Life happens. That's a phrase that the Brannans have become more and more aware of every day of the past month!
My first year teaching was off to a start- not many bumps in the road, a regular schedule... normal. Then, my wonderful hubby cut his hand open with a glass in our sink. It was the Saturday before Halloween. He placed it down too hard in the sink and the glass shattered, cutting his pinky in two different places and all the way down into this palm. To the Emergency Room we went at 11:30 PM. I was all but losing my mind. He was stitched up with 18 stitches, given good pain pills and some antibiotic, and we got back home at about 2:30 AM. It was quickly determined that he couldn't bend his pinky in and out and this meant that he lacerated both tendons. Upon further investigation, he couldn't feel his pinky either so he also lacerated the nerve. The day after seeing the orthopedic, he had surgery to repair his tendons and nerve (24 stitches). I've had to take off a day, leave early a few days, and generally disrupt my regular schedule to help him get to appointments, his surgery, and all that "fun" stuff. He's been in a splint to keep his hand always bent and pressure off of the tendons and he's healing really well and doing great with his occupational therapy.
The night of Halloween, after the ER and first stitches but before the appointment and surgery, we came home from visiting family to find that there was a leak from our upstairs guest bathroom and it was dripping into our bedroom and bathroom. The leak was fixed the following day, but the sheetrock, ceilings, subfloor and all were soaked. The heavy-duty fans sat in our house, 5 downstairs and 3 upstairs, for almost a full week before everything was dry enough. Then, the work began to fix everything. We lived in a hotel for almost two weeks. The entire time Rob was having surgery and beginning to heal.
What fun?! The dust finally began to settle from that caios- literally- when I got sick and had to leave work early last week.
My sweet, sweet students have been so very caring and understanding with all of this going on. Their lessons and work haven't changed because we have GREAT subs, but I've been in and out for the past several weeks. They've been so worried and have constantly asked about Rob (Mr. Brannan). Even if they are acting like they've lost their minds as the holidays approach, they have the sweetest hearts.
It's been one thing after another for a month now so I am probably the MOST excited person on the planet about having a FIVE day weekend!!! Much needed rest, relaxation, and family time is in the very near future! Three hours to be exact :)
This year, I'm thankful for-
-my sweet students that have been so caring
-my co-workers that have made it so easy for me to be with Rob when I needed to be and not be worried about my students
-my family that has been so loving and supportive
-my friends that have really stepped up to help us and just be there for us
-my Savior that has had to do a lot of saving me lately and for his constant reminding me that I have to trust him
and most of all,
-my wonderful husband that has been so great despite his temporary handicap
To sum up the lesson we've learned~
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances..." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
**Attention**Attention**
Wow, it's been a long time since I've been able to update! School and life have been so very busy these past few weeks!
I was working my tail off to prepare my students for the district-wide writing prompt, several tests that they have taken, and report cards come out next week!! The end of the first nine weeks is in TWO days! I have been teaching for nine weeks! But I've only been teaching for nine weeks?!
I am beginning to figure out exactly why I love teaching, not just the idea of it. Every single day in my classroom is different- good, great, bad, awful. I'm learning so much about teaching that I already knew, but putting it in to practice every day has been such a learning experience and taken the art of teaching to a whole new level. I was formally observed on Thursday the 6th.
Classroom management/behavior problems have been my biggest struggles and it seems as though they occur daily. Students test me and my team more than I ever would have thought. I would have never done or said these things to my teachers- if I had I'd be deformed right now. The Lord has been really working to make me the most patient person on earth.
