We are over halfway through the year, and I asked my students to reflect and to write in their journals about what they like and don't like about school and what they would change if they were the teacher. These are some of their responses:
"I like lunch because I eat."
"I dislike math and Spanish because Spanish makes my eyes hurt and math makes my head hurt."
"I don't like Spanish because I think knowing one language is good enough."
"I like everything about school because school is a place where you can start a great future for yourself."
Since Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we read some books and talked about his dream. I asked students to write about dreams that they have. The responses varied greatly. Dreams included having lots of puppies, getting more American Girl dolls, getting to World 7 on Mario Brothers, becoming a Lego builder, being a principal, being a runner in the Olympics, being a motocross winner like Jonny Walker, and being "a police." One student dreams of becoming an artist and painting the Eiffel Tower "and all other famous places," as well as animals in Canada. One student wrote about an actual dream he had and ended by saying, "Then I woke up." Here are a few more excerpts:
“I want to become a rich millionaire and give money to poor people. I would also like to invent time travel. And end world hunger. I would also like to save all animals who want to be adopted. And I would stop animal cruelty.”
“I want to go to college for football. I want to quit school now.”
“I have a dream to be a mom. I had good training from my mom. You don’t have to go to college. To raise money I will do jobs like a waitress or a cashier. I think it’s the best job in the world.”
“I hope to be as good as a teacher like Miss Weaver”
“I dream that I could be a teacher. Because they get lots of gifts… I think it would be easy to be a teacher."
(She went on to ask me if it is, in fact, easy.)
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Friday, December 23, 2016
Christmas ponderings
Sometimes, kids just say it the best. So I'll wish you a merry Christmas with their words about the real meaning of Christmas (and a little bit about their gifts).
"When you open up a Christmas gift, it is like opening up Jesus in your heart. Because you have so much joy in your heart... I am sure Jesus gets some gifts up in heaven because they are so nice up there."
"The best gift that you could ever give to someone is the love of Jesus Christ."
"I will remember the spirit of Christmas cause you can't keep it out... I knew what my presents were because my dad had it on his phone and my mom had it in her closet. The tape came off on the coloring book and pencils so if you looked at it at just the right angle you could see it."
"The real meaning of Christmas isn't Santa Claus. The Christmas story is about Jesus Christ. Besides, there were kings that night, but they weren't important."
"If I could get any gift I wanted I would like to get some nice neighbor children."
"On Christmas break I'm gonna sit around and sleep in."
(Me, too, buddy, me, too.)
Merry Christmas!
"When you open up a Christmas gift, it is like opening up Jesus in your heart. Because you have so much joy in your heart... I am sure Jesus gets some gifts up in heaven because they are so nice up there."
"The best gift that you could ever give to someone is the love of Jesus Christ."
"I will remember the spirit of Christmas cause you can't keep it out... I knew what my presents were because my dad had it on his phone and my mom had it in her closet. The tape came off on the coloring book and pencils so if you looked at it at just the right angle you could see it."
"The real meaning of Christmas isn't Santa Claus. The Christmas story is about Jesus Christ. Besides, there were kings that night, but they weren't important."
"If I could get any gift I wanted I would like to get some nice neighbor children."
"On Christmas break I'm gonna sit around and sleep in."
(Me, too, buddy, me, too.)
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Time for Thanksgiving break!
I am definitely ready for a long weekend with lots of sleep! The students are also ready for a long weekend, although I'm sure they won't be sleeping as much as me! Some days I feel like I ran a marathon, and for a while, I was puzzled by what exactly was tiring me out so much. But then I started getting back some of the parent questionnaires. Seven parents described their child as "energetic" plus others who used words like "bouncy," "bubbly," and "bold."
One of my energetic boys almost had a meltdown when I switched some people in reading groups and now he happens to be the only boy in his group. "Is this a punishment?!!" I told him there's nothing wrong with being with girls. (Someday he may even like it.)
