http://teachingsunshine.blogspot.com/
trying this new one out to see if there are more features.
I had some wonderful interviews and felt VERY confident about all of them. I was offered 3 jobs. I took the one I really wanted. Close to home with an uber professional principal, and a brand new school. I am so happy that the nonsense at school now is just that- nonsense...I think knowing that I am done there on the last day of school has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders. I have been enjoying these last few weeks with my kiddos. :)
Am I crazy to want to switch schools during these awful economic times? I am afraid that if I stay at my current school for next school year that the unprofessionalisim is going to pull me in. How many of you have had to switch schools because of unprofessional practices at your school? Personally I have tried to change these practices and have been unsuccessful. I wish I could find a school where teaching is the main focus and politics/bueracracy are not the name of the game. More later....
I took a little trip to B&N the other day to pick my daughter up the new Chris D'Lacey book The Fire Eternal , when I ran across a series that caught my eye. The series is called The Sisters Grimm.
I have found a new favorite in childrens books!!! I have spent this week reading the first 5 of 6 books. I LOVE them. I cannot wait to get back to school and use these books in T-T connections! The last book is still in hardcopy---I never buy hardcopy (I'm too cheap
)---but I think I might break down and buy it.
Book Synopsis from B&N:
In paperback for the first time, the Sisters Grimm take readers to a world where fairy tales are fact and not everyone is who they seem!
In book one of this bestselling series, sisters Sabrina and Daphne are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother, Relda Grimm. The sisters learn they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, whose famous book of fairy tales is actually a collection of case files. The girls are the latest in a long line of fairy-tale detectives, and their new hometown is filled with Everafters (as magical folks like to be called)-some good and some very, very bad. When a mysterious Everafter sets a giant loose on the town, it's up to the Sisters Grimm to save the day.
I made a trip to my classroom last week. I was told that the wing that my classroom is in was cleaned. Needless to say, all of the classrooms were cleaned except mine.....
It seems DUH decided NOT to pack up her stuff. In the grand scheme of things, it's not such a huge deal. But it really got me thinking about personal responsibility. As teachers we expect our students to follow through. So as a teacher I have always prided myself on the fact that I practice what I preach. I mean if I say XYZ and then do ABC, I am sending mixed messages to my students.
I teach my students that their actions or lack thereof have consequences for others. And I can truly say that over the years my students have become reponsible citizens. I have much more tolerace for children who lack personal responsibility-they can be taught. I have no tolerance for adults, who should be setting the example, that lack personal responsibility!
I know that my rant won't change the fact that DUH did not think ahead and follow directions, and that now I get to deal with the consequences of her actions. But just typing it out will help give me a release. Let's hope that DUH does a better job with her students than she does with herself......somehow I don't think she will.
I have been adding to my LIST all summer long. My LIST is that thing that helps me remember all of the new ideas I have and things I need to do for my class and is supposed to keep me on track. BUT...right now that LIST is a jumbled mess of ideas, that have no specific order and every time I look at it, I put it down in frustration.....where do I start? I feel paralyzed! New grade level, new classroom, and I am now confronted with a list that has taken on a life of its own. What do you do to help yourself prioritze your list? help.....
I am officially on break! I have spent the majority of my time in training. Now don't get me wrong, I have learned some new things that I can take back to my classroom, but why oh why does it feel like these are the same trainings I took years ago...just with new names?
I learned about a "new to me" annotated web program to use in my class for units of study. It is called Track Star. If you have used this in your class, did it work well? I would like to have some info on it before I spend time setting it up. Leave me a comment!