Feliz Blah-di-daad

Well, after three days of subbing kindergarten, today I finally found the paper that has all of the words to the Christmas songs kids need to know (thanks, Kari). So, when it was time to practice, the kids and I walked through each line together... or at least I attempted to walk through each line. They were quite goofy and giggly today, though, so it was hard to get them to listen to me sing and then have them follow. Every time I started to sing, they started to sing, then they started to laugh. Finally, I just gave up and we all ended up singing together because getting them to listen to me first and then sing was a total epic fail. At least they were having fun though.

During centers the kids are writing a letter to Santa. Some of the letters have been really funny. Kids are asking for ipods, ipads, doctor sets, and race-cars. My two favorite are below.

Yes, that says she wants a broom for Christmas. Then she told me that she was coloring Santa's mustache brown because her dad is brown. I just love that little girl.

This little girl told me she wanted a big bike, then she told me she wanted a small bike, but finally she decided that she wanted a medium size bike. Too cute!!!

Quotes of the day:

1.)
Me: You need to finish your letter.
Student: Awwwwww, Nards!!!!

2.)
Me: Ok, repeat after me- Feliz Navidad
Student: Feliz blah-didaaaaaa!
Me: Listen to what I'm saying- Fe-liz Navi-dad
Student: Feliz Plah-di-dad?

Princesses, obviously

Happy Birthday Walt Disney!

To honor Walt Disney's birthday, the staff and students were able to dress in their Disney garb today. My friend Katie and I don't have any Disney clothes, so we improvised- I made tutus and she bought tiaras. Together we made a couple of really cool princesses. I just love us. We got some pretty crazy looks from kids throughout the day (or at least I did) but I just don't care. I love us.

At the end of the day the secretary saw me and told me that our principal almost didn't come out and take over duty for me because she thought the tutu was an exciting addition to the morning traffic. I just love the principal and staff at my school. It is such a fun atmosphere.

Here is a picture of us:

Quote of the Day:

(Student was working on counting his math and I was still wearing my tutu and tiara)
Student: Umm, Mrs... Princess? Is this right?

Kindergarten

My friend Letty is out of town this week and Monday so I am taking over her kindergarten class. I just love this group of kids. The last time I was there they were a little crazy but today everything went really smoothly. There are only a couple rascals in my class that enjoy making me slightly loco, but I can pretty much handle the craziness.

I never thought I would say it, but I love love love kindergarten now, especially when I teach it for Kari or Letty. The kids are great and I love that I know the routine.

The students are practicing for their Christmas performance and listening to them sing the songs is pretty hilarious. I know I am supposed to help them learn the words, but I'm pretty sure they know them better than I do. Today the kids were practicing Feliz Navidad and they were looking at me like I knew the words. I seriously make up random noises when I sing that song because I have no idea what is being said. SO, if the kids end up singing the wrong words during their performance, I sincerely apologize.

Today I set up an appointment to meet with a surgeon to get my wisdom teeth removed. I have been putting this off for years, so I guess the time is now. I scheduled to get them taken out on January 2nd, so hopefully I'm hoping Ill be recovered by the time I start my long term the week after. I am cutting it close, but that is the earliest time they had. Yikes.

Quotes of the Day:

1. (Students were cutting out green trees for Christmas and a kid's hand was shaking without him realizing it)
Student: Oh my gosh MISS HOBBS LOOK- My tree is shaking!

2.)(At the end of the day there were two students waiting to be picked up by their parents)
Me: Well, I guess the three of us are just going to have to have a sleepover.
Student 1: No, we can't I snore too loud.
Student 2: Yeah, plus when I get home I need to take a POOP!

Geometry and AP psych

Why my old teacher has such confidence in the fact that I am able to teach his geometry class, I will never know. He remembers that I had barely passed his class, but I am not complaining because lord knows I need to keep working. I have been subbing for my former teacher, Mr. Barnes for the past three days and will finish up tomorrow. Barnes was one of my favorite teachers in high school and I am so glad we have been able to keep in touch.

For the most part he has some great classes. There is one period where I want to blow my head off but I just remind myself that I only have them for an hour and I become much more relaxed.

