tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14102214852228334192024-03-19T07:25:16.330-04:00Criss Cross Apple SauceMusings of a first year kindergarten teacher.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-24300494793370650182012-03-07T20:34:00.000-05:002012-03-07T20:34:00.722-05:00Tiny Packages<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“Good teachers don't approach a child of this age with overzealousness or with destructive conscientiousness. They're not drill-masters in the military or floor managers in a production system. They are specialists in opening small packages. They give the string a tug but do it carefully. They don't yet know what's in the box. They don't know if it's breakable. ” </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">As C. jumped out of his chair and half scampered half ran across the room, I shouted in a near shriek, "What went through your head as you ran across the room?? What made you think that was a good idea?!" He retorted with a raspy voice and attitude beyond his 5 years "I don't know." and sauntered with muscle-less legs and arms to the rug where he sat doing nothing until his bus was called. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Same child who by 10:30am had drawn a yell, "UNBELIEVABLE" from my lips though I was determined to be patient and loving today (and always). He was copying every word his neighbor at my small group table, S. read in the guided reading book. But every word was WRONG and he wasn't even on the same page. REALLY?! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">W. on the other hand had spent the ENTIRE day rattling his own bones, shaking, bouncing, responding to every thing I said, not listening to directions, and a whirling tornado of terror. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">C. ? A ticking time bomb...waiting for him to explode in a fit of rage. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">J? Ok today.... but nonetheless trying. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">the list goes on ... I was not an expert at small packages today, I was a witch tearing through their baggage, their layers of learning, their sleepiness, or even their wonderful 5 year old personalities. They were packages of TNT today - in my defense....but I wasn't gentle, I was chilly and impatient and I hope I am not causing moments that ruin school for W, C, J, angry C, and others.....</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">B on the other hand? a wonderful transition .... he is new to us - only a week and 1/2 and he has had some tough days but today was not one of them. The transition from a self-contained classroom to our room is certainly exhausting for everyone and it's bundle of differences and situations I am unfamiliar with but it is a learning experience and it's good. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I decided I had to force myself to reflect on positive so I don't forget why I'm in this...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ventured into unknown waters this week - real Writer's Workshop ... with no prompt and only the expectation that my students write the whole time, use our writer's rules (finger spaces, lowercase letters, etc) and a functional, usable mini lesson. Results week 1? AMAZING - great quality writing, everyone has something to tell and is doing it effectively. They whined when the timer went off yesterday - actually whined. I was overjoyed!! : ) </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Next step? small groups in writing .... yikes. </span><i><br />
</i></span></div>~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-1992752309902911532012-01-12T22:30:00.000-05:002012-01-12T22:30:03.188-05:00SoyButter Sandwiches"Our target today is: I can (pause for repeat) tell how to make a soybutter sandwich (pause for repeat)"<br />
"SOYBUTTER YUM!" Is all I heard screamed by a delightful rotund little girl in beads - sitting with her chubby legs out straight in front of her as she leaned against the radiator as if she was in my living room, not on our classroom carpet. <br />
That same little girl was sitting against my leg at a puppet show this morning - arms wrapped around my ankle - and about 15 minutes in she looks up at me giggles and says "This is a puppet show!" Oh yes my friend - welcome to school glad you joined us.... REALLY?!<br />
The things that fly out of her mouth are insanely hilarious. At times we find her in another part of the classroom - hands raised Fiddler on the Roof style, waltzing back and forth and spinning in a circle....and it's as if she's not aware that she should be at her seat or packing up or whatever the rest of the class seems to do just fine without spazzing out!<br />
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But the soy butter sandwiches were fun yesterday - they spread it themselves - made a sticky sticky mess of my table ... and ate them - while complaining that they didn't like peanut butter. Oh ok. Good thing it's soy butter.<br />
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And now we are writing about it - every day - Yesterday it was the shopping list of what you need - today it was first spread the soy butter on the bread.... tomorrow it will be then spread the jelly.... And Last stick the bread together and eat it! It's cute and though the sentences are scripted together as a class, I'm using it as a teaching point for finger spaces, using only lowercase letters, and keeping words together - because they need that practice without having to worry about their ideas. And it's pretty critical for kids to know how to make peanut butter and jelly ... right?<br />
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Tomorrow at recess time I will let only children with a certain attribute have recess - the rest I will leave sitting on the rug. Until they start to get upset. .... I will have the others clean up recess and pretend as though it's over. We will discuss how they are feeling and read a book about Martin Luther King. : )<br />
Then I will serve snack only to the friends who didn't get recess and tell the others they don't get snack. Just long enough for them to get upset. Then I'll give everyone snack and a little more recess. <br />
I will repeat the exercise on Tuesday and have them write about it.<br />
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I am exhausted and in the hour that this window has been open I have lost my train of thought.....~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-89041081775740635682012-01-08T23:05:00.000-05:002012-01-08T23:05:28.997-05:00And so we push onJanuary - first full week back begins. I'm unsettled, not tired - though I wish I was.<br />
In the morning the alarm will be rude and loud and I will stumble my way to the shower and through multiple cups of coffee.<br />
Suddenly my little friends have to be pushed - no longer guided gently but gently pushed over the edge. They have to use their wings and probably fall a few times first but suddenly the pressure sinks in, they have to READ, they have to count to 100, they have to WRITE - yikes.<br />
I have to test them - yuck - this month - and I have push myself .... to be consistent, to pay attention, to almost stop enjoying them long enough to get it all done.<br />
<br />
Scared the crap out of me. I just want to enjoy their banter, their laughs, their silliness. Sometimes I just have to let go and enjoy it. But this month I have to let go and ignore it.<br />
It is painful.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-18783085597813362702011-10-31T21:40:00.000-04:002011-10-31T21:40:04.075-04:00allow me to introduce myselftomorrow I introduce hip hop/slam poetry to 16 4 and 5 year olds who will, no doubt, be flying high on sugar and very little sleep.<br />
<br />
But today they were sweet ... excited ... bright eyed and grateful as we felt the inside of a pumpkin, decorated mini pumpkins, and ate sugary treats.<br />
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I love them. I love the way they hug me when they arrive and hug when they leave. I love that they almost know all their letters - 5 left to introduce....and then review.<br />
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I love that I did my first guided reading group today (seems early) and that they did well. Wow. I love how smooth things seem to go ... and how easy it is to be ready for tomorrow now. I love that I wonder at how fast the day goes by. I love my new last name.<br />
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I don't love Mondays.<br />
<br />
