I miss my kids :(

Garden Of Success (stolen from my corresponding teacher)

 For a Garden of Success:

Plant 5 kinds of PEAS:
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Preparation
- Planning
- Positiveness

Plant 3 rows of SQUASH:
- Squash negativity
- Squash thoughtlessness
- Squash excuses

Add 5 rows of LETTUCE:
- Let us be positive
- Let us take responsibility
- Let us be in control
- Let us reward our accomplishments
- Let us do our best

No garden is complete without TURNIPS:
- Turn up with a positive attitude
- Turn up with a smile
- Turn up with new ideas
- Turn up with determination
- Turn up with success

and Let Your Garden Flourish!

My Crazy Corresponding Teacher

My corresponding teacher is out of her mind in the best possible way.  Nothing is too outlandish or difficult for her.  When the classroom pet was never delivered, she called every pet store in the tri-state area to find a newt that would work for our unit.  When I was nervous about finding a Smartboard activity that would fit my math lesson, she whipped one up herself in less than 10 minutes.
But my absolute favorite moment of insanity is when she announced that we would be taking all 20 of our kids to the outdoor classroom for an ELA lesson.  In the middle of the woods.  Near the river.  Sure enough, she found an empty spot and began hauling logs over as benches.  I had the kids sit down and began to read a story.  When I finished reading The Salamander Room, I looked up and noticed that my crazy corresponding teacher had cleaned out all of the thorny bushes and made a path with at least 15 huge logs.  Then she asked me if I would feel comfortable taking the children down to the stream to observe the habitat and touch the water.  I was more than happy to hop down and show kids (some for the very first time) what a river looked and felt like.
I am so grateful to work with someone as driven and adventurous as Jennifer Teichmann.

I know that it is easy to complain about administration without fully understanding the reason for their decisions.  Administration has the incredible challenge of having to balance the students' needs with the state/district regulations.   However, WHO THOUGHT FLIPPING THE KINDERGARTNER'S SCHEDULE WAS A GOOD IDEA?  Because of state testing, the elementary teachers have been made proctors and everything has been changed around.  There is no set schedule and less than 4 hours of actual teaching time each day.  And because their routine has been thrown out the window, half of this teaching time is spent re-focusing the children who do not understand what's going on.  For example, no one communicated to me today that the Library teacher would be coming to our classroom instead of us going to the library.  I had the class halfway across the building before the library teacher caught me and redirected the class.  Standardized testing is not my favorite thing.

Alright.  Vent over.

Today we made "Glue Goo," an interesting blend of Borax, boiling water, food coloring, and Elmer's glue.  My corresponding teacher and I made perfect worksheets and booklets, outlining how to use our senses in conducting an experiment.  The kids would write out how they used the scientific method by: 1) Observing with their senses 2) Making a prediction 3) Drawing a conclusion.  The worksheets were so beautiful I wanted to cry.
As we began the lesson, I noticed that our beautiful worksheets were covered in colored water and sticky liquids.  But the lesson was so fascinating and messy, and the kids were learning so much, that I couldn't stop to make sure that they wrote down the answer to every single question.  After a while, I collected the worksheets and put them under the table.  Instead we talked about what the goo felt like, what it needed more of, predicted what it would do next, used words like "dissolved" and "solution," and compared the texture to other things.  We were covered in corn starch, oil, and glue.  It. Was. Awesome.
Then I realized that although we had learned so much and covered so many topics, I still had four half-blank worksheets and booklets.  My corresponding teacher came over and said, "Don't worry about it.  They were engaged and they learned more this way than they would have writing out sentences.  As long as they met all the objectives verbally, you've done your job."  It was a great reminder for me that learning does not always come the way the teacher expects it to and that lesson plans are guidelines, not rules.

This is what ran across the room when I walked into the classroom this morning.  Oh Mondays. :)

LOVE!

I have now spent two full weeks in my second placement.  And my experience has taught me some important and not-so-important lessons.  Never wear white pants, avoid the principal if you can, don't be the one who broke the copy machine, don't bring the kids late to gym class, use more than worksheets in your lessons, don't drop the J-word (Jesus), it's okay to swear like a sailor (as long as you pretend the kids didn't hear you), and whatever you do, don't spell out words for the kids when they ask, "Ms. Rock, how do you spell ______?". I can't say that I agree with all of these words of wisdom from various teachers and staff, but there are things that I have picked up here that I will never forget as long as I live.

