Donut Party

I bribed my kids with a donut party if they brought their permissions slip back for my TPA lesson. I kept reminding the kids that if they did not follow directions they would not receive their donut.... so they were pretty well behaved.



My fieldwork supervisor came and observed me today. Before she came I gave a long speech about how they need to be on their best behavior for Mrs. Morris (Judy). When she came, they were doing a wonderful job participating on their carpet square UNTIL a little boy let out the LONGEST and LOUDEST fart you could possibly imagine. Of course, being kindergartners, students all laughed and made fun of him, and I couldn't help but let out a little chuckle too. As soon as he tooted, he looked at me and smiled. It was pretty funny, but I wish he hadn't done it while I was being observed.

As soon as I had a chance to talk to Judy about my lesson, the first thing she asked me was if my eye had twitched yet today. I started to laugh and told her that it usually begins to twitch at the end of the day. She could tell that I had an easier time connecting with the upper grades, but said my lesson was great with the kidners, so that is always nice to hear. I love Judy. I really couldn't have asked for a better fieldwork supervisor. She always gives positive comments about my lessons and is always willing to help if I have questions. Earlier this year I had trouble passing a test I need in order to get my credential. Judy helped me prepare for the test and helped me pass! You would be one lucky person if you had the opportunity to meet her.

Quote of the day:
Me: Why do you like your girlfriend?
Boy: Because I like her.
Me: Why, silly goose?
Boy: Because she feels my muscles and says I'm strong. (Rolls up his sleeves, flexes, and points to his muscle.)
Me: Oh wow, very strong.
Boy: (Smiles and nods his head.)

Week 2-Day 2- Kindergarten

Ask anyone and they will tell you that I am a freak about planning ahead and being organized. The world of Cassie cannot function without organization and planning. Although I am not as far along as I would like to be, I can say that I have finished writing almost all of my lesson plans for student teaching up until spring break! Woohoo.

I taught another lesson on shapes and which types of shapes roll, slide, and stack. The students loved being able to experiment using manipulatives which is always fun to see. During snack time they were even seeing which food stacked, rolled, and slid. That made me feel warm on the inside =)

During play time, several little girls picked dandelions and gave them to me as a bouquet. I told them they could all be my flower girls at my wedding and they laughed. Letty, my master teacher, said that I have officially won the girls over if they are bringing me flowers. They are pretty cute.



During centers a couple interesting things happened today. First, a little boy started crying as he was writing his letter to the "Tiger Cub of the Week" which is basically just a student that is picked each week to share information about himself and stand at the front of the line. When I asked what was wrong he said he was sad because he has never been tiger cub. Poor fella. During my afternoon class, a kid ran up to me and informed me that he had diarrhea all day yesterday and continued to inform me that he had to get shots in his leg and arm to help him. TMI? Yes, but I used hand sanitizer like a million times more today than ever before and stocked up on emergenC for added vitamins.

Nostalgia

You know how parents say that they love all their children the same, but we all know they have a favorite? Well that is how I feel. If a kindergarten student asked which class I loved more, I'd totally say that I loved them both the same, but deep down, I think we all know who I would pick.

I find myself trying to find reasons to walk over to visit my third grade classroom (Sorry for bugging Kristine). I know I shouldn't, but I feel like I need to hold onto them a little bit longer. I don't want them to forget about me. Today before school I walked to my car and two of the boys from third grade saw me. Together we cracked sarcastic jokes. I feel like my sarcasm will make a kinder cry, and no one wants that. I have serious issues with not being able to see my kids all the time. I guess they aren't really mine anymore, but I am going to pretend like they are. =)

I think all of the student teachers and I are having a hard time adjusting to our new classrooms. I have talked to a few of them and we all miss our old class. I understand we need to experience upper and lower grades, but it really does stink.

Kristine sent me pictures of me and my third graders from the last time I subbed. I decided to share a picture of me and one of my favorite students. He has such a big heart, and his mom is fun to talk to too. =)

Week 1- Day 3- Kindergarten

Kindergarten really does have the cutest kids.