But tomorrow is Tuesday.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-58571726477387662112011-10-02T23:05:00.002-04:002011-10-02T23:05:50.171-04:00Reflections on the New Year (ironically on Rosh Hashanah)<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 16pt;">September 2011 – [Year 2]</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">17 days in and I still can’t believe it. My little friends from last year come by everyday to say hello – causing a slight identity crisis for me and my current students (they use my<span> </span>maiden name …). My 16 little ones this year<span> </span>are – well – full of character of course. I lost 1 already, a child with severe autism, an amazing memory, and a mind of her own. Though she was adorable and sweet at times it is a relief – suddenly on Thursday I was able to teach and my para could pull students. Perhaps I should evaluate my approach – if I didn’t have my para and she had to be a one on one what would I do? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">The plane is 35,000 feat above farmlands – the sun is blinding and the refreshment of having been home is wonderful. But I recognize the weight of tomorrow in my neck and shoulders and simultaneously am sorry my students don’t have the opportunity to cross the country for a weekend. I am fortunate! I need to look for ways to give them experience without travel. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">Here’s who I am thinking about…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">T-from last year, the sparkle in his eye has faded, he is going through the motions of school and is not loving it. He keeps talking about “his classroom” and “his teacher” ad when can he “go back.” It breaks my heart – he can’t possibly think I don’t want him! I take every opportunity I get to check in and to give him a hug and let him know I love him…. I miss him I miss the drive he gave me to give him my all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">This year’s kids – today a few come to mind: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">TJ – a troubled little guy with a BIG heart and sweet spirit. He always wants to help me. He decides when he feels like being a learner but frequently decides he will sit and idly scratch or tap with the pencil. Lives with grandma, has no contact with parents but she is wonderful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">CB – a difficult girl, very much like my JD of last year – refuses to do what she should and stubbornly looks at you with her mouth open and tongue hanging out. I have already made it clear to her that I’m not patient and I need to change this. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">SW – a loud, busy, and inattentive boy from Jamaica who frequently has long sentences of words I do not understand and with grammatical structures such as “Me have….” “Me go” “Me mom…” and I correct him repeatedly. I have discovered that he cannot sit still so I taught him this week to just wiggle his feet. His mom thinks he’s brilliantly above kindergarten learning – news flash? He is not. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">J2 – a DOLL with a quirky grin, a sidewise glance, and a cheery “yep!” anytime you ask him a question. He is on the autism spectrum – but very capable of sitting and listening – just not comprehending, I worry that I will forget about reaching him where he is at – I need to conscientiously work with him at things. He loves “msdfjksjflkjs mommy daddy pizza” and every time we ask open-ended questions, that is his response. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">J1 – a feisty, curly-headed little boy who tests me minute by minute throughout the day. On one occasion he repeated every word that came out of my mouth during reader’s workshop …. And when I asked him to stop? He whispered the words under his breath. There have been times when he was bothering his friends’ learning and I had to get in his face to correct the behavior – in response he plugged his little ears and squished his eyes up tight….nice. It’s a really really good thing he is so cute…because it is REALLY hard to not pick him up by his shoulders and shake him! His mom is wonderful and has volunteered to come in sometimes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">CJ – a difficult, shy, and rough boy – hard to read but he frequently chooses to not listen even though I know he is capable … need to work on knowing him better. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">D – what a funny guy. At times he is studious, on task, handsome, controlled, and ready to go. At other times his focus gives way to rambunctious swinging between tables, scattered running, skipping, sliding across the room, careless attention, mean words, and constant babble. I think he will do fine …. He needs some scaffolding. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">I – haha well, this is a kid who is cute but frequently when I glance at him on the rug, his eyelids are inside out and he is sitting staring right back at me. Really? Freak? Then when they’re not inside out, he is cross eyed – on purpose. It’s hard to not laugh. I told him his eyes would get stuck that way. Problem is, his mom warned me that his brother has told him how awful school is and she is worried about him feeling that way…. Lots of pressure. But I still have to tell him what to do sometimes, and I do have to ask him to stop distracting his friends or rocking on the rug. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">WORD WALL – yes I am thinking about my kid-height word wall, my attempt to create an interactive experience for my learners and to actually use it….but neglected to think that they might lean on it with their freshly oiled little heads. Result? A grease stain about 2 ft from the bottom. Hmm. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">Bookshop – I am amazed by my little “readers” and the 15 minutes they have been able to sustain browsing alone and with friends…..it’s pretty impressive. This week I will push it to 20 minutes …. And introduce computers. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">My class is all 4 years old again – they are predominantly below level – again – and with a few exceptions, do not know letters or concepts about print. This week I will find out their math abilities. I am almost done with DRA – and they are all below A so far. I did kind of ask for it…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">side note just stretched and discovered the tiny little sparkles my ring throws on the wall of the plane – became very amused and it struck me that my kids would probably do the same thing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">Those are the kids that come to mind – those and the ones from last year that come in EVERY DAY – Miranda, Katrina, Tashaya, Terence – little voices and faces from the door that make me smile and remember – YES I love this and they love me! It is exciting and encouraging) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">With a full week ahead, I am excited to see some consistency and independence appear … .I have to say these past 3 weeks have been relatively painful – the first 2 more so, the kids couldn’t even sit criss cross and I forgot just how little gets accomplished. But they’re getting there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook"; font-size: 11pt;">All for now – needed to reflect because I appreciate going back to read what I wrote this time last year – the days of T running across tables, chasing him around the school, my principal chasing him down the street…. The moments I cried in and out of school – so far only 1 afternoon of tears this year, much of what is happening is familiar and while nothing is exactly the same, it is not all brand new and I appreciate walking into my room and knowing what needs to happen and what the kids need to look like when they leave me in June.…..And the confidence that they will get there. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-64890028504948018122011-09-19T22:47:00.000-04:002011-09-19T22:47:23.295-04:00A new year ... a New name .... A New Love for LearningHeads up - It is September, I am married with a new last name for the kids to yell out enthusiastically as they wave their freshly scrawled image in the air. I also have 17 new loves .... not that the other 21 have disappeared ... no every afternoon is a parade of "the former students" stopping in for a hug - 11 days in I thought it would have gotten old but it hasn't! : ).<br />
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I can't wait to reflect on my new bunch because if I thought I had some personalities last year, I've got another thing comin'. I also need to post my final thoughts from the end of last year - I typed them but never posted.....more for me than for anyone else, not even sure anyone else but me reads this. But it gives me a point of reflection and a chance to look back and think forward.<br />
