Saturday, February 27, 2010

The New Kid + A Shoulder = Chocolates?

The week before mid-winter break was a rough one. That Tuesday New Kid finally crossed the all important line I had hoped he wouldn't.

He got physical.

With me.

He had been working at a table with several other kids on an art project when apparently Eeyore said something he didn't like. So, New Kid started poking holes in Eeyore's project.
First I asked him to move back to his desk to work. Then I told him to move. New Kid got angrier and angrier. Then I told him he could work at his table or in the hallway. He continued to get angrier. Finally, he grabbed his art supplies, construction paper in one hand, scissors in the other, and shoulder checked me twice as he walked out the door!

At that point I had an internal conversation with myself. It went something like this, "What the hell?!?" "Did he just do what I think he did?!?" "Did he really?" "Yes. He did!"
I thought New Kid was heading to the work table in the hallway, so I quickly and calmly had one of my other students go get the principal. (My classroom happens to be the closest one to the office.) I stood in the doorway to make sure New Kid was at the table, but instead he was already walking himself to the office.
Long story short, New Kid spent most of that afternoon in the office and had a day of in-school suspension on Thursday. That Friday, the day of our Valentine's day party, New Kid walks in and states that he has something in his backpack for me. And something for the principal. Great.
What is it?















A box of Valentine's Day chocolates.

No "Happy Valentine's Day," or "I'm sorry I'm a punk and cause you all sorts of problems." Just a, "Here," and the handing off of the red roses, heart-shaped box of chocolates from his backpack.
I guess you take an apology however it comes.

The funniest part of this whole incident is finding out what got New Kid so riled up in the first place. I guess Eeyore said New Kid's brother, "had a fat butt cheek." Yup, that's it. That's what started this whole thing...a large derriere, a big bootie, an oversized gluteus maximus.

Third graders are so weird.


(Here's me looking a little suspicious...To eat or not to eat, that is the question!)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Quotes From My Daily Planner

At the beginning of the school year, Urbanite Mommy (http://mom3908.blogspot.com/) gave me a personalized daily planner. At first I used it to write down the occasional meeting or doctor appointment, but it quickly became lost in my bag of good intentions. But in January I decided to re-purpose the planner into my "daily reflection/get these crazy kids out of my head/I'd better make note of this" teacher's diary.

Here are some of things I've written down in the past month and a half:

  • "New Kid has been off. Today I walked outside to pick the kids up at recess and see him swinging Highlights around in a circle...by one arm!"
  • "Deer in Headlights apparently threatened someone during chess today...chess!?!? of all things!"
  • "Highlights kissed Eeyore at recess."
  • "New Kid wore a fake tattoo sleeve today." (Boy, I wish I had my camera!)
  • "Someone was overheard at recess saying, 'Get it done, get it done, get it done. Make a baby, make a baby, make a baby.'"

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Can Marshmallows Go Bad?

As part of my research for finding (or creating) a job that isn't too stressful, pays okay, and is fun, I decided to try my hand at making Rice Krispie treats (Who knows...maybe I'm suppose to be the Duff Goldman of the buttery-marhmallowy-Rice Krispie world?!?!) Anyway, I decided to make some "Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats" since I had most of the ingredients already in my house. Unfortunately, they weren't the freshest or most exact ingredients ever...slightly past the "use by date" mini marshmallows, mostly crispy Rice Krispies, and table salt instead of sea salt. I did run into some problems melting the marshmallows, but the end result actually tasted yummy, especially the ones I put chocolate chips on! I can't wait to try making them again...after I hit the grocery store, that is! :)



Sunday, February 7, 2010

Fill In the Blank

I recently met up with a friend of mine who spent the last three years teaching in Thailand. Now that she's back, she's decided to, "Give the photography thing a try," and has started her own photography business. (http://www.clearlykatie.com/) It was so inspirational to hear how she is following her dream, while not taking it too seriously and getting way uptight about it...or at least that's how she made it seem. :)

Anyway, our conversation got me thinking again about, "What I want to be when I grow up."

You see, I like teaching, but I don't love it. I find that I take home too much work, both mentally and physically, and that I don't think I'll ever be the amazing, creative teacher I know I could be because I've got too many kids in the class and not enough classroom support.

So, I've been replaying what my friend said and trying to figure out what I could give a try. "I think I'll give ____________ a try."

But the thing is, I don't know what my "Blank" should be!

I have lots of ideas; some of them are time consuming, some are creative, some require more schooling, some come with low stress, and others with a pay cut. Some require working in the summer, while others cost money to start up. I made a pro/con list for my ideas, but I still don't know what my "Blank" should be.

Any ideas for narrowing down the possibilities? How do I find a job that I LOVE, not just like? And for those of you out there that do love your jobs, what makes your job so great?

-Pigtailed Teacher