Tired

I am tired.  This has been a challenging week.  So far I have had no days that I would consider "smooth" or "easy".  They've all been hard.  The last two days I spent with chatty, bickering, and often disrespectful fourth-graders.  Today I taught a group of rambunctious, mischievous, LOUD first-graders.

The whole day I was battling to keep the group relatively calm, and getting everyone to sit down and listen.  They certainly weren't the worst behaved I've ever had, not even the worst this year, but I was just so tired!

And then at the end of the day we had a birthday party for a kid who's name I could hardly remember how to pronounce.  I was just glad I was waving goodbye to them before the chocolaty, sugary cupcakes had a chance to fully infiltrate their bloodstreams.

Not the Offer I Was Hoping For

One funny story for today despite the general annoyance that was my day.  Felt like I was fighting a constant battle for order.  I'm glad to be going somewhere new tomorrow.

But onto the story: during a work time today I was talking with two boys - let's call them Joe and John.  Joe was telling me how he was making a Mother's Day card.  John said he was doing the same.  They then started listing things they could write on their cards, one of them being, "I love you mommy."  A girl nearby overheard this and commented, "Ew!" The boys then started teasing her a little for not telling her mom she loved her.  I said something about how you should always tell your mom you love her, to which Joe agreed.  Somehow the girl misheard and asked me, "You're Joe's mom?!"  Then I had to tell her that no, I was not his mom.  I told her I was not old enough to be Joe's mom.  Then another girl joined in the conversation, asking, "Do you have any kids?"  To which I said no.  She then asked me if I had a husband, to which I again replied no.  It was at this precise moment that John yelled out eagerly to me, "You're single?!  My dad's looking for a new wife!"

I could do nothing but laugh, it was so so funny.

Starburst Creates Admiration

I don't think there is going to be much to this entry.  I subbed today in the forth grade class that I did a few weeks ago when the first substitute left before the end of the day.  The kids were ok.  Very chatty.  A couple annoying ones.  A few that could NOT stop bickering (that was incredibly annoying!)  But it was okay.  I survived.  I'm going back tomorrow actually.

I hope the kids will be fine tomorrow as well.  Their last memory of me for today was me handing out Starburst candies to the whole class (because they cleaned up quickly at the end of the day.)  This prompted much praising for how I'm "the best teacher ever!" haha kids love candy.

Me And My Freakish Lips

89th blog post by the way!  Looks like I'm gonna make it to 100 before the year's out!

Anyways, I subbed in 3rd grade today.  In the morning I did not do much.  The teacher was still there.  She wasn't leaving until around 10.  There was also a student teacher.  I worked with a group of 5 kids on math.  Then the kids had music.  I helped the student teacher organize books.  Then the kids came back and the student teacher taught a lesson.  Then the kids had PE.  I helped the student teacher organize books again!  After lunch the student teacher left as well and I had the kids by myself for the rest of the day.  They were ok.  Lots of chatty ones in the bunch so I was forever telling them to quiet down.  There were also a couple kids who didn't really want to pay attention or do their work.  They annoyed me, but at least they weren't defiant.  

One funny tale for the day though: during one of the reading groups I had 3 kids reading with me - two boys and a girl.  We'd been reading for about 10 minutes when all of a sudden the girl blurts out, "Hey!  Your lips are differently shaped than ours."  I responded with some great wisdom such as, "Well, everyone's lips are a little different."  But seriously, what is it with my lips?!  Last year I had a kindergartner ask me why I had a hole in my lip!  I think they must be seeing another dimension.  Or maybe I am!

Kindergarten Craziness

Today I traveled far, far away (well, about as far as I can and still be in Salem) to sub in kindergarten.  The day went pretty well, and the kids were sweet, but wow, was is busy!  The AM class had 29 kids in it.  I think one or two might have been gone, but I can't remember now.  Either way, that is a LOT of kindergartners!  The PM class had 28 kids.  

During the day we did calendar and a multitude of songs, a Mother's Day art project, some writing, snack and sharing.  It was a little crazy at times trying to squeeze all of this in.  I was running back and forth collecting finished art projects, putting them on the drying rack, bringing the writing booklet to the kids who were done with the art, checking the writing to make sure they'd done it right, etc.  Times that by 29 or so kids and I didn't sit down much today!

In the afternoon session I met a little boy who had the same last name as me.  He thought this was pretty hilarious, and reminded me that our names were the same quite a few times.  This was nice as it distracted him from eating paper and glue, as I was told he sometimes does.

So it was a good day, and it's almost always fun to spend the day playing with the cute little ones, but I'm sure tired!  Kinda hoping for some older kids later this week.

Chicks & Fish & Silkworms, Oh My!

Today I returned to the kindergarten class that has a bunny.  Only now they not only have a bunny, but they have multiple types of fish, 2 young chickens (who I believe they've had since they hatched), butterflies, and silkworms!  The bunny wasn't there today, but despite that and the fact that I took some allergy meds before I came, I still had a bit of an allergy attack shortly after I got there.  I think I just took the medicine a little too soon before I got there and it didn't really have time to "kick in".

But even though my nose didn't love the first 3o minutes or so, it was a really easy day for me.  (Finally!)  The teacher stayed until around 2 because she had some stuff she wanted to do with the class and her appointment wasn't until later.  So while she was still there I cut some stuff out.  After she left, the kids went to recess with the assistant (who apparently, had not had the same speech on all the things assistants can't do - thank goodness!).  When the came back from recess I read a book to the class and read through a Scholastic News paper with them while the assistant and a parent volunteer called kids back to finish up an art project.  This last for about 25 minutes and then the kids went to PE.  After PE they went home.  So my pay is pretty sweet today considering how little work I actually did! :)

No Shoe Stories Today

In fact, no one commented on my shoes at all! Perhaps I should have worn a different pair - I was hoping to continue the streak, after all.

On the plus side, my day was much smoother and calmer and simpler today. I had a class of fifth graders, and they were quite enjoyable. They were funny - a few jokesters in the bunch, but they were very polite and quick to listen when I was giving instructions. They are having a sub tomorrow as well (in fact, it's my roommate), and I'm actually disappointed to not get to go back to them! One girl told me she wished I was going to be their sub tomorrow too. I left my ID number for the teacher, so I hope she requests me back! In fact, I told the girl I was going to leave my number, and that she should tell her teacher to ask for me if they have to have a sub again. I have no shame. :)

I'm not subbing for them tomorrow because I've already had a job for tomorrow for over a month. I'm going back to kindergarten (just for the afternoon) to one of my favorite classes, so at least I'm looking forward to that even though I would have liked to do today's class again.

It's nice to have an easy day again!