I'm still alive!

Wow- I can't believe how long it has been since I have blogged! I have been very busy with my students and finishing up my student teaching experience. Not to mention the university is still demanding all kinds of crazy assignments for me to finish up my master's degree!
I have done so much since my last post! Most importantly, I have experienced parent-teacher conferences and we are finished with our science unit on plants and will assess this week.  I finish on Tuesday with the kids and then have professional development on Wednesday before I finish up.
I can't even THINK about being done without tears welling up in my eyes! I know this may seem silly, but I have grown seriously attached to these students and don't want to say goodbye! I know I will be equally attached to my own classroom of students, but these are different I guess. They learned right along with me. Luckily I will get to still see all of them because my two kids go to school at the same school- so I'm not going "cold turkey" from them. I have to find a job though- so I won't see them regularly like I would like. Hopefully I will get a long-term subbing position soon. I learned one of the teachers at my school is expecting and due in April- so maybe an opportunity will open up there. That is a long time away though. Next week after I'm done I will pursue all the paperwork to sub at the school and get myself situated. First though, I'm going to sleep a LOT ;) (well, except for Black Friday- where I will not sleep at all!)
Ok, so to catch up....
I'll post a few posts so that it isn't one huge post.

Our plant unit is nearly complete. The students have observed their plants several times and the plants are nearing the end of their life cycle. We planted brassica seeds which have a fast life cycle so that we can see everything during the time we are doing the unit. The kids have been so excited about it all- and I have loved seeing them excited to learn and doing all the activities! 

We included in our unit a rather large writing assignment as well. I taught them about the life cycle of sunflowers and read several stories to them about sunflowers. Then I had them write an expository paper about it. Oy- THAT was a challenge! Some of the students got it right away- some... well, it was a learning experience for us all! We spent several days learning about what a topic sentence is and how to compose one; what a conclusion should include and how to write one. Then I gave them three different graphic organizers and had them start writing down what they wanted to say as well as what they needed to include to meet the requirements for the assignment. Of course I want them to be able to do great things and write like pros... so I had to realize that they have never done something this big before and I had to slow down. This was a learning experience for me! After they had all their information in several different places, I wanted them to put it all together in a rough draft. We did the rough draft, proofed it with peers, used a checklist to make sure we had all our requirements met, and then after a final time with proofreading, we wrote our final draft. Most of the students submitted it on Wednesday of last week. I am still waiting for two of them, but I'm sure they will come tomorrow. The final papers are very intimidating to score! I mean, I created the requirements and I lead the students to their writing, but I'm still intimidated in how many different aspects this assignment covered!

Election Day!

Today our nation voted for President of the United States. And so did our class! I had prepared a lesson over the weekend for the students about voting and participating in the process. Scholastic News had a magazine (of course) about it and I wanted to make sure the students understood about everything. 

We had a student shout out some rather inappropriate comments about the opposite candidate that they supported (because second graders should have such a strong opinion!) so I timed the entire class out at that point and talked to them right then and there about respect and not giving our opinion about things like that if people aren't asking for it. I showed them a video published by Scholastic and had them read their magazine. Then I had a flipchart that I had found and altered that gave some additional information about everything and then had them vote. I read online over the weekend that Scholastic News has had kids voting since something like 1986 and only two times have the "kids vote" been different than the actual president results. Our class was very close, but 56% voted Barack Obama and 43% voted Mitt Romney. The Scholastic News results were also Barack Obama so we'll see what happens. The polls are closed at this point but they are still counting.

We  observed the oat seeds today for the first time. They were doing NOTHING up to last Friday even though we planted them over a week before. Honestly, on Friday I was going to just throw them away. I got distracted though and ended up forgetting. Yesterday when we came into school I was shocked at how much they had grown! The kids were really excited about it too- seeing a new thing growing. We are moving along in our science unit. Things are slowly progressing. I am having them write a descriptive paper on the life cycle of a sunflower. I had found a great book online about sunflowers and the Belleville Library was supposed to have it. Unfortunately I went there tonight and couldn't find it. I'm disappointed but I did find the Magic Schoolbus "seeds" episode that one of my students keeps talking about and wanting me to show the class so I'm going to squeeze that in somewhere and show it to them. 

Tomorrow we have a big assembly in the morning for Veterans Day. The whole school is in the gym and they are honoring vets. I read that the assembly will take over an hour- hopefully this is NOT the case but I have backed down my plans if it is. I fill my days with things I want to teach them and can't lose sight of the goal of keeping them on target and within the curriculum! 

My 10th day solo

Our plants have GROWN! 

