Meet N Greet

I met the students I will be long term subbing for in March!!! So excited! For the most part the kids are pretty amazing. There is one little boy that I know will be a real challenge for me, but other than that, I am really excited for what is to come. At the end of the day the class asked if I was going to come back to their classroom... I wanted to say, "YUP! Ill be your teacher for two months and I almost pee my pants with excitement every time I think about it", but instead I told them that maybe one day I will be able to come back and stay a little longer ;).

This morning while getting dressed I was worried about sweating to death, but then it rained all day! It was kind of nice to be able to walk around without feeling disgusting from the heat, but at the same time being on inclement weather isn't fun for teachers OR students. The only good part about inclement weather was that I was able to get to know students a little better. I was secretly trying to memorize names today but with 30 kids and only one me, I was only able to memorize a select few.

I felt kind of bad for my kids today because I felt like a chicken with her head cut off. There was so much work to get done and I know I could have had a more successful day if I had been more organized throughout the day. I think I feel so bad because normally I am overly organized and today I just felt so off my game (boo). Tomorrow is a new day, though and Im sure I will keep things more organized in the future.

I had duty after school today and I ended up taking over crosswalk duty. As I was walking kids across the crosswalk, a man (probably my age) backed up from a parking spot into a big white truck. I saw the man in the big white truck begin to fume with anger and I thought I was going to have to call for some assistance, but the two calmly pulled over, got out of the car and exchanged information. I'm sure if the two were not at a school, the kid my age would have been screamed at by the older gentleman. Ahhh, scary.

4th Grade

Matt's aunt called me this morning and told me that her sister needed a sub ASAP! I was really excited because I didn't think I was going to get called today.

Although today was a half day and I didn't get to spend all day with students, I can honestly say that this class was one of the most well behaved classes I have EVER worked with. Students were respectful and quiet. They asked questions by raising their hand or walking over to me. I am really glad that I was able to work with them today.

Tomorrow I am subbing for the class that I will be long terming for at the end of the year! I am so excited to meet them!!

Life Sized Barbie

Today was much better than yesterday (thanks for the prayer, Letty)! I really enjoyed myself. The students had an assembly which was fun, they had centers and got to do a bunch of different activities, and we were able to watch The Magic School Bus (what kind of person doesn't like The Magic School Bus?!)

During the assembly a little boy with special needs sat next to me. He kept standing up and wanted to leave the assembly. When I finally calmed him down, he put his hand in mine and put his head on my shoulder. I loved that moment of my day... I felt like I mattered to that little boy. Sometimes I think we focus on what is wrong with special needs students too much instead of focusing on what is amazing about them. The little boy has special needs, but he also has some wonderful qualities about him. Today taught me to focus on the good qualities in every child.

Quote of the day:

Boy: Wow, you look beautiful today, Ms. H!
Girl: Yeah, you look just like my barbie but you're life sized!

Munchkin Land

Today was intense. Here are the reasons why: the kids wouldn't be quiet, I am unfamiliar with the school and their school procedures, the lesson plans did not explain procedures so I was lost all day, my class was overly talkative (even if I tried to explain how talkative they were, it wouldn't even begin to portray the truth), a kid cried right before taking the class picture, a girl cried when her mom left this morning (and apparently she does it every morning), the DVD player doesn't work, a kid got a bloody nose, it was too hot to go out for PE, and the students didn't follow directions. GOOD TIMES!!

The sad part is that in the notes for me, the teacher wrote "good luck"... if the teacher writes that then you know it's gotta be an experience.

Back for round two tomorrow.

So many grades

I was supposed to sub for my friend today, but she ended up not having jury duty. I was worried that I wasnt going to be called into work, but luckily they kept me on campus! In the morning I helped my friend with little projects and tested one of her students. In the middle of morning work, the fire alarm went off. I think my friend and I jumped out of our shoes because it scared us so much! Anyway, don't worry, it was a false alarm.

After the drill I wandered over to first grade to help them with prep materials. Even though first grade has a lot of prep work (not as much as kinder, but still a lot) I am really looking forward to my long term sub job in the winter. Don't get me wrong, I am nervous, but I think it is going to be a lot of fun!

