Wow! I can hardly believe I am half way through this school year!
As you know I started teaching 3rd grade at FA in July. The schedule is year round which means I get a 3 week vacation every 9 weeks. So I am currently at the beginning of my 2nd track out and Christmas is right around the corner.
I can honestly say I love my job. I love my coworkers, I love my students, I love my administration, I love my curriculum, I practically love it all. I find myself thinking how happy I am continuously throughout the day and THAT is a gift.
I don't have much to say.. but just wanted to document this joy :)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Day 1 in Review
I think I will forever be nervous on the "first day of school" for as long as I am a teacher. Maybe it actually gets easier.. but at least on "first day number two" I was still nervous!
I know I'm nervous when I can pop right out of bed without hitting snooze! Today was my first day at FA. I arrived to school dressed in my black capri dress pants and a new "grownup" black and white top from NY&C. I felt very adult... and was feeling pretty prepared for the day.
As soon as I arrived I went to make a few simple copies as I had received a new student and I didn't have enough. No big deal right? Wrong... The printer was off because B and I were literally some of the first people there and no one had used it yet. So I waited for forever for it to come on, and then the paper was getting jammed. I could feel my anxiety rising as I was no where near done with my morning to-do list and we were continually getting closer to 7:15 when the students could enter. Finally got the printer worked out and before I knew it the kids were arriving. Students began coming in and placing their materials in various places around the room. A MUCH better plan than my "dump everything in the back plan" I used last year.
After everyone got settled we read a book called First Day Jitters to try to rid ourselves of our nerves! Between my nerves.. the nerves of 9 new students to the school.. and the general nerves of the rest... there was definitely some anxiety in the room! I really think the book helped calm everyone down some. Throughout the day we did multiple activities like this one including playing the infamous connection... playing a get to know you bingo... and reading wartville wizard.
Overall I was beyond pleased with the kids behavior and the overall feel of the classroom. The kids were respectful, but we had fun too! Currently there are 28 enrolled in my homeroom!! This is only 3 more than I started with last year.. but it just feels big!
I truly felt great about the day until we came to carpool. I was placed on carpool duty... despite the fact that I really had no idea what I was doing! I did my best and was lucky to be working with some people who did know what they were doing. There were some major carpool issues, and traffic was so backed up that we made the news! wahoo. haha Probably not the press we are looking for. However I hear that it will all clear up within the next 4 days. Fingers Crossed!
So tomorrow is day 2 and I'm excited to go back. More fun get to know you activities are coming our way. After tomorrow we start instruction, at that point we will be switching classes! I have a reading and language arts class, a math class, and two science classes. I'm a little antsy about the science, but my team teacher K and I will figure it out! Thinking about all the academics makes my head spin a little bit because it is very different than what I'm used to... but I think I am really going to enjoy it!
The layout of the day is perfect too.
Reading. Specials.
Science. Recess.
Math. Lunch.
Science. Study Hall
See how there is some sort of break or relief after every major class!? Wahoo! This is amazing for a teacher and for the kids honestly.
With all this being said I will leave you with two things from today that made me smile:
"Ms. Funk I was born in China... oh and I speak French too." <- Really kid? Really?
"Ms. Funk you are the greatest teacher ever!" (note from child found on my desk <3)
I know I'm nervous when I can pop right out of bed without hitting snooze! Today was my first day at FA. I arrived to school dressed in my black capri dress pants and a new "grownup" black and white top from NY&C. I felt very adult... and was feeling pretty prepared for the day.
As soon as I arrived I went to make a few simple copies as I had received a new student and I didn't have enough. No big deal right? Wrong... The printer was off because B and I were literally some of the first people there and no one had used it yet. So I waited for forever for it to come on, and then the paper was getting jammed. I could feel my anxiety rising as I was no where near done with my morning to-do list and we were continually getting closer to 7:15 when the students could enter. Finally got the printer worked out and before I knew it the kids were arriving. Students began coming in and placing their materials in various places around the room. A MUCH better plan than my "dump everything in the back plan" I used last year.
After everyone got settled we read a book called First Day Jitters to try to rid ourselves of our nerves! Between my nerves.. the nerves of 9 new students to the school.. and the general nerves of the rest... there was definitely some anxiety in the room! I really think the book helped calm everyone down some. Throughout the day we did multiple activities like this one including playing the infamous connection... playing a get to know you bingo... and reading wartville wizard.
Overall I was beyond pleased with the kids behavior and the overall feel of the classroom. The kids were respectful, but we had fun too! Currently there are 28 enrolled in my homeroom!! This is only 3 more than I started with last year.. but it just feels big!
I truly felt great about the day until we came to carpool. I was placed on carpool duty... despite the fact that I really had no idea what I was doing! I did my best and was lucky to be working with some people who did know what they were doing. There were some major carpool issues, and traffic was so backed up that we made the news! wahoo. haha Probably not the press we are looking for. However I hear that it will all clear up within the next 4 days. Fingers Crossed!
So tomorrow is day 2 and I'm excited to go back. More fun get to know you activities are coming our way. After tomorrow we start instruction, at that point we will be switching classes! I have a reading and language arts class, a math class, and two science classes. I'm a little antsy about the science, but my team teacher K and I will figure it out! Thinking about all the academics makes my head spin a little bit because it is very different than what I'm used to... but I think I am really going to enjoy it!
The layout of the day is perfect too.
Reading. Specials.
Science. Recess.
Math. Lunch.
Science. Study Hall
See how there is some sort of break or relief after every major class!? Wahoo! This is amazing for a teacher and for the kids honestly.
