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!!!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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. =)
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. =)
Monday, February 6, 2012
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."
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."
Friday, February 3, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
6th grade
The last two days I subbed 6th grade at two different schools. The attitude of these students was completely night and day. Yesterday the students were completely out of hand, not listening, and had an attitude on them like you wouldn't believe. Today, students listened, completed their work, and although they were a little talkative, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. I think that they are my favorite new class to sub (except for my third graders, obviously.)
I think that attitudes of these students has a lot to do with parent involvement. At the school I was at yesterday, it was pretty clear that students were on their own a lot of the time. Today I saw the principal walking around and interacting with students as well as family members. I remember when working at Garey High School in Pomona, students that often (not always, but often) did better in their classes had very involved parents. I feel for students that do not have parent involvement. I hope students learn how to turn themselves around before entering high school where you can be influenced by every little thing.
In other news, two of the girls in 6th grade had an ipad, several students had tablets, kindles, and one girl had an iphone. I only have one question: WHERE IS MY IPAD, KINDLE, AND IPHONE??? These kids are only 11 years old. I am 22 and I am not even close to having the funds for those items. They are lucky little children.
I am subbing another 6th grade class on Friday. Pray that the class is going to be like today, not yesterday.
I think that attitudes of these students has a lot to do with parent involvement. At the school I was at yesterday, it was pretty clear that students were on their own a lot of the time. Today I saw the principal walking around and interacting with students as well as family members. I remember when working at Garey High School in Pomona, students that often (not always, but often) did better in their classes had very involved parents. I feel for students that do not have parent involvement. I hope students learn how to turn themselves around before entering high school where you can be influenced by every little thing.
In other news, two of the girls in 6th grade had an ipad, several students had tablets, kindles, and one girl had an iphone. I only have one question: WHERE IS MY IPAD, KINDLE, AND IPHONE??? These kids are only 11 years old. I am 22 and I am not even close to having the funds for those items. They are lucky little children.
I am subbing another 6th grade class on Friday. Pray that the class is going to be like today, not yesterday.
Monday, January 30, 2012
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