yay :) this is from yesterday with ava. she helped me shovel my car out and we played in my backyard.
Monday, February 13, 2006
SNOW DAY!
yay :) this is from yesterday with ava. she helped me shovel my car out and we played in my backyard.
dating
i'm deciding what to do for my pretend-almost-boyfriend for valentine's day.
my friend donnie and i work at the same school. people see us hang out and assume there something going on (far from it). it's gotten a little more, um, obvious recently. like, i walk into his classroom and hear whispers of "mr. maley's girlfriend" and questions to me "are you mr. maley's girlfriend?" "ms. matthews, do you like him??"
even the teachers: he walked into a room where there had been a meeting of all the special ed teachers (but i wasn't there anymore) - everyone there responded in unison, without missing a beat, "she's upstairs." laughing, knowing exactly what/who they were talking about, he said, no no, i'm looking for so-and-so.
it's actually convenient. it keeps the tss workers at bay and then neither of us have to answer questions about why we have no love life - questions that come, for me, at least, a few times a week.
my friend donnie and i work at the same school. people see us hang out and assume there something going on (far from it). it's gotten a little more, um, obvious recently. like, i walk into his classroom and hear whispers of "mr. maley's girlfriend" and questions to me "are you mr. maley's girlfriend?" "ms. matthews, do you like him??"
even the teachers: he walked into a room where there had been a meeting of all the special ed teachers (but i wasn't there anymore) - everyone there responded in unison, without missing a beat, "she's upstairs." laughing, knowing exactly what/who they were talking about, he said, no no, i'm looking for so-and-so.
it's actually convenient. it keeps the tss workers at bay and then neither of us have to answer questions about why we have no love life - questions that come, for me, at least, a few times a week.
psych ...
on friday we had plans to go on a little field trip, to an african american film festival held at a community center close by. we were going to walk and take the bus, see 2 movies on sammy davis, jr. and the harlem globetrotters, and come back. it meant that i had almost nothing to plan for the day, the kids all brought their lunches, and were pretty excited.
we were supposed to meet downstairs at 8:45, at which time i carted my class down there and then stopped by the office to give them the paperwork. i walked in and someone said, did you not hear the announcement the principal just made? (which was, 2nd floor classes planning on going on the trip, stay in your classroom and await further instructions ....)
so, okay, we had to wait a little bit. i thought maybe something semi-dangerous happened outside.
but no. we didn't go. apparently the regional office hadn't looked carefully at the paperwork and when they saw it that morning, they said we couldn't go b/c it's too close to pssas.
well, desks turned in my classroom when the announcement was made. so, for the morning i worked w/ one kid on his writing while everyone else played games on the computer or went to another class to watch a movie. after lunch, we had a couple (educational) movies in our room. after art/music, we went outside for recess for an hour.
to the regional office: when you cancel field trips at the very last minute, you ruin everyone's day and no one gets anything accomplished anyway. in the future, do not do this.
we were supposed to meet downstairs at 8:45, at which time i carted my class down there and then stopped by the office to give them the paperwork. i walked in and someone said, did you not hear the announcement the principal just made? (which was, 2nd floor classes planning on going on the trip, stay in your classroom and await further instructions ....)
so, okay, we had to wait a little bit. i thought maybe something semi-dangerous happened outside.
but no. we didn't go. apparently the regional office hadn't looked carefully at the paperwork and when they saw it that morning, they said we couldn't go b/c it's too close to pssas.
well, desks turned in my classroom when the announcement was made. so, for the morning i worked w/ one kid on his writing while everyone else played games on the computer or went to another class to watch a movie. after lunch, we had a couple (educational) movies in our room. after art/music, we went outside for recess for an hour.
to the regional office: when you cancel field trips at the very last minute, you ruin everyone's day and no one gets anything accomplished anyway. in the future, do not do this.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
God
a student said to me yesterday, "matthew how come you didn't teach me about this, about God??" - as i look down and see that she's reading a book called wonderful world which i apparently never looked through enough to see that it's about creation (ie genesis). oops. but very cute. and cute that she read it enough to understand that it was about God.