So Heads up - it's all coming here to Criss Cross Applesauce as soon as I have 5 minutes to think clearly.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-32924014696991193232011-06-17T19:13:00.000-04:002011-06-17T19:13:51.447-04:003 Days left...I've slacked in writing but my head is busy processing .... somehow my little ones graduate on Thursday the 23rd - 20 little beautiful smiling faces will walk in caps to receive a diploma that I hope & pray will be the first of at least 3 (high school - then college....). I pray that despite days where I am "mean" or raise my voice or am unmerciful, that they will go on to enjoy school, to be learners, to be friends, to be effective and productive citizens.<br />
I see glimpses of their little personalities blossoming and sappy as that sounds - they are maturing rapidly. They take care of each other - sometimes it is hard for them, especially at this point in the year when they are sick of each other and tired.<br />
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I am amazed at how the time flew by - regretful of a few things, proud of others, reflective in general. My coworker read me some letter that his students wrote to him - mind you he teaches 7th and 8th grade, but the personal reflection of his students made it clear what a profound impact he has had on them and their futures - and what a difference a good teacher can make...in a place where families and students were disheartened and neglected, we now have joy, life, excitement, learning, and hope...it is incredible.<br />
Turn Around Year 1 is nearly complete - in August I will be on a panel answering questions to 1st year teachers - amazing. A year of uncertainty, of risks, of tears, of hysterical laughter, guesses, mistakes, successes, hard work, and long hours is almost done ... would I change the fact that I'm a teacher? ABSOLUTELY NOT I have the best job in the entire world - helping to shape the futures of children one hour - sometimes 1 minute at a time.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-14879033389372867442011-05-10T22:06:00.000-04:002011-05-10T22:06:43.171-04:00SharksRedundant for anyone who sees my status updates but I need to record it here for myself...<br />
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<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small;">Today we were building background knowledge on sharks Bobby says, "Sharks eat people" I dutifully wrote it down, convinced we would find otherwise in our nonfiction read aloud...nope page 4 - Sharks eat SIX people a year. They had to demonstrate how many people that would be and then they made me add it to the BBK (of course). Oops....guess this is what it means to study living&nonliving things. </span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hilarious things we encounter - my para and I look at each other and just LAUGH. </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I should add that this occurred after a TERRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD afternoon - with mean, whiny, obnoxious, loud, out of control behavior. My literacy coach was supposed to join us for writing after music and I had to ask her to leave because we were not ready to write. Instead we had a "crew" meeting and discussed the 5 things I heard .... they didn't realize I was talking about them - they said they didn't want to know those boys and girls and that it made them sad .... then Terence said, "I think that's us Miss Stowe." Oh buddy you got that right! I had the whole conversation in a forced almost whisper - keeping myself calm and it instantly calmed them. they relaxed, fixed their bodies, controlled their hands and reflected for a minute - more like 30 seconds but still. And we shared 1 thing we would do to make it a good afternoon. And it was! We learned about sharks ... that's our first ever expedition right now - learning about sharks! We voted to choose the animal from the ocean yesterday and we are learning about nonfiction, research, note taking, and sharing information as we go through our adventure together. We are also learning about living things. It's GREAT fun to watch them dive into a pile of nonfiction books and jump up and down at diagrams of sharks, pictures of great whites tearing through seals, and baby sharks being "born." (did you know not all sharks are born from eggs? Some are born live ... which is funny because sharks are fish!) It's a blast and I realize just how far they've come. Amazingly independent and capable learners....And we start our final round of assessments this week .... demonstrating whether I have adequately prepared them for first grade. YIKES!! </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> As always there are those moments where I have to laugh and say ... "really?" </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today - NG arrives full sprint helter skelters - spread eagle in the doorway and cries out "GOOD MORNING MISS STOWE HIIIIIII HAVE A GOOD MORNING!!" And I knew then that it would not be. I had her retry. </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Terence told me yesterday my shirt, skirt, and shoes were nice and "matched" - which he seemed surprised about. He also told me he wished he could come to my wedding....and he may. </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today TP was grumpy ... and began out of control crying and getting angry - partially a chemistry clash between him and my para.....but I asked him to wipe off his face, go out of the room and pretend he just got to school - we "restarted his day" and it worked WONDERS for a little bit. Later on (around 3pm) when a friend was crying TP suggested that RB "restart his day" and I had to explain that it was too late to do that and that RB just needed to pull it together. TP said, "Well it worked for me!" : ) LOVE it. </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Tomorrow we will wear a "fin" on our back and tummy and hip to remind us that sharks have dorsal fins, pectoral fins, and pelvic fins. Should be cute. </span></span></span></h6><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="messageBody"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span> </span></span></h6>~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-23726720775614610002011-05-04T21:48:00.000-04:002011-05-04T21:48:14.800-04:00panic .....Yesterday my kids - my "babies" who are almost not babies any more - visited first grade and they behaved TERRIBLY. And they essentially told the teacher they didn't know how to sit still. Yes. I was there. OH MY GOODNESS.<br />
<br />
It has been a LONG week - I am not patient and they are NOT being learners - they are not my children. I want them back. It's supposed to be the time when I am motivated to push and inspire and grow them with 5 solid weeks of instruction before testing .... but NO interruptions prevail and I find myself not wanting to teach. I want to play chutes and ladders, sing, dance, go outside....not teach. UGH what a dilemma. They are more independent so it's tempting to put them in centers and watch .... but they won't learn as much on their own and I'm still responsible for them!<br />
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OH NO!~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-8755398370622082622011-04-08T13:50:00.000-04:002011-04-08T13:50:36.761-04:00Traveling Forces me to WriteOn train for several hours and grateful for the time to myself away from the kids. It has been a LONG week and one more to go until break.<br />
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The little light bulbs started flashing this week - reading, noticing, talking - exciting things. But the concern continues ....am I doing enough? Am I doing it right?<br />
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Behavior continues to be an issue and I consider how much of it is the way I hold expectations for them...they are well behaved learners when I am around but then instantly become demonic imps when I'm gone, even if it is for 2 seconds. What did I do wrong there?<br />
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This coming week we will adventure into a new domain of writing thanks to my super literacy coach and mentor.<br />
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I loved introducing my kids to my mom last week - they loved her though again, they were not particularly attentive. At times when I catch myself laughing or being silly with them, I notice a change in their attitude and I realize I should do it more.<br />
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This week we also will do our science fair project on bubbles ... exciting but I anticipate a mess!<br />
We will be trying to "make the biggest bubbles" using different wands.<br />
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Always good quotes .... but I am getting worse at writing them down.<br />
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Also received a gift this week .... in response to daffodils that I received last week - another little girl felt jealous and asked her mom to take her shopping, she bought me a glass figurine of a girl with flowers as well as an easter mug with candy in it. Though it is adorable and I am grateful, I know it came out of jealousy and I'm not sure how to handle it. She also was nasty to the first gift-giver who gave me beautiful daffodils that have since died. Makes it hard to be grateful!<br />