Quote of the Day:
Student: I went to the cemetery to visit my grandpa last weekend.
Teacher: Did your grandpa pass away?
Student: Yeah... I really don't like going to visit grandpa though, he never really does much.

Week 1- Day 2- Kindergarten

I survived day two.

I am having a really hard time adjusting to this fast paced day! I am still starving by the time snack time rolls around because my lunch time is at 9:30. I am also having a really hard time getting used to centers.

If you don't know what centers are, it basically consists of students being split into groups of 5 or 6. Each group goes to a different table for a half hour and completes an activity relating to the content standards. I think I just love whole group instruction, so teaching the same thing during centers all week long is getting old. I don't know how high school teachers teach the same thing for 5 periods a day. I think once I am able to make my own lesson plans for centers, I won't be feeling so weird about the whole thing.

I am getting to know my students better which is really enjoyable. It is funny to see cliques already forming in kindergarten. Today during snack time a bunch of girls and I sat together and discussed how we like each others hair and we talked about how we like to play with nail polish, etc. When I got up and sat with the boys, they talked about how they all didn't like girls but had girlfriends and how much they loved them. One little boy, a five year old, thought he was super rad because his girlfriend is a six year old that goes to a different school.

After school we had a staff meeting. I enjoy seeing all of the other student teachers from my program. When I taught third grade, my friend Katie was right across the hall from me and we spent our morning together talking and hanging out. This morning she text me and told me she accidentally walked to our old student teaching stomping grounds. I got slightly nostalgic thinking about it.

Tomorrow is day three!

Quotes of the day:
1.
Teacher: Where would you go in your hot wheels?
Student: A concert.
Teacher: Who would you see in concert?
Student: Diana Ross

2.
Student: Miss. Hobbs, my mom says "love" a lot.
Me: Does she say "I love you" to you?
Student: Yes, and I always say it back. I love girls.
Me: Oh, what a good son!
Student: Yeah, I love all girls... especially Ava and Madison!

Week 1- Day 1- Kindergarten

Well I made it through the first day of student teaching kindergarten! I am pooped! Who knew 32 kinders could wear you out so much? Yup, I said 32. 32 kindergarteners in one class. I about peed myself when I heard that. I only had 30 when I was student teaching third grade. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be though.

My master teacher seems pretty amazing. I feel bad because I am always a little shy at first with people I don't really know. I felt like I was being such an awkward llama when we were getting to know each other, so my goal for tomorrow is to try not to be so shy.

Everything in kindergarten seems like it moves at such a fast pace. The lessons are quick, the students are quick, the day is quick. I think it is going to take me a while to get used to. I am not quite sure how I am going to teach lessons to students because they are so quick. I am sure everything will work out though, it always seems to.

I am teaching afternoon kindergarten so in the morning we prep and then help out the morning kindergarten teacher. My lunch time is at 9:30 in the morning!!! Eating chicken at 9:30 in the morning was not the most exciting experience of my life so I had to reevaluate my meals for tomorrow. I packed a bunch of little snacks to eat throughout the day so I won't be starving by the time school is out.

I am beginning to remember a few of the student's names. One little boy reminds me of a kid I pictured as being a character in the book The Hunger Games so he will be easy for me to remember. Every time he smiles at me his chubby cheeks turn bright red. PRECIOUS.

There are two boys in my class that are identical twins. Today they wore the EXACT same thing too. My master teacher told me that she recognizes the difference between the boys because one of the boy's eyebrows are lighter than his brother's. I don't know how helpful that is because they never sit still long enough for me to get a glance of their eyebrows. One day I will get it.

After school a little boy from my third grade class ran into my kinder class and gave me a hug. I guess he knew that I started my first day in kinder. Seeing him was so wonderful. His hug made my day.

I think I keep comparing kinder to third grade. I need to stop that. The two classes are completely different. Although I loveeeee my third graders I need to make more of an effort to get to know my kinders or I am not going to have the great experience that I want. I just need to figure out a way to stop connecting the two classes.