With all this being said I will leave you with two things from today that made me smile:
"Ms. Funk I was born in China... oh and I speak French too." <- Really kid? Really?
"Ms. Funk you are the greatest teacher ever!" (note from child found on my desk <3)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
First Teacher Workday Eve
9:12 pm July 10, 2011
I am currently sitting in my bed.. not really the least bit tired, but preparing for bed as my alarm clock is changing from the usual 9:00 of summer (or later) to 6:15. YUCK.
Tomorrow I have my first teacher workday at FA. For anyone who doesn't know, I left PCS after the end of the school year and will be teaching 3rd grade next year at FA. Tomorrow we have our first teacher workday. The workday consists of a benefits meeting, new teacher meeting, and a direct instruction training all afternoon. I'm not really sure when we will be "working" in there, but I know I am going to have a lot of my questions answered. I'm excited!
I remember the eve of my first teacher workday last year. I was just as excited. As the year progressed I lost that excitement and joy as the year went on, and I am hoping for that happiness to remain throughout this year.
As I begin this year I want to take some time to reflect on all the lessons I learned last year. Here I am going to begin a list to get my mind going, and will hope to elaborate sometime this week. I went through my facebook statuses from the last year and as I remembered a time or a lesson learned I jotted it down.
Lessons Learned
1. I'm going to make mistakes.. and that's okay.
2. When dealing with conflict go directly to the source
3. Kids will be kids. Don't take it personally.
4. Focus on the successes... not the failures.
5. Don't let your work pile up.
6. Having friends at work is key
7. Work is not your whole life.. just a part of it.
8. Don't take kids behavior problems personally.
9. I can't fix every child and solve every problem.
10. Teachers have power over their kids. Use it wisely
11. Finding something to do at night is better than wallowing when times are hard.
12. Some days will be better than others.
13. Testing is NOT the end all be all
14. Field trips are way more fun for students than for teachers
15. Sleeping is key.
16. Spend time enjoying the company of your kids
17. When kids say funny things it's okay to let go and laugh
18. Don't stop going to the gym simply because you feel tired.
19. Keep in touch with your family and friends.. a support system is key.
20. When you feel like the world is crashing around you.. God is still holding you.
21. Even when you feel like you can't go another day... trust that you can.
22. Find a deep appreciate for Friday at 4:00
23. Use unexpected days off (snow days) wisely. They are gifts from God.
24. Your students can meet any expectations you set for them. Set them high.
25. Go to Church even though you will truly believe you need to sleep in.
26. You WILL see students in public. It's okay for them to know you're a real person.
27. Ask for help when you need it.
28. It's okay to take a sick day when you're sick.
29. Patience is key.
30. Good relationships with your student's parents are important.
31. Go to student's extracurricular activities.. it means the world to them
32. Being prepared will get you through the day
33. Rainy Days means no recess.. so make sure you have a rain day plan. For your sanity.
34. Your job first and foremost is to help them learn.
35. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.
36. Kids are people looking for love just like the rest of us
37. Punishing kids doesn't mean you don't like them. Actually quite the opposite.
38. Don't stay at school until evening hours. GO HOME.
40. Pray
41. Take things one day at a time.
42. The first day isn't as scary as it seems
43. When you're stressing take a minute to remember why you wanted to be a teacher. This will pull you through.
I am currently sitting in my bed.. not really the least bit tired, but preparing for bed as my alarm clock is changing from the usual 9:00 of summer (or later) to 6:15. YUCK.
Tomorrow I have my first teacher workday at FA. For anyone who doesn't know, I left PCS after the end of the school year and will be teaching 3rd grade next year at FA. Tomorrow we have our first teacher workday. The workday consists of a benefits meeting, new teacher meeting, and a direct instruction training all afternoon. I'm not really sure when we will be "working" in there, but I know I am going to have a lot of my questions answered. I'm excited!
I remember the eve of my first teacher workday last year. I was just as excited. As the year progressed I lost that excitement and joy as the year went on, and I am hoping for that happiness to remain throughout this year.
As I begin this year I want to take some time to reflect on all the lessons I learned last year. Here I am going to begin a list to get my mind going, and will hope to elaborate sometime this week. I went through my facebook statuses from the last year and as I remembered a time or a lesson learned I jotted it down.
Lessons Learned
1. I'm going to make mistakes.. and that's okay.
2. When dealing with conflict go directly to the source
3. Kids will be kids. Don't take it personally.
4. Focus on the successes... not the failures.
5. Don't let your work pile up.
6. Having friends at work is key
7. Work is not your whole life.. just a part of it.
8. Don't take kids behavior problems personally.
9. I can't fix every child and solve every problem.
10. Teachers have power over their kids. Use it wisely
11. Finding something to do at night is better than wallowing when times are hard.
12. Some days will be better than others.
13. Testing is NOT the end all be all
14. Field trips are way more fun for students than for teachers
15. Sleeping is key.
16. Spend time enjoying the company of your kids
17. When kids say funny things it's okay to let go and laugh
18. Don't stop going to the gym simply because you feel tired.
19. Keep in touch with your family and friends.. a support system is key.
20. When you feel like the world is crashing around you.. God is still holding you.
21. Even when you feel like you can't go another day... trust that you can.
22. Find a deep appreciate for Friday at 4:00
23. Use unexpected days off (snow days) wisely. They are gifts from God.
24. Your students can meet any expectations you set for them. Set them high.
25. Go to Church even though you will truly believe you need to sleep in.
26. You WILL see students in public. It's okay for them to know you're a real person.
27. Ask for help when you need it.
28. It's okay to take a sick day when you're sick.
29. Patience is key.
30. Good relationships with your student's parents are important.
31. Go to student's extracurricular activities.. it means the world to them
32. Being prepared will get you through the day
33. Rainy Days means no recess.. so make sure you have a rain day plan. For your sanity.
34. Your job first and foremost is to help them learn.
35. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't.