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Working on Mercy in the classroom...giving each child regardless of patterns of behavior, a fresh start at all times.<br />
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This week they have managed to have the whole class playing in the kitchen - making a "restaurant" out of my small group table, adorable though noisy!<br />
We now sing Oh What a Beautiful Morning each day and I love their little voices singing along, it's very sweet and says more about our day then our former 2 good morning songs.<br />
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A little distracted, think I'll take a break.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-74922634741533311632011-03-28T21:16:00.000-04:002011-03-28T21:16:38.672-04:00kicking myselfI have started, saved, lost numerous posts and therefore numerous moments where I melt, clench my jaw, or laugh hysterically with my 21 learners. It is now March and there is an abyss in my journal of January-until now. In fact, in 3 short days it will be April.<br />
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I suppose I could blame it on fantastic gains - which are true - but should also contribute it to an engagement and carefully juggling wedding plans, a social life (kind of), and planning for fantastic gains....all of which do not work well with each other at all!<br />
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Needless to say today was a BEAUTIFUL day in SO many ways, in fact out of sheer exhaustion and overwhelming joy at where I am right now, I might cry while writing and it would be refreshing.<br />
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My wonderful para was out today - remarkably the kids are different when she's not there, as if they know they have to listen....I don't understand it and I am so incredibly grateful for her that I don't really know how to describe what happens, but the kids and I are different. The day started with me teaching them a new good morning song, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" - which I rarely do with my para there because I won't sing in front of grown ups....they LOVE when I sing.<br />
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We were silly during phonics as "word detectives" "Sound detectives" with serious detective faces and all...and they were more attentive than ever. They went to their centers- they were relatively on task. They were delightful at lunch. They loved the story.<br />
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Then it was math....I knew I was introducing sorting, I had grand ideas of how to do so in a "grown up" and serious fashion and suddenly my spontaneous nature overthrew my dutiful studious perspective. I grabbed the bag of 50 shapes - red, green, yellow, blue (squares, rectangles, 2 sizes of circles each) and dumped it on the floor then mocked being upset by asking who made the big mess. With peels of laughter they pointed at me and I shook my head - began blaming students. They giggled profusely. I brought them back, I said "well if you're not going to tell me who made the mess, you could at least help me sort it out" and proceeded to tell them what it means to sort and we spent about 35 exploratory minutes playing with sorting .... nothing definitive, very open and some great conversation. WOW. It was like being an intern with M2 again - kids "adding on" to each other's ideas left and right, "arguing" about how to sort, deciding what looked best, giggling at my silly questions. Only 1 student - my JD, fresh as can be, was beginning to sigh, wondering why it was I couldn't figure it out myself. But then again she had done that during reader's workshop too, when I was pretending I didn't know a word and tried to use first sounds to help me read. She was clearly irritated and said "don't you know it?"<br />
The rest of them LOVED it - and as I dismissed them to line for recess I heard "you're the best teacher ever" though that is not the case, I realize they live for the excitement and spontaneity that I enjoy but don't use in the room. What happened to my fun-loving teaching style? I'm not really sure, but I want it back.<br />
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Then there was recess - jump ropes, chalk and bubbles - never before used at recess all together, and they loved it. Then I drew them a hopscotch and about 7 of them stood in line for 20 minutes or so waiting to jump, watching me model it over and over again. It was a blast.<br />
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I adore them. I chuckle at them in the morning - MB today came in as a ballet dancer ...twirling away in her own world - even to the garbage to throw away her breakfast. RB wanted to know why we didn't have school on Saturday. TP was in good spirits! Princess friend .... she had a tantrum, first in awhile. My special buddy T? He is turning into quite the learner when he chooses to - I retested his letter ID today - 38 ... pretty much on target, but he fought me the whole way through the exam. Then when his ride home was late - said "Mi'Towe Can I have a piece of gum?" How do I say no? Of course, handed him a piece and it was met with the biggest grin. Told him to have a good night "ok" he said back.<br />
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My friends are READING - yes READING. How does that happen? I don't even know! The light switch goes on and I really don't know how - I don't feel like I've taught enough but it is there - some of them are really decoding....amazing amazing stuff. The rest of following patterns, finding sight words, noticing structure, punctuation, and pictures. It's fantastic. There are times when I just want to watch them go through the day. I want to sit back and it's hard to keep chugging. They have to grow in all areas - not just reading!<br />
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My friends are SPEAKING in full sentences with amazing detail, structure, and thought. Suddenly in the last two weeks I found myself saying "WOW you just made a great sentence with your thinking!" They talk to each other - and when they get mad, they scream " I DON"T LIKE WHEN YOU DO THAT!" Apologize then add on (this is new today) and say "I feel ______ when you do that" and shake hands, find a solution and move on. It's pretty cool.<br />
I really think kindergarten is the best job in the world ..... I won't argue with my principal who says it's hardest - though I could never deal with high schoolers so I don't really know. They are beautiful as an open book that's not yet written but at the same time like an untrained horse who has to learn to WALK not run helter skelter down the hall, errr sit upside down in a chair, or perhaps shove a friend out of their chair just because you wanted it - though they are all identical sandstone chairs.<br />
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They are something else.....and I love them - every single one of their faces - now somewhat closer to mine and older looking. They are going places and I'm running to keep up with them!~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-5663380190328813732011-02-25T21:23:00.000-05:002011-02-25T21:23:00.312-05:00"I'm having the worst day EVER."I started my day near tears when TP - my little "man" who is often grumpy and becomes disgruntle at the drop of a hat, arrived in the room and announced that "It is a bad day - the worst day ever." I felt awful to hear that from him so early, before anything could have gone wrong so I quickly pulled him aside to check in.<br />
He informed me that this morning, he climbed on the bus to wave to his mom and she didn't turn and wave to him. He was crushed - to a point of tears and frustration that she somehow missed saying goodbye to him. I don't know why or how but it hit me like a ton a bricks, I remember looking back until the last possible second - numerous times to make sure mom was still watching me wave ... and she always always was - and still is every time I go to the airport. But it crushed me to think that this little boy turned to wave and mom wasn't there. I hugged him and told him it was raining so mom must not have been able to see the windows of the bus and that I was sure she loved him and couldn't wait to see him when he returned home....as it would turn out, while my para was reading "Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day" with him (which I pulled just for his benefit) - he informed her that his dad didn't want him to go to mom's anymore and that he would be at dad's for the weekend. He expressed concern about not being able to go back to mom's. He even cried. While he tends to make poor decisions, he is a sweet and very handsome kid and today he broke my heart.<br />