There have been several altercations, all seeming to happen at lunch. Honestly, they are more humerous than scary! A few weeks ago, the teachers were all sitting with the lunch detention kids after most of the students had gone out to recess. We were monitoring those that chose to stay inside that day while eating our lunch. We looked up and two boys were standing in between tables, arms out- swatting at each other. Not hitting or slapping, swatting like two cats and missing each other every time. Two hormonal boys, elbows at their sides, swatting with just their hands. Funniest thing I've seen in a LONG time! Looked something like this:
Then, they were told to go outside to recess if they wanted to play around, because that certainly couldn't be considered fighting. One of them went without being told twice, the other snaps off his ID, stomps to the door, and starts running across the teacher parking lot towards a main road. Thankfully, he stopped on a patch of grass before he got there because he was out of breath. The other teacher that had duty went out after him since I had to stay in the cafeteria, but that was quite an eventful lunch.
There have been funny and frustrating stories every day, but I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
I was working my tail off to prepare my students for the district-wide writing prompt, several tests that they have taken, and report cards come out next week!! The end of the first nine weeks is in TWO days! I have been teaching for nine weeks! But I've only been teaching for nine weeks?!
I am beginning to figure out exactly why I love teaching, not just the idea of it. Every single day in my classroom is different- good, great, bad, awful. I'm learning so much about teaching that I already knew, but putting it in to practice every day has been such a learning experience and taken the art of teaching to a whole new level. I was formally observed on Thursday the 6th.
Classroom management/behavior problems have been my biggest struggles and it seems as though they occur daily. Students test me and my team more than I ever would have thought. I would have never done or said these things to my teachers- if I had I'd be deformed right now. The Lord has been really working to make me the most patient person on earth.
There have been several altercations, all seeming to happen at lunch. Honestly, they are more humerous than scary! A few weeks ago, the teachers were all sitting with the lunch detention kids after most of the students had gone out to recess. We were monitoring those that chose to stay inside that day while eating our lunch. We looked up and two boys were standing in between tables, arms out- swatting at each other. Not hitting or slapping, swatting like two cats and missing each other every time. Two hormonal boys, elbows at their sides, swatting with just their hands. Funniest thing I've seen in a LONG time! Looked something like this:
Then, they were told to go outside to recess if they wanted to play around, because that certainly couldn't be considered fighting. One of them went without being told twice, the other snaps off his ID, stomps to the door, and starts running across the teacher parking lot towards a main road. Thankfully, he stopped on a patch of grass before he got there because he was out of breath. The other teacher that had duty went out after him since I had to stay in the cafeteria, but that was quite an eventful lunch.
There have been funny and frustrating stories every day, but I couldn't imagine being anywhere else.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Wait...we have a test today?
Yes, indeed, this was a response that a student shared as I began going over their test before passing them out. HA! The rest of the class responded with an uproar of laughter. Another student asked me why my study guide didn't give them any answers for the test. What do I say to that?!
I have never thought it to be wrong to ask students to think for themselves and use the brain that God gave them and I refuse to start doing that now. I KNOW my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids, but I think they will start putting effort into their learning when they realize that, too.
I think that kids today honestly expect the work to be done for them. I don't want to say ALL kids are that way, but something our society has done has taught them that they don't have to think for themselves. It kills me. Some of my students did very poorly on their first test because they are not putting for the effort required to do well. The bad part is that they think that it's my fault, not theirs. We spent the first few weeks discussing, doing group activities, partner activities, and independent work to learn about how the author develops characters, conflict, and setting, learning first person, limited-omniscient, and omniscient points of view, and how to make inferences and draw conclusions for literary texts. Those words may sound fancy, but I can assure you that by time the quizzes and test came around we were all about to cross-eyed because we had talked about it so much. And yet, some students still did not do well. I spent two days reteaching the material and students that spent the weekend studying, and could prove that they studied, were able to take the test again. As a part of our policy at Pelion Middle, students are required to provide evidence that they studied (i.e. flashcards, notecards, rewritten notes, etc). Less than half of my students provided this evidence on Monday morning so they were the only ones that were able to improve their grade. Why would you NOT do something to study so that you could improve your grade?! And in fact, the students that did study, were the ones who did well the first time but wanted an even better grade!
Again, I KNOW that my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids. If they put forth the effort to study and learn the material the first time, I KNOW that they will succeed on future tests. But why would they wait for a bad grade to get in gear?