sort-of new student
at the end of last week an asst. principal came in and said, ms. matthews, you're going to be getting a new student at the end of the day, just a heads up.
i had forgotten all about it when the knock came at my door and i open it and see a kid who was in my class until halloween-time (who moved out of our limits and so went to a different school)! i was so excited!
apparently the other school was bad and he wanted to come back.
i can't imagine how much worse it gets.
i had forgotten all about it when the knock came at my door and i open it and see a kid who was in my class until halloween-time (who moved out of our limits and so went to a different school)! i was so excited!
apparently the other school was bad and he wanted to come back.
i can't imagine how much worse it gets.
laughing
sometimes i laugh in (either) uncomfortable situations or actually dangerous situations. and i always laugh at an even mildly funny situation.
sometimes a fight in my classroom fits all these categories.
and so, sometimes, i laugh (i know. it's bad). it's really more of a stifled chuckle. but still.
so yesterday after a fight, i was throwing one kid out of the class and my precious very special-ed girl who calls me matthew was laughing. i told her that it's not funny and she laughed and pointed at me and said (loudly in her very special voice) "matttttthew you were laughin' too! i saw you! you can't trick me! i saw you laughin'! don't tell me not to laugh! you laughed too!" (and she went on and on, but you get the gist).
i need to watch the laughing.
sometimes a fight in my classroom fits all these categories.
and so, sometimes, i laugh (i know. it's bad). it's really more of a stifled chuckle. but still.
so yesterday after a fight, i was throwing one kid out of the class and my precious very special-ed girl who calls me matthew was laughing. i told her that it's not funny and she laughed and pointed at me and said (loudly in her very special voice) "matttttthew you were laughin' too! i saw you! you can't trick me! i saw you laughin'! don't tell me not to laugh! you laughed too!" (and she went on and on, but you get the gist).
i need to watch the laughing.
institutionalized
after school on tuesdays, two of my brighest kids stay for math work.
we never get much work done, but it's such good bonding time.
this week, i heard their stories about how they've both been committed to hospitals, or forced to live in residential facilities.
they were between the ages of 7 and 10. the girl talked about how they had to chain her to the bed because she was so wild.
they swapped stories for about 20 minutes - about the people there, the doctors, what it was like in (literally) "these rooms with nothing but a bed. ms. matthews it was like the movies where they put the crazy people except i was the crazy people." - i just sat and listened - in utter disbelief.
we never get much work done, but it's such good bonding time.
this week, i heard their stories about how they've both been committed to hospitals, or forced to live in residential facilities.
they were between the ages of 7 and 10. the girl talked about how they had to chain her to the bed because she was so wild.
they swapped stories for about 20 minutes - about the people there, the doctors, what it was like in (literally) "these rooms with nothing but a bed. ms. matthews it was like the movies where they put the crazy people except i was the crazy people." - i just sat and listened - in utter disbelief.
refuge
the kids come in my room sometimes during my prep period, while they're supposed to be at another class.
my instinct is to kick them out and make them go back to class and to be sort of mean about it.
but then i stop and listen to why they're coming in.
without a doubt, 99.9% of the time it is because "they're pickin' on me in there" or "they're actin' crazy in there"
it is precious to me to know that they feel safe in my classroom (or at least they do when the whole class isn't in there and it's just me).
my instinct is to kick them out and make them go back to class and to be sort of mean about it.
but then i stop and listen to why they're coming in.
without a doubt, 99.9% of the time it is because "they're pickin' on me in there" or "they're actin' crazy in there"
it is precious to me to know that they feel safe in my classroom (or at least they do when the whole class isn't in there and it's just me).
the most frightening moment yet
was yesterday. we have been talking about biomes. on tuesday we learned about the desert. on wednesday, we started science, i passed out our materials, then i shut my eyes.
i told them i was an alien, have never been to earth or seen the sun. i described my planet and asked them about this thing i hear about called the desert.
they did a remarkable job of explaining it to me, but it was soooo scary to have my eyes shut. seriously like, they could be coming at me and i'd have no idea scary.
i told them i was an alien, have never been to earth or seen the sun. i described my planet and asked them about this thing i hear about called the desert.