36. Kids are people looking for love just like the rest of us
37. Punishing kids doesn't mean you don't like them. Actually quite the opposite.
38. Don't stay at school until evening hours. GO HOME.
40. Pray
41. Take things one day at a time.
42. The first day isn't as scary as it seems
43. When you're stressing take a minute to remember why you wanted to be a teacher. This will pull you through.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
New Journey Ahead
Yesterday was my final day at PCS. I turned in my keys and walked out of the building with tears in my eyes. I more or less kept it together until I hugged a student goodbye (whose mother works at the school). The little girl started crying when I started to hug her and that caused me to cry as well. There are so many things I am going to miss about that school. I could go as far as to say that I will miss everything about that school minus the daily stress I felt day in and day out. However that school is on a mission and I know they are moving in a positive direction. I wish only the best for the people and students at PCS and am already looking forward to visiting in the fall.
Tomorrow officially begins my new journey at FA. B and I are going to move all of our stuff into our new classrooms. We might even get some things set up! It is hard to believe that this next chapter of my life is already starting! Before my first official day (July 11) I am hoping to really reflect on what I learned over the past year in order to grow and be as successful as possible in this next venture :)
Tomorrow officially begins my new journey at FA. B and I are going to move all of our stuff into our new classrooms. We might even get some things set up! It is hard to believe that this next chapter of my life is already starting! Before my first official day (July 11) I am hoping to really reflect on what I learned over the past year in order to grow and be as successful as possible in this next venture :)
Thursday, June 9, 2011
First Year of Teaching... Check!
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
Nah Nah Nah Nah
Hey Hey Hey
Good Bye!
This was the song I was cheerily singing with a few teachers in the hallway this afternoon as we waved goodbye to our children for the summer!
Today was my last day of my first year of teaching. I know I haven't blogged in here since January, but I thought noting that today was my last day was worthwhile. Today was a really easy day. The kids came in, went to specials, and then we went outside for early recess. When we came in from recess number 1 we popped in a movie. Then we had a pizza party for lunch. After lunch we went back outside for recess number 2. After recess number 2 we had movie number 2!
I had some drama with a child and an ongoing custody battle (breaks my heart) and then it was about 2:30. I took my kids back to my room and we worked on 2nd grade memory books while eating cupcakes and chips.
As soon as the clock struck 4:00 we were out the door and a few of us headed to Natty Green's for a celebratory drink. I can hardly believe the end is really here! I have a lot I want to say, and a lot of emotions to work through, but at this moment it is 11:00 and I need to head to bed in order to be up and at our teacher workday in the morning.
Here's to the ups, the downs, the smiles, the tears, the good, and the bad of my first year of teaching. Thank You God that the first year of teaching only happens once :)
Nah Nah Nah Nah
Hey Hey Hey
Good Bye!
This was the song I was cheerily singing with a few teachers in the hallway this afternoon as we waved goodbye to our children for the summer!
Today was my last day of my first year of teaching. I know I haven't blogged in here since January, but I thought noting that today was my last day was worthwhile. Today was a really easy day. The kids came in, went to specials, and then we went outside for early recess. When we came in from recess number 1 we popped in a movie. Then we had a pizza party for lunch. After lunch we went back outside for recess number 2. After recess number 2 we had movie number 2!
I had some drama with a child and an ongoing custody battle (breaks my heart) and then it was about 2:30. I took my kids back to my room and we worked on 2nd grade memory books while eating cupcakes and chips.
As soon as the clock struck 4:00 we were out the door and a few of us headed to Natty Green's for a celebratory drink. I can hardly believe the end is really here! I have a lot I want to say, and a lot of emotions to work through, but at this moment it is 11:00 and I need to head to bed in order to be up and at our teacher workday in the morning.
Here's to the ups, the downs, the smiles, the tears, the good, and the bad of my first year of teaching. Thank You God that the first year of teaching only happens once :)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Snow Days
As a teacher the words "snow day" take on a whole new meaning. You think kids get excited? Well let me tell you teachers get just as excited if not MORE than the students. Yesterday we had a half day due to the possibility of inclement weather. I was down 6 kids and the morning was smooth sailing. I could teach for the rest of my life with days like that. Then early last night they put us on a 2 hour delay, which was nice, but everyone else was out. So I woke up almost every hour last night and checked wcpss on my phone only to still find the 2 hour delay.
Finally around 6 this morning I checked and it said schools were closed. My body sighed a sigh of relief, turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. I woke up around 10 and looked out my window to see why school had been canceled. No snow, and no definite appearance of ice. The roads just look wet to me. However I am assuming there must be icy spots or school wouldn't be canceled.
So now my job (which might take more determination than teaching) is to stop being lazy and get things done. We have a 3 day weekend coming up, and I am heading to greensboro to see my roommates (nat is coming in from OH and bringing her bf Derek)! So the smart thing to do today would be to plan plan and plan. Therefore I wouldn't have any lesson planning to worry about over the weekend.
It would also be smart to finish my laundry and clean the apartment. However sitting under my warm blanket, vegging out to tv sounds like so much more fun.
We'll see. Thank you WCPSS for this snow day :) No matter how I spend it I am very thankful for this gift!!
Finally around 6 this morning I checked and it said schools were closed. My body sighed a sigh of relief, turned my alarm off and went back to sleep. I woke up around 10 and looked out my window to see why school had been canceled. No snow, and no definite appearance of ice. The roads just look wet to me. However I am assuming there must be icy spots or school wouldn't be canceled.
