Something that Starts with the Letter D that is Hot

Yeah, I don't even know what the correct answer is. Today when I went to pick my class up from Spanish, they were playing this game while standing in line. I think I walked in the first answer I heard was a hot dog. They were told no, so Joseph says, "a dad."

Mrs. F. says, "No, Dad's are not hot."

"I guess that would depend on the dad," I say softly back. I know inappropriate.

We begin walking back to class and Celine says, "Ms. J. did you know that Thomas guessed your name for something hot that begins with a D?"

I can hear many things as a teacher, so my typical comment when walking in the hallways and not knowing what to say is, "Oh, that is nice!"

Celine quick to respond, "But you told us that it isn't nice to say someone looks hot, we were supposed to say they look pretty, beautiful or handsome."

"Yes, Celine you are right, I did say that."

How much are you worth?

The school auction is approaching rather quickly, tomorrow. The auction is my school's largest fundraiser, bringing in tens of thousands of dollars. It is a fun night, shared with the school faculty, school parents, clergy, and community. Every year the teachers donate items to do with children. This year our teacher donations will be taken out of the silent auction and put into the live auction, in hopes to raise more money for the school.

I decided that with the auction being tomorrow, I would tell the children about the auction baskets that I will be involved in. The goal is to get the children interested in the baskets, so they will tell their parents to bid on the basket. I say, "Okay class, tomorrow is the auction, so Ms. J. wants to share with you the auction baskets she will be in, and if you like that basket idea tell your mom and dad."

Celine says, "Wait a minute. You are going to be in a basket."

"No, but that would be funny. What if I jumped out and said buy me?"

I have the cutest students because Cronius immediately says, "but Ms. J. you are priceless."

Cosmas says, "I will pay a $1,000 for you."

Cronius replies back, "Cosmas, there is any amount of money you could spend to buy Ms. J., that is why she is priceless."

After lunch and recess, the children return to class. As Cronius was walking in the door he says, "Ms. J. I have determined that the only way someone could have you is by being in your class. So they can pay money to be in your class."

What can I say, my students really know how to make their teacher feel loved.

e-Harmony

Today my class began reading the story, "Sarah, Plain, and Tall." This is still one of my childhood favorites. As we were reading in the book, I asked some questions about the story. One of the questions I asked was, "Why did Papa put an ad in the newspaper looking for a wife?"

Kateri answers first, "Well, Anna was getting older and she needed a mother to teach her how to be a lady."

"Great answer Kateri, are there any other answers?"

Ralph, "Well, he needed a wife, so he put an ad in the paper."

"Okay, Ralph, but why the paper?"

"Because he needed a wife," says Joseph.

"Alright boys and girls, I want you to think, why would a person write an ad in the paper for a wife."

Agnes raised her hand to answer, "Probably because they did not have a computer and so he couldn't use e-Harmony."

I can do that!

Today the children had off for parent-teacher conferences. I had a break in my conferences and was watching one of my student's two year old brother play with the water fountain in the hallway. When the preschool class came in from outside, he followed them into their room and one of the teachers asked if I wanted to watch their science experiment. I love science, so I went in to join them. The preschool teacher takes two eggs and the goal of the day was to see if you can break the egg with one hand, which is supposed to be impossible. Of course, give me a challenge and I am game. I said, "I can do that!" I take my turn, squeeze with all my might and the preschool teacher says, "see you can see she is squeezing hard, because her fingertips are turning red." All of a sudden the egg makes a popping noise. The next thing I know is that I have closed my entire fist, and egg is flying in the air landing on the children who either think this is awesome or have started crying. I look over to the two year who was sitting front and center for this activity and he has egg all over, but is laughing. I help clean up the mess and one of the little preschoolers comes up to me and says, "How did you get super strong powers?" Needless to say, I don't think I will be welcome in the preschool class for a while.

Ms. J. is kind of energetic?

Today, I took a few minutes to work on two of our Christmas songs for the Christmas program at the end of the month. The children will also be recorded for one of the songs to be put on the radio, which I believe that date is coming soon. I definitely want the children to do well. I have a class of beautiful singers, but recently some of the boys do not want to sing because they can't hit high notes like the girls. I also have the very talented Agnes who is trying to shine by singing louder than every other child in the class.

I begin by having every child sing the first line of Joy to the World and separate them into three groups. I had a group of three girls and one boy who could really hit the high notes, another group of three girls and one boy, and then finally a group of all boys. Aidan sees the groups and while everyone else is changing seats to sit in the same group, Aidan says, "Ms. J. isn't it funny how all the kids that can hit the high notes are all the energetic kids."

"Hmm, I didn't notice that."