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On a different note....Around 3pm today I got a burst of energy and excitement and experienced first hand that "fake it till you make it" is actually effective...very much so. We had a GREAT writing time!<br />
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Monday is the 100th day of school - we are more than 1/2 way through kindergarten and now I start to worry...will they leave with what they need? Did I show them I love them enough? I can't believe it but at the same time it feels like an eternity. I love it ... and I'm exhausted by it - all at the same time. I haven't written in forever and I need to. The quotes just get better and better as their language skills increase.<br />
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Last week I went to a wedding and TP (the same from today) said, "Where ya goin Miss Stowe?"<br />
"To a wedding!" "You're getting married?"<br />
"Well, I am but not today - my friend is!"<br />
"I KNEW you was getting married!" <br />
Cute.<br />
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Not sure if I already shared this quote from 2 weeks ago or not but MB was eating breakfast and proceeded to announce "Hey look Miss Stowe, when I close my eyes I can see people's bones."<br />
"Oh really?" I replied - half listening, half concerned .... half interested... "Yeah, see. Right now I can see Miguel's bones." Here I had to laugh outloud. "Cool" No sooner did she say that but 3 or 4 others caught on and were admiring their abilities to see each other's bones....how strange.<br />
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wiped out - will reflect on monday.<br />
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I am in the world to change the world.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-26048152476494735602011-01-29T16:50:00.000-05:002011-01-29T16:50:21.551-05:00Classroom Pet!Thanks to my apartment mate we now have a classroom pet - he is a teal beta fish with bright purple rocks and fantastic little bubbling tank I keep on the counter. I got him yesterday - when I went in on my snowday to get things done. Because you know ... I think I'm still a teacher even though this is yet another 4 day weekend thanks to snow! I am going to let the kids vote to name him ... talk about how voting can help you decide things - like who is going to be president and what the name of our fish is going to be....that is of course if he lives to Monday. It would be awful if he was floating when we got there.<br />
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The kids are working hard - lots of Letter ID and Letter Sound scores to celebrate, Oral Language scores to wonder at .... (not good), and boring Concepts About Print Tests to still give...the DRA is the best part of the 3 I've given, I had a level 3, a level 2, and a level 1 - all appropriate gains, in fact a 3 is higher than I might expect except given the little girl who did it....she is something else. I love to place a book in front of them and let them shine - they have grown SO much in 84 days of school and I love them even more today than I did on day 1 when I was still in awe of being a real live teacher. Sometimes I still feel that awe - mostly when I unlock my classroom, before the lights turn on as I walk in the room and I look around at all the clean little tables, fat tri-hold pencils, and decorations for Valentine's Day and Winter. Like yesterday - 2 solid hours to myself in my room - reorganizing, doing things I have wanted to do since day 1 but haven't had time to do....makes me enjoy the fact that I am finally a teacher. It's nice to have those little refreshing moments because though I love the job and the kids and the school - there are moments when "MISS STOWE" makes me want to run out of the room straight to my car. I need to remember that they aren't trying to annoy - and that each child is asking for the first time, it's just that there are 21 first times in a given work period! I am "needed" I suppose but I need to work on finding joy in them asking for my attention.<br />
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I anticipate Monday being difficult....but I will be ready to see them for sure!<br />
More to come ... I have been slacking in writing and I don't want to miss details.<br />
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Quotes This Week:<br />
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"Miss how did your hair get so red?"<br />
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"Your cat is on the naughty list!"<br />
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D: "My Mom won't let me go outside in the snow cuz she says not to throw snow at cats..."<br />
Me: "Do you usually throw snow at cats?"<br />
D: "My Cat isn't scared of snow but other cats is."<br />
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(hmm).<br />
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"Miss I'm going to be a nurse when I grow up"<br />
"Will you take care of me when I'm sick?"<br />
"yessssss!"<br />
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"I has ringworms - they jumped on me!" - gross.<br />
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"The thermometer was green - says I can go to school today so I didn't take no medicine." What? (she had been in school all week....unclear what the issue was here)<br />
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D: (now my calendar helper for 2 weeks) "The month is October! The Year is 2010"<br />
Oh dear - where have you been for 3 months my friend?<br />
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I have more written down on random post-its in my bag... have to write them down - it's great!~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-42998491037493401692011-01-19T23:02:00.000-05:002011-01-19T23:02:00.468-05:00what is school?Snow day yesteday<br />
delay today<br />
more snow coming tomorrow... ugh<br />
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kids forgot how to come in today. and I was missing 8. It was kinda perfect but it's hard to do new things with half the class missing!<br />
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T wrote his name unprompted with no assistance! Also completed addition - INDEPENDENTLY. wow.<br />
Princess friend cried off and on ALL morning.<br />
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Did an exercise in equality and fairness after we read a story about Martin Luther King Jr. Today. I told the kids that only my friends who wear pink can have recess. So 4 kids got to have recess - at first - kids got upset and it was perfect to get them to talk about how they felt. They were having a hard time picturing not being able to eat at certain restaurants or drink out of water fountains...I think it helped. I will do something similar tomorrow and use stickers. It's a deep concept for them but it's important when we are teaching our code of character - respect and unity tie perfectly into fairness and equality and rights.<br />
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Sania told me today she was going to be a nurse and I told her she had to take care of me when I get sick. She said ok :).<br />
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Then during math we solved an addition problem together and she said - without raising her hand "Miss Stowe you are the best!" Muhiba added " Yeah she is." It was cute - unasked for and made me grin. I responded " You're pretty great too."<br />
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Did I mention I love them?~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-4296601598680307292011-01-13T13:22:00.000-05:002011-01-13T13:22:44.173-05:00afraid to writeSo much has changed since I last wrote and it was overwhelming to think about let alone process in writing.<br />
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Coming back from vacation was ....exhausting and a disaster. Kids got taller and I missed them A LOT but they forgot A LOT of things that we are just getting back now. I pretty much told them now we start getting ready for 1st grade and it is very serious business. Then T was placed in a foster family (YAY!) and we were told he was gone (after he had gone home already - OH NO!) I cried...yes I did. So did my para. Then the next morning he showed up 45 minutes late with a DCF case worker (YES!) We grinned like idiots as we met them at the door and were told that his social worker will drive him to and from school every day (WOW!) AND that he would be having surgery to fix his eyes (INCREDIBLE) which now are straight and though puffy and red, watery, and easily infected, are already helping him write. It's amazing.<br />
