dove advice

I love chocolate. One of my second years gave me a whole bowl of different sorts. Some of them had Dove promises. Here are some of my favorites.

Milk chocolates:
Make "someday" today.
Live in the present.
Believe in yourself.
Break the mold.
Feel the sun on your face.
Make a list of your dreams.
Discover yourself.

Dark chocolates:
Engage, embrace, enjoy. (I think this is my theme from now on.)
Take this moment. Enjoy it.
Forget the rules and play by your heart.
You are exactly where you are supposed to be.
You make everything lovely.
Indulge your every whim.
A good love is delicious, because you can never get enough.
Renew your sense of discovery.

My Favorite Christmas Shows

On Weekend Today the hosts spoke about their favorite Christmas shows. Here is a list of shows I must see every year:

ELF
Jim Hansen's The Christmas Toy
The Family Man
While You Were Sleeping
It's A Wonderful Life
White Christmas
The Fallen Angel
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Boris, not Jim Carey)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
The Muppets Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol: The Musical
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Miracle On 34Th Street
The Santa Clause (but not the sequels)
The Forgotten Carols
The Nativity
Mr. Krueger's Christmas

I love Christmas. I love who it reminds me of and the great sacrifice he made for us. What a blessing to know this and celebrate it every year.

Christmas isn't a day, it is a frame of mind

I have been thinking about religions lately. At the school party I was telling students that not everyone celebrates Christmas. There was a student's younger brother at the party and he just couldn't fathom that. It was probably the first time he ever heard of such a thing, and probably the first time he heard Diwali, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Last Sunday in the Young Women lesson was about JOY. The teacher used JOY as an acronym: J for Jesus; O for others; Y for you. It was a wonderful lesson and she used The Nativity video with a song. Then she also used the Innkeeper's song, Let Him In from The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean (is that the correct spelling?) That song has been my pondering thought this year, it seemed more than just a coincidence to me.

I am grateful for a religion that condones the celebrations of holidays and other special days of the year.

And I am now wondering what the musical number has to do with the plot of the movie I am watching.

I can't stop dancing!

i love it when students are excited about what they are doing in school. I wish school was just teaching students and not about all the other teachers or administrators.

Unfortunately, since Swiss Days, the Belles have been on vacation. This is really depressing. I need to perform music. Now some people might say I have every opportunity to perform: I have a piano in the middle of my living room. My rebuttal would be: playing the piano doesn't hold the same challenge as performing in a group. Keeping the count, playing the correct notes, playing the dynamics, following the conductor are all new challenges to me. I think I would have really enjoyed being in the marching band for those challenges. I mean really how expensive would a pair of cymbals be to rent?

On the topic of performing, I haven't been in a production for 9 months and I am going through withdrawals. I know that I am not the lead, or even second string, but I like being part of the crowd. I just recently realized that there is another theater company that performs on a different schedule that would allow me to perform on stage and I would still be available for Belles and their winter performances. This would be another challenge since I haven't auditioned for this company so there is a risk involved.

Spring Break

The long awaited Spring Break! There are so many options with 9 days off. Do I stay around town and visit cute shops? Do I sleep in and pretend to plan on going to the gym? Do I watch TV all day, or try to read some books? Is a two day trip anywhere really worth it? Or is the thrill just being somewhere new?

I am a bit jealous of my first years who are going to far away places: Mexico, Saint George, Arizona, geode hunting.

I am looking forward to some days on my own, and other days with friends in new places.

Three Billy Goats Gruff

We have been practicing and rehearsing and finally our day came! We presented our production of The Three Bully Goats Gruff from our Literacy Place Reader. We invited our parents to come see our Student Treasure Books and to watch our play. It was great fun especially since we had costumes and scenery.

The first years made their own horns if their part was a goat, our trolls made pointy teeth, and sound effects had a handmade hat. There was one little first year who wanted her group to meet together to make sure the horns were the same. I had thought about making the horns myself but I ran out of time, and I wanted to see how well they would make their own. They each did great with their horns, one kid even made his green. Our Headmaster came in the next day to tell us how well we did on our play. The first years were beaming that he came in to watch us.

