I have just a couple of things to talk about today and that’s all.
“And that’s all” is a common Junie B. saying. I love Junie B. I know she does not speak correctly all the time (neither do I) and I know she says dumb and stupid (sometimes I do, too), but she cracks me up. I once told you I read all the books in order every year. I do. My kids ask every.single.day if we have time for Junie B. and when we finish a chapter, they beg for me to start another.
With all of that being said, Kimberley over at First in Maine sent me a message to tell me that Barbara Parks, the author of Junie B., died this weekend.
I am tho thad. Granted, I didn’t know her, but it just makes me so sad. ๐
Now you’re sad, too.
Now we’re all sad.
I am sorry.
Let’s talk about something happy.
I went to school yesterday and it was a Monday. I feel the need to tell you that in case you didn’t realize it’s already Tuesday, which means I only have three more days until my Thanksgiving break. I thought you should know. Three more days.
So yesterday was Monday and I was told I was going to have a Watch Dog. And we usually get a heads up, but I didn’t get a heads up. Instead, I got a last minute phone call.
I’d love to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised and just overjoyed, but I wasn’t.
I acted like that on the phone, though, you can bet on that.
“No problem!” I said, all cheery and sing songy. “Send him right over! Absolutely! I have a million things for him to do!”
I didn’t. You kind of have to get prepared for a Watch Dog to have a million things to do. Or is that just me? For example, maybe I could have gone back in time and bought ink and then printed that adorable unit out and had the Watch Dog laminate it for me. But I didn’t do that because I didn’t know I had a Watch Dog coming. And it had nothing to do with the Atlanta Housewives. Nope.
I may have been all cheerful on the outside, but I was a little grumpy about it on the inside. A Watch Dog? On a Monday? With no notice? Grrrrr.
But then.
Oh my word . . . THEN.
No, it wasn’t Thor.
I wish.
He just so happened to be a teacher in our district who works at a year round school, and he was off track. And he wanted to TEACH.
He wanted to give me a break.
A break, I said. A BREAK.
So I let him teach! And he did! He taught a compare and contrast lesson and a digraphs lesson and he read our read aloud and I can’t think of what else, because I was pulling kids and working one on one with them. ONE ON ONE.
People, this went on until LUNCH TIME.
And he was very mild mannered. And very quiet. So the kids had to lean forward to hear what he was saying. You could have heard a pin drop.
It was . . . well, it was definitely a method I haven’t tried.
So I tried to talk very quietly today . . . but my kids kept asking what was wrong with me.
And then I’d forget that I was supposed to talk quietly.
Because I don’t talk quietly. And my whole life my parents (and later) my husband have always said, “You don’t need to yell. We’re right here.”
I am not yelling. That’s the thing. That’s just my voice. And it gets louder if I’m excited about something. And it speeds up, too. Just deal.
Shoulder shrug.
Ever since I had the Watch Dog, I can’t stop thinking about how much I accomplished.
And I have decided that I might possibly, maybe, perhaps, welllllllll . . . maybe I could entertain the thought of having a student teacher again.
I might consider it.
Maybe.
My last student teacher was amazing. Fabulous. That was three years ago. Maybe four. The one before that . . . hmmmmm. Well. My mom always said if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.
I am a control freak. I am. I am a nerdladoodle.
So I don’t know.
I just don’t know.
Yeah, probably not.
What do you think?
I would love it if that happened with a visitor. I feel the same way about student teachers though. I think it has been about 2 years, and I still don't feel I can do it again. I did feel like I should tell you that I did the pin it. Exactly what you said would happen did-one girl asked if she could do it during Explore on Friday (same as Fun Friday). Then, we went through a basic mantra of how to use the pin and at the end of do not put it anywhere on your body, special friend yells out "Like up your nose". I should have maybe have expected it, but I somehow didn't. I figured you might like to hear that little story. Always funnier as a story than when it happened. Thanks for a great blog. I always enjoy reading it.
I just want to tell you I had a long day today because of math/science night and all and getting home and finding your post made my day. Thanks.
I wish I had your Monday. My Monday consisted of my students going off the deep end and acting all crazy. Must be they are ready for vacation. We only have 3 more day also!
In January I will have a student teacher. I am kind of nervous.
Have a great rest of the week!
Thanks (I think) for the shout out. I say I think because of course now I've made 3078 people sadder tonight. Who wants that responsibility? I laughed at the trying to be quiet thing. I was going to blog about that last week, but I decided to work on my observation lesson plan instead. There are two other first grade teachers at my school that are so quiet I feel like I should tiptoe in when I want to tell them stuff. Sometimes I think their kids are shocked (appalled even) by me when they come for intervention time. Shrug shoulders indeed. It's just who I am. Maybe it's a twin thing?
