Dogs, Rain, Duty, & "Monday" Morning

This post is a few days old, but it makes for a funny story!

A couple of weeks ago we didn't have school on Monday so Tuesday was our "Monday" morning! Some people would deem it as a typical Monday. I would just say it was a comedy show! 

I have car rider duty from 8:00-8:30 on Monday and Tuesday morning. This means I open car doors and help kids get out of the cars. This particular week it happened to be POURING for my duty.  When I got there I propped our school doors opened and set up the cones like normal.  As I turned around, I noticed a dog going into the building. It took about 5 seconds for me to realize the dog was in the school. Once I realized it, I chased the dog and was able to step on the leash rather quickly.  I quickly escorted the wet, hairy creature back outside. (Okay fine...the wet adorable cute dog)

Our assistant principal took dog duty over from there!  My principal came out with 2 umbrellas and together we unloaded cars for about 30 minutes.  My shoes were getting soaked, so I decided to go barefoot.  So here I was, unloading cars, in a dress, pouring rain, and barefoot!  (The assistant who was still holding the dog, thought it would be funny to take some pictures.  So, here it is…me in the rain…barefoot!)

Thinking back on it, I had a God moment!  Although I was wet and my feet were dirty, the rain was renewing and refreshing.  The rain made me think about God's love and how it rains down on us even when we are a dirty lost puppy.  I'm very thankful for the downpours in the midst of chaos.  I love when God's love rains down on me and I hope that I am able to rain down that same love on my coworkers and students!

(Oh and the dog was returned to his owner!)

2nd Grade Lesson Plans

I student taught in 2nd grade and really just assumed that is where I would end up.  They are still loving yet independent to a certain extent, which I love!!  Although I only have them for an hour a day, I love being with my second graders!

My goal for second graders is to learn how to type.  Throughout the year we will focus on typing, and take small breaks after each level.  After our break we will go back to typing and add a few letters.  The kids have been doing great keeping their fingers on the home row!

Week 1 we watched Click, Clack, Moo; Cows that Type, and wrote the letters on a blank keyboard.  We learned the vocabulary term "Home row" and colored it on our keyboard.  The next week, we talked about correct posture for typing and then used Dance Mat Typing to practice the home row.  Once they practiced a couple of times and I could tell their fingers were staying in the correct location (at least for the most part), I allowed them to get on Cool-math.com (My kids will be required to go to IXL.com from now on, since we have that license.)  On Week 3, they practiced Home Row on Dance Mat Typing once again, but only had to go through it 1 time.  After that, they got on Kid Pix (a program our district purchased) and made a picture of the Statue of Liberty.  (They spent the first few weeks, in their class, talking about different US symbols.)  Once they drew their picture, they had to type one sentence telling about the Statue of Liberty.

Five Loaves and Two Fish - Part 2

About a year ago, I posted a blog about the Bible story of the five loaves and two fish (if you haven't read it, you should go back and read it! Nov, 2013) This morning, we read Matthew 14:13-21 in Sunday School and interacted with the text. While I listened to the discussion and questions this scripture taught me another life lesson from God. 

As we picked apart the story we looked at three different groups of people; Jesus who had compassion on others, the disciples who were worn out, and the crowd of people hungry for God. The departing Sunday school question was who in this story are you? As I thought about the different emotions the identified groups felt, I began looking at myself as a teacher and co-worker. 

Christ, who was looking for solitude with his closet friends still had compassion when he saw the crowd. So much so he gave everything He and his disciples had in order to "satisfy" the people. (When it says satisfy, I feel that is true satisfaction, a peaceful satisfaction.)  The disciples on the other hand, were really ready for the quiet time. It seems to me they even felt frustrated they were called on to "provide food."  Many, many many times I find myself worn out and frustrated that I have to do one more thing for someone else or answer the same question 3 more times for students.  As a teacher, many times we have reached our max with people and are looking forward to quiet time in our classroom or lunch with other adults. It's at this moment that a student or other teacher might have the greatest need and it is important that as a servant of Christ we follow His example and "have compassion on them."  This week, as you are at work and relishing the quiet moments, don't miss the opportunity to be Christlike to someone who is "hungry" for God. 