Aidan had a point though, it did seem like some of the active children in the class were in that group. I also couldn't help, but to think that Aidan had phrased his comment in such a nice way.

We begin with everyone singing. "Okay, in my group 1, I want you to remember that the goal is to sing beautifully as a class. There are many beautiful voices in the classroom individually, but the goal is to sound beautiful together." I didn't want Agnes to be singled out, so I phrase this for the entire group. "Now group 3, you are twice the size of both groups, so I do not need you to sing loudly, because you are the largest of groups, we will not have any problems hearing you."

"Now, I will sing the first couple of lines for you to listen to and then we will sing again."

This is a very awkward time for me, as I do not believe I'm a good singer, even the thought of singing in front of children by myself makes me nervous.

"Ms. J. you should be in group 1," Aidan says.

"Thank you for letting me know."

"That kind of makes since, you are kind of energetic, too."

I do not know whether to take this as a compliment or insult.

Rocky

Gosh, it seems like forever since my last entry. Now that I'm done with report cards, things have settled down a bit. Tonight I am realizing that sometimes the stressful events in life are a blessing. They make us remember to enjoy the little things and appreciate even the smallest of things. Working on report cards was such a stressful time for me. I helped this year with getting all report cards printed, having a program that wasn't really set up correctly to begin with and going back into the programming to fix it. I had very little time last week to spend with my students and when I was with them, I wasn't, I was being pulled in so many directions or had so many other things on my mind. I actually missed being with my students, or my children as I usually call them.

This week, has been a more relaxing week. I am enjoying their company and teaching! I think the children enjoy having me being back this week as well. Although I am nervous about leaving them again in December for a meeting, because they didn't enjoy having a sub. Today we were discussing in our religion books about Joseph, we started studying Joseph last week, about how his brothers sold him, how he could interpret dreams, and how he became a governor in Egypt. This week we are focusing on how his brothers who are in need of food for the family come to Egypt. I always begin my religion lesson with questions reviewing the day before and I call on students to answer. Many hands have been going up lately because the children are finding the old testament very interesting and they keep craving for more. So, I ask the students, "Why do the brothers travel to Egypt?"

I see Celine has her hand up, "Celine."

"Well, ..."

"Remember, if this is a story or a question that doesn't relate to our lesson, ask or tell me after our lesson."

I'm really trying to work with the children on staying on topic.

"I know, Ms. J, but you see this picture, don't you think it looks like Rocky."

Celine points to one of the pictures in the religion book.

"Why, it sure does!" I'm quite amazed myself at the resemblance.

"I want to see," most of the children say.

Up out of their desks they go, heading over to Celine's. I do not know why, because all the children had the same book on their desk.

"Look in your own book," I suggest to the children.

I laugh, thinking that I have missed a week of the little things the kids say, find and do and it feels good to enjoy these little moments with them.

New Catholic Trading Cards

One of the things that drives me crazy with teaching fourth grade is the children's obsession with wanting to cut paper, drawing on paper, and making random things out of trash. I know I sound crazy right now, but you see at the end of the day I'm the one picking up all of it off the floor and finding their desk full of random pieces of paper. I try to stop the children as much as possible with this, for example the students are not allowed to keep scissors, crayons, colored pencils, and markers in their desk. I also do no allow paper in their desk, yes you read that correctly, paper is not allowed in their desk. I guess you can say I'm a little OCD.

Then there are days, that the children somehow bypass these small rules, usually when we have some form of craft. This morning the children made cards to go to the local Catholic High School for their generosity with paying for our field trip. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to keep the kids from creating things at their desk, that later end up on the floor. This morning while completing attendance, Cronius comes to me and says he wants to show me something. I glance over and of course it is a small cut piece of paper and I'm thinking, SERIOUSLY! Then of course, I have one of those moments, where you desperately want to be upset, but the child does or says something which changes your mood.

"Ms. J. do you know how there are card games like Pokemon?"

"Yes, Cronius."

"Well, I have decided to make a card game."

"Oh."

"Here is the first card, it is Jesus, he is worth 1,000 points. I want you to have him."

"Thank you, Cronius, you are such a sweet boy." (See what I mean, I am no longer mad at him for cutting and making things in my class.)

"Ms. J."

"Yes."

"Well, I was thinking that I could make a God card, too, God would be worth 10,000 points and because I do not know what he looks like I will put a question mark."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Also, I want to make saint cards, too. Do you think you can get me some pictures of saints, so I know what they look like?"

"Sure, I can do that." (WHAT? Now I am supporting his cutting and coloring habit.)

What can I say, how do you stop a child from making a Catholic trading card game?