Last Friday we still had one friend who had nothing in his cup. I had planted my pinto bean seed from our field trip that finally germinated and had told him that he would use that plant for his observations instead of the seeds the rest of the class was using. It was this little bitty shriveled up bean and I wasn't exactly sure it would SURVIVE, but I wanted him to have something! When we came in today we had two wonderful surprises! Not only did my bean survive, but I really am growing a bean stalk! That thing is HUGE considering I just planted it on Thursday! It was well beyond the top of the cup and  by far the biggest plant under the light! Plus our grass was really long and the other plants are all doing great. How fun for the students! And.. the lonely little cup with no plant is no more! There was a teeny tiny little seedling standing proudly there showing it's face to the world! Yay! Everyone was able to observe their plants and make notes about any changes. Tomorrow we are going to do more with the plants but not observe the little ones. 

In math we are working on counting money and understanding how to make change. There really isn't a lesson in the book about it so I spent the weekend going through websites and trying to find different manipulatives to address the needs. I printed a lot of different things and came in early today to laminate and get them ready. When it came time for math today, things went reasonably well, but I don't think the students are grasping the idea that they should make their change to be the least or fewest coins possible. We are working on it though- they will get it!

In writing I had them write a friendly letter. We had talked about friendly letters last week. I showed them a video about it, gave them samples, and had them do a couple of drafts. I had originally planned on having them write a friendly letter to a penpal that the teachers from another had organized but this idea was tabled for a while. Since I had already set them up and taught them this concept, I decided to keep going with it and have them write to someone today. They took this idea and RAN with it! I am going to offer them the idea of giving the letters they wrote to the person they wrote them to- but first I get to read them all! These letters were SO sweet! They were to show gratitude (that is our moral focus word for the month) and thank the person for something. They had to have all the parts of a friendly letter (which none of them needed additional help with- they really understood this idea!). I was walking around reading their responses and smiled many times reading what they were writing! 

We were late today getting to specials. Oh- I was so disappointed! I really am working to get them to specials on time- time just goes so fast during the day!

It's Friday!

What a long week this has been! School has been insane with being the last week of this first seminar and trying to get everything done within it. Then throw in Halloween and crazy assembly schedules at Keystone, and it makes for a stressful week.
We had a long assembly this morning to honor the girls volleyball and boys soccer teams. Then we had an hour assembly this afternoon about the Detroit Red Wings. I just felt like the day flew by and I didn't get anything done in class. We really didn't lose a lot of instruction time this afternoon since half of the time we lost was to specials.
I don't understand why we have to do so much for the university when obviously we are crazy busy and have plenty to do. It is frustrating when you feel like the work you are doing is "busy work" and not something that is actually teaching me anything. I have talked to several of my peers all along this experience who are going through the same student teaching experiences and I'm not alone here. We are all living, eating, and breathing school in some sort of way- which is fine; we expect to be busy. But we had hoped to be doing things that benefit us in our student teaching experience.
This week I have felt like it started out great and ended in turmoil. Turmoil is probably harsh- but that's how I'm feeling. With so many things going on and behaviors to address, it was very difficult to finish what I had planned. I'm a wee bit of a control freak and don't like when I'm feeling like I'm not in complete control.
Honestly, I know this is supposed to be a challenging time- I'm learning hands-on experience I could never get in a classroom. And I know I'm not expected to be great during this time. I don't like feeling inadequate though- and that is how I'm feeling. I just seem to have lost my groove and need to figure out where I left it!

8th day solo

Can I just say that there is something really sad that a teacher has not only written a lesson plan survival guide to the day after Halloween, but the fact that it is sought after by MANY teachers really says something! I had a day where I needed this lesson plan for sure!

I was not warned that today would be such a challenge. Not that anyone should have "warned" me, but I had no idea how crazy some of the kids would be! I did walk around at lunch and survey some of the lunchboxes and see what was deemed "good" for their lunches and I saw a LOT of candy. 

There were several color changes today. It makes me sad when a student has to change their color- that isn't why I am there- I am there to TEACH them not change their color. But if they are refusing to listen or be respectful, then change their color I must. This is something I know I have to work on- I am told this often by RM.

Today was what I'm am reading as a "typical" day for after-Halloween. The kids were bouncing off the walls and of course, when it came to lunch time and they opened their lunches, most of them had huge amounts of candy and sugar waiting for them.

I changed several colors today- and a parent working lunch even had to change two colors! You can certainly tell when they have too much sugar, that's for sure!
Our plants are coming along- we had a surprise for a couple kids today- they have sprouts! (or, as we are calling them for our unit- seedlings) The smiles on those faces was priceless! I have one left- and I planted extra in his so hopefully we see something soon! 

I'm still confused about math and what I'm doing there. I have solid lessons from the teachers math book this week so that is a good thing! I tell ya- those teacher's edition books are incredible. You could stand up front of a group of kids and just read what they tell you to say and the kids would learn the lesson! Well, maybe that is a little exaggerated, but seriously- they tell you everything in there! 

In math we have been working on base-ten blocks and place value for quite some time. We are adding money next week, but this week we are finishing up expanded notation and then will assess on it. 

