Our Doggy Beds for the Humane Society

A HUGE mess

Today was a great day until the weather started. Snow, sleet, and freezing rain pelted the school from around 10 this morning and is still falling. Of course the kids were super excited but it left me with nothing but worry.

The roads were icing and becoming impassable around 12:00. The three counties around us had already sent students home. Did our schools release? No, we stayed until around 2:00 and then they FINALLY decided that we might oughta leave. So after getting all of the kids ready and out the door--it came time for me to go.

I live in another county, thirty miles from school. Roads were so bad, my normal 25 minute commute took a grand total of an hour and a half. Interstate driving at 25 miles per hour, coupled with eighteen wheelers whizzing by like there's no tomorrow, makes me want to move to Florida--where things like this don't happen. Im sick of winter. The kids are tired of indoor recess. Come on Mother Nature!! Give us Georgians a break!!

Special Guests!

Hello all-- I got some good news today from the local Humane Society.

Our school does a Club Day for our students. Once per month the kids go to their clubs and get to do fun art and craft activities. There are clubs of all sorts--line dancing, cooking, cheerleading, karate, etc. Of course I have no talent so I can't do any of those...But I do sew...

My club is based on community service crafting. My idea was to have the kids make blankets/beds/toys for the animals at our local humane society. I didnt think I would be able to arrange a visit from some of the organizers but I got the call today that they are coming!! They're going to bring in 4 dogs and give a presentation on animal health. Then we'll get to give them their toys and blankets. I am super excited and Im sure my kids will be when they hear!! I just had to share.

A Funny Story

This past Friday, an awkward moment arrived in my classroom and all I could do about it was laugh.

I have one student who is an avid animal planet/national geographic watcher. If its on, he's there watching. While reading a book on insects, the group came across a picture of a praying mantis. Well, my little guy immediately starts telling the group everything he knows about them. I was fine until this came out...

PRAYING MANTIS GIRLS EAT THE BOYS AFTER THEYRE DONE MATING....

In a group of 8 students, I saw a puzzling look come across seven faces. And then came the question...WHAT IS MATING? Needless to say, we moved on in a hurry.

What a day...

One Week Down...

Well, the first week back from Christmas Break was a doozie. Im totally wiped out but glad to get back into the swing of things.

Schedules are completely fried right now due to the fact that so much testing is currently going on. ACCESS testing is taking away ESOL teachers and SST meetings are taking up activity times. On a lighter note, my one child with the major behavior problems was allowed to go back to his family. Im very excited for him. He was absolutely miserable in foster care. Its so sad to see a good kid go bad when in the face of a bad situation.

We did have a bit of fun today. Scattergories during Language arts and Trash Can basketball during math. The kids really seemed to enjoy it. I enjoy watching them interact with each other. Teaching runs me ragged but its worthwhile to see them succeed.

One thing happened to me that I never expected to happen in third grade. One of my girls became recieved her monthly lady gift. Kids are growing up way to fast. She's only ten years old. She handled it well enough and I was glad she didn't freak out. I know I would have at ten years old.

Ive also got a boy who seems so tough on the outside. But for the past week he has come to school in tears and claiming to be sick. I feel that its separation anxiety from being at home so long over break. Im hoping he starts feeling better and begins to interact with the class again. The drama that comes with being a child....