Why I'm frustrated I may not have a job next year

Families moving into the __________ neighborhood

Please come to the office and register as soon as you move to the neighborhood, as most of our grade levels are full, and we will need to put you on our waiting list and arrange transportation to the nearest _______ elementary school with room. Registrations for the 09-10 school year are being accepted now. Registrations for the 10-11 school year will be accepted starting October 1, 2009

We have a page and a half waiting list for K. Registration for K started in October, and we were full by the end of the first day.

"Mystery" Points

In my class of 19 kiddos, 12 of them are boys. This makes for some wild behavior (no, it is not okay to wrestle at the carpet!). I started off the year simply teaching them how to sit at the carpet, and go through classroom routines, if they forgot I would redirect them, and occasionally if they were too disruptive I would ask them to leave whatever activity we were doing until they were able to handle themselves.

Right before conferences this fall I brought in a jar of marbles. I told my kiddos that they could earn marbles when they were on task, following directions etc. This worked fabulously and was a great incentive for my kiddos when I was out of the classroom an entire week for conferences and then 4 days after Thanksgiving while I was in Hawaii (an already planned vacay for a family friend's wedding). After their second party (early in February), I decided to try the “Superstar” chart, if I noticed kiddos following directions, being on task etc they could go and sign their name on the chart. Both of these are great tools, but I was having problems with what to do when a majority of the class wasn’t following directions. I don’t want to take marbles away or have kiddos erase their names, both seem too punitive.

Then came my brilliant idea, okay it’s not really “mine” as I kind of stole it from other teachers in my building - “Mystery” points. On my side of our rolling easel I made a T-chart. One side says "Mystery Points" and the other side says "Teacher Points", and underneath it says "Goal". When the kiddos are being rockstars, they earn points, when they are having a tough time, I earn points. The goal is to reach our “Goal” first. It’s great! All I have to do is put up one point on my side and they immediately start quieting down, and paying attention, and it helps with counting by 5’s and tally marks (two of our PE’s).

When I was student teaching I had a serious aversion to any sort of program like that (and don’t get me started on “cards”). But after 7 months of being in my own classroom, and this particular set of kiddos this really seems to work. They need some sort of incentive, and it puts the behavior back on them rather than on me. (something many of my kiddos have a hard time with). If they miss out on the “mystery” treat, it’s on them, but really, I think they will beat me every time!

and this is why i love my job. . . .

After a l o n g week of Parent/Teacher conferences for which I am subbed out, a parent caught me in the hall and told me a cute story. Apparently on their way to school that day their kiddo (one of my Star Wars loving/light saber-out-of-unifix-cubes making boys) said “Mom, I am done with Mrs. Y, when is Ms. W coming back?”.

Now I love my sub, she is wonderful and loves my kiddos almost as much as I do, but it did my tired, teacher heart good to hear that my kiddos wanted me back (even if I won’t let them make light sabers).

Spring Break

I've made it 127 days! I can't believe that the school year is almost over, we come back from Spring Break and have 2 short months then we are done. My kiddos will be big, bad first graders.

I'm excited to see all of their progress, I only had 4 kiddos who were reading at the beginning of the year, and know all but 4 are able to pass an A. Almost all of them know their letters and sounds. They are confident writers, able to write to a prompt ("In the winter I like to. . . "). Even my kiddos who can't quite pass an A can pick sight words out in text.

It's bittersweet because I don't know if I will be here next year to see them continue to grow and learn. My state is planning on cutting 9 billion from education next year, and my district has declared a state of financial emergency. Unfortunately, you can't cut 5 million dollars worth of "things", which means RIF's, which means teachers with contracts who need jobs, and my little half-time, leave replacement will probably go to one of them.

I'm sad, upset, and disappointed that I won't be able to see my first set of kiddos continue on through school. Luckily my team will still be here, as will my good friend who teaches a combo and will be getting 4 of my kiddos next year, so I can hopefully get updates on how they are doing.

I'm now trying to figure out what next year has in store, and working on essays for my application to NYC. I know I'm crazy, it would be such a culture shock from where I am now, but we will see what happens.

I am exhausted

On Tuesdays we have Team Collaboration time. I come in early (at 8), meet with my team and then use the extra time as prep time.

Well this morning, after our meeting I went to check my mailbox, and was asked (and how can you say no) to cover one of the first grade rooms till lunch time when another sub could come in.

It was fine, and I'm glad I was able to help. Our school does a "walk to read" program that is confusing if you've never done it, so it's nice to be able to go in know what to do. It also helps that the kids know me, know that I am a teacher, and that I know what goes on at school.

This afternoon one of my kiddos got sick, and I didn't even know. I was doing a read-aloud at the carpet when one of my kiddos raised her hand and said "Ms. W, I think he needs your help". EWWWWWWWW!

It's night's like this I wish I could come home and go to bed, but I had a meeting from 5:00-8:00. My bed is calling my name. . . . . .

Things I love. . . .

I've been complaining a lot lately. So I thought I would make a list of things I love about my job.

1.) I love my kiddos! They are generally really good, and there are days like today when they are total rockstars.

2.) I work with a great team of teachers. I have been blessed to be able to work with 2 amazing teachers, who have a wealth of knowledge and who are willing to share with me.

3.) My school is gorgeous and has some great technology built into the classrooms. I really lucked out when I got hired here.

4.) Sometimes I get little treats during my day like this -

What do you do on Saturday night?

This week I planned! The teacher who I share a room with (I'm only half-time) observed me on Wednesday (at the request of my Principal) to see if there was anything I was missing in my instruction and classroom management. We got a chance to debrief on Friday and she gave me a couple of ideas, and some reassurance (which was really needed!). I am armed with ideas, and the encouragement to take charge of my classroom, and not let the parents dictate what happens in my room.

We are going to change some routines around, and learn some non-verbal cues (sign-language) which will help me cut down on having to constantly verbally redirect my kiddos. We are also going to start earning free-time minutes if we can be "expert listeners" on the carpet. I also planned out my whole week of lessons, as well as the next couple of weeks of guided reading groups.

She also brought up the fact that so much of our job is PR with the parents. It's hard because our particular parents need so many "pats on the back". My kiddos come to school with every advantage, and it's frustrating when the parents try and undermine their child's ability to learn.