I'm still struggling with getting students to put their names on their papers. I don't want to say they are being defiant but I DO think they are being somewhat lazy. I tell them non-stop for 4 or 5 minutes when I first pass out the papers and today I got back 4 math papers with no names on it! GRRRR

All this month I have been telling the students that their October journals are due at the end of the month and that this one is for a grade. I have repeated this at least a dozen times and make sure that all students understand this. So when I said yesterday that they were due, I was surprised (not really) that so many students admitted that they were not finished. One student pulled his out and put his name on it for the first time! I told many that they had to finish them last night and then today when one of the students came in and didn't have it finished, he was told that he would be doing it at lunch. He spent his recess time working on his journal and getting it started. Of course he will NOT finish it in time for the school day but he will be taking it home and working on it. I know there are a lot of other students that need to get these done- I haven't gone through them yet to see how they were done and who is missing one, but I'm sure I will be adding to my list of students who  need to complete them. 

Happy Halloween!

Oh boy- this week started out so good! I was in control of my class, they were doing what they needed to do, things were great. But then throw Halloween into the situation and all of a sudden I have lost them! 

I started a new "behavior management" system on Monday having the students earning beans each. How many beans they earn will depend on their behavior. I start out at 50 each morning and then each time they are chatty I will start counting backwards from 50. When they stop talking, I stop counting and write the number down. Then when there are issues again, I start counting again from the number I left off at. At the end of the day, what ever number they are at is what amount of pinto beans I put into a vase. Now, I was going to do this with marbles, but quickly realized that that would be QUITE expensive to purchase all those marbles. So I switched to pinto beans. I don't love the beans, but until I find bulk marbles at a very cheap price, we are using beans! 

I have a few ideas to do if they fill the jar- but I'm worried that they won't fill out jar until after I leave- so I'm going to find a smaller jar to use- so that I can "guarantee" that we can celebrate before I leave!

Well, tonight is Halloween. I know we have a few friends out there in the yucky weather Trick-or-Treating so I hope they are safe and keeping warm!

Day 6

Today was a very busy day- of course they all are. I just don't know where the time is going during these days!

Today I made it on TIME to specials! Now, many people might think this is no big deal and "yay for you weirdo" but seriously- this IS an accomplishment. We have specials the very last thing of the day. At 2:35 we go and students finish at 3:15. Which is when school gets out. So we are scooting back to the classroom, putting coats and backpacks on and running out the door to the parents. So that means we have to do planners and stack the chairs- pack backpacks and get everything ready- so that when they come back from specials they are ready to leave with minimal delays. This is a huge challenge for me. Truthfully, it is a huge challenge for all the 2nd grade teachers and NOT just me- so that makes me feel better. But today- we were on TIME. It was for Art and our art teacher looked shocked that we were there on time. I was like a proud new father too- this was my goal yesterday and we hadn't met it so today I was determined.

I have started getting gifts from my loved ones related to teaching. I'm sure in time I will get "tired" of such gifts and beg them for Target gift cards instead, but right now I'm loving it! My sister and brother-in-law gave this little dude to me when I saw them in early October. He sits on the top shelf of my desk right now staring down at me as I type- and I have to say he makes me smile! There are some things that will definitely go into my classroom and he is one of them! Thanks for the smile Mari and Cory! 

I have established a routine with the students for their weekly lessons to review vocabulary and other activities we do every week. One of those routines is that we play Tic-Tac-Toe with our vocabulary words. I have laminated sheets of tic-tac-toe boards and have the students write their vocab words in each space. Then if there are additional spaces (which there always is because we never have 9 vocabulary words) then I have them fill in reading comprehension skills or other words I want them to focus on and we play tic-tac-toe.

I will tell them to start off with an "X" and then give the definition of one of their words. They are to figure out what word I am defining and then cover it with an "X". Then I have them draw a circle around the next word and read it's definition. This was a rough start at the beginning of the year but at this point the students are not only used to this routine, but they love it! This week I was able to use it as leverage. Yesterday I had students writing the definitions of their vocabulary words in a notebook and then writing them on note cards to study at a later time. Normally, students take a LOT of time to get this done. Last week I gave them a limited amount of time (which really upset some of them) and then after a second time with the vocabulary, I told them whatever wasn't done they had to take home for homework. THIS did not sit well with them! When Tuesday morning came and we were ready to play the game, I had a large handful of disappointed friends who could not participate because they did not take the vocabulary home and wanted to still play the game. I stuck to my guns though and enforced the rule that they had to be completed with both flashcards and definitions in their notebook and only then could they play tic-tac-toe. 

So this week, yesterday I gave the assignment and was surprised when I saw this assignment on desks several times during the day- students were working hard trying to finish up so they didn't have to take it home- or worse-- not be able to play tic-tac-toe! This morning when I passed out the familiar blue sheets, I had a lot of smiling faces who were working diligently yesterday to complete their task. I love that I have something they want to do so much and it motivates them to complete a not-so-fun task!