A Little Science Surprise

Sunday morning I was privy to a surprise waiting for me upstairs.  Not a planned surprise, like breakfast in bed or anything, but a surprise nonetheless.

My youngest adopted a crayfish from his teacher after the students finished their science unit.  (The crayfish would have been destroyed otherwise, so the teachers let the children apply to adopt the crayfish.)  This was right near Thanksgiving. 

So I'm downstairs and I hear him yelling, panicked, "Mom!  There's something wrong with Sarah!"  (The original name was going to be Spike, but then he found out it was a girl.)  I yelled up and asked him what was wrong.  He proceeded to tell me that something was hanging from her tail.  At which point I go up to investigate.

I get to the tank and Sarah is hidden away in her little cave, so I lift the cave up to get a look at her.  Surprise, surprise...she's got a brood of eggs tucked under her tail!  Like 50 of them.  (We don't know how long they've been there because Sarah is always in her cave and crayfish are nocturnal, anyway.)To which my first thought was "What?!?"  My second thought was to call the pet store to see what we should do.  My third thought, teacher that I am, was to do some investigating online about crayfish and take some pictures to share with his teacher so she could share with the class; it's not something they ever get to see during their unit.  So then I talked to my son about what was going to happen and the look on his face was priceless.  He wasn't worried or anything, it was more like shock mixed with awe.  We joke with him that he's going to be a grandfather. =)

Some research, a phone call, and a trip to the pet store later, Sarah is now in a breeding tank that separates her from the eggs once they hatch, otherwise she will eat her young.  So now the whole household is waiting like expectant parents in the hospital, even walking softly and taking care not to bump the table the tank is on so we won't give Sarah "mommy stress." 

It's been an adventure.

Oh My

Well, it has been a busy first few weeks of school.  And also a bit surreal.  In the first three weeks of school, we have had the aftermath of a hurricane, a tropical storm, and massive flooding.  We started school on August 29, but because of the effects of the above, we just finished our 11th day of school on Friday. 

The routines have been slow going because of the interruptions.  We had a full week the week of August 29th, followed by a week comprised of one-and-a-half school days.  We had Monday, September 5 off for Labor Day, then we had school Tuesday and half of Wednesday. 

Wednesday was an early dismissal due to the pouring rain and flooding occurring here in the northeast.  (In some nearby areas the water came so fast that the students weren't allowed to leave until the state police gave clearance to leave.  Some students (and parents who came to pick them up when the weather turned) had to end up staying in the schools overnight.) Thursday and Friday we were off because of the flooding of the Susquehanna River in our area.  At one point we had part of our interstate, the turnpike, over 150 state roads, and many local roads closed due to flooding of the roadways, sinkholes, or buckled roads.  Some are still closed.

My family fared pretty well, only having to deal with a boil water advisory for four days and closed roads.  We also took in a few members from our church who had to be evacuated from a flood-prone area.  (Good news, they didn't get any water.)  Others, including many of my students and colleagues, are still dealing with cleaning/repairing/replacement of flooded basements and homes and the headache that comes with dealing with insurance companies.)  By the time we came back on Monday, September 12, it was like the first day of school all over again.

It'll take some time, but we'll be back on track soon.  Keep us in your thoughts.

Day 166: It Followed Him to School One Day...

You know how the song goes.  The next line says, "It made the children laugh and play..." 

Well, I can assure you that what followed my student (or rather, hitched a ride) to school on Thursday did NOT make the children laugh and play.

Thursday morning, Day 167, started out at any other school day.  The children had come in and unpacked, and were beginning morning work.  Toward the time of the ringing of the late bell, one my students yelled that there was something in his backpack.  This as a colleague had come in to ask a question.

She was closest to my student at the time, as I was at my desk going through folders, so she stepped over to take a look.  I put down the folder I was looking through and came over to see what the commotion was.  (As you can imagine, by this time, any student who was in that area wanted to take a look.)  We shooed the children to their seats (or the back carpet) and began to look for the creature.  By this time, the late bell rang, so my colleague went back to her room and I proceeded to look for something out of the ordinary.

As I turned to tell the students who had come in during the commotion what to do about unpacking, the object/creature came out of one backpack and began to crawl on the backpack next to it.  Of course, the student who had initially told me there was something there began yelling...which set off a chorus of "There it is!"

The "It" in question was a large hornet that somehow made its way into my student's backpack and managed to travel inside said backpack without being smashed.

