A little bit of everything...
*On the way to school the other day, my 16 year old said to me, "Do you know what I want to do when I turn 18?"
"No," I replied.
"I want to order something off tv! You have to be 18 or older!" she exclaimed.
"Oh. How will you pay for it?" I inquired.
"I could use your credit card..." she replied.
So much for being grown up.
*The other day I took my kids to library. After kids check out their books, they sit at tables. The librarian has picture books stacked in the middle of each table for kids to look at if they don't have a book to read. I passed one table and heard Cindy giggle. I stopped to see what she found so amusing. "Look," she said, indicating to one of the picture books, "It's called The Grapes of Math!" She laughed some more.
Intrigued, I asked her why she thought that was so funny. "Because," she replied, "Grapes can't do math!"
I agreed that was funny, but told her I thought the title had more to do with the fact that there was a classic book called The Grapes of Wrath...That was probably it...But maybe she was right!
*I have a student whose mom and maternal grandmother are at odds with each other. I don't know all the details, except the mom tells me that her mom lied to her for years, claiming that she, the grandmother, had custody of the girl. Why the mom believed that for four years, or why it even got to that point (had the mom been in jail at some point) is beyond me...But it is a continual battle between the two grown women. So today I got an email from the grandmother, requesting a copy of the report card that is due to come out. Now I knew she didn't have custody, and probably wanted to use it to her advantage. I emailed Mr. Principal, who said our school only gives report cards to the custodial family(ies). I replied to grandma and told her that.
But the funny part about her original email was this ps:"...I used to visit non perfessionally (sic) with a Kathy Smith (insert my last name) who was a therapist and she also worked with the gifted program for Washington Elementary Schools; any relation? She would be 60 or older and is a very tiny woman..."
Too funny! If I was related to her, I'd know her. It doesn't matter how old she is, or how big...Oh! The tiny woman! Yes! Our family has been wondering what happened to her...!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Science Fair-gate
Yup. Another.
So, the teacher who has been our "Science guru" left at the end of last year. Given that my last year's teaching partner and myself led our students to getting the highest science scores in the district last year, as well as the highest scores ever at our school, we are now the science gurus. So last Friday I got an email from Mr. Principal. He had attached a Science Fair packet. We have had a Science Fair at our school for the past two or three years now. Until this year, it was organized by the gal who left and PTA. This year Mr. Principal wanted to make changes, and he put me as the staff contact person. Which made it seem strange when I got the email last Friday, with the packet attachment, saying, "Ms. 5th grade teacher (but not me) and I met to discuss the attached Science Fair packet. Look it over and get back to me with comments, so we can make it our own..."
But, I woke early Saturday, swallowed my pride, and began to look carefully at the packet. I saw many things that I would change, so I made notes as I looked at each page. When finished, I sent my notes back to Mr. Principal and everyone else who was cc'd.
On Monday, there was an email sent from Ms. Intervention Specialist, with notes from the Pack Leadership meeting she had attended at our school. At the Pack Leadership meeting, which I don't go to since I don't get paid, Mr. Principal talked about the Science Fair, saying exactly where to find the student packet, and that all experiments would be done in class. This unleashed a flurry of emails from teachers, astounded that they'd have to supervise 25 experiments in their classrooms. This is so typical of Mr. Principal. He makes these executive decisions, without giving thought to the practicality of the classroom (has he really forgotten that part?).
So I see these emails, and I think, "What happened?" Just a few days earlier I got the packet to make suggestions. Who made up the packet? Emails ensued:
Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher: Hi Ladies,2 questions from the PACK minutes... 1. For the Science Fair project...it has to be done all at school?? Is the school providing the material? Who is cleaning up the mess????What about those kids who's parents help them? Is this what you are trying to avoid? How are they going to write up their boards? Do we have to give them access to computers to type things up? Who is going to PRINT their information for them?Do you realize how much time this will take in our classroom? We can barely fit other things and we have to fit in the Science Project? Plus, I would imagine that spending 30 minutes only, each time you want to work on a project would make it hard to do... The materials, the mess and the time away from other classroom studies is my big concern. Just curious how this was decided.
