Update in bullet points...

•Met with a student's mom this week. How amazing is it that her son can write from 1-24 and knows most of his letters...yet she cannot read or write. I hate that. I hate that when her son starts to read and starts to write stories and essays he will have to read them to her. SHE is the reason he tries hard and works hard, and unfortunately she won't be able to read his work, but you know what? She will be unbelievably proud of him.

•Talked with a friend who is doing TFA in a different district in the Bay. She teaches 7th grade, and oh are our challenges different. She has 29 students, 10 of whom have IEPs (individualized education plans), 5 are emotionally disturbed, and 3 cut themselves...in the back of the room...as she teaches. I'm so proud of her for teaching there and hoping that I can do something to help her make it through the next two years. Cause she has a real TFA experience vs. my TFA-lite.

•"I just FELT your sneeze on my leg. You need to cover your mouth when you sneeze, because that is how people get sick." I stopped class and cleaned off my leg. No wonder I'm sick.


•Played freeze dance with my kids on Friday. Sometimes things that have no curricular relevance can be the best part of the day.


•Also had a girl kick and scream for 25 minutes, throwing a full-fledged temper tantrum in class. I've never seen a child over the age of 3 do that until I met her. My response when she calmed down: "I'm not your babysitter, and I'm not your mom; I'm your teacher. I am here to teach you to learn, and if you are screaming, you are not ready to learn. You have a workbook page to do, so get going." Harsh? Maybe a little. Necessary? Yes. Still to come? Meeting with parents.


•Anyone have suggestions for teaching rhyming? I spent 25 minutes on it Friday...with no luck. Blank stares, far too often. I'm thinking Monday we may have to dance and sing some rhymes.

•Went to a training session today. It's always great when it ends with: "Oh, everyone, we have one more announcement before you go. Today, four cars were broken into in the parking lot. Now we've been monitoring the lot since, but please check your car before leaving to make sure everything is there." Thank goodness my car was in a different lot.

•Getting my haircut tomorrow. About time.

•Ate way too many pumpkin cookies courtesy of my brother. Thanks Chris.


Will post photos of my classroom soon.