Anyhow, it flew out of the backpack and buzzed angrily around the one side of the room.  Which sent my second graders scurrying to the opposite side of the room, yelling and sounding like a herd of animals.  At which point I held up my hands (while keeping an eye on the insect) and told them to calm down. I then told the students who normally sit by the coat rack to have a seat on the back carpet and work there.  Then I opened the door and a window to try and coax the hornet out of the room. Eventually it left the room (I think!) and we began our day.  I say I think it left because we didn't see or hear it past 9:05 or so, and we haven't seen it since.

My only hope is that it didn't hole up somewhere...

Day 160: 20 Days Left?!?!?

It seems so unreal.  There are 20 days left in the school year, as of Tuesday, May 10.  Wow.

If you are anything like me and your year is almost over, you are probably a little into hyper-drive mode, trying to wrap up all projects and loose ends before the children decide they aren't going to work anymore.  I keep thinking of all the things that have yet to be done:  One unit test in language arts, two science quizzes, a unit test in math and an end-of-the-year test in math, field day, report cards, and a talent show. I know, it's enough, right?  Add in there the fact that the heat has returned, and it's enough to make you want to crack.

But...

I won't. 

Things will get done and I will survive.

I just keep looking on the bright side...

20 days left!

Day 152: Storms and Flooding

Whoa.

I know I've been asking for spring to arrive, especially after the winter we had, but today takes the cake.  As we all know, with spring comes the arrival of rain, rain, and more rain.  Well last night and into today, we got hit with that storm front that made it's way across the country and devastated the Midwest and the southern states. 

Around 10:00 last night, the lightning started.  No thunder until later in the night.  And then the rain started.  Buckets and buckets and buckets of rain.  It sounded like someone had a pressure washer aimed at my windows all night long.

When I got up in the morning I clicked on the local news and the entire Doppler radar area was covered in dark green, yellow, orange, or red.  Not colors you want to see first thing in the morning.  My family and I went on through our morning getting ready for school.  My husband took my daughter, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, up to the bus stop. My son and I finished our morning routine and were about ready to walk out the door only to get a phone call telling us that one of the major roads near my home was flooded.  And school would be on a two-hour delay due to the flooding there and other parts of the area.   The middle schools, which miraculously already had some students on their way to the buildings (my daughter being one of them), were on a liberal tardy policy.  That basically means that any students who were held up by detours would not be marked late.

(In 10 years of teaching, I think I've only had two other days where school was cancelled or delayed due to flooding.  That was the year Hurricane Isabel hit the middle Atlantic states.  I lived in Baltimore at the time, and a good portion of the area near my school--including my husband's office--was flooded.  But here?  Definitely NOT your everyday occurrence!)

Anyhow, while I waited at home for the water to subside a bit (the rain finally stopped), no less than four tornado warnings crawled across the screen for surrounding counties.  I don't know how my county was missed, but I'm not complaining.

Okay, I get it.  Spring is here. 

It just needs to tone itself down a bit!

Day 143: First Scholastic Book Review!

Well, well, well.

It hardly seems real.  I actually have a book review published.  Part of my role as Scholastic Teacher Advisor is to preview new books through Scholastic and write reviews for their Facebook page.  I review the books for student interest and classroom connections.  I showed the review to my son after it was published.  He thought I was famous!

I'm in the middle of my next review (due at the end of the month for May's reviews).  Check back on the Facebook page and see what's coming up!  You just might find something to use...and your students will thank you for it!

Day 134: Pay Freezes and Attitudes

Today is the day.  Today my district votes whether or not to take a pay freeze for the next school year.  Several nearby districts have already voted to do so.  I know the bargaining units are on both sides of the fence here, but that's the way it is with any big issue.

If you've been following me, you know I posted about this last week, along with some other hot-button issues regarding education in my state.  I for one, am going to vote for the pay freeze.  Yes, my costs are going up just like everyone else's.  Yes, there are times I struggle to make ends meet, even with my part-time job outside of teaching. 

But...

I'm going to do it: 1) because the alternative is just not even something I'm willing to think about, not if I am truly an educator; and 2) help show the public that teachers are not the bad guys in all of this. 

The alternative to not taking a pay freeze would mean a MINIMUM of 49 positions furloughed, increased class size because those positions won't necessarily be filled, additional programs cut, and the increased perception that teachers are spoiled brats who hide behind their unions and don't know the reality of living in a tough economy.

Somehow over the past few months, the public's attitude toward teachers has changed.  Suddenly, we are the scapegoats for everything wrong with collective bargaining units, the state budget, and education in general.

Just reading through the editorials in my local newspaper over the past week has made my blood boil--and I'm usually a pretty calm, even-tempered person.  But the things that are being said about us is just cruel--and in most cases--wrong.

