Today was Ricardo's last day. If I could do anything over again, it would be to take pictures of what the kids made him. We had a huge banner hung up over the door for when he walked in this morning, a class-made book with a page from each student, an autographed soccer ball from all his classmates and teachers, and a soccer pillow that was made by two students.
When I asked on Monday for parents to volunteer to send in treats, I had three parents offer cupcakes, brownies, and juice. PERFECT! I thought- A nice variety. Guess what came in today? TWO cupcake contributions, Oreos, popcorn, brownies, blow pops, tootsie pops, two HUGE chocolate bars, fruit snacks, and two kinds of juices. OMW. How would we survive the day? We had one of the cupcakes for a morning snack (super healthy, I know) and then saved everything else for the end of the day.
The last 30 minutes of the day was dedicated to passing out unhealthy treats and waiting to sing a goodbye song to Ricardo. Once all the treats were eaten and Ricardo took a first bite, the students dug in to their sugar. While students were eating, we began to give Ricardo his gifts one by one. By the end, tears were swelling up in his eyes. He couldn't answer any questions because he knew the result would be a full-out cry. The tears were enough... soon two people were crying... then three... then four... pretty soon just about half of the class was tearing up and crying- keep in mind with a class of 27, that's about 13 students. It also wasn't the weak that were crying. It was my football players, my class clowns, my confident students, and my quiet students. All were effected. When everyone else started crying, Ricardo couldn't hold it back. It was heart breaking watching a class break to pieces within a matter of minutes.
We got Ricardo packed up and got ready to head outside to the buses. We made a human bridge/canopy for Ricardo to walk under and did a big send off... but that made the crying worse. My boys were SOBBING. Ricardo continued to cry. This was their last chance to say goodbye. Teachers, parents, other students were trying to figure out why on earth a majority of my class was crying... goodness knows, I could hardly keep myself my crying. I just turned to the gawking students and said, "See, you don't want to be in my classroom. I'm so mean that I make my students cry." Eventually I told the onlookers, "It's never easy to lose a good friend."
I am SO PROUD of my class. They truly let their emotions show and let Ricardo know that he will be incredibly missed. When his mom came to pick him up and she heard what happened and saw her son's tears, she began to cry too. What an emotional day. I turned to Ricardo and said, "I bet you didn't know you were so loved, did you?" He shook his head "no." I don't think ANY of my students will forget this day- I know I won't.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
To Be This Loved...
Recently I found out that one of my students will be leaving us and heading to a new home in Milwaukee. Unfortunately his dad has no say in the matter other than move and have a job, or stay and lose your job. =( Now, in all honesty, when a teacher discovers a student will no longer be in her classroom, she feels either joy or sadness. Joy if it is a student who daily takes away the learning from classmates and consistently causes hurt; or sadness if it is a student who truly tried their best on a daily basis without complaint.
This student leaving brought me much sadness. Why this family? Why now? Why not someone else who causes drama or frustration? But regardless of my feelings, he is going to be leaving. This morning I asked him if he had told any of his friends. "No." he replied in a sad voice while glancing up at me and then looking at the floor. "Can we tell them now?" I asked him, eager for him to share his news so the children could embrace their last few days with him. Instead of a response he just shook his head "no" while looking at the floor and walked away. SUPER SAD! =(
So, I sent him off to Art class to finish his projects (since Art isn't until Friday for us and Wednesday is his last day) and then told the class so they could prepare themselves for his departure and make him a goodbye gift. As I shared the news, three boys began to cry. Several others got tears in their eyes. "He was like my cousin" one child said. "But he sits next to me" another one said. "He can't leave, he's so good at soccer" said yet another. And I thought, wow, this boy was loved. It's funny to me that his parents were concerned about him not having any friends. I've had students leave before, but I've never had this kind of emotional response from my students- especially from a student who was new to the school this year.
Tomorrow we will finish our good bye booklet, sign a soccer ball for him, and prepare for our good bye and good luck celebration send off on Wednesday.