1) Children do not need you to be their friend, they need you to be their teacher.  A 5-year-old child needs the discipline, the routine, and the structure if they are going to thrive in a learning environment.  If they are allowed to do whatever they want to, they will get into things that will harm them or others.  Children feel safe when they know that someone is watching out for them and holding them accountable.

2) Teaching is all about preparation.  Take advantage of prep time during the day, it may be your only opportunity to find that one book or to discuss ideas with another teacher.  These prep times are brain breaks as well as opportunities to be less-stressed later on.

3) Do not let yourself be pushed around.  Most teachers have a Type A, take-charge personality which can sometimes come off as pushy or controlling when they are under pressure.  It is important for more sensitive people (like myself) to remember not to take these things personally.

4) Roll with it.  :)  Things will NEVER go exactly as planned.  And sometimes, that's a good thing!

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.  - Philippians 1:6

The Switch

I knew that leaving my 1st placement to start my 2nd placement would be difficult.  I had no idea it would be this hard.  I thought that the hardest part would be saying goodbye to my kids and the staff I had come to love for 2 months.  Instead, I find that the hardest transition has been leaving a Christian school for a public school.  At Eastern Christian I taught Bible and led devotions everyday.  We were constantly praying in that classroom.  But today at Woodglen I was told that "speaking about anything religious is completely forbidden."  This was not a shock to me, I grew up in the Clarkstown district, but I am surprised by how uncomfortable I am by it.  All day long I think about how many of these kids do not know Christ and how easily they could go their entire lives without knowing Him.  More than that, my corresponding teacher told me today that she's "not into anything all that religious."  She was very interested in what being a part of ministry was like, but she did not seem like she wanted it to ever be a part of her life.
People have often told me that being a Christian teacher would give me the opportunity to lead others to Jesus through my actions without my words.  And I know that God has called certain people to that kind of life.  But I have never been able to hide what I am passionate about.  I could not spend most of my life in a career where I could not talk about Jesus.  I know that after graduation I will enter into seminary school in the fall to be a pastor.  But if I was going to continue in education, I would have to teach at a Christian school.  I just can't seem to keep my thoughts to myself.

Ms. Baitzel was out again today, leaving me to run the show.  It's amazing the difference in me and in the kids between the first time I taught by myself and now.  The first time I was terrified and constantly frazzled by the amount of chaos in the room.  The kids went wild when they realized I was a rookie.  But today, I can say that I kept control of the room and held their interest during lessons.  My classroom management skills are so much better, probably because I know now what I am capable of.  I also know the kids well enough to provide differentiated instruction.  I know now that Tshahi needs an extra worksheet on division while David needs the manipulative chips to add 8 + 9.  I have also learned the value of positive reinforcement.
There is nothing on this planet (other than Jesus and nutella) as powerful as positive reinforcement.  For some reason I cannot understand, a child goes deaf when I tell them to stop talking, but when I exclaim, "Wow!  Look at how quiet and focused Capri is!  Thank you Capri!" the entire room goes quiet.  I'm also learning that positive reinforcement works just as well with adults.  For example, when I tell my friends how I love what great listeners they are, they are all the more willing to listen to me and to other people.  I feel like I've unlocked the secret to worldwide happiness!

