High School English

I subbed high school for the first time today and I LOVED it! I didn't feel stressed once, the kids didn't cry about anything, they were independent, they got their work done, and they know how to be quiet. The classes were amazing, the content was fun to look at, ahhh... I think I need to get my single subject credential in English PRONTO!

I subbed two classes of Senior English and three Junior AP English classes. The kids were all pretty chill and laid back. I felt like it was easier than it should have been. I loved it. I took two of the classes to the psych fair which was really fun. I remember doing the psych fair my senior year with my best friend Cambria... I had a total deja-vu moment when I entered the library and saw all of the different presentations. While at the fair I saw several different teachers that I had when I was in high school. It was really strange for both them and myself to both be in "teacher" positions at the same time. For anyone that went to Upland with me, Mr. Wisdom is still there! Craziness.

Apparently my name was being spread around campus because during lunch time a kid (who was not in my class in the morning) called my name out from across campus. When I turned around he asked if I was subbing for the same class tomorrow. I shook my head no and as soon as I did the kid made a sad face, formed his hands to make a heart, and broke the heart. I wanted to laugh so hard but I just shook my head and walked away.

I had a few of my sister's friends in my classes today. When they saw my name they were like, "Are you related to MARISSA????" It was pretty funny. They all freaked out. Way to go red, you are still famous at UHS.

I really miss high school language arts. The kids were reading The Great Gatsby and are watching the movie tomorrow! I am sooo jealous. I seriously loved that book when I was in high school. I wish I could sub for them tomorrow just so I could watch the movie.

Quotes of the Day:

1.
Girl: Are you the sub?
Me: Yeah.
Girl: All the boys in my math class are talking about you.

2.
(While I was participating in a study at the psych fair)
Boy: Please write your name
Me: (writes: Ms. Hobbs)
Boy: Please write your birthday
Me: (writes: 5/21)
Boy: Please write your favorite animal
Me: (writes: elephant)
Boy: Please write your phone number.
Me: Do you actually need this?
Boy: (laughs)
Me: (writes: 999-nevermind)
Boy: (picks up the paper and runs) GUYS I FOUND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HER THAN YOU!!!

3.
Boy: Do you want to come to my graduation? I'll buy you a ticket.
Me: No thanks.
Boy: You don't want to see me graduate??!!

4.
(While I was talking to a former teacher the same kid that yelled across campus during lunch came up to talk to me)
Boy: Miss. Hobbs, I noticed that you are a MISS... not a MRS.
Me: Thanks for pointing that out.
Boy: Soooo.....
Teacher: You boys are really giving Miss. Hobbs an ego boost today!

Last Day Jitters

When I was finished with my last day student teaching in 3rd grade, I received a book from my class called First Day Jitters. The story is about a teacher that is afraid and nervous about their first day as a teacher. I remember reading the story and thinking about how scared I was on my first day of student teaching. Looking back on my year, I become a little bit emotional. I was so scared to begin student teaching, and now I am so sad that summer has come and my students are moving onto the next grade.

I did not think I would ever like teaching anything above first grade, but the truth of the matter is, I am obsessed with 3rd-6th grade. Since I began my teaching journey way back in October, I have grown as a teacher and as an individual. I think about my third graders and kindergarteners all day, everyday, and when I have a bad day, I imagine my kids and I am immediately relaxed.

I am really upset that today is the last day of school. I will never have my first class again or be able to have both my classes together again in the same groups. It saddens me to think that they will move on and forget about our conversations and all of our laughs. I know I am being selfish because I should be happy for their accomplishments this year, but I don't want them to grow up and change... I want them to always remember me the same way that I remember them. I am really proud of them though, they all changed and grew so much. I don't know... I am sad they are gone but I know that each of them will accomplish great things.

I subbed a first grade class half day today. The kids in the class were super cute. As soon as I walked up to pick them up in the morning a kid told me that he could tell I was going to be super nice. So stinkin cute!!

After school I went out to celebrate the end of the year with a bunch of the staff members. It was a really fun time. I feel like I was able to talk to teachers and other school employees more than I had in the past. It was nice to be able to kick back and enjoy each others company.

I will continue to sub in the other district until they go on Summer break until June 7th. Hopefully over the summer I will find a "real" teaching job.

Special thanks to Letty and Kristine for such an amazing opportunity to teach their classes this year. =)

Birthday Shenanigans

I went to Solorio today because my third graders were having their end of the year party! I can't believe tomorrow is their last day of school and then they will all be in 4th grade!!! Depressing.

Before going to 3rd grade I stopped by and visited my kindergarten class one last time. Today they got to eat in the cafeteria and eat food from the lunch room for the first time! They were all so excited and the majority of them loved the food. When they noticed me they sang me happy birthday. It was so cute. I love my little boogers. Looking back on it, I remember how much I loved cafeteria food. Now when I look at it I wonder why I ate the stuff. I think it was a "cool" thing to do, otherwise I doubt I'd buy the stuff.

After visiting kindergarten I made my way to 3rd grade. My kids really know how to party. There were so many sweets and goodies! MMM it was a good time. As soon as I walked in I noticed a bunch of birthday cards and goodies on the desk that students made for me. I have been bugging Kristine to give me the recipe she uses to make chocolate chip cookies... They are seriously the BEST cookies you will ever eat. Anyway, she gave me the recipe for my birthday!!! Woohoo.

Overall, I had a wonderful day and I feel very lucky to have been able to spend it with my favorite students on the planet.

Here is a picture of the cards and gifts students made me =).