However, some girls aren't too happy being with boys either. I received this note in my mailbox:
Yes, it's time for a break. I'm surprised we're already a third of the way through the school year. (Although when I wished the class a Happy Thanksgiving, one of my boys said he wished it was Easter.)
One of my energetic boys almost had a meltdown when I switched some people in reading groups and now he happens to be the only boy in his group. "Is this a punishment?!!" I told him there's nothing wrong with being with girls. (Someday he may even like it.)
However, some girls aren't too happy being with boys either. I received this note in my mailbox:
Dear Miss Weaver,Meanwhile, my pile of confiscated goods reached a new size this week.
I don't like where I sit. The boys copy off of my paper sometimes. But I still don't like it. I would put two different people there.
Yes, it's time for a break. I'm surprised we're already a third of the way through the school year. (Although when I wished the class a Happy Thanksgiving, one of my boys said he wished it was Easter.)
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
October happenings
The last day of the first quarter is on Friday, and the year has been moving so quickly, I've had a hard time keeping up with my blogging. But no worries, I've been storing up the stories to share with all of you!
We had a field trip to Oregon Dairy this month, and the students learned some very interesting things. Although the students may have gotten a little mixed up with some of their facts:
The students also wrote "How-to" paragraphs this month. They each chose something they enjoy doing and explained how to do it in a paragraph. Well, in most cases... One boy couldn't think of anything he likes to do to write about. So I told him he could write about a chore he does. He wrote about washing the car and ended by saying, "Finally, you're done, and now you can go relax and maybe you'll get paid."
One of the categories on the rubric I use to grade these paragraphs says, "Steps could easily be followed." I'm thinking I may have to change that when I read sentences like these from How to Make an Elevator: "First, screw the piece of 8 feet of wood to a high tree. Screw is strong."
You also may enjoy their pictures they created to go along with the paragraphs. (Art class this was not, and I believe some students interpreted, "Your picture should be colorful" as "I need a rainbow.")
We like to take brain breaks in third grade, especially in the afternoons between Reading and Math. (They're sure to let me know when we've gone days without a brain break.) Many of them have a favorite brain break - going to the beach. I stole this one from one of my high school gym teachers. The students lie on the floor and imagine they are at the beach. I've even started putting up a video of a beach with waves and other beach sounds. One day they asked me, "Why didn't you go to the beach?" I wish I could.
In Science, we've been learning about warm-blooded animals, and how although humans have some of the same characteristics, we are not animals because we are created in God's image. One question on their worksheet asked "Are humans animals? Why?" One student answered, "No. Because God made us in the U.S.A."
Lastly, it's very evident that we are in election season. (If you don't think kids are listening to the adults around them, think again!) One day I overheard this conversation between two girls:
"The United States is not the world."
"I know, but if she wins, she'll rule the world!"
This week I asked students to write a spelling word that rhymes with "sense." One student wrote, "Trump/Pence." (Rhyming word, yes. Spelling word, no.)
Today we learned about Rome and how one of the founders of Rome built a wall around it. I heard some students discussing how he was like Donald Trump, building a wall.
We had a field trip to Oregon Dairy this month, and the students learned some very interesting things. Although the students may have gotten a little mixed up with some of their facts:
The mother cows have 1 calf a month.And perhaps the most interesting "fact" learned on a field trip:
A cow gives 90 gallons of milk every day.
Miss Weaver works at the delly at Oregon Dairy.
The students also wrote "How-to" paragraphs this month. They each chose something they enjoy doing and explained how to do it in a paragraph. Well, in most cases... One boy couldn't think of anything he likes to do to write about. So I told him he could write about a chore he does. He wrote about washing the car and ended by saying, "Finally, you're done, and now you can go relax and maybe you'll get paid."
One of the categories on the rubric I use to grade these paragraphs says, "Steps could easily be followed." I'm thinking I may have to change that when I read sentences like these from How to Make an Elevator: "First, screw the piece of 8 feet of wood to a high tree. Screw is strong."