We also had fun reading our books to our parents. The best part of our books was that we got to take them home for keeps. Many parents loved the books and commented about them. I was pleased they liked it.

Happy Birthday

It amazes me the importance certain days hold for children (and some adults). I know I am a little weird compared to most muggles, but my birthday is not a favorite day. I know, I know that is rather bizarre.

The other day at school a first year wrote about being invited to a birthday party, another first year brought me a dozen roses, a third brought jerky that I had mentioned was delicious. It makes me smile that they are soo excited to celebrate a day that I want to just slip by without any noise.

Where did my birthday joy go too?

I'll catch you up!

The last couple of weeks have been a titch frustrating. The wireless has been down at home and with the month of March there comes no school holidays. But there has been plenty of fun things happening.

Our Student Treasure books arrived! I received an email from Nationwide when they were shipped back to me and I mistakenly told the whole class in my excitement. (For a while there I didn't know if I mailed the kits back in time for our publishing date.) For the following days there was always the question, "Where are our books?" I was pleased that the first years were excited about the return of their books. Then finally they arrived!! We love our books. We have read them to our fourth year buddy readers, and to the office staff. We want to read our books to our first grade friends too.

With it being March I got to plan for Dr. Seuss' birthday celebration. I dressed up as Grinch in my cheap Santa suit. I was frustrated when people would question me with "Santa Claus?" For Lunch Bunch that week we made Oobleck with Borax. We watched lots of books from kidthing.com. We also had a rotation with the other first grade teachers. One wonderful mother picked up green eggs and ham for our snack that day. I also handed out my Seuss-O at home reading. I was surprised at the students who took an interest in this assignment. For four in a row they received a scratch dinosaur or lightning. For Blackout they got their "choice" of candy bar (from the faculty stash that hadn't been updated in months so there were only 4 choices that teachers don't even like). At Art that week we painted green eggs and ham and one little girl let me paint her to look like Grinch.

Another fun day in March is St. Patrick's Day. I hadn't planned on anything big for that day until the night before. I had been making cards at a friends house when she offered her green striped socks for me to wear. Then I went crazy. I went around town looking for gold coins for my students. I also came up with a plan to move the students' desks and say that Larry Leprechaun did it. It was fun to see the responses from kids, especially when they found out there was supposed to be a hidden note from Larry. A friend helped me write a cute note from Larry that sent us on a treasure hunt where we discussed the directions on a compass. It as fun for me to watch their excitement.

Then we had spelled ATTENDANCE and after seeing other classes wear their pajamas to school the first years wanted to wear their own. We made it a slumber party with pillows and blankets. I brought Silly Songs with Larry Countdown for the kids to watch. The first years loved it. We talked about our favorite songs. I didn't get a photo of that though.

Now we are getting prepared for our Parent Presentation next week. We are going to perform The Three Billy Goats Gruff from our Literacy Place. We are also going to read our books to our parents and then finally take our books home!!

I am an artist!

Art in the sun! Can it get any better than this? (Yes, I could be in a comfortable bed and with someone who doesn't snore like a dying cow.)

I love my Arts Director at Wasatch County Schools. She is one of my favorite people. She won "Art Teacher of the Year." She also writes many grants for our district to help the teachers integrate arts into their lesson. I started attending art workshops during the last school year. It has been very fun, especially since I like to sing, dance, act, and occasionally drawing.

Things have progressed well in the arts arena in my life. As previously mentioned I have actively participated in the arts in my personal life. The last four days I have been at a Utah Art Education Association (UAEA) conference. It has been a great weekend! I helped present with JoAnn and her Eric Carle project. I also attended several great workshops.

We drove to St. George on Wednesday night. It was overcast in Midway and it got worse as we drove south. We pulled into our hotel at 11:25 pm. Then we stayed up for another 3 hours.