I hope he knows he is loved. I hope he feels the love. I hope he finds this kind of love and acceptance in Milwaukee...
This student leaving brought me much sadness. Why this family? Why now? Why not someone else who causes drama or frustration? But regardless of my feelings, he is going to be leaving. This morning I asked him if he had told any of his friends. "No." he replied in a sad voice while glancing up at me and then looking at the floor. "Can we tell them now?" I asked him, eager for him to share his news so the children could embrace their last few days with him. Instead of a response he just shook his head "no" while looking at the floor and walked away. SUPER SAD! =(
So, I sent him off to Art class to finish his projects (since Art isn't until Friday for us and Wednesday is his last day) and then told the class so they could prepare themselves for his departure and make him a goodbye gift. As I shared the news, three boys began to cry. Several others got tears in their eyes. "He was like my cousin" one child said. "But he sits next to me" another one said. "He can't leave, he's so good at soccer" said yet another. And I thought, wow, this boy was loved. It's funny to me that his parents were concerned about him not having any friends. I've had students leave before, but I've never had this kind of emotional response from my students- especially from a student who was new to the school this year.
Tomorrow we will finish our good bye booklet, sign a soccer ball for him, and prepare for our good bye and good luck celebration send off on Wednesday.
I hope he knows he is loved. I hope he feels the love. I hope he finds this kind of love and acceptance in Milwaukee...
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Eat off my Floor
This morning I woke up with the urge to clean the house. Not just a light cleaning, but a DEEP CLEANING. Every room is in dire need of some TLC, so I could truly begin anywhere and know that anything I did would be an improvement over what it is now.
I started with getting a few loads of laundry going and then decided the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and hallway tiled floor needed a good cleaning. I would clean the floors more often, but when you've just finished cleaning the floors only to have your husband come home, make something to eat, and wipe the crumbs off the counter directly onto the floor, it just doesn't feel worth it. But, enough is enough and I NEEDED clean floors.
Jumping into my car, I drove to Hardware Hank down the road and picked up some good floor cleaner (earth and pet friendly of course) and a hardcore handheld scrubber. I swept the floor several times to get as much as possible off the floor and even used our dying vacuum to help. Starting with one area, I began to scrub each foot x foot tile individually, including the grouted areas which had not been given personal attention since moving in. Clean smell swept through the house and after every tile I completed, I felt better about my chosen task. Three hours FLEW by and I was under the kitchen table, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I only had one small section of the dining room and then a small remainder of the hall and entry bathroom left and I was already considering what I should post on Facebook. I was thinking, "Anyone want to come over and eat off my floor with me?" or something along those lines. I was smiling to myself, jammin' to some country music, when I suddenly heard an earsplitting crash. I crouched and froze (which is funny, because you'd think I'd know I was pretty safe already crammed under the table). I look over to see Smitty (Dusty's cat) on the kitchen counter, having just knocked over all three glass cat dishes that I had put on the counter for the floor scrubbing project. Shards of glass and cat food literally covered the ENTIRE two huge areas that I was just finishing. I'm sure Smitty could read my mind and said, "I'll eat off the floor with you." but I didn't like his gesture. I got pretty mad. Let's face it, I yelled. I yelled some not so nice things to the cat. Then I yelled at Rodger (Dusty's other cat) for trying to eat the cat food that was embedded in the broken glass.
Well, God has a good way of reminding you not to get too full of yourself. 4+ hours after beginning this project, all the glass and cat food are cleaned up and I did a second floor cleaning with our Steam Shark. I still think I can eat off the floor now, but I definitely don't feel so big and proud of my sparkling clean floors. Now I just feel very matter of fact about it... and I need to find a way to prevent it from getting dirty as soon as "someone" gets back home.
I started with getting a few loads of laundry going and then decided the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and hallway tiled floor needed a good cleaning. I would clean the floors more often, but when you've just finished cleaning the floors only to have your husband come home, make something to eat, and wipe the crumbs off the counter directly onto the floor, it just doesn't feel worth it. But, enough is enough and I NEEDED clean floors.