I also think it is important to point out another lesson within this scripture.  One of the wise teenagers pointed out that Jesus did (and still does) find solitude and quiet important.  He seized opportunities to pull his closest family and friends together.  Make sure you take time to rest, relax, and cherish those you love.

- God, help me to give like you do but provide the solitude and rest when I need it. 

It's always good to be flexible…but REALLY?!?!

I've been going to Yoga with my sister-in-law.  Last time I was there, I thought to myself that I needed to work on being more flexible...consciously I was thinking physically flexible, but subconsciously it must have been mentally flexible!  (Armstrong's dictionary defines "mentally flexible" as: having the ability to roll with it, being spontaneous, flying by the seat of your pants, accepting uncontrollable mishaps!)

On the first day of school, I knew something was wrong with the AC because by the end of the day, it was very warm (like 80 degrees warm).  For the next few days, the beginning of the day would be okay, but by the middle of kindergarten, I was melting. This went on for a week or so.  When week two hit and temperatures outside were 100 degrees, the temperature in my room climbed up to 90+ degrees.
In the meantime…we began trying to login to computers.  Well that turned out to be a challenge as soon as I realized that the student login list I received was a year old and many of the students weren't on it.  A hot room and missing logins would have sufficed for mishaps the first weeks of school, but remember my subconscious was/is learning to be mentally flexible!
Once we got the kids logged in, I promptly discovered I had a few more broken computers than I thought.  Not only were the computers broken, the apps were missing from the dock. (Can you hear me screaming yet?)  Getting first graders logged in took long enough, but trying to show them where to go once they were on, was nearly impossible in 55 minutes (at least at this stage in the game - I assure you, they will be able to navigate better than me before too long).
A steamy room is never good for computers!  My computers that were connected to Internet and working began to freeze up with the heat.  The list of "broken" computers grew daily!  BUT what could I do?  My Wi-Fi was failing and wouldn't allow my laptop to connect to the Internet.  REALLY?!?! What else could go wrong?
By the beginning of this week, my room was so hot ALL day, my principal moved me to another room.  After borrowing my iPads back from the teacher I had loaned them to, I revamped my lessons and had computer lab class in the Castle (after school daycare room).

(Portable AC unit provided while they got a  new unit!  Very high tech and new age.)

Never fear…although this seems like an epic failure, a discouraging disaster even, I have to say that I'm in the process of learning to be "Yoga flexible" as a whole (or maybe just mentally not physically).  I decided to just laugh about the whole situation and roll with it.  We made class in the Castle work.  The kids explored the iPads and had a blast!  We still started our 5th and 3rd grade projects.  Kinder and 1st grade practiced finding letters on a keyboard and learned more computer terminology.
Today, a crane came, removed the broken unit from the roof and installed a new one.  After just a couple of hours, my room was nice and chilly.  The counselor and I even made a humorous movie over the whole ordeal!  I am so thankful for a principal who coordinated with the AC ppl, a janitor who checked on me regularly, a tech guy who spent a few days sweating just to fix all my computers, teachers who were flexible with where to bring their kids, students who just rolled with it, and a new AC unit!! In the scheme of life this little displacement was nothing and definitely not something to get upset about.

I encourage you take the small mishaps in your life and just roll with them.  Know that you can make things work even if they don't go the way you expected.  Find contentment no matter what the circumstances - Philippians 4:11 (This was the scripture in church on Wednesday night, how fitting?!)

*Oh and technology fails, even for those who LOVE it!*

Fifth grade teacher meets Kindergarten

Kindergarten=adventure!! In only two weeks I've compiled a list of lessons I learned about kindergarten...

1. Having to go to the potty can be a SERIOUS epidemic. The mere mention of the word potty or bathroom causes the infectious disease to spread rapidly. I've never seen anything quite like it. 

2. I never want to do classroom bathroom breaks with kindergarten. AGAIN! 

3. Something similar to a lasso attaches the children to me. Meaning that anytime I move around the room so do they! It could be compared to a mother duck and her little ducklings, they follow right behind! 

