Since When Did Going to School Become a Punishment??

                                         

This morning, I am fired up and ready to spill out some personal opinions and cold hard truths.  Some may be offensive.  Some may cross the border of "professional".  But, after what I read on Facebook last night, I really don't care.

It all started last night when a local news station decided to post the question "Do you think snow days should be made up on Spring Break".  

Now, the news station was doing what they do best:  Stirring up controversy.  Snow day make up is a hot button of discussion around these parts, being that most school districts have had about 14 days of missed school due to snow.  That equates to almost three weeks of instruction that has been missed due to Mother Nature.

And, I'll say right now, I wasn't shocked to see the majority of people voting NO.  People make vacation plans and travel plans and other kinds of plans on spring break.  Heaven forbid that trip to Cancun gets cancelled for something as stupid as GOING TO SCHOOL!  (Offensive statement #1)

But, that wasn't the real beef I had.  That wasn't what got my blood boiling and me ready to scream at people for being the cause of the nation's education problems.  

No, that all came from the following two statements that I saw over, and over, and over again in some form or another on that thread last night (these are two actual statements made):

"Why should kids be PUNISHED for snow days, and have their BREAKS taken away?"

and, my favorite...

"Why is it fair that my kid has been assigned work to do on the snow days while the teachers sit home doing nothing and enjoying their days off?  Don't give them work on snow days and then ask them to make up the missed days.  That's "doubling up" and it's not fair.  Teachers don't have to work on their days off - including snow days.  I'm not sure what the labor board would say if teachers were made to work when they weren't at school teaching?"

To add some further fuel to the fire, I saw parents making these statements (and these are copied and pasted from Facebook, by the way..fixing some errors in spelling and grammar, naturally):

"NO! Because all the teachers care about is teaching to that stupid test.  I couldn't give a rat's a** how my kid does on that test, it doesn't tell me anything.  My kid is going to enjoy her snow days AND enjoy her spring break.  No school is going to punish my kid just because there's snow."

"Why on earth should the kids HAVE to make up the snow days?  My kid makes all A's, so I'm not concerned about them learning what they need to know before next year.  My kid's teacher just needs to work a little harder to make sure they cover everything in the time they have.  It's not like they don't have plenty of time off to plan for this sort of stuff."

"No, don't make them go on Spring Break!! Kids have enough school!! They won't learn anything, anyway.  All the teachers do is play movies and let them goof off.  Just add the "movie days" on at the end.  It's not like any teachers teach anything once those tests are over anyway."

And, all I can say to that is..

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???

I thank all things holy that these comments were made by people FAR AWAY from my school district.  I could almost guarantee you wouldn't hear many statements like that from our parents (in the amount of droves I saw last night, anyway).  I am actually blessed to work in a school district that respects and supports the teachers and the school.  Thank goodness!!

And, I'm also very happy that I work in a school district that doesn't do the usual spring break.  Instead, we are given long weekends each month between Christmas and end of school.  But, do you know what happens to those "breaks" when the snow days start adding up?  Yep.  They're gone.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  Because our administration recognizes that three weeks of snow days equates to plenty of "breaks".

But, being that these comments were made by people that live in my area, I'm going to point out a few cold, hard truths.

1.  It is the GOVERNMENT who dictates how many days kids HAVE to be in school.  In many areas, that's 178 days.  LESS THAN HALF THE YEAR!!  One hundred and seventy eight days to teach the extensive list of standards that are deemed necessary for a child to learn before moving on to the next grade.

2.  No matter how much anyone hates those tests (teachers being at the top of that list), they are required BY THE GOVERNMENT to measure a school's success.  School funding and other important aspects of the education world are dictated by the test scores.  Nobody that's actually in education like them, they loathe them in fact, but we also want to make sure that our kids are getting the education they deserve.  And, if the government mandates that with a test, then we are going to do whatever we can to prepare the students for those tests, so that they can continue to receive a good education.  Don't like it?  Take it up with your elected officials.  DO NOT BLAME THE SCHOOLS OR THE TEACHERS.  They don't actually get to make the rules that affect your child's learning.

3.  A parent that looks at school as a "punishment" will raise a child that looks at education as a "punishment".  Instead of whining and complaining about how their breaks are going to be taken away from them because "the mean old school" is making them go because of the snow days, how about explaining to your child that their education is first and foremost the priority?  

"I'm sorry, Johnny, but we're not going to be able to have our trip this spring break because it's more important that you learn everything you need to this year, so that you can be successful next year.  We can always take the trip next year, whereas your education just can't be done over.  We have to support the school's decision in wanting to make sure that all of their students get the education they need.  Your education will help you, one day, be able to take your own family on nice vacations during spring break... and that's far more important."

4.  I can't speak for ALL teachers, but I will tell you that ALL of the teachers I know most certainly DO NOT stop teaching the minute the test is over.  In fact, I would go out on a limb and say that the most fun and meaningful learning happens AFTER the test.  Because even though the majority of teachers I know do not "teach to the test", their hands are tied in timing and standards that have to be covered in order to prepare the students for the tests.  Once the test is over, the teachers are pretty much free to turn back in to the creative, Pintrest loving, and educationally (not test) focused teachers they first set out to be. Because they no longer have a test looming over their heads.  Fun, educational, and meaningful projects start coming out.  Kids are challenged to think outside the box for fun endeavors of creative learning, experimentation, and imaginative projects.  I know that I would rather poke my eyes out with blunt pencils than play a movie every day for the remainder of the year.

5.  Contrary to popular belief, teachers don't work the cushy 8-4 Monday to Friday job that everyone thinks they do.  They are contracted for 180-185 days a year.  Meaning that's how many days they are PAID to work.  And, sure, teachers get holidays, weekends, breaks, summer, and snow days off... but do you really think they spend that time doing nothing?  Again, I won't speak for all teachers, but I will speak for the teachers I know (myself included) that are up until ungodly hours of the night grading and entering in grades, writing lesson plans, creating units, and going through the standards with a fine tooth comb deciding how on earth they are going to fit them all in when almost three weeks of their teaching time has been taken away by snow.  Please, madam, complain about your child having to do an assignment on a snow day and cry and whine about how "unfair" it is that your child has to work when the teacher doesn't.  But, please think about how much a teacher works while not in a classroom.  Think about the teachers that sacrifice time with their own families in order to make YOUR child's educational experience the best it can be. Please compain.  Do.  I dare you!

