Harassment and Bullying

Our last full week has been a VERY busy week. The words hectic, exhausting, fun, busy, crazy, wild, etc all come to mind to describe this week. We had three days in a row of no specials, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. With Monday also being an indoor recess day, it was a lot of them and me together in the classroom, at times going stir-crazy! AHHHHH! Of course there are lots of fun things going on "Popcorn Day" (an hour or so of PE games outside hosted by the sixth graders), field trips, Readers' Theatre, father's day gift-making, etc.

But, along with all of those positive and exciting things, the behaviors start to accelerate. This is to be expected, and is somewhat understandable, but nonetheless still challenging at times. I do not have a lot of tolerance for tattling, picking on others, or disrespectful behavior. Some of my students are experiencing anxiety about summer I am sure. They crave the structure of the school year, as opposed to the chaos that is their home life. Some students are simply sick of one another at this point. However, it still does not excuse, making other students feel bad.

My Friday morning began with students entering the room with smiles, followed by a parent (of one of the gems) asking to speak to me privately. This is a challenge, when I have students entering the room, no other adult present, and parents, children, and staff out in the hallway. We quietly spoke in the hallway, with me keeping one eye on the room. She politely informed me that her daughter has gone home every day this week in tears. This shocked me and upset me. Apparently two of my boys have been harassing her, making kissing faces, and pushing into her, and trying to sit next to her all week (never in the classroom though, because they know that I would not allow it. It was on the playground, at P.E, at lunch, etc). She did not want to tell me because she did not want to "tattle." However, she had tried asking them nicely to stop and it continued. I was horrified. I know that this is "normal" second grade boy behavior, but the fact that she was so upset by it, and her mom did not tell me until the end of the week, I felt very angry with those two boys. Unfortunately, one of them was absent and therefore, we could not discuss the issue. But, the little girl, the little boy, and I sat down and discussed the issues. Things seemed better for the day, but it was difficult to tell.

I received an email this morning from the mother of the girl student, thanking me for resolving the issue, and said that her daughter "bounced" home from school today (Friday) with a weight lifted from her shoulders. I am glad I received that email. I know that this is normal "kid" behavior, but I am very protective of my students, especially the kind, conscientious, sweet ones, and I just wanted to take away her uncomfortable feelng. I know that we can't prevent all wrong-doing, but, oh if we could. If I feel this protective about my students, I can't imagine how I'll be as a parent someday! Watch out! Hehe

Summer Adventures

I think I have summer-itis like the kids. I am ready for the school year to be over. We have six days left with the students and I am finding my mind wandering to summer adventures.

The last two summers have had me experiencing very daring things (for me anyways)! This photo is from the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour that I did with three friends in August of 2009. It is a 3 hour series of zip lines down a ski mountain, with spectacular views. It was a ton of fun, and only a little scary!

Then a few weeks later, I went white-water rafting on the Kennebec River in Maine with six friends and my now-husband. I was TERRIFIED!!! I would do that same one again, because I didn't fall out, but I do not want to do the next level of intensity, but they all do. So, I may have to just go and stay in the cabin for that one!

The summer before, in June of 2008, Nik (my husband) and I went camping on Cape Cod (not super adventurous) and then in August of 2008 we went camping and rock climbing in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor Maine. Nik is a rock climber around home, but I am NOT! Acadia was my first time climbing, it was gorgeous, you get lowered down into the ocean on Otter Cliffs, and you have no choice but to climb up, so I did it! It was wonderful.

Now, this summer, as soon as school gets out we are going on our camping-moon (honeymoon), camping on Martha's Vineyard. Neither of us have been there, but we are excited. It is not super adventurous, but that is okay! We are very much looking forward to it!

2nd Grade Talent Show

Today was quite a whirlwind! I imagine that is how our last seven days of school will be as well! (Especially considering Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week are leaving me with NO prep periods, just due to end of year festivities...ahhhhh!!!)

This morning my class had a talent show in our classroom. The students wrote invitations to the parents (as friendly letter writing is a skill that second graders practice). We rehearsed once yesterday in the afternoon, and once this morning, prior to parents arriving. We had everything from singers, dancers to comedians and acrobats (that is the picture you see, Wyatt doing a front flip and), t0 craftsmen (and women), to beat boxing (that is Owen) and so much more! We had the assistance of our bubbly guidance counselor as our emcee, as well as the assistance of our Title I teacher for encouragement. All of the students were present and on time (which for 2 of them, is quite an accomplishment)! All of the students performed a talent, no one had stage fright!! I was sooo proud of these students. The point was to appreciate and acknowledge that we all have different strengths and to build confidence, etc. It was successful!! At the end of the day we did a writing about how the students felt today. All of them acknowledged feeling nervous, sick, and/or scared at the beginning, and feeling proud and relieved now! This is a first performance for many of them, and I am so glad to be a part of that!