Museum of Natural History

Today both 2nd grade classrooms went on a field trip to the Museum of Natural History.  (This was the same museum featured in the movie Night at the Museum)  Originally I had been told that there were enough parents to take all of the children and that the teachers would be free to roam the museum at their leisure.  I cannot tell you how excited I was about this.  I love this museum and was counting down the hours until I could browse through the Pacific Island, Native American, human origins, and outer space exhibits.  That was until Ms. Baitzel told me that they were one parent short and needed me to take Allison, Capri, and Emma for the day.  Thankfully, I would have another parent with me, but I would still have to chase three 7-year-olds around all 5 floors of the gigantic and maze-like museum in New York City.
Not only did I have to follow them through the masses of pushy parents and squealing children, I also had to keep them happy.  They usually eat lunch at 12:00 and we were not allowed to eat until 1:15, causing serious emotional breakdowns.  It was also difficult to watch three children while I was dealing with awful allergy issues and trying not to sneeze on the thousand year old fossils.  (I wanted nothing more than to be on the bus, with a peanut butter bagel, and the promise of Nyquil waiting for me at home)  Allison was never entirely happy in whatever exhibit she was in.  She whined until we took her to the blue whale, until we took her to the T-Rex, until we took her to the African Mammals...  When she asked me for the 8th time when we would get to see the "DumDum statue from the movie," I said, "Allison, there is cool stuff all around you.  And you are going to miss it if you keep hoping for the next thing.  Be happy where you are."  And then I realized that those were the words that I needed to hear.  Here I was, watching three girls gaze in awe at all of these things that they had never seen before, and all I could think about was when how much longer 'til I could take some sinus medicine.
Teaching is really challenging.  It will kick your butt.  But if I focus on the little annoyances instead of the life-changing moments, I'm going to look back on my semester with regret.

Today was nuts!  It just seemed like Ms. Baitzel and I were trying to juggle 46 things at the same time.  I don't know how she does this by herself on a regular basis.  Emmy did not do her homework again (which means a parent teacher conference), Matthew finally lost his tooth (which was a huge celebration),  the floor was covered in paint, and of course we were late to music class.  But the real craziness came when Ms. Baitzel received a unhappy and demanding email from one of the parents.  The parent criticized Ms. Baitzel for not challenging their child and for not communicating with them what was expected.  They did not request certain items, they demanded them.  They compared her with the child's previous teachers and informed her that if the child failed a test, it was her fault entirely.  I was furious.  Ms. Baitzel laughed.  She had more than enough evidence to show that the student was at fault for his failure, that she had tried to communicate with the parents beforehand, and that her performance as a teacher went beyond the school's standards.
I could not believe how confident she was.  With everything else that had been going on that day, this email would have brought me to tears.  But she took it all in stride.  I learned so much from today.  Such as....

1) Teaching requires every ounce of you.  Every bit of energy and second that you've got.
2) You cannot make everyone happy.
3) Save your emails.  And keep up with your gradebook.
4) Do not take your frustration with parents out on their child.

My Strengths & How I use them in the classroom:

1) Empathy - This means that I am able to put myself in someone else's shoes.  I am sensitive to other people's emotions and I can see things from their perspective.  This is a highly valuable strength in a classroom because I know how exactly how to teach a lesson according to my students' needs.  I know what is bothering my students and so I can figure out how to fix it.  Unfortunately this also means that I tend to be a people pleaser and will have to give up trying to make my students happy all the time.

2) Communication - According to Strength Finder 2.0, people who are able to communicate are great conversationalists and presenters.  I am able to put my thoughts into words and explain things to the kids so that they are able to understand it.  I enjoy telling them stories and I can easily work a joke into a lesson to keep them focused.  I enjoy talking with the kids and getting to know them better.

3) Developer - Being a good developer means that I can see the potential in another person and encourage it.  This will help me to be a great coach and teacher.  The creator of Strength Finder writes, "By nature you usually enjoy activities involving children."  It also will help me to form units and big picture lesson plans.

4) Discipline - People who possess this strength are naturally organized, sometimes to a fault.  We enjoy order and routine.  This will be helpful in a classroom for children who need routine to function and learn.  I will utilize this strength by keeping the room organized, by keeping my lessons focused, and by keeping to a schedule that the students will come to appreciate.

5) Connectedness - This strength relates to my belief that relationships are the most important thing and that everything happens for a reason.  People with this strength understand how family and community affect all aspects of life.  This will be important for me as a teacher because I will be able to see how a child can be helped or hurt by his or her homelife.  This strength will push me to form positive relationships with parents and families, benefiting the student.

3 Weeks Left!

Today I looked at my corresponding teacher and said, "I only have three weeks left."  She said, "Don't even remind me."  It is amazing how time can change things.  Just a few weeks ago, I was tiptoeing around the desks and almost too nervous to grade a math worksheet.  Now I know the teacher, the school, and the kids well enough to break up fights, decipher handwriting, and explain to Tshahi exactly why she cannot roll her eyes at me.  I know their personalities and today I discovered that I can recognize each one of their voices.  This is an invaluable part of teaching.  Because I know my students well enough, I know exactly what will interest them in a lesson, what they already know, and what they are capable of.  I also know what makes them angry and what makes them laugh.  I can pick up very quickly when they are bored or when they are about to get wiggly.  I think a part of this is my first strength, Empathy. (Strength Finder)  I am sensitive and so I can quickly pick up on other people's feelings.  This allows me to get to know a person quickly and relate to them on a personal level.  It also allows me to teach according to the students' needs.