6.  How are snow days any different than days missed by a child because of illness?  Every child that is absent from school is required to make up any work missed while gone.  They don't automatically get a "free pass" just because they were sick or had a death in the family or went on a vacation during school days.  So, explain to me why it's SO unfair that kids are asked to do work on unscheduled, missed days like snow days?  Of course I'm not saying that teachers should assign kids all the work they are missing while at home, but does it really hurt to have them do some reading or math practice while they are cooped up at home?  And like a very wise professor shared on my Facebook this morning, the parents complaining about work being assigned during snow days are probably the same parents complaining that their kids are bored and have nothing to do.  I'm sure you think it a lot more FAIR that your child spends the entire day in front of the TV or video game, but how about taking a pointer from #3 and stress the importance of their education.  The schools nor teachers control the weather, so they are doing their best in a bad situation.  The weather may keep the kids from school, but is it really so bad to send the school to the kids?  Keep their brains focused with some reading and math practice, it won't kill them.

7.  America is one of the few countries that have so LITTLE time in schools.  Look to the countries that have AMAZING educational scores and success.  They are in school an average of 200-250 days of the year.  They have longer school days and far less breaks.  While I haven't visited any of these countries, I will go out on a limb and say that you probably won't see parents complaining about making up 14 days lost in a 178 day calendar.  They put education first and foremost, and believe that taking a kid away from school for too long (like 3 months in the summer) is a detriment to the educational process.  Kids regress and lose some of their skills during such a long time away from school.  On average, the "summer break" in most countries is 4-6 weeks.  And they are not receiving 2-3 weeks off every other month.  I, for one, can attest that when I went to school in England, we had 2 weeks off for Christmas, 6 weeks off for summer, and several days off throughout the year for major holidays.  And even though England averages about 192 days of student/teacher school days, their days off are spread out throughout the year to minimize regression.  I know that it won't change how things are done here, and I'm not saying that any drastic changes need to be made to our school year (even though I think we are out too much), but I definitely think that making up 14 days is IMPERATIVE to giving our kids the very best education they can receive.

And, I think that about covers my rant points this morning.

Once again, I just like to point out how truly blessed I am that I work where I work.  Situations like I complained about above are not a cause of concern for me.  I don't get parents whining and complaining to me about "punishing" their child for going to school.  I get nothing but support.  Most of the kids I teach come from backgrounds where education is a gift, not a right.  The parents embrace it, make it a top priority, and want their child to receive the best education possible so that their child has a chance of making something of themselves and breaking the poverty cycle.  For that, I am truly thankful.  

It just hurts my heart when I know teachers who are teaching in the schools those parents are complaining about.  Some were my mentors.  I received my training in passion and motivation from those very teachers being bashed and condemned.  And, that makes me sad.

What it really boils down to is the fact that I don't think parents are fully aware of what goes on behind closed doors.  They don't get to see the amazing teaching that's taking place.  They don't get to hear about all the mandates and rules that government officials hand down to school administrators.  They don't understand that the teachers and administrators and doing the very best they can with the rules and laws they are given.  And, at the end of the day, I don't think people (parents) realize just how much teachers care about their students education, and the true desire they have for their kiddos to succeed and make something of their lives.  

Again, I can't talk for all teachers.  I'm not naive enough to look over the fact that there are a few "bad eggs" out there.  Some teachers have gotten to a point where they are so sick of the government interfering, or the high (almost impossible) expectations that are put on their shoulders, that it turns them in to drones that just go about their day in a robotic stance running the motions.  

But, in my experience, I haven't met any of them.  I have been in three of the four major school districts in my area over the course of the past five years, and EVERY SINGLE teacher I interacted with or observed or learned from had their students' needs first and foremost.  Sure, some were tired and wilted by the lack of support they received from parents, but that didn't stop them from doing what they do and making sure their students didn't fester the same attitude.

And, I will also say that I have met MANY parents who do have their child's educational future first and foremost in their list of priorities.  They support the teachers, administration, and school's decisions.  

I'm not judging all parents.  Nor all teachers.

But, it just makes me very sad to see SO MANY comments like I saw last night.  

I was appreciative of the comments that were thrown in out of support for teachers and the schools.  I was melted by some of the kind words said about me (by complete strangers) as I went on the defensive last night.  I am thankful and for my job, and no Negative Nelly's will have any impact on how I look at my job and the importance it has on our future.

If anything, there has been some good to come out of all this negativity.  

It has further instilled to me how blessed I am to have my job.  To work for the people I work for.  To work with the people I work with.  To be one of the lucky ones that gets to see what happens behind those closed doors, and the magic that takes place.

And I know, that no matter how many snow days we get, it will be my TOP priority to prepare my students, and provide them with all they need to know in order for them to be ready for next year.  No matter how many hours I put in outside of the classroom, how many changes and adjustments I have to make.  I will gladly do it.  Because Mother Nature will NEVER stop me from doing what I do best.

Impacting and improving the lives of our children.

I'm Going Purple for My Mom

                                        

Over the years, I've jumped on bandwagons and participated in charitable events just because I wanted to.  Just because I wanted to be a part of a good cause, and doing my part to be involved with giving back.  I liked being involved.  I like the feelings that come from doing something nice just for the sake of doing something nice.  It gives me the warm and fuzzy feeling that I'm doing my part to help those in need.   

I've participated in a few Susan G. Koman Race for the Cures, I've ran a 5K for a cancer challenge, I've donated money to St. Jude's research hospital, I've participated in events for autism awareness, I support charities and organizations that feed and cloth the poor and homeless, and I've worn different colors for various awareness causes.  

I participated in RFTC without knowing anyone with breast cancer.  I ran the cancer challenge without having anyone close to me affected by cancer.  I donated to St. Jude's without knowing a child that received their treatment, I participated in autism awareness activities because of the kids I worked with that had autism,  and I wore whatever color I was told to without thinking of a person I was wearing those colors for.  The giving to charities that support the poor and homeless is my of thanking the organizations that helped me when I was in those situations, and I never want to forget what I went through to get me where I am today.

But, today...on this day... there is a meaning to jumping on a band wagon, even if it is for nothing more than awareness and because I'm proud to know a cancer survivor.

Today is World Cancer Day.

If you're a Facebook member, you may have noticed that some people have changed their profile picture purple. Like my daughter told me this morning, it looks as though someone has gotten ahold of a photo editor for the first time.  The regular profile picture, but now purple.

Well, those people (myself included) did not just discover a photo editor, we have changed our profile picture to purple in honor of cancer survivors all over the world.

And some in our immediate families.

Like my mom.

It blows my mind that just three months ago, I was hearing the news that knocked my socks off and had me bawling like a baby into Hubby's arms.  The news that I might lose my mom.  My best friend.  That in a matter of one day she was perfectly healthy, and the next being diagnosed with lung cancer.

The news came as a shockwave.  A major shockwave.  I had never known anyone close to me with cancer.  It wasn't something that had occurred before in our family.  