Jumping into my car, I drove to Hardware Hank down the road and picked up some good floor cleaner (earth and pet friendly of course) and a hardcore handheld scrubber. I swept the floor several times to get as much as possible off the floor and even used our dying vacuum to help. Starting with one area, I began to scrub each foot x foot tile individually, including the grouted areas which had not been given personal attention since moving in. Clean smell swept through the house and after every tile I completed, I felt better about my chosen task. Three hours FLEW by and I was under the kitchen table, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I only had one small section of the dining room and then a small remainder of the hall and entry bathroom left and I was already considering what I should post on Facebook. I was thinking, "Anyone want to come over and eat off my floor with me?" or something along those lines. I was smiling to myself, jammin' to some country music, when I suddenly heard an earsplitting crash. I crouched and froze (which is funny, because you'd think I'd know I was pretty safe already crammed under the table). I look over to see Smitty (Dusty's cat) on the kitchen counter, having just knocked over all three glass cat dishes that I had put on the counter for the floor scrubbing project. Shards of glass and cat food literally covered the ENTIRE two huge areas that I was just finishing. I'm sure Smitty could read my mind and said, "I'll eat off the floor with you." but I didn't like his gesture. I got pretty mad. Let's face it, I yelled. I yelled some not so nice things to the cat. Then I yelled at Rodger (Dusty's other cat) for trying to eat the cat food that was embedded in the broken glass.
Well, God has a good way of reminding you not to get too full of yourself. 4+ hours after beginning this project, all the glass and cat food are cleaned up and I did a second floor cleaning with our Steam Shark. I still think I can eat off the floor now, but I definitely don't feel so big and proud of my sparkling clean floors. Now I just feel very matter of fact about it... and I need to find a way to prevent it from getting dirty as soon as "someone" gets back home.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Just Ignore it
In the middle of our writing workshop today, I waited until all the kids were settled and working, had another teacher in the room working with a few students, and then slipped out for a quick bathroom break. You'd think all would go well for those two minutes, and often the kids are better when they don't even realize their teacher has left the room. Unfortunately, I returned to a class in an uproar with two kids standing on their chairs! Why? Because there was a spider on the ceiling. Sure, it was a hairy wolf spider, but seriously, it was on the ceiling. I told them they had nothing to worry about, needed to ignore it, and realize that the chances of that spider falling from the ceiling was slim to none. They needed to get back to work.
Thirty minutes or so later, while everyone was working on a poem for their poetry books, I hear a scream and suddenly students are scattering and causing quite the commotion. Well, that spider dropped from the ceiling and landed on one of their desks! Of course they freaked out, that would've scared the crap outta me! One brave soul tried to catch the creepy eight legged creature, but I steered her away from it, because I'm pretty sure they bite. But as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone. We had no idea where the spider went. Try to get a class of 4th graders back on task when there's a spider running fiercely around the classroom... yep, it doesn't work. There was no pulling them back. Finally, when students started to settle down and a few were working away from the desk where the spider disappeared from, another student yells out, "There it is!" And everything goes right back into chaos mode.
Thankfully this time, I was able to capture it and send it outside with two students who were eager to release it. However, bringing the class back into a learning mode those last 15 minutes of the day was pretty much impossible.
Is it Friday yet?
Thirty minutes or so later, while everyone was working on a poem for their poetry books, I hear a scream and suddenly students are scattering and causing quite the commotion. Well, that spider dropped from the ceiling and landed on one of their desks! Of course they freaked out, that would've scared the crap outta me! One brave soul tried to catch the creepy eight legged creature, but I steered her away from it, because I'm pretty sure they bite. But as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone. We had no idea where the spider went. Try to get a class of 4th graders back on task when there's a spider running fiercely around the classroom... yep, it doesn't work. There was no pulling them back. Finally, when students started to settle down and a few were working away from the desk where the spider disappeared from, another student yells out, "There it is!" And everything goes right back into chaos mode.
