I feel tempted to sneeze purposefully on a couple children in my class and follow the uncovered sneeze with: "How do you like it when I sneeze on you? Feels gross and icky hey?"
There are some times when I can use that methodology with students--"How would you feel if someone laughed at you?" ...and while I may not sneeze on anyone tomorrow, I may ask: "How would you feel if I sneezed all over you?" because there are WAY too many germs flying around my classroom...and as my management improves and their eyes and bodies are all turned towards me, it means those germs are headed straight towards me too...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
1. Went to Palo Alto today for dinner. Wow. It was like being at home...downtown Evanston/Lake Forest-ish. Didn't realize how much I missed that...
2. ...Or how much I missed my friends. I'm being a baby about this, but I don't want to make new friends, because A. I already have good friends, and B. The only people I see are other TFA people, and well that's more likely than not a friendship of convenience.
3. Had such a wonderful dinner today--two hours of genuine happiness. That needs to happen more often...real happiness... :)
2. ...Or how much I missed my friends. I'm being a baby about this, but I don't want to make new friends, because A. I already have good friends, and B. The only people I see are other TFA people, and well that's more likely than not a friendship of convenience.
3. Had such a wonderful dinner today--two hours of genuine happiness. That needs to happen more often...real happiness... :)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Grad school...
Got my first assignment back today.
As we were about to leave, our professors told us that they tried to comment a lot throughout our assignments, and I saw people reading post-its placed throughout their papers.
One of my professor hands me my assignment.
No post-its.
This was all it said under comments:
Alex, this journal is filled with reflection. You have made many strides in building rapport with your students and their families. I hope this process continues to be a positive one for you. I can tell that you have made every effort to understand the research involved and to apply it to your classroom. Best of luck!
...and I have no idea which professor wrote it.
Fun story from this morning:
student: "Ms. Magiera! I couldn't bring my new folder back today."
me: "Why not? I gave you a new one yesterday, and you were so excited. Remember if you bring it back everyday you can keep it!"
student: "My grandma threw it in the garbage, and then there was stuff all over it."
...So I'm guessing her parent didn't see my note asking when a good time to call home is...and I will instead be calling unannounced tomorrow...since this student has to stay in for the first five minutes of recess everyday to do her homework from the previous day.
P.S. Just had to open a diet coke at 9:30 P.M. Stupid migraine. Here's hoping I'm still asleep by 10. :)
As we were about to leave, our professors told us that they tried to comment a lot throughout our assignments, and I saw people reading post-its placed throughout their papers.
One of my professor hands me my assignment.
No post-its.
This was all it said under comments:
Alex, this journal is filled with reflection. You have made many strides in building rapport with your students and their families. I hope this process continues to be a positive one for you. I can tell that you have made every effort to understand the research involved and to apply it to your classroom. Best of luck!
...and I have no idea which professor wrote it.
Fun story from this morning:
student: "Ms. Magiera! I couldn't bring my new folder back today."
me: "Why not? I gave you a new one yesterday, and you were so excited. Remember if you bring it back everyday you can keep it!"
student: "My grandma threw it in the garbage, and then there was stuff all over it."
...So I'm guessing her parent didn't see my note asking when a good time to call home is...and I will instead be calling unannounced tomorrow...since this student has to stay in for the first five minutes of recess everyday to do her homework from the previous day.
P.S. Just had to open a diet coke at 9:30 P.M. Stupid migraine. Here's hoping I'm still asleep by 10. :)
Monday, October 5, 2009
Realization of the day
Teaching is hard, but it's not the hardest part of Teach For America. If teaching were all I had to focus on, my life would be dandy, but the reality is there's SO much more to do than just teach.
There are all the phone calls home, completely re-doing and cleaning out a classroom someone has taught in for 5 years, being in grad school, talking with TONS of advisors, etc. etc.
I think I could and can be a really great teacher, but it stinks that right now my lesson plans are actually not the first thing on my to-do list since there are more important things like making sure my classroom is functional and clean and not ant-infested...and that sucks.
In other news, my kids walked in this morning to our class and said: "It's so pretty! I love our classroom!" Needless to say staying till 8:30 on Friday was well worth it.
There are all the phone calls home, completely re-doing and cleaning out a classroom someone has taught in for 5 years, being in grad school, talking with TONS of advisors, etc. etc.
I think I could and can be a really great teacher, but it stinks that right now my lesson plans are actually not the first thing on my to-do list since there are more important things like making sure my classroom is functional and clean and not ant-infested...and that sucks.
In other news, my kids walked in this morning to our class and said: "It's so pretty! I love our classroom!" Needless to say staying till 8:30 on Friday was well worth it.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Don't have an exciting or creative title today.