Some quotes (directly and indirectly) from the paper:
*Teachers are paid too much, work too little, and have Cadillac health plans most of us don't.
*They only work nine months out of the year, have summer off on the taxpayer's dime, and whine about everything.
*They babysit all day.
*They have too many benefits.
*They fail too much with no accountability.
*They hide behind their contracts and unions.
"...you say to walk a mile in a teachers shoes...but they don't walk an entire mile ...they take the last 1/4 off...oh, wait that is a year I am thinking about..not a mile, sorry...they do walk the mile and then they say that if you want them to walk the next mile they will need at least a 3% increase in pay from the previous mile, guaranteed for the next 4 miles, and that you should throw an extra 10% of that amount into a bag, invest it and guarantee it for them, so that they can collect at the end of the road..and to pay for any illness or injury they may suffer along the way...oh, and should they loose (fail to educate to a set of standards) any of your children along the road, be mindful you will be to blame as poor parents...."
"Teaching is a job much like waiting tables, removing dead animal bodies from the side of the road and as well as standing in front of a tax preparation business wearing the statue of liberty outfit. The only difference is, except for teaching, the other jobs don't strike and affect a child's education when they are asked to pay their fair share of benefits."
"Ban the teachers unions and automatic tenure, adopt merit pay for teachers, restore discipline in the classrooms and eliminate political correctness. Oh, and banish the misfits among the kids from classrooms."
"Cut spending. They spend a record amount of money on education and the situation has gotten worse. Schools hire Public Relations employees and build Taj Mahal's in tribute to someone's over budgeted ego. Schools have astro turf fields and indoor swimming pools.  Teachers get raises each and every year along with to die for benefits. Want education to improve? Cut all school budgets by 50% and focus on teaching!"

How did we become the new scapegoats for everything wrong with struggling budgets and education? A lot of the other comments clearly show that the public has no true idea of what we do all day.  Most of them think we are glorified babysitters, that we read and sing and play all day.  I would love to post that e-mail that had been circulating around about the Survivor Show for Teachers.  And of course, that e-mail only hits the tip of the iceberg of our duties.

So anyhow, I'm voting for the pay freeze because fewer teachers in the building doesn't help anyone in the classroom.  And I'm voting for it because we teachers do know what it means to live in a tough economy every year (think about all you spend out of your salary to provide things for your classroom, on top of your daily living costs). 

It's about time the public realizes we know it, too. 

Day 129: Dear Governor, What'd I Ever Do to You?

Day 129, from the standpoint of teaching my class, was a typical day.  No issues, no worries.
And then...

We had an emergency union meeting regarding my state governor's budget proposal for public education. 

I wish I could say that everything was roses.

But it's not.

Gee, where to begin?  Well, first I would like to say that I am pleased (at this point) that our governor has not taken away or rallied to take away our collective bargaining rights.  Past that, I am not pleased.  Not pleased at all.  Here is a list of why my sunny day suddenly turned cloudy:

1. Pay freeze.  All public school employees, from custodians to cafeteria workers to secretaries to principals to teachers, have been asked to take a pay freeze for this coming school year, or there will be furloughs in my school district.  The governor says the districts across the state must do this to save the state thousands and thousands of dollars.  This, after he has proposed to cut over a BILLION dollars to public education and public state universities.  If ALL of the bargaining units in my district (and I dare say, others) do not accept pay freezes for the upcoming school year, then there will be furloughs, with notices as early as May.  In my district alone, that equates to a MINIMUM of 49 positions across all areas.
2. Cuts to the education budget.  My district stands to lose nearly 20% of its funding from the state. Our district projected a $927,000 shortfall after our budget was done earlier this month.  The district offered early retirement to those who were eligible and came close to a balanced budget.  When the governor gave his address (just several days  later), that shortfall grew to $2.6 million. I don't have to tell you what that means for any district in this situation.
(Interestingly, businesses and other companies/corporations have not been asked to "share in the sacrifice" to help make my state more fiscally sound.  In fact, companies have been allowed to use a nearby state for P.O. box mailing addresses while the companies do business here, thereby avoiding fees and taxes that should be paid to the state.)
3. 18 new proposed bills affecting teachers and other workers in education.  Some of the more pressing ones:

• One bill would allow districts to furlough teachers for purely economic reasons.  Seniority would not be the deciding factor in these decisions.  Not only that, but the furloughs would be allowed without school districts being required to cut costs through other means.
• Another bill would allow a version of merit pay for teachers.  Basically, if your test scores are reviewed and your class is not meeting the goal set aside by the state, you could be fired.  Note that this does not take the makeup of your class into account.  So if I have students who are learning the language, or students with special needs, or students who came to you as a lower group because of outside factors (lack of parent support, undiagnosed learning disabilities, etc.), I could risk kissing my job goodbye.
• Another bill would permit uncertified school nurses to be in the buildings.  (Sorry, but as a parent with a child with asthma and another with allergies that can result in anaphylaxis, I'd want a certified nurse in the building.) 

