#WelcomeBackMrWhitaker

A day in the life

So I have this huge crate with papers to sort and arrange. The Teacher of the Week, Jason said "carry this stuff home and tackle this pile." The Dad of the Year, Jason said, "my foot. This work has been here and will be here whenever I decide to tackle it. I'm going to spend time with my family this weekend" Dad of the Year wins again. 

Went in and bought my students the audio book "Nate the Great". Don't think that qualifies for teacher of the week, but certainly Teach of the Friday. The kids loved the reader and his inflections. 

Saw this on Pinterest (aka Teacher crack dealer). My kids love that I tell them to tell The Tattle Toolbox, but now it's got personality. My unique kiddo now goes to the corner and has full out right conversations with the toolbox. Not sure if I should be happy he's found someone to listen to him or worried. 

Didn't have any Starbucks today so that's either a good thing or a very bad thing. Hahahaha

Just realized that Dr. Seuss's birthday is next week. Can't wait! I really like Seuss books! 

 

Rapper grade blingage

I'm not sure why student isn't paying attention in class. Maybe its because he has rapper grade blingage! I just LOVE these kids.

Then I have another giant of fashion who's rocking a new pair of adidas. I told him I liked them. He also has a nice three strip track jacket. He told me I could wear it. I love these kids!

What do you have to prove?

 

I like, no I really, really like UFC. This weekend I had the chance to watch a classic fight. During the interview one fighter said "I'm going to prove to myself that I'm the best fighter there is." What a powerful statement. I don't have to prove anything to anyone except to myself. And I'm pretty much convinced that I'm the best thing going. I have a vision of myself being a spectacular teacher. This week I'm going to prove to myself what I already know, that I'm really brilliant. Here...we...Go!  

Besides I want to knock out a crossfit WOD this week. I did great yesterday pulling my first #425 deadlift. By the summer I plan on pulling the first 500 lbs deadlift. Not sure anyone in the gym has picked that up yet. Even if they have I'm going to prove to myself that I can. 

Resting and prepping for a long haul

Getting some well needed rest over the next couple of days. Spending some needed relax time with the wife. In the mean time this image is for those that think that "Teachers get enough breaks". I grabbed this from Pinterest. 

One part I'd like to specially address is that Teachers spend A LOT of their time working off the clock. It's really amazing how much time we do off the clock. Anyway, enjoy your rest time!

I also want to point out that I left initially at my 5th year. However after taking some time reflecting and finding the REASON I was teaching and coming to grips with that, I'M BACK!

How does the week get away from you so quickly?

I don't think I'm the only one to ask this question late on a Monday. It only takes few ingredients to really throw your week into a potential tailspin.

• No internet at work (what did we do before the 'net?)
• Can't print (Guess we'll just have to go old school on ya)
• Not able to save work on the student's thin clients nor save to a thumb drive (This was tough, but we're going to find a way to get over this hump, too)

Can't let these small things get in my way. Gonna do some printing at home, get some good sleep and just give the kids the best that I got. 

Crossfit South Cobb beat me up today. I can't say it any other way. Guess I'll get back in there tomorrow and offer my laziness for a stronger, fitter me. I REALLy want to meet other crossfit elementary school teachers. How do you balance your life, school and crossfit? Seems like it can get away from you very, very quickly. Also how do you keep your nutrition strong? 

Call me Mr. Rubric

I'm not sure why I didn't roll these out earlier, but I'm so glad I did. I put the question out about rubrics on Facebook and the responses were pure gold. So I have a few rubrics for specific projects and some that can be used for general stuff.   For the latter I'm going to laminate them and allow the kids to keep these at their tables. The specific ones I'll have to print off as needed and I'll make a large one to go over on my promethean board. After the kids get used to it I'll have them help me make rubrics for each project. Going to laminate a large 4 x 4 grid on some chart paper. I'll use that to make new rubrics that the kids will be able to write the needed elements on. I know my students don't care that much about paper. They're not that into NOT wasting it. Matter of fact it's a big deal that I repurpose old lesson plans and scrap paper for them to do morning warmup work on the back. I'm going to have to drill and drill that this is what I'm going to use to help you get the most from each lesson/activity. Should be fun. 

It was one of those weeks

 We either rocked like Rock stars or we looked mighty odd.  I choose to believe that we rocked like Rock stars. 

This week was interesting. My class did A LOT of projects and class work I'd hoped to be able to display. The issue is that what the kids gave me wasn't remotely what I was envisioning. Not to say it wasn't good. It just wasn't what I had expected at all. Take the project below. 