So now my job (which might take more determination than teaching) is to stop being lazy and get things done. We have a 3 day weekend coming up, and I am heading to greensboro to see my roommates (nat is coming in from OH and bringing her bf Derek)! So the smart thing to do today would be to plan plan and plan. Therefore I wouldn't have any lesson planning to worry about over the weekend.
It would also be smart to finish my laundry and clean the apartment. However sitting under my warm blanket, vegging out to tv sounds like so much more fun.
We'll see. Thank you WCPSS for this snow day :) No matter how I spend it I am very thankful for this gift!!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
All Smiles
Here is a picture of me and some of my kids on the playground the day before Christmas break. See how happy I look!? Them too for that matter :)
Crazy Day
I knew today was going to be good when 23 of my 24 angels brought their re-enrollment forms back as asked. Wow... they do listen! I was pleased... they had a great morning and things started off well. When they came back from specials we had a hard time on the carpet but really got things together. We got through our phonics, and reading and things were still going well. We moved into workshop time (which is when they are supposed to be at stations) yet they are currently sitting at their desks doing packets until they earn the privilege back.
So we go to lunch and recess and I'm in a pretty good mood still! YAY Here is when things got crazy.
I came back from my bathroom break to find one of my students laying in the mulch with his feet up in the swing. I find this strange but I stomped over there to scold the child for laying in wet mulch. When I got there he was looking straight through me and not being responsive. I asked another teacher to try to talk to her and she got the same response.
So the two of us picked up the child and all of his dead weight and helped him as he stumbled his way over to the bench. He was acting drunk and totally unresponsive. So I'm starting to panic, but still pretty calm on the outside. I got administration and we finally got him into the office where the decision was made to call 911. Within about 10 minutes we had 3 firemen and 3 emts in the small office with me the child the principal and the dean. Talk about overwhelming. So they are checking this and that and asking all of these questions and things weren't getting any better. When asked to hold a cup the little boy reached his pinky out, which showed me again his motor skills were suffering. By this point we have discussed that the child has had seizures in the past and the child had clearly had a seizure.
We were unable to get in contact with Mom so the emts wouldn't leave because they needed to know whether or not to take him to the hospital. Finally after a friend of moms told us she now worked at some gyno on such and such road, I googled those two pieces of information and called about 6 offices in search of mom.
The child finally got back to his regular self, but mom came and took him home. Where were the other 23 kiddos? Well they were split half and half between my team teachers classrooms. BLESS them. Without any questions they interrupted their entire afternoons to keep my kids while I was helping this child. Then after my hour and a half of stress, and the other teachers hour and a half of 12 extra kids we all decided to watch magic school bus for the rest of the afternoon.
Seeing how worried I had been really forced me to realize how much I love these kids. Even through the unending amounts of stress they put me through on a daily basis.
Here is to a calmER and uneventful day tomorrow.
So we go to lunch and recess and I'm in a pretty good mood still! YAY Here is when things got crazy.
I came back from my bathroom break to find one of my students laying in the mulch with his feet up in the swing. I find this strange but I stomped over there to scold the child for laying in wet mulch. When I got there he was looking straight through me and not being responsive. I asked another teacher to try to talk to her and she got the same response.
So the two of us picked up the child and all of his dead weight and helped him as he stumbled his way over to the bench. He was acting drunk and totally unresponsive. So I'm starting to panic, but still pretty calm on the outside. I got administration and we finally got him into the office where the decision was made to call 911. Within about 10 minutes we had 3 firemen and 3 emts in the small office with me the child the principal and the dean. Talk about overwhelming. So they are checking this and that and asking all of these questions and things weren't getting any better. When asked to hold a cup the little boy reached his pinky out, which showed me again his motor skills were suffering. By this point we have discussed that the child has had seizures in the past and the child had clearly had a seizure.
We were unable to get in contact with Mom so the emts wouldn't leave because they needed to know whether or not to take him to the hospital. Finally after a friend of moms told us she now worked at some gyno on such and such road, I googled those two pieces of information and called about 6 offices in search of mom.
The child finally got back to his regular self, but mom came and took him home. Where were the other 23 kiddos? Well they were split half and half between my team teachers classrooms. BLESS them. Without any questions they interrupted their entire afternoons to keep my kids while I was helping this child. Then after my hour and a half of stress, and the other teachers hour and a half of 12 extra kids we all decided to watch magic school bus for the rest of the afternoon.
Seeing how worried I had been really forced me to realize how much I love these kids. Even through the unending amounts of stress they put me through on a daily basis.
Here is to a calmER and uneventful day tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
First Day Back...Already Tired.
2 weeks away from children and I enjoyed every minute of it. However a few days before school started back I was actually missing them a little bit.
There were a few happy moments first thing this morning when they were all still a little tired yet happy to see me. I even had a rather rambunctious boy telling me how much he missed me over break. The kids were all excited to tell me what they had gotten for Christmas and they each wanted my attention at exactly the same time.
I began the day by telling them there was a new sheriff in town and they could start calling me Sheriff Funk. They laughed at me but I was serious. I would say about 80% of my kids flipped their cards today because I wasn't letting them get away with anything. I could feel myself softening as the day went on, not because I wanted to but because I was getting more and more exhausted as the day wore on. I began to have less and less energy to fight the battles.
I rallied up the energy to go to the gym after school and then cook dinner for myself. Ever since I have been sitting here mindlessly watching tv trying to figure out how I am going to get through to these kids and help or make them change their behavior.
Any thoughts?!
