Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Loving it...

This week has been great. The kids are getting better and better each and everyday with their morning seat work and I am seeing so much progress from Monday already with many of my students who were struggling making a square and triangle. They now can do them and are learning how to make a rectangle and oval. I was so excited on Tuesday when we reviewed syllables and I had them try and see if they could clap out their names and every single student was able to do it without any help. I was so proud because we only spent Monday on learning what syllable are and how to count/clap them. I am gaining more and more responsibility each day and each week. This week and next I will have almost everything under my belt except a few things and then the entire month of October is all me. YIKES, it's coming faster than I want it too, but I know I will be fine. Tuesday was the real test for me, because my cooperating teacher was not there and I was in charge of the classroom and the assistant was still assisting me and the sub was just there. I really enjoyed having control of the room and it was a good day because my university supervisor was also there to see that and see me teach a math lesson. I got a really good review from here and no "bad" mark. Today she came back and watch me teach reading groups and again not "bad" marks. All positive. So I am feeling more and more comfortable in the line of teaching.

Not much else is happening right now. Just writing lesson plans, teaching, and working. This weekend we are hosting (my Sunday School Class) a chili cook off and Euchre night. I will be eating the chili and probably taking picture, because I am one of those ones that does not how to play Euchre.

That's the update for now.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Exhaustion....

And I only had two days of school this past week. EEK

I think that things are really starting to catch up with me. Teaching everyday, going to work fours days a week, trying to have fun, writing lesson plans for when my University Supervisor comes this week and next, and participating in church activities that I like...EXHAUSTION!

Oh well, only 11 1/2 weeks of school left and then I will start putting my name out there for a teaching position, but until then, I will continue to work at the library.

My Grandparents are leaving Monday the 22 for Illinois for 2 weeks, So I wish then a safe trip. I know that they are looking forward to going and getting away and enjoying the Fall weather with their friends that live there.

Not much else is happenings, except that our Sunday School class is have a Chili cook off and Euchre night this coming Saturday at our church. We, our class, is looking forward to it and to date we have sold 28 tickets and i have not bought mine yet. Hopefully the next post will have the results of that. Till then......

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

No Power, no school!

This week has been crazy with phone calls each morning from the Principal of the school I am teaching at. So far we have not been going to school because there is no power. I have been told that I will not have to make up these days because the are considered Unscheduled closings, but once we reach five days I will have to start making them up....Keeping my fingers crossed we are allowed to go in on Thursday and teach. I am liking the fact that I am at home, I have gotten so much done. Lesson plans through October 10th are finished along with all the extra papers for the University Supervisor that has to grade them as well. I have written a resume for my seminar class that was assigned last evening...Just waiting for eyes to proof it for me, and so much more. If we happen to be off again tomorrow I will be cleaning the house Really good. It is in need of a cleaning.

Today my Grandma Lashley turned 85 years old. We are taking her out to dinner Saturday night. I am looking forward to that. I have not been the best grand daughter in going to visit her since school started, but I will surly make up for it Saturday night.

This past weekend we had family in from London, Ontario and we had a blast catching up with everyone. We were outside during the wind storm and walking all around and discovered that a tree limb as big and round as a dinner plate and bigger feel right outside my kitchen window and missed breaking it, not by much, and it just missed hitting the gutter and down spout that I just put up about 3 weeks ago. Needless to say my parents will have lots of fire wood for the winter. It was fun walking around in the dark when the power flickered on and off and the outside light pool went out too, so we just dodged limbs and sticks back to my parents house that night.

Sorry there are no kids stories to add tonight. Hopefully next week. Till then..........

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Celebrate!

This weekend was my Great Aunt's 80Th birthday. It was a surprise for her. I am sure she was surprised but I was at work when the surprise really happened. In addition to that surprise we had a surprise Friday night when our cousins came home form London, Ontario to celebrate with my aunt. It was a pleasant surprise. We have packed so much in the weekend since they arrived Friday, but it has been fun. they are hoping that the weather holds Sunday night so we can have a fire and make pies with cherry pie filling!

Saturday when I got home from work I jumped in the van and went with them down to where my Great Grandma lived and where my grandma grew up and saw the house and the changes they made too it. I was shocked. There used to be a row of about 10 pine trees and they were all gone, the large oak tree in the front was gone and the stone wall was replace with a new one. the house as i remember it from spending time there was white, but now it is sided. What a difference the place was.

Student teaching is going well. I really like the class that I am in and I finally have all the kids names memorized and I even know how to spell them. I just keep thinking these poor kids, when the get older and have to write their entire name. Some of the names have two or three middle name in addition to their first and last name. EEK!
Here is a conversation I had with my students this week

Student: Why do you tell us that Thursday are the only days we can stick our tongues out?
Me: because the sound of TH is made with our tongues.
Student: so that means we can stick out our tongue all day?
Me. No Way, only when we are talking about the day of the week.
Student: Well I think everyday should be Thursday
Me: Why?
Student: because I think you look funny when you teach us about Thursdays and your tongue is out.

Have a great week!

Monday, September 8, 2008

25 and still counting

that is the current number of students that I have as of today. I originally had 27 but two went to another school in the system, but I could still have more come to the classroom this week. Today I had two of the students leave and two additions. So as of today at 2:30 I had 25 students and I had learned all their names and had matched them with the correct face by 2:30 today!! YEAH ME! Learning the names is what I thought would be the hardest thing of all and I was sure it would take me an entire week to learn them as well as spell them. Some of the spellings that I have seen are not even close to how you would pronounce them. Spelling the names may take me a little longer, but I am going to achieve that goal by Friday!

Some sayings from the kids today:

Student: Miss Lashley, are you going to be a mean teacher?
Me: Why do you think I will be?
Students: Well, my teachers last year were OK, but they were always mean and would not let me talk?
Me: Why did they not let you talk? Did you raise your hand?
Student: I don't 'member. I was only 4 then.

Student: Miss Lashley how come you always call on people that are quiet?
Me: Because I know that they want to learn
Student: well I want to learn, I think.
Me: why do you think you want to learn?
Student:Because next year I will be in big kid school and can do anything I please.

Oh the things that teacher will be handling. EEK

I also fell over the slide today trying to catch a student that was throwing mulch at another student. I was watching where I was going till the student did a 360 turn and ran the other way. I turned to quick and the next thing I knew I was on the slide. At least the student I was chasing asked me if I as OK. I said yes and then we had a talk about throwing mulch on the playground at other students. He also learned that there are consequences that follow and he will be loosing 5 minutes of recess tomorrow.

Not much new in Library land! Pretty quiet in here tonight, but there is no A/C. Won't be back on till Wednesday. The fan is hitting, so I feel pretty good. Till the next time......