I believe we are going to take the pay freeze for this year (two nearby districts already have), partly to save jobs and partly to help the public's perception of teachers.  The public's overall impression of teachers here is that we work nine months out of the year and have summers off at the taxpayer's expense so we should just stop complaining about everything and let the governor do his job. 

Sorry, but until they've taught a mile in my shoes, they have nothing to say.  Yes, I'm a teacher, and that entails a lot more than nine months of work.  Some of my roles:

• Educator,
• Counselor,
• Parenting coach,
• Literary expert,
• Confidante,
• Entertainer,
• Nurse,
• Psychologist,
• Crisis manager,
• Psychiatrist, and
• Parent...

...Just to name a few.  I have fed children, clothed children, and provided basic school supplies for children.  I have been hit, threatened more times than I care to count (by students and parents), and called out of my name because I wanted to help a child that needed it. I have spent thousands of dollars providing my classes with items a nonexistent school budget couldn't provide, including pencils and writing paper for my students and copier paper for their work. I have endured several years of wondering if I would have a job because of budget cuts--years before the economic situation we are in now. I have taught students and their parents the English language.  I have taught children with all ranges of special education needs, from autism to deafness to bipolar disorder to emotional support.  I have spent years teaching students of various grade-level abilities (sometimes a range of kindergarten-level to fifth-grade level) in my second-grade-level classroom.  I spend my summers taking even more classes in education and planning how to implement those strategies for the next year. I'm up early, in the building early, stay late, and am to bed late...all in the name of a better education for a child.

...I KEEP COMING BACK BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN EDUCATION. 

Day 120: Two-Thirds Gone

What?  Where did the year go?  It's hard to believe that in 60 days' time, I will be releasing yet another class to move on to third grade. Where has time gone?  It seems like the first week of school was just last week.

But then I look back at all of the things we have learned and done together.  Of how much my students have grown physically, socially, and academically.  Of the new skills my students have learned and the old skills they have perfected.  Of the skills they have yet to learn and master before the year is through. (No pressure, right?)

Two-thirds gone.

One-third to go.

Wow.

Saturday: Day Two of Scholastic Meetings

Saturday, February 26, I awoke around 6:45 to be dressed and ready for room service, scheduled to arrive somewhere between 7:15 and 7:30.  Breakfast was prearranged by Scholastic; all we had to do was call down to guest services, tell what time we wanted breakfast, and present a coupon to room service when they came to the door.

This is the coupon we had to present...

...and this is what came to my door.
Oh. My. Stars.

 

After breakfast I met Carol in the lobby again, along with the other teachers.  We went back to the Scholastic building for the second round of meetings.  The walk was much better than the previous day; it poured on Friday!  Saturday was just windy.

We got back to the building where we posed for a group picture, then got to business.  We talked about what books we use in class, how we incorporate books into lessons, what types of skills we cover, and what reading intervention programs are used.  We also had a chance to meet with the editorial teams in small groups to talk about what topics we would like to see covered in book offerings.  (I have a hard time finding books that cover map skills and geography on a second-grade level to supplement my Social Studies geography unit.  And guess what?  They are planning to create a series on just that!)  The last thing we did before breaking for lunch was meet with the design teams in small groups to talk about the design of the book club fliers themselves.  Be on the lookout for some changes come this fall...

After the meetings, we were treated to lunch upstairs in the Greenhouse.  The Greenhouse is on the top floor and it is like a sunroom where you can have meals al fresco.  It was actually too cold to dine al fresco, but the sunlight coming in was warm.

When lunch was over, we were taken to a room where we got to rate and help choose offerings for the new Teacher Bonus catalog.  FYI: There are some really neat things coming your way!

Once we finished with the Bonus catalog items, we were given some time to be on our own.  So I went along with four other teachers who are also self-professed foodies.  We went on a mini food tour, in the manner of Food Network/The Cooking Channel.  We started right at the end of the block with Baked by Melissa, a place that specializes in mini cupcakes.

These are my tasties: S'more, Coconut Cream, and Cinnamon.  They were moist and fluffy.  Delicious!

You literally walk up to the window, place your order, and walk away with goodness in your hands.

From there we hopped on the subway and trekked up to Union Square.  There we hit the Shake Shack for burgers, fries, and shakes.  Actually, I only had the fries.  I just can't do burgers out!  (For a self-professed foodie, I know that's akin to sacrilege. Sorry. Just can't do it.)  But, the fries were SO GOOD!  I could eat them all day.  And you can get them with toppings.  Be still my heart!

