funny day

So, after going to the Cowboys game last night, getting home 12:30am (poor me, I know) I have to say that I was feeling less than great this morning. Luckily I have a great job and get to have my awesome kiddos make my day! So, I had to share these few funny stories....

First, one of my little girls came up to me about 30 minutes into the morning and told me that she had to hold her pee until she got to school today and when I asked why she said "our toilet is clogged and if I want to go I have to go outside under the trampoline..." It literally took everything I had not to start laughing. Kids are just so hilarious and it just made me realize how truly different my home life is than theirs.

Also, we got 400 new books last week in our otherwise VERY meager library. I took my students today and they were exploring the new books and one of them came across a copy of Twilight. I was telling them how this was one of my favorite books and one of my little boys said "I have the movie... want to come over to my house and watch it?" and I swear there was a hint of flirtation in his 6-year-old voice. Sweet sentiment, but man they grow-up fast! :)

I'm so lucky to have a job that can put me in a good mood even when I'm not having such a great day!


i had to add that today (the next day after these two things) we had a power outage for about 5 minutes. all my kids started screaming like the world was ending even though sunlight was coming in through my windows. but one of them asked to use the restroom and i told him to take a friend and be careful because the hallway and bathroom were really dark and he replied "it's ok. i can see in the dark. i eat carrots." gotta love it!

also, i am realizing that if there really was a tooth fairy, first grade teachers would be rich! my kids have already lost 4 during school hours and it has only been a month! i should take pictures of all the gaping holes because my whole class should send letters to Santa asking for at least their 2 front teeth! :)

i'm lovin' it

so, i have to say that i can't remember the last time i was this physically exhausted! it's friday night and i don't even want to get off the couch! that never happens! spending the day with kids is so much more draining than i ever imagined... but when i am with them i have more energy than should be possible. they really keep my spirits up and keep me going.

this week i got my first present from a student... a stack of fresh tortillas from his mom... not only were they delicious, but my principal told me that i must be doing something right because in the Mexican culture they show appreciation with food. my principal also sat me down today and told me that he wanted to know my plans for next year... next year? hello! i am just trying to survive the first month of school! he is already worried that he is going to lose me to a better opportunity. i told him not to worry about it because i really like where i am, but it's nice to feel like i am doing a good job and he wants to keep me around.

i have to say that i am really glad that i have been going back to school for the last year. my kids are at so many different levels in reading and it is driving me crazy! more than half of them failed their spelling test today (on kindergarten level words) and the other half aced it. so, even though it means more work for me, i am really glad that i have learned more about differentiating in grad school so that i can make sure i reach the needs of all of my students and none of them are penalized for where they are right now. i just really hope that i can teach the struggling ones to read and keep the ones that are already reading challenged! i'm looking forward to learning more about teaching reading and how to best reach my students. i'm already a little frustrated, but i really couldn't ask for a better learning experience or a more supportive principal and school environment!

also, this week my kids did some really great art projects and have started making me little notes and presents. i will have to take pictures and post them when i can! :)

two weeks and counting..

so i survived another week and i am heading into my third. testing continues take up most of my time, trying to assess all my students is really time consuming, but i should be done after this week. so far all of my students are below grade-level (which i expected) so i definitely have my work cut out for me this year, but i guess i knew that too! my kids continue to have a ton of energy.. which drains me of most of mine! but they are a lot of fun, and you have to expect a lot of energy from 6-year-olds!

i am really enjoying getting to know their individual personalities. they are all so funny and they love to be silly, which makes teaching them so much fun (except when we need to get work done). but since we have been doing so much testing and sitting still lately i downloaded "shake your sillies out" by raffi and i put it on when things get too serious and let them dance around. it is probably the funniest thing ever and if i could video tape it and provide you all a good laugh i definitely would... but instead you will just have to imagine it!

and let me tell you that little kids are the biggest confidence booster! every day at least one of them tells me how they like my hair or my glasses or my shoes or something else like that. even when i haven't washed my hair in 3 days or done laundry in 2 weeks... they still love me! :)

some of them knew it was my birthday this weekend and they were asking how old i am. when i told them i was 25 several of them said "that's how old my mom is!!" i'm not sure if they really mean that because they don't have much concept of age, but in some cases they probably do! scary thought!

side note: it's a four day week and i already survived one day! we also had our first PTA meeting tonight. about 8 parents showed up, but if you have any fundraising ideas for low-income families/areas then please let me know!!