I Could Have Been a Child of the 70s

                               

Look!!  I didn't forget this time!  I actually made sure I got a photo BEFORE I even left for work, so that way it was done and over with.  I know it's kinda blurry...but Butter did the best he could with taking the photo.  The point is to see my dress...you can see the dress.  So, he did what he needed to do.

I didn't just get a picture of my outfit, I even got a close up of my 70-ish hair and make-up...

                               

Even though I really don't LOVE this photo, I have to say that I think I looked pretty good yesterday.  If the hint of raccoon eyes - from this summer's time out in the sun - wasn't still so apparent, my make-up would have looked a lot better.  It's hard to see in the photo, but I have on some sparkly yellow eyeshadow that really made my eyes pop.

I felt good with the way I was dressed and with my make-up.  Almost like I was dressing up for a night on the town.  Which, by the way, seemed to be the consensus of the the kiddos in my class.  Several of them made the comment that I looked like I was going to a party...and that I looked very "pretty" in my get-up.  I also received a lot of nice compliments from my co-workers about my hair and make-up.

A lot of that has to do with the fact that I normally don't wear make-up.  Apart from a little bit of eyeshadow and mascara each day, I don't wear anything else on my face.  I also don't really fix my hair.  I'm a wash it, brush it, and go kinda gal.  And getting it to look the way it does in the photo wasn't really that hard, and it did look pretty good.  It just required a lot of hairspray and scrunching.

The best part was that all of the make-up actually stayed on all day.  When I glanced at myself in the mirror at 3PM, my lipstick was still on, and nothing had sweated off or started to look like I'd spent several hours partying it up...which is usually what happens when I wear make-up.  I guess Long Lasting Lip Color is a real thing, and not just a gimmick to get you to buy it.  In fact, my lips were still purdy and pink when I got home around 9PM last night. 

After work, I had to attend a second year teacher meeting.  It's almost like a support group for new teachers that's a requirement in Missouri.  For the first two years, new teachers are assigned mentors and attend meetings a few times a year to check in and make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing...and getting the help and support we need.  It doesn't even matter if someone's been teaching for 15 years in another state - the minute they start teaching in Missouri, they are a new teacher and are required to go through the mentor program.

I attended that meeting in my 70s garb, and received quite a few questionable looks.  HA!

It's great that the 2nd year teacher program is run by one of my team members.  I feel a lot more comfortable being that she's in charge at our meetings.  She's also the perfect person to run this type of program, because she is the poster model for what a perfect teacher is.  She's kind, caring, compassionate, and truly loves her students.  And, you never hear her utter a negative word about her kids or the experiences she has in her classroom.  

Which just so happened to be our topic of discussion, last night.  Positivity.  Being positive...even if we're not feeling it.   

It was a great time to bring that topic up.  I definitely haven't been feeling very positive, lately, and it's also not been something I've locked up and kept to myself.  I've vented my frustrations.  I've made it known that I wasn't happy with certain situations that were developing in my room.  I was lucky enough to get those frustrations heard by people that could fix it... but it was also good for me to hear how I should really deal with my negativity.  

It was also brought up that good teachers NEVER yell, use sarcasm, or publicly get on to children (in front of others).  Watching and listening to the group deliver this message made me think that maybe it's time to turn in my resignation.  If those are the three things "good" teachers NEVER do, then I'm in trouble.

Thankfully, the person in charge (my dear team member) brought up a few good points about using the word "never".

She decided to use me as an example, which meant she'd seen the look of concern on my face or just wanted to point something out.  She explained to the entire group that in my classroom, I've taught my kids that my sarcasm is my language of love.  Which may sound weird, but it really is.  My sarcasm is never used to berate or degrade anyone.  It's my way of joking around, making kids laugh, and helping them realize their own mistakes.  In fact, in only eight weeks, my kiddos have already grasped that if I'm not being sarcastic - something's wrong...I'm mad about something.

She also pointed out that if she were to start using sarcasm with her own students, they would feel weird...maybe a little degraded...because she never uses sarcasm, so they don't understand it.  It works for some and not others - and to say that good teachers NEVER use it isn't a fair representation.

I also yell.  Not near as often as I did last year, but every once in a while.  Not a fit throwing, scare the pants off everyone kind of yell.  But, enough to get my point across that I'm not happy.  Something, once again, that my kids are almost used to.  Once again, if she started yelling at her kids - there'd be tears and parents visiting... because she NEVER yells at her kids, and they wouldn't know what to do if she did it.  I've learned, this year, that I'm slowly doing away with the yelling and moving more in to putting on a disappointed voice...that's a lot more effective.  And it's also the tactic used by my team member.  My kids aren't used to it AT ALL and it totally throws them off.  But, in a good way.

