Friday. Finally. -SOLC #23

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Two Writing Teachers

Friday. Finally. 

We released our students an hour early. I waved to all the teachers and students leaving, and then I stayed for an hour and a half past dismissal time. I hid in my room and cleared all the papers from my desk (yes, I did put some back in a neat pile). 

I put all my intervention materials away. The books that were haphazardly tossed on the shelves were lined back up, spines facing out. 

I left for spring break with just one school bag full of random papers and progress monitoring packets. I came home to a clean house, ate dinner, and planted myself in my comfy chair. 

Friday. Finally.

Lucky to be "famous" - SOLC #22

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Two Writing Teachers

One of my students came to our game night on his own.  The principal and his mom were fine with his solo attendance, and I offered to walk him home.  As I left the building, I told the other adults I didn't have my badge.   I promised to be back in just a few minutes.

The one block walk turned into a 10 minute walk (I'm not built for speed!).  When I returned to school, I saw one car in the parking lot - our night custodian's truck.  Hmmmm.  I tried the front door, and it was open.  I stepped into the vestibule and tried the interior doors (all four of them).

I was locked out.  Oh boy.

I peeked in all the windows with lights inside.  No sign of our custodian.  I knocked on all the doors.  No answer.  I could see his vacuum in one hallway, and his cart in another.  He likes to listen to music (but not too loud) through his earbuds as he works.  I banged on the windows.  Loudly.

I was still locked out.

As I rounded the school, I heard a voice from the playground, "Hey, Mrs. R!  Whatcha doin?"

I called back to the first grader, "Well - I got locked out of the school!"

"Oh, what will you do now?" she asked.

"I'm trying to figure that out!" I replied with a smile.

As I stood on the playground, watching the sun fall lower in the sky, I saw a 5th grader and asked if he had a phone.  His little sister came running up to me.  I think she's in kindergarten.  I couldn't remember her name, but she knew me.

"Mrs. R!" she squealed.  "I saw you on the TV today at school.  Come to our house.  My dad has a phone!"

My luck had changed!  I'm glad I'm recognizable, even on a dark playground!

Their dad was walking from their house on the edge of the playground towards the kids.  They caught up with him first.  They started explaining my situation.  He welcomed me to their home to make a call.  I called my husband and asked him to pick me up.  My husband chuckled and agreed to come fetch me.

Their dad was very kind and offered to wait with me outside of the school.  I declined and continued to profusely thank him for his kindness.  I returned to school and checked the door.  Our night custodian was coming to lock the outside doors.  He was more than surprised to see me at the door!

I canceled my husband's ride, and our custodian wrote down the school cell phone number.  We laughed at my starring role in the school surveillance video.  I headed home to put my feet up!

Game Night (small scale) - SOLC #21

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Two Writing Teachers

My co-Title I teacher and I hosted a small game night for students in 3rd-5th grade who get extra support in reading.  Our first idea of game night was to send home games with every family who attended.  We'd show them how to play and then they would take the games home.  Our district coordinator thought that it would be wiser to purchase a bunch of games, then have a lending library.  That way our budget would work, and we could share the experiences with more families.

We had 10 families attend tonight's event. We taught the group how to play Basta! (think Scattergories) and gave them a make-and-take bag with letters, categories, a 3-minute timer, golf pencils, and lots of paper.  While different home languages were spoken by these families, we were able to communicate how to play and keep score.

The other games we purchased were Boggle, Apples to Apples Junior, and Bananagrams (in English and Spanish).  We loaned out nearly all the games tonight as the families were leaving.  The biggest hit?  Apples to Apples Junior.  They love that someone gets to be the judge and there's really no wrong answers.  Every answer is considered, and they are learning some great vocabulary.

Even though it was on the small scale, I think we made a big impact.  The families had personal attention from our principal and assistant principal, two teacher assistants, and two reading teachers.  We sat and played with the families and shared laughter and excitement.  It was time well spent.

Celebrate Reading Week - SOLC #20

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Two Writing Teachers

My friend, Michelle, and I are the committee for Read Across America at our school.  It's not that we don't want or need help, but we usually forget about the celebration until the week before.  Thankfully, we have many understanding coworkers (including Lynn!) who help us and/or go along with nearly every activity and crazy idea we offer.

We usually wait to celebrate until the week preceding spring break, as our state tests are the first two weeks of March, so we change the name to Celebrate Reading Week.  Over the past 9 years, we done lots of activities and skits on the school television broadcast, and each year we come up with better ideas than the year before.  This week we've only celebrated for 2 days now, but the students are really enjoying what we've done so far.

Monday:  We started the morning broadcast by showing the Gotta Keep Reading clip.  Even though it features a middle school, our elementary kids were singing along by the end.