There were a few happy moments first thing this morning when they were all still a little tired yet happy to see me. I even had a rather rambunctious boy telling me how much he missed me over break. The kids were all excited to tell me what they had gotten for Christmas and they each wanted my attention at exactly the same time.
I began the day by telling them there was a new sheriff in town and they could start calling me Sheriff Funk. They laughed at me but I was serious. I would say about 80% of my kids flipped their cards today because I wasn't letting them get away with anything. I could feel myself softening as the day went on, not because I wanted to but because I was getting more and more exhausted as the day wore on. I began to have less and less energy to fight the battles.
I rallied up the energy to go to the gym after school and then cook dinner for myself. Ever since I have been sitting here mindlessly watching tv trying to figure out how I am going to get through to these kids and help or make them change their behavior.
Any thoughts?!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
It's Been a While
Something has been stirring in my heart for the past couple of days and I'm not quite sure what that is but I decided I would try to write some of it out and begin to sort through my feelings.
I've spent a of of these past 4 months wallowing in the challenges of moving to a new place, living alone and being a first year teacher. A few days ago I woke up thinking, here I am, single teaching in a high poverty school. What COULD I be doing that I'm not. What opportunities do I have as a young single woman that I might not have later in life as a teacher. Can I invest more time in my kids? Can I spend more time lesson planning? Can I pray for them more? Can I pray for my patience more? Can I volunteer with an extracurricular activity? Can I search for volunteers to get help into a school that desperately needs it? Can I spend time with kids after school to foster relationships?
So those are a few thoughts that had been spiraling in my head for the past few days. Then today my eyes were opened to the fact that I have so much power and influence over the lives of my kids. This moment happened after school when I only had a few kids left in my room. We had just finished playing treasure (where the kids search for the magic piece of treasure (trash) from the floor and whoever gets the magic piece gets candy. Basically a quick way to get the floor cleaned) But anyway, I was sitting up on my back table and my kids were all sitting criss cross on the floor in front of me. I was about to award the winner of the game and I also gave an honorable mention to every child that participated for something great they had done during that time. The kids were looking at me with these wide open eyes that were just anticipating what positive thing I was going to say about them. There was nothing magical or important about this moment, I just got this overwhelming feeling that my words and actions had huge power over my kids.
So I began thinking about how my attitude and demeanor towards my kids has power and how I need to be more aware of that. If I snap at a child because someone snapped at me and the effects are now rippling, what is that doing to the kid? If I tell a child to stop talking when all they want is to have their voice heard, then what message am I sending them about the value of their opinions and ideas.
I'm in a hard position with some hard kids, but I am in the position to influence them in a positive way. So I simply have to make the decision, HOW am I going to use my words and actions to influence my kids.
Hmm...
Well I guess I'm going to get back to grading papers and snow dancing. This tired first year teacher would LOVE a 2 hour delay. Come on wake county... please?!
I've spent a of of these past 4 months wallowing in the challenges of moving to a new place, living alone and being a first year teacher. A few days ago I woke up thinking, here I am, single teaching in a high poverty school. What COULD I be doing that I'm not. What opportunities do I have as a young single woman that I might not have later in life as a teacher. Can I invest more time in my kids? Can I spend more time lesson planning? Can I pray for them more? Can I pray for my patience more? Can I volunteer with an extracurricular activity? Can I search for volunteers to get help into a school that desperately needs it? Can I spend time with kids after school to foster relationships?
So those are a few thoughts that had been spiraling in my head for the past few days. Then today my eyes were opened to the fact that I have so much power and influence over the lives of my kids. This moment happened after school when I only had a few kids left in my room. We had just finished playing treasure (where the kids search for the magic piece of treasure (trash) from the floor and whoever gets the magic piece gets candy. Basically a quick way to get the floor cleaned) But anyway, I was sitting up on my back table and my kids were all sitting criss cross on the floor in front of me. I was about to award the winner of the game and I also gave an honorable mention to every child that participated for something great they had done during that time. The kids were looking at me with these wide open eyes that were just anticipating what positive thing I was going to say about them. There was nothing magical or important about this moment, I just got this overwhelming feeling that my words and actions had huge power over my kids.
So I began thinking about how my attitude and demeanor towards my kids has power and how I need to be more aware of that. If I snap at a child because someone snapped at me and the effects are now rippling, what is that doing to the kid? If I tell a child to stop talking when all they want is to have their voice heard, then what message am I sending them about the value of their opinions and ideas.
I'm in a hard position with some hard kids, but I am in the position to influence them in a positive way. So I simply have to make the decision, HOW am I going to use my words and actions to influence my kids.
Hmm...
Well I guess I'm going to get back to grading papers and snow dancing. This tired first year teacher would LOVE a 2 hour delay. Come on wake county... please?!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wacky Tacky Day
Wacky Tacky day was THURSDAY at school this week. I know these kids don't really look too wacky tacky but normally these little "angelic" children wear uniforms that keep them all looking very much the same. However, this week as a substitute for not being allowed to dress up for Halloween, the kids were allowed to pay a dollar to dress up "Wacky Tacky."
I made the mishap of telling my kids that Wacky Tacky day was on Wednesday instead of Thursday. I had about 9 kids show up dressed out of uniform on Wednesday. It was quite the disaster. Kids were crying (I think because they were embarrassed). I was fighting tears (because I was embarrassed) and the whole thing was just quite a mess. Thankfully the kids didn't realize I was fighting tears because there was this one day where my eyes were really messing with me and watering a lot. So now every time I am fighting tears, they just ask me if my eyes are bothering me again and I always say "yes." No more questions are asked...thank you God for allowing them to believe me.