Our room was transformed with stage "curtains" (sheets), a microphone, and a sound system into a performing arts space. The parents, grandparents, and siblings were excellent audience members. Unfortunately I had one tearful student (and then parent), for the parent whom is a nurse, and got stuck in the ER and couldn't make it. It was very unfortunate!

But, all in all, it was a roaring success! The principal has requested a private showing (he too was caught up and unable to attend).

Teaching from our own writing

When I was doing this week's reading from Katie Wood Ray's text, About the Authors, I definitely had to stop and pause as I thought about Writer's Workshop and strategies that teachers use to teach writing skills.

On page 95, she said that "every once in awhile we will actually write in front of them (the students) in a minilesson, but we find the occassions for this are few in writing workshop." At first, I thought, on no, the students enjoy this, I use this strategy frequently. Then, I contemplated, and realized that she was correct, it is very infrequent. My next reaction was, but the students LOVE this when we do this, so I probably should try to do it more often. Then, upon further consideration, I realized it may lose its effectiveness with more frequency. Perhaps, the students enjoy it so much, because it is a novelty, and a special time.

I will have to ponder this further. I am open to thoughts on this subject, especially from the various grade levels. I know that I use this strategy with first and second graders, but I am not sure that I used it once when I taught fifth grade last year.

EXHAUSTED

I am absolutely worn out. Which is not a good way to begin a busy school week. I am a dance instructor at a local dance studio, and we had our annual dance recital for the students on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon/evening. It was VERY long and hectic and busy, and wonderful.
Friday evening the show began at 7pm (I arrived at 5pm to help with set-up, hair, make-up, etc). The show lasted almost 4 hours!! We have lots of students and lots of dances. I did not get home until almost midnight, and of course had to eat something, so did not go to sleep prior to 1am.

Saturday required me to do grocery shopping and then be back at the theatre by 2:30pm for our 4pm show. The show was another 4 hours. After cleaning up and packing up, I arrived home by 9pm. This time I ate and fell asleep on the coach at about 11pm. I eventually made it to my bed.

Today has been a bit of recovery, but a run to the dump, laundry, and errands, has eliminated the opportunity for any real rest. The plan for the rest of the evening is to finish our last six thank you cards from our wedding and hopefully CHILL OUT!!! I am NEVER very good at that, so we'll see.

Falcon Fire and Twins!

It has been a very busy "short" week!! Tonight was Falcon Fire at school. This is the biggest PTA event of the year. It is a WONDERFUL time for all families. I went to it as a child and loved every minute of it (yes I am teaching at the school that I went to as an elementary student). There were about 80 free tickets given out (to families in need), and over 300 more tickets were sold. Tickets include the price of bbq dinner, face painting, sno cones, popcorn, bouncy house, and so many more fun games. There is a cake walk and a raffle as well.

I worked at "the door" selling tickets to enter. I like this job, because I get to see all of the families as they enter, and talk to the excited kids. My students have been looking forward to this event for weeks now. I am sure I will have many exhausted students in the morning. It only lasts until 7pm, but they are so amped up, that I am sure no one went right home to bed. One of my little boys even said, boy, they should have this on a Friday night! I thought that this was very intuitive for a second grader (perhaps he heard his parents discussing this very topic).

However, I did have difficulty on focusing while I was there, because moments before I arrived, my very good friend (whom also happens to be a teacher there also), called me to tell me she was in labor, and her twin boys would probably be born this evening!! (Although, I do think she was wishful thinking, I think that it is more likely they will be born tomorrow, but still!) Yea!! I do hope everything goes smoothly for her, she is a little early, and there is a chance that if they are not quite strong enough yet, they will need to head over to a hospital about an hour away from home, but we are thinking good thoughts!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

I am delighted to be sitting outside (amongst the blackflies) in the fading evening sunshine of the day. I am definitely thankful that it is the weekend. It has been a long and busy school week. I do have school work (both Masters and classroom) to be working on this weekend. But, my plan is to get it done this evening as well as during the day tomorrow. Tomorrow is supposed to be the least enjoyable weather of the weekend, therefore I do not mind making it a chore day and a school work day. There is also the incentive to get my work done because Sunday and Monday are supposed to be really nice, and then we can enjoy them entirely!

Saturday evening we have plans to go to a friend's house for a bbq. We should be having THEM over for a thank you meal. They just gave us a beautiful solid oak entertainment center and want NOTHING in return. Wow, we feel so lucky to have such kind and generous friends!

Sunday, we are planning on going kayaking down the river with some friends (last weekend we bought kayak racks for my husband's SUV, with some wedding gift certificates)! Then later Sunday afternoon/evening we are going to my parents' house for a cookout.

Hopefully on Monday we are just relaxing and keep the day unscheduled. It will be a nice relaxing end to a fun-filled weekend and also a good way to start an anticipated CRAZY-busy week. I know that I have school events on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Then on Friday and Saturday evening next weekend is the dance recital for the studio that I teach at. PHEW, what a fun, BUSY time of year!