You also may enjoy their pictures they created to go along with the paragraphs. (Art class this was not, and I believe some students interpreted, "Your picture should be colorful" as "I need a rainbow.")
 |
| Doesn't this make you want to play the game? |
 |
| How to Build a Tree House |
 |
| How to Make a Volcano |
 |
| How to Wake-board |
 |
| How to Wash a Horse |
 |
| How to Make Scrambled Eggs |
 |
| How to Drive a Four-Wheeler |
 |
| How to Take Care of a Pet ("Last, if you want to, you can have lots of fun with it.") |
We like to take brain breaks in third grade, especially in the afternoons between Reading and Math. (They're sure to let me know when we've gone days without a brain break.) Many of them have a favorite brain break - going to the beach. I stole this one from one of my high school gym teachers. The students lie on the floor and imagine they are at the beach. I've even started putting up a video of a beach with waves and other beach sounds. One day they asked me, "Why didn't you go to the beach?" I wish I could.
In Science, we've been learning about warm-blooded animals, and how although humans have some of the same characteristics, we are not animals because we are created in God's image. One question on their worksheet asked "Are humans animals? Why?" One student answered, "No. Because God made us in the U.S.A."
Lastly, it's very evident that we are in election season. (If you don't think kids are listening to the adults around them, think again!) One day I overheard this conversation between two girls:
"The United States is not the world."
"I know, but if she wins, she'll rule the world!"
This week I asked students to write a spelling word that rhymes with "sense." One student wrote, "Trump/Pence." (Rhyming word, yes. Spelling word, no.)
Today we learned about Rome and how one of the founders of Rome built a wall around it. I heard some students discussing how he was like Donald Trump, building a wall.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Horse funerals and instincts
I was feeling a little stressed out today, and it's like God knows when I need to relax and smile. I was reading to the students about Alexander the Great, and I got to the part where his horse died and they had a funeral for it. As I was showing the picture of the dead horse being paraded through the streets, one of the boys started humming the tune to "Here comes the bride..." Wrong ceremony, buddy.
I also found an informative note on my desk today saying, "Annie got a crush on Bobby." (Don't worry; the names have been changed to protect little Annie's identity!)
Last week I was in the bathroom, unbeknownst to two of my girls who were also using the bathroom. The rest of the class was in art class, and I overheard one of them say, "I don't want to miss art, so I'm not going to wash my hands!" But I feel very strongly about hand-washing, so I piped up, "Oh, no, you need to wash your hands!" (Surprise! The teacher's in the bathroom!)
Another day I was having a conversation with one of the boys about how he shouldn't be talking during class. He said, "I hate to bring him into this sentence, but..." and went on to explain that he was talking because another boy had asked him a question. I told him it's still his responsibility to not talk, and he doesn't have to answer a question. "But I have an instinct to answer when someone asks me a question."
Some days it's just impossible to stay too serious.
I also found an informative note on my desk today saying, "Annie got a crush on Bobby." (Don't worry; the names have been changed to protect little Annie's identity!)
Last week I was in the bathroom, unbeknownst to two of my girls who were also using the bathroom. The rest of the class was in art class, and I overheard one of them say, "I don't want to miss art, so I'm not going to wash my hands!" But I feel very strongly about hand-washing, so I piped up, "Oh, no, you need to wash your hands!" (Surprise! The teacher's in the bathroom!)
Another day I was having a conversation with one of the boys about how he shouldn't be talking during class. He said, "I hate to bring him into this sentence, but..." and went on to explain that he was talking because another boy had asked him a question. I told him it's still his responsibility to not talk, and he doesn't have to answer a question. "But I have an instinct to answer when someone asks me a question."
Some days it's just impossible to stay too serious.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Mennonite Lions
We are an eighth of the way through the school year! It feels like I'm really getting to know my students and that (maybe) we're starting to settle into some routines. As busy as they keep me, I enjoy many little moments throughout our days together.
I rearranged the students' desks into groups and let them choose group names. One group chose Mountain Lions, but another student thought they were the Mennonite Lions.
