Ok, so my little guy that I chose as student of the month has been super helpful the last 2 days. We eat breakfast in the classroom this year and the cafeteria staff brings a milk bag and a food bag. There is a little slip of paper where we have to write how many people are eating. He has taken it upon himself to be the breakfast helper. Every morning when we finish eating we have to set the bags outside the door to be picked up. Today my mind was all over the place and I was forgetting to do things (thanks mom!). He reminded me to take the breakfast count and put it in the bag, made sure I had my breakfast and get everything packed up and outside the door before I even knew what was going on. I thought it was so sweet, I gave him a pat on the shoulder and said thanks for helping with breakfast. His response, "no problem, Mrs. Barnes, I'm here to help". I couldn't believe it, it made the morning go much more smoothly. The best part is that he doesn't know he is the student of the month, he is just being wonderful because that's who he is. I definitely made the right choice for the month of August!
I forgot one from last week. Last Monday one of my tougher kids came in first thing and said, "I'm glad to be back in this classroom to see your smiling face, Mrs. Barnes". He has a tough home life so I think the comment stemmed from that but it was still sweet.
In other news, I ordered 2 books from Amazon that are filled with math folder games for grades 3-6. I got the first book today and have started on the 15 games from the book. I'm super excited to use them in centers and small groups as skill practice. I also interviewed to teach a 5th grade remedial math class before school so they will be useful there, too! I have blisters all over my hand from making games lately, but it's totally worth it, the kids love them and they are so beneficial. I have 1 file drawer full of games so far and after I'm done with these 2 books I will probably have a 2nd drawer. I also have a bucket of games that I have made from the Kagan training I did over the summer. I had one of the games on the schedule for today and the kids were excited to whole day. They kept looking at the clock waiting for 2:40 to roll around. They are so funny sometimes. :-)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Another Heart Melter
I had my first parent helper today! She came in a made 3 games for me, then took 2 more home! It was fabulous! She's going to stop by a couple times a week and either make games or read/work on math facts with the kids. I'm so excited to have her!!!
She was telling me today that her daughter had a rough 3rd grade year. I asked her why and she said that her daughter suffered from severe anxiety, to the point they ended up in the ER and almost medicated her. My heart was breaking, I don't wish that kind of pain on anyone but especially a child. Mom was saying that she is so much better this year and just loves coming to school and is not anxious anymore. She goes home happy and is excited to come to school the next day. At this point (of course) I'm almost crying. Mom said that over the weekend her daughter asked "Mom, do you think God gave me a good teacher this year so I could feel better?" I almost lost it. Mom was tearing up and told me she is so thankful that her daughter is in my class and she hasn't seen her this happy in so long. It felt so amazing. It was one of those moments that made me remember why I do what I do. After that all Heck broke loose in my room, but at the end of the day, I thought about that mom and daughter and couldn't help but smile, and know that I'm in the most amazing career and I really do make a difference. I never thought it could happen so quickly.
I met this mom at meet the teacher day and she said that she had requested me, which at the time I thought was a huge honor. Of course I still feel that way but she elaborated today. She used to work at the school and was talking at the end of the year to our former principal. She was asking who would be best for her daughter to have in 4th grade. Maria, the former principal, recommended me. When she told me that, I stopped breathing. It was a huge honor to know that the principal that I knew for a year thought that highly of me. I was literally thrust on her after getting RIFed the first year, I knew that she thought I was pretty good, but I didn't know how good! I was amazed.
Needless to say, I had a heart melting day. That's 2 stories since Thursday that have almost had me in tears (which I know is not shocking). It's the little things like that, that make me love kids all the more. I am truly blessed to be in such a rewarding profession, I just need to make sure that I continue to remember that daily.
In other news, keep some of my kiddos in your thoughts and prayers. I have some kids who are going to start meeting with counselors for family problems and anger issues. It breaks my heart to hear the stories they tell and know that I'm the only hug they will get every day. I'm hoping that I can help them with the support of the great staff at my school!
She was telling me today that her daughter had a rough 3rd grade year. I asked her why and she said that her daughter suffered from severe anxiety, to the point they ended up in the ER and almost medicated her. My heart was breaking, I don't wish that kind of pain on anyone but especially a child. Mom was saying that she is so much better this year and just loves coming to school and is not anxious anymore. She goes home happy and is excited to come to school the next day. At this point (of course) I'm almost crying. Mom said that over the weekend her daughter asked "Mom, do you think God gave me a good teacher this year so I could feel better?" I almost lost it. Mom was tearing up and told me she is so thankful that her daughter is in my class and she hasn't seen her this happy in so long. It felt so amazing. It was one of those moments that made me remember why I do what I do. After that all Heck broke loose in my room, but at the end of the day, I thought about that mom and daughter and couldn't help but smile, and know that I'm in the most amazing career and I really do make a difference. I never thought it could happen so quickly.
I met this mom at meet the teacher day and she said that she had requested me, which at the time I thought was a huge honor. Of course I still feel that way but she elaborated today. She used to work at the school and was talking at the end of the year to our former principal. She was asking who would be best for her daughter to have in 4th grade. Maria, the former principal, recommended me. When she told me that, I stopped breathing. It was a huge honor to know that the principal that I knew for a year thought that highly of me. I was literally thrust on her after getting RIFed the first year, I knew that she thought I was pretty good, but I didn't know how good! I was amazed.
