“And, oh, I think we should point out that this is their 100th day of teaching!” After counting sets of 100 Apple Jacks all day and running around making pretty awful 100-themed decorations, I appreciated this split-second recognition by one of my classroom moms. Lord knows that had already crossed my mind a lot…earlier today,…
read more »In tutoring today, the kids started reviewing multiplication. Some kids were ahead on their work, so I pulled out my multiplication flash cards to keep them busy while the others finished up the assignment. One of the girls loves to prove she’s better than others a lot- a trait I’ve witnessed several times in tutoring…
read more »OK, so today was the proverbial roller coaster of awesome and awful. In points to speed along: Start the day with my kids NOT LISTENING at all. As in, I explain something, or I give directions, or I remind them for the umpteenth time that Napoleon (who shows up in our story about Egypt…long story)…
read more »Although most days go well, this afternoon my class quickly became more of a chess game- I had to keep moving kids around because they could not control themselves. During an hour period, one girl was moved to my extra “time-out” desk in the front because she was disturbing her table group. Another boy was…
read more »I tutor third graders on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and they tend to ask random questions about my class. Today the following conversation came up: Hailey: I wonder if you have any Haileys in 2nd grade. Me: I know there is a Kaley next door, but I haven’t heard of a Hailey. Hailey: I know…
read more »Hey, fourth grade, brace yourselves. Kid-friendly Tacitus to accomodate the ancient Roman time and culture parameter. You have 15 minutes. Go.
read more »I am magically re-inspired to spend my days, nights, and free time being a good teacher for underpriviliged students. Oh. Wait. I’m already doing that. That’s the WHOLE REASON I joined Teach for America. Wait, hold on. I’m not sure I can handle this. Teachers are supposed to WANT their kids to do WELL? Baffling. Shocking. I don’t think I can handle that kind of lifestyle. Not at all a teacher-appropriate mentality. (Wait, does this mean that they might have something against copius amounts of sarcasm??)
read more »A few weeks ago, I left a yogurt in my staff lounge fridge overnight to have for breakfast the next morning. I was hesitant to leave it unmarked, but my fellow staff members aren’t the type of people who take things without asking. The next morning, my heart fell when I found the refrigerator void…
read more »It is difficult for me to write on a regular basis for any number of reasons. As a teacher at a year-round, extended day (6:30am-6:00pm) school, and a part-time Master’s student, I have very little time for the things I need to get done, let alone the things I want to get done. On top…
read more »Aaaaaand we’re back! Why hello there, readers. Now in the new year and new semester, my school-world is rife with resolutions. In my personal and professional life I’m working, now, on pursuing happiness, finding the j-factor, living a little – whatever you want to call it. And while some of my students still think that the…
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