In fact, the only disease that had ever affected me or taken someone close to me was Parkinson's disease that took my grandfather over ten years ago.  He wasn't actually my "biological" grandfather, but still a man I loved and treated me and my siblings as his grandchildren.  Since that time, I can't recall a single family member passing away from a disease of any kind.  I still have all of my close family members perfectly in tact and healthy.  My great-grandmother passed away while I was still a child, but she was close to if not older than 100.  My grandparents are both in their 70's and spend their time going on cruises and trips to Vegas, in between their regular weekly outings to go shopping and eat dinner.  My grandmother does suffer from some respiratory issues, and has to have oxygen.. but after spending 40 years smoking, it could be much worse.  My grandfather is as healthy as a horse and still climbs up on his roof if it needs fixing, and can always be found (between vacations) in his shop building or fixing something.

A part of me has always thought that by participating in the events that support various charities, I was racking up some karma points.  I know that sounds bad.  But, that's what I've always believed.  If I do my part to support causes and charities, I'm somehow keeping the bad juju away from the people I care so much about.

For the record, as crazy as it sounds, but last year was the first year in a while that I didn't participate in the RFTC.  In fact, last year I didn't participate in ANY of the normal causes I take part in.  And, then I get to find out my mom has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Do you think I'll be sliding on anymore charitable events?  I think not!!

Anywho, three months ago, I'm finding out for that my mom has lung cancer.

The few weeks that passed after finding out that news are all kind of a blur.  I know we went to see a specialist.  I know she had to have all kinds of tests and procedures done.  And then, she was admitted in to the hospital to have the tumor removed, along with 1/3rd of her lung.

That happened right before Christmas.

And since that time, my mom has gone back for more tests and procedures and from where it stands right now.. the cancer is gone!!!

She is currently undergoing a round of chemotherapy, just to be on the safe side, but my mom is officially a cancer survivor!

She had her first chemo treatment three weeks ago, and it was tough.  She's spent the past three weeks feeling extremely ill and lethargic.  Doing any amount of activity knocks the wind out of her, and she can't eat very much because it makes her feel sick.  

But, I know, that she'll take the sickness and tiredness for a few months because she knows that in the end SHE'S ALIVE.  She survived.  And this short term nastiness she's having to endure will pass, leaving behind her normal, healthy self.

She was supposed to go for her second round today, but due to Mother Nature not being very happy, my mom had to reschedule.  We're getting another bout of snow and ice, and it just wasn't safe for my mom to travel to her appointment.  

So, yesterday, when I first saw the post feeds about today being World Cancer Day, it held a whole different meaning for me.  Of course I was going to change my profile picture purple, and my cover photo, and I'll dip myself in purple ink for a week if I have to.  Because I want the whole world to know that my mom beat the odds and is now a cancer survivor.

This year, every event that I take part in will have a different purpose.  OK, so my mom didn't have breast cancer... but that won't stop me participating in the RFTC.  In fact, there's someone that works in our county (that I haven't met) that is a breast cancer survivor.  I will proudly walk/jog 5K in her honor.  I will absolutely participate in the Cancer Challenge 5K in September, and wear a big sign telling the world who I'm doing it for.  I will donate money to the various charities and causes I believe in (like St. Jude's).  I will donate food, clothes, and toys to the needy... and gladly participate in competitions that raise money for such organizations.  And anything else that comes my way.

All the while, knowing that in a split second those families received news like I received a few months ago, or are going through some form of hardship in a similar sense.  I am connected, just a little, to some of the heartache, worry, stress, and sadness those families have been through or are going through.  

And, I will jump on the bandwagons of awareness because I never want to forget the way I felt that night, three months ago.  It will forever be a solid reminder of what my mom went and is going through, and even though I can't take away any of her pain to help her recover faster, I want her to know how proud I am of her for fighting and staying strong.

I thank The Lord every day that our society has come such a long way in discovering treatments and cures to diseases that were an automatic death sentence just a mere decade ago.  

People with HIV/Aids live longer, fuller lives.  People with cancer are receiving treatments that prolong their lives, and some even being cured of the illness.  People with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are going through treatments that slow the progression of the disease.  People with diabetes are able to manage their disease.  

All diseases that have seen DRAMATIC changes in the past decade or so.

And I truly, 100% believe that all of those things are now possible because of the awareness and support given to research...made possible by people who participate and support the causes.  

So, I will continue to do what I do and help these causes as much as I can.  Except, now I'm doing it with a personal connection.  

My Mom.

The survivor.

My hero.

And I will honor her any chance I get.  Being it running, walking, wearing a certain color, or changing my profile picture on my Facebook page.  I'll do it.  Because no small gesture is insignificant or pointless.  They all mean so much... especially to those who are fighting or have fought for their lives.  

Happy Birthday, Boss!!!

                                      

Today, it is my principal's birthday.  And, being that it's a snow day and I can't really say any of this stuff to her in person (not that I probably would), I decided to write her a blog post.  

Some people will take this is a big brown nosing, suck up session.  But, whatevs.  To each their own.  For the gifts that this woman has bestowed on to me over the past year and a half, I figured the least I could do was write a blog post to tell how much I'm grateful for her and how important she is to me.  On this day.  Her birthday.

So, actually, this blog will probably be more about me..and the impact my boss has had on me.

Some of you have heard these stories many times before, some of you haven't.  But, I'm bundling them all up right here as a tribute to an amazing woman... who for this post, will be referred to as Mrs. P.

Let's rewind back to two years ago.

To one of the lowest times in my life.  

It was the end of April, 2012. I remember it very well.  I was a teaching assistant in a school district I loved, and where I had my heart set on becoming a teacher.  I had worked my behind off since August of 2011 trying to prove that I was worthy of having my own classroom.  When I was asked to jump, I replied with not only the usual "how high?", but with "and how many flips would you like me to do in the air?"  You wanna talk about brown nosing?  I was the queen of it.  If there was anything that needed to be done, committees that needed members, after school commitments that I had absolutely no requirement to do, I was volunteering to do them all.  I pulled kids for small group work, I worked in classrooms alongside teachers, I would have given my right arm to have the sweet reward of knowing I had done all that to earn the coveted classroom.

But, when the jobs started to become available, I was passed over.  I had to fight for an interview, and they never went very well.  I was given the cold, hard dose of reality in realizing that it didn't appear like I was wanted in the school district I had put so much time and effort in to.  And it hit me.  Hard.  Causing me to become an emotional, depressed, wreck.

So, I started to broaden my horizons and look elsewhere.  After speaking to a substitute that was working in one of the classrooms, one day, he told me about this school district called "Mac County".  It's where he'd gone to school, and where he planned on working the following year.  A little research gave me the school district, and the realization that even though the district was in another state, it wasn't really that far from me.  So, I sent in an online application. Kinda, sorta, nonchalantly... thinking it wouldn't hurt to at least apply for the jobs posted.

The second week of May, I received a call from Mrs. P.  She asked if I'd be willing to come in for an interview.  She scheduled the interview for May 22nd.  The day after school was getting out for summer.  