The Shake Shack.

It was about 40 degrees that day, but we were toasty thanks to the outdoor torches above the tables.

When we finished, we went across the street to Eataly, an Italian market.  There were so many people, they actually had security at each entrance letting people in a few at a time.  We were fortunate to get in at the same time.  And once we got in...! Wow.  There were restaurants and stalls of everything.  Chocolate (which was yummy), wine, pastry, cheese, sausages, bread, spices, cooking utensils, cookbooks, fruits, veggies, etc.  I could have stayed there all day. But we had more places to go.

So crowded.  But worth it!

After Eataly we traveled on to Crumbs Bake Shop, where we sampled more cupcakes.  I split a carrot cake cupcake with one of my colleagues, while the others split a S'mores cupcake--complete with a giant marshmallow baked right in the center. Heavenly.

Yum!

From Crumbs, we had to hustle into a taxi and get back to the hotel for dinner with everyone else.  I know what you're thinking: How are you going to eat dinner after you ate all afternoon?  The trick is to order one thing and share it with everyone so you only have a taste.  Then you still have room for dinner!

We made it to the hotel with two minutes to spare--literally.  We hopped on a chartered bus that took us from the hotel down into the Times Square area where we had dinner at Carmine's.  Ah, Carmine's. We were shown to a private dining area thanks to heavy velvet curtains dividing up the dining room.  The food was out of this world.  Everything is served family style, from the bread to dessert.  I tried a little of everything that came to to table: fried calamari with spicy sauce, chicken marsala, penne with vodka sauce, cappelini with tomato sauce, Caesar salad, steamed seasoned broccoli, and eggplant parmesan.  The eggplant parmesan was my favorite.  It was layered like a lasagna and melted in your mouth.  When the main course was over we were served dessert: tiramisu, cannoli, an ice cream concoction, and something like a chocolate cake.  I tried a bit of all and they were equally delicious.

After dinner we were treated to the show Jersey Boys in the August Wilson Theater.  The show was unbelievable, I think in part to the intimate setting of the theater.  I definitely recommend this show.  GO!

The marquee as we walked to the theater.

The program.

Once the show was over and we got back to the hotel, we said our goodbyes/goodnights because some of us (like me) were leaving early the next morning.  Some of the other folks went on to a place called Please Don't Tell, but I was tired. And coming down with something, I think.  (By the time I got to bed I was dealing with a blocked ear and sinus issues.)

I went to bed full of ideas and high hopes for the year to come.  Stay tuned!

Just a Little Nervous (Day 111, Part Two)

Sorry for the hiatus.  Since my last post, I worked at my other job over the weekend and battled with a stomach bug I caught from who knows where.  I'm home today, regaining my strength for tomorrow.  I feel MUCH better than I had. AND my computer is behaving again.  Things are good.

Anyhow, let's continue.  So after we get into the boardroom and everyone gets settled, the meeting begins.  We went around and introduced ourselves to everyone with the aid of a short video on each of us.  (Remember I told you the Scholastic staff took pictures when they came to visit my classroom?  That's where the pictures went.)  After our introductions, the "folks in charge" introduced themselves.  We were introduced to the VPs of different departments as well as key players in each department.  We were also introduced to the owner of Scholastic, who sat in on every minute of the meetings.  (No pressure, right? No seriously, he was great.  Very personable and interested in what we had to say.)

Throughout the course of the day, we were asked our opinions on everything from online ordering vs. paper orders, ease of use of the Scholastic website and its features*, how we get our students interested in reading, what types of books we should offer to help students who speak other languages, how to help new teachers be aware of the resources Scholastic offers, and even packaging/sending of orders.

*Speaking of features, did you know that Scholastic has the following items:

• A Facebook page? There are links/pages for teachers, parents, Read 180, etc.  There are even pages for specific reading series.
• A blog that highlights favorite books, recommended books, and upcoming titles/subjects?  There are book summaries, teacher reviews, author interviews, and links to books by topic.  There's also a link about the meeting with the Scholastic Advisors. (Check out the February 28 post on the site.)
• Many, many resources for us teachers to use in the classroom, from lesson plans to printables, teaching resource guides to activities?

When the meetings were over, we were surprised with gift cards to the Scholastic store, located on the bottom level of the building.  So of course, we went shopping!  If you've never been there, the place was unbelievable.  I took some pictures with my class in mind, but even they don't show the true scope of the store.  You just have to go.

This is on the wall to your right just before you enter the store.

This is the entrance from the lobby.

The Magic School Bus houses most of the science section, along with sofas and a television showing videos for the little ones.

Would you like a ride on the Magic School Bus?