Pop Party

My birthday is on Monday and several students from third grade made me drawings, cards, and notes for my birthday today. They are so stinkin cute. I visited kindergarten today for a little bit too. Every time I walk into the 3rd grade class or the kinder class, I feel so at home. I love all of my kids. Obviously in different ways, but I am pretty sad that the last day of school is on Tuesday. I am going to miss being able to walk from one class to the other just to be able to say hi to my very first group of students.

Quote of the day:

So during the popsicle party, the boys would say a word and then all of the other boys would lift their popsicles and yell, "YEAH!!!" This is what happened....
Boy 1: Yeah for Selena Gomez!!!
All Boys: YEAH!!!
Boy 2: Yeah for no homework!!!
All Boys: YEAH!!!
Boy 3: Yeah for Miss. Hobbs!!!
All Boys: YEAH!!!
Boy 4: Yeah for being a boy!!!
All Boys: YEAHHH!
Boy 5: Yeah for more balls!!!
All Boys: (quietly looking around thinking how to react....)
Boy 6: Uhhh...(busts up laughing)

A lovely visit

With all that is going on in life, I think sometimes taking the time to be around the little creatures that mean the most makes me realize why I love my job. Today was the kindergarten promotion celebration, but before going to their promotion I visited 3rd grade for a while. I had the students sign my yearbook and a few of the kids drew me pictures. Some of the things students wrote in my yearbook made me want to cry. They are all so sweet! I think I really need to start to keep a scrapbook. Between all of the artwork I have collected from kinder and third grade I swear I could make a book, so why not make it a scrapbook?

The kinder celebration went really well. I felt like a proud mama watching my students walk up to receive their awards. I can only imagine what emotions I will have when I have kids of my own. I will probably cry every time my kid receives an award.

Pictures of the day:

Pictures my 3rd graders made me:

Yearbook Notes:

Heimlich Maneuver Wednesday

I think it is time for my kinders to go on summer break. They can all feel it coming, so I vote we let them go home and drive their parents bonkers, yes? Yes.

Overall, today was a pretty good day. My kids were too talkative, but really, when aren't they? I was sooooooo glad, however, that when the principal made a surprise visit to the classroom my kids were on topic and were being quiet. Bonus points to them!!!

Today I had the scariest moment in my career thus far. During snack time my kids were all eating and talking when all of the sudden a little boy in my class started to choke on a chip! At first I thought he was ok, then his face started to turn bright red and he started to cough louder, I wanted to scream to the morning teacher for help because I was having a minor freak out moment in my head, but I quickly ran over and told the student to stand up and put his hands over his head. When he refused to get up, I put my arms underneath his armpits and lifted him from the lunch table to a standing position. I pulled his hands over his head and had him keep coughing until he was no longer choking. If he had kept going any longer I really thought I was going to have to give him the heimlich, and I probably would have cried. Thankfully though, he stopped choking, but as soon as he did he started to cry. Poor fella. I had him go inside and get a drink of water. One of the little boys in my class started to laugh at the little boy who was choking. When another boy noticed, he yelled saying, "It's not funny! People can die from choking!" I was so proud of my little guy. He stuck up for his classmate. I can tell that he is growing up and is ready to move onto first grade.

I have been thinking a lot about fostering a child or adopting a baby when I get older. At the school I am at there are a lot of foster kids. I feel like some foster parents really care about the well being of the child while some are only in it for monetary reasons. It is really sad to see some of the kids that are in the foster system not receive the same amount of family support than those that are not in the system. Every child deserves to be loved and to be the center of someone's world. I hate knowing that some of my kids aren't being treated the way that they deserve.

Quotes of the Day:

1.
Student: Miss. Hobbs do you have a mom?
Me: Yes, I have two moms(mom and stepmom).
Student: (eyes get big) Do you know how old she is?
Me: Yep.
Student: (eyes get even bigger and she turns around and walks away)

2.
Student: Miss. Hobbs I am leaving for Ireland on your birthday.
Me: Wow, is Ireland green?
Student: Oh yeah, it is even greener than a crayon and his shirt.
Me: That sounds really nice.
Student: Yeah. You know Miss. Hobbs, you're my favorite teacher. (tilts head and smiles)

3.
(During Tiger Cub Interview)
Student 1: Who is your favorite teacher? Like do you prefer Mrs. Shouer, Miss. Hobbs, or Mrs. Lee?
Student 2: (after a lot of contemplation) Miss. Hobbs

4.
Student 1: (angrily) My sister told me that you teach other classes!!! Is that true Miss. Hobbs?!
Class: (Gasps all around the carpet)
Me: Well, yes. Before I came here I taught third grade in Mrs. Burke's room, and sometimes when I am not here I go to different classrooms at different schools and am their teacher for the day.
Student 2: I don't like that.

First Grade Visitation

Today was quite a good, but tiring day. I feel like waking up to sub is becoming harder and harder the closer it gets to summer. However, once I got to school, everything was just dandy. I had some prep work to do, but Kristine helped me by having the third graders assemble some work for me. Thank the lord, because it would have taken forever! It was pretty funny to watch all 30 kids form an assembly line and stack pages together. I am so thankful though! Kristine really is one of my best friends at Solorio. It is nice to go into the room and hang out with her when I am subbing the babies.

The kinders took a field trip to a first grade classroom today. I think once I mentioned that they had to sit in the room and listen to a story all of their faces went white. I could tell that they were really scared to meet a first grade teacher and see what the classroom was like. Once we entered the room my kids were more quiet than they have ever been! It was shocking and pretty funny. The teacher we visited was also the reading buddy teacher for my third graders, and I just think she is one of the nicest teachers at Solorio, so for my kinders to be scared is kind of silly. I have total confidence that they will succeed in 1st grade.