If I Were President...

Today, was of course a historical day.  I felt that there is no better history lesson, than watching today's events on TV live.  I wanted my kids to someday say I remember when...and have a good memory for the event.  My students and I had a front row view of the inauguration on our Promethean (Smart board) which is basically a 5 foot or so TV screen with surround sound powered by a projector.  Since we eat lunch at 11:30, we did not want to miss the action, and had the special treat of eating lunch in our room.  My students did an amazing job for 10 year olds in keeping quite and paying attention.  I was quite impressed of their understanding of how a momentous occasion that this was.  

So in honor of today I have included some direct quotes from the coolest 4th graders around.  The Jimmy Carter foundation in Georgia runs a "If I Were President" contest every winter around President's day.  I have included some of my favorite quotes to the three simple questions. The spelling is in original form :)

If I Were President...by Ms. G's 4th Grade Class

I think the hardest job for the President is...

- to do a lot of work and help some people on something they need to work on

-  to be reponsable of the whole contry like run the contry sign important papers and haveing to answer lots of people's questions.

- is the paper work because you halft to answer all those quesions

- to take care of everyone and also haveing to take care of his family with is much important to him

- cleaning the white house. they would have to clean it.  It would be hard work and take a long time. And would be boring.  But you would have to keep it clean so when people they won't say the place is nasty

- right now he needs to put his attion in the economy the country is living at this time look for a new jobs for the people are with out their jobs

If I were President, the first thing I would do is...

-  to take care of the Uinita State of Amerecai

- to help people without papers (Can you tell my kids are immigrants?)

- to make sure the country is in good shape

-  Practice the peace

- give houses to the homeless and give me food and drinks

-  unpack and take out stuff from the lugage and then get my cloths ready for tommaro

- give people papers and so the people won't go to jail

-  I would check the house and see what the gardes are doing and that is all

and... I say no more taxes because why even have to pay taxes and ceidens (citizens) have to pay more and is not fair!

Things I would take to the White House...

- my family...I can bring my toys and my make-up to play with

-  I would take my awards, family photos and signs that say no more taxes

- I would take my lucky stuff. Like my necklace and bracit.  My very very lucky bear

-  I would take my husde (husband) and kids if I had some. and clas (class) and Ms. Mahan (mrs. McMahan)

- Things from school so I can tell them about school and every grade

- my stuff from my house and take books about how to be a president. Oh and I would even take my cloths from my house

- My wrestelers

- Important papers

It goes to show what is important in these kids lives...I can't imagine any kids back in Virginia worrying about "papers." But girls everywhere are always worried about their clothes.

Case of the Mondays

(For Christmas I put this picture on one of those WalMart Christmas Cards.  Great cheap idea and they loved it!)

Why do I seem to blog a lot on Mondays?  I seem to have a case of the Mondays today at school.  From the moment I left home this morning, (the scraping of ice on my windshield is what I think did it) I have been in a bad mood.  My poor kids had to get the wrath of it.  

Well what has happened since I last posted?  Oh yeah! Christmas!  I had always heard stories of what school was like the last week before Christmas...and they were all true.  But I discovered its definitely not all the kids that have issues with it.  I was just as bad as them for not wanting to do anything but sit and watch "The Grinch" and "Frosty the Snowman."  Luckily though the fourth grade teachers and I created a "Christmas Around the World" event.  I throughly enjoyed teaching all of the fourth graders my "vast" knowledge of China.  Another way that I kept the kids busy was having my wonderful mother come in and teach the kids how to make Despereaux "mouse" ornaments.  For those of you who have not read the book you should.  My kids loved it, and on the Saturday after we got out for Christmas, some fellow teachers and I met our students at a local movie theatre to see the movie "Tale of Despereaux." Book of course was better than the movie, but wasn't too bad.

So now, we are back at school.  Already the second week, and counting the days to Spring Break.  I always hated it when I heard of teachers saying that, counting the days till the next break.  But, here I am, doing it.  I felt like I was teaching a bunch of zombies this morning with the blank faces.  I think we all had a bad case of the Mondays.

I do have some sad news though.  The first day back, something that I knew had been coming for a long time happened.  J-Man came in with his Mom and withdrew.   It is a bittersweet departure.  He could be so sweet and the most helpful student I have had.  But, he also could be the most uncooperative and frustrating.  My class now has an eerie silence.  The first few days after he was gone, I was constantly looking around trying to figure what he had gotten into this time.  But then I remember...he won't be there anymore.  So although I am happy that I will not have to go through the trouble of implementing a Behavior Management Plan...I will miss little J-Man and his unique personality. :) 

Tomorrow I am looking forward to putting the Inauguration Events on my fancy new Promethean (Smart Board).  You can't have a better history lesson than that right?  How do you plan on watching it?