All of the walls are decorated with different characters from different reading series.  I took this section of the wall because these are characters my students would recognize. 

This was huge!  I'd say he was at least 8 feet tall.

One of the MANY mini displays throughout the store.

After sitting in the meetings all day (and a little shopping!), we were treated to dinner at O'Nieals in Soho.  There were probably about 50 or so folks who went to dinner.  Not just the teachers, but some of the folks on the staff at Scholastic.  I was seated next to one of the ladies that visited my classroom who works on the BookTalk blog, a designer/artist, and one of the other folks that works on the blog.  The place was amazing...be sure to look at the link above to see what I mean.  Dinner was very tasty.  I would definitely go back again.

By the time dinner was over, it was about 9:30, 10:00.  I went back to the hotel and called my two back home to wish them goodnight.  Then I showered and hit the sack.  I was just a bit tired!

Saturday's adventures up next... 

Just a Little Nervous (Day 111, Part One)

Friday, February 25 was Day 111.  While my students went through their usual Friday routine, I met with the person in charge of the Advisor program, met the teachers I hadn't met the night before at dinner, trekked to the Scholastic headquarters, and began a series of meetings on all sorts of topics relating to how teachers can use Scholastic more efficiently. 

Where do I start? 

I woke up that morning around 6:15.  I hadn't slept well because I was a bit nervous about meeting everyone, and it took a bit for me to get used to the noise in the city.  You know, sirens, horns, and...a jackhammer.  Yes, a jackhammer.  At 10, 11:00 at night.  (I remember griping to my husband that morning, saying, "Who on earth jackhammers at NIGHT?"  He, being the one of sound mind, politely reminded me that the traffic during the day is probably pretty busy, so the construction is done at night.  Sort of like when the crews are repaving a road or something.)  Oh well, I was still a bit cranky and sleep-deprived.  (If you haven't guessed, I'm a light sleeper.) 

So anyway, I got up, took a shower, and got dressed.  I didn't eat the yummy room service breakfast; I wasn't hungry.  (Nerves, I guess.  And about the breakfast, I'll post more on that later.  Just one word now: scrumptious!)

I went downstairs to meet CAROL, the person in charge of the Advisors.  I've tried to think of a way to describe her, and what I came up with when I talked to my husband was this:  "She's like an old friend you've never met."  Seriously.  When I got downstairs, she was sitting in a chair talking away to some of the other folks.  Whenever someone new came into the lobby, she would ask their name and give them their name tag, along with a hug you would expect from a long-lost friend.  No airs here, people.  She was genuinely pleased to see each and every one of us.  I don't know how else to describe her, except maybe to add in that she was sort of like a mother or grandmother.  She had something nice to say to everyone and constantly checked in on us throughout the weekend to make sure we weren't overwhelmed or tired or hungry or anything else.  She's funny, quick-witted, and a snappy dresser.  (She likes crazy socks just like I do, too.)

So after we met Carol, we trekked on to the Scholastic headquarters, which was a few blocks away.  It always amazes me when New Yorkers say "Oh, it's just a few blocks."  To me, a few blocks is like one or two.  This was a bit more, but worth it!

This is the Scholastic building from across the street.  (Sorry about the corner being cut off; I thought it was all in the frame.)  This is where the magic happens.

This is the view as you walk up the 550 block of West Broadway.  You can't miss it.

Here is the Scholastic mascot, Clifford.  The window was the size of a true shop window; I was nearly on the curb to catch this shot.

We walked in through security in the lobby and went straight up to the second floor, where we were greeted with various members of the Scholastic company and Clifford. 

The welcoming committee.

We were then shown into a conference room where we were greeted by even more Scholastic staff.  The room was huge. (Cue my nerves again.)  In the middle was a U-shaped series of tables where we sat, 11 on one side, 11 on the other, and various VIPs in between.  Behind the tables were several (three, I think) rows of chairs on all sides, from one set of walls to another.  Those were for the Scholastic staff who were going to be sitting in.  By the time everyone was in, there wasn't enough room for all the staff and quite a few ended up sitting on the floor wherever a spot could be found.

This is the view from the door, looking straight ahead.

View from the door, pointing into the room.  You can only see the beginning of the first of three rows on the right.  I was sitting in the seat with the giraffe bag hanging from it.  

Upon entering the room, we were greeted with a slideshow showing all of the Advisors from this year.  We were also greeted with an official Scholastic workbag, filled with goodies.

This is a map showing where the Advisors came from.  The little dots on the map were actually stars that kept flickering in and out, so I tried to get a shot with all of them lit.  There should be 22 little dots from the West Coast to the East Coast, North to South.



New workbag.  Snazzy!