This is another realization of the change in society and the vast difference in homelife than when I was in sixth grade. These kids make me thankful every day for the home- both homes- that I had growing up and the parents, church, and community that supported me.
The adventure continues...
I have never thought it to be wrong to ask students to think for themselves and use the brain that God gave them and I refuse to start doing that now. I KNOW my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids, but I think they will start putting effort into their learning when they realize that, too.
I think that kids today honestly expect the work to be done for them. I don't want to say ALL kids are that way, but something our society has done has taught them that they don't have to think for themselves. It kills me. Some of my students did very poorly on their first test because they are not putting for the effort required to do well. The bad part is that they think that it's my fault, not theirs. We spent the first few weeks discussing, doing group activities, partner activities, and independent work to learn about how the author develops characters, conflict, and setting, learning first person, limited-omniscient, and omniscient points of view, and how to make inferences and draw conclusions for literary texts. Those words may sound fancy, but I can assure you that by time the quizzes and test came around we were all about to cross-eyed because we had talked about it so much. And yet, some students still did not do well. I spent two days reteaching the material and students that spent the weekend studying, and could prove that they studied, were able to take the test again. As a part of our policy at Pelion Middle, students are required to provide evidence that they studied (i.e. flashcards, notecards, rewritten notes, etc). Less than half of my students provided this evidence on Monday morning so they were the only ones that were able to improve their grade. Why would you NOT do something to study so that you could improve your grade?! And in fact, the students that did study, were the ones who did well the first time but wanted an even better grade!
Again, I KNOW that my students can do the work and I KNOW that they are smart kids. If they put forth the effort to study and learn the material the first time, I KNOW that they will succeed on future tests. But why would they wait for a bad grade to get in gear?
This is another realization of the change in society and the vast difference in homelife than when I was in sixth grade. These kids make me thankful every day for the home- both homes- that I had growing up and the parents, church, and community that supported me.
The adventure continues...
Friday, September 2, 2011
These Wascally Wabbits...
Oh boy! The true colors begin to show...
Most of my children are the sweetest kids, great students, care about others, and respect each other. Some...not so much. I believe that, at heart, all children really want to be good. Some, just have a hard time showing for one reason or another. The majority of my students have a rough home life that is vastly different than mine was growing up. At my school, you have to be a compassionate and passionate teacher to reach these kids- Otherwise, you'll get nowhere.
That being said, the few that are giving me such a hard time are doing so to impress someone in their class of the opposite sex. Yes, HORMONES~ sooo not used to this. They think that getting in trouble is a way to show the other that they are tough, and they are. These kids are wise beyond their years because of what they go home to. I just wish they didn't have to be so stubborn and like getting in trouble- that NEVER impressed me.
Ironically, I married an older version of the kid in the my class who gives me the hardest time! Every time I tell him a story about little "Bob" (not his real name), Rob says "Oh yeah, I did that." When I talk about calling little Bob's parents, he says "Oh yeah, my mom and teacher were on a first name basis". WHAT?! I have come to realize just how bad he was through confirmation every time we see one of his teachers around town. One teacher had us both (at different times) and about croaked when she realized we were together. It's funny how the Lord works!
Hormones, drama, broken homes, and desperately in need of love- that's my kids! I'm learning...they're learning...it's a process and I guess that's all that matters...
Most of my children are the sweetest kids, great students, care about others, and respect each other. Some...not so much. I believe that, at heart, all children really want to be good. Some, just have a hard time showing for one reason or another. The majority of my students have a rough home life that is vastly different than mine was growing up. At my school, you have to be a compassionate and passionate teacher to reach these kids- Otherwise, you'll get nowhere.
That being said, the few that are giving me such a hard time are doing so to impress someone in their class of the opposite sex. Yes, HORMONES~ sooo not used to this. They think that getting in trouble is a way to show the other that they are tough, and they are. These kids are wise beyond their years because of what they go home to. I just wish they didn't have to be so stubborn and like getting in trouble- that NEVER impressed me.
