Day 14 - Spring Break!!!!

Spring Break is here! The week felt long, but probably because I was sick and the kids were anxious. I was feeling worse this morning, so started out a little grumpy and short with the kids, but decided to make it a good day and end with excitement and pride.
I had 7 students who didn't do their homework, yesterday we didn't have any (a first since I've been there). Some kids use the excuse that they left it at home or some don't even attempt to do it. I just don't have time for excuses and want these students to get the extra practice that they need.
We took three tests today, but the rest of the day was pretty much stress free for them. Most did okay on their math tests, which felt good and I had another student get 100% on his spelling test, which is huge for him! I'm trying to cherish every little accomplishment!
After the spelling test, math test, and reading comprehension test, we finished up our crayon-resist eggs, which also turned out wonderfully. And purely by coincidence, we did a lot of patterning on them, which is our next unit in math. Way to integrate the curriculum. Yay!
We ended the day by decorating Easter baskets with tissue paper. The kids did a really nice job and took their time with them. I had one student who thought it would be a good idea to blow on all the tiny pieces and after being told not to mess up his desk, took the tissue paper in his hands and threw it up in the air. Not to smart! Can you believe that this student has trouble following directions? After the baskets were pretty much done, I put some candy in their baskets, as did one of my teacher's aides, and explained their Spring Break homework. YES, I gave them homework, but not much and it's pretty easy. These kids need all the practice they can get. I also threw in a little bribe to get more of them to actually do the work. When we return from Spring Break, I'm going to bring doughnuts and whoever does their homework gets one. I know it's not really healthy and I'll probably regret it after their sugar high, but if it's what works then I'm okay with it. I'm just afraid that a lot of the students will lose the homework with all of the millions of other papers they had to take home.
We did some Spring cleaning this morning. Their desks needed to be cleaned out and all old papers needed to get taken home. I'm trying to teach the kids to be more organized. Some are catching on quickly, while others are having a hard time with it. Guess that's the case with everyone. Some of us are neat-freaks and others are clutter bugs. :)
I'm looking forward to NINE days away from the kids. I think it will be good for all of us...

Day 13 - Let them fear my rath!

So, apparently the "Honeymoon" phase has gone away or the kids are just too anxious for Spring break. They are doing some weird things that I haven't seen before (i.e. getting up to get water without asking, getting out of their seats a lot more, and calling out without raising their hands). I decided after a really hard Tuesday, that I would have to be more stern with them. Spring break or not, I am the boss and I want them to know that.
Last Friday I got a present that so many first graders like to give - their germs. I had a sore throat on Wednesday and Thursday and by Friday it was a full-blown cold. I guess the stress of working 5 days a week, getting the classroom cleaned up, planning lessons, holding parent teacher conferences, and getting report cards got to me. It's not like I wasn't doing too much or anything. :)
So, I stayed in bed for most of the weekend and on Monday was still drained and not feeling well. I had hoped that the kids would be easy on me, but they weren't. After the hard day on Tuesday, I reflected on what I could do differently, what I liked about the class, and what I wanted to change. I didn't really come back refreshed on Wednesday because my cold still had the best of me. But I was stern and someone cut me a break - my most difficult student was absent. :) The day went more smoothly, but listening and following directions still seemed an impossible task for some.
My cold turned into a sinus infection, but with some medication, I started today with a fresh and almost clear head. My difficult student was back and was out of control from the moment the bell rang. I thought to myself that it was going to be one of those days. However, after a bout a half hour or hour of school, the student straightened herself up and was actually doing a pretty good job. I received a compliment from a school staff member that she was impressed with how quiet my class was and that they really seemed to be listening to me. That really felt good and reassuring.
The went okay, but I had to send another problem student to the office for throwing a pencil at another student's face. This isn't the first time that this student has gotten physical, he was in the office just last week for strangling a student. This student is such a disappointment to me. He's very bright, but completely unmotivated and puts his energy into bullying my students. This kid isn't even big, so I don't know who he thinks he is. He spent the better part of the day in the principal's office and the emotion in the room when he returned was priceless. Students made sounds of disappointment and weren't happy upon his return. I immediately told them that it wasn't very nice, but kids are very quick to see through the intentions of other kids and it seems that this student is not well-liked in the class (with the exception of his "girlfriend" who I caught drawing pictures of people kissing). Can I remind you all that these kids are 6!!!
Because it is almost Spring break and the kids really need to be introduced to art, I planned a crayon-resist art lesson. I already realized that I cut the eggs to big and it's taking them forever to finish drawing patterns inside the eggs, let alone coloring it, and then painting with watercolor. But they need the exposure and I need the experience. So, it's almost the end of the day, we've finished math, and the kids are antsy, even though they are supposed to be working on their eggs. I've had it, I've reached my limit, the student that had spent most of the day in the principal's office was up making trouble, I'm trying to correct math papers with other students, and so I look over him and scream at the top of my voice, "I TOLD YOU TO SIT AT YOUR DESK AND WORK ON YOUR EGG!!!" The class went completely silent and stayed that way for the next 20 minutes. My aide told me that she heard some students say that they had never seen me that mad. So, maybe some of them will think twice before crossing me next time. The student that I screamed at seemed stunned and embarrassed, as he should be. Kids like him just get on my nerves, with so much potential and using it in all the wrong ways. I'm sure his home life doesn't help, but he's just a thorn in my side and one that I'll have to deal with for the next 14 weeks.
Only 7 students got stickers at the end of the day for good behavior, where usually the whole class has straightened up their behavior and receives a sticker. I just hope that seeing me in a different light will help our classroom. I'm working the kids really hard and some are responding so well to it. Tomorrow is the last day before Spring break and I've already decided that besides the two tests that the kids will be taking, it will be a pretty easy day. More art and more fun and hopefully less yelling.
To end on a positive note, one of my students who has been struggling, got 100% on his spelling test today. He kept spelling the words to me this morning and I hoped that all his hard work would pay off. He said that his dad would be so happy and I have to say that it has made me so happy and so proud of the progress that he's already made.