Thankfully this time, I was able to capture it and send it outside with two students who were eager to release it. However, bringing the class back into a learning mode those last 15 minutes of the day was pretty much impossible.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Stargirl
4th grade girls can have some GREAT discussions about what they read- especially if they LIKE what they're reading. This is the first book this year that we've read altogether, and that they keep asking me, "Can we read more? Can we read ahead?" I LOVE IT!
I've always had the desire to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, one that screams confident, happy, and fun. But when I go out to try and accomplish this, I end up laughing at myself in front of the dressing room mirror, because I totally believe I can't pull it off... Again, this is why the book Stargirl is amazing- and annoying, because even though I know I look ridiculous in the "fun" clothes I want to be able to pull off, I know I'll try it again within the next few weeks because of this book! But trust me, this book is NOT about clothing and what you wear.
Live to the beat of your own drum. Read this book if you want to make a difference in the world. Read this book if you want to know what kind of person I dream of becoming. Read this book with your growing daughter if you want to have some interesting conversations. Read this book if you just want some happy inspiration.
Hey, I have an idea...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Super Glue
Well, my favorite kind of super glue that contains a nice brush for easy application no longer seems to be sold at the store, so on my way to school a few weeks ago, I picked up this kind (see picture above). It has a nail-ish plug to keep it from spilling and has an upright container to store it in.
Today before leaving school for decorating cakes, I decided to patch up a recently formed "crack." I got the super glue out, turned it upside down to apply, and nothing happened. I squeezed. And squeezed. And squeezed. No luck. I bit down on it and squeezed some more, praying that it wouldn't explode everywhere. I tried to use the nail-like plug to unplug the glue that must have dried by the entrance. Finally I noticed a small drop of super glue appear at the tip- PERFECT! I only needed a drop. As I turned it over, I squeezed ever so lightly to get that drop onto my finger. That's when it happened. SUPER GLUE EXPLOSION! It covered my fingers and parts of my hand.
I froze. I couldn't even move. I told myself not to touch anything so I wouldn't be stuck to it. It would dry, it would dry, it would dry. Then I looked down at my wedding ring. It was covered in super glue as well as the rest of that finger! I then wondered how long a ring would stay glued on to a hand. Then I had the immediate sense of urgency that the ring had to come off. I quickly unstuck the rapidly drying (and bonding) ring from my finger, only to get it stuck on my knuckle. I can't have this thing glued to the middle of my finger- that wouldn't work at all. I put it back. It began to stick again. I moved it up. It stuck again. AHHHHHH. Finally, after moving it repeatedly, the glue dried without getting me strongly attached to anything. Whew.
However, at work, when cleaning my decorating supplies, I couldn't tell if anything was clean because of the layer of super glue over the majority of my fingers and thumb... Here's hoping this layer will not last long.
Oh super glue. You're the best in small amounts... But I guess that's true with most things.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Resume Me
For days I've been thinking about what I should write about. It seems that everything on my mind is about things I've already mentioned in the past, things that would take only three sentences to write about, or things I've already posted on Facebook- so why post?
I decided to look at my photos to find some inspiration, and I did. As I was looking at the pictures of cakes I've been decorating, my mind suddenly flashed to the variety of jobs that I've had so far in my life...
Resume Me:
Lawn Mowing: I mowed one neighbor's yard. It was huge. And hilly. I found a way to mow it in about an hour while having to move a huge trampoline out of the way and without tipping over on the steep slopes. I used my dad's mower and gas, didn't trim well (I probably should have), and got paid $30 every time I mowed it. Not bad for an hour's work. I was 14ish...
Babysitting: I babysat all around the neighborhood. From a single child with huge birds, a family of three crazy boys who liked to cause a ruckus every possible way, a 10 year old boy (and his younger sister) who liked to slap girls' butts when they walked by, to a couple who would come home pretty intoxicated (I didn't know it then, since I had never been around alcohol nor had parents that drank, but looking back it was insanely obvious). Babysitting ended when I began to get involved with my church youth group and I found that I'd rather spend time with kids my age over getting paid 5 bucks an hour (if that).
