Tuesday Tidbits

[Stage Notes:: Slight Chill in the House, Starting a Movie]
[TV:: Rent | Rent]

A few random stories about today. Oh hush up, yes this is another blog already. Deal with it :oP

[1] The backstory:: On my way to lunch I came across a collection of first graders in the hallway waiting on classmates to finish their bathroom breaks. I very politely asked Ms. G if that was her kids making all of the noise because they all know that they should be quiet. After a brief conversation with the kids I continued on my way.

Fast Forward:: An hour before the end of the school day. I am again walking down the hallway to see a crew of first graders in the hallway once again being a little noisier than they should be so I decided to have a little fun. I walked closer with my my hand to my ear making it very apparent that I was listening to all of the noise they were making. Ms. G. then asked my to go into the room to see the 'stoplight'. For those that are not familiar with primary education, the 'stoplight' is a chart for behavior where students start on green and each time they get in trouble the move from green to yellow and then on to red and blue if necessary. If you get to blue, it was a very bad day...

Anywho, Ms. G. tells me to go in and see how many reds and blues there were so I did. As I walked out of the classroom, I put on my best 'I am very sad and disappointed face' and told the entire first grade that I was very unhappy. Then I proceeded to ask the students why they were having so much trouble today...Silence...the kind of silence that Teachers dream of having in a classroom. After some prodding from Ms. G. I finally got a response to my question, and was rather taken aback at the honesty of the response. One first grader informed me that they were excited and had a lot of energy today and that they were not listening. After a very short discussion about when excitement is good and when it needs to be stifled, I turned and walked away.

It is fun dealing with other teachers students :D Your own students...well not so much.

[2] School is over and the kindergarten and first graders are taking a bathroom break before the start of after care:: There are a few kindergarten boys that are absolutely fascinated by me. They are a lot of fun to get a little riled up and leave (no one ever said that teachers are always nice to each other ;) ) In fact one of these same boys was laying on the floor and tried to use my leg as a pillow...getting back on track...so I am giving the kids high fives and listening to them when suddenly my arms were latched onto by two boys and they began very thorough examinations of my arms. The first boy asked, "What are the brown spots on your arms?" After a moment of mild shock, I announced to the curious boys that they were in fact freckles. It never occurred to me that they would not know what they are. My new internal debate is if this is a result of them being all of maybe five years old or if it is because they are African American. They're second question was similar but not quite as thought provoking, "Why are some the hairs on your arms blond and some black?"

That's all for now

Well....yeah

[Stage Notes:: Loafing @ cottage]
[iTunes:: Everything | Lifehouse]

Well, if there are any of you still out there, this is my November post. It does bother me that I am posting only once or twice a month. But then again I also do not like apologizing for having not writing so when I get behind I feel less and less like writing.

Life has been very, very busy. Though I suppose most people that read this could have guessed that long before even being bored enough to visit. Despite that, it has been the kind of busy that I used to dream about at gedas. Every day is more challenging than the one before it because I honestly do not know how to get students to learn. I can present material in many different ways, but that does not mean they are learning it. I wish that I could remember the ways that my teachers introduced material. While this may sound strange, it is hard to remember that there was a time that I did not know the things that I know now. Think about it though. Do you remember what it was like to learn how to multiply two digit numbers? The concept is near mind boggling to me. Go figure.

Oh well, that is part of the beauty of everything. There really is a time when we did not know things, and we are able to learn them. A process that never seems to end thankfully. For example, already today I learn that the man that founded Vassar College also founded a city of Vassar in Michigan. I also learned why some Ale's are called IPAs. Wonder what I will learn before you read this.

What have you learned that is neat or obscure lately? Please share in the comments so I know some people are still stopping by! Happy Thanksgiving!