The next morning we went to breakfast and then hit the hot tub. It was great in the hot tub! It was extremely therapuetic. What was said in the hot tub stays in the hot tub. Eventually we had to get out of the hot tub to get ready for the Paint Out. I wasn't real excited about the Paint Out until I had finished my watercolor pencil drawing. It looked so great. I am going to put it up on my brag board.

After the Paint Out we went back to the hot tub. The bathing suit was cold getting on since it was still wet. But a quick jog and the hot tub was soaking my bocy. Then we waited for the rest of the Bohemian Babes to arrive.

On Friday, JoAnn had her two presentations. Both went fabulously. I was a little disappointed that my llama didn't turn out better in our Eric Carle project, but it was fun to be there and support JoAnn, Art Teacher of the Year.

Today I attended a workshop about African kalimbas. It is a musical instrument that is played with thumbs, so it is also referred to as a thumb piano. Stephen Pratt, the teacher, prepared 100 of them out ouf clay. We got to paint it and adhere the 14 gauge wires. I wish I had a picture of my kalimba.

We head home tomorrow. I am going to miss the spring-ish weather here in the south. I will also be dreading the return of snow on the streets and sidewalks back at home.

Arts Rock!

Swiss Handbell Ringers--Swiss Belles

I have been trying to figure out who I am outside of my career. I love music. I love listening to it, I love singing along at the top of my lungs, I love dancing to it, I love playing musical instruments.

I grew up taking piano lessons, on and off, for as long as I can remember. I started with my sister teaching me, and then graduating to a "teacher". I always remember listening to my older sister, who also gave me my first lessons, play the piano in our "front room". Several times I would ask her to tell me the story about the song and she would comply.

I did try to learn the violin, since that was another instrument we had around the house because our grandfather taught himself to make them. But I didn't like the elementary school teacher. So I only had two lessons at the most. When I reached Junior High I wanted to learn to play the saxophone but we weren't allowed to rent instruments, nor can we play it in church. When I got into High School I really wanted to be part of the band, but one can't really drag a piano around. I wish I was more aggressive so many years ago to find an instrument or an alternate route to being in the band. I think there had to be an percussion instrument that would have been easy to learn without the need to "rent" a set for home practice.

Well this last summer I was at a social function and met up with the director of our local Handbell Ringers. I knew about them for a while, and I finally got aggressive about trying new things. I expressed a real interest in auditioning or just learning more about the group. She, she doesn't like to be referred to as she, agreed to talk to me about the group and show me the ropes. I started attending Tuesday practices. I had a blast those first couple weeks sitting alongside an experienced "professional" ringer. I didn't get to perform at our BIG weekend performance but I did get a coveted substitute position. Shortly after that performance I had gained "professional ringer". I started attending weekly practices and learning to own up to my mistakes.

With the holidays coming up we had several performances to be practicing for. With each week bringing us closer to those dates the stress level to get the pieces right started escalating. It was fun to finally perform our numbers. With each performance we improved and it was full enjoyment.

Our last performance for the season was at the Joseph Smith Building on New Year's Eve (3ve). Someone caught us on film and put us on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y29Ay3oVGqI&feature=player_embedded

I am on the second row, third ringer in from the right. It was a fun night. We are now preparing for a "Ring In" on March 13 in Ogden. I love it, love it, love it.

100 Days of School!!

I love 100 days of school. I go a little crazy with it. This year I "won a grant" to help out with purchasing supplies for our big day. It has been fabulously fun. We just finished our goodie bags, and necklace. Last week we made a dinosaur to count by 10s. I have 100 post it notes for each first year. I also have plans for making a 100 day treat, and to finish off our study on the seven continents. (It has taken me forever to finish the continents!! But I can't just move on, I must finish!) Of course, there will be my door decoration, and the 100 exercises, 100 words, 100 math problems, okay maybe I am getting out of control.

