Some people might not call this a costume (just ask the Sophomore Tyler) but I beg to differ. Can't you tell from the picture I am FANATICAL?
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Principal's Office
Oh, man. You know you have done something SO big, if you are sent down to the principals office. Luckily I got through my whole public school experience without one of those visits. Unfortunately I can't say the same of Pablo today.
My B4 period is unpredictable. I have 8 kids, 7 of which are male, and can I just take a moment and talk about Sophomore boys? They are the worst. Something gets into them (girls), and all reason flies out the window. They are all of a sudden the "toughest", "smoothest", most defiant people on the planet. I can't stand them. So, back to my original thought. Seven sophomore boys all competing to be the loudest, most obnoxious child in the room. FUN!
After Tuesday (last time I had them) I had had enough. I decided I was going to do something drastic and make a HUGE point.
Today after they paraded in from "eating lunch" (which really means running up and down the halls, throwing backpacks at each other, listening to obnoxious cell phone rings, etc.) RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR, since I won't let them in early. I started class on a somber mode.
"I need to talk to you about something. I am very frustrated and upset by the way you act and treat me in my class. So, today we are going to do something different. One of you will be sent to the principals office today (insert gasps, looking around the room, smiles of disbelief). What? You think I am not serious? Oohhh, I am very serious." At this point I was totally doing the Mrs. Leffler (Oly Jr. reference), condescending passive aggressive smile that I always despised when used by teachers.
"One of you will be my Guinea pig. One of you will step across the bounds and march yourself straight down the principals office. Will it be you (asked to the whole class)?"
A few of the good kids shook their heads, while Pablo was ready to call my bluff.
"You will First get a warning, which means your name is on the board. If I have to ask you to not be disruptive a SECOND time, you WILL go to the principals office." I said.
"Just because you are in a bad mood doesn't mean you should take it out on US!" exclaims Pablo.
To which my reply was, "Oh, good, Pablo is practically marching down there already!" I go to write his name on the board but before I could even make it, Pablo says, "I don't care, I think it is funny."
HA! This was easier than I thought! The whole class was 1) stunned that Pablo had talked back. and 2) SILENT.
Pablo had just made my experiment so EASY! Thank you Pablo. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't like to provoke people but what would have happened had NO ONE acted up? No big scene, no one stunned at how serious I was? It worked out perfectly. I was even red in the face.
I walked straight to the phone without even writing Pablo's name on the board and asked for an administrator to come pick Pablo up. About two minutes went by and the Principal was there to escort my Guinea Pig down the the "Office of Doom".
I never knew why that threat was always used or why it was so scary to go down there (still don't know what goes on in there), but let me tell you what...it WORKS!
The rest of the day those kids were nice, participated and fun.
Win, win. Oh, except for Pablo. Poor kid.
My B4 period is unpredictable. I have 8 kids, 7 of which are male, and can I just take a moment and talk about Sophomore boys? They are the worst. Something gets into them (girls), and all reason flies out the window. They are all of a sudden the "toughest", "smoothest", most defiant people on the planet. I can't stand them. So, back to my original thought. Seven sophomore boys all competing to be the loudest, most obnoxious child in the room. FUN!
After Tuesday (last time I had them) I had had enough. I decided I was going to do something drastic and make a HUGE point.
Today after they paraded in from "eating lunch" (which really means running up and down the halls, throwing backpacks at each other, listening to obnoxious cell phone rings, etc.) RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR, since I won't let them in early. I started class on a somber mode.
"I need to talk to you about something. I am very frustrated and upset by the way you act and treat me in my class. So, today we are going to do something different. One of you will be sent to the principals office today (insert gasps, looking around the room, smiles of disbelief). What? You think I am not serious? Oohhh, I am very serious." At this point I was totally doing the Mrs. Leffler (Oly Jr. reference), condescending passive aggressive smile that I always despised when used by teachers.
"One of you will be my Guinea pig. One of you will step across the bounds and march yourself straight down the principals office. Will it be you (asked to the whole class)?"
A few of the good kids shook their heads, while Pablo was ready to call my bluff.
"You will First get a warning, which means your name is on the board. If I have to ask you to not be disruptive a SECOND time, you WILL go to the principals office." I said.
"Just because you are in a bad mood doesn't mean you should take it out on US!" exclaims Pablo.
To which my reply was, "Oh, good, Pablo is practically marching down there already!" I go to write his name on the board but before I could even make it, Pablo says, "I don't care, I think it is funny."
HA! This was easier than I thought! The whole class was 1) stunned that Pablo had talked back. and 2) SILENT.
Pablo had just made my experiment so EASY! Thank you Pablo. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't like to provoke people but what would have happened had NO ONE acted up? No big scene, no one stunned at how serious I was? It worked out perfectly. I was even red in the face.
