I live for the turkeys!

Sorry people! I am alive! Not sure who my anonymous reader is who's been complaining about my no posts (probably my mom or sis...) but I am still alive!

I thought last year was crazy, but add 7 more students and grad school and you get me not updating my blog. I know so sad, it's been just crazy. I can't believe the school year is almost over. Only 3 weeks until the BIG TEST! Ahhhh!!

Anyway, funny story for the day. I was teaching math lesson today and we were all reading a math problem together when I noticed the little boy in front of me not paying me any lick of attention. He is staring in wonderment out the window. I ignore him and plan on telling him to pay attention as soon as we finish reading the problem. As soon as we finish I asked him "what in the world are you looking at?" That's when I saw the turkey pass the window. Yes a real life, three foot tall turkey. I just stared for a minute and then looked back at the boy who had been staring out the window and we just looked at each other. Then of course everyone notices and makes a mad dash for the window. Toppling over each other of course in the process. The best part was Netty...oh Netty. Netty looks at me and in great confusion asks me "But how is there a turkey? It's not November?" He of course would be one of my "high" students. I'm like Netty, do you think turkeys are only alive in November? How do you think they grow up? He just stared at me. You could literally almost see the wheels turning in his head in amazement thinking what in the world are you talking about. It was like it'd never crossed his mind that turkeys were alive other than in November.

Radio Rumors

It's a miracle that I haven't gotten sick. In the last two weeks I have had two or more students out every day. A couple days I have had up to four. Some of them have had some bad colds...some of them had the flu (yes that flu) and one named Radio broke his arm.

Radio was given his nickname last year by his third grade teacher. He is very good at remembering to get the radio to take it outside to recess. On Tuesday, Radio was not in school. Later on in the day or on Wednesday I can't remember now I was told by a former student in fifth grade that Radio had fallen off his bike and broke his arm. Well actually according to Franny, Radio had fainted and fell off his bike and broken his arm and had been really scratched up. This of course worried me a bit since he said he fainted but you never really know with kids where they get their info. Since this seemed a bit more serious than I had thought I went and asked Radio's cousin who is also in fifth grade about what happened to Radio. She gave me pretty much the same story, minus the fainting, that Radio had fallen off his bike and broken his arm pretty bad. He was having surgery that day. I later in the day also got an email from the office saying that Radio's mom had called to say he had broken his arm and would be out the rest of the week. This I thought would be the end of it...I was quite wrong.

On Thursday morning, my kids were coming in all melancholy. One student Netty walks in, looks at Radio's desk quite sadly and says "Oh I really hope he remembers me." I thought this a bit odd but didn't say anything to him about it. A couple of minutes later I was sitting at my computer and got an email from Radio's third grade teacher. Apparently many of her students had been coming in saying that Radio had been run over by a car and didn't remember anything. I then of course remember Netty's remembering comment from earlier in the morning and ask him what in the world he had heard about Radio. According to Netty, Radio had been run over by a car and had broken his arms and they also had to take him to the hospital to have surgery to have his memory taken away. The poor kid really thought Radio had lost his memory and wouldn't remember anything. According to him, Radio's cousin, the same one I had talked to had told him this the previous afternoon at YMCA.

Since this info was drastically different than the information I had heard earlier, I went back down to fifth grade to ask the cousin once again for her story. She seemed to have a lot more facts than the previous day. Her story now was that Radio was riding his bike down a hill, panicked and jumped off. Right after the accident he couldn't remember what happened but did have his memory now. She had seen him at his house the previous day and he was doing much better. Still quite scraped up and had a big cast on his arm. I took this information back to my students, squashing their pitiful rumors and told them to share the real story to people. Once again...I thought this would be the end...

Later in the day on Thursday, I was walking down the hall near the lunchroom when another third grade teacher stops me. She asks, "Which one of your students got run over by a bus!?!" I almost died laughing. Now poor radio had gotten run over a by a bus. I straightened her out, and kept walking only to run into three more third grade teachers who were wondering the same thing. Apparently all the third graders were coming in crying and quite distraught this morning that some kid in my class had gotten run over by a bus, lost his memory and they didn't know if he was going to live. I once again straightened them out as well and contemplated if I needed to send out an allstaff email explaining the real story to squash the rumors.

Overall, it was a very interesting experience. I have never seen a story change and spread like that. It is a perfect example for kids to show how fast a rumor can spread with misinformation. Here they have Radio in the hospital on his deathbed with no memory after getting run over by a school bus, when really he just fell of his bike and is at home with a broken arm. Later on I heard that nearby in another county a kindergartner or something had gotten run over by a bus. I think that might be where the confusion might have started. But luckily it was at that just a rumor, and hopefully little Radio will be back at school on Monday. We shall see...