Me (to Mr. Principal): I’m a bit confused…On Friday, I got an email asking for input on the science fair packet. I gave input. Now, the whole staff has been given info about where to get the packet, science fair due dates, etc. I am under the impression that the packet issue has not been resolved. Please let me know if this is not so, otherwise, now that the whole staff has been told where it is, they may be finding the wrong packet…
Mr. Principal (to me): You have very inaccurate info. I posted the sample and shared that you have made great suggestions and that 5th grade would work on updating the packet. Not sure on your source, but they have it very wrong. Sorry about that, but glad you checked in! I love your suggestions, BTW.
Me (to Mr. Principal): I don’t have inaccurate info. Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher has already sent out two emails that seem to be putting staff into a panic. Can you help reel in the people involved? I think we need to first concentrate on a workable packet. If you like the idea of a separate primary and intermediate packet, then Ms. Other 5th Grade Teacher and I could sit down to make changes. It’s feeling like too many chefs spoiling the broth, here…
Ms. Intervention Specialist: I just sent the email out to those at the Pack Leadership, or those missing from Pack Leadership, so it’s not an all staff thing yet. I was note taker for the meeting, and just typed as I heard info. I just sat and talked w/ Ms. Family and Community Coordinator, and we are thinking since we don’t have a PTA point person on this, that we would be willing to sit down w/ everyone involved w/ the Science Fair (you, PTA folks who are willing/able to help, Mr. Principal) and work on what we want in the packet, what our expectations are, how the PTA can help, etc. Mr. Principal did have a mtg with Ms. Family and Community Coordinator and Ms. PTA President to talk about some specifics, needs and ideas. Ms. PTA President has reached out to Ms. Staff Science Fair Contact (me) via e-mail to set up a mtg time, but not sure if that mtg has been set yet. Not to worry, we WILL get this all figured out!
Me: I am feeling like the science fair group is growing by leaps and bounds, and yet the packet has not been decided on. I am happy to work with it…Maybe the other 5th grade teachers will join me.
Good god. It's no wonder I don't get anything done.
So, the teacher who has been our "Science guru" left at the end of last year. Given that my last year's teaching partner and myself led our students to getting the highest science scores in the district last year, as well as the highest scores ever at our school, we are now the science gurus. So last Friday I got an email from Mr. Principal. He had attached a Science Fair packet. We have had a Science Fair at our school for the past two or three years now. Until this year, it was organized by the gal who left and PTA. This year Mr. Principal wanted to make changes, and he put me as the staff contact person. Which made it seem strange when I got the email last Friday, with the packet attachment, saying, "Ms. 5th grade teacher (but not me) and I met to discuss the attached Science Fair packet. Look it over and get back to me with comments, so we can make it our own..."
But, I woke early Saturday, swallowed my pride, and began to look carefully at the packet. I saw many things that I would change, so I made notes as I looked at each page. When finished, I sent my notes back to Mr. Principal and everyone else who was cc'd.
On Monday, there was an email sent from Ms. Intervention Specialist, with notes from the Pack Leadership meeting she had attended at our school. At the Pack Leadership meeting, which I don't go to since I don't get paid, Mr. Principal talked about the Science Fair, saying exactly where to find the student packet, and that all experiments would be done in class. This unleashed a flurry of emails from teachers, astounded that they'd have to supervise 25 experiments in their classrooms. This is so typical of Mr. Principal. He makes these executive decisions, without giving thought to the practicality of the classroom (has he really forgotten that part?).
So I see these emails, and I think, "What happened?" Just a few days earlier I got the packet to make suggestions. Who made up the packet? Emails ensued:
Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher: Hi Ladies,2 questions from the PACK minutes... 1. For the Science Fair project...it has to be done all at school?? Is the school providing the material? Who is cleaning up the mess????What about those kids who's parents help them? Is this what you are trying to avoid? How are they going to write up their boards? Do we have to give them access to computers to type things up? Who is going to PRINT their information for them?Do you realize how much time this will take in our classroom? We can barely fit other things and we have to fit in the Science Project? Plus, I would imagine that spending 30 minutes only, each time you want to work on a project would make it hard to do... The materials, the mess and the time away from other classroom studies is my big concern. Just curious how this was decided.