On the actual day, I was nervous and excited. But, in all honesty?  I hadn't really given up hope that I was going to receive a call from my current principal offering me a teaching job.  I knew a position was coming available, and I just thought for sure she was going to give that job to me.  So, when it came to the interview in Mac County, I just decided to be myself and see what happened.  It wasn't like they were going to offer me the job on the spot, so I'd have time to figure stuff out.

When I got to the school, I was greeted by two women sitting in the office.  They were pleasant, and asked me to take a seat as the interview before me was still going on (it seems funny now, thinking back, that one of those women would end up being one of the people I am most close to now).  About ten minutes later, I watched a woman leave and a tall man greeted me and led me to a conference room.  In that room were four women and the guy that had led me in.  I was then introduced to the women:  The assistant superintendent for curriculum, the principal of the primary school, Mrs. P, the principal for another elementary school in the county, a fourth grade teacher, and the man was the assistant principal of the school I was in.

I honestly don't remember a whole lot about the actual interview.  I remember being asked questions and not feeling the usual fear I was used to feeling during interviews.  I was pretty relaxed, very honest, and just kept running in my mind to just be myself.  I made a few jokes, I explained some ideas, and then I remember hearing words I never thought I was going to here.  It was after I had asked my final question of how long it would be before they made any decisions.  The words came from the assistant superintendent "oh, I believe we are definitely going to offer you a job, it's just figuring out where to put you".  

I was then asked to take a tour of the building with the 4th grade teacher that was in the interview while they discussed the situation.

As I walked around that building, I couldn't tell you a single thing that was said to me.  I can't tell you what I looked at or where I went.  I just remember trying with all my might to hold back tears, and waiting to find out what they meant by "where to put you".  

And then, there she was.  Mrs. P.  Telling me she wanted to hire me right there and then as the new 4th grade teacher in her building.  She hugged me as tears sprang to my eyes.  And from that moment on, I realized I hadn't been spending that year as a teacher's assistant to prepare me for getting a job in that school.  I was preparing myself to get a job working in another district all together.  Another state.  At a place that wanted me for who I was.  For a person that knew NOTHING about me, and was totally OK with that.

The woman that took a chance on me when no one else would.

My first year teaching, I've never felt so supported or taken care of.  I was called in to Mrs. P's office several times throughout the year just so she could check in on me, and ask me how I was doing.  She asked me what she could do to make sure I stayed working for her... which was kind of a silly question.  I had made the decision on the day she had offered me a job that I'd go to the end of the earth for this woman.  All she had to do was renew my contract each year, and I was golden.

Even though I was so appreciative of her through my first year teaching, it wasn't until this year that I saw a side of her I hadn't seen during that first year.  All that year I had spent feeling nervous and shy around her.  Just wanting to make her happy, and making sure I was doing everything I was supposed to do.  

But this year?  It has been so different.

I've had lots of "situations" that I probably wouldn't have mentioned last year... due to it being my first year, and not wanting to come off as being a whiny baby.  This year, I've thrown caution to the wind and visited her office several times just to have a whiny baby fest.  And each time, she's given me a swift kick in the caboose.  She's reinforced my motivation, my passion, and repaired any damage that was starting to form.  Just with a few simple words:  Do What You Do!!  

What I love about her is the fact that she doesn't sugar coat.  She doesn't BS.  She tells me exactly how she sees it, and doesn't just feed me what I want to hear.  She scolds my self doubt and reminds me that I'm no whiny baby.  It's not very becoming of me.  I'm stronger than that, and I have to trust myself and be willing to take a few risks.  You have no idea how refreshing it is to have someone be so honest.  

She has reminded me that I can't always be like other teachers.  That I have a uniqueness.  One that was the main reason she hired me.  It was my ideas, my passion, and my willingness to never give up that wouldn't let me out the door that day without snatching me up.  

And she's taught me that it's OK to use the word NO once in a while.

There have been times I've gone in to the office just for a friendly chat, and have never been turned away.  She makes me laugh.  She gets me.  And even on days where she's super busy, her door has always been open.  

During the time of finding out about my mom's illness, she was front and center offering any support and help she could give.  Even going as far as keeping Jelly at her house for the night so that I could go to a doctor's appointment with my mom. 

Speaking of which, let's take a second to recap all that she's done for my children.

Mrs. P is one of the few people in that school building that knows the FULL story of Butter's past.  And not EVER has it ever phased her thoughts about him.  Not EVER has it clouded her judgement as how to "deal" with him.  The love, support, and kindness she's shown him made a HUGE impact on his school life.  For the first time since kindergarten, he loves school.  LOVES IT.  He's had to visit her a few times.  He's received a paddle to his behind a few times.  But, each and every time it's come from Mrs. P... it's hurt him worse emotionally than it did physically.  Only because it hurt him to upset her.  He felt like he was disappointing her...letting her down.  However, any discipline issue has been followed up with words of encouragement, support, and praise.  And even though he has left her office sad, he has always been motivated to do better.  

Let's talk Peanut.  That girl has always loved school, so she was a pretty easy one to add to the mix.  But, her first year was tough.  The new girl.  In a school full of kids that had known each other their whole lives.  She was the outsider, and it took a lot for her to acclimate herself to the environment.  And one of the biggest support systems Peanut had during that transition time was Mrs. P.  Peanut's personality reminds me a lot of Mrs. P.  Peanut has the upmost respect for Mrs. P, and like me, would go to the ends of the earth for her.

And finally, Jelly.  Oh, Jelly.  Starting kindergarten was supposed to be one of the most exciting moments in Jelly's life.  And on the first couple of days, it was.  But, then something changed in Jelly and excitement was replaced with fear.  She didn't want to go.  She didn't want to leave.  She would cry and beg me to stay with her up to the very second she got on the school bus.  Of course, she was fine once she got there, but the mornings were REALLY tough for the first few weeks.  Then, one day, Mrs. P stepped in to action.  I had to do a morning duty, so I'd left Jelly with Peanut to stand and wait for the bus.  Mrs. P sent Peanut on her way and had a little talk with Jelly.  Mrs. P stood there holding Jelly's hand and talking to her while they waited for the bus.  And that started a new thing every morning.  It was Mrs. P who she wanted to go out to the bus with.  Then, Mrs. P transitioned Jelly in to waiting for the bus with her 2nd grade son.  A boy who Jelly has become very close friends with.  And to this day, I take Jelly to the door and she waits with Mrs. P's son for the bus.  Alone.  Without me. 

Jelly has formed a very special bond with Mrs. P.  Jelly absolutely adores her.  She gets very sad if Mrs. P isn't at the school when she gets there at the end of the day.  And she asks me almost every day when she's going to get to stay at Mrs. P's house again.  

And anyone that knows Jelly would know that there's not many people Jelly feels that comfortable with.  So it's a VERY big deal to me that she has built the bond she has with Mrs. P.

At the end of the day, I couldn't ask for a more supportive, honest, caring, and loyal boss.  

Yet, this is the last year she's going to be my principal.  She has received an amazing promotion, and starting next year will be the new assistant superintendent of curriculum.  