I can't wait!!!

I told the students that we would have a pinata, i thought that would work for Mexico when we talk about North America, and put on 100 strips of paper. For South America we are making a rainstick--each student gets to count out 100 grains of rice to put in it, then 100 shapes to decorate it. For Australia we are going to make digeridoo, and then AFRICA!! We are making a shield. I haven't figured out how to fit 100 into that yet.

There is still so much I want to do and i am feeling a little stressed about time.

I Never want to post on Mondays

I love teaching young children. I love watching their progression and their different stage of learning. Today we made our 100 Days necklace. I had a great idea to have it as a skill to count by fives (5 beads for each color). It was interesting to see my students manipulate beads and put them on a ribbon, but also this one little lady counted by ten when I asked her to count the beads to make sure there were 50 (50 on each side of the necklace). I was pleased with her skills. I also found it interesting at the different development level each student is with their fine motor skills.

I wish teaching was only about teaching.

What hobbies or talents do you have?

I have been on a quest to know who I am outside of my career. It is SO easy to get caught up in my career. A few months ago I was given a survey to let other people know who I am and a little bit about me. One of the questions was "what are your hobbies or talents?" I gave a quick answer of "it is hard to say because I get really interested in something and I am obsessed with it for few months and then I won't do anything with it again." For some reason I thought it would make me look real artistic.

But, now I think that was rather well put. I was really into stamping and scrap booking, and now if I take any pics, it is on a digital camera and I don't print them. Those that are printed sit in a pile to be "scrapped." Next I was obsessed about crocheting. I taught myself how to do it and I made several afghans for family and friends, and those leprosy wraps. Now I look at a project that I have recently started and it will probably never be completed. Cross stitching was another fad I have had since teenage years. I had one project sitting around for 5 years before I finally forced myself to finish it. I have another project that I purchased, but I have no desire to even start. I love sewing things. I really like creating the pattern, using scraps, and having it turn out well. But the only time I sew now is for Zero The Hero sock puppet capes.

My latest fascination is renovating furniture. I don't know if it is really renovating. I like to strip off the old paint or varnish. It is really fun using a stripping agent and sliding the paint off. It reminds me of peeling sunburns. I am on my third project. It is a sewing table. I was hoping that the previous owner had painted on top of the varnish, which they did. The sewing table has a folding top so there is more work space. It also has the part to lower the machine under the desk. My machine is too big to use it that way, but I was really, really hoping it would. So I have peeled most of the paint and primer paint off. Now I need to strip the old varnish off, especially since stripping the paint has ruined it. But I have used up all the strip agent and the store is closed.

My other two projects have been about a year ago. I had moved into a new place about a year earlier and had been living without a few things.

I needed a chest of drawers. I found a great one at the local Thrift Store. It was a Saturday morning and I was driving home from the gym and as I passed the Thrift shop I just felt that I should stop in and look around. I drove another 5 blocks before I finally succumbed to that voice. It was the first thing as you walk in and I wanted it right away, it had 8 drawers (well 7 drawers and one missing), a mirror, and it was wood not particle board. But I walked around the place once to see if there was anything else, and I found an end table that I needed in the living room. I finally purchased both and had to figure out how to get it home. I ended up calling my home teacher and he helped me get it home. He also took home a drawer to make a copy for the other side that was missing. He did a fabulous job, too. I sanded the drawers first and put on a white stain and later a varnish. The drawers looked fabulous. Then I started on the base with sanding, and I was getting low on sand paper. Then I asked a colleague about working on wood furniture and he mentioned about a strip agent. I picked some up and tried it out on my 'kitchen cabinets' and then on my base and it was so much faster than just sanding. I didn't do a very good strip job because I already used half of it on the "cabinets". I switched out the pulls for silver and white ones and for months after I finished I would lie in bed and admire the transformation.