Many of these little boats have been popping up all over the place. I'm trying not to let my control-freak tendencies make them disappear.
One day I waited outside the bathroom for some boys who were taking incredibly long. When they finally emerged and I asked what was going on, they excitedly described the new lights and the way they looked in the mirror.
One girl had to stay in from recess to finish some work, and eventually the other students in the room went out to recess and she was the only one left. She told me, "I feel like I'm stuck in here, like a prisoner."
On a reading worksheet, the students were supposed to explain whistling and how to whistle. This always gets interesting responses.
"It's fun, is it not?"
"First make your mouth look like a fish blowing bubbles."
"Humans have been trying to do it for years. The first person to discover this was Albert Einstein." (When he read that aloud to the class, I couldn't stop from laughing and asked him how he knew that.
"Maybe it was the caveman or George Washington.")
Another student's sentence answering a question about pets: "I have 2 cats, guppies, and dog nabers [neighbors]. I mean my nabers have dogs."
These days there are so many reasons why I find myself pausing in the middle of a lesson to redirect a student. Today was the first time I had to give a kid "the look" because he had a pencil taped to his chin.
And to sum it all up, the weather we've been having lately is perfect. One of my students agrees. As we walked outside this morning, he exclaimed, "It's so nice out here! It's cold and it's warm."
I rearranged the students' desks into groups and let them choose group names. One group chose Mountain Lions, but another student thought they were the Mennonite Lions.
Many of these little boats have been popping up all over the place. I'm trying not to let my control-freak tendencies make them disappear.
One day I waited outside the bathroom for some boys who were taking incredibly long. When they finally emerged and I asked what was going on, they excitedly described the new lights and the way they looked in the mirror.
One girl had to stay in from recess to finish some work, and eventually the other students in the room went out to recess and she was the only one left. She told me, "I feel like I'm stuck in here, like a prisoner."
On a reading worksheet, the students were supposed to explain whistling and how to whistle. This always gets interesting responses.
"It's fun, is it not?"
"First make your mouth look like a fish blowing bubbles."
"Humans have been trying to do it for years. The first person to discover this was Albert Einstein." (When he read that aloud to the class, I couldn't stop from laughing and asked him how he knew that.
"Maybe it was the caveman or George Washington.")
Another student's sentence answering a question about pets: "I have 2 cats, guppies, and dog nabers [neighbors]. I mean my nabers have dogs."
These days there are so many reasons why I find myself pausing in the middle of a lesson to redirect a student. Today was the first time I had to give a kid "the look" because he had a pencil taped to his chin.
And to sum it all up, the weather we've been having lately is perfect. One of my students agrees. As we walked outside this morning, he exclaimed, "It's so nice out here! It's cold and it's warm."
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Entertainment & encouragement
I believe this year is going to be entertaining, at the very least. There are a few snapshots from the past week that I managed to remember:
- One girl gave me a bookmark that came with her book cover. She spent some time explaining why she was giving it to me and ended by saying, "I didn't think it looked very nice, so I decided to give it to you."
- I overheard one student coming into the classroom muttering, "I'm a thirsty centipede robot."
- At the end of the day on Tuesday (after coming back from Labor Day weekend), I was having the students write their homework assignment on their calendars, and one boy asked, "Is it Friday?"
- During a Language lesson, a few students kept giggling, but I couldn't figure out why. Turns out they find the word "caret" amusing.
- And this:
I spent a lot of the week trying to make my expectations clear and enforce them, and it felt like I wasn't being a very nice teacher. So these little notes I found along the way were so special and encouraging.
To top off a long week, I was so happy to find these two sweet notes in my mailbox on Friday afternoon.
Miss Weaver, I like having you for a teacher. But I do not like math. Can you make math funner. and I do not like science. Can you make science more interesting.
Dear Miss Weaver, Thanks for being a kind and loving teacher to me. I like spelling it is fun we should do it more often. I'm glad your birthday is soon coming up. You are a very funny teacher that's what I like about you.
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