Saw This and Had to Share

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TEACHER? by Jeff Foxworty
#1 You get a secret thrill out of laminating things.
#2 You walk into a store and hear the words, “It’s Ms./Mr. ____________ and know you have been spotted.
#3 You have 25 people who accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.
#4 You can eat a multi-course meal in under 25 minutes.
... ... #5 You’ve trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day, lunch and planning period.
#6 You start saving other people’s trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.
#7 You want to slap the next person who says, “Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off”.
#8 You believe chocolate is a food group.
#9 You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.
#10 You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
#11 You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.
#12 You ask your husband or friends to use their words and explain if the left hand turn he made was a “good choice” or “bad choice.”
#13 You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.
#14 You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer.
#15 You understand, instantaneously, why a child behaves in a certain way after meeting his/her parents.
(Amazing how true this is!)

I stole this from another persons status, but I had to repost :)


Some of these are SOOOO true. I laughed when I read them because it's funny how dorky we teachers can be at times... like the thing about the pencils. I love sharpened pencils. lol

Veteran's Day

Today we celebrated Veteran's Day. It was a day early, but the meaning was still there. The kids had a great time. We invited veterans to come and speak to them about their experiences and talk to them about the importance of the military and Veteran's Day. The man in my classroom did an awesome job. He talked to the kids about how the military ensures that they have certain freedoms and about how the people in the military made a choice to put others' happiness before their own. I think it really hit home for some of them. He talked to them about cool things he had seen while in the Air Force and the neat places he had been able to see while in the military. Mostly, he talked to them about the importance of understanding and appreciating the military and the awesomeness of living in the United States. I was so impressed and really appreciated him giving up his time to talk to my kids.

Happy Veteran's Day!

And a million heart-felt thanks to those who have served or currently are serving our country.

I Knew But Maybe Not

I knew that I loved my new school. I knew that from the moment I interviewed that I would love it there and I do! I knew that. But, I did not know how much. I have such an awesome group of people to work with. It really hit home this week when I started a research project with my students. I wanted them to research Explorers and learn about them, but mostly my goal is for them to gain research skills so that we will be able to do even more research projects as the year progresses. I spoke to the Media Specialist and the TIS at my school. I told them what I wanted to do and they both jumped on board to help me. I am just so excited (and forever grateful for their help) about this collaboration. I took the kids to the Learning Commons (what we now call the library/media center) a few times this week. The first time the Media Specialist took them through a pre-assessment to see how much they know about research. Then she discussed the results with them and explained the correct answers. (I was excited to see that they remembered a lot about what we learned earlier this year about non-fiction text features.) The second time she worked with them to review how to use non-fiction reference books. The third time she and the TIS helped them to use the laptops to research. We will continue our research next week and I am so excited! I just cannot express how grateful I am to these two AWESOME ladies for all of their help!!

Precious Pumpkin

One of my sweetie pie girls brought in this precious pumpkin for me. she painted it herself. I was so impressed! What a sweet thought!

Impossible

While learning about probability, we discussed things that were IMPOSSIBLE. They wrote their ideas on dry erase boards.

"Miss Hall will be ugly."

Apparently this is what I would look like to be ugly. Very creative! :)

"Dino licking man"

Team Work

Most teachers work on a "team" with other teachers in their grade level, department, etc. I do. I work with 5 other awesome third grade teachers. They rock! We work hard very day to make sure our students receive exactly what they need to be successful. Here are the awesome ladies I work with:

(I am the first on the left.)

Lots Going On

Time for a little update.
First of all, I cannot say it enough that I am so impressed with my class. They are a great group of kids. I can really say that I can go and be excited to be there with them every day. They're awesome!
I have this one kid that has really impressed me with her writing. She is doing such an awesome job and is really getting in to it. I can't wait to see her finished product!
I also have some really funny kids. They keep me laughing and on my toes. I love that they joke with me, but also understand when it's time to get serious and get to work.
Friday was an awesome day. We got tons accomplished and they worked their little hearts out... but no one complained. They were excited and (I think) a little proud of themselves. It was a great day.
At the end of the day I stood at the door and spoke to each child on their way out. I told the ones with soccer games this weekend "good luck" and spoke to some about things they are involved it, worried about, etc. I told them all to have a great weekend and sent them on their way.
I'm pretty excited about Monday!