Since I was called into sub and I wasn't actually subbing, a teacher unexpectedly had to leave early in fourth grade. Since it was fourth grade, that meant that I got to spend time with a few of my 3rd grade students from last year! Of the 30 students only four were in my class which was a bummer, but it was still fun to see them nonetheless. During social studies we were talking about how it gets colder the higher you hike on a mountain. I told the story about my uncle climbing Mt. Everest and how his toes froze and he got frost bite... they couldn't believe it! It was pretty funny to see their facial reactions.

I took the fourth graders to take pictures today and in doing so, I also saw the kindergarteners from last year! It was like a student teaching reunion! I missed all of my kids and am glad I saw them today

The lady I am doing my second long term job for requested me for next week! I am excited to meet my third graders!!!

3rd Grade

I subbed third grade today. It still felt like second grade, but that is ok. I went to a school that I had never been to, but there are a few family members at the school that are related to people that work at the school I did my student teaching at. Make sense?

Anywho, my friend, Kristine's, daughter was in my class today which was kind of fun. Kristine gave her a donut and a little note for me which was super tasty. Thanks again, friend!

I had quite an experience with a a student today. I didn't think that tantrums still existed at the age of 8, but I was clearly mistaken (have mercy on me when I am a mother). A little boy in my class threw three tantrums today! I thought my brains were going to fly out of my head. He cried because he got out of greek dodgeball, threw a fit because he wasn't chosen for student of the month, and threw another fit because he was not closest to the guessing jar. REALLY!? I finally just left him alone and let him cry on the floor.

The mom of one of the teachers I will be long term subbing for works at the school I was at today and she put me in to sub two days of first grade next week. I am really excited because I haven't had too much experience with first grade, so this will give me a chance to get more familiar with that grade. =)

Picture of the day:

Picture of my note from Kristine today:

Quotes of the day:

1.
Student: Miss. Hobbs, you know where you should work?
Me: Where?
Student: Hobby Lobby... Get it?

2.
(While students are taking a timed 30 minute math test...)
Me: You need to get going or you are going to run out of time.
Student: It is too hard!
Me: No it isn't. You learned this in kindergarten.
Student: Fine. I will take out my magic wand and cast a spell to get my test done.
(Takes out invisible magic wand and begins moving his wrist like Harry Potter and says a spell...) There! My paper will finish on its own.
Me: (5 minutes later) Your spell didn't work. GET GOING!
Student: Ughhhhhhh.

Kindergarten

I went back to the school I did my student teaching at today! I love how I feel when I walk on campus. I feel like I am part of the team there. It feels great.

I subbed for the kindergarten classes today with Letty and Kari, the two teachers I worked with last year. I seriously love working with them. I know the routines and everything runs smoothly in the class. I think working with the kids this early in the year is a challenge, but I also think that the kids say things that are much more comical for adults. During the afternoon class I saw my student teacher partner from last semester, Debbie. She is such a nice lady. I love talking to her. She has daughters my age but you would never guess it because she is such a fun person to talk to. I am glad that she was also subbing at the school with me today.

I also observed one of the classes that I will be long term subbing for after the new year. Some of my kinders are in the class, so it was pretty cool to see them. The teacher I am long terming for keeps everything really organized and the kids seemed to be extremely well behaved, which only makes me more anxious and excited to start the long term position. What is even more exciting is that after I finish my first long term I have another one lined up! I am so exited for what is to come.

Photo of the day:
The picture on the right is the sample and the picture on the left is student work. Kindergarten is so precious. =)

Quotes of the day:

1.)
Teacher: Boys and girls say hi to our new helper, Miss. Hobbs.
Class: Good Morning, Miss. Hobbs
Teacher: She is going to be helping us today and will be here throughout the year too!
Student: Is she your friend?
Teacher: Yes, she is my friend and she is a teacher too!
Student: ...Where does she come from?

2.)
(During share time)
Teacher: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Student: Ryan?
Teacher: Ryan? Do you mean you want to work with Ryan?
Student: Yep.
Teacher: What does Ryan do?
Student: Moves dirt around.