When hearing the news, I cried.  And, I'll admit, they weren't tears of happiness for her.  They were tears of sadness for me.  What am I going to do without her?  Will I be able to have a relationship anywhere near the level I have with the new principal?  

I am happy for her.  She definitely deserves the job.  And, she's going to be an amazing assistant superintendent.  But, that doesn't calm the nerves I feel.  

She is my rock.  My reassurance in myself.  The person I know I can always turn to when the going gets tough, and gets the tough going.  

But, today, on her birthday, I want her to know I owe her more than she'll ever know.  She made my dreams come true.  She has reminded me over and over and over again how truly blessed I am to be working in such an amazing school district.  She has shown me friendship.  She has cared for my children as if they were her own.  

And for all of that, I can never truly repay her.

So, Mrs. P, I hope you have a fantastic birthday.  Enjoy the snow day, the time with your family.  Enjoy it knowing that you are being thought of and celebrated even though we can't be there to do it in person.

On the day where you should be receiving all the gifts, I want you to know the amazing gifts you have given me.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Snow Way!!

                                     

Well, after a fantastic birthday, I got to wake up to this stunning site this morning.  It's been coming down for a while, and is still coming down in giant, beautiful flakes.

Is a snow day in the cards for an extended birthday present?  We shall see as the day continues on, and the snow continues to fall.  At this point, my biggest concern is the difference a few miles can make in snow accumulation.  We may get 3"-5" here, but where I work may only get a dusting... so, they might still have school even though the roads here are slick and treacherous.

I have to admit, a snow day would be a great late birthday present.  Because even though we've had plenty of snow days already this year, I haven't really gotten any work done this weekend and having an extra day to get it done would be nice.  Yeah, I understand that another snow day would mean less days at school, less summer, all that jazz... but the way it stands right now, I'm not going to have any days off between the end of school and summer school anyway.  Plus, I work better under pressure.. so knowing that the amount of time I have to prepare my students for 5th grade is dwindling away will have me upping my game to make sure they are ready even though we're several days short of an entire school year.

But, right now, snow day or no snow day, I'm going to take my time and explain all the birthday goodness I got to experience the past couple of days.  I wrote a post yesterday about my "deep" interpretation of my birthday and what it means, but I completely neglected the awesome day I spent prior in my classroom with my kiddos.  And, now that I've had my actual birthday celebration, I can share that goodness, too.

So, Friday.  Day before my birthday.  I may or may not have let it slip one or five times throughout the week that my birthday was on Saturday.  And before I go on, I'd like to set one thing straight.  I do NOT talk about my birthday in the attempt to elicit gifts from my students or the people I work with.  I talk about my birthday because it's a day I'm excited about... and the general point is to let the kids know that the day before my birthday is going to be a fun day IF they behave and do their work.  Think of it as a bribe, if you will.  I mention my birthday a few times, mention the fact that I'd love to have a little party to celebrate, but only if the week goes well.  I also drop the hint that it would be a great birthday gift if they behave, turn in all their work, and they stay focused.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm already starting to panic that the AMAZING behavior I received this entire week was related to that little spill that I gave my kids.  I sure hope not.  I'm just going to pretend that the thought didn't enter my mind, and that the kids were amazingly well behaved because they had some kind of epiphany about taking responsibility for their education.

Anywho, back to Friday morning.  The kids are starting to make their way down the hallway heading to the classroom, and I start being greeted by my students with hugs and happy birthday wishes.  Then, a student hands me a gift bag, and then another, and then another hands me a giant chocolate bar, and then another hands me another candy bar, then a student arrives with a GIANT bag of chips for "the party", and then another student has a 2 liter bottle of Sprite in her hand.  

I was blown away.  

The next 20 minutes were spent with the students making birthday cards for me... at their request.

I opened up my gifts after I did attendance, and one gift contained a BEAUTIFUL handmade scarf, and the other was a little gift box with the words "You are special" on the front, filled with Almond Joys and Mounds, piled around a cute little teddy bear.  

Shortly after that, it was time to head down to our dodgeball tournament.  The county SWAT team arrived, and they arrived in style.  In camo armored trucks, dressed in their full SWAT gear.  The kids were blown away, and super excited.

Being that I'm a Student Council sponsor, I got to play with the SWAT members and the STUCO students against the class that had won the original competition.  

The game was amazingly fun.  The SWAT team put on a great show, and after a few members were hit.. they decided to switch teams and help the other side.  The rest of the school was sitting in the bleachers watching the action, and it was controlled pandemonium.  They were cheering and screaming and doing the wave.  SO MUCH FUN.

My class got the opportunity to join in the fun, as they had come in 3rd during the original competition. They all had a great time throwing balls at the opposing team... including a couple of SWAT members. I was out there, with them, running around and enjoying the fun.  

Here's my class with the SWAT team in full gear...

Once the games were over, it was back to class to try and get in some learning.  On the way back to the classroom, I checked my mail box and found a card and a bag of Russell Stover's Chocolates.  The card was from the staff, and it was super sweet.  It was pretty crazy once we got back in to the classroom.  Try and get a class to calm down enough after that much excitement.  Not easy.  But, I managed to do it.. and we spent the last 30 minutes before lunch doing our spelling test.

After lunch, we had a pretty relaxing afternoon.  We graded some papers, went over a few things from the week, and just "chilaxed".  About 30 minutes before the end of the day, my co-teacher arrived with a little surprise.  A giant tub of chocolate chip cookies, a card from the entire class, and a mug that said "World's Greatest Teacher".  And... cue tears.  How sweet, right?  My co-teacher had orchestrated the whole thing with the class during their specials time.  

So, I divided out the cookies, the chips brought by one of my students, and the soda that another student brought, and we just "hung out" and had a good time for the remainder of the day.  

I was so touched by the generosity and the sweetness my students displayed all day long.  

Here's a pic of the wonderful gifts and cards that I received throughout the day...

Once school was over, I spent some time making sure all of my copies for next week were taken care of, and then packed my bag to head on home.

Yesterday morning, I was woken up pretty early by my phone going crazy with messages. Birthday well wishes from my sweet besties.  I love them dearly, but I couldn't help but wonder WHY they had to wish me a Happy Birthday at 8AM on a Saturday.  Not that I'm complaining, of course... just being thought of at any time of the morning (even on a Saturday morning) is special and something to be thankful for.  

I did my usual perusing of Facebook and was blown away by the amount of Facebook birthday wishes I had received.  Twenty by 9AM.  That's pretty awesome.  And several more came throughout the rest of the day.

My mom arrived around noon, and we made the drive to the casino for my Annual Birthday Bingo Extravaganza.  First stop was the casino steak house for an amazing birthday lunner (late lunch/early dinner...doesn't sound as good as "brunch" but the same principal). The food was fantastic, but I'm pretty sure it's going to cost me on the scale tomorrow for my weight loss competition.  Oh wait.  Possible snow day.  Another bonus to that whole thing.