Second, this year is my evaluation year. I am excited and nervous. I started writing my long range plans today. It wasn't too bad. Another teacher on my grade level team is also going through evaluations and we are working together to collaborate and get the stuff done... and done right. I am so glad to have her to bounce ideas off of, etc.

Third, I am starting to find my "place" at school. This year started off a little rough, but I am finding friends and finding my way. It's starting to feel more like home and that makes me happy. I still miss my old kids and old teacher friends at my old school, but I am no longer feeling out of place at my new school.

Fourth, I think I am on the good side of my custodian! Yay! :) I have been working on this and I think I might have made it. We shall see. She is so nice! I am a bit messy and I think she is learning to accept that about me as I am trying hard to clean up and stay organized for her.

This year is off o a great start. Hopefully it stays great!!

Saw This Quote

"You know my name. Not my story."

I saw that quote today, and though it touched me because of things going on in my personal life, it also made me think about my "kids". That's just it. I know their names. I know first and last (and middle if I look it up) but that's it. I don't know their stories. I don't know where they're coming from. I don't know their dreams, fears, goals... what they're excited about, what they're scared of. Wouldn't you like it if everyone said, "hey, I know your name, but I don't know your story. What's your story?" How refreshing! Love it! I think that's the approach I'll take starting tomorrow morning. I want to learn their stories.

Ocoee Middle School - Gotta Keep Readin' (Parody Of I Gotta Feeling)

My kids LOVE this! I showed the video last week and they are begging to see it again!

What Is History?

What Is History?

So, we started out unit in Social Studies today. In SC in 3rd grade, we learn South Carolina History. I start with a question: "What is history?"
Cute little boy in the back of the room raises his hand and politely says, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."

Be still my heart, how I do love children who can "quote" quotes. :)

It's Been a Whole Week!

It's been a whole week and I am excited to say that it has been a good week. We have worked hard. We have our routines down (for the most part) and are working hard to be people we can be proud to be.
We worked on a chart of ideas for writing in case they get "stuck" and can't think of any ideas... I was SO impressed! I just kept saying, "great idea! Awesome! Wow!" And, I truly meant it. I am so excited to work with the group of kids I have this year that I can hardly contain my excitement!

A Few Things...

First of all, in a moment of BRILLIANCE (if I do say so myself, and I DO) I finally figured out what we will be this year. We will be "Mrs. H______'s Hurricanes" and then our little slogan of sorts can be "taking third grade by storm". I am so excited. lol Lame. I know. But, whatever. I started my hallway display Friday and will finish it Monday and post pics of it for you. I made a palm tree bending in the wind and all the leaves flying off. Then, I made big waves in the water. I'm planning to put a hurricane and then have my laminated sheets of construction paper to hang the kids work on. Should be interesting.

I'm also pretty much done with the room. Here are a few things I added:

This is the classroom library. (Sorry it's a little blurry.)

This is where they will store readers notebooks, writers notebooks, and sign up for conferences with me.

This is where they will sign up for conferences with me or let me know what they're doing.

Here is the word wall.

This is where they will sign up for reading conferences, or reading groups, or partnerships.

This is where we will post our standards, focus, etc.

This is where we will meet in small groups.

This is where they can use computers or the listening center.

First Day Back

Today was our first day back and, what can I say, I'm PUMPED for this school year! I cannot wait until next Wednesday when the kids come back!!!!

We went over data and I got my class roll. I have 10 boys and 10 girls. I cannot wait to meet each and every one of them!

I can see that this year is going to be challenging and require a great deal of work for me, but I am READY!

ps- You know you're nuts when you smile while going over testing data for the kids you're getting this year. lol I'm crazy, but I am SO excited!!

Classroom Pics

Before. Blank.

After.

After.

After. 

6+1 Traits of Writing

This week I have been taking a class about integrating reading and writing instruction using the 6+1 Traits of Writing . It has been an awesome class so far and I have really learned a lot. I'm not sure if other people have taken as much from it as I have because I am still very new at teaching, but I have gotten so many great ideas and cannot wait to try them out!