I wanted the kids to draw a Fact Family of the basic addition facts. The plan was to use these to compile into a book for them to reference every now and then. (At least until they got the facts down like second nature.) So I put this up on the Promethean board for them to look at. 

I also did an example and passed it along around the room. 

What the kids gave me was less than what I expected. Such that I didn't even take pictures of them. On Monday I'm going to have them redo this project as well as a writing assignment they did. Thanks to a good friend making the recommendation, I'm going to post two rubrics one for each project and have the kiddos reference back to them as they do the work. All I can think of is that since I didn't have a rubric for them to reference I didn't give them a clear idea of what I wanted. 

 

I've done rubrics before. Not certain why I stopped, but I'll be doing these more often for sure. 

Midweek grilling and chilling

It's Wednesday and I'm ready to grill. I love when Wednesday comes around. It's my grill day. On Wednesday I just drill, grill and thrill. We review, restate and re teach skills from earlier this week. I also have tutorial today and I hope those little dears are ready cause I'm going to push them for that hour for sure. I sure hope their appetites are in place cause I'm about to serve it up! 

Started bringing the hot fire by keeping all my parents in touch by texting them through out the day. That has been miraculous. The response and ROT (return on text) has been much better than just calling. (Besides I now have a text stream that I've talked to each parent to put in my notes for future conferences)

I have my menu ready, the grill is hot and the workshop will be smoking! Might even start wearing my grilling apron on Wednesday. 

Class vs. Shaving cream (Round 1)

I get tired of watching my students go through ream upon ream of paper just wasting it. So I got this idea from another blog to use shaving cream as an assignment. It's not cheaper per say, but it's sure a lot more fun. 

*Mind you I did notice that this student has the "+" symbol in the wrong place and an "=" sign where it's not needed. My hands were covered in shave cream and I was good to get one picture. 

We were working on inverse operations to see/prove that subtraction can help us better understand addition. The kids loved it. Since I did a lot to prep the lesson this really hit home. They did this for about 20 minutes, cleaned up and and journaled what they found. Only one had cream all the way up to his elbows. None got any on the floor. Most surprisingly none got any on their classmates. 

It cost me $1.16 for a can of cream. Not bad. Tomorrow we may pull out the shave cream again and work with forms of energy. Might save this for the next time I'm being observed to either a) hit a home room or b) crash and burn in a blaze of glory. 

*Points to remember if you use this method

• Tell the class they're icing cakes. That will keep them from rubbing the shaving cream so much that it evaporates.
• I'd think that whipped cream would work, but it's sticky, the kids will try to eat it, and it might attarach bugs. 
• They don't need a big space. The size and shape of a legal sheet of paper is fine. 
• One can of shave cream goes a LONG way. Thought I was going to need like two, but ended up using 3/4 of one. That's with me re-upping many kids work areas. 
• Take your time wrapping up. As you're talking and going back over the steps, the shaving cream dries. This makes it very easy to clean up. 
• Have baby wipes on hand unless you want to send them to the rest room to wash their hands. 
• Don't sweat cleaning the table/desks until after school. Shave cream is soap and doesn't hurt anything. It just leaves a film on the desk, but it washes off quickly. 

The bet that my class could get 150 class Dojo points has been less than spectacular. As of today they've earned 80, but also have lost 79. That's not good. Going to do something special for those who are on track with 5 or more points tomorrow. Maybe they'll get extra center time or get to go as a small group to the media center. Can't focus to much and to long on those who won't do right. I have some Prince and Princess students who want to learn and are making the most of each day. Can't let a few ogre's ruin it. 

Off to Crossfit South Cobb. 

and another week is here

This week is going to be fun. I have some spectacular (so says I) lessons planned. I'm stoked, and rested. My sabbath day of rest was fantastic. So the kiddos better get ready cause I'm going to be bringing it this week. 

Not sure how many people really unplug on the weekends, but I've been making it my habit to relax on Saturday. Actually from Friday night to Saturday night. I feel guilty cause I'm so well rested. My mind is focused and I feel great. I can't honestly laze around relax EVERY Saturday, but I am committed to do so one Saturday a month for sure. 

I have a LONG list of stuff to teach my students this week, but it doesn't matter. I can do it and I will. Going to bring the kids a wagon load of patience and strong teaching.  I sure hope them little darlings are well rested cause I'm going to bring it this week. 3,2,1...GO!

Ready for a good Crossfit WOD this evening as well. Restarted our 5 week eating challenge, cause I just didn't eat well at all. Got to take care of my body since I won't be getting a new one anytime soon.