There are so many things going on and of course, the craziness begins.....the end of the school year approaches.  Teachers and students are anxiously awaiting summer break.  I'm just hoping to keep myself intact and not let my mouth say everything that I absolutely want to say.  Today, I tried to combat this possible approach by listening to my Joyce Meyer CD....Has Anyone Seen My Mind.  I must admit that my day was not quite as hectic as I thought it would be considering the current time period.  I tried all day to remember the lesson.  "I can't change people to be who I want them to be."  "Sometimes rescuing others is actually hurting them." 

I related the second statement to one of my students.  He has always rushed through his work, never checked over it, and makes an endless array of careless mistakes.  His parents would send emails, and I would assign peer tutors or whatever intervention I thought would work.  This nine weeks, at my wits end with him academically and behaviorally, I told him that it was over.  I had given him several chances, written a wonderful behavior plan (that he ignored), and given his parents several suggestions for help at home.  However, it was now his turn to do his part.  In other words, helping him was actually hurting him.  He thought I would always rescue him. 

Today, I received an email from his parent requesting solutions for his problem.  My response this time was not sugar coated.  The only solution is for this student to take responsibility.  He has to make the right choice.  I can't help him anymore when he decides to take the wrong path.  I'm sure the parents are not going to like that answer because these days everything is supposed to be given to the student, but I haven't seen the parents taking any initiative.  Hopefully, he will learn a lesson, just as I have from this situation.  Sometimes, we are our own solution. 

13 Things About Our Class Art Mural

1. I am so excited about the finished project.
2. The students loved working with the paint and getting to "play" with the hand prints and footprints.
3. The theme is "Healthy Bodies and Healthy Minds".
4. Our tree says "Healthy Bodies + Healthy Minds = The Tree of Power".
5. We were given three weeks to complete the mural.
6. Those three weeks included buying materials and searching for that creative idea (along with normal lessons and a holiday).
7. The project was supposed to be created in such a way that you could see that the students completed a majority of it.
8. Some look more like an adult completed it.....but oh well....let's not dwell on that. :)
9. My knees are still quite sore from being on the floor with the students. 
10. The only part that I did on this was outline the tree, divided the sky from the grass, and the branches.
11. They learned how to make sure that the paint strokes were light and in the same direction, a little bit of paint goes a long way, and everyone has their niche.
12. I learned not to stress over the simple things, to realize that others will also have something better, and to know that in the whole scheme of things this is not that important.
13. The students and community can vote on the art murals ($1.00=1 vote).  I wasn't too thrilled about this because several classrooms have parents and family members with loaded wallets.  I just don't want my students to be disappointed.  However, I noticed Friday that my students were pleased with their project (even after seeing the others).  Lesson learned by students and the teacher.

I am posting more of the pictures in my picture window!  Thanks for stopping by!

TESTING

As a child I don't recall ever telling a teacher that I didn't "want" to do something.  Today we gave a practice state test, and although I know it will be more difficult than last year I did expect them to try to complete it.  However, I should have known that I was asking too much.  For some reason I have noticed that students today want everything handed to them.  In some regard they get what they want.  For example, I can't give a student a grade below 50.  So let's say that you have a student who really tries to complete the assignment but just doesn't know the information (due to inability not lack of study).  They make a 50.  Then, you have another student who doesn't care, signs his name, marks a few answers (or writes something you can't read), and turns in the paper.  Well, they can't make a zero....that wouldn't be fair.  So, let's give them a 50.

Well, back to today.  They were sleepy.  They glanced at passages and answered questions.  They didn't read the passages and went straight for the questions. (We discussed several times that you do not skip the passage.  You read the questions first; then go back and read the passage.)  They turned the paper sideways, played with pencils, stared at the wall, kicked their feet, and twirled their hair.  The one thing they did not do was pay attention to test.  Yet, I am held accountable for their test scores.  How can I control what they do?  URGH!!!!

ART MURAL

Our PTO wanted to raise money for a new playground.  If that is what they feel is important, then sobeit.  (I could have made a list of many other things needed by the school.)  Anyhow, in order to make more money we are having an art exhibit.  Each class is making a 4 x 8 mural.  The mural with the most votes ($1.00 per vote) wins the competition.  It's not the mural that I have an issue with, but the time in which we had to do it.  We were given three weeks.  The deadline was set so that they could meet a deadline with someone that would match the funds earned. In those three week (really only wanted to give us two), we had to find a theme, buy the board and art supplies, take nine-weeks tests, complete observations, get all make-up work completed, attend training, take a one day holiday, and spend two days taking practice tests.  Hmmm....just don't know when the art mural fits into this schedule.  Needless to say, we have been painting for the last two days.  I'm usually the teacher that likes to think out of the box and use materials that provide a 3-D effect.  However, this time I don't care if it is creative......I just want it finished!

I graded my vocabulary test from last week and needless to say I was quite disappointed.  My vocabulary list builds each week which means that you will have a longer list, but there are only a few new words.  I asked the students to write down why they made a failing grade.  Here are a few of the responses.

• I didn't have time to study because I had spelling homework. (Funny thing....he hasn't turned in his spelling homework for two weeks.)
• I studied but my sister was playing and I paid more attention to her.
• I didn't study.  I didn't want to study.
• I didn't study.  I went to my cousin's house. (They have the whole week to study, so I couldn't understand how one day at his cousin's house caused him to fail!  Go figure!)
• I was too busy playing with my step brother and sister to study.
• I didn't study because I didn't think I needed to.
• I didn't study.  I was watching t.v.
• I didn't study because I had to go to bed. (Of course, my question was "When did you start studying?"
• I didn't study enough!
• I didn't study real well because I had to watch t.v. ("had" to watch t.v.  What...was it life or death?)

Then, to really put things in perspective I gave a test on the continents.  Yes, I told them they had to label the continents and spelling counted. 

Student:  Are you going to write the continents on the board?

Teacher:  Hmmm.... now if I did that I would give you the answers.

Student:  Well, then how will I know how to spell them?

Teacher:  Remember I told you that spelling counted.

Student:  Oh...well I guess I will just spell Alabama the best I can.  (No....you guessed it.  We are not in Alabama.)

Okay...so I kinda took this one from Jeff Foxworthy, but it is worth it!  Hope you enjoy!

Jeff Foxworthy's YOU MIGHT BE A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE IF.....

1. You want to slap the next person who says, "Must be nice to work 8 to 3:30 and have summers off."
2. It is difficult to name your own child, because there's no name you can come up with doesn't bring high blood pressure as it is uttered.
3. You can tell if it's a full moon or if it is going to rain, snow, hail... or anything else, without ever looking outside.
4. When out in public, you feel the urge to snap your fingers at children you do not know and correct their behavior.
5. You have no social life between August and June.
6. You think people should have a government permit before being allowed to reproduce.
7. You laugh uncontrollably when people refer to the staff room as the "lounge".
8. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.
9. You can't imagine how the ACLU could think that covering you student's chair with Velcro, and then requiring that uniforms be made our of corresponding Velcro material could ever be misunderstood by the public.
10. Meeting a child's parent instantly answers the question, "Why is this kid like this?"
11. You would choose a mammogram over a parent conference.
12. You think someone should invent antibacterial pencils and crayons....and desks and chairs for that matter.
13. The words, "I have college debt for this?" have ever come out of your mouth.

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