Ms to Mrs!

It's true!! I don't think the change in title is as apparent in any other profession. But, as a teacher it's abundantly clear whether or not you are married... its very patriarchal in my opinion, but whatever.

Soooo I am happy to announce that I will be going from Ms. D to Mrs. G! How exciting!!!

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Ms. D is a Chick Eater!!

This may look like a cupcake wrapper filled with chocolate rice krispies to you, but to a group of kindergartners, this was a nest for chick eggs... and I ate them :(

Let me explain... Like any other day as an elementary school teacher, I am barraged with sweets and candies. Not that I'm complaining, of course. Today it was one of the Early-Fives girls who came in with this scrumptious treat. It started out as a chocolate ricekrispy nest with 3 chocolate eggs inside. They gave me one, one for the kinder teacher, and one for the aide.

In the time that it had taken me to devour one of the eggs, the kinder aide had convinced four of the kinder girls that the eggs were real chicks that would hatch if they were REALLY quiet. She was pointing out a crack in one of hers, solidifying the point that they were real chick eggs.

I was popping the second egg into my mouth as I saw a little blonde-haired five year old giving me a murderous look. She looked at me like I had just killed a baby bird in front of her! We explained that they were just chocolate and I PROMISED they weren't real chicks- but it was too late... She just stared at me. Without forgiveness.

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Just Another Day...

"Ms. D.!! She brought a ladybug to class!!"

Me: "What?"

"You're not supposed to bring bugs to class! Right?"

Me: "Lemme see..."

She brought it from home...You never know what's going to show up in your classroom I guess!

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BBC Typing

When I started in this position there was NO lesson plans, NO schedule of what to teach, NO idea what had gone on in years before. So, I asked the teachers what usually happens in computer lab and what they would like me to teach. The unanimous request was typing.

Apparently, the prior teachers didn't thing learning to type was a priority in computer class... nobody had ever taught it before. Although I did find a program in my bottomless pit of a closet (a story for another time) so I installed it and began teaching the 3 & 4th graders to type properly. This program turned out to be quite boring & as a result, groans accompanied the lessons *never a good sign*. So I began searching online for a better program to buy & came across the best resource EVER: the BBC website. Among MANY other resources they have a typing program.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing

This site is awesome for typing lessons for the following reasons:

1. It's FREE

2. It's musical

3. It encourages with an onscreen keyboard & tips.

4. It's musical

5. It has fun characters

6. It builds slowly with 12 different lessons

7. It's FREE!!!!

It's so much fun that I even learned to type better because I play it too :P

BUT, probably the best aspect to it is that the characters speak with a British accent. Because of this, I get to hear about sixty kids speaking with mock British accents! It's completely awesome and I laugh a little when they start calling each other "mate."

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Welcome to 2011!

2010 blew by like a breeze and 2011 will surely follow just as fast! I'm glad i've started this blog (even if nobody reads it) because it gives me the chance to look back and see all of the wonderful experiences i've had while teaching. Now that i've begun on this journey, I truly couldn't imagine myself on any other path. I wake up everyday (well, ALMOST everyday) happy to go to work. Both, the children and the adults that I work with give me so much hope and faith for the future.

So, here's to 2011. May this year contain more blessings, more happiness, more joy-filled days, and more wonder than last year.

..:::Oh Christmas Tree.::.Oh Christmas Tree::..

I like the holidays...for the most part. Okay, I could do without the sale-crazed people, the outrageous consumption of the masses, and I could definitely do without the Christmas music before Thanksgiving.... However, the generosity of the season outweighs the cons. The unselfishness always amazes me.

Well, back to the music...

I'm not one of those people who listens to Christmas music in July. I find it odd and somewhat irritating. I hate it when the radio starts playing it before Thanksgiving. It's just irritating. BUT, when I DO start listening to festive music, I just can't stop! In fact, they're playing in my classroom right now!

Apparently I'm not the only one who enjoys the season's songs. My second graders have been singing along all afternoon. I LOVE hearing them sing along to the songs (even if they're not all the right words) haha

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Oh, YOU!!

In mass this morning, the priest was offering up the eucharist (as they are wont to do during every mass). During a brief pause a small voice from the side of the church exclaims: "Is that REALLY God's body?"

There is humor everywhere

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