Me (to Mr. Principal): I’m a bit confused…On Friday, I got an email asking for input on the science fair packet. I gave input. Now, the whole staff has been given info about where to get the packet, science fair due dates, etc. I am under the impression that the packet issue has not been resolved. Please let me know if this is not so, otherwise, now that the whole staff has been told where it is, they may be finding the wrong packet…
Mr. Principal (to me): You have very inaccurate info. I posted the sample and shared that you have made great suggestions and that 5th grade would work on updating the packet. Not sure on your source, but they have it very wrong. Sorry about that, but glad you checked in! I love your suggestions, BTW.
Me (to Mr. Principal): I don’t have inaccurate info. Ms. Fourth Grade Teacher has already sent out two emails that seem to be putting staff into a panic. Can you help reel in the people involved? I think we need to first concentrate on a workable packet. If you like the idea of a separate primary and intermediate packet, then Ms. Other 5th Grade Teacher and I could sit down to make changes. It’s feeling like too many chefs spoiling the broth, here…
Ms. Intervention Specialist: I just sent the email out to those at the Pack Leadership, or those missing from Pack Leadership, so it’s not an all staff thing yet. I was note taker for the meeting, and just typed as I heard info. I just sat and talked w/ Ms. Family and Community Coordinator, and we are thinking since we don’t have a PTA point person on this, that we would be willing to sit down w/ everyone involved w/ the Science Fair (you, PTA folks who are willing/able to help, Mr. Principal) and work on what we want in the packet, what our expectations are, how the PTA can help, etc. Mr. Principal did have a mtg with Ms. Family and Community Coordinator and Ms. PTA President to talk about some specifics, needs and ideas. Ms. PTA President has reached out to Ms. Staff Science Fair Contact (me) via e-mail to set up a mtg time, but not sure if that mtg has been set yet. Not to worry, we WILL get this all figured out!
Me: I am feeling like the science fair group is growing by leaps and bounds, and yet the packet has not been decided on. I am happy to work with it…Maybe the other 5th grade teachers will join me.
Good god. It's no wonder I don't get anything done.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Finally...
Last week we came back to school from winter break on Wednesday. On Wednesday I checked the Blue Ribbon bulletin board in the office, and there were only three blue ribbons after my name. On Thursday I read Mr. Principal's January letter to the parent community. In the letter he showcased Ms. 6th Grade Teacher's class, the first class to earn five blue ribbons. In the letter, Mr. Principal wrote: Who will be the next class to earn five blue ribbons? I replied to this email that if the office staff was to put up my fourth blue ribbon that my class had earned fair and square, that maybe my class would be the next to earn five blue ribbons...
On Friday, there were still only three Blue Ribbons after my name on the bulletin board in the office. I had vented to just about everybody, and decided that if they could not honor my fourth blue ribbon, I was through supporting Mr. Principal's little Blue Ribbon Goal program.
Yesterday, Monday, I got to school and went into the office to check my mailbox. As I passed by the bulletin board, I noticed that there were four little blue ribbons after my name. "Sweet!" I exclaimed, loudly enough for the office staff to hear my excitement. "Four Blue Ribbons!"
Today, an email went out to the staff from the office. It said that all teachers should check the Blue Ribbon Bulletin Board in the office, and that if they were missing blue ribbons, they were to tell the office staff so that it could be brought up to date.
Thank you.
On Friday, there were still only three Blue Ribbons after my name on the bulletin board in the office. I had vented to just about everybody, and decided that if they could not honor my fourth blue ribbon, I was through supporting Mr. Principal's little Blue Ribbon Goal program.
Yesterday, Monday, I got to school and went into the office to check my mailbox. As I passed by the bulletin board, I noticed that there were four little blue ribbons after my name. "Sweet!" I exclaimed, loudly enough for the office staff to hear my excitement. "Four Blue Ribbons!"
Today, an email went out to the staff from the office. It said that all teachers should check the Blue Ribbon Bulletin Board in the office, and that if they were missing blue ribbons, they were to tell the office staff so that it could be brought up to date.
Thank you.
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