Last Thursday I was nearing the end of the day (a GREAT day, I might add) and all of the sudden I feel something hit my leg. I look down and to my surprise I see an eraser from the end of a pencil. Shocked and confused I raised my eyes and with the meanest voice I had in me I said, "Freeze." The class stared in anticipation as I glared at each one of them. I asked to see who had a pencil and much to my dismay each pencil had an eraser on the end. I quickly asked who had thrown the eraser....no reply, just blank stares.
About this time my CT walked in and was curious as to why class was stopped. After explaining to her the situation she proceeded to explain that this is no way to treat any person in authority. Their punishment? Each student had to write me an apology letter. Thus the need for a blog. I must share excerpts from some of these letters with you simply because I could not keep myself from chuckling when reading them:
From Alexis:
"If I find out who it was I will tell even if it was my friend. I hope you don't punch everybody because we have some really good kid in this class. I love music and people who are in violen wouldn't do it. Maybe if you look at the video if you have them and look to see who it was. If you don't have any you shoule get some and put them in the music room where the kid would lest expect it."
From Eric:
"I'm glad you don't have to learn because it is stressful...I know your glad about is that it is about the end of the week and you get a time with 2 days off."
From Kam Ron:
"I understand if you want to go back home. Or just make us sit in the dark for 45 mins and do nothing."
From Randy:
"That person shouldn't have done that because now the class has to write that's dumb and that person who did it should of thought."
The person came forward at the end of the day and I got to experience my 1st parent/teacher conference!!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
An EPIC day.
Today was the day to top all days!
Here are a few highlights:
1) School Lunch.
The culprit: Miss Slates
The menu: chicken nuggets (or fish shapes....yes, shapes).
The choice: chicken
I forgot my lunch today and decided to purchase my first school lunch. I walk up to the lunch line with my $3.10 that had been scrounged up from various teachers and proudly request my chicken nuggets. Little did I know what I was in store for. Along with the chicken nuggets came a scoop of mashed potatoes (hold the gravy) and a slice of bread. Yes, 1 slice of bread. I head to the "salad bar" to pick up my dixie cup filled with lettuce leaves and get some ketchup for the nuggets. My last stop, the milk carton station. School lunch experience, check!
2) I have been waiting for this moment since I began student teaching August 19th. No I am not talking about a great review, or even the chance to teach "full time." I am talking about a nose-picking sighting....and today was my lucky day!! 5th grade was in the middle of their lesson and I scanned the rows as the students were echoing a rhythmic pattern. What do I see? A youngster digging away at her nostril!! Nose picking sighting, check!
3) As I was getting ready to leave school, my teacher walks out of her storage closet with a black case. She proceeds to ask me if I know what an autoharp is....OF COURSE!! And through a series of events I managed to walk out of the building with it. I have never been more excited about a musical instrument :-) Autoharp, check!
Here are a few highlights:
1) School Lunch.
The culprit: Miss Slates
The menu: chicken nuggets (or fish shapes....yes, shapes).
The choice: chicken
I forgot my lunch today and decided to purchase my first school lunch. I walk up to the lunch line with my $3.10 that had been scrounged up from various teachers and proudly request my chicken nuggets. Little did I know what I was in store for. Along with the chicken nuggets came a scoop of mashed potatoes (hold the gravy) and a slice of bread. Yes, 1 slice of bread. I head to the "salad bar" to pick up my dixie cup filled with lettuce leaves and get some ketchup for the nuggets. My last stop, the milk carton station. School lunch experience, check!
2) I have been waiting for this moment since I began student teaching August 19th. No I am not talking about a great review, or even the chance to teach "full time." I am talking about a nose-picking sighting....and today was my lucky day!! 5th grade was in the middle of their lesson and I scanned the rows as the students were echoing a rhythmic pattern. What do I see? A youngster digging away at her nostril!! Nose picking sighting, check!
3) As I was getting ready to leave school, my teacher walks out of her storage closet with a black case. She proceeds to ask me if I know what an autoharp is....OF COURSE!! And through a series of events I managed to walk out of the building with it. I have never been more excited about a musical instrument :-) Autoharp, check!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
If you fail, try, try, try again.
Lunch today was eaten in front of the school T.V. My CT turned on CNN and us teacher-bodies sat in silence glued to the words of President Obama. Though I did not agree with some of what he said, one of his first statements has not stopped replaying in my head:
There is NO excuse for not trying.
I could not agree more; there is no formal explanation for not making an attempt at something. No more is this try than in the classroom. I have seen it more and more in the past few weeks. Students will be asked a question and before a few seconds have passed they shrug their shoulders or say something such as "I dunno."
After prompting them and/or asking them what they think they at least try to give me an answer. Sometimes I feel like kids are afraid to even take a stab at a question for fear of being wrong (especially at an older age).
I hope I can provide a classroom environment that is a fearless, discussion based place that students feel they can at least try Though they may fail, they will have the tools to find the answers and one day be successful!