Needless to say, I had a heart melting day. That's 2 stories since Thursday that have almost had me in tears (which I know is not shocking). It's the little things like that, that make me love kids all the more. I am truly blessed to be in such a rewarding profession, I just need to make sure that I continue to remember that daily.
In other news, keep some of my kiddos in your thoughts and prayers. I have some kids who are going to start meeting with counselors for family problems and anger issues. It breaks my heart to hear the stories they tell and know that I'm the only hug they will get every day. I'm hoping that I can help them with the support of the great staff at my school!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
4 weeks down!
I knew I would be bad about updating this thing!
This first month of school has been AMAZING! I love my class, they are wonderful. I have some tough kiddos, but it makes it challenging. I have been making a lot of games for my classes and they seem to love them so far. They are so excited to "play" in school and they don't realize they are learning/practicing. I'm loving the Kagan things that I have implemented so far and they are so beneficial.
I have chosen my first student of the month. He doesn't know yet, I want it to be a surprise for him, he has never been chosen before. I was warned about him by his previous teacher. I already knew him before this year. He was sent to my room last year to await a parent-teacher-student conference because of his poor behavior. While he was in my room, he got in serious trouble. This year, he has been wonderful. He is very responsible, gets all of his work done, and well. Does extra work, is super helpful and overall a fabulous kid. Every week we have "Buddies" with a second grade class. His young buddy is a behavior problem and is all over the place. My student is so cute with his buddy. Yesterday he said that Step 4 is not a place you want to be because it doesn't feel good. (Step 4 is when you go to another room, which is why he came to me last year.) I called his dad yesterday to let him know that I selected him as student of the month and dad was shocked. I told him all the reasons why and he was completely floored. He thanked me and said he was proud. My heart melted. I'm so excited for him to hear his name called in front of the whole school. I'm keeping it a secret from him (usually the kids know ahead of time) and I asked his dad not to mention it, also. I can't wait to see his reaction!
This past Thursday was Open House night. I only had 8 families come out of 29. However, I got to meet a bunch of families from the other classes, since I see all 3 classes for Social Studies. It was great. One little girl, as she was leaving introduced me as her "next door teacher". It was so cute. We all laughed. Then a mom told us a story about her son. She is pregnant and was asking her son if he wanted a boy or a girl. We'll call him Johnny and her Sue. Johnny asked what she wants and Sue said she just wants a healthy baby, Johnny agreed. Well this week Sue found out she is having a boy. Johnny said, "mommy can I tell you the truth, I have been praying for a baby brother and I think God listened!" Sue said she broke down and now is so thankful it's a boy. All three of us did the "AWWWW" in unison and I of course almost cried. It was such a sweet story.
That's all for now. I need to get to planning and cutting for more folder games. More to come later, eventually! Once I figure out how to post pictures, I will.
This first month of school has been AMAZING! I love my class, they are wonderful. I have some tough kiddos, but it makes it challenging. I have been making a lot of games for my classes and they seem to love them so far. They are so excited to "play" in school and they don't realize they are learning/practicing. I'm loving the Kagan things that I have implemented so far and they are so beneficial.
I have chosen my first student of the month. He doesn't know yet, I want it to be a surprise for him, he has never been chosen before. I was warned about him by his previous teacher. I already knew him before this year. He was sent to my room last year to await a parent-teacher-student conference because of his poor behavior. While he was in my room, he got in serious trouble. This year, he has been wonderful. He is very responsible, gets all of his work done, and well. Does extra work, is super helpful and overall a fabulous kid. Every week we have "Buddies" with a second grade class. His young buddy is a behavior problem and is all over the place. My student is so cute with his buddy. Yesterday he said that Step 4 is not a place you want to be because it doesn't feel good. (Step 4 is when you go to another room, which is why he came to me last year.) I called his dad yesterday to let him know that I selected him as student of the month and dad was shocked. I told him all the reasons why and he was completely floored. He thanked me and said he was proud. My heart melted. I'm so excited for him to hear his name called in front of the whole school. I'm keeping it a secret from him (usually the kids know ahead of time) and I asked his dad not to mention it, also. I can't wait to see his reaction!
This past Thursday was Open House night. I only had 8 families come out of 29. However, I got to meet a bunch of families from the other classes, since I see all 3 classes for Social Studies. It was great. One little girl, as she was leaving introduced me as her "next door teacher". It was so cute. We all laughed. Then a mom told us a story about her son. She is pregnant and was asking her son if he wanted a boy or a girl. We'll call him Johnny and her Sue. Johnny asked what she wants and Sue said she just wants a healthy baby, Johnny agreed. Well this week Sue found out she is having a boy. Johnny said, "mommy can I tell you the truth, I have been praying for a baby brother and I think God listened!" Sue said she broke down and now is so thankful it's a boy. All three of us did the "AWWWW" in unison and I of course almost cried. It was such a sweet story.
That's all for now. I need to get to planning and cutting for more folder games. More to come later, eventually! Once I figure out how to post pictures, I will.
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