After we ate, we went and bought our bingo books and then headed out to the casino to enjoy the 30 minutes we had to wait for the bingo to get started.

Now, I will say right now, that I hate slot machines.  I think they are nothing more than money shredders.  Put money in, and 3 seconds later?  Money gone.  

Unless, of course, you actually win.  

Which I didn't do UNTIL I had shredded about $80 and was ready to call it quits and spend the rest of the evening mourning the loss of $80 and smacking myself in the head for being so stupid.  

I had gotten down to my last $20.. and yes, I had given myself $100 to spend on the machines.  NOT something I would or could do very often, and which is why the only time I do something like that is on my birthday.

Anywho, put the last $20 in to the money shredder... and with the first spin, I win $80.  Now, a smart person would realize they just won back the money they had wasted and walk away.  But, I'm not a smart person.  Not when it comes to stupid gambling.  I figure, I only gave it one spin.. why not have a few more goes.  I start watching my money dwindle back away, and once again when I think that I just need to stop I hit a bonus spin and win another $60.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  I'm back up to the $80 mark... a few more hits and BAM.. I hit the mini jackpot and win $218!!

Thankfully, that was enough for me to know better and I quickly hit the Cash Out button before giving it a second thought.  That gave me back the money I spent on bingo cards, the $80 I had spent on the money shredders, and still put me $50 ahead.  I'll take it!!

Then, Mom and I get started with our matinee bingo session, and she wins $150.  Now, the best part about playing bingo with my mom is the fact that we split any winnings.  Bingo winnings.  Slot machine winnings are completely separate.  

So, there's another $75 to add to my winning's pot.  

Then, I'll be danged, she wins again during the early bird session and scores another $50... which is another $25 for me.

I didn't have any luck all night playing bingo, but I had a blast nonetheless.

I wish I could say that I walked away with the full winning's pot in tack, but I was drawn in to the money shredders again, and shredded another $40.  But, I ended up walking away with an extra $50 than I had before lunch, bingo, evening snack, and money shredding... so I'm OK with that.  I had an absolutely amazing time, and it didn't cost me a penny.  In fact I got paid to have that much fun.  Who on earth can complain about that?  

I finally made it home around 1AM and went to bed.  

An absolutely FANTASTIC birthday.

Today, I'm planting myself on my computer and getting my taxes filled.  And working.  And relaxing.  And crocheting.  All while enjoying the snow that's falling down in droves right now.  We're up to about 3" at this point, and I'm pretty sure the prediction of 1-3" is a little off.  Especially since our current radar looks like this...

                                            

Yeah, pretty sure we're going to get just a little more than 3".  

All I have to do now is pray that my school town gets just as much, because I know for definite now that there will be no way I'll be driving to work in the morning.  The temps are not going to get above freezing today, and will be dropping down to about 12 degrees overnight.  It won't be white, fluffy snow in the morning, I can guarantee that.

So, now I'm going to try and not worry about what I might have to do if there IS school and I can't get there, but instead just try and enjoy my day.

Have a great, warm, Sunday, everyone!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

                                        

Today, I am 32 years old.  

In the past year, I have laughed, I have cried, I've screamed in anger, and squealed in excitement.  I've experienced times of pure happiness and bliss, extreme frustration, devastating sadness, and sheer love and joy.

I have tested the strength of relationships, and worked on building new ones.  I've gotten to know people in ways and forms I hadn't expected... both good and bad.  I've discovered new people that have my back, and have felt the blow of being stabbed in my back all by people I'd never expect it from.

So much has happened in the past year.  And every bit of it has melted together making me stronger, wiser, and grateful for the true blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

And not a single moment of it would I want to do over or erase, because at the end of the day it all plays an important role in making me the person that I am today and the person I am to still become.

I am not sad or upset about turning a year older.  I'm now two years in to my thirties, and not feeling the slightest bit of regret or disappointment.  I have had opportunities to experience things that some people twice my age have never experienced.  I look at my age as simply a number.  I have accomplished so much in the time on this earth, and still have plenty to do.  

I am still young at heart, and believe that I still have PLENTY of dashes to make on my life's tally counter.  

Life has given me so much, and still has a lot to offer.

Thirty one was a solid year.  An amazing year.  I finished up my first year of teaching, bought my first house, taught my first year of summer school, and started my second year of teaching.  I made some amazing new friends.  And did some serious repairing to family relationships that were starting to see signs of crumbling.

I have been a person to lean on, and have needed to do a lot of leaning on others.  

A few months ago, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.  That was, by far, the lowest point of my entire year.  But, in a way, it was also one of the highest.  It's sad and unfortunate to admit, but that disaster has and will continue to bring about a strength in my family that has been missing for some time.  

I watched and listened to doctors giving her the options and information about her disease, and seeing the inner warrior shine in my mother.  She is most definitely a fighter, and in a matter of a few weeks was standing toe to toe with the enemy, and blasted through the battle fields with guns blazing.  The cancer was removed, she went to healing, and is now going through the protocols to make sure it doesn't have the guts to return.

But, in those few weeks, I learned how much we take for granted.  How quickly a life can be turned upside down. 

Each day I dedicate to my mom... because life is DEFINITELY worth fighting for.

And now, the clock starts over.  Time to hit the reset button.  What is in store for me at 32?

I know there are going to be some drastic changes made at work.  I'm hoping to be taking on new adventures, trying new things, and continuing to develop myself as a teacher.

There will be drastic changes at home.  I have a child heading off to high school, and that will bring about it's own new set of adventures and will undoubtably keep me on my toes.  

I know that I want to make some changes with my family.  Spending more time with the people I love, and doing things together to create long lasting memories.

But, with all these things that I know about and expect, I'm also excited about the unknown.  What surprises and challenges will I face along the way?

My goal for myself this next year is to take life by the horns.  Try new things, embrace the new, and not back out just because I'm a little worried about possible outcomes.  Apart of learning and living is facing challenges even if they fail.  Sometimes the failures are just as important as the successes.

I plan on continuing to build the new relationships that have been blossoming, and taking myself out of my comfort zone with those new adventures.  No more standing on the sidelines waiting to be put in to the game, but just running out there and playing.  

I plan on digging deeper in to the relationships that have started to crumble.  Deciding if it's better to just cut my loses, or if they are worth fighting for.  

I plan on finding the balance between work and life...a balance that has been extremely hard to find.  

I don't want to spend any amount of this next year worrying about the family time I'm missing because I'm neck deep in work, and don't want to let the work get out of hand because I just want to blow it off and do something with my family.  I know there is a balance there, somewhere, and I just have to find it.

I want to dabble around with some new hobbies.  My crocheting hobby has been pretty lucrative so far this year, and I want that momentum to continue.  Keep making and creating, even if it's to store it all up to sell next fall/winter.