A few things I have learned (and may very well try to do):
1. Do not question your kids about what they read. Well, do, but not like this: "What happened first? Then what? Then what? Who did this? Who did that?" Blah, blah, blah. All that shows you is that they read the same durn book you did or that they can listen well.
Instead, ask questions like, "What can you infer from reading this? Why do you think that? What strategy did you use? How did that help you to make meaning?" Etc, etc, etc. Isn't that fabulous? You know what else is great about it? There's really no "right or wrong" answer per say. There's just what ya think and why ya think it. LOVE it!
2. Teach kids (and how sad is it that we have to do this, but teach them) that they can just write. Not write a certain amount of sentences. Not write to fulfill a prompt. Not "is this right or wrong?" There's no "am I doing this right?" There's just "write! Write to your heart's content!" Oh. I LOVE it!! I cannot wait.
And, what about those reluctant writers, you ask? Well, I say, tell them to write whatever pops into their heads. You hear a noise in the hall? Ok. Write that. You hate writing and you think it's dumb? Ok. (sad face) Write that. You wish all the pencils in the world would run out of lead so you wouldn't have to write again? Ok. Great! Write that!! Now we're getting somewhere. Gah! I cannot wait!!
3. Guided reading- something I have always dreaded... why? Because. It is BORING! lol Boring to teach, boring for the kids, boring. But, I am PUMPED to do this guided reading. I can take about 10 to 15 minutes and a few kids, have them read silently, have some "whisper read" to me, take a few notes here and there, ask a few questions, and move on. I know what I need to work on, they got to read a cool story, and all is well with the world.
4. I don't have to do guided reading every day. Fabulous? I think so! I can switch between guided reading, reading conferences, and strategy groups. Oh!!! I am soooo exictied!!
5. I learned that I don't HAVE to finish a book. Isn't that great? Now, I know it sounds like some sort of sin. Not finish a book? WhAt?! Um, yeah ladies and gentlemen. You do not have to finish it. I mean, we've all been there: kids are looking at you with glazed expressions, you're realizing there are still 8 more LONG and wordy pages. they get the point you're teaching. You've made connections, inferences, whatever it is you're teaching until you're blue in the face... so PUT THE BOOK DOWN! Yes!! Put it down! and then say, "this book is called blah blah blah and it will be in the classroom library for anyone who wants to finish it during independent reading." Yahoo!!!!!

So, I'm learning alot. I'm happy with it. I'm thrilled with my new job. I can't wait to start! Hallelujah! Life is GOOD!

I've Decided to be a Bucket Filler

I've been doing some research and I really like the "bucket filler" idea. However, the idea of keeping up with a bucket for each child is a bit overwhelming for me... so, I saw somewhere that a teacher had one for her class and I LOVED that idea. So, I stole it. If I could remember where I saw the idea of the class bucket I would gladly give credit where it is due. But, I don't remember. 

Anyhow, the bucket says, "When the time comes that we can fit no more, a tasty treat we'll have in store."

I am super excited!!

Things for the NEW Classroom

I made this last night. I am so excited! 

This will go above our agenda (which I plan to put 

in a pocket chart). It goes along with one of the 

7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Professional Development

I went to a professional development training on Thursday and will also attend one on Monday (tomorrow) and one on Tuesday. To say that I felt completely at home would be an understatement. I was welcomed and literally laughing about 5 seconds after arriving. I am so excited for what this year brings!

I met four of my five teammates on Thursday. They are AWESOME! I had actually already met one (the team leader) at the interview and had emailed/spoken to on the phone another teammate. They are all so nice and funny and seem to truly love their jobs. I am so excited!

I realize that this job is different than the one I just left and has many different requirements. There are many challenges before me, but I am excited for the challenges! I say, "bring 'em on!" I can do this. I am ready and willing and excited to do this!

Third grade will be different, but I will be teaching workshop style (which I LOVE) and am already getting things organized and ideas flowing for next year. I will have a little more freedom about how I want to teach things and will be able to write my own lesson plans. I am a little nervous about writing my own plans, but am also excited about getting to plan everything on my own. I also know that these great ladies will be happy to help me and I know I will get through it.