Quote of the Day:
Student 1: "Bikes are fast."
Student 2: "Jesus is fast."

4th Grade

I only subbed one day this week and it was for a fourth grade class.

I subbed half day and as soon as I entered I could tell that the class was extremely energetic. Students were performing a play for their teacher about the outcome of the Grammy's from last Sunday.

The teacher seemed like she was really nice and explained everything I must complete with the kids. She also told me that there was a little boy with aspergers. For those of you that don't know, aspergers is a form of high functioning autism. Those that have aspergers are often VERY intelligent but lack social skills. This little boy had all of the math lessons in the book memorized along with a timeline of when each section in the book should be completed! I couldn't believe my eyes. He started to explain lessons in the book they hadn't even learned yet and told me the date of when they will complete it on. Wouldn't it be great if we could all memorize that much information?

I think that people too often focus on the negative impacts of a person that has special needs. Why not focus on their gifts? Yes, this student may lack social skills, but he is brilliant in other ways. I wish that we as humans could be more understanding and accepting of those that have special needs.

I start student teaching kindergarten on Tuesday for 10 weeks. I am feeling a bit nervous because I haven't had the greatest experience subbing for kinder. I guess we will find out. Prayers would be greatly appreciated.

6th Grade

If I could teach any grade at the elementary school level it would be sixth grade. I know a lot of districts have done away with sixth grade in elementary school and it's kind of depressing if you ask me.

Today I subbed for THE BEST class I have ever subbed for. I didn't have to discipline any students, they were helpful, quiet, and finished work in a timely manner. It was like a gift sent from the heavens!

The class rotates a couple times throughout the day based on a students test score from the previous chapter and today a girl that I used to tutor was in my class! I have been wondering if I would sub a student that I used to tutor, but I didn't think it would actually happen! I tutored her for two years in math and reading, so it was a shock to actually be her teacher. Instead of calling me Miss. Hobbs she accidentally slipped and called me by my first name. When she realized she called me Cassie we both started to laugh. She is a great girl, I cannot believe she is already in the sixth grade! Time flies!!!

3rd Grade

Today was bittersweet. I taught my third graders for the last time before I start student teaching for kindergarten. =(

Luckily, the kids were as fun as ever so I had a great last day today.

I was explaining how to create different combinations on the board today and I used two girls and one boy that are students in my class as an example. The little boy was embarrassed that I used him and gave me grief about making him sit by two girls so I told him that I was going to surround him with girls for the rest of the day because he was complaining too much. He took it literal, but I had something else up my sleeve ;). While the kids were working on their math, I wrote his name on the white board and around it, wrote all of the girls name in the class. He was then, completely surrounded by girls. The girls noticed what I was doing first, and as soon as he saw, he begged me to take my drawing down, but I refused, so he asked if I could at least put his future wife, Selena Gomez, on the board. Naturally, being the rad teacher that I am, I put Selena Gomez on the board. A couple minutes later he asked if he could go outside to get something out of his backpack. When he came back inside, he handed me a folder filled with Selena Gomez pictures and asked if I could put it on the board next to her name. I never knew a third grader could be so obsessed with a girl, but he most certainly is. For the rest of the day, he and Selena Gomez lived in harmony.

Below is a picture of the diagram:


At the end of the day we had some extra time and we had a nice discussion about how they would soon be getting another new student teacher. I made them promise to be nice to her. Then I made them stick up their right hand and repeat the following: "I promise to never forget Miss. Hobbs. She is the best teacher that ever existed." As they repeated what I said, they all started laughing. When they were done, they all gave each other high fives and we all shared one big group hug. There is a boy in my class who is the size of a fifth grader but has the biggest heart ever. After I told him not to forget me he said, "Miss. Hobbs, I could never forget a teacher like you!" and gave me three hugs. When the bell rang for students to go home we were all outside playing dodgeball and the kids ran up to give me one more hug.