Well the week that had a rocky start ended well...although with exhaustion of course.
I won't elaborate on Tuesday as it was not fun and not worth re-telling. However, I will mention the good things that happened this week:
1. Curriculum consultant visited my classroom. Said she was amazed when she heard it's my first year. Me=a bundle of nerves about having this lady visit.
2. President of the school board visited my classroom. Seeing as he only visited my school for 3 hours, I was surprised to see he popped in my classroom. Also happy with what he saw.
3. Had a really good meeting with my principal too.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure WHY my principal sends these people to observe my way as I'm a first year teacher...especially since the other two A.M. kinder teachers are phenomenal (one is the lead kinder teacher). Our school is the biggest grade school in the district, with over 700 students and 30+ teachers K-5, so there are MANY rooms to visit.
Plus, I get SO nervous, but I guess I just have to get used to it. The good news is that my principal has always said really good things to me after these visits. That's not to say I'm an amazing teacher...I've had rough days...but she fortunately has only popped in on very good moments. For example, Friday, when the board president visited, my kids were working in 4 independent centers while my co-teacher and I gave the unit assessment. It's never bad for someone to see your class of 4 and 5 year olds working independently and quietly.
Now I just have to hope my kids' learning actually reflects the good things my principal sees.
4. Stayed at school yesterday until 8:30 P.M. cleaning and rearranging my room. Sure it was a Friday night, and it exhausted me to no end (I woke up at noon today, and I'm anticipating I'll fall asleep by 9 P.M....), but our classroom is actually starting to look like a real Kindergarten classroom instead of a messy portable. Our classroom needs to be a safe learning environment, a place where learning is encouraged not stifled, and I'm determined to get it there.
5. I'm going to get a good night's rest tonight! Woohoo!
6. Also, on an unrelated note, it's my uncle's birthday, and sadly Hoops and Yo-Yo cards are not loading on my computer...so one will be coming Unkie, but Chris and I say happy birthday! :)
I won't elaborate on Tuesday as it was not fun and not worth re-telling. However, I will mention the good things that happened this week:
1. Curriculum consultant visited my classroom. Said she was amazed when she heard it's my first year. Me=a bundle of nerves about having this lady visit.
2. President of the school board visited my classroom. Seeing as he only visited my school for 3 hours, I was surprised to see he popped in my classroom. Also happy with what he saw.
3. Had a really good meeting with my principal too.
I'll be honest, I'm not sure WHY my principal sends these people to observe my way as I'm a first year teacher...especially since the other two A.M. kinder teachers are phenomenal (one is the lead kinder teacher). Our school is the biggest grade school in the district, with over 700 students and 30+ teachers K-5, so there are MANY rooms to visit.
Plus, I get SO nervous, but I guess I just have to get used to it. The good news is that my principal has always said really good things to me after these visits. That's not to say I'm an amazing teacher...I've had rough days...but she fortunately has only popped in on very good moments. For example, Friday, when the board president visited, my kids were working in 4 independent centers while my co-teacher and I gave the unit assessment. It's never bad for someone to see your class of 4 and 5 year olds working independently and quietly.
Now I just have to hope my kids' learning actually reflects the good things my principal sees.
4. Stayed at school yesterday until 8:30 P.M. cleaning and rearranging my room. Sure it was a Friday night, and it exhausted me to no end (I woke up at noon today, and I'm anticipating I'll fall asleep by 9 P.M....), but our classroom is actually starting to look like a real Kindergarten classroom instead of a messy portable. Our classroom needs to be a safe learning environment, a place where learning is encouraged not stifled, and I'm determined to get it there.
5. I'm going to get a good night's rest tonight! Woohoo!
6. Also, on an unrelated note, it's my uncle's birthday, and sadly Hoops and Yo-Yo cards are not loading on my computer...so one will be coming Unkie, but Chris and I say happy birthday! :)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Even better day...
With the exception of not sleeping much, I had a much better day.
My student who was one of the ones who ran around the classroom, pushing and stomping his feet, has been doing AMAZING, and he even made me a bracelet today. Too cute.
In other news, how are my friends ALL over the world? Really.
Julie--South Korea
Brittany--Africa
Becca--Paris
Robin--London
What do you do when your current friends are beyond amazing...but a gazillion miles away? Skype??
Missing lots of people...and not just those out of the country...
My student who was one of the ones who ran around the classroom, pushing and stomping his feet, has been doing AMAZING, and he even made me a bracelet today. Too cute.
In other news, how are my friends ALL over the world? Really.
Julie--South Korea
Brittany--Africa
Becca--Paris
Robin--London
What do you do when your current friends are beyond amazing...but a gazillion miles away? Skype??
Missing lots of people...and not just those out of the country...