The real wacky tacky day (Thursday) came along and the kids were wild. It was cool to see their personalities shine though, but no uniforms paired with cupcakes from a Mom made for a high energy day. Lucky me I was trying to keep them calm enough to take spelling, reading AND math tests. Oh yea... it was also a half day which added to the insanity. Needless to say I think we will all be retaking the math test Monday when we are a little more focused.
I didn't have them today (Teacher Workday) which was a nice change, and I'm hoping for a rejuvenating weekend so that I can go back on Monday to do it all over again. I'm unsure of a lot of things in and around the job world right now but one thing I know for sure.. I can almost guarantee I will never say Wacky Tacky day is on the wrong day of the week ever again.
See Pictures Below!
Wacky Tacky Pictures
The picture above is them doing their "good children" imitation!
This looks a little more like the rowdy 6 and 7 year olds I spend my days with!Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Technology
Today I was spent.. simply spent. Kids didn't listen all day. I had 5 kids out today, so I thought things would be calmer but I was wrong.
So by the end of the day the kids are done, I'm done. We are just done. HOWEVER, we still had thirty minutes left and it was time for Social Studies. We began our social studies unit on technology.
So we are talking about technology and how technology is when science helps to make something easier or solve a problem. We talk cars, cameras, etc for a while and then I suggest a piece of technology I hope they create in the future. I told the kids that a problem I had was that my 2nd graders didn't know how to keep their mouths quiet while I was teaching, and that hopefully one day someone would create some type of technology that would fix that.
One of my sassiest girls calls out and says, "Ms. Funk we already have that.. it's called a clothespin. Open the clothespin and pin the mouth shut."
At the end of an exhausting day this just made me laugh. Thank goodness for laughter.
So by the end of the day the kids are done, I'm done. We are just done. HOWEVER, we still had thirty minutes left and it was time for Social Studies. We began our social studies unit on technology.
So we are talking about technology and how technology is when science helps to make something easier or solve a problem. We talk cars, cameras, etc for a while and then I suggest a piece of technology I hope they create in the future. I told the kids that a problem I had was that my 2nd graders didn't know how to keep their mouths quiet while I was teaching, and that hopefully one day someone would create some type of technology that would fix that.
One of my sassiest girls calls out and says, "Ms. Funk we already have that.. it's called a clothespin. Open the clothespin and pin the mouth shut."
At the end of an exhausting day this just made me laugh. Thank goodness for laughter.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Teaching Update!
I knew teaching would be hard, but I'm not sure I was ready for just HOW hard it truly is. My days normally start around 5:45 am (later once I have hit snooze a couple of times) and I get home from work around 5 in the evenings. The time in between, well, that is where the craziness ensues.
I love being at the school really early in the morning before any of the students or the majority of the staff have arrived. I love the quiet, and the ability to use the copier without waiting in a line :)
Kids start entering the building at 7:45 where they sit down in the gym and wait until 8 o'clock where we have our morning assembly. There we say the pledge of allegiance, and struggle through the student pledge together. One day I WILL get it right. "We are PreEminent Students..."
I then escort my 2nd graders back to our room where we settle down and write in our journals until they rather quickly leave for their specials class. They are then gone for about 40 minutes and I spend that time either in meetings or getting things together in the classroom. Anything that needs to happen without kids better happen then because once they come back at 9:10 they are mine all mine until the end of dismissal at 4:00.
The rest of the day is a mix of whole group teaching, and workshop time (Centers). The kids eat lunch in the classroom, so we go pick up our food and then come right back and eat SILENTLY. The silence is because the 15 minute lunch period will never happen if they are allowed to talk. It already takes longer and they are silent. Everyday during lunch we listen to Canon in D which is basically for my sanity. Recess is after lunch for another 15 minutes, and then we are back in for the long haul of the rest of the afternoon.
I have 25 second graders in total and 18 of them are boys. The girls are pretty good as a whole, but the boys are crazy! I have about 6 constant trouble makers and the rest of them are just chatty little 7 year olds. Now would be an appropriate time to note that I have no assistant, so that is problematic sometimes. How I would love to have an extra set of hands in the room on occasion!
I have had my fair share of issues, "accidents" and vomiting etc, but nothing too too major. One of the funniest lines I've heard all year was when I was reading a story to my kids on the first day. It was called Don't Eat Your Teacher. So at the end I asked if they were going to eat me now that they had read the story to which one little boy replied, "nah we'll save YOU for dismissal" I clever response from a 7 year old...
Some sweet moments that truly keep me going are moments such as every morning when one little boy walks in and shakes my hand while looking at me with his sparkling eyes and bright smile. Or at the end of every day when one little girl gets called for dismissal, and runs up and gives me a huge hug and tells me she loves me before she leaves.
Let me end this post by saying today has been one of the better days I have had thus far, and there have been many days when I have not come home with quite such a positive attitude about this new journey I am on. However, I felt like I needed to record some positive things while these feelings were with me so that the next time I come home feeling like I just fought an 8 hour war I can remind myself that I DO enjoy teaching!
I love being at the school really early in the morning before any of the students or the majority of the staff have arrived. I love the quiet, and the ability to use the copier without waiting in a line :)
Kids start entering the building at 7:45 where they sit down in the gym and wait until 8 o'clock where we have our morning assembly. There we say the pledge of allegiance, and struggle through the student pledge together. One day I WILL get it right. "We are PreEminent Students..."
I then escort my 2nd graders back to our room where we settle down and write in our journals until they rather quickly leave for their specials class. They are then gone for about 40 minutes and I spend that time either in meetings or getting things together in the classroom. Anything that needs to happen without kids better happen then because once they come back at 9:10 they are mine all mine until the end of dismissal at 4:00.