All that being said, I know I am going to really miss my team last year. I will miss my kids from last year. I hate that I will not get to see them grow and change. I hope that next year I will be able to have that experience with the kids I have this year. We shall see.

The Thing about a Job Is...

The thing about a job is that jobs come and go.

I was let go from my school this year due to budget cuts. However it all worked out because I now have a new job teaching at a school closer to my house.

Last year I taught second grade and this year I will be teaching third grade. I am excited and nervous and have tons to do to prepare for this coming school year!

Wow!

I had nothing to really write about planned for this summer, but have now been inspired by other teacher blogs while reading the summer lists at Littlest Learners. What an awesome group of ambitious teachers! So, I decided to change my mind (hey, a girl can always change her mind) and make my own list to share.
Personal Plans:
1. Get my house organized.
2. Meet my newest nephew.
3. Plant some flowers in my yard, dig up old ugly bushes and put in new ones (or watch my husband dig them up and then I'll put in new ones. lol), and remember to WATER the things.
4. Paint my china cabinet. I cannot wait to give that thing a new lease on life!
5. Buy and install a doggy door on my screened-in porch.
6. Work at my summer job and enjoy it.
Teacher Plans:
1. Make more file folder games.
2. Plan for reader and writer workshops. (And read up on the best ways to do that.)
3. Look for and carry out good ways to organize my classroom library.
4. Make these awesome reader's response cards I saw on someone's blog (and I am so sorry I do not remember who right now).
5. Pre-make displays for bulletin boards, etc.
6. Find a system to better organize student work (I am so horrible at that).

Seems like plenty for now...

Thought This was Funny

Friday we were working on end of the year scrapbooks... the kids were kind of hanging out and talking and cutting and gluing... you know, scrapbook stuff. Anyhow, I was sitting next to one child who was working on her book. Another girl then came nad leaned over the first child. The first child said, "Who this?" (pronounced "who dis"?). A little girl sitting next to her said, "I know a word that rhymes with "dis". The first girl says, "yeah. It starts with a p." (I am holding back laughter and saying, "Oh, let's not use that word.") At the same time the little girl says, "No. I wasn't talking about that word. My rhyming word starts with a k." (I'm thinking, "Thank God.") I say, "Oh! Well then," and make a fishy-kissy face at her. She then squeals and goes back to her work. lol! LOVE these kids!!

People Always Ask

People always ask me about my kids.
(Funny how I call them my kids. Never thought I'd be "that teacher".)

My kids are funny. They have grown so much this year and their personalities have become more and more apparent as time has gone by. They say silly things and crack me up. Sometimes I have to turn my head so they can't see the smile I'm trying to hide because I really shouldn't crack a smile at what they've just said.

My kids are messy. They leave messes where ever they go. Their desks have papers all over them and under them. They have pencil sharpening shavings all over the floor. (Our custodian- that poor man- I'm positive he hates to clean our room.)

My kids clean up FAST. They know how to clean and when told to do so, man can they really get the job done.

My kids work HARD. They know how to work. They know what I expect. They don't always give 100% all the time... and they know that I am really not happy with them when they don't give me their all.

My kids love me. Really, they do. They hug me and tell me they love me. They tell me they missed me. Some of my kids even run to me on Monday mornings and give me big hugs and say, "I love you and I missed you so much!" I always reply, "I love you too and I am so glad you are here today!"

My kids accept me. They know I can be a little air-heady and I lose my scissors ALL the time. They know when they see me standing in the middle of the room looking around that I have put something down and have no clue where it is. They just smile and ask what I lost this time. They know that most mornings I am happy and glad to be there. They know not to test me when it comes to talking during tests. They know my expectations... and I honestly believe they appreciate that they are set high.

My kids know they come first. They know that I will stand up for them. They know that I do all that I can to help them out. They know they can come to me with problems and even if I don't have a solution I am always happy to just listen.

My kids are smart. They know things I never knew until now. They have real-life street smarts... and I greatly lack that.