I also needed some kitchen cabinets and my landlords were cleaning out their garage and offered me an old army closet. It was army green and had two doors. In each door there were shelves and a small section to hang a coat, but the original owner (not my landlord) had removed the shelves on the right hand side and and made it just a hanging closet. I washed out the inside with soap and water twice before painting the primer. (I used paint leftover from painting my classroom.) Then I painted the inside yellow. I had a blast. Then I found out about the strip agent from a colleague. I picked up some and started removing the green paint. I was so thrilled to have it come off so quickly. I had previously tried sanding off the paint and it made a layer of dust in the kitchen (yes I was doing this in my kitchen) and very little progress in removing the paint. So this new find was fantastic. I was pleased how fast it came off. i wanted to paint the outside the same color blue in my place, but I didn't get anywhere close to it. But it is blue. I still have to do the doors, but I am debating the need for them.

I am looking forward to finishing the sewing desk. I am hoping to put my unused sewing items in the cute drawers. And I am also hoping to do more sewing and crafty things.

What a Marvelous Week!

I have been enjoying my work week immensely. Monday was rather heinous, but the rest of the week has been down right fabulous.

Tuesday was wonderful because I had an hour prep before lunch and I downed 3 candy bars, mmmmmmm. Then I also walked our Gold Medal Mile laps with 4 darling little ladies. I do enjoy those laps inside the school building!

Wednesday was make-up Lunch Bunch day since there was no school on Monday. Mondays I draw 10 lucky names out of our paint tin of tickets that have been turned in for returning homework items every morning. Then lunch is brought back to the classroom and we chat while we eat. The first couple months I had a craft that we (okay, I) would make for the participants to take home. Then it moved to games, until I bought Marshmallow guns. I had a blast shooting marhsmallows at first years. I was their target, so I felt picked on, but it was a fun, fun, fun time.

Thursday is another coveted day with an hour prep after lunch and then we stop at the computer lab. This week I ditched the typical math website and opted for a different one. After trying to get most students logged in, I had fun wandering around listening to their comments of how fun, how did you get it to do that, I got it right.

There are other fantastic experiences this week. We are working on personal books and the first page of our book is about yourself. It is delightful to watch students think of the most important thing about themselves. I shared the book, The Important Book and we copied the format on each page. One friend wrote that his important thing was that his Mom loves him. Then he wrote I like shooting my BB gun. It made me giggle. Another kid wrote that he was good at playing Mario Cart as his most important thing.

We also worked on another page for our book. It is The Seven Continents. This challenge of a student raised his hand to offer a sentence for our shared writing lesson. It amazed me, which shouldn't have because he is great at recalling information. Well, he piped up about the Statue of Liberty's crown having one spike for each continent. I just love it when my teaching is manifested in such wonderful ways.

Some other noteworthy activities is that we spelled ATTENDANCE for the third time this year (we earn a letter each day that everyone is at school) and we had chips and salsa for our reward. Then we had our ninth Zero the Hero Day with donuts! AND to top all that off we had a phonics lesson and split the class in two groups and they were wonderfully cooperative.

Bike Accident: Closure

Over 18 months ago I was in an accident and suffered a concussion. The whole experience was a little obfuscating to me, especially since friends' stories of it seems that I was conscious the whole time, but yet I keep saying "when I came to . . .". Then I saw Conan O'Brien on the Tonight Show. He suffered a concussion doing a skit/stunt and sat with Andy Richter to share what happened. This was a light bulb turning on, it just all clicked for me, especially since Conan kept reiterating that he doesn't remember anything from a certain point and on, but he was obviously conscious. Since my viewing of that episode I have been "at peace" about my Swiss cheese memory of that experience. I am still upset that I don't remember the ambulance ride. But here is what I do know:

Floating around in my head, like a dream, I remember a conversation I had with a colleague who was on the phone to someone and he didn't know who I was but I recognized his voice. I finally said with major embarrassment, "you know me, *Harry!*" That caught Harry off guard, I could tell by his voice. Because I recognized his voice I thought I was at work, but the surroundings didn't match, and this other person hovering on my left that I wouldn't look at but she seemed to think I was in trouble.