4. The "I" on the keyboard is a lowercase "L". 

5. They have a story for EVERYTHING!

6. They love you no matter what, they like to sit VERY close and they love hugs. 

On the second day of class with kindergarten, one asked to go to the bathroom immediately followed by 3/4 of the class. I know enough to know that sometimes kindergarten can't hold it and can be accident prone. Not wanting my carpet tainted so soon, I let one go! MISTAKE 1.  When she came back in, she informed me that her teacher was out there and said no more bathroom breaks. So at this point they've all asked but now what do I do?!? I did my best to preoccupy 20 little minds with singing, dancing, and a game but it wasn't cutting it. I opened my door and stuck my head out looking for their teacher. The teacher workroom is right across the hallway and she had been in the room. MISTAKE 2.  Two other seasoned teachers were in there but not the one I was looking for. Those teachers suggested a group bathroom break!  MISTAKE 3. As I turned around to tell the children, I realized how short the lasso was. The kids were in the doorway with me. As the three of us tried to corral 20 kids, the chaos continued. MISTAKE 4. Finally, we corralled the kids back inside the class. We finished the "measly" 55 minutes without any accidents, with my sanity intact, and a funny story. 

The second week of my rotation started and the kids were anxious to get on the computer.  After using an incomplete and old list, I was only able to make log in cards for half the class. My first kindergarten class came and I tried to show them how to long on using the card. Come to find out, not all kindergarteners know their alphabet and if they do, they might not know both lower and uppercase letters. (Take a look at the keyboard, it's only uppercase.) Oh and the "I" looks like an "L".  After two days of trying I decided to switch things up! 

Revised lesson plans for kindergarten this week:

1. Start by introducing what a keyboard is, why it is called that, and what it's purpose is. 2. Then have students locate other keyboards around the room. 3. Use a jumbo shower curtain keyboard to find specific letters.  (We focused on the letters they were learning in their class.) 4. Using old or paper keyboards have races to find letters on those. 

It was a much better lesson and very productive. 

I really love being with kindergarten and for that matter all ages.  I've learned so much and am way less stressed than I was last year. Be looking for more lesson plan ideas. 

5th Grade plans - Week 3-6/7

Having been a fifth grade teacher I know the time constraints they face to get everything in, especially Science and Social Studies. My goal in the computer lab is to piggy back classroom curriculum and help the teachers teach the content.

Using the ISTE standards for technology and the Social Studies C3 standards, I have created a project. The students have to create pictures on Kid Pix then insert the images into Comic Life to tell a story.  (Both of these programs were purchased by the district and installed on our computers.)

 

This past week students practiced creating pictures in Kid Pix. They were creating images of what they thought happened at Roanoke Island. (Knowing why this colony was unsuccessful helps to understand how Jamestown was more successful.) They were able to ask questions about Kid pix and explore the different capabilities of the program.
Lesson plan:
1. Read a chapter and a page of Sabotaged by Margaret Peterson Haddix  
2. Discuss possibilities of what might have happened to the people of Roanoke.
3. Talk about creating images and how we create pictures digitally.  
3. Introduced Kid Pix (although most kids know this program) 
4. Let students create pictures with what they think happened at Roanoke.

After Roanoke, students will study Jamestown. The standard includes knowing why it was successful. The kids need to know about the House of Burgesses and how John Smith took charge. The project will start this week.  The students will create 5-7 images that tell the story of Jamestown. They will save those images and insert them into Comic life where they will narrate the story. 

Lesson plan (over 3 weeks)

1. Introduce Jamestown with short video clip.

2. Go over project timeline and project expectations

3. Allow students to work, answer questions as they come up. (Repeat weeks 2-3!)

I have a project description, scales for both tech standard and SS standard. The students have access to specific research sites of Jamestown through Edmodo. They will have 3-4 weeks to complete the project.  I'm very excited about helping the fifth grade teachers out and reinforcing their curriculum.  Social Studies is also my favorite subject to teach.  I am sure I'll make a few adjustments but overall I'm very pleased with the project! I'll post pictures of completed projects when we are done.