"I Think I Got Pee On My Shirt"

Today was another day in first grade for me.

We talked about rain and the water cycle (even sang and danced to a cool song), did some dental health activities, reviewed the 3D shapes, and of course did some reading and writing, etc.

They also had library - at a time I was really wanting a break from them, so that was good!

Bathroom issues were another big part of my day. The teacher had told me she doesn't let them go during class anymore because some had been goofing around in the bathroom. Now she reminds them to go before school, and they take a bathroom break after lunch and afternoon recess.

I had to let one kid go in the morning because despite going before school started, he looked like he was going to have an accident if I made him wait 40 more minutes.

During our lunch bathroom break one boy had to go to the office because he told me he got pee on his shirt. He came back a bit later with a bag and a new shirt on.

In the afternoon we didn't get outside recess because it was raining. We had it inside and didn't take a class bathroom break, so I ended up also having to let a few kids go (one at a time) during our afternoon. Thankfully, we didn't have an crises!

Sunshine Walks

Today was a good day to end a very busy week. I moved up to 2nd grade today, in a class I haven't been to yet this year. Although I did sort of know some of the kids from subbing in their 1st grade class last year.

The morning started off by the assistant principal telling me some people were coming today to observe in a bunch of classrooms during the reading time, so they could see the "Daily 5" program in use. Therefore, she was planning on coming in first thing in the morning and teaching the reading lesson in my class. So for the first hour of the day I didn't do much.

After this, we immediately headed out to the music room for a practice with the other 2nd grade classes for their program. The music room is at the other end of the school, and since the classroom is right by an outside door and it was nice and sunny outside we walked around the building. The program they were practicing for was all ocean songs, and again I basically sat around observing for another hour.

When we came back from music, I did a quick writing lesson and then they had lunch.

The rest of the day was taken up with math, PE, reading a book, and then going back to the gym/music room building again for a Battle of the Books assembly. That got out about 10 minutes before the end of the day so we took an extra recess (and the kids loved me forever.) :)

Please - No More Crying!

Today was a bit of a challenge. I dealt with a lot of crying.

Some was because kids didn't get their way. (And then again when I sent the child to the office.)

Some was because someone said something mean to someone else.

Some was because some kid hit another kid.

Some was because a kid lost her earring.

Literally, there was someone crying pretty much ever hour I was with the class. I was so glad to send them home and have some peace and quiet!

Besides the crying, we had an assembly, did journal writing, read Charlotte's Web, worked on telling time and did a math worksheet, and read a Time for Kids magazine. If not for the crying fits we probably would have gotten a lot more done! Spring fever is here!

Kindergarten is for Kids

Today was pretty ordinary and so my post will be pretty short.

I got called at 5:30. I still do not like that.

Kindergarten was fun. I read a book, sang some songs, helped with writing, did calendar, played a math game, sent them home, had lunch and then did it all over again.

The kids were pretty good and therefore did not provide me with any humorous antidotes.

Perhaps tomorrow I will have more for you. Hopefully not all tales of frustration. :)

More Cable Confusion

Today I got to sub in music for the day (in a different school than the last times I subbed in music). I arrived in the morning in the middle of the orchestra practice (a different teacher leads this) and had to weave my way around violins and cellos to get to the teacher's desk - where I found absolutely no lesson plans. I dug around for a while but couldn't find anything. I went up to the office to check her box, but still came up with nothing. After awhile, the orchestra kids left and school started. I didn't have any classes for the first hour, so I started poking around and finally found the plans a materials! They were on a music stand in the front of the room, behind the piano. I imagine they may have been in more plain view before the string section filled up the room.

I ended up starting the day with 2 fourth grade classes. The first was pretty chatty, and a bit of a challenge to get them focused. The second class was the one I subbed for last week and I love them. Seriously, I would volunteer to chaperone any event these kids were doing. They are some of my favorites. :) I played melody bingo with these classes, which they mostly enjoyed.

Later in the day I had 3 second grade and 3 first grade classes. In the second grade classes we read a book, and played a game called "Music Match" which was basically like Memory. In the first grade classes we watched a video. (After I spent a good 10 minutes getting the sound and the video to work at the same time! I tell ya, the electronic devices and I are not seeing eye-to-eye lately!) The video was kind of old, but the kids liked it. Basically a classroom of kids goes on a round-the-world trip with a guy dressed in a globe costume. In each country they visit they learn a song from that place.

The second graders were mostly ok - biggest problem there was outbursts. Lots of blurting out of how they do this, that or the other thing. All the first grade classes had a least one instigator that was blurting things out, rolling around in their seat, or generally just being a nuisance. One kid thought he was very funny by raising his hand and asking the same question twice (and then raising it again I assume to ask another time. By this point I told him, "Sorry, I'm not going to answer your questions anymore because I don't believe you are going to be serious. Too bad.") Another is basically just acting as if she's got a rampant case of the terrible twos - throwing hissy fits if someone looks at her wrong, yelling out things whenever the mood strikes, whining and stomping her feet if she doesn't get her way. Fun time. That class didn't get to finish the movie because of all the interruptions.

And ack! I think I'm going to sub for their class later this week. I'm currently brainstorming some management ideas that I can implement for one day....

Tall Tales and Component Cables

I suppose I shall call today's call a late one. Not that I was rushed to get there, but I had already given up on a job for today when the call did come.

Decided to take the job even though I swore off doing fourth grade at this school a couple years ago. I wanted the money and I'd enjoyed my fourth graders last week, so I was hoping for luck.

Turned out not too bad.

I ended up supervising lunch, reading a book aloud, supervising RIF (Reading is Fundamental) giveaway, supervising independent reading, supervising writing, and finally, playing a video!

The video part was my idea and almost bombed on me. The class is studying different styles of imaginative writing, one of which is "tall tales". I happened to have a DVD in my bag of the Disney cartoons of Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, etc. The teacher had told me I could just choose one of the imaginative books to read at the end of the day, so I figured the DVD applied too. I told the kids we were going to watch one of the cartoons (which they were very excited about), but then I had trouble getting the sound to play on the projector! It took about 5 minutes to get all the cables situated so it worked, and by then we were getting close to the end of the day, so while we started the video, we didn't finish. But since we were interrupted by going-home-time, they didn't seem too perturbed. :)

I Almost Screamed

Well today couldn't have been more opposite to yesterday! Yesterday, I get touching notes of love from the students. Today I get whining and disobedience and bratty behavior.

Sigh.

Basically, I arrived, and the kids were very excited and eager to see me. Then we got back to the room and they showed their joy by interrupting, complaining, being as loud as possible, and responding to directions with, "But I'm just gonna..." After about 5 minutes I had to stop everything and give the how-to-be-a-good-listener speech, and the one about how to be polite to Miss Barnes, and how "you're in first grade, almost second and I shouldn't have to tell you this." It was a bit maddening.

To top it off, they were all excited for some movie/ice cream party that was happening after school, AND one kid's mom brought in two boxes of maple bars for the kid's birthday. They were going to be well-sugared by the time they got home.

It was a very tiring day even though it was only half a day and I'm glad for the weekend! :)