As far as publicly berating my kids, I don't do that.  I may tell a child that they're being too loud or to stop calling out when I'm talking.. but that's about it.  They get the point without feeling picked on or overly embarrassed.  If it's an issue that's more serious, then they are dealt with in private.

What I took away from my meeting, last night, is that not all teachers are created equal.  And there can't be the same set of rules for each teacher.  Some things work better for some than others...and it's not a sign of "good" or "bad" if it works for one but not someone else.

After the meeting, I went and watched Peanut play a volleyball game.  They, unfortunately, lost again.. but by the skin of their teeth.  The improvements that the team has made this season has been night and day.  They started off so nervous and unsure of themselves, but they've become warriors on that court.  They just need to work a little more on performing under pressure, and I truly believe that when that happens they'll be unstoppable.

Once the game was over, we rushed off to the Homecoming Parade, loaded our school's float, and rode in the parade.  It was so great to see so many people come out to support their local football team.  Tons of people lined Main Street to catch a glimpse of the spirit that's instilled in to our county.  Very humbling.

Today is the big day:  Homecoming.  

Our theme is to dress up to show our school spirit.  Decked out in our school colors...however that may be.  So, red and black hairspray and nail polish may or may not be a part of my showing my school spirit today.  

I'll snap some pictures and try to remember to snap some of the actual homecoming.

Peanut, Butter, and I will be going to the game.  It's the first homecoming we'll be attending together, and I think it will be a great, fun night out for all of us.  Jelly is going to hang out with Hubby while we're gone... it's just a little too much for her to handle.  Too many people, and getting over too late for her to try and deal with it.  So, I arranged for Hubby to pick her up from school.  The poor baby needs to rest, it's been quite the week.

OK, time for me to run.

Have an AMAZING, spirited Friday!!

What a Wacky Wednesday

      

Yes, I know it's not the best picture in the world.  And yes, I know that you can only really see my face. But, unfortunately, it's the best that I've got.  Because someone, once again, forgot to get a picture of myself all dressed up in my Wacky Wednesday attire.

Let me set the tone for you, so you can visualize it in your head.

I had on black and gold striped capris, with a blue t-shirt.  On top of that was a bronze, strapless summer dress.  On my left foot, I wore an ankle length white sock and gray Tom.  On the right foot, I wore a black knee high with a gray swirly pattern and a sparkly pink Tom.

My hair I broke in to six ponytails, sticking out in various directions.  I also wore a blue headband that has a big blue flower on it.  On my left eyelid was bright blue eyeshadow (all the way up to the eyebrow), and on the right eyelid was bright pink eyeshadow (all the way up to the eyebrow).  I also had bright purple blush in the middle of my cheeks, and some bright red lipliner on my lips.

Oh yeah.  When I say I'm gonna go ALL OUT.  I mean, ALL OUT.  Crazy.  Wacky.  Whatever you want to call it, I pulled it off.

The one picture I wished I had gotten, but didn't because I had morning car duty and had totally forgotten by the time I got back in to the school, was Peanut.  She looked AWESOME yesterday.  As awesome as you can look wearing a green tutu, pink fuzzy pajama pants, and her hair matted and sprayed to stick practically straight up.  And rather than wear eyeshadow on her eyelids, she wore the eyeshadow all around her eyes.  She looked like a very stylish zombie.  Which may or may not have resulted in a great idea for Halloween and her costume.

I don't know what it is with me and taking pictures.  Believe it or not, but a few years ago, I was a photographer!!  I took pictures for a side job, and didn't do a half bad job at it.  Now, I let amazing moments like getting all CRAZY dressed up slip through my fingers...and I don't capture them to remember forever.

What a disservice I'm doing to my children.  What am I going to show their future husbands and wife if I don't have any embarrassing kid photos?

Baby pictures are great and all, but I want those teenager, dress all crazy for school, pictures so we can sit down years from now and say "you remember when..?"  I. Must. Do. Better!

Today is Throwback Thursday, and the theme is to dress up like someone from the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s.  

It was so funny, yesterday, when one of my kiddos came to me about the theme for today.  She was dressed in a neon pink shirt, had a side pony tail, and pink skinny jeans on.  She was also wearing hightop sneakers that were pink and sparkly.  

I tell you this only because she asked me what people wore in "the olden days like the 80s".  HA!  The look on her face when I said.. "urm, basically what you're wearing right now".  There was a little shock thrown in with some horror.  She was wearing clothes that people wore in the "olden days".  