Kody and I have a very special relationship.  We both arrived to Eastern Christian Elementary School during the same week.  We were both newbies and we learned the ropes together.  Today I had to send him to his seat for talking during a Bible lesson.  It was then that I realized that enough time had gone by that he was chatting away with his classmates and I was comfortable enough to discipline the kids.  I love what God can do over time. :)

OUR SMARTBOARD WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Eastern Christian Elementary School Motto:

"Whatever you do, do it for God."

Colossians 3:17 (New International Version)

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

So when I.....

- sharpen pencils

- copy worksheets

- clean up pieces of grilled cheese on the floor

- read the bible verse again. and again.  and again.     and again.

- supervise math centers

- grade spelling tests

- read "The Trumpet of the Swan" in different accents just to hear the giggles

- untie impossibly knotted shoelaces

.....I do it for God

I love so many things about my corresponding teacher.  She is kind to the kids, she knows them so well, she has over the room so that she doesn't have to yell, she is willing to re-explain the lesson for the 14th time, and she never let's anything rattle her.  She just doesn't sweat the small stuff.  But my favorite thing about Ms. Baitzel is her patience.  I have never seen such patience in a human being before.  I thank God that I have been able to observe her teaching, even if it's just for a few weeks.

I love them.

Student 1: "Did you know Jesus didn't speak English?  He spoke Spanish!"
Student 2: "NO! JESUS SPOKE JEWISH!"


Sean: "I knew you were gonna be a good teacher, Ms. Rock!  I knew it!"


Jack: "I made knives with my scissors.  I have blaaaades!"


After Student 2 came in with new glasses
Student 1: "You look even more Chinese!"
Student 2: "I'm Korean."


Jack: "No, Ms. Rock. The Holy Spirit lives in your head, not your heart.  'Cause otherwise you couldn't think about him!"


Reading his super-sentence
Kody:  "The pig aet cake, chickin, Earth, Aisa, his pan, pot, loins, seler system, everything. He is chudy. He boo up."

Jessie and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I should have known when I brought a 3rd grader to the nurse 5 minutes after I'd arrived to school that today was not going to be a winner.  It was the second day that I had been teaching Ms. Baitzel's 2nd-grade class by myself.  Ms. Baitzel's throat had suddenly given out two days before and she had placed me in charge of her class.  Wednesday was fantastic.  The Lord had given me perfect angels Wednesday morning, who were more than happy to listen to the brand new and exciting Ms. Rock.  But something must have been in the water because the next morning they were wrestling on the reading rug and throwing folders across the room.
Nothing was working.  I flicked the lights, clapped three times, and whispered so that they had to lower the volume.  I publicly praised and privately disciplined.  I don't know how many times I said the words, "I need you to stop touching him and sit like a pretzel."  I stood next to the distracted, separated the talkers, and took away reward stickers.  But it didn't matter.  They knew that I was a newbie, and they were more than happy to take advantage of it.
Ten minutes before lunch, I decided that they needed to know who they were dealing with.  In my loudest "Ms. Rock" voice I said, "I cannot believe how disrespectful you are all being.  I am very disappointed in you."  The whole room went silent.  Enjoying this quiet opportunity, I said, "When you come back to this classroom after lunch, you will change your attitude.  You will be respectful.  Agreed?"  They all nodded.  As they lined up for pizza, I reminded them, "Now you've agreed to be respectful."  Sean, one of the sweetest and intelligent boys I know, muttered, "I didn't agree."  From the back of the room I heard Ms. Baitzel's voice for the first time in 48 hours.  "SEAN!"  Like a lion escaping from a cage, Ms. Baitzel put each and every student in their place.
Now, I love my class.  I love my school.  And I adore my teacher.  Most days I can't wait to get to school and I have to drag myself out the door.  But there some days that are harder than others.  So I've decided to take everything one day at a time.