Picture Day with the Green Goblins

Three weeks are gone and it sure has been interesting. This week we had picture day. We were suppose to go get our pictures taken at 10:45. But by the time lunch had come at 11 we had yet to be called. So I took them to lunch as normal. I was really not fond of the idea of a bunch of nine year olds eating lunch in their nice picture day clothes but didn't have much choice. I told them to be very careful and not get any food on their clothes. On my way out I ran into my principal who asked me to bring my class to get their pictures taken right after lunch.

I went and ate my lunch, went back to my room to reapply a bit of lip gloss so I'd be nice and pretty for my own yearbook picture and then made my way back to the cafeteria to pick the little rascals up. I walked in and saw a teacher/parent's worst nightmare on picture day. I looked in horror at the first few kids who had already lined up and their green mouths. I then took a panicked run through the cafeteria pulling green Popsicles out of unsuspecting fourth grader's mouths. But I was too late... At least half of my class had fallen prey to the evilness of the green Popsicle and had the ramifications to prove it.

Now let me tell you these are no normal Popsicles. If I had a choice and if it weren't for that the sales of ice cream helps our school I would definitely outlaw them in my classroom. These are the kind of Popsicles that are multilayered in color. The first and worst layer is green, and then it changes to red and yellow I think after you lick it for a bit. Last year I only had one or two that got one every once in a while. This year it seems to be my class favorite. At least more than half the class get them every single day. So even by dismissal I am teaching a class full of green mouthed and faced children aka the green goblins. This green mess dyes their faces and does not wash off easily. Trust me.

Anyways, so as I said I was too late. Too many of them had bought the evil Popsicles and started to eat them and I hated to make those those who just bought them to throw them away. So we start walking towards the gym where I see our principal. I yelled: "I have a problem!!!" and she looks at me in panic, "What?" I replied with, "Look at them!!!" And she just started to laugh. Seeing as there wasn't much either of us could do, she sent us back to the room to attempt to wash our faces and mouths.

I wish I had gotten a picture of them standing their in their nice clothes and green faces. I can only imagine what their parents would say when they got their pictures back and their wonderful child is there smiling with bright green teeth and lips. After some serious scrubbing, rubbing, mouth rinsing and swishing of water we made our way back to the gymnasium to get our pictures taken. This will be one yearbook I may have to buy. What a great memory.

On a happier note, I got the chance to talk to Lil' G's mom on Wednesday. Lil' G has taken the best of me. We have had our many struggles the past few weeks, and have been meaning to call his mom many many times, but have had yet to do it. I hate talking on the phone in general, but the thought of calling a mother to tell her she needs to put her kid back on his Ritalin just didn't sound so thrilling. So when Lil's G's mom came to pick him up from school I took that chance. We were just about to leave for lunch when the call came. I was trying to get them to hurry so I could get them to the cafeteria and then run to the office to see Lil' G's mom before she left. Of course this is the day the teacher next door to me was running a little late for lunch and we were stuck behind them. Usually not a problem, but when your worst problem student's mom is in the office, you take that opportunity. So I yelled Ms. G get moving!! She of course gave me a strange look and then I explained "Lil' G's mom is here!." She understood exactly why I was in a hurry. She is an angel and takes Lil'G for thirty minutes everyday for his reading group. It is a very welcome and much needed break. Anyways, when I yelled at Ms. G to move it, our wonderful Literacy Couch happened to be standing there as well. When I yelled at Ms. G, she heard me and also knew who I was talking about and said she'd take my kids to lunch for me and to run to the office. Luckily I did make it, and was able to have my first, parent heart to heart about a student that was not all positive. I avoided having very many parent conferences last year so feels good to have one of these down and under my belt. It went very well. She was very understanding, and agreed that if he is not getting any work done, putting him back on his medicine was a good idea. As of Friday he had yet been put back on it, but I'm hoping maybe they were able to accomplish that over the weekend. I can only hope... for my sanity and his. :)

Cheeto of Liberty

I swear I'm not crazy. Just maybe a little strange... But the other day during lunch I was eating my cheetos and examining them as I always have and noticed that my cheeto looked strangely liked the statue of liberty. I got really excited and everyone laughed at me. Then one of my fellow teachers decided we should take a picture of it, and gave me this piece of patriotic paper to put it on to take a picture with. The kids thought it was the coolest thing in the world. They wanted to send it to the President. But then another said no we shouldn't because he might eat it. Then one other kid said "It's the Cheeto of Liberty!" So that's how the name stuck. One of my girls said in her wonderful Southern drawl: " That's one special Cheeto." It made for a very exciting day. I ended up hot gluing the cheeto to the paper and it is now hanging up on the wall in my classroom for all to see.

Long life the Cheeto of Liberty!!

So should I put it on ebay?? Or I've also heard youtube...but not sure how you put a picture on there just videos. Maybe if I put it on ebay it will get on that Sell or No Sell bit on Leno! Now that'd be cool!

New Year...New Kids...New Ms. Geer

Did you know I teach third graders? Well I don't really, but after this week it sure does feel like it. I think I got way too used to end of the year almost fifth graders, and now have a bunch and I mean a bunch of brand new fourth graders. From looking at their birth dates they are also all very young fourth graders. A bunch are still 8 or just turned 9. I got the baby class. Oh have I mentioned there are 27 of them? Last year I had 18-20 all year. It is so insane. The room is packed full of desks and I can't stand how far away the kids in the back row are.