The rest of the day is a mix of whole group teaching, and workshop time (Centers). The kids eat lunch in the classroom, so we go pick up our food and then come right back and eat SILENTLY. The silence is because the 15 minute lunch period will never happen if they are allowed to talk. It already takes longer and they are silent. Everyday during lunch we listen to Canon in D which is basically for my sanity. Recess is after lunch for another 15 minutes, and then we are back in for the long haul of the rest of the afternoon.
I have 25 second graders in total and 18 of them are boys. The girls are pretty good as a whole, but the boys are crazy! I have about 6 constant trouble makers and the rest of them are just chatty little 7 year olds. Now would be an appropriate time to note that I have no assistant, so that is problematic sometimes. How I would love to have an extra set of hands in the room on occasion!
I have had my fair share of issues, "accidents" and vomiting etc, but nothing too too major. One of the funniest lines I've heard all year was when I was reading a story to my kids on the first day. It was called Don't Eat Your Teacher. So at the end I asked if they were going to eat me now that they had read the story to which one little boy replied, "nah we'll save YOU for dismissal" I clever response from a 7 year old...
Some sweet moments that truly keep me going are moments such as every morning when one little boy walks in and shakes my hand while looking at me with his sparkling eyes and bright smile. Or at the end of every day when one little girl gets called for dismissal, and runs up and gives me a huge hug and tells me she loves me before she leaves.
Let me end this post by saying today has been one of the better days I have had thus far, and there have been many days when I have not come home with quite such a positive attitude about this new journey I am on. However, I felt like I needed to record some positive things while these feelings were with me so that the next time I come home feeling like I just fought an 8 hour war I can remind myself that I DO enjoy teaching!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Open House Night!
This is a video of my classroom! Sorry that it is a little blurry, but you get the idea :)
Tonight was the open house at school! I met 15 of my 25 students and had a wonderful evening. I loved meeting the parents and getting to know just a little bit about some of the kids.
Wednesday is our first day of school and I couldn't be more excited :)
Tonight was the open house at school! I met 15 of my 25 students and had a wonderful evening. I loved meeting the parents and getting to know just a little bit about some of the kids.
Wednesday is our first day of school and I couldn't be more excited :)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Bring it on August...
18 Days and Counting! (The First Day of School)
August is going to be a big month for me! Today I flew to Grand Rapids Michigan where I am currently sitting in a hotel room before beginning my new teacher orientation training. I will be spending the next 5 days with National Heritage Academies training for the year ahead. I believe I will gain a wealth of knowledge and will hopefully leave feeling even more prepared to begin this journey.
Upon arriving home on Friday I will then move to my new apartment on Saturday! I will spend two days moving in (and turn 22) before starting work on Monday!
Monday the 9th begins a full week of professional development and then school begins the NEXT week. Yes actual school. With actual students. August 18th is the day to be exact. So again I say... August is going to be a BIG month.
Back to NTO however...
I spent the evening roaming around with two new friends (Patrice and Shaundria (not sure about the spelling!) who will be teaching kindergarten and 1st grade at my school. I had a lot of fun with them and am looking forward to meeting even more people over the rest of this week. My roommate Kristen is also teaching at my school next year but she has yet to arrive so we have not met yet. I'm not sure where she is but I hope she gets here soon!
Our schedule for the week is jam packed with sessions on all the different subjects, classroom management, etc. Right now I feel like an open book just waiting for people to dump knowledge into and I hope this will do just that.
Now I'm rambling which means it is time to go to bed (especially considering I have to be up by 6:15 in the morning! YIKES.. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! :)
August is going to be a big month for me! Today I flew to Grand Rapids Michigan where I am currently sitting in a hotel room before beginning my new teacher orientation training. I will be spending the next 5 days with National Heritage Academies training for the year ahead. I believe I will gain a wealth of knowledge and will hopefully leave feeling even more prepared to begin this journey.
Upon arriving home on Friday I will then move to my new apartment on Saturday! I will spend two days moving in (and turn 22) before starting work on Monday!
Monday the 9th begins a full week of professional development and then school begins the NEXT week. Yes actual school. With actual students. August 18th is the day to be exact. So again I say... August is going to be a BIG month.
Back to NTO however...
I spent the evening roaming around with two new friends (Patrice and Shaundria (not sure about the spelling!) who will be teaching kindergarten and 1st grade at my school. I had a lot of fun with them and am looking forward to meeting even more people over the rest of this week. My roommate Kristen is also teaching at my school next year but she has yet to arrive so we have not met yet. I'm not sure where she is but I hope she gets here soon!
Our schedule for the week is jam packed with sessions on all the different subjects, classroom management, etc. Right now I feel like an open book just waiting for people to dump knowledge into and I hope this will do just that.
Now I'm rambling which means it is time to go to bed (especially considering I have to be up by 6:15 in the morning! YIKES.. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! :)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
2nd Grade Meeting # 1
Yesterday I met the other two teachers on the 2nd grade team for the first time! We spent 4 hours together, just chatting and beginning to get to know each other as well as talking logistics of the year ahead. We ate at the shopping center right beside my new apartment complex, which was so weird as that is soon to be my home! Anyway, I am very thankful that Mrs. Getzoff and Ms. Heheman (Terry and Jessica) were willing to meet with me and let me ask millions of questions. They were incredibly helpful and being able to meet them before the actual teacher workdays really meant a lot to me.