My kids teach me something new every day. It's really too bad I haven't written down my lessons in a journal to share on here. They say things and do things I never would have thought to do or say. They are awesome. They have opened my eyes and changed my heart.

My kids have taught me a very valuable lesson. They have taught me that all anyone needs is someone to believe in them. I believe in all of my kids. And, you know what? They believe in ME.

I Could Not Have Said It Better Myself

April Hays

Anderson 5

Common Sense Is No Longer Common

I have just taught all day long in a third grade classroom. The kids were fine. The day went smooth. But I have come to two conclusions. I either:

        a. Have a brilliantly blessed cranium, or

        b. Am missing a few vital neuron connections in that cranium.

Now assuming I have been brilliantly blessed, I’d like to propose legislation that would dramatically change life for the better here in SC. Read on.

1. I would like to see all branches of law enforcement held accountable for the crime on our streets. If there is crime, surely that means they aren’t doing their jobs. We, as tax payers, deserve to live in safe neighborhoods. Regardless of whether the police serve retirement villages or drug infested prostitute hang outs, they will all be held accountable. If a policeman patrols a community with no crime, he will be paid. If a policeman has a community with crime, he will not be paid. Additionally, police may only use positive measures to enforce the law. They may no longer use any type of weapon or rude words. This may scar the self esteem of us citizens. We would then need counseling services, and the police would be responsible if one of us snaps and blows up a public establishment. If we are following the law, they must pull us over and tell us “Good Job” and perhaps give us a piece of candy. Note: personally I wouldn’t care if they congratulated me or not. If I knew I wasn’t going to get a ticket and my insurance go sky high, I’d drive at least 70 on my way home from school every single day.

2. I would like to see accountability on all dentists. If there are cavities in our mouths, obviously the dentists aren’t doing their jobs. We go to the dentist for a reason – to prevent our pearly whites from rotting out. Why can’t these highly paid professionals do their job? There should not be a cavity in any mouth in all of SC. If there are, then the dentists are falling short, and they should have their licenses revoked. They should not be allowed to practice dentistry in our state.

3. Doctors, also, should be held accountable on the job. If a doctor has a patient that has cancer, that doctor is not doing their job. Why do doctors become doctors? To heal people. Thus, if they aren’t healing people, they aren’t doing their job and should not be paid. Doctors are highly paid individuals, and we citizens deserve to be healthy. If we get these incompetent doctors out of practice, that would reduce our medical costs. Then this hoopla over health insurance would no longer be an issue (told you I had a blessed cranium).

4. Owners of gyms, health clubs, and all registered dieticians should be held accountable on their jobs. If there is obesity in their cities, obviously they aren’t doing their jobs. If health clubs and gyms have any member that weighs over 130 pounds, their establishments should be shut down. Obviously they are incompetent, and thus, should not be allowed to perform these services to the people of our state. If these individuals were held accountable on their jobs, we’d all be thin. There would be no diabetes or heart disease.

Sound ridiculous? We teachers think so, too. Yet, there are legislators, the Superintendent of Education, and our newly elected governor that want these mandates placed on teachers. They have this mentality that if a teacher performs the right combination, the human mind will click into place and our entire population will be educated. Thus, underperforming teachers will not be paid. One of these so called professionals said on tv the other night, “if our show ratings went down, we wouldn’t get paid either”. Ding, ding, ding – they choose their cast. We teachers and doctors and dentists deal with anyone that walks into our places of employment. We can not pick and choose the “best”.

Classrooms are microcosms of society. Each year, I have kids with privileged backgrounds and kids with adverse living conditions. I have kids that live on the lake, and I have had kids that live in their car. I have kids that have loving, supportive parents, and I have kids with parents that simply should not be parents. I have kids that were born with high IQ’s (this is why they are labeled as GIFTED), and I have children that are like the rest of us – normal. I have children that have been through tragedies – deaths of parents, a handicapped sibling, a terminally ill loved one, and living arrangements that make me shudder. I have children that have been taken into custody of the department of social services, and I’ve had children that have never traveled out of Anderson County. I have had children born to mothers on drugs, and I have students with no mother at all. Yet, all of these kids are expected to perform proficiently, without exception. Something is clearly not right with this picture. These students with challenges, with hardships, and who were not born “gifted” deserve an education, too. They are the reason I went to college to become a teacher – to touch lives. When this passion is being trampled on by ignorant individuals, I take that as a personal offense. SC school children deserve teachers that love them for who they are, not for the scores they achieve.