Middleton Public Library: A great after school job since I could walk right from High School to the library. I checked in books, shelved books, listened to music while I worked and made some new friends. Upon my most recent visit to the library, I found my first "real" job is now being replaced by a robot... yep. Some kind of electronic, robotic, machine. Lovely.
Auto Glass Specialists: Yes, the Guys in the Little Red Trucks. Only, this was an evening job where I became one of those annoying people calling you at your home and asking for a few minutes to answer some survey questions. I remember the first time I got sworn at and hung up on. I cried. I also got the other girl working there fired because she lied about the number of calls she made and had been adjusting her time in and out. I never tattled on her, they just looked at what I did and compared it to what she did and knew it didn't add up. Overachiever? I do my work when I'm getting paid.
Bethel College Library, Cataloguer: I worked in back with the most wonderful older gentleman named Jim. I covered books and helped catalogue them in the computer.
Meriter Hospital Medical Records: I filed. And filed. And filed. This was a job through a temp. agency. I remember coming across the record of a boy who had liked me and took me out once. (On our first date he looked like a vampire with a long black trench coat-super scary.) I broke the rules of my job. I "looked" at his record. In my defense I had to add notes from his last appointment, so really, it's not like I hunted him down. I just happened to come across him. The injury to his toe that I remember him talking about was not so innocent... he had SHOT HIMSELF IN THE TOE! Glad that was a one date deal. Poor Mom and Dad must have freaked out when he showed up at the door. Nonetheless, the hospital didn't need me anymore and didn't tell me, so when the temp. agency called to say they were going to look for some more work options, I still went to the hospital... AWKWARD! They were embarrassed, I was confused. I ended up leaving half way through the day without saying anything.
AARP: They needed a "creative assistant" or something like that who could make flyers on the computer, do miscellaneous stuff in the office, and typical book keeping. That didn't last too long, but I did really enjoy it. However, since working there I consistently get AARP mail notifications asking me join. Nice.
Bethel College, Teaching Assistant: Did anything and everything the two professors I worked for told me to do. Lots of creative stuff and lots of filing stuff.
Auto Glass Specialists, Accounts Receivable: I did this job several summers and met a crazy co-worker who had broken her finger in a drunk water-skiing accident. She was always giving me guy advice and consistently said to date a married guy because you get whatever you want and there's no commitment. I did NOT take her advice, but over the years we became good friends. Hmmm. This makes me want to see her- it's been too long!
Meriter Hand Clinic: Receptionist for people coming in for hand therapy. They had told me how they'd had such bad luck keeping anyone for longer than two weeks. I assured them I was going to last, not knowing that after one week of working there I'd get an offer to teach Summer School for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD).
MMSD: Summer School for 8 years. Last year was my first official summer off and it was... AMAZING!
Chili's Bar and Grill, Waitress: Almost two years of waiting on people... I loved it at first, but eventually became bitter towards customers, their demands, their lack of appreciation, and insanely small tips. I did this while Substitute Teaching in the Madison, Middleton, and Waunakee School Districts.
Bennetts Sinclair Gas Station: About 6 years, every Saturday morning. 6am-Noon. Counter girl for the register and socializer for the regulars. Within walking distance and visual distance from my apartment.
(Current)
MMSD: Teacher for 9 years: K/1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4/5, 4, 4.
(Current) CJ's Trash To Treasure: Register girl only when needed. Rarely work, but love it every time I'm there!
(Current) Piggly Wiggly, Cake Decorator: Learning like crazy, becoming more confident, and excited for what the future holds.
I know I'm missing some odd jobs in my list, but I think I've listed most of them. Quite a random work life... but hey, working pays the bills and exposes you to new experiences and learning opportunities. However, I think I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now. =)
Happy Monday!
I decided to look at my photos to find some inspiration, and I did. As I was looking at the pictures of cakes I've been decorating, my mind suddenly flashed to the variety of jobs that I've had so far in my life...