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I'm pushing through some last minute Letter ID and sound review because the testing window opened this week and by February 2nd all LID, LS, Concepts About Print, and DRA scores have to be done. So naturally my highest kids are bombarded this week - giving the lower set time to soak up some more skill before they get tested. Already seeing positive growth in LID and CAP - kids know about words and letters, also 1:1 match, periods, commas, and even quotation marks. They are ALL able to identify "We" which is great.<br />
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This week I laminated 25 sight words (or star words as we call them) and taped them to each child's seat (well all but 6 who received modified words). The children practice their words when they think they are done. It's great!<br />
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Also a new rule - no more saying "I'm done" not only is it my pet peeve but it's not true, I taught them to say "Our learning is never done!"<br />
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Added journals to our writing experience, added science to our weekly schedule, and made centers SERIOUS working times.<br />
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Just redid my groups and also made groups for my para to see so that they are getting read to and oral language more often.<br />
I LOVE my job....now I'm anxiously awaiting the results of all our testing to see whether I'm DOING my job!~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-11465855605259721872010-12-20T22:32:00.000-05:002010-12-20T22:32:21.555-05:00note to selfThey missed me. And I missed them - A LOT.<br />
Friday was a personal day - had to attend a funeral but in retrospect I should have taken a day earlier...my energy today was significantly higher than my co-workers and I couldn't wait to see the kids who were equally enthusiastic at my return.<br />
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"When it was Friday, we was singin at a concert and you wasn't here!" - Princess friend<br />
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"You Ok Miss Stowe?" - J<br />
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"Why You wasn't here? You Ok?" - R<br />
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"You wasn't here the other day right? Mrs. Baldino was here" - N<br />
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: ) "You gonna be here tomorrow?"<br />
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Love them.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-68511702928787624772010-12-15T16:32:00.000-05:002010-12-15T16:32:35.474-05:00broken for kidsI hurt. I am crying. Not for me. For them.<br />
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D's uncle was shot and killed "when it was dark out and mommy won't stop crying." Last night. He rolled in at 9:15am - the earliest he has arrived all year.<br />
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K's 11 year old brother tried to kill himself this morning. Single mom of 3 informed me K can't come to school because she has no way to bring her home. Her 9 year old has Down's and is aggressive and defiant, her 11 year old is now hospitalized, and her 4 year old is a sweetheart but academically very low and has little use of the left side of her body. Dad has a restraining order.... Mom is crying - literally for help. If I said I would take K for a few days mom would say yes - I know she would...but it's not legal and I can't But I hurt and I don't know what to do.<br />
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T said his foster family is taking him for CHristmas and he is going to a new school. : (<br />
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RB's day - not good - made him stand in a box on the floor for 10 minutes until he couldn't anymore. TP couldn't pull it together either - also made him stand in a box until he had to sit.<br />
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NT's mom finishes rehab on Friday and gets her back....yikes.<br />
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I was THRILLED to move all but ONE CHILD to goal or proficiency in Letter ID and Letter Sound today but CRUSHED by the fact that I can't make them "proficient" emotionally or mentally.<br />
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I feel defeated and weighed down today.<br />
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I can't be in on Friday and it kills me to leave them-I know they'll be fine, my para is wonderful but I feel like I am consistent they know what to expect....somehow by not being there I am changing the one thing they know.<br />
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I am broken for my kids and their broken lives and families.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-58990869869030422042010-12-13T00:03:00.002-05:002010-12-13T00:03:46.217-05:00Amtrak post - from 12/11<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hurridly whirring, humming, jolting gently down the ever trekking track.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Eyes drifting, darting to keep up with the ever changing scene. Mind flitting, matching the speed of the steel wheels which carry the car effortlessly forward. Every detail sparking a thought, the bareness of early December, the sun, low and glinting, the shore, the construction, warehouses standing in stark contrast with small old towns that are nestled along the line. Crisp blue, almost gray that fades to a dusty white on the horizon – though the sun feels warm, it looks cold and ice is beginning to creep along the edges of ponds as we pass. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The voice behind me – not more than 10 years old, questions life, evolution, animals, how he came to be, and why he is a teacher’s pet. I am distracted by his curiousity and by the subtle murmurs of the conversations around me. Lesson plans wait for me but to be able to sit – watch – not do – not speak – just sit is delightful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Marshes – cat tails still and whispy in the cold air seem to dominate my field of view. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I think train is the best way to travel –easier than air, more relaxing that car, and more personal and independent than taxi or bus. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Driving downtown this morning my heart ached – my 21 kids have probably never been to Boston, they live 3 miles from the train station and I’m sure rarely if ever step aboard a gleaming car headed somewhere exciting. They could see a tree larger than they could ever imagine if they’d ride for just 2 hours to New York, or visit an fantastic aquarium and historic sights if they’d ride for 2.5 hours to Boston….they live in a hub of travel, with access to nearly ANYWHERE and yet they’ve not even been to the museum around the corner – or the library down the street. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I long for Friday and then I get there and I miss them – their eager greetings in the morning, “Miss Stowe you look beautiful today!” or “Miss Stowe look what I got!” Proud of pieces of junk mail they salvaged from the recycling bin or a piece of metal or plastic they discovered under a seat on the bus. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I had to tell a little girl yesterday that she was safe at school….why? Because there was a shooting at her bus stop – a shoot out explained the para nonchalantly over my classroom phone. It rolled off her experienced tongue as if the child had merely forgotten to eat breakfast (well she did) or had perhaps stubbed her toe getting on the bus…Did it have a different meaning? The mere utterance of the words caused my heart to race and panic – what did this mean for our day? 6 kids ride that particular bus – did they see it too? The social worker wasn’t in – what would we do?<span> </span>Sure enough she walked in – trembling, bundled to the top of her head and velcroed into her coat – unwilling to take it off. Her itchy red eyes, burning with untreated pink eye blinked back tears, “Miss Stowe there were guns at my bus stop today and I’m scared.” Ok so it meant what I thought it meant. I was unprepared for this – I don’t think anywhere in 5 years of school they told me what to say to a 4 year old who saw a shoot out. I knelt in front of her – “M,” I said as softly as possible, “Are you ok? Is mommy ok?” “Yes…” I thought fast, “Ok, that’s good, I’m sorry you saw something scary this morning, but you know that you are safe here at school right? And we don’t need to worry about that while we are here, we’re going to have a good, safe, day here today. Ok?” She nodded and believed me – still scared but seemed to accept my offer of safety. She told my para she would be sleeping at grandma’s house so that she wouldn’t be killed. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt;"><span>L</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> I don’t even know what to think. The other bus riders seemed oblivious, only one said he heard popping noises on the bus – but he didn’t know what it was and I didn’t tell him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">R said dad left his car at the police station…hmmm – didn’t push that one. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">T said he was going rock climbing with his caseworker – but when I raised my voice at him this week (it was a rough week) he shut down and stormed about the room saying “Oh my freaking God.” Kicking tables, tipping chairs, throwing markers. No where near the outbursts we once saw – but still seems scary. As long as my voice is soft and sweet he listens, even if I’m telling him I don’t like the choice he’s making …. He can’t handle someone being firm with him – it freaks him out. And it breaks my heart to do it, but he was being unsafe and distracting, I had warned him 3 times and finally I said firmly – not shouting, but firmly, “Go Move Your Color T” and he panicked. Later – after he had left my room for his social behavior meeting, he returned ready to listen – and my voice was gentle the rest of the day – he decides when we use a firm voice, that we must be mad at him and that we don’t ever let go – he has to be convinced that we still care. I don’t think I could love him any more than I already do – a picture of our hands together – taken right before Thanksgiving, is taped beneath my computer monitor – his fingers are between my own and only I know whose hand it is – a reminder, in case I start to correct him firmly, that he is a sweet and loving boy who is afraid to not be loved. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Janice decided this week that she was in charge – and that she needed to have EVERYTHING every other child in the class had. And I mean everything – someone got a tissue, she wanted one, someone got a sticker, she needed one, I used a sticker to label reading groups – it meant to her, that she was wonderful, someone didn’t like breakfast, she didn’t either, someone’s chair was bigger – she had to switch – I mentioned that someone was following directions and she had to point out that she was too. It was exhausting. I know she just craves my attention – but I can’t take that for very long! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">NT decided to lash out and be disruptive, combative, and refuse to do anything – in fact I would ask her to do something and she would do the opposite. Maddening. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">**beautiful shoreline homes interrupt my thoughts – if these families put out 1 less present or had 1 less car or 1 less boat (I just saw 3) or perhaps 1 less balcony – my kids could have a nice dinner or a special present** But it is beautiful here! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This week felt good – despite not great behaviors, I saw 3 reading groups almost every day, my kids Letter Id scores went WAY up, and we had our first real whole group Oral Language Lesson on Friday – it was great! My classroom looks nice, decorated, and lit for the holidays, clean, and there’s a definite system to the madness that happens between 8:20am and 4:30pm every day.<span> </span>Had some good collaboration this week as well. Figured out ways to use creativity for academic advantage – Friday Fun Day Activities – using scissors and glue to encourage fine motor skills as well as patterning and counting. Also decorated ginger bread men – the foam kind to decorate the room. With a week and half before vacation, I feel pressure to make sure they make some significant gains before leaving…and to be sure that our routines are in tact so that they come back easily and ready to learn again in January. </span></div>~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-66920357771143856702010-12-06T22:01:00.000-05:002010-12-06T22:01:17.847-05:00Independent MathToday I modeled making 8 with 5 of one color cube and 3 of another - using the words 8 is 3 more than 5....showed them 6, and 7 as well - we compared them. Great Math talk happening!<br />
Then I "set them free" to do their first ever Math Work independently - gave explicit instructions about what it sounded like, looked like, and how to show me they are done - solving the numerous "I'm done Miss Stowe" comments with a simple silent model - which they found hilarious....I walked to the mailboxes, then walked to the library where I chose a book and sat down. They told me exactly what to do...they didn't follow through perfectly but they tried!<br />
It was refreshing to see a little more independence : ).<br />
Also introduced the color behavior chart today - out of necessity because Bobby was out of control. Interesting response - it might work, but it might lose its severity if I am not careful. I want "Move your Color" to be a crushing consequence so that it doesn't happen often. There wasn't that sense of urgency today I will retalk it out tomorrow!<br />
Also did 3 rotations of bookshop groups today and the center changes were fairly smooth....I need to print pictures and redo my task board so kids can just move.<br />
All in All - not bad for a Monday!~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-58309479665302319662010-12-01T20:28:00.000-05:002010-12-01T20:28:02.183-05:00what worksHere are things that I see as successes in my classroom:<br />
- the children know how to come in the room, hang up their belongings, take out their red folder (many of them anyway), move their name to say "I am here" take a breakfast, and sit down.<br />
<br />
- counting by 10s is smooth and fluent<br />
- alphabet sounds are really coming along.<br />
- reading groups are coming along<br />
- students are finding sight words EVERYWHERE!<br />
- students are able to sustain for about 10 mins during writers workshop<br />
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<br />
-students use the words: perseverance craftsmanship respect and unity - WOW<br />
- students take care of their learning and their friends<br />
- students are getting good at coming to circle time - and walking in line!<br />
<br />
What's not working?<br />
DISMISSAL SUCKS every day<br />
students tattle A LOT<br />
I am not getting phonics centers in every day - I do a lot of it whole group because centers take SO much time<br />
I am not using the district curriculum because I am overwhelmed by the binder and lack the books I need for it<br />
I am using my own writing - I don't like the district's .... ugh.<br />
I didn't teach the science kit I had<br />
I am terrified that they're not getting what they need but don't want to tell anyone.<br />
Math only really happens whole group :-/ I know small would be best.<br />
Behavior issues happen every day and don't seem to change.<br />
I am at school late - daily.<br />
I am exhausted - daily.<br />
I have 2 students who know ZERO letters : (~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-67135293929050989232010-11-29T20:17:00.000-05:002010-11-29T20:17:25.938-05:00My Shoes Hurt.Today - my buddy T fell asleep as soon as he got to school.<br />
Princess friend threw SIX tantrums - many of them "I Don't WANT to THROW A TANTRUM" "GIVE ME A STAR I WANT A STAR I DONT GOT A STAR" (seriously?)<br />
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Rodney fell asleep on the floor in front of the bathroom - he went over there having a tantrum and crashed... oops.<br />
Nailah also fell asleep.<br />
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My friend got a tiger sticker - yup the one who has a "pet" tiger - she also had beans and rice for Thanksgiving. <br />
Rodney refused to wear shoes all day - they hurt.<br />
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Bobby's pants still had tags and he threw his body at several people today - seemingly unaware.<br />
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Dashahn? rolled in at 10:30am - after our puppet show and phonics. awesome.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-60719975065003260592010-11-28T21:24:00.001-05:002010-11-28T21:24:55.148-05:00Monday....Blogging in anticipation of a difficult day....sigh.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-77905997960423566212010-11-22T20:18:00.000-05:002010-11-22T20:18:46.621-05:00Her's Taking away my learning!!T yelled at Princess Tantrum today as she rolled on the floor for the 6th time...." You is taking away my learning - 'top it!!" I had to laugh. This is the kid who would sit in the kitchen and reek havoc now yelling at my trantrumer to stop taking away his learning....his learning may be modified and look different than the other 20 kids but he recognized that he couldn't possibly learn with that noise. Thank goodness! I love to hear grown up words coming out of their mouths - "I don't like when you do that...." "I'm sorry" "Please stop bothering me on the carpet, I'm trying to learn" "My friends are bothering my learning" Make me smile - they are serious matters but they get it - they are little humans (sorry Grey's Anatomy) and they really are getting it. Today they happened to define the word "Problem solvers" and they totally understood. They also understand unity, craftsmanship, and perseverance - WOW.<br />