Not only is this just outright ridiculous, it is also discriminatory. Many, many people are born with handicaps. These are documented, medical conditions. They are clearly outlined. These individuals have IEPs for a reason – they have challenges. These legislators do not have the qualifications, nor do they have the authority, to lay expectations on these students. IEP’s are legally binding documents that are taken seriously.

Furthermore, teachers do not decide the content of what they teach, how they teach it, or how it is assessed. When students take the PASS test in the spring, it is illegal for us to discuss it in anyway. We are not allowed to discuss ways we can make it better, how we can improve, or how we could be better able to meet it’s demands. We are silenced. Yet, we are held accountable for the results. Always.

Anyone, regardless of position, who can not see why paying teachers based on student performance would not work, clearly has mental challenges themselves, and an obvious inability to think above a third grade level. I challenge them to take the third grade PASS test to prove my point.

As I stated earlier, I am either brilliantly blessed or missing a few screws. This seems like a total no brainer to me. I have no idea what could possibly be going through the minds of the people out there that think teachers should be held to those ridiculous expectations that no other occupations have to answer for.

Teachers/Educators/Administrators – we’ve got to stand up for our rights and demand integrity in the schools.

Parents – your child’s future is important. Take a stand. If your children have developmental delays/learning disabilities, these new mandates are discriminatory. Make your voices heard.

As for me, I’m instilling in my students self worth. They are important. They are special to me, and I believe in each one of them. They will make their marks on this world. I guarantee. And if my salary is docked because one of my students has a bad day and doesn’t do his absolute best on the PASS test, I’m going to be floating on a yacht in the Caribbean.

Ignorance is, indeed, total bliss.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

I will be at the rally on Saturday, March 12th. I will be standing up for my rights as a teacher as well as what I believe is best for my kids. As she said, my students deserve teachers who love them for who they are and not based on their test scores. My babies will be moving on to another grade soon, and I want that teacher to love each and every one of them as I do. Love their smiling faces; love their sweet hugs; love their innocent little laughs and sly little grins. Love them whether they have two loving parents or live with grandma because Mom ran away. Love them because they try their best and give me their all every single day because they know I will NOT accept less than their best. Love them because if you do, they will give you their best, too. Love them enough to teach them tirelessly... to plan and provide and mentor... and hug and build-up. Love them enough to do the right thing for THEM. Frankly, the pay doesn't matter. Anyone who is in education right now surely did not go into it for the pay. Who would? lol They went into it because they love kids and they want them to succeed. It will not stay that way if this is passed. As she stated, teachers will love kids for their test scores... or worse... hate them for their test scores. How awful would that be??

B is for Books

You need LOTS and LOTS of books in your classroom. Books are awesome. They provide information, increase fluency, and are just plain FUN to have on hand!

I'm Starting Something New...

And it's called the ABCs of teaching. (Let's not pretend I'll post on this every day, because based on my previous track record, we'd all know that's a lie.)

So, for today... the letter A

A is for Applying Knowledge.

(Excuse the edits, but I cannot reveal anything about their sweet little identities. :))

In this photo, the kids are using what they know about solids, liquids, and gases to complete an experiment. They are applying their knowledge... and having fun doing it! 

At Least Someone Notices...

"I just want to say thank you to public schoolteachers. You don't get paid like it, but you're doing the most important work in America." — "Glee" co-creator Ian Brennan after winning the award for best TV comedy

I Found a New Donation Site

Of course, I had to create and account and make a wish list. The link below goes to my new wish list. Please spread the word for this site. The more people know about sites like this, the more there will be people who donate to these sites.

Take a look at my wish list and please spread the word!

WishList - Leap Into Learning- Leap Frog Books and Games Needed | iLoveSchools

Just Call Me...

The Queen of Displays. lol

Myself and the teacher next door to me have been working very hard this year to make creative displays in our classrooms and in the hallways. These are a few of our displays.