... 9 year old boys and weaponry

I was leading a discussion on slavery and the Underground railroad after the kids responded to a journal prompt on living during that time.  A fourth grader turned his response into a time travel weapons galore fiction video game like sequence where he heroically blasts away all the slave owners. Another said he will rise to a military General and beat up all the bad guys. The class was very interested in the prompt as a historical time period, especially the weaponry, weaponry, and weaponry. They were very disappointed at the lack of video games and all agreed it was a lousy time to be alive.

I finally asked why they were so interested in weapons.  A boy raised his hand and told me "It's because you have a lot of 9 year old boys in the room."

Reflections of 2010

2010 was a very positive year in personal growth.  It started with a bang with a long term sub job teaching Kindergarteners whom I loved.  I was disappointed I did not get a job that came up at that very same school after my sub job ended; it was an incredible ego blow.  However, I garnered incredible goodwill with the principal, parents, and staff.  A friend told me she interviewed four times in the same school with the principal before she was hired.  Whew!

To my surprise, I found I love teaching grade school and that middle school was not going to be my game.  I didn't know this coming into teaching; I even picked up a middle school endorsement because I thought that was where I belonged.  But, I am good as a Kindergarten teacher in practice and thrives in the elementary school.  Now that my inital nervousness faded with the year of experience, I look forward to subbing and walking into a classroom each time.  I never know what gems I will collect that day.  That is a good feeling to have.

27 Kindergarteners vs 15 Kindergarteners

Just looking at the numbers, one would intuitively lean toward the 15 kids as an easier class.  Having finished a six week sub job with 27 and moving almost immediately to sub in a class of 15, I found they are about equal. 

The 27 kids are all well supported at home with caring and engaged parents.  Most had pre-school (not daycare) before coming into Kindergarten and know their alphabet.  The class of 15 is almost completely the opposite.  They are not supported at home or have both parents working long hours.  They may have had daycare but very few had pre-school.  They come into Kindergarten needing to learn how to sit in circle time. When I give out instructions to the 27 kids (like sit in a circle), I can expect them understand what I mean and figure out how to sit in a circle around the carpet.  I can make no such assumptions for the class of 15.  Yes.  They are from different schools, different neighborhoods, and pull from different socio-economic demographics.

I give credit to the principals and administrators who recognize the different needs of their constituency and structure the classes to offer the right support.

The Universe is trying to tell me something

I just finished my six weeks long term sub assignment at my school Friday. All the parents, teachers, and the principal thought I was doing great. In fact, the principal invited me to interview for a ½ time job opening working with a teacher I know there. In anticipation of my getting hired, he even scheduled me for a meeting with him before the interview was even set up. Somehow, I blew it in the interview and they ended up hiring someone else. I feel so humiliated. Everyone, including me, thought I would get the job. I couldn’t believe my six weeks of stellar work did not stack up against a 20 minute interview.

He was kind enough to give me a debrief and said I just lacked literacy skills/component and the other candidates were stronger. I admit I did think afterwards I didn’t talk too much about literacy which was the job title. Someone also mentioned points so I guess in Seattle, they strive to be objective by using points. At least, this experience gave me an insight that using buzzwords identifying one’s knowledge about best practices/school district practices can make a difference.

Someone told me the Universe is trying to tell me something and perhaps it is.  On the home front, my hubby is sick and I found out yesterday my dog has bone cancer which is fatal.  I'm taking the week off to lick my wounds.

Subbing - Single Sized Serving or 1/2 of a Pie

I'm midway through my 6 week long term sub assignment.  There is a WORLD of difference.  With my single sized serving one day assignments, I come in and leave at the end of the day after writing a little note to the teacher.

With my long term half pie assignment, I go home with homework in the evenings and on the weekends.  Class instruction is only 50% of the job.  The other half is devoted to parent/student issues and administration.  I'm starting a volunteer corp and boy that sucks up time.  Building relationships with parents is important but requires serious attention.  Administration (health forms, permission slips, scholastic, staff meetings, nominations) is a serious time vampire.  I am doing the work of a full time teacher but with half the pay and no benefits, or is it even less? 

On the other hand, I admit to great joy at being able to love my own group of kids.  Knowing their personalities and having a relationship with their parents is lovely.  I have a wall plastered with notes fromm my Kindergarteners.   ...I just wish I'm paid more.

You Should Let Them Pee in the Toilet

After carpet time, a kindergartener stood up and lo, there was a wet spot where he was sitting.  It was time to lead the kids to lunch and he was scared of going to the office.  I was able to persuade him to go by promising I'll be there.  So, I took the whole class to the cafeteria and settle them in.  By that time, he was already eating so I told him I would come back for him.  I warned the secretary and managed to grab a bite of my lunch before going back to pick him up.  He was in tears, "What took you so long?", he said breaking my heart.  He held my hand all the way scared of the office where the "bad" kids were sent.  Once there, he was so flustered he couldn't change his clothing without help.  We had to prop the bathroom door open and each time I wander out of his sight, he would cry.  By the time he was finished, lunch was over and I never ate more than that bite.

Later, I was able to drop the class off at the computer lab and excuse myself.  I met up with the custodian who said, "You should have had them pee in the toilet, not carpet!"

A Tale of Two Principals

...and two cultures.  I just subbed for 5 days in a quaint neighborhood school.  The principal is very strict with discipline.  Kids who misbehave get sent to line up at the gym during recess.  There they recite their sins to the principal or an admistrator and then sit out their break.  I see a line there every recess.  If a kid is extra recalcitrant, they get sent to the "blue" chairs in front of the office to await a one on one talk.  A kid asked me a good question I was not able to answer so I referred him to the principal.  He recoiled in horror because he associated her with the "blue" chair.  The kids are generally well behaved and very respectful at this school.

I taught at another school where some kids had a disagreement and asked me if I could release them to the principal because they trust him to be a just and compassionate arbitrator.  Kids in the playground K-5 would ask him to come play with them during recess.  He is a skilled jump rope holder.  The kids are generally well behaved and respectful in this school.

Most school cultures fall in between; however, these two extremes provoked much thought.  The disciplined school tempted me to be a lazier teacher as I can pass off disciplining kids to the system.  I was able to enjoy the few short breaks I have instead of addressing behavior issues during those times.  Tough tradeoffs.  Here's some other information.  The disciplined school has over 70% free and reduced lunch with significant minority population; they have trouble starting a PTA.  The school with the kid friendly principal has 9% on free and reduced lunch with a population of 80% caucasion students; they have a very active PTA and many parents who are educators themselves.  I wonder if the principals' styles would be effective if they traded schools.