And I "woke up" in the emergency room and the last thing I remember was I had been upstairs in the bathroom cutting my hair. So what could I have possibly done in the bathroom to make my face hurt so much? I heard two voices that seemed familiar, but I didn't know who they were. One was holding my hand and the other person seemed further away. Then I wake up again at the end of a conversation, and I don't know what we are talking about, so I clarify, 'I know I've probably just asked this, but what am I doing here? Then in the far corner there is a here-we-go-again-groan, while a gentle patting on my right hand and someone says, "remember, you were in an accident". "What day is it?" "Have I finished the Masters program? (I was starting my last three courses in three days.) "What? What did you say?" (This was after each time I heard the two voices whisper about something. I was worried there was something impossibly wrong with me.) Can you get me a mirror? (There is something wrong with my face, I can feel it!)

Then the doctor comes in, "Who is that?", He's your doctor. Then there is slight tugging on my eyebrow and the doc says, "now open up your mouth." Why? "i need to clean out the gravel and sew you up." I knowingly keep me mouth shut, make me. "I can't clean her up if she doesn't open her mouth." "I just need a minute." I contemplate keeping my mouth closed, but at this point I almost know who is in the corner so then I finally say, "Okay, I'm ready." and I open my mouth, but the doc didn't jump right in so then I close it.

Throughout this whole deal there are comments about calling sisters, their numbers, who can come, who can't, what time they can get there. I'm not really sure.

Towards the end voice-in-the-corner says "I'm going to go pick up the bike." "Where is it?" 300 West 100 North "Where is that?"

Gentle-hand-patter has to go and my sis will be there in 45 minutes. The ER needs the room so I am moved to another room, they make me walk?!?! Will anyone get me a mirror?

SISTER! No, I don't want a wheelchair to the car. ha, I found a mirror!! MY FACE? Then my best comment, "I think my right side of my face hit the ground." what gave that away, all the stitches?

I stayed the weekend at my sister's house, on the day of her son's high school graduation. I felt so guilty that she had to miss his ceremony, but SO thankful she is taking care of me. i don't get any pain prescription but I can take OTC pain meds. Sister alternates every two hours with Advil and Tylenol.

Monday at class I get lots of stares and possibly a gasp as i walk in. Unfortunately the professor had already started talking and i think he even hesitated. Then he states I think you need to tell me about yourself and we proceed around the room. My turn I state my career logistics and then i add that I went over the handlebars on my bike on Friday. Professor seems relieved that it wasn't a domestic violence case. At a break my colleague came over and said this is what i know, he was in his car waiting for the "problem" in the street to move and realized there was an accident and they needed his assistance. He got out of the car and called the EMT, than he mentioned that I had said, "you know me Ryan". He stayed until the ambulance got there and he stated that I was visibly assured that I was in good hands. I remember it as I can't cry in front of these people.

Voice-in-the-Corner found out about my accident because after I was in the ambulance an EMT stopped by the school to tell him a teacher was in an accident and she didn't have any family in the area. VitC called some of my friends, but they were out of town and he called Gentle-Hand-Patter because we were on a team together. So that's how they both ended up there. I am very grateful for their concern.

I wish I had a pic, but it is lost in digital world.

End of Term

I am sad to say I am a little depressed that we are already half-way through the school year. This year I am actually ahead of schedule, I have my report cards finished. (I think I might get in trouble due to that fact, but I'll deal with that later.) I am thoroughly impressed with the gains my students have made this last quarter. I have 10 students reading above grade level. WOW! I have many students who can write beautiful sentences, with nice handwriting, spaces, punctuation, and relate to a topic. I am honored that I have such a great class.

donorschoose.com!! I LOVE IT!

