I Am Thankful

Right now I am thankful for...
1. My family's laughter and constant love
2. Milk Duds
3. Belly Bands and Elastic
4. Being allowed 1 coke a day
5. My students' smiles
6. Thank you letters from my old students
7. The giggles of my nieces and nephews
8. My snuggling Cricket
9. My sweet old man Bailey
10. My silly wild man Jack
11. My husband's endless hugs
12. Our growing Peanut
13. My girlfriends who are more like sisters
14. Raspberry Sorbet
15. Sunrises when I'm late for work
16. Our freedom
17. Thanksgiving break...Oh, how I am so very thankful for you!

Room 239

It's cute.  It's colorful.  It's neat.  It's organized.  And there are some really adorable children that fill it up each weekday.  Here's a peak inside my classroom...

What I Make

I am an addict.  Yes, I am addicted to Pinterest.  The time I have spent pinning education ideas to my "Hot For Teacher" board should count towards my professional development hours.

While fueling my addiction today I came across this video.  Taylor Mali defends the passion for teaching in his poem "What Teachers Make."  It gave me a little tickle in my chest and I sat up a bit taller- a bit prouder.  Yes, teaching is my greatest option in life, because it is the only option I have ever wanted.  Teaching children has never been anything less than my first choice and I am proud of the "definitely beautiful" difference that I make.

Good Morning

Aaahem?  Uh.  Hi.  Yes.  Over here.  I'm Mrs. Ummmm. Boys and girls?  Okay.  Hello?  'Scuse me, FOLKS?!  

there. thank. you.

Let the fun begin... 

All Love

This mother's day my mom gave me a card.  Very strange, I thought, considering that I have not had the privilege of producing her any grandchildren to date.  But when I read the card and what she wrote, I realized that I do come as close as I can to being a mother 5 days a week- even if it is to someone else's child.  When I stop to think about all those emotions that I have day in and day out with these children, I do see that I tend to regard them as my own.  They bring me laughter, tears, and sometimes disappointment.  But tonight, my boys made me proud.

At their orchestra concert, I watched with a smile the size of Texas plastered on my face as they stroked their instruments perfectly to create music- really beautiful music (in a somewhat off-key sort of way).  Like a crazy mama, I clapped the loudest and the longest.  I even yelled out a "Bravo" at the end when I gave a standing ovation.  They were naturals!  After they finished, they all ran up to give me a hug.  Then I hugged their parents who introduced me to every auntie, cousin, granny, sister, and friend that had come to be as proud of my boys as I was.  It was a great feeling- another emotion- and it made me think of mom's card.  With all of the emotions these kids bring on me, I know the only reason any of it matters is because of love.  And I really do love my children- all of them- just like any crazy mama would.

Prooverty

As a teacher I continue to be completely caught off guard by the comments my precious darlings say sometimes.  Today was one of those times.  At recess my girls crowd around me and talk like I am not even there.  Most of the time I'm only half listening because I am also having to watch out for the violence and trash-talking brewing in two-hand touch football.  They can be so competitive.  But anyway, today in my half listening, the girls got my attention when I heard Mikkia say, "Yeah, she got them polka dots on her face.  She got 'em all over her face."  When the other girls asked her what polka dots were she simply said, "You know.  You get them when you are in prooverty."  By the looks on the girls faces, Mikkia realized they had no idea what she was talking about so she began to explain.  I watched as the looks on their faces turned to fear as she went into detail about growing beards and their voice changing.  My girls all quickly decided that they wanted nothing to do with "prooverty."  And after hearing what all Mikkia had to say, I don't blame them.  I don't think I want anything to do with it either.

A Lazy Saturday

I love lazy Saturdays.  I love the moment to catch my breath and find myself again.  It takes some time to find me underneath the week of dirty clothes, stresses, pet hair, and dishes; but, I'm in there somewhere.  I get a chance to reflect on my week- think about what went well and what went wrong.  And I had lots to reflect on from this past week.  It was a long week to say the least and it felt like like everything was going wrong.  Until yesterday. 
I realized yesterday that I had created a family.  (No, crazy Nettie and hopeful Papa, no grandkids yet).  And in all honesty, I can't take credit for this creation.  It's one of those things that just seems to happen.  I have a family of students in my classroom.  If need be, I know that these youngins would go to bat for me.  Don't get me wrong- they never miss an opportunity to tell me that I'm having a bad hair day or my outfit doesn't match.  But when it comes down to it, they will always protect me and each other.   
Even though many of them have confused ideas about family, they are learning what it means to have a safe place with consistency.  My only hope is that one day (after they graduate from college and have a job), they foster their own families with the same values, honesty, and unconditional love that has emerged in our classroom.
And so now on my lazy Saturday, I hold onto that small beautiful accomplishment of my week.  I put all of the "what went wrong" to the side and stay encouraged that there are still things that are going well.

Milk Duds and Popcorn

There are some combinations that work so well together and we can't always figure out why.  You might not know it, but Milk Duds and popcorn are one of the most delicious snacks when you put them together.  Sure...they are pretty good on their own, but together they make something that is truly unlike anything else.  It's almost as if they have needed each other all along.

There is an unlikely combination in my classroom that I have just recently started watching.  Derrick and Monti are clearly opposites- a salty and a sweet, if you will.  Derrick is what you might call a "problem child."  He has a home life that few adults would be able to survive in.  He is well below grade level and has severe anger issues.  He's obsessed with watching himself bleed and he always sits by himself.  Most teachers just try to tolerate Derrick until the bell rings.  Most students fear him.  I've never known him to have one single friend.  Monti is also below grade level.  Most assignments are challenging for her, but she always tries.  She is very outgoing and is always making friends, but Monti struggles with childhood obesity.  Each day she faces grade school teasing and hurtful whispers behind her back.  In the year that I have known her, she has never once acknowledged the teasing.  She ignores it and pushes on through her day.

It was about 2 weeks ago when Derrick asked to be moved from his isolated seat and to be back in a group.  He wanted to know if he could sit with Monti.  This surprised me, but Derrick is always surprising me.  I decided to keep my eye on him.  I soon realized that he was different sitting with Monti.  He was protective of her which caused many of the cruel whispers about her to be hushed.  My salty Derrick was becoming sweet. 

One day last week Derrick used a pencil to stab himself in his arm.  He was escorted out of class and didn't return for the remainder of the day.  The next morning before class began I overheard Monti and Derrick talking at their group.  Monti was asking why Derrick stabbed himself.  When Derrick told her that he wanted to do it because nobody cares about him, Monti softly replied, "I care.  You're my friend."

With that, I melted.  I melted just like Milk Duds and popcorn.  I realized that this was most certainly an unlikely combination that has needed each other all along.

I Like Myself

Guidance Class Assignment:: Write 10 reasons why you like yourself.

by one of my all time favorite students

I like myself cause
I can rhyme anytime.
I like myself cause I can sleep in my bed
even though people call me a jug head.
I like burgers and chicken fiheatas (fajitas)
I like myself cause I'm a leader.
Don't talk to stranger
Talk to people I know.
If a stranger tri (try) to get me
I'm a call the popo (police).
I love education so I pay attention
I don't want to be like fuls (fools) in detention.
I love God.  He brought me in this world.
I love myself. I ant (ain't) worrying about getting a refurl (referral).
Treat people who you want to be treated and they'll do the same.
U can tell the Guidance Teacher don't play no games.
I love myself cause this is me.
I ant (ain't) got to be my friend cause this is me.
I can do anything always fast.
Love my family even when they send me to class.
Now I'm done so I'm going to pray.
Now this is just what I had to say.
Word.