Tuesday:  Today we asked students to share book recommendations by hanging a sticky note on a poster either in their room, by the principal's office, or near a resource room.  One third grade student made sure he stopped by my room twice today - once to tell me he was going to recommend his favorite book to me, and then to place the recommendation on my poster.  He seriously wanted me to read this book!

For the next three days, we're going to ask all our students and staff to decorate an index card with a colorful "READ" or "LEER" to hang all over the library window.  We'll caption that display, "500 ways to become a better reader!"  (As seen on Pinterest - still looking for a link)  We will also bring back our reading mascot, Fred the fish, to remind kids and teachers to enjoy Free Reading Every Day.  Finally, we'll ask students and staff to ask their family to snap a picture of them reading over spring break.  This will go up in another display case called, "Where will we catch you reading?"

Whew!  It's been a busy week and it's only Tuesday!  Gotta keep reading!!

Chris & Michelle - circa 2008

Heat Wave - SOLC #19

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Two Writing Teachers

I had a terrible time sleeping last night.  It was 80 degrees here in Illinois.  I really hate to turn on the AC when the air outside starts to cool, so I had the whole house fan going instead.  I tried desperately to find ways to bring the cooler air into our house, but I had no luck.

My husband tried to explain that the best way to get the air into the house was to create a vacuum - only open the windows a tiny bit in a few rooms.  I couldn't believe this would work, so of course I had a few windows wide open and even opened a few doors.

The house was still hot.

"Give up.  Turn on the AC," he said.
"It's March,"  I replied.  "Besides, it's cool outside.  It will cool off inside soon!"

It never did.

2:34 a.m.
I'm lying on top of the sheets, blankets thrown off.  I'm really crabby when I'm hot.  I opened the door to the backyard.  Cool air outside, but nothing coming in.  I still don't turn the AC on.  I think about sleeping outside, but I roll over and manage to fall asleep.

6:30 a.m.
I crawl out of bed.  The air is thick with humidity.

"Turn on the AC,"  my husband says.  (I'm surprised he doesn't add, "I told you so!")

I switch the AC on.  The condenser roars to life.  The house starts to cool.  Maybe I'll sleep tonight!

Creaky knees - SOLC #18

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Two Writing Teachers

Creeeeakkk... crack.... POP!
When I walk upstairs
My knees like to complain
About how much
I trudge up and down.

I never thought that my joints
Could feel so crispy and crunchy
At the ripe old age
of 42 and one half.

Bad knees run in my family
I try to fight the possibility
Will I need new ones
or can I make
my originals last?

For now I just keep
w a l k i n g
Hoping my attempts
at more exercise
will help my
creaky
CRACKing
popping
worn out
knees.

Orchestra practice mirrors literacy block - SOLC #17

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Two Writing Teachers

I was very late to community orchestra on Monday night.  I went to the auditorium and found a sign that directed me to the music classroom.  When I finally arrived, the orchestra was already running through the first movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony.  I quickly pulled out my violin, only to find two strings loose and the other two dreadfully out of tune.  I stayed in the hallway, trying to tune quickly and quietly.

I waited for a pause, then started to walk into the room.  I realized my seat was nearly impossible to get to without bothering many people, as the room was so crammed.  Our conductor is serious yet kind, but I could feel his eyes boring through my head as I tried to quickly and carefully get to my seat.

My stand partner smiled as I sat down, and we started playing the 2nd movement of the piece.  It was a bit of a rocky start, as this movement isn't as well-known as the first.  The conductor stopped.  He reminded us that, in this age of technology, there was no excuse for anyone in the room not to be familiar with the music in front of us.  Many recordings are available, and it was our job to be prepared when we sat down at rehearsal.  He wasn't pleased at our first attempt.

My mind instantly flashed to my developing readers.  How many times have they been the last one in the room, not prepared for class, trying to slide in without being seen?  How often have we told them, "You must practice reading when you're at home!"  How many times have they heard, "You should already know how to do this!"

I was thinking of how frustrated my conductor could be, on a weekly basis, with the variety of people in front of him.  Our ages range from 18 to 75, and we have varying levels of musical ability.  Some of the orchestra members are music teachers, some are full-time musicians, and the rest of us play as a hobby.  Does he become angry each week when we can't play the music at 100% perfection?  No.  He may express  frustration at times (especially when he's explained something and we don't try to fix it), but as a rule, he is an excellent instructor.  He's good at making jokes when there is tension, and when he wants a specific bowing technique to be used, he will name the technique (I don't know most of them!) and then he will demonstrate, giving specific feedback.

I wonder how may teachers could learn from a conductor, especially mine.