I left our meeting feeling more comfortable and informed about the way things would work, but also more overwhelmed as I realized all the things I needed to learn/create/do/plan/etc. Needless to say I left straight from our meeting and headed to Starbucks where I met Iris and had a grande caramel frappucino! My head was pounding which at the time I was alluding to information overload and am now possibly alluding to sinuses. But regardless, my head was spinning and I just needed to sit and process! Dinner with Iris and Brandy ended a day of new beginnings and new friendships with old friends and good times.
After driving about 30 mph down 40 with my emergency flashers on for about 2 hours, I climbed into bed with some teacher books and started reading. Really began to get a better feel for the reading program the school uses, and after all the conversations earlier in the day, things really began to come together.
As I drove to TN today, well as I was riding to TN rather, I planned out my bulletin boards and how I want them to look for the beginning of the school year. My Mom also called her school to ask if I could use their laminating machine if I bought my own laminating paper. They said sure, so hopefully I can get a lot of stuff laminated before getting to the classroom, which will speed up the set up process!
So as I said I'm now in TN spending some time with my Mom and Grandmother. Tomorrow we are going shopping and I'm really excited. Some things on my list include:
-Closed toe comfortable teaching shoes
-Dishes for my apartment
-Cricut (Yes7 months later I still want one.. so I'm gonna go for it)
-Towels
-Teacher Clothes
We will see what else I come up with by the end of the day. After this week I only have two weeks till I leave for Michigan and then things are in full force so it is time to get my act together.
All in all though I'm feeling good about life :)
I left our meeting feeling more comfortable and informed about the way things would work, but also more overwhelmed as I realized all the things I needed to learn/create/do/plan/etc. Needless to say I left straight from our meeting and headed to Starbucks where I met Iris and had a grande caramel frappucino! My head was pounding which at the time I was alluding to information overload and am now possibly alluding to sinuses. But regardless, my head was spinning and I just needed to sit and process! Dinner with Iris and Brandy ended a day of new beginnings and new friendships with old friends and good times.
After driving about 30 mph down 40 with my emergency flashers on for about 2 hours, I climbed into bed with some teacher books and started reading. Really began to get a better feel for the reading program the school uses, and after all the conversations earlier in the day, things really began to come together.
As I drove to TN today, well as I was riding to TN rather, I planned out my bulletin boards and how I want them to look for the beginning of the school year. My Mom also called her school to ask if I could use their laminating machine if I bought my own laminating paper. They said sure, so hopefully I can get a lot of stuff laminated before getting to the classroom, which will speed up the set up process!
So as I said I'm now in TN spending some time with my Mom and Grandmother. Tomorrow we are going shopping and I'm really excited. Some things on my list include:
-Closed toe comfortable teaching shoes
-Dishes for my apartment
-Cricut (Yes7 months later I still want one.. so I'm gonna go for it)
-Towels
-Teacher Clothes
We will see what else I come up with by the end of the day. After this week I only have two weeks till I leave for Michigan and then things are in full force so it is time to get my act together.
All in all though I'm feeling good about life :)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
My Classroom!
The video below is a quick tour through my new classroom! Give me a couple of weeks and hopefully it will be transformed into a fun place for students to spend 7 hours a day!
When One Door Closes Another Door Opens...
For a couple of weeks now I have been saying, "When I'm done coaching at the elks then I will be teaching 2nd grade in Raleigh." Well.... as of last night around 11 o'clock I am done coaching!
Yesterday completed the city championship meet and thus swimming is over for the summer. The implication of this is that now I really must begin to think about my new adventure ahead of me! I am going to be a teacher! I can hardly believe that the day where I am going to step foot inside my own classroom, with my own group of kids is about to be here! I've dreamed of being a teacher since I was a young girl. I played school with dolls, and bears, and my brother, and anything I could get to pretend to listen to me!
Now, in not too many days I am going to have a handful of 7 year old kids enter MY classroom. The thought is mind boggling to me. Don't get me wrong I am SO excited, and I truly feel as if Elon prepared me for this job. Yet it still doesn't take away the wow factor that comes along with the fact that in 3 weeks I am beginning a "grown up" job and moving to a new city!
I've been so blessed because the families on my swim team have really pulled through and given me TONS of things for my new classroom. I truly have books galore, along with games and teacher supplies given to me from ladies who used to be teachers!
Now in the next three weeks I am going to visit my grandmother, visit my roommate from college in OH, and get my life organized and ready to head to Raleigh. This blog is really just for me to record my journey through my first year of teaching. The funny stories, the stressful moments, the new friendships, and the maintenance of old ones. I want to be able to look back and remember all the things that happen over the next year!
Yesterday completed the city championship meet and thus swimming is over for the summer. The implication of this is that now I really must begin to think about my new adventure ahead of me! I am going to be a teacher! I can hardly believe that the day where I am going to step foot inside my own classroom, with my own group of kids is about to be here! I've dreamed of being a teacher since I was a young girl. I played school with dolls, and bears, and my brother, and anything I could get to pretend to listen to me!
Now, in not too many days I am going to have a handful of 7 year old kids enter MY classroom. The thought is mind boggling to me. Don't get me wrong I am SO excited, and I truly feel as if Elon prepared me for this job. Yet it still doesn't take away the wow factor that comes along with the fact that in 3 weeks I am beginning a "grown up" job and moving to a new city!
I've been so blessed because the families on my swim team have really pulled through and given me TONS of things for my new classroom. I truly have books galore, along with games and teacher supplies given to me from ladies who used to be teachers!
Now in the next three weeks I am going to visit my grandmother, visit my roommate from college in OH, and get my life organized and ready to head to Raleigh. This blog is really just for me to record my journey through my first year of teaching. The funny stories, the stressful moments, the new friendships, and the maintenance of old ones. I want to be able to look back and remember all the things that happen over the next year!
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