<br />
They learned about a number line today....and they talked about being thankful. They read books today and they practice sight words: the, we, is, and, see - and they did their letter sounds - which we now know very well...but the consonants are hard "B" "P" "T" "C" 'D" we add a vowel to them and I can't correct it now. They helped me make a checklist - to "check their bodies" and they used it today, we really worked on looking at the talker - and having only 1 voice on the carpet. I felt mean at some points but they have a lot ahead and the smoother these little things are, the more we can accomplish!<br />
<br />
I am exhausted and achey and just ready to sleep....but despite little ant hills in my way today, I loved my little humans - all 20 of them (C was sick).<br />
Funniest moment? Taught them how to play pirate booty .... which I promptly renamed when they burst out hysterically at the word booty....the last round I was the pirate and they stole my bells...Bobby stole my bells and when I opened my eyes to guess I looked around, making eye contact with the kids - as soon as I looked at him, he burst into peels of laughter, trying so hard to contain himself but he wasn't able - it was adorable.<br />
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Sweetest moment? J - singing you are my sunshine and Katrina attempting to sing jingle bells : ) I video taped on my phone. I love them - I do....most of the time, when I don't feel like I'm going to gauge my ears out if I hear Princess scream or wine one more time. ~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-38610442026190943042010-11-17T22:02:00.000-05:002010-11-17T22:02:44.954-05:00Another First....Haven't taken the time to journal and it kills me because yesterday was a terrible day...wanted to journal was too tired to do it. The old T was back .... his brother and sister are gone and he was a wreck - chairs and tables a mess, on the floor, throwing things, and not responding to anything. Today he was cute and listening again. I am wiped - it's a roller coaster.<br />
<br />
But TODAY was parent conferences and that is an exciting first. My amazing coworkers are fun - we ate dinner all together and our principal served us food (how incredible is that?!) and they were very supportive. One eventful conference dealing with a parent I had to report to DCF and she was ready to rip a new one but I got the principal who did the conference for me and kept it very academic - so grateful. One family laughed hysterically the whole time because she couldn't believe how spot on I got their daughter and the things I've picked up on - not to glorify what I do, but really? I mean we are together 8 hours of the day....good and bad we all know each other really well....kinda hard not to! Loved meeting some new parental figures and sharing what delights their children are because truthfully they are, a lot of the time.<br />
<br />
After my principal came in and picked up blocks - yes cleaned my room - which were thrown about because of children who came with parents and congratulated me on my first parent-teacher conferences. I did 12 of 21 in 2 hours - averaging about 9 minutes each - some a little more, a couple a little less but I wish we had more time, I want to get to know families and share more with them, hear more from them. Because they were so short I had to do all the talking - they just want to know from me what they need to do, what their kid is good at and bad at. my voice hurts.<br />
<br />
This week's highlights:<br />
<br />
5 yellow counters 4 red counters<br />
If these are cookies - which cookies would you rather have?<br />
Ter: The red ones<br />
Me: Why?<br />
Ter: I like red cookies.<br />
<br />
haha. Trying to get at more and fewer - cute answer.<br />
<br />
Reviewing nonfiction text ....<br />
M: I still have a tiger you know.<br />
<br />
interesting. I need to go back and see if I already blogged about this incident - my uncreative, academically low, and unengaged student who has me believing 100% that she has a pet tiger......if I haven't written about it yet, I will.<br />
<br />
<br />
Today I took off my flats and sprayed them with Lysol - T said " What you doin?" Me "Cleaning my shoes" T "They 'tinky?" Me "Yes" T "So you put those on?" Me "Yes, what are they called?" T "'lippers - I have froggy 'lippers" How cute! : ) Time to start the academic push with him now but he just is so precious. I need to be careful how much patience and exception I dish out for him ... when my expectations are so high with the other kids - sometimes when I come down on him he can do it, but sometimes it makes him mad.<br />
<br />
67% of the entire kindergarten class is proficient in LID!! : ) based on January standards - that's so much growth! It's still so far to go but it's exciting, it feels like we're doing something right.<br />
<br />
Data is fascinating to me - it gives me the growth I need to see in order to keep doing what I'm doing and keep me believing that I'm effective - or change when I'm not, but it forces useful collaboration as well and keeps our meetings on task and overall just a great stretching/growing experience.<br />
<br />
Did I mention I am feeling like fried squid tonight and cannot think straight? Time to stop, this post will make no sense tomorrow.~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1410221485222833419.post-3138912751408468912010-11-09T21:38:00.000-05:002010-11-09T21:38:19.567-05:00New Haven Promises.....<a href="http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/city_yale_make_a_promise_to_public_school_kids/">New Haven Promise </a><br />
<br />
This is what threw off our routine - who knew they mattered THAT much. It took a good chunk of the morning and fail on New Haven's part - it didn't play over the slow bandwidth and naturally the whole district was trying to watch. So I announced to my kids and the 1st graders in the room we were using, that New haven was promising money if they are good students and go to college. Well that's *kinda* what New Haven promised - it's actually a really big deal and I am VERY pumped about it....but those are not the words they used.<br />
<br />
Oh so highlights today?<br />
<br />
T played peek-a-boo. T also got a foster placement in Hartford : (<br />
<br />
"I gonna go to treasure box" - B after the day from HELL<br />
Playing school during dismissal "SIT ON YOUR BUTT RIGHT NOW!!" Me: "We don't talk like that" (right?) <br />
F- drinkable strawberry yogurt. Really. DRINK it - do NOT put it in your backpack open. Just don't. Trust me.<br />
<br />
We read a non fiction story about tigers....and a girl informed that "some people gots dogs, but I don't gots a dog, I gots a tiger - it sleeps at the end of my bed....and we have a pool for it to swim." Now before you dismiss my concern with a laugh - consider the child, a simple, easily distracted and very below proficient student - not creative as far as I can tell, and lacking in initiative/common sense. Overall not showing any signs of creative genius. She did not "invent this story" as you might assume - I did talk to mom, I expressed concern - with a laugh- and mom awkwardly laughed back - "We don't got no tigers - just a dog named Sparky" all too textbook - I really am concerned! If you could the intense belief and excitement about her connection to the book, you too would wonder..... My para had at first dismissed it as a stuffed animal but soon became as concerned as myself....hm.<br />
<br />
I send home food with a child who appears to be hungry all the time - today he said "I brought you food Miss Stowe!" What did he pull out of his bag midway through the day? A small microwaveable cup of instant Minute Brown Rice - COOKED and partially open. How sweet! I didn't ask any questions, I simply said, thank you! I love Rice! And I do....but I prefer to make it myself and not place it in backpacks .... which frequently are covered in wet clothes, left on buses, coated in drinkable yogurt, and thrown about in the room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD8COJwCR43z8NB_-UpnZxSh3-yNUg76kU_-VrrDluf3nNnxeiSyGRnfRCPArLbyTOsl0HbjzQbBB8DFTlqoL6Tx8VanQBLiTg0RdjZcJCfMXvjxEoi-3Igs-d_hIbxXNvTdKnR1imnN_/s1600/P1140282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD8COJwCR43z8NB_-UpnZxSh3-yNUg76kU_-VrrDluf3nNnxeiSyGRnfRCPArLbyTOsl0HbjzQbBB8DFTlqoL6Tx8VanQBLiTg0RdjZcJCfMXvjxEoi-3Igs-d_hIbxXNvTdKnR1imnN_/s320/P1140282.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>~ D. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11679147190949385247noreply@blogger.com0