I want to try some gardening.  I have a blank canvas waiting for me on one side of my house.  A little garden area that has the potential of being such a beautiful place to sit and enjoy some peaceful time on my own.  But, first, I need to transform it in to the oasis I picture in my mind.  I've never been much of a gardener, but I'm willing to give it a go.

I want more social time.  Meaning girls' nights, and dinner dates with Hubby, and spontaneous trips to the movies with the kids.  Another balancing act between kids, Hubby, and friends.  But, again, worth the time and effort.

And, at the end of the day, I just want to be happy.  As happy, if not happier.  I have such an amazing life, and I just want to embrace the good.  I have a very bad habit of dwelling on the minor frustrations, and they begin to consume the parts of my life that are worth worrying about.  I don't want to do that anymore.  I want to learn to let more things go, not dwell too much, and just have an amazing year.

I have so much planned, so many hopes... but today I just want to focus on today.  My day.  

A day with my mom.  Doing like we do.  

Sounds kinda corny, but that's how I want to spend my day.  

I love my kids, I love Hubby, I love my friends... but, when asked what I want for my birthday?  

Just a day with my Momma doing one of my most favorite things:  Playing bingo.

It may sound selfish, it may sound weird... but this is MY day, right?  

So, it's time to get to getting on that.  

I want to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU for all the birthday wishes and love I've seen on my Facebook and through the text messages I've received this morning.  It makes a girl (yes, girl.. 32 hasn't taken that away) feel very special to see that people have taken the time just to wish me a Happy Birthday.  And for that, I am truly grateful.

I Wanna Play Dodgeball For My Birthday!!

                           

What a week it's been!  It started out with me in some fierce bad mood on Monday for really no reason, then my mood did a complete one-eighty, and I have spent the rest of the week floating around school on sunshine beams.

My students have been absolute ANGELS all week, and the only negative thing I've had to say all week is "OK, turn the volume down a couple of notches".  That's it.  No complaining about forgotten homework assignments, no disappointment speeches about work not being done or effort not being put in, no frustration over giving directions and then getting questions asking what they are supposed to do, and no standing in front of the class waiting on the students not paying attention.

It's been AMAZING.

I have loved every single minute of each of my days between Thursday and yesterday.  

And it feels so great that today, I'll get to reward them for their hard work by our class participating in a mini dodgeball tournament.

Do you remember a few months back, before Christmas, when the school did a Penny War to raise money for Shop with a Cop?  

Well, my class came in 3rd place, and the prize was a dodgeball game against the Student Council and members from the local police department, including the SWAT team.  Due to all the winter weather we received, the dodgeball game got postponed... and today, we will actually get to have the reward.

My class will play the class that came in 2nd place, and the class that won the competition will be playing against the SWAT/police team.  

I think it will be LOADS of fun, and I will be out there with them playing the game, throwing balls at people, and undoubtably receiving a few hits in return.  

I think it will be a great way to end out this amazing week, and an early birthday celebration... being that it's my birthday tomorrow.  The only downside will be having to wear sweats.  Well, that's not a downside, that's a big PLUS... except for the fact that I hate wearing sweats to work, because I don't exactly have the best figure to pull them off.  Especially when all of my school t-shirts are a little on the snug side around the waist.  But, I'll suck it up (no pun intended), and run my fat behind all over that gym to have the best time that I can have.

The game will throw a kink in my usual Friday routine of finishing up our reading unit, but I'm not that concerned about it.

There's a big possibility that we'll be getting more snow days next week.  The news is saying we're in for a MAJOR winter storm at some point.  Maybe starting as early as Sunday, but may not really impact us until next Friday.  I hate it when the weather reports are all so different and conflicting.  Pretty much every meteorologist in the tri-state area agrees that we're getting some snow, but they all seem to disagree on when it will hit, how much we'll get, and where the biggest impact will be.

I'm just going to sit and wait.  I'm not going to start my Black History Month unit until the week after next, and just extend this week's unit out another week.  The kids are just really getting in to their books and completing the activities I had prepared for them, and it's been a pretty hectic week... so it won't hurt to give them more time to really study the books they currently have.

With today's dodgeball game and an assembly yesterday morning, we'll be two days behind in the reading plans, so it won't hurt pushing the unit out another week.

Yesterday, we spent most of the morning in the gym for our monthly Terrific Tiger assembly, and that was followed by an AMAZING performance by the high school's Rhapsody and Rhythm show choir.  It was a combination of singing, theater, and dance all rolled in to portraying a historical event...and I was captivated by the show.

The first half was performed by the county's "Dynamic Divas", an all female show choir.  They performed songs to portray life for a woman during WWII.  I was completely blown away by the singing talent and choreography of the whole show.  After their performance, the co-ed "Rhapsody and Rhythm" group performed their show depicting life during the Civil War when women disguised themselves as soldiers in order to fight along side their men.  It was a moving, funny, and emotional show...literally ending with a bang in the form of a mini confetti cannon.  

The shows lasted about an hour, all together, and I could have sat there all day long watching them perform.  They were absolutely breathtaking... and now I want Peanut to join the group next year when she enters high school.  We'll see how that goes for me.

I can't believe that this time tomorrow, I'll be 32 years old.  Time sure does fly when you're having fun... and getting older.  And, it's my plan that I spend the last day of being 31 having a blast.  Dodgeball will start the party, and then this afternoon the kiddos and I will have a little class party and maybe some extra recess time...depending on the temperature outside.  

I want them to leave my classroom today knowing how much I have truly appreciated their dramatic change in behavior and attitude.  Their complete change has been the cause of my amazing mood all week, and it's only fair that I shower them with praise and appreciation for it.  My only hope is that they don't lose that momentum over the weekend, and come back to me next week still motivated, energized, and devoted to doing the best they can.

Well, I better get to getting dressed in my "dodgeball best", ready to face this last day of the week.  It will most definitely be a day of all play and no work.  Well, a little work.. but mostly play.  We've earned it this week, and I plan on celebrating my birthday with my kiddos having an absolute blast.

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!!

OK, OK... I'll Try and Turn My Students in to Bloggers

It was another great day in the neighborhood, yesterday, as I continued my marathon of running on sunshine beams.  Apparently, the miraculous transformation I saw in my kids on Tuesday wasn't just a one day fluke.  Yesterday, they were just as good and energetic and focused... and I was able to hear first hand that I wasn't just imagining it all.  Several other faculty members gave me compliments about how wonderful they were acting.

They earned a highly coveted Tiger Paw from their specials teacher.  They earned several compliments about how quiet and well behaved they were in the hallway.  And everyone that came in to my room yesterday made some kind of comment about how hard they seemed to be working.

I'm not going crazy!!  They really are acting different.  AND I LOVE IT!