In AP psych I was teaching about birth order theory today. I remember that was one of my favorite lessons in that class. It is so fun to see how much you actually relate to the birth order theory. For example, if you are the oldest you are often an over achiever, you are bossy, and you are a rule follower. That totally describes me. If you are the youngest it says that you are sneaky, youre very social, and you are usually the spoiled one... totally my little sister (even if she doesn't think so =))

This is a pretty interesting website that tries to tell you whether your relationship will last or not. It was pretty hilarious to read it with students about their boyfriend or girlfriend: Birth order and Marriage Click Here

I hope the day goes by quickly tomorrow! There is a rally and after school I am going to go see Santa with my niece and Rachel! Woohoo

Memorial for Nikita

I hate that sad things have to happen in order to surround myself with people I care so much about. Last night after I found out about my former student's death, I called my boss and talked to him for a while. I was worried about not being able to go to Nikita's memorial because I was already scheduled to work at the high school. As I was talking to Rod on the phone he told me that the students were asking about me and were upset that I never visit them anymore. I think it was then that I lost it. Once I hung up the phone with my boss I called my friend Justin and told him what had happened. We used to work together at Garey in Pomona and he had heard the news before I called him. Once he answered, he heard the tears in my voice and tried to calm me down. Justin always has a soft spot in my heart. He is by far one of my best guy friends and him and Matt get along so well. I am glad that I can have a friend like him.

I feel like I have let my students in Pomona down. I left them in order to do my student teaching and quit my job at Gear Up so that I could sub and make more money. I should have been there yesterday for my students when they found out about Nikita. That is the thing about Garey, I was able to form amazing bonds with my students. I can't believe that I wasn't there for them. Instead I was subbing for a group of students I didn't even know.

This morning I was able to take a half day from work. The teacher that I was subbing for used to be my math and AP psych teacher so he was very understanding and accommodating. I am so thankful that he was so understanding.

On the way to the memorial I picked my friend Daisy up and we headed to the school. It was like a reunion seeing my kids again. But of course there was an elephant in the room and everyone knew why we were all meeting. It was not a pleasurable encounter but I was glad I was able to see my students and friends again.

At the memorial Matt was able to take off work and my friend Justin met us there. Students from Fremont and Garey gathered in a large circle holding balloons. Several people talked about how wonderful Nikita was. I know that she would have been something great. The vague memory I have of our discussions make me remember what a kind heart she had.

I hated seeing how sad her twin sister and friends were. I felt an ache in my chest that wouldn't go away but I knew that crying would only make it worse. Students let the balloons go, teachers spoke of her amazing qualities, and friends prayed for Nikita. At the end of the memorial, the large group (there had to be at least a hundred of us) sang Nikita and her twin sister happy birthday at the time she was born. I couldn't help but let a tear fall.

I know that she is with God and is smiling down on her family, but I can't help but feel saddened that she wasn't able to experience all of the things in life that she deserved. I pray that her family members and friends are able to make it through such a tough time.

Here is a picture of some of the balloons that were let go in Nikita's honor-

Sad Moments

I was in the middle of writing about an amazing day subbing when I received the saddest news a teacher (or anyone for that matter) can receive. My friend Priscylla posted something on Facebook informing me that one of my old students from Pomona passed away today. I called my former boss and he told me that he went to visit the family today. My student died of a diabetic coma. No one knew she was diabetic, but my boss told me when they took her to the hospital her sugar levels were at 1000. The doctors tried to revive her but couldn't. Tomorrow would be her birthday... and will be her twin sister's.

I wasn't close to this student but I remember talking to her several times during her 8th grade year when I worked at Fremont. Her and her sister were always sweet girls and she was very bright.

Tomorrow they are having a memorial service for her in the morning. I hope to be able to attend so I can be there to honor her and be there for my former students.

No one teaches you how to prepare for these types of situations.

Keep her and her family in your prayers.

Observation

I was able to observe and work with my first graders today. CUTEST. KIDS. EVER.

We had a fire drill today and on our walk back a little girl that I had last year grabbed my hand and held it all of the way back to the classroom. She is just the cutest thing ever. I was also able to work with them during their math lesson. It was amazing. I am so excited to get started.

Last year there was a little boy in the morning kinder class I worked with who liked to be mischievous. For example, I told him to put his gummy bears in his backpack outside. When he came back inside, he had a huge mouthful of gummy bears. After I confronted him about it, he put his head down, held out his arms, and jumped on my lap for a hug. Today the same little boy went on the computer to take a reading test after I told him he couldn't. When I told him that he wasn't listening to directions he put his head down and gave me sad eyes every time I looked at him. It took every ounce of strength to keep from laughing at the little guy. I just love him.

I think I have mentioned before that I am the worst person in the world at remembering names. Like seriously, I will memorize faces but if you want me to remember a name, forget about it. Luckily I have 23 kids in my class and more than half were in my kinder classes from last year. There are a few names that I am still working on but if I am able to continue to go in between now and break, I will have their names down and all will be golden in the world of Cass.

Danielle, the teacher that I am long terming for, is explaining everything for me as we go which is making me feel very safe. Maybe safe is the wrong word, but I feel like everything is going to run very smoothly because I will already know what to do. I am an extremely organized person so having Danielle spell everything out for me in detail is a great help. It just makes me that much more excited. Only a month-ish to go!