Day 8 - Parent Conferences

Well, I've been making a lot of progress in and with the classroom. It's not a junkyard anymore, just a few areas of clutter. I'm getting the kids used to my routines and they're responding very well. This Friday, report cards are due. Thank goodness I have prior experience with doing them because it's quite an ordeal. I have very little grades to go off of, a lot of the grades are coming from observations that I've made and a little bit of work that the kids have done with me. So, luckily, I created a spreadsheet to make grades easier last year, and I just pulled it up again and was able to have my grades done relatively quickly.
Parent-Teacher conferences started yesterday. I've been really happy and a bit surprised by the turn-out. The parents seem nice and genuinely seem to care. I have three students that I am recommending to repeat first grade. It's such a tough decision and one this is ultimately up to the parents, but these students aren't reading and 2nd grade would be so difficult for them. Better to have them repeat and build more confidence and hopefully have a more successful time in class. One conference was heart-breaking. The mother is doing the best she can, knows that her child is struggling, and has absolutely no support from her husband. I just can't imagine being in her position and my heart just goes out to her for trying to keep it together and do right by her children. Being a parent is definitely not easy, especially when your child is struggling or has special needs and if the parents are together, they should act as a team and support one another.
One of the joys of being back in the classroom is all the germs. Students cough in my face, don't cover their mouth when sneezing and don't do a good enough job of washing their hands. So, I'm coming down with a cold. My throat is killing me and my nose is a little runny. Of course, I can't take a day off, so I'm so thankful that tomorrow is Friday.

Day 4

Well, I made it through the week with my new class. The first day went really well and so did the second. On the third day, they began to test me. Of course I won, but that's always the case when it's kids against adults. I know that they will continue to test me for at least the next week or two and some might test me for longer. They want to know how far they can push me, they want to see what they can get away with. Yes, I am a nice teacher, but only when I am being respected and as they learned on Thursday, I decide when we crack down and get to business and when we have fun. I usually read a story after lunch to help the kids calm down and cool off, but on Thursday, almost half the class was in trouble during lunch recess, so we came into the classroom and I let them have it. "We are a team" is how I treat every classroom. There will always be students who listen and respect me no matter what and there will be kids that won't listen to or respect me, but my point is that we have to work together. When we do a good job, we get rewarded and when a few of us get off track, we all work harder to do a good job and to teach the others how to behave and respect each other.
On Friday, I came in a little more strict than usual. I figure that it's just like the beginning of school and I have to show them that I mean business. Once we smooth out our schedule and more students follow directions, I can loosen up a bit. Of course, that will probably be during the last week of school! Ha ha ha. I've got sixteen weeks to get these kids in shape and some I'm not worried about and others it's a real challenge.
What I learned this week is that I am so happy to be in this classroom and at this school. I have never felt more welcome or appreciated. The classroom has gone from a junk yard, to almost ideal. It's a large classroom and it seems to be getting larger as the clutter is moved out.
I received a letter from a student on Thursday and I just have to share it because it just warms my heart:
Dear Ms. Cowan,
Ms. Cowan I LOVE you because you gave us some stickers and some candies and we love you because you are nice and so skinny and I like you because we all like to play stop sign game and when all the chidrens are talking I can't hear you because everyone are loud and some of the boy's was screaming at mea and I want B to be CHAMPS, but not just B I want everyone to be CHAMPS too and you let us read a book and you gave us just one homework and it's math and I love math and it's so so easy to do it beacause I know plus, minus, and ex and I will rited on the bottom.

