Apple Day!

Today was what Miss Barnes called "Apple Day!"

Basically, everything we did had to do with apples. Apple books, apple crosswords, apple coloring, apple gluing, apple drawing, apple writing, apple snack, apple graphs. It was apple madness! We couldn't do any Halloween stuff because a few of the kids don't celebrate holidays, which was kind of a bummer.

The kids were ok. A few of them can be challenging, but we didn't have any huge problems. Basically I just dealt with some tattles, some whining, some kids not getting along.

I think the part of the day the kids most enjoyed was when we did the apple snack/tasting. The teacher had left me two different kinds of apples for the kids to try and then chart which kind was their favorite. I was going to cut them up during my lunch, but I ran out of time. I had to cut them while the kids were in the room, so I turned on the document camera and put the cutting board and apple slicer/corer under it. Then I used a funny accent (not sure what nationality it was!) and called it my cooking show. I pretended to be straining to cut the apple, once I told them they had to be really quiet so I could concentrate. They seemed highly amused by all of this. I'm beginning to wonder if they will request my "cooking show" next time in their room. :)

At the end of the day I had an interesting encounter. I was standing in the hall after the kids has left just supervising, and an older girl came back into the building crying. I looked at her questioningly and she mumbled out to me that she'd forgotten her backpack (!). I was puzzled because she was carrying a purple backpack on her arm. So I asked her, "Well, that's not your backpack?" She stopped and looked at me all puzzled. "What?" she said. I then pointed the bag on her arm and said, "That's not your bag? Who's backpack is that?" She then looked down and inhaled in surprise and said, "Oh. That is mine. I didn't have it on my back so I thought I forgot it!" I wished her a happy weekend as she went back outside. Poor thing, hope she has an easier day tomorrow!

Library

Today was pretty simple. Even slow at times! I was subbing for the afternoon in the library and for the most part I had very little to do. I started my afternoon by re-shelving books. Then I perused the book fair while I waited for the next class to arrive. When they came we watched a short video about the book fair, then played with an online site that lets you "carve" a pumpkin and experimented with MS Paint. The class then got to check out books before their teacher picked them up.

Shortly after this the teacher I'm subbing for tomorrow came by and took me down to her room to look at the plans for tomorrow (lots of apple activities are in store!) When I came back to the library a 4th grade class was in the computer lab with their teacher doing some reading test. They pretty much didn't need me.

At the end of the school day I spent about 45 minutes supervising the book fair. Parent helpers run the check out and such, so I was just wandering around seeing if any kids needed help finding things. I even convinced myself to buy a book (I know, this is not a terribly hard thing to do!) The parents running it even gave me the 20% off that teachers get! They were both super nice - they knew I was a sub, so they really didn't have to give me the discount, but I thought it was nice they did. So nice that I ended up buying two books instead!

Rhonda: I thought of your boys a lot today because there were a bunch of Star Wars books at the book fair! :)

Author Visit

Just as I was about to give up for today I got called to work at around 7:50! This left with me with about 25 minutes to get dressed, throw together a lunch and drive to the school. I'm not sure my outfit matched, and I am sure my lunch was strange!

The class was almost all kids I've known for two years. Last year I subbed in both of their classrooms a lot. So I was pleased when the kids arrived exclaiming, "Hey! It's Miss Barnes!" - despite the fact they've had subs for the past 3 or 4 days. One girl even remembered me from subbing in her first grade class over two years ago at a different school - a class I subbed in for only 2 or 3 days! Funny how kids remember stuff.

Turns out there were no plans for me. But the principal was in the room when I arrived, and he and the other third grade teacher sketched out some times and ideas for me. The assistant and I figured out the specifics a little later. It ended up not being too complicated. We did a short reading lesson and then went to the cafeteria to hear an author presentation by Larry Dane Brimner. After this we had some extra time I wasn't expecting so we had snack and sharing (which they were begging for). Then came PE, writing and recess/lunch. After lunch we did math - which was the biggest challenge of the day. The lesson involved a lot of me talking and them listening. Some had a hard time with the listening. But I am persistent, and we made it through, and ended the day with silent reading. All in all, not too bad for a slightly impromptu day.

Spelling Tests!

Today I pretty much gave spelling tests.

I also graded math papers.

And once, I supervised 3 kids in the computer lab while they took reading assessments.

I didn't teach.

Because there was a student teacher doing her full-time teaching!

Thankfully, I am a good worker bee, and I kind of don't mind doing the menial tasks once in a while. It's interesting to interact with the kids but not be "in charge" of them.

The spelling tests did take up most of the day though. The way they do it in the class requires a lot of testing. You see, each student has the same list of like 1000 words. And at some point someone goes through the list with them, reading the words to them and marking a plus by the ones they already know how to spell. Then each week the teacher makes each kid their own spelling list of 10 of the words they've missed. So I went through pages and pages of the master lists with kids so the teachers would have words to give the kids for the upcoming weeks of tests. And if the kid was a good speller it took even longer because I needed a list of 10 words they didn't know! At one point I was doing 5 kids at one time, all of whom were at a different place on the master list. It was going around and around the table saying the kid's name, then their word, then the next kids name, then their word, then the next kid's name, etc. Repetitive, but a pretty good way to make money for today. :)

Firefighters!

I love days like this.

To preface, I actually turned down 3 or 4 jobs for today before finally taking the one I did: a kindergarten at a school I like but don't go to often. I still wasn't feeling that great last night when they kept calling me, and they were all for schools or grades I didn't love that much. But this morning when I got called again I finally decided to suck it up and go. I'm so glad I did, because not only will I have an extra day on the paycheck, but it was super easy and fun and the kids were so cute.

