A Festivus for the rest of us

Let me warn you, this is going to a picture heavy entry. I am one of those teachers who loves to base units around holidays. If Festivus got a little more popular, I'd be putting a Festivs pole up in my room. I love Jerry Stiller. Not a fan of Ben, but no one with taste is. XP I introduce my so far none Jewish students to Hanukkah. This year was weird, because it fell on Thanksgiving. Which is sort of a filler holiday to begin with. I know some of you may like your family, or have older students who get the history component. My students can't even say pilgrim. I went gaga for Thanksgivukkah. I did this by introducing pennies early in my lessons. Why? So, we could use them for the dreidel game. That will be after our break. So far we've made menorahs. I've a;ways loved menorahs. I have a flower one in my classroom. One of the great things about Thanksgivukkah, besides the rarity, is the creativity. I think menurkies are ugly, but it's creative. We can make handturkey memorahs. Let's be creative. What else can we use for/on a menorah? I saw a darling pumpkin menorah on another site. I love using things in a new and unusual way. If there's one thing I want my students to learn, especially in a world where resources are shrinking, is how to reuse things and things are more than they seem. A happy Festivus to you. Watch out for the knock out game. Which might happen on the most disgusting day of the year: Black Friday.

It's his parents fault

I am a good mood, but I do have to make this post. The case of the year has finally reached a verdict. I'm not really sure how I feel about the verdict besides the fact that I'm glad the circus seems to be over. I do wonder, as I've wondered throughout the case, why is a teenager dead. He was shot. How does a teenager find themselves in a situation where they end up being shot? I look at Rachel Jeantel who is apparently the girlfriend and the way the parents tried to pawn him off on each other and I think what a sad life. I think of all the students I met in my career and how it could easily happen to them. I wonder if they die, will they say "Vu was the teacher, it's her fault". No one seems to want to point the finger at mom and dad. Didn't they teach him you don't want around acting strange and looking into stranger's home? Did they even care he did those things and cut school frequently? No, because they have a gun to take away their responsibility. A life was ended and I hope people realized more than one person was responsible for it.

I triple dog dare you!

Many moons ago, before I was even done with college, I stumbled upon a teacher's blog. Her plans for that summer was to sit in a kiddie pool while drinking and listening to music. I think I'm going to do that this summer. I've earned it!

This year started off so well and went fubar. I'm very glad to know the company I was in. I couldn't take it anymore. I asked for a transfer to another school and was denied. I put myself out there. I was willing to even take a daycare job. I just knew I had to get out of this system of nepotism and bad behavior getting rewarded. It paid off. In September, I will be in a new district.

I challenged myself to make a change and it worked. I know change is scary. A lot of people going into teaching because it's considered a "safe" job. I'm challenging anyone reading this (teacher and nonteacher) to make a change. Do something! I'm not promising it will turn out good, but it's good to break out of the box every now and then. See that you're still alive.

I am very excited for a new location. I will post some ideas for the classroom very soon.

I got a free bagel...

This is not going to be about lesson plans or ideas for the classroom. This is going to be a vent post. We had our parent meeting yesterday. I was talking to a coworker afterward.  I told her that when we were children, they were punishments and consequences for bad behavior. Now, it’s almost like the teacher is punished for saying the student is misbehaving. We have to put up with it, because whiny parents go to the principal or board. I’m sick of it. Your child is no different than anyone else’s in the classroom. Why should I have to give them special treatment when there’s no need to? I DON’T CARE who you think you are or who you know. If you want special treatment, maybe you should open your wallet and enroll your child in private school. Oh, that’s right. I remember, because you say your sob story every day, you’re a single mother who made the choice to have a child at a very young age, while not married, and still in school. I just stand there giving you stink face, because I’m tired of hearing your story. Not because I feel bad for you. It’s because I’m a mean person, it’s because I feel bad for people who truly deserve it. I feel bad for people who truly have it bad. I’m not so egocentric that I can’t see that other people have problems…

It’s that time of year again. The schools are starting to put orders in for next year. I’m not ordering anything. There are various reasons why, but I won’t get into it here. I feel like Lakeshore has a monopoly on the school supplies. I’m not sure why. They’re overrated and overpriced. The same products could be gotten for cheaper at other stores. 

This year has to be the year I’ve spent the least on teaching supplies. I still ended up spending $360. I originally spent four hundred dollars. My principal so generously gave me forty dollars and acted like it was the full total. I think my hoard is getting good enough. Next year, I’m not buying anything new.

Spring is in the air?

I’m a fall girl. Fall is my favorite season. I find the other seasons to be a bit meh. I try to do fun activities to teach my students about seasons and to get myself into the season.  Spring is tomorrow. I’m having a hard time trying to get my students to grasp this when there’s still now on the ground where I live.

One thing I like doing in spring is decorating eggs. It’s a fun thing to do before spring break. Depending on your students, you have so many options. You can use boil eggs and dyes. If you want something more permanent, you can use wooden eggs and water color paint. I like to do paper mache eggs. You really have to know what your students are capable of and it will be mess. You have to have all the supplies. I go into more detail in this product: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Russia-Lesson-Plans

One thing I wanted to touch on is I like these projects, because it shows we’re all different and have different abilities. This is an egg that the students didn’t want because they felt it came out bad. 

They covered the balloon knot. So, it came out wrinkly and wouldn’t stand. It was still pretty oval. I’ve adapted it as the class egg. When doing paper mache projects, I always make one in case the students don’t like how their project came out. I think we should keep that in mind. We can’t place our students in molds. They usually rise to the occasions, but it’s ok if they raise up our standards and ok if they sometimes don’t met our standards.

Being a Russophile, I was able to make this less about Easter and more about Russia and Faberge eggs. There’s always a way to do a fun activity if you think it through.  

What did I get in the mail?!

 

A postcard! I think postcards are a fun activity for any grade, but especially with little ones. They’re small. So, they don’t require a ton of writing and there’s the art aspect of it. Postcards are extremely adaptable that can be used with any theme and most subjects.

When I taught older students, I used to love to bust out my Victorian postcards. They usually caught their attention.  It was fun to have them pick an era and a person, or a historical figure, and have them pen and design their own postcards. I’m ALWAYS amazed by how talented my students have been.

Why not add postcards to your routine? It can be as easy or complex as you like. 

Eating Potatoes and Cabbage… And Soda Bread!

Saint Patrick ’s Day is closing in. That means two things. One,  yummy soda bread. The Shop Rite around here makes delicious soda bread, but it’s seasonal. I’ve only had that, and homemade versions, because the bakeries around here are all Italian. 

Two, Saint Patrick’s Day means lots of great ideas to put in my lesson plans. The Emerald Isle is just full of things to fascinate youngsters.  I also want to announce I will be having a sale on Saint Paddy’s Day.  Twenty percent off of all of my products.

Feel free to check out my Ireland lesson plans. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ireland-Lesson-Plans 

I really like this song, but it will get stuck in your head. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRYq3Kla31g