Ok, sorry I'm not complaining, or I am, but I don't mean to be. It's just going to be a drastically different year than last year. I was so lucky my first year, I had great sweet kids with hardly any behavior issues. This year, I do have sweet kids. No real behavior issues except for Lil' G. Little guy, whose mother asked me at Open House if we had a drama club because her son is very dramatic. This was while her two sons were running around in circles in my room. Lil' G is as sweet as can be but has the most stereotypical case of ADHD that I have ever seen. And of course mom took him off of his medicine this summer. I haven't quite decided how I feel about this. Let's just say his desk was moved 3 times in the first 3 days and is now right by my desk in the front of the room. Where I am sure it will stay all year.

Oh and a funny story to leave you with. Yesterday we had a lock-down drill where we practice hiding in our rooms if there was someone running through the building. Always the most exciting thing with kids. They are always full of "What if" questions that can be never ending. Well before the actual lock-down drill started I had them practice going to their spots and I went outside to the hallway to see if I could see anyone from looking in the window on the door. Completely forgetting that the door was locked I closed it and locked all of my students in the classroom and me in the hallway. I knocked and knocked, and gestured for them to come let me in. But they all just sat their in their hiding places and stared at me. Some tried to get up but then changed their minds and sat back down. They thought I was pretending to be an intruder and was trying to trick them into letting me in the room. Finally I was yelling through the door that it was ok, and to let me in. Of course a bunch of teachers at the end of the hallway hear me and come out and see what was going on. It was only slightly mortifying...Only me...

Oh and guess what! I got a puppy!! Her name is Elphie and she is 10 weeks old and brown. We don't know what kind of puppy she is, but is super cute. She is quite feisty and a little strange when she's chasing balls. She likes to chase not one, or two, but three balls at once. She's as cute as can be though. I think we'll keep her. The picture is at the top, I'm not sure how I could get it to be down here.

Testing Our Days Away

Testing...testing...and more testing... but guess what! It's over!!! Wahoo!!!!  Throughout the testing I have come up with a few good stories to share.  Some good...some bad...and some quite ugly.

The good...

This is not a personal story but very worth sharing.  A fellow teacher and was walking down the hall with some of her students while the announcement came on that testing was over and that makeup testing would be happening the rest of the day so everyone still needed to be quiet in the hallway.  One of the boys: "Geez, why do they always have makeup testing?  Who needs to take a test on makeup?  Is it like to put it on?  The Girl: Oh wow, I would totally get an A on that! I am awesome at applying mascara and eyeshadow.  Teacher: Guys, it's make up testing like if you need to make up a test that you missed, not on applying make up...

The bad...

On Friday morning I got a call from the front office saying that one of my students had been taking to the ER.  He had had stomach issues all night and when she went to go take the younger brother to school she came back and he was passed out in the bathroom and unresponsive.  They called the ambulance and took him in and got him woken up.  He was at the hospital for most of the day and is still pretty sick.  Doctors don't quite know what's wrong with him apparently.  Don't know much else really.

The ugly...

The new student...J-Man2... he's still here, and he's still kicking.  And about to drive me nuts.  Today was our last day of testing.  We test in two different sessions of 45 to 70 minutes each.  In between the sessions there is a ten minute break.  So we had just finished session 1 and taken our 10 minute break.  I had just started them back when J2 raises his hand and asks to go to the restroom.  I'm like no, we are testing you can't go now.  You should have gone during the break.  I walk around the room again and come back around and he's bawling at his desk.  Okkk...well don't know what to do.  I can't deny this kid the toilet right? And I definitely didn't want him to go pee in his pants.  So I stop everyone else and send him to the restroom since we had just started testing.  I stood at the door and watched him walk down and then waited.  One minute went by...then another...then another... then I hear some banging.  And some more banging, and more minutes go by.  Finally after like 6 minutes and the banging seemed so loud I called the office.  I couldn't leave my room, but I didn't know what in the world he was doing in the bathroom.  So my principal came down and he finally came out right as she got there.  He said he wasn't banging, and I was a little bit livid... :)

And one last thought.  Today we had the Social Studies test.  I have gone through all of the directions and ask for final questions and K raises his hand and is like I have a problem.  I bubbled my entire 70 question Science test into the Social Studies bubbles yesterday.  Woops...how'd I miss that???

All for now! I need to rest my poor softball weary body and head to bed.  Softball you say?  Well that's a whole other story for another day!

Spring Fling Video

Happy Easter!!!!!

Here is a video for a change of pace!  Next month, we are having a spring fling at school.  This is a promotional video we made to show at school to help promote it.  The idea is the teacher dancing at the beginning is suppose to be the Principal, and I am the Assistant Principal.

Enjoy!!!!