Thinking about leaving them really makes me want to cry. I know I was only in their class for five weeks, but I really care about them. When I first met them I was scared to death! I had no idea how I was going to make a connection with them or their teacher. As I reflect on my relationship with them, it is hard to think that there was ever a time I was scared of having the ability to teach them and bond with them in a positive way.

1st & 5th Grade

I subbed for two grades today! Phew, I am wiped out!

I subbed the same first grade class today as I did yesterday. They really are just adorable, but quite chatty. In the morning the students listen to music while they are working on their work. I love that the teacher plays fun songs that students know. I think it really calms them down. NOTE TO SELF: When I am a teacher, play music.

I subbed fifth grade today as well for half day. As soon as I got there I had to teach a math lesson. If you know me, you know that math and I are not the greatest of friends. Even though it was only fifth grade math, I could not figure out how to solve the equations. It was a little embarrassing but I finally just gave up and went to ask the teacher how to solve the problem.

I'm not sure if it was because of the rainy day or the excitement of having a sub for the second half of the day, but some of the kids were a little out of control. The students had over an hour to work on their social studies so I split up their work by giving them 20 minutes per section. One little boy just would not do his work! I tried to sit by him to help him, tried to discipline him, wrote his name down, and NOTHING. At the end of the day I told him he couldn't play games because he didn't finish his work so he laid on the floor, pouted, and refused to get up. Talk about a temper tantrum! And this was fifth grade! Thank the lord it was the end of the day, I could feel myself getting worked up over the situation.

At the end of the day, I had crosswalk duty with the first grade teacher that I subbed for in the beginning of the day. She told me that one of the little girls liked having me as a sub and liked the fact that I was pretty (HAHA). That made my little heart melt. Even before I heard she said that about me, she was my favorite student in class. So after hearing that she said she liked me too, it was the icing on the cake. I'm sold and think she'll always be my favorite first grader. ;)

Lately life has been throwing me a few curves. I have been stressed with grad school and other things going on. I think the one thing I can always rely on is the fact that the students I work with will make my day better. And the truth of the matter is, they can make my day better without even trying. It is their pure innocence and honest enthusiasm that makes me happy. They make even the hardest days to get up on worth getting out of bed for. =)

1st Grade

I feel like I normally would much rather sub for an upper grade based on their level of maturity, HOWEVER, I completely loved first grade today.

I had the opportunity to sub for one of my best friend's sister today! I am not going to lie, I was a little nervous to sub for one of my friend's family members, but everything ran very smoothly! The kids were very cute and not as needy as I was expecting. I'll be subbing half day in that class tomorrow as well, so it will be nice.

Not only does my friend's sister work at the school, but a family friend also works there, so it was wonderful to see her and say hello! Her daughter and I were best friends when we were younger, and seeing her today brought back so many great memories.

Quotes of the day:

1.
"We just got here and I can already tell that I am going to love you."

2.
Me: "Tell us what you want to be when you grow up."
Girl: "A tree doctor."
Me: "...Oh, ok... What exactly does a tree doctor do?"
Girl: "Uses a hammer to cut down the tree."
Me: "Awesome."

6th grade

I feel like today boosted my ego more than it should have. I'll explain why later in this blog.

I am officially in love with sixth grade at the elementary school level. (I don't think I would be as big as a fan at the middle school.)

These kids are independent, funny, and smart. I can hold an actual conversation with them, whereas in other grades I feel like everyone is telling on each other and you can never just sit back and relax. My only complaint is, however, that sixth graders LOVE to talk.

Quotes of the day:

1. At the beginning of school two girls ran up to me-
Them: Are you our sub?
Me: Yes
Them: You're pretty. (And they ran away)

2.
Boy: Miss. Hobbs, you look like that Victoria Secret Transformer model.
Me: Oh brother.
Boy: How old are you?
Girl: Don't tell him Miss. Hobbs, he is only trying to figure out if you are young enough to date him.

3. While I was at crosswalk duty-
Girl: Bye Miss. Hobbs. I hope you are my substitute next time. You were really cool.


So now you can see why today was an ego boost.