor.
Finally, we realized we could hear her in the bedroom. Russell found her closed in his sock drawer. I still don't understand how she got in there.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Too Cool For You
Current trends in my classroom...whether my students are aware they have made them trendy or not.
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyers
2. Dance-Off Competitions
3. Elmers Glue Bookmarks
4. The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
5. Crying Boys
6. Crackers
7. Fresca
8. Writing all over your hands with highlighters.
9. Making bets for way more money than anyone will ever believe that you have.
10. Recreate the Great Salt Lake
6th grade is very different than 2nd. (Imagine that!) But you know what? I don't miss 2nd.
1. Twilight by Stephenie Meyers
2. Dance-Off Competitions
3. Elmers Glue Bookmarks
4. The Eleventh Hour by Graeme Base
5. Crying Boys
6. Crackers
7. Fresca
8. Writing all over your hands with highlighters.
9. Making bets for way more money than anyone will ever believe that you have.
10. Recreate the Great Salt Lake
6th grade is very different than 2nd. (Imagine that!) But you know what? I don't miss 2nd.
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