Ironically, I married an older version of the kid in the my class who gives me the hardest time! Every time I tell him a story about little "Bob" (not his real name), Rob says "Oh yeah, I did that." When I talk about calling little Bob's parents, he says "Oh yeah, my mom and teacher were on a first name basis". WHAT?! I have come to realize just how bad he was through confirmation every time we see one of his teachers around town. One teacher had us both (at different times) and about croaked when she realized we were together. It's funny how the Lord works!
Hormones, drama, broken homes, and desperately in need of love- that's my kids! I'm learning...they're learning...it's a process and I guess that's all that matters...
Monday, August 22, 2011
And so it begins...
It has been an amazing journey thus far...and it's only the fourth day of school!! I absolutely love it!
The rest of the classroom preparations were simple and not too tedious but here it is...
All of my students walked in on the first day of school to a star with their name on it!
From my desk...
From the door...
I asked them to help me make up our classroom rules! I got some interesting responses :)
For the STAR STUDENTS in each of my four classes!
The Super Star Student calendar :)
Mrs. Brannan's area...all others, keep out!
The billion forms to go home on day one and the turn in bins for each class!
Thanks for the cute clock decorations, Auntie Karen!!
Love some Dr. Seuss quotes!
Quote for week one...loved discussing the meaning with my students!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Classroom Preview!
I had the choice between the old ELA classroom (orange) or the Math classroom (bright yellow). Of course, I chose Yellow!! Without even realizing what I was saying, I told the principal I wanted the yellow room because "it will go better with my burgundy diploma frame". WHAT?! Thankfully she still gave me the job :)
Without further ado...
Come on in!
This is what I started with...
Literary Genres
Oh the joy of sorting books. And books. And more books...
Finished product! *sigh of relief*
After a lot of hard work...
For all newsletters and school events...
And the star lights!
Well that's all I've taken so far but there's more to come when everything's finished!
Where did this come from?!
Where in the world did this come from?! I'm a TEACHER in Lexington One! I am still in shock...
I can't wait to meet all of my 90ish "STAR" students next week! I love getting to know all of my Pelion Middle family and getting my room set up just the way I've always dreamed it'd be. I am almost done setting up my room and I'm working on getting my parent letter and information sheets (all the stuff that parents hate on the first day of school) typed and ready to go home to my students. Next Monday night is Open House so I'll have to let you know how it goes!
I'm going to have to get used to the fact that my students have lockers! I never expected to have "locker duty" during the day and have rules about students going to lockers at certain times.
My room is decorated with tons of stars and my students will be '"shooting for the stars" all year! I hung a string of star shaped lights at the back of the room and I am going to make a wall display that says Learning Is A Blast decorated with a rocket headed toward the stars. I am going to have a Star Student of the week for each of my four classes, which will be an earned title based on behavior. We are using PBIS, or Positive Behavior Intervention System, in our school which is designed to increase desired behaviors and decrease unproductive ones through positive reinforcement.
Pictures to come soon!
I can't wait to meet all of my 90ish "STAR" students next week! I love getting to know all of my Pelion Middle family and getting my room set up just the way I've always dreamed it'd be. I am almost done setting up my room and I'm working on getting my parent letter and information sheets (all the stuff that parents hate on the first day of school) typed and ready to go home to my students. Next Monday night is Open House so I'll have to let you know how it goes!
I'm going to have to get used to the fact that my students have lockers! I never expected to have "locker duty" during the day and have rules about students going to lockers at certain times.
My room is decorated with tons of stars and my students will be '"shooting for the stars" all year! I hung a string of star shaped lights at the back of the room and I am going to make a wall display that says Learning Is A Blast decorated with a rocket headed toward the stars. I am going to have a Star Student of the week for each of my four classes, which will be an earned title based on behavior. We are using PBIS, or Positive Behavior Intervention System, in our school which is designed to increase desired behaviors and decrease unproductive ones through positive reinforcement.
Pictures to come soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)