I made a new bulletin board in my classroom.
It took four hours. Not a single student said anything to indicate they noticed. I also dyed my roots. Twelve students noticed/commented. Either my roots were really bad or my bulletin board is really bad.
Sitting at my desk this morning. I thought I smelled something foul.
It was a sandwich. Wedged under my door; clearly left there before the weekend. Balogna. Three days old.
Become a teacher, they said. It will be fun, they said.
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” Some days I think I’m holding students under.
Ok, I need advice.
Recently, the lockers in my classroom were removed. In their absence is a large space along the wall now. I originally wanted to paint the wall with idea paint (to turn it into a giant whiteboard…) but the division has told me that I am not allowed to do so. I was somewhat considering buying a couch and some little bean bag chairs to put in the space for a reading corner (reading…wall?), but I have some reservations about that. Here are my thoughts:
Pro’s:
Students might love the reading space
It will fill the space that is rather unsightly now
My classroom will be the cool classroom
Cons:
I will have to pay for the furniture with my own money (probably)
The space may become distracting
My classroom will be the cool classroom.
Ideas? What do you think??
When the grandmother in this book dies I am going to dance figuratively on her grave!
—One of my grade 12 students while reading Wayson Choy’s The Jade Peony in class. To be fair, she is kind of an unlikable character.
How a student made my day
Our school is doing a Christmas activity for students and staff: each person fills out a piece of paper outlining a few things that they appreciate about someone in the school. Today I got one!
It says: Mrs. Herrick,
You are a very patient young lady and I have never seen a lady like you or as prett (sic). You have such nice clothes and shoes I wish you could share them with me. I love making you laugh with my humour.
From your girly,
(student name)
This made my day! The student who wrote it is in grade 11, but works outside of the classroom most of the time with an EA. I am still laughing about the fact that it says nothing about my teaching ability, but points out that I should share my wardrobe with her. This is going on my wall of pride!
Today
Today I am excited. Next week I’m taking my class on a field trip (just to a neighbouring city…but still a big deal for me) and I’m planning an art gallery trip as well. My students are excited for Christmas and there are lots of goodies in the staff room! I think I might be getting the hang of this teaching thing. Life is good.
This reminds me of my grade 11’s; a class with self diagnosed “ADOD”: Attention Deficit Ooh-look-something-shiny Disorder.
I had a terrible day filled with detentions, trips to the principals office, a minor theft, and a subsequent headache. Just when I become discouraged, I find this in the office work room. Silver lining! I guess this teaching stuff isn’t so bad after all.
I used this video to teach students about animation…but you don’t have to be an artist or a dancer to fall in love with it. Bravo Ryan Woodward!