Resume Me:
Babysitting: I babysat all around the neighborhood. From a single child with huge birds, a family of three crazy boys who liked to cause a ruckus every possible way, a 10 year old boy (and his younger sister) who liked to slap girls' butts when they walked by, to a couple who would come home pretty intoxicated (I didn't know it then, since I had never been around alcohol nor had parents that drank, but looking back it was insanely obvious). Babysitting ended when I began to get involved with my church youth group and I found that I'd rather spend time with kids my age over getting paid 5 bucks an hour (if that).
Middleton Public Library: A great after school job since I could walk right from High School to the library. I checked in books, shelved books, listened to music while I worked and made some new friends. Upon my most recent visit to the library, I found my first "real" job is now being replaced by a robot... yep. Some kind of electronic, robotic, machine. Lovely.
Auto Glass Specialists: Yes, the Guys in the Little Red Trucks. Only, this was an evening job where I became one of those annoying people calling you at your home and asking for a few minutes to answer some survey questions. I remember the first time I got sworn at and hung up on. I cried. I also got the other girl working there fired because she lied about the number of calls she made and had been adjusting her time in and out. I never tattled on her, they just looked at what I did and compared it to what she did and knew it didn't add up. Overachiever? I do my work when I'm getting paid.Bethel College Library, Cataloguer: I worked in back with the most wonderful older gentleman named Jim. I covered books and helped catalogue them in the computer.
Meriter Hospital Medical Records: I filed. And filed. And filed. This was a job through a temp. agency. I remember coming across the record of a boy who had liked me and took me out once. (On our first date he looked like a vampire with a long black trench coat-super scary.) I broke the rules of my job. I "looked" at his record. In my defense I had to add notes from his last appointment, so really, it's not like I hunted him down. I just happened to come across him. The injury to his toe that I remember him talking about was not so innocent... he had SHOT HIMSELF IN THE TOE! Glad that was a one date deal. Poor Mom and Dad must have freaked out when he showed up at the door. Nonetheless, the hospital didn't need me anymore and didn't tell me, so when the temp. agency called to say they were going to look for some more work options, I still went to the hospital... AWKWARD! They were embarrassed, I was confused. I ended up leaving half way through the day without saying anything.
Bethel College, Teaching Assistant: Did anything and everything the two professors I worked for told me to do. Lots of creative stuff and lots of filing stuff.
Auto Glass Specialists, Accounts Receivable: I did this job several summers and met a crazy co-worker who had broken her finger in a drunk water-skiing accident. She was always giving me guy advice and consistently said to date a married guy because you get whatever you want and there's no commitment. I did NOT take her advice, but over the years we became good friends. Hmmm. This makes me want to see her- it's been too long!
Meriter Hand Clinic: Receptionist for people coming in for hand therapy. They had told me how they'd had such bad luck keeping anyone for longer than two weeks. I assured them I was going to last, not knowing that after one week of working there I'd get an offer to teach Summer School for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD).
MMSD: Summer School for 8 years. Last year was my first official summer off and it was... AMAZING!
Chili's Bar and Grill, Waitress: Almost two years of waiting on people... I loved it at first, but eventually became bitter towards customers, their demands, their lack of appreciation, and insanely small tips. I did this while Substitute Teaching in the Madison, Middleton, and Waunakee School Districts.Bennetts Sinclair Gas Station: About 6 years, every Saturday morning. 6am-Noon. Counter girl for the register and socializer for the regulars. Within walking distance and visual distance from my apartment.
(Current)
MMSD: Teacher for 9 years: K/1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4/5, 4, 4.
(Current) CJ's Trash To Treasure: Register girl only when needed. Rarely work, but love it every time I'm there!
(Current) Piggly Wiggly, Cake Decorator: Learning like crazy, becoming more confident, and excited for what the future holds.
I know I'm missing some odd jobs in my list, but I think I've listed most of them. Quite a random work life... but hey, working pays the bills and exposes you to new experiences and learning opportunities. However, I think I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now. =)Happy Monday!
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