There is NO excuse for not trying.
I could not agree more; there is no formal explanation for not making an attempt at something. No more is this try than in the classroom. I have seen it more and more in the past few weeks. Students will be asked a question and before a few seconds have passed they shrug their shoulders or say something such as "I dunno."
After prompting them and/or asking them what they think they at least try to give me an answer. Sometimes I feel like kids are afraid to even take a stab at a question for fear of being wrong (especially at an older age).
I hope I can provide a classroom environment that is a fearless, discussion based place that students feel they can at least try Though they may fail, they will have the tools to find the answers and one day be successful!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Dollar Store Craft.
I saw this craft idea on a blog that I subscribe to appropriately title "Dollar Store Crafts."
I went to deals and purchased the necessary supplies:
1.) crayons
2.) picture frame
This is the final product :-)
My plan is to give it to my CT when I am finished student teaching!
I went to deals and purchased the necessary supplies:
1.) crayons
2.) picture frame
This is the final product :-)
My plan is to give it to my CT when I am finished student teaching!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Discipline.
I am not one to talk about, even participate in arguments. Usually I avoid them at all costs. I cannot stand confrontation and it often makes me very uncomfortable. However, being a teacher has forced me to "face my fear", so to speak. Working with younger students, especially Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade, has given me the opportunity to instill a sense of adulthood into their little brains. Expecting musicians posture, hand raising, as well as no talking when an adult is talking has been difficult but manageable. Though some classes are superb at exemplifying these actions, I still feel as though I redirect all the time. My trouble comes in when I have to get "mean" and sit someone in the watch-zone.
The watch-zone as my CT so loving calls it, is a place where students can sit and watch, not participate. At NAPA we are all about consequences, both positive and negative. No where is this more true than in the music room. If a student shows they are responsible, respectful, knowledgeable they should be rewarded. If a student shows they are irresponsible, disrespectful, or slacking they should be removed. In our case, they are removed from the fun, play-like activities such as playing instruments.
On Monday, I had a group of 4th graders who were doing a worksheet type activity to review. They were allowed to use the library wall in the back of the room as a reference. 2 students decided to use their writing utensils to play the orff instruments instead of working on their assigned task. After directing the class to not use the instruments or the walls as a writing surface I specifically gave them a 2nd warning. The 3rd time I decided it was not going to work and proceeded to take away their papers and sit them in the watch-zone. One of the students felt the need to back talk as well as tell me that he did not play the instrument and began to direct the blame toward various students. I proceeded to tell him that I saw his dis-respectful actions with my own eyes and that his privileges would be removed for the remainder of the class. I also told him that if he continued the next logical consequence would be phone call home.
Common sense would tell anyone that the students continued to protest. And that they did. My CT took over and I was left to return to the class. However, I found my mind stuck in the ruts of this discipline issue, even though it was being resolved. I have a hard enough time as it is moving on from disappointing situations, but when I am in the middle of the issue it seems impossible to clear it from my mind. I have uncovered one of the many mysteries of being a teacher: YOU MUST DISCIPLINE AND MOVE ON. Though it is important to address situations as they arise, and even point out to the class what could be done in the future to avoid said situations, it is essential to move on. As the teacher I hold the power as to what my students receive from a lesson. I must value their time.
The watch-zone as my CT so loving calls it, is a place where students can sit and watch, not participate. At NAPA we are all about consequences, both positive and negative. No where is this more true than in the music room. If a student shows they are responsible, respectful, knowledgeable they should be rewarded. If a student shows they are irresponsible, disrespectful, or slacking they should be removed. In our case, they are removed from the fun, play-like activities such as playing instruments.
On Monday, I had a group of 4th graders who were doing a worksheet type activity to review. They were allowed to use the library wall in the back of the room as a reference. 2 students decided to use their writing utensils to play the orff instruments instead of working on their assigned task. After directing the class to not use the instruments or the walls as a writing surface I specifically gave them a 2nd warning. The 3rd time I decided it was not going to work and proceeded to take away their papers and sit them in the watch-zone. One of the students felt the need to back talk as well as tell me that he did not play the instrument and began to direct the blame toward various students. I proceeded to tell him that I saw his dis-respectful actions with my own eyes and that his privileges would be removed for the remainder of the class. I also told him that if he continued the next logical consequence would be phone call home.
Common sense would tell anyone that the students continued to protest. And that they did. My CT took over and I was left to return to the class. However, I found my mind stuck in the ruts of this discipline issue, even though it was being resolved. I have a hard enough time as it is moving on from disappointing situations, but when I am in the middle of the issue it seems impossible to clear it from my mind. I have uncovered one of the many mysteries of being a teacher: YOU MUST DISCIPLINE AND MOVE ON. Though it is important to address situations as they arise, and even point out to the class what could be done in the future to avoid said situations, it is essential to move on. As the teacher I hold the power as to what my students receive from a lesson. I must value their time.
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