Contents of the new workbag.  Very generous of Scholastic.  I especially like the blue bag in the middle.  It is a reusable bag that has the "Reader's Bill of Rights" on the reverse side.  Really neat.

More on Day 111 later; seems my computer has had enough tonight! Stay tuned!



Happy, Happy! Joy, Joy! (Day 110)

I am very pleased to announce that I was able to get the problem with my phone fixed by a nice man from Verizon, who was able to direct me to the exact link to get my driver downloaded for my phone.  I spent about an hour doing what should have taken about 10 minutes, thanks to the oh-so-clear directions on the Verizon link.  Really, who writes these things anyway?  Is it really so hard to write clear directions? (Actually, it must be.  I spent a summer rewriting technical manuals for some companies that will go unnamed, and let me tell you, it was T-O-R-T-U-R-E.  Don't even get me started on that!)

ANYHOW, I was able to move ALL of my pictures onto my computer and put them into files, burn a disc to show my students, and put some in a file to share with you.  (Enter my happy dance!  Really, more like a chair dance, but excited/happy/delirious dancing all the same.  Honestly, I think my children thought I was having a fit!)

So where to begin?  How about the beginning?  If you've been following, you know I have been in communication with Scholastic Publishing Company because I was chosen as a Teacher Advisor.  (Check the 'Scholastic' tags to the right.)  Last week, I spent several fantastic days with the powers that be and the other 21 Advisors.  I have decided to post by what we did each day, mostly to save your eyes and my fingers. (That of course, means this week's posts regarding my class will probably be sort of mushed into combined posts.)

With that said, away-ee we go!

Thursday, February 24, 2011 was Day 110.  On this day, while my students were reading about ants and creating fact sheets, I was preparing for the plane ride to New York (via Newark Airport).  While they went through first recess, lunch, special, and social studies, I went through security at one airport, got on a plane, traveled, got off the plane, met one of the other advisors, and traveled into New York City.  We traveled to SoHo, where we checked in at the SOHO Grand Hotel.  The place was unbelievable. My room was on the 7th floor, diagonally across from the building where they hold the Tribeca Film Festival.  Here are some pics of the view from my window, from left to right.  (The window was so big, I had to take three pictures to get everything in.)

The intersection in the last picture is Broadway and Canal.  The hotel is very close to both Chinatown and Little Italy.

That evening, all of the advisors met together for dinner at a place called Puglia's.  The dinner was good.  They served us family style at the beginning of our visit: two types of salad, bread, and wine.  I don't drink, so I don't know how the wine was, but the salads and bread were very tasty!  Then the waiters took our orders.  I ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, which was good, but the sauce was a little thin for my taste.  (I like my sauce THICK!) After the entree, we were served coffee and dessert (again family style, on a huge platter).  Oh. My. Goodness.  I had a bite of the cheesecake and a cannoli.  They were de-licious! Oh, and did I mention we were treated to live entertainment during dinner?  Our meal was accompanied by a keyboardist and two singers who proceeded to belt out tune after tune of Italian favorites.  They even got us in on it!  It was loud, but it was fun!

After dinner we went back to the hotel to get ready for Day 111 (Friday).  That's when we would meet all of the folks from Scholastic and the other teachers who hadn't come to dinner with us.  I could hardly wait!

More tomorrow...

UPDATE: Days 110 and 111

I'm baaaack!

I just want to say that Days 110, 111, and that subsequent Saturday were whirlwinds of activity.  I got back home yesterday afternoon, took a nap, ate dinner, watched TV for a hot minute and went back to bed.  I am still tired today.  (Of course, I did go in and teach today, so that could be a factor.)  Anyhow, there is SO MUCH to share with you all that I don't even know where to begin.  So I decided that I will start the next few days with my Scholastic adventures, followed by happenings from my classroom.  Be forewarned, however, that you will be reading about said adventures for several days this week.  Seriously.  When I say "whirlwinds of activity," I mean it.  Be also forewarned, that I will begin those postings tomorrow, partly because I need to finish downloading all of the pictures from this weekend.  I really didn't know I took so much!

So stay tuned; more is on the way.  

Day 88: So...How'd It Go?