Kimberley
Lol, I am loud as well and I don't even need to use my mic to get their attention! Your stories are funny and I hope the rest of your week flies by.
It's been a long time since I had a student teacher because the last one (which was probably 10 years ago) was awful and rude. Before that I had good ones. I have a 4-week student right now, and it's not so bad, but she only has to teach 4 lessons. I am thinking maybe I should take one again, but then I realize that I must be a control freak because it is hard to think of having a student teacher who will take over and not do things my way for weeks. These little short term ones are much easier to handle.
My student teacher ended yesterday…and last year I had one too. They were both amazing…but yet, I have trouble letting go, and I love taking them back. But I believe they grew, they learned….and I watched, cringed only a little, and let them fly…and they did. You can, and should do it. They can learn to fly from you!
This cracks me up because I too have tried that whole lower your voice real low so they have to lean in and hear you and it NEVER WORKS because my kids know I am not naturally that soft spoken. I think the key is to start it day one, conversation one, and maintain. #probablynotinthecardsforme ๐
Too funny…I am also constantly being told by my hubby and family that I don't need to yell, even when I'm not. Maybe it is something with us tiny folks ( I am only 5 feet). Here's to only 3 days until vacation!
~Laura
For my babies that need some extra attention due to behavior issues I actually do find that speaking softly to them works better than talking loudly. ๐
I love watch dogs when I get notice too but a teacher one…whoo – you really lucked out on that my friend.
xoxo
Vicky
Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After
You crack me up! I have tried and tried the quiet thing. I really have, even though we wear those mics from REDCAT. So, when I turn it off and try the quiet thing I get no response. None.
CrazyaboutFirstButLovinK
Oh, Barbara Park. Now I am THO THAD. I have a signed copy of one of her Junie B. First Grader books. Bought it at my local library for a buck fifty.
I also made a pinning word work station. Huge huge ginormous hit. But when I shared the idea with some fellow teachers, they all gave me the WOMAN YOU CRAZY face. I assure you no children were harmed in the production of this word work.
I don't know what a watch dog is, but I do know I want one! One on one? Quiet, engaged kids? This all sounds too fab!!!
I had a student teacher once. That was the end of that. ๐
Lauren
Love, Laughter and Learning in Prep!
I am a complete control freak too- and I have had the exact same thoughts about "quiet talk." I bet if I spoke oh-so-quietly, the kids would too. But we'll never know. I get too excited. I also do not understand when teachers call the kids "friends." I can't bring myself to be that person either. Your Watch Dog sounds kind of Thor-ish in the hero sort of way. So glad for you! Have a wonderful break! We go until Tuesday- which is a half day conference day…
Carolyn
Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together
Oh.My.Gosh! We are SO.MUCH.ALIKE! haha! and NO, we're not crazy! ๐ We, too, have WatchDOGS, and I love, love, love them…when I know in advance that someone's coming to my room to help! That's awesome that he did such a great job for you! I, however, am not so brave to say I'll have another student teacher…sigh! And if my brother tells me to lower my voice one more time….well, I get excited, too.! ๐
Cracking me up with the comments about how when you speak softly your kids ask what's wrong with you. Mine too! I just have a naturally loud voice apparently that doesn't sound that loud to me. My parents and husband and now my own children tell me all the time that I don't have to yell… oh well! They will just have to deal – I can't help it!
pure awsomeness!! Your the teacher I always feel bad for because every one wants to watch her and I know she is so so chipper but grrr…why are you still watching me??? lol…I think it's awesome you can be so chipper and grrr not say anything unpleasant about anyone else!!! I admire it for sure!!
I have had three amazing student teachers. But my hubby had one last year that…. well, almost made my hubby want to quit teaching. Oh it was awful. But I have had such positive experiences. And I love the extra pair of hands in the room. Also, I feel like I am a loud teacher, too. And I admire my soft-spoken colleagues.
Well, when you had your Watch Dog, I had a Whackadoodle – or 23. That's what I told my students on Monday. For some reason, they were being whackadoodles and I was going to be one soon if they didn't get it together. Somehow they thought that was funny and didn't have a clue what a whackadoodle was. I bet you do!
What is this watch dog business you speak of?! And I'm the same way… A little *too* animated sometimes, so when I calm down the kids think there's something wrong… oops!
Andrew
Mr. First Grade
We are starting a watchdog program this year. Could you share what kinds of things you have had them help you with? I have been teaching 14 years and I have never had a parent volunteer in the classroom! Thanks.
You should have a student teacher and it should be me! ๐ In all seriousness, though, I am always so inspired to read your blog, and I always love reading your stories. I hope to be a teacher like you someday!