I walked straight to the phone without even writing Pablo's name on the board and asked for an administrator to come pick Pablo up. About two minutes went by and the Principal was there to escort my Guinea Pig down the the "Office of Doom".
I never knew why that threat was always used or why it was so scary to go down there (still don't know what goes on in there), but let me tell you what...it WORKS!
The rest of the day those kids were nice, participated and fun.
Win, win. Oh, except for Pablo. Poor kid.
Friday, September 25, 2009
What the...
So, I am a resource teacher... Special Ed, if you will. I know most of you are picturing disabled children like, Down Syndrome, or blind, or the like, but that is not the case. The majority of my students are everyday normal kids who have fallen behind. Occasionally I get a Napoleon Dynamite type, and boy are those my favs!
Let's visit an experience I had today with one of them, and let's call him Tommy.
I had on Wednesday visited with Tommy and his mother during Parent-Teacher conferences, and on Thursday just happened to see the two of them again while going to a meeting. Quite the coincidence, but nothing too exciting.
So, today... Tommy was late for class. He came in a little hurried and sat down at his desk. I was working on my computer when Tommy stood up and said, "Mrs. Young...Mrs. Young!", very urgently. I quickly turned around to address him when a huge grin came over his face. I was confused. "Yes Tommy? What do you need?" was all I could think to say. He then, very shyly said, "uhm, my mom really liked your shirt you were wearing at Parent-Teacher Conferences."
To which I laughed a little inside and thanked him for the complement.
This response was not satisfying Tommy. He was acting as if I needed to finish my sentence and move on.
*Crickets chirping*
He then finally said, "Well, my mom would like to know where you got your shirt so she can buy it."
WHAT? HUH? The same mom that had taken TWO treats from my treat bowl (while mind you, both of her sons knew it was only appropriate to take ONE) would like to know where I bought my shirt? This is bizarre.
"Well, I got that shirt at a store called Ralph Lauren."
"Write it down please. My mom told me I have to have you write it down on a piece of paper." was Tommy's reply.
....Is this really happening?
I take out my post-it-notes and write RALPH LAUREN and go to hand the paper to him when he says, "And also, write down where you got the one you were wearing yesterday....she liked that one too."
I love my job.
Let's visit an experience I had today with one of them, and let's call him Tommy.
I had on Wednesday visited with Tommy and his mother during Parent-Teacher conferences, and on Thursday just happened to see the two of them again while going to a meeting. Quite the coincidence, but nothing too exciting.
So, today... Tommy was late for class. He came in a little hurried and sat down at his desk. I was working on my computer when Tommy stood up and said, "Mrs. Young...Mrs. Young!", very urgently. I quickly turned around to address him when a huge grin came over his face. I was confused. "Yes Tommy? What do you need?" was all I could think to say. He then, very shyly said, "uhm, my mom really liked your shirt you were wearing at Parent-Teacher Conferences."
To which I laughed a little inside and thanked him for the complement.
This response was not satisfying Tommy. He was acting as if I needed to finish my sentence and move on.
*Crickets chirping*
He then finally said, "Well, my mom would like to know where you got your shirt so she can buy it."
WHAT? HUH? The same mom that had taken TWO treats from my treat bowl (while mind you, both of her sons knew it was only appropriate to take ONE) would like to know where I bought my shirt? This is bizarre.
"Well, I got that shirt at a store called Ralph Lauren."
"Write it down please. My mom told me I have to have you write it down on a piece of paper." was Tommy's reply.
....Is this really happening?
I take out my post-it-notes and write RALPH LAUREN and go to hand the paper to him when he says, "And also, write down where you got the one you were wearing yesterday....she liked that one too."
I love my job.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Calm
My life feels calm
I can hear the crickets
I can breathe
I have time to burn things in my crock-pot (HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN A ROW?)
I can read my book club book
I can enjoy the fall
I can relax
I can hear the crickets
I can breathe
I have time to burn things in my crock-pot (HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN A ROW?)
I can read my book club book
I can enjoy the fall
I can relax
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Doug came to NY
Craig's little brother Doug came to visit Craig in August, and it was so much fun getting to...eat with him. These pictures explain it all.
Here we start with a Nathan's hot dog at Coney Island:
Here we start with a Nathan's hot dog at Coney Island:
(Don't mind the scragglemuffin in the blue hat. I was trying to blend in with the crowd o.k.)Next was on to Shake Shack. Yes, we loved that place.
And what is a NYC visit without Magnolia's Banana Pudding? Here we are sitting on the tables outside of the Lincoln Center and the Temple enjoying our fix.
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