San Jose? Not yet, but yes my kids know the way to San Diego, Vermont, Rhode Island, Colorado, Alaska, Massachusetts, New York, and Missouri! Wait, they also know the way to Scotland, Ireland, and Austria thanks to the postcards that we are receiving almost daily from family and friends of the kids. We are having a blast each day during Social Studies when I open with "You've Got Mail!" After reading the postcards and passing them around, the children are marking their maps to show where the postcards are coming from. Sara's uncle (the international postcards were from him) even included questions for research!
On Friday, the kids held a museum walk to display their compass rose or 3-D map projects. I have posted pictures on the class website! Everyone did a great job and no two projects were alike!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A Heavenly Little Place
How many people do you know that LOVE going to work? They may LOVE the type of work they do, they may LOVE the people they work with, but usually Monday morning comes with that dreaded thought of having to go to work.
I am sure the people that I work with are starting to think I am a little bit bonkers, but I LOVE going to work this year. Strange, I know. My husband even had mentioned that I never complain or grumble. I have always LOVED being a teacher, but I am talking about getting up and having to go to work. There have been some major changes in my life this year, which could have something to do with this renewed energy.
First of all, I finished graduate school over the summer. I am home every night with my family and papers, and reading material do not consume every bit of time I have. My family appreciates this! Secondly, my son is in middle school which means my husband leaves the house with him at 6:55 in the morning. When he walks out the door to go to Walkertown Middle, I am headed to Cash where I can get more done between 7:00 and 7:55 am than I ever imagined. Ok, so there are very few people to talk to for the first thirty minutes which helps. I LOVE to talk.
But the biggest and most important reason that I get up each morning with a smile on my face and an overwhelming happy feeling is because of the class that I have this year. They are the sweetest bunch of dumplings that I have ever had at one time. I am not saying that I haven't had sweet children before, because I could make a list a mile long. It is all about the combination of children this time. The stars must have aligned big time when the administrators were putting classes of children together, but I truly lucked out this year.
I am sure the people that I work with are starting to think I am a little bit bonkers, but I LOVE going to work this year. Strange, I know. My husband even had mentioned that I never complain or grumble. I have always LOVED being a teacher, but I am talking about getting up and having to go to work. There have been some major changes in my life this year, which could have something to do with this renewed energy.
First of all, I finished graduate school over the summer. I am home every night with my family and papers, and reading material do not consume every bit of time I have. My family appreciates this! Secondly, my son is in middle school which means my husband leaves the house with him at 6:55 in the morning. When he walks out the door to go to Walkertown Middle, I am headed to Cash where I can get more done between 7:00 and 7:55 am than I ever imagined. Ok, so there are very few people to talk to for the first thirty minutes which helps. I LOVE to talk.
But the biggest and most important reason that I get up each morning with a smile on my face and an overwhelming happy feeling is because of the class that I have this year. They are the sweetest bunch of dumplings that I have ever had at one time. I am not saying that I haven't had sweet children before, because I could make a list a mile long. It is all about the combination of children this time. The stars must have aligned big time when the administrators were putting classes of children together, but I truly lucked out this year.
Friday, September 10, 2010
September 11, 2010
I remember my mom telling the story of where she was in the classroom when JFK was killed. I can remember sitting in front of the tv at my grandmother's house as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on my birthday. Nine years ago today marks the anniversary of 9/11, another day that most people alive that day will remember with vivid details of where they were, what they were doing, etc.
On September 11, I was in the classroom (a mobile unit), doing my thing when there was a knock at the door. I found a distressed parent standing there explaining to me that her husband was fine and not in New York and to let her daughter know her dad was ok. Of course, I looked at her like she was strange, and then she realized that in my little neck of the school, everything in the world was still fine. I informed my Primary Reading Teacher, and then I left the room. My parents and grandparents were at home packing for a trip to Las Vegas that was to leave on September 12. After talking to my family, I learned that the airspace was closed and there would be no flights for a while.
Later in the day, I would see the footage of the wreckage for the first time, when the kids were in specials. By this time, teachers had been quietly instructed not to mention anything to the children, so I had to keep my game face on. As days past, the kids built a huge American flag on the outside of our trailer, and red, white, and blue became the unofficial school colors. The most eerie aspect of the days following the attack was the noiseless sky above the school. I remember basically jerking my head up when planes started flying again.
That class will always be a little more special in my heart. It is hard to believe that most of them have or are in the process of getting their drivers license.
Nine years later, images from 9/11 are fresh in my mind. However, I had a new experience yesterday. As we watched a 5 minute program on remembering 9/11, my current third graders had a curious look on their faces. Most of my students were born in late 2001 or early 2002, and had not experienced this event. They watched the tribute with interest, but considering they had not been born yet or were infants, the whole event lacked meaning.
When they are my age, those children will be able to recite the whereabouts of their parents on 9/11, just as I can tell you where my parents were when JFK died. Let's hope they will be able to live their lives and never utter the words "I remember exactly where I was the day ___________ happened."
On September 11, I was in the classroom (a mobile unit), doing my thing when there was a knock at the door. I found a distressed parent standing there explaining to me that her husband was fine and not in New York and to let her daughter know her dad was ok. Of course, I looked at her like she was strange, and then she realized that in my little neck of the school, everything in the world was still fine. I informed my Primary Reading Teacher, and then I left the room. My parents and grandparents were at home packing for a trip to Las Vegas that was to leave on September 12. After talking to my family, I learned that the airspace was closed and there would be no flights for a while.
Later in the day, I would see the footage of the wreckage for the first time, when the kids were in specials. By this time, teachers had been quietly instructed not to mention anything to the children, so I had to keep my game face on. As days past, the kids built a huge American flag on the outside of our trailer, and red, white, and blue became the unofficial school colors. The most eerie aspect of the days following the attack was the noiseless sky above the school. I remember basically jerking my head up when planes started flying again.
That class will always be a little more special in my heart. It is hard to believe that most of them have or are in the process of getting their drivers license.
Nine years later, images from 9/11 are fresh in my mind. However, I had a new experience yesterday. As we watched a 5 minute program on remembering 9/11, my current third graders had a curious look on their faces. Most of my students were born in late 2001 or early 2002, and had not experienced this event. They watched the tribute with interest, but considering they had not been born yet or were infants, the whole event lacked meaning.
When they are my age, those children will be able to recite the whereabouts of their parents on 9/11, just as I can tell you where my parents were when JFK died. Let's hope they will be able to live their lives and never utter the words "I remember exactly where I was the day ___________ happened."
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