they did a remarkable job of explaining it to me, but it was soooo scary to have my eyes shut. seriously like, they could be coming at me and i'd have no idea scary.
trailer trash (again)
it's been a while since i've been called "a *@*&$ white piece of trailer trash."
i still think it's a remarkable piece of cultural awareness that i rarely see from my class.
this time, though, i looked at the kid and said, "what would you do if i said i grew up in a trailer? i didn't, but what if i did?"
the kid looked at me and cursed some more, but i think he thought about it, just a little.
i still think it's a remarkable piece of cultural awareness that i rarely see from my class.
this time, though, i looked at the kid and said, "what would you do if i said i grew up in a trailer? i didn't, but what if i did?"
the kid looked at me and cursed some more, but i think he thought about it, just a little.
assembly
we had an assembly today.
it was a pep rally for the PSSAs.
of all bizarre experiences, this tops so many of them.
so we have this random beautiful old auditorium that never gets used. today it was all decorated in black and gold (apparently our school colors, which i was supposed to wear today. oops. my brown sweater caught some flack). then we go in there and they're handing out those little streamer/pompoms on a stick. then i look over and see a dj (who happens to be one of our long term subs).
then the asst. principal gets on stage and is the mc. and some students come out and start ... rapping. then a few more come out and breakdance. then the front of the auditorium turned into a dance floor. then the dancing spills on to the stage.
but all the while, all the words people are rapping and singing are ... about the PSSAs (state tests).
it was so bizarre.
oh, and my kids called me out on "bustin' moves" (i may or may not have danced through one of the aisles on my way to reprimand an unsuspecting student for hitting another kid with the pompoms).
like i said, very bizarre.
it was a pep rally for the PSSAs.
of all bizarre experiences, this tops so many of them.
so we have this random beautiful old auditorium that never gets used. today it was all decorated in black and gold (apparently our school colors, which i was supposed to wear today. oops. my brown sweater caught some flack). then we go in there and they're handing out those little streamer/pompoms on a stick. then i look over and see a dj (who happens to be one of our long term subs).
then the asst. principal gets on stage and is the mc. and some students come out and start ... rapping. then a few more come out and breakdance. then the front of the auditorium turned into a dance floor. then the dancing spills on to the stage.
but all the while, all the words people are rapping and singing are ... about the PSSAs (state tests).
it was so bizarre.
oh, and my kids called me out on "bustin' moves" (i may or may not have danced through one of the aisles on my way to reprimand an unsuspecting student for hitting another kid with the pompoms).
like i said, very bizarre.
fights this morning
abounded.
between kids in my class. i hate it when this happens, because inevitably, they all get thrown back in the room and i have to deal with the simmering anger. ugh.
between kids in my class. i hate it when this happens, because inevitably, they all get thrown back in the room and i have to deal with the simmering anger. ugh.
happy birthday to his face
it was a student's birthday today.
unfortunately, he has told me a bunch of times this year that "today's my birthday."
so when i found out at like 2:30 (when i looked in his file) that february 9 is, in fact, his date of birth, i felt terrible.
i told him the story of the boy who cries wolf and gave him some reese's cups.
unfortunately, he has told me a bunch of times this year that "today's my birthday."
so when i found out at like 2:30 (when i looked in his file) that february 9 is, in fact, his date of birth, i felt terrible.
i told him the story of the boy who cries wolf and gave him some reese's cups.
the window
one of my kids has taken a liking to trying to climb through the small, broken window that is above my classroom door. when i won't let him in before school starts (when he has snuck into the building), he'll try to climb through. then i will open the door so he falls. is that bad?
moms
one kid told me he was going to see his mom on valentine's day. i asked where she lives. he said no where. then i remembered that his mom's in jail. oops.
then i asked another kid when he saw his mom last (lives with an older step-sister - has been acting up lately so i thought maybe something to do w/ his mom). he said a few weeks. so i asked him more questions. his answers include the following: i don't remember what she looks like, things she likes to do ... lay around all day, at her house we don't play games, she has a couple books, but not many, he doesn't know how old his brothers who live there are ...