Right off the bat when I arrive I learn that the classes are getting visits from some firefighters today. Three firemen arrived and talked to the class about the gear the firefighters wear and one guy put it all on to show the kids what he looked and sounded like when he was in it. They talked to the kids a lot about not being afraid of the fireman if you're stuck in a fire, because even though he may look and sound weird or scary, he's there to help. Then they had the kids practice crawling low to the ground to escape a smoky room, talked to them about not playing with matches, and had them practice "stop, drop, and roll". After that we went out to the front of the school where the firetruck was parked and the fireman walked them all around the truck and showed them the different parts of the truck. The kids were amazed at the hoses and nozzles and lights and anything else the firefighters showed them. It was very fun.

One of the girls in the afternoon group actually did get scared of the firefighter when he started putting all the gear on and I had to spend much of the presentation right by her side whispering reassurances to her. However, once we got out to the firetruck she eventually left my side and was right up front with all the rest clambering to touch anything the fireman held out to them.

After the firefighter excitement we had snack, recess and free choice/art time.

Don't think I could have hand-picked a more enjoyable day. :)

Getting Sick

Getting sick is a drag. Especially when I need to work every day I can so I'll have money! Last night I started to feel a little off, and sure enough, I woke up at 2:30 sneezing and sniffing. But I had a job for today and I wanted to do it.

So, a few DayQuils, Zicams, and Airbornes later I arrive to meet my class for the day. It's third grade, and I'm kind of familiar with this group because I subbed in both of the 1st grade frequently two years ago. The class is small - only 18 kids. However, the combination of my cold, and their chattiness (possibly due to the fact they've had a sub all week) it wasn't as easy as I'd wished it to be.

Not that they were bad. They were just busy...and talkative. I found myself often telling kids to turn around, stop talking, listen, etc.

But I made it to the end of the day and the kids did too! They actually got better as the day went on. I was grateful so I gave them 15 minutes extra recess. Hopefully, if I return later this year they'll remember my generosity. :)

Irresistible

I was very excited for this afternoon.

I got to sub in a first grade class at the school where I frequented the kindergartens last year. So pretty much I knew all kids last year and I was excited to see them again today! It was apparent when I arrived to pick them up from lunch that they remembered me too. Most of them expressed some sort of amazement that I was in their class!

The day was very busy, as they were a very busy class! Lots of kids "needed" my attention at any one point in the day. Many proclaimed their various ailments - such as hurting knees, fingers, heads, and backs. Some wanted to go get an ice pack from the office. I denied all but one - somehow I don't think a bumped finger warrents an ice pack. Some I think just wanted my sympathy. "I'm sorry. Hope it feels better." seemed to suffice.

Partway through the afternoon I was supposed to take them out to recess, which was a relief. They really needed to run off some energy. While we were outside, one of the girls ran up to me and gave me a hug (probably the fourth or fifth one she'd given me that day). Then she looked up and said, "Miss Barnes, every time I see you I just have to give you a hug!" :) Awwww....

My First Silly Band

Hooray! I am back to working today!

I was happy this morning to get called to my favorite school, for a teacher who I've subbed for frequently over the past few years, to a group of second graders who I've known since kindergarten! In fact, some of them were adamant that I had subbed in their class last year even though I'm pretty sure I hadn't. I guess it is a cool thing to say Miss Barnes has subbed in your class every year. :)

It was a lovely, delightful day.

Even had another teacher come down and ask me if I wanted to sub for her on Wednesday afternoon!

Yay.

I also discovered today the great popularity of silly bands! At least half of the kids had dozens and dozens of bands on their wrist and during free time they would take them off, show them and trade them with other kids. One girl gave me one. It is shaped like a fashionable boot and it is pinkish-purple. I put it on my wrist and she was very pleased to have been the one who gave it to me. The rest of the kids laughed when I exclaimed, "Now I have one just like all of you!"

Book Confusion

Finally back to work this week! It's be so long I nearly forgot to write this entry tonight!

Last week, as implied above, was slow - it was actually non-existent. I had no sub jobs and I was very bored. It's amazing how much more tedious having a week off is when you don't know you're going to have it.

Anyway, today I was back in the same kindergarten I subbed in two weeks ago, except only for the afternoon today. The kids remembered me (although they thought my name was Miss Farms until I reminded them - a very common mistake by the way). I guess you could easily associate farms with "barns"...and they do sort of sound the same when you say them with a kindergarten "accent". It was fun to see them again, and I really do like hanging out in kindergarten for the day - it's always very busy and fun.

I guess the most amusing part of the day was when the kids were bringing their library books back - both from the school library and the classroom library. Of course, they were mixing up which were which and I kept having to redirect the books to the right place. Then some wanted to check out a new classroom book but didn't have the procedure figured out. (Basically they take a card out of the back of the book and put it under their name in a big chart to check it out. When they bring it back they are supposed to get the card out of the chart and put it back in the book before picking a new book.) Lots of them were forgetting to put the card in the chart back in the book. Or they were forgetting to bring back the first book in the first place. More than one of the kids insisted that they brought their old book back even though the card was still in the chart and the book was nowhere to be seen. One girl was convinced the book she was holding was the book she was supposed to bring back - even though it was a school library book with a completely different name. And no matter how many times I repeated the name of the book she HAD versus the name of the book we were LOOKING FOR she would not be convinced. It was quite the Abbott and Costello routine at times, let me tell you!

After that it was pretty much kindergarten as usual! Here's hoping this is the start of a busier work week.