I am amazed at the wonderful donors in the world. There is a great website that allows teachers to post a project that they would like to be funded. This wonderful website then puts it out there in the great wide world and people who would like to support education can make monetary donations to specific projects. If in a certain amount of months the projects are funded then they are retired. This website is hugely confidential, no teacher names or student names are allowed in the description of the project. Although there is an option to look for a specific school in a specific district, so if you know the teachers at the school you could probably figure it out.

I first heard of this site four years ago, and I didn't want anything to do with it. Then, amazingly, I changed my mind. It started with just taking a look at the web page and sample projects. This led to, "just post something to see what happens." Then it is so thrilling to get an email stating some one has donated to your project, and then another donor, and another. The best part is that for technology projects there is a donor who automatically covers half of your cost. Sweetness!

Last week I got an email stating that my project had been partially funded!!! From someone local! Then a few hours later, literally, I received another email that a second donation was made, leaving only $17 to be donated!! I almost made that last donation myself, but there are limits to my credit, so I just let it hang out in that great abyss. Then the next day I had full funding for my project!!! this is soo cool!!! I don't have to share it with anyone, my cool HP All-in-one printer!! I can print off photos, color pages, and soo much more!!!

And the previous project I posted was funded within a week!! I am soo thankful for those generous donors who are willing to help me supplement my classroom needs!

I can make a rhombus, using a rhombus.

I have been working with students, almost individually, to get their report cards done since term ends on Friday. I was working with a group of boys on their assessments using pattern blocks (rhombus, hexagon, squares, triangles) for addition and subtraction. When the boys finished I let them play around with the shapes for several minutes. This one bright kid commented, "I can make a rhombus using rhombuses." Another little guy overheard this and chimed in, "I can too!" and picked up one rhombus and then set on the table. This had me roaring with laughter and all the occupants of the room turned to look at me. It was darling.

Puking Pastiles

I don't get sick very often. Well let me clarify, I don't get puking pastile sick, as an adult I remember only three instances (freshman year in college, once in el ed practicuum class: second grade valentine's day party, and Thanksgiving 2008). And usually I don't have students who puke very often in my class. But this year I have had two within the last month.

One little first year came to me afterwards and I was about to keep him in class until I saw suspicious goo down his shirt and pants and then the trail on the floor (thankfully linoleum, and not carpet). Another little first year came to a center I was manning. When she didn't get to work right away, I asked her if she was okay. She told me she wasn't feeling well, and again I was going to try to keep her in class until her cheeks puffed out and she moved like she didn't want it to get on her clothes. Then I couldn't get her to the office fast enough, and wipe down anywhere she had been with Clorox wipes (I never used to worry about disinfecting until my class had 10 cases of strep throat, and I was one of them).

There are few things that make me gag. Someone vomitting in front of me is one of them. (Another time I was teaching second years and this kid projectile vomitted with noise right after lunch and I could tell what he had eaten. Ten minutes later the secretary was worried that I was going to loose it, and so did I for about an hour.) I also gag when fingers dig up nostrils and then proceed to the mouths (and surprisingly a few adults, not me, still do this).

I'm not going to P-word out

About the only thing I really know about myself is that I really enjoy teaching primary grades. Part of me wonders if it has anything to do with my upbringing but that is another blog. Every year I think that my class is so wonderful and that no other class could possibly replace my current class. I am absolutely stunned each year as I realize that my current class has me wrapped around their litte fingers.

I marvel at children and their schema and knowledge. In primary grades students humor is simple. This year I have noticed how students are seeing the dual meanings in words. The beginning of this year I would state, "As I pass out these papers please....". since the return to school after our Winter Break the students have now started pretending to "pass out" after I say the words. At one point they would do it anytime anyone said the word, until one smart girl said, "ok, I am not going to p-word out, unless Ms. McGonagall says it." This had me rolling on the floor. Now that is our catch phrase if we don't want to do anything unless I say it, 'you know, I'm not going to p-word out unless Ms. McGonagall says it."

One thing I've decided is that I hope that each year each new class replaces my previous class, otherwise it will be my sign to get a new position.