I then explained to her that fashion tends to repeat every twenty years or so.  So, back in the 80s and early 90s, it was cool to wear neon colored clothes, high top sneakers, and side pony tails.  Now, twenty years later, kids are wearing the same kind of stuff.  I also told her that later in to the 90s, I wore bell bottom jeans and platformed shoes - which is stuff they wore in the 70s - because the twenty year fad had cycled back around.

The look of relief didn't really come to her face like I expected it to.  

Last year, I dressed up for 80s day.  And, I'll openly admit that I have worn the attire I bought for that day several times since then.  Only because I'm cool like that, and totally stay on top of current fads.  If all the kids can get away with wearing 80s style clothes, why can't I?

Because of that, I've decided to go with a different decade today:  The 70s.  

I have a dress that I bought a while ago in a vintage boutique that is completely tye-died.  It's knee length and flared at the bottom, tighter on top.  I figure, paired with my knee high boots, I could pull off a 70s go-go dancer thing.  I'm going to put a scarf in my hair, and try to get my hair to be high (beehive high).  It will take a lot of teasing and hairspray, but I'm up for the challenge.

I have to also remember to take clothes to change in to after school, because Peanut has a volleyball game...and then we're going to the Homecoming parade and bonfire.  Even though I'm participating in a county wide spirit day, I'm not sure I want to stay all 70s like all evening long as well.  I'd much rather go to a game and parade dressed in something a little more comfy - like shorts and a t-shirt.

I also have a meeting after work, but I'm not sure if that is something that would be quite humorous staying dressed up for.  I'd kinda like our superintendent's office staff to see how much school spirit the teachers at our school are capable of.  

Switching gears a little here, I want to mention that yesterday was a MUCH better day at school.  I started to put some of the new ideas Mrs. P and I came up with the night before in to effect yesterday, and my kids did well with the changes.  It will take some practice to really get it down, but I think it may just work.  I will also have to make some changes as each day goes on...but if it helps them learn better, I'll do what I have to do.

Our school district is really pushing station teaching when a co-teacher is in the room.  I have the special education teacher with me for my entire math block, and thirty minutes of my reading block.  During that time, I'm supposed to be using stations in my room.

Now, I'm not opposed to station teaching.  Except I'm also a big proponent for whole group instruction for new material, and stations for reinforcing skills.  I'll openly admit that I don't think it's a great idea to teach in stations EVERY single day.  

I've already implemented stations in to my reading block.  Twice a week.  Monday is my introduction day (for the new skills, new story, new vocabulary, etc.).  Tuesday and Wednesday are station days where the students work in small groups using and practicing the new skills.  They visit two stations a day, each day, for a total of four stations.  There's a reading station, a vocabulary station, a grammar station, and a spelling station.  I teach at the reading station, reinforcing the reading skill of the week.  My co-teacher gets the kids stated on the vocabulary station before she has to leave.  And the kids work independently at the grammar and spelling stations.  On Thursday, we have small reading groups followed by a partnered reading activity and independent grammar activity.  On Friday, we post assess the skills from the week.

My kids have taken to that extremely well.  So well, in fact, that I'm now able to add Writer's Workshop in to the reading block.  I spend 45 minutes on stations/reading groups, and 45 minutes for Writer's Workshop (three days a week).

Math, however, is a little different, because we introduce or add on a new skill every day or so.  Right now, we're in the addition and subtraction unit.  Monday, we estimated and rounded.  Tuesday, we added whole numbers.  Yesterday, we reviewed and practiced...which was great for the first day of stations.  But, I'm not yet sure how it's going to go introducing new stuff each day AND trying to keep stations going.  I'll do it.  It'll just be a little harder to do than it is in reading, because the reading is the same skills all week long.

Yesterday, I set up four stations, but two stations were identical to the other two.  I had a group.  My co-teacher had a group.  The other two groups played a game with dice and cards to add and round numbers.  Trying to teach a skill and practice that skill in 20 minutes was just about impossible.  So, I've already nixed that idea.  

Today, I will be teaching whole group for the first 10-15 minutes.  Then, we'll break up in to the same stations.. but instead of trying to teach the skill, I'll just have to reinforce the skill with the practice problems.  That should mean less talking from me and my co-teacher, and more helping the students work through the problems and assisting them where they need it.  A lot easier to do when working with 5 kids than trying to do it for 20 at the same time.

OK, I think I've gone on enough for one day.  I should probably think about jumping in to my time machine and heading back to the 70s to get ready.

I WILL GET PICTURES.  I WILL GET PICTURES.  I WILL GET PICTURES.

Maybe I won't forget if I keep telling myself.

Have an awesome Thursday!!