One of my kiddos told me yesterday that all of my students must have evil twins that were coming to school for them up until this point, and they won't let them ever come back again.  Cute, right?  I told them I didn't care who had shown up before these past couple of days, but whoever these kids are that are coming now, I LOVE them very much and hope they stay with me for the rest of the school year.

Math was another fantastic adventure filled with deep questions and self-solving strategies.  Grammar and spelling was filled with some fun and quirkiness as we discussed definitions and past and future tenses.  I threw in some funny examples and explanations, and that seemed to help liven up the discussion.  During reading, the students were really focused on completing a "during reading" strategy, and it helped generate questions about what they were reading.  And writer's workshop was another awe inspiring session of me being blown away at the level of imagination and creativity I'm seeing from my students.

The kids actually got to go out for recess for the first time in a week, and I waived some recess sentences or gave time off for good behavior.  Figured it was the least I could do on my part to show them that good behavior and hard work pays off.  

After school, I attended a faculty meeting/ mini professional development about blogging.

Yep.  Blogging.  

Did I need a professional development on blogging?  I sure hope not.  I mean.  Urm.  Is this thing on?  It's kinda what I do.  

Even though it may seem that all I do is get on here and ramble about my life in general, now, doesn't mean I don't have some blogging credentials.  I have been featured in Shape Magazine's most influential blogging list.  I have guest posted on several blogs.  I won a blog award on a blogging website (that for the life of me I can't remember the name of at this particular moment in time), that earned me a feature post spot and drove a lot of new visitors in my direction.  And, I have received almost 200,000 page views on my blog, and 200 followers from many countries I've never even heard of and people I've never met in my life.  OK, so all that mostly came from when I was a devout weight loss blogger, but it was enough to earn me some serious knowledge on blogging and the blogging world.

But, even I will admit that I did get some great stuff from it.  Like the fact that I now want to try again at the whole class blogging thing.  And seriously, can I really sit and brag about all my "blog cred" and not want to motivate my students into becoming bloggers themselves?

Last year, I set up blogs for each one of my students.  But, there was so much on our plates, we just didn't have the time to put in to really make it work.  I had the same concerns during that meeting.  Kid blogging is a great idea, but exactly when do we fit it in our already jam packed schedule?

I have two computers in my classroom, and it's hard enough to get all of my students on those computers to take a 5 minute AR test during the week, let alone give them time to get on and compose a blog post.  Especially when I have a class of extreme "hunt and peckers".  Trying to get them to type a sentence could take up to five minutes.

Which is exactly what I said when asked by my principal as to why I wasn't the first in line, behind the blogging guru we have at our school, getting my kiddos blogging.

But, as the presenter shared and was then reinforced by my principal when I had a quick chat about it, blogging doesn't have to be writing an extensive post about a given topic or free writing.  It can be a tool to get a student to share ideas, answer questions, and generate discussion about whatever it is I want.

Our school's "blogging guru" (as I refer to him) has made it work for his students.  He has an extremely successful class blog, and does all kinds of interactive work with those blogs.  He has students present work in the blog, answer discussion questions, give opinions on certain subjects, and even completing assignments that would normally be done with pencil and paper.  

And sure, he teaches junior high and taught 6th grade last year making it somewhat easier to use because his kiddos are a little more "adept" with using a computer... but that doesn't mean it's impossible for 4th graders to do something similar.

As my principal pointed out, I've jumped in to creating my own reading units for my students.  I've moved away from the normal reading cycle of reading a selection, studying that selection, having lessons that pertain to a specific skill that pertains to said selection, and then taking a multiple choice test at the end of the week to determine understanding of the selection.  

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with that format, I wanted to do something different.  No.  I needed to do something different.  Instead, my students are selecting their own books on their reading level, having discussions about their books with their peers, creating graphic organizers and applying various reading strategies to the reading of their books, and ending the week out by creating some form of "presentation" on their understanding of various reading skills and opinion of their book.

Why on earth couldn't they spend 20-30 minutes each week writing a short blurb or answering a quick question about their book in blog format?

My principal suggested setting up the class blogs and having the students use the blogs for very direct instruction.  Meaning, instead of asking and expecting them to get on their blogs and compose posts about random topics... I could start out with just having them answering a simple question about the week's reading experience.  Or maybe having them compare the book they are reading this week to the book they read last week.  Or having them share one thing they learned while reading the book.  Or their favorite part of the book.  You see where I'm going with this, right?

I think one of my biggest problems I had last year, and the ultimate reason my class blogging experiment failed, was the fact that I expected WAY too much from them.  I wanted them to get on their blogs and compose a piece of writing.  Or use their writer's workshop notes to publish a piece they had written.  

The big flaw with that idea is the fact that I had AMAZING writers, but TERRIBLE typers. They could write pages for a story, but it took FORVER for them to type a paragraph let alone their whole story or piece of writing.  And that was very overwhelming and stressful for them.  They felt so much pressure from how long it was taking them to type, that what started out as a very exciting opportunity ended with them having anxiety about their computer time because they were so worried they wouldn't be able to complete what I was asking them to do.

Type up a 200 word document, then revise and reread said document in 20 minutes when you can only type 2 words per minute.  

Impossible.

So, instead, my principal wants my focus to shift from my using blogging as a composing tool and use it for a comprehension tool.  Just getting them familiar with the idea of blogging, rather than trying to throw them in to the deep end and hoping they can swim.

Maybe start out with asking them to write a very short summary of their book.

"My book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears was about a girl named Goldilocks that went in to a house where bears lived.  She ate their porridge, broke a chair, and fell asleep in the baby bear's bed.  In the end, the bears found her and she ran away."

Simple.

Then, maybe the next week I ask them to share their favorite part of their book.

"My favorite part of the book Goldilocks and the Three Bears was when the bears found Goldilocks sleeping in the baby bear's bed and it made her run away."

How about some author's purpose?

"The author's purpose of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was to entertain with a funny story, but to teach people that you shouldn't go in to houses without being invited."

Maybe after a couple of weeks, I ask them to go in and select a classmate's blog to read and then comment on what they read or ask a question about the post.  To help them interact with blogging and using it for more than just a place to write stuff.

It would take no time to have them write short little blurbs like this, and each week they would be developing their comfort zone with their blog and the typing process.  If started at the beginning of the school year, I'm sure I could have my students publishing more in-depth, thought provoking responses, opinions, and their own discussion questions about whatever books they were reading, and interacting with each other and offering suggestions and thought about each other's writing.

I think I can make it work.  I'm going to try, anyway.  I think if I start out slow, and ease them in to it, it could be a very fun, exciting, and educational experience for all of them.

Today, it's my goal to set up the class blogs and have a look around the site I'll be using.  I've decided to give KidBlog a go, and see how I like it.  

Then, maybe tomorrow, my kids can have their first go at writing something.

We'll see.

OK, I really need to go... I rambled on WAY more than I thought I would.  

Have an awesome Thursday, everyone!!