sad.
then i asked another kid when he saw his mom last (lives with an older step-sister - has been acting up lately so i thought maybe something to do w/ his mom). he said a few weeks. so i asked him more questions. his answers include the following: i don't remember what she looks like, things she likes to do ... lay around all day, at her house we don't play games, she has a couple books, but not many, he doesn't know how old his brothers who live there are ...
sad.
being mean
two of my kids told me on tuesday i needed to be meaner and yell more.
today i laid into a kid for locking me out of the classroom.
then i got a thumbs-up from those two for my 'performance.'
today i laid into a kid for locking me out of the classroom.
then i got a thumbs-up from those two for my 'performance.'
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
24
this weekend, one of my students caught a few episodes from season 1 on upn or something.
he was asking me all these questions about it - and was saying how much he likes david palmer and how he doesn't like his wife. right on, bro.
i didn't have the heart to tell him that palmer's dead.
he was asking me all these questions about it - and was saying how much he likes david palmer and how he doesn't like his wife. right on, bro.
i didn't have the heart to tell him that palmer's dead.
the G
one of my kids came into school at like 9:45 today.
after school i found out why he was late.
he fell asleep on the bus and woke up in south philly. haaahahahahahaha.
the G is the bus line that comes near here (which i didn't know until today - i thought the G was some slang term), which he got back on the other direction and got here almost 2 hours late.
sooo funny. funny enough that the girl staying after school with us spit out a mouthful of juice as he was telling the story (and then fell on the ground laughing, but it wasn't quite that funny).
after school i found out why he was late.
he fell asleep on the bus and woke up in south philly. haaahahahahahaha.
the G is the bus line that comes near here (which i didn't know until today - i thought the G was some slang term), which he got back on the other direction and got here almost 2 hours late.
sooo funny. funny enough that the girl staying after school with us spit out a mouthful of juice as he was telling the story (and then fell on the ground laughing, but it wasn't quite that funny).
the stars
we're having a conversation about climate and weather, and they started asking questions about the sun. i told them how the sun's a star, but it's really close, ya di ya di ya ...
of course, this prompted a ZILLION questions - what will happen if the sun stops shining? are there other earths and suns? does it rain on the sun? ... and ...
"if we flew up to the stars in a rocket ship, could we bring them back with us?"
(this from precious little dracula boy)
and then, "but could we tie a string to them and bring them down?"
of course, this prompted a ZILLION questions - what will happen if the sun stops shining? are there other earths and suns? does it rain on the sun? ... and ...
"if we flew up to the stars in a rocket ship, could we bring them back with us?"
(this from precious little dracula boy)
and then, "but could we tie a string to them and bring them down?"
my groove with the Lord
today two kids stayed after school to learn more math. i bought oreos and juice and we had a regular ol' party.
when i drove them home, i had my shawn mcdonald cd in. they always (usually) like listening to my music, i think because they're curious, and because i'll sing along and they think i should be on american idol. FUNNY.
track 1 on "simply nothing" lyrics: take my hand to the promised land, and on you oh God i want to stand cause i cannot do it on my own, you're what i need and i need to be right by your side cause i cannot hide Lord i know that i need you."
boy student LOVED the song - he's a believer and super cool. asked what cd it was, etc. etc.
girl student wanted to listen to R&B and was whining like crazy.
finally he said, mm mm, you're messin' up my groove with the Lord. but that's okay. ms. matthews you can switch it for her.
when i drove them home, i had my shawn mcdonald cd in. they always (usually) like listening to my music, i think because they're curious, and because i'll sing along and they think i should be on american idol. FUNNY.
track 1 on "simply nothing" lyrics: take my hand to the promised land, and on you oh God i want to stand cause i cannot do it on my own, you're what i need and i need to be right by your side cause i cannot hide Lord i know that i need you."
boy student LOVED the song - he's a believer and super cool. asked what cd it was, etc. etc.
girl student wanted to listen to R&B and was whining like crazy.
finally he said, mm mm, you're messin' up my groove with the Lord. but that's okay. ms. matthews you can switch it for her.