She went on to write about 20 addition, subtraction and a few multiplication problems. I just love it! I hear I Love You at least once a day and as I said to one of the aids, "Who needs a boyfriend, when I hear I love you every day?"

I'm excited for the next week to begin and I'm hoping to do so many great things with this class. I meet their parents next week, which will be great. Although, some parents will have to hear that their child is not cutting it and might have to do first grade again.

I have to add, that with all this excitement, I have also realized that our public school systems in California are failing us and the communities that have no other schools to go to. More to come next time...

Day 1

Today was my first day back in the classroom, which I subbed in about two weeks ago. If you don't remember, I stepped in for a teacher who was severely depressed and unable to teach her class. I was there for two weeks and then she returned. I was not surprised to receive a phone call from the principal last Friday. I had a job for Friday and Monday, so today was my first day back. I have to admit that I wasn't sure what the room would look like. I had heard that the teacher wasn't happy with how we had arranged the room and that she had parents helping her throw things away, only to change her mind minutes later and ask them to put everything back.
So, I turned the key and...to my surprise...very little was changed. The kids still sat in the same seats, the writing assignment that I had them do was still on the closet doors, the jobs were still the same, and the classroom was still a mess! I can't tell you how welcome I feel at this school. The other first grade teachers are offering their help, the principal gave me the run-down of everything when I first came in, and my teacher's aide is wonderful.
When the bell had rung and the kids were lined up, I walked outside to be greeted with "hurray" and "she's back." It just sent chills through my body. I was happy to be back with this class and they seemed so excited to see me. It's such a shame that they couldn't feel that way about their own teacher. Of course, they asked me throughout the day how long I would be there, even though I told them first thing this morning that I would be their new teacher for the rest of the year. I guess that first-graders aren't really sure what that means.
I immediately put them right to work and we had a pretty smooth day. I think in a week or two, they'll definitely be where I want them as far as behavior. Academically, it will take some of them a lot longer. My goal, which I expressed to them, is that by the end of the year, every one of them will read better. I've got about 16 weeks to make that happen!
Tuesdays are a short day, banked time for teachers for professional development or grade-level articulation. Luckily, today was a grade-level meeting and all the other 1st grade teachers offered to help me clean the room. What an amazing group of people. We got so much done in about 45 minutes. I stayed another 45 just to get a few more things in order. The room still isn't where I'd like it, but two bulletin boards can be seen and an entire table was cleared off. Teachers are natural pack-rats, but some are just out of control!
I'm so glad to be back with this class, it's almost as if I have a class of my own again!

Holy Hormones!!!!

Who knew that a fifth grade classroom would be filled with such raging hormones. Kids are starting EVERYTHING so much earlier than they did when I was a kid. The passing notes is nothing new and teasing each other about someone liking someone else isn't new. I've seen some of that in second and third and fourth grade, but other conversations just go beyond what I'm prepared for. They're talking about going on dates and people who they know that have had kids already....some at 12 and 13! I just couldn't believe my ears.
Luckily, the rest of the day was less shocking. I was back in a class that I'd been to before and the kids genuinely seemed happy to see me. I am the "nice" substitute, but honestly because I want to be and only if the class treats me with respect. I think that many classes would be shocked to see me get really angry. Luckily, that doesn't happen very often and I'd rather stay calm and collected throughout the day anyways. The nice thing is that I say what I have to say about not talking when I'm talking and that I'll stay "nice" as long as the class is nice to me and then as the day progresses and the same few people talk, the students in the class do the yelling for me.
The class that I was in today is a great class and relatively small for a fifth grade class (25 students). It's very refreshing and slightly easier to teach in. I was getting frustrated by the same five students and realized after lunch that I would threaten them with detention. It's a valid threat because I would be willing to keep them in at recess even if it means not having a break, myself. Luckily, they brought better behavior in with them after lunchtime. And the kids aren't bad, they just talk and talk and talk and at times when it's just not necessary.
One of the things that really brightened my day was right after lunch. No matter what grade level I am in, I really like to read to the class after lunch. It gives them time to settle down and relax and it honestly keeps them quiet for 10-15 minutes. I found a book in this class when I was there last week and it's got me hooked as much as the kids. They loved hearing the story and didn't want me to stop reading it to them. It warms my heart that these kids like the story. I keep telling kids of all ages that reading is fun, as long as you find a book that you like. So, the kids like the book so much that we quickly got their homework together and I read to them for the last 7 minutes of the day. After school, two girls came up to me and asked where I bought the book. I just love it! I can't wait to read more to them tomorrow!