So...how'd it go?  I'm sure some of you are wondering how my observation with the Scholastic representatives went today.  If you've been following me, you know I've been a little nervous about it.  Not like a "my-principal's-coming-TODAY!" nervousness, but an "I-don't-know-these-people-and-they-don't-know-me-gee-I-hope-they-don't-think-I'm-a-nut" sort of nervousness.  That said, here it is:

8:00 a.m.: I get a buzz from the office telling me that my guests are here.  Gulp, deep breath.  Up the hallway to get them.
8:00-8:45 a.m.: I show them my room.  They take pictures.  They look over my class library, the "extra" book bins, and my personal library. (You remember that discussion from an earlier post.)  They ask questions about what kinds of books would supplement the curriculum (mainly social studies, like types of government and things like geography skills--landforms, map skills, etc.), what the children enjoy reading, and how my ordering has changed this year (I have several more boys than girls this year!).  I also tell them about my schedule, and how today is not a normal Thursday because we are usually reviewing for a comprehension quiz and doing other activities.  (If you've been reading, we are still catching up from three delays/snow days in three weeks.)  So I explain that we will be finishing the first of two comparison stories for the end of our reading theme, doing our mid-year review of grammar skills, completing Daily Edit, having read aloud (during snack time), finishing writing projects (you know, the one that should have been done LAST WEEK!), and centers for those who are finished with the writing projects.  There were no skills groups this week because the data wasn't compiled yet (We just got that this afternoon.).  I also explained the independent reading program, which they really seemed to like.
8:45-11:00 a.m.: The students come in, get unpacked, and begin morning work. After announcements at 9:00, we are off and running. See above list of things that I planned to do with the class.  We did them all, except for the Independent Reading; that's after first recess.
11:00-11:15 a.m.: Recess
11:15-11:45 a.m.: Independent Reading--The students' routine after recess is to put their things away, get their book, find a spot, and get reading.  They did that.  I put on the music (We are currently listening to Duke Ellington's "Far East Suite".), grabbed my Kindle, and got reading. About 10 minutes before the end of the period, I call students to their seats to fill out their independent reading logs and response sheet for today.  Then we get ready for lunch.
11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Lunch.  The representatives eat with us in the lounge and talk to the other teachers who join us over the staggered lunch times (Grades K-3).  We are treated to Atlanta Bread Company, which is along the same lines as Panera Bread.  (I think they are owned by the same company.  There are just too many similarities.)
12:20-12:35 p.m.: The children open a package that contain what I think was every book from the most recent Scholastic catalog.  (When the box was delivered--and hidden until today--the packing label said it weighed 31 pounds.)  There are sets of things and books on every topic: 39 Clues, Junie B., Geronimo Stilton, National Geographic readers, the Black Lagoon, Dairy of a Wimpy Kid, Babysitter's club, Music Fairies, and Flat Stanley. There are BFF books, animal books, sports books, reference books, classic stories, math stories, grammar/phonics books, and so many others.  (After school I had to rearrange my bins in the class library because I couldn't fit everything with the old configuration.  And I still have books left over to give to my students.)

These are the books that were in the box.  I tried to spread them out, but I ran out of room on the table.

These are the extra books.  I already have these in the library, so I told the children I would take out the duplicates and pass them out for the students to keep.

My bins are now turned to fit in the new sets of books.  Those that weren't in sets are in the blue bins here, in the green "extras" bins on the shelves, on the shelf waiting rotation, or in my personal library waiting for the corresponding unit to be introduced.

12:35-1:15 p.m.: I drop my students off at library, then go back and finish up with the reps, answering any extra questions and such.

Throughout the day, they took notes on what I was doing and took pictures of the students working.  They are going to take this information and create a video to be shared with the other staff members at Scholastic.  Some of the same pictures will be used in a slideshow of all of the new members this year to be shown when we are in New York next month.  (I just hope my hair wasn't sticking up too badly from the static in the air today!  I also secretly pray that they didn't get back on the road and think they made a mistake!)  You know what I mean:  You have so many neat things you do that you can't possible do all in one day (or one subject, necessarily), so you worry that you haven't done "enough" to show how brilliant a teacher you are.  Or maybe that's just my neuroses speaking right now!

Overall, they said they enjoyed my classroom organization and decorations, my students were organized and well-mannered (and no, I didn't bribe them or threaten them before the reps came), and thought I was creative.  That's good, right?  Right?

So now I'm one step closer to New York. 

Breathe...

Day 84: Second Snow Delay

I know it's the season, but geez.  We just HAD a snow delay last week!  I have been trying to get caught up on my language arts, particularly the project I told you all about, well, since last week! 

The schedule for second grade is set up so we have language arts first thing in the morning.  We go from 9:05 to 11:00, then we have recess, and finish the block with Independent Reading until lunch.  On Fridays we typically have our spelling quiz and weekly comprehension quiz and the remaining time is used to catch up on writing projects.  With the delay, those had to be moved, which then squeezed the work to come for next day or so.  We were almost caught up and--WHAM!--another delay! So now we are about two days behind on a project that should have been finished by Friday (the 14th). Ugh.  My other subjects are fine.  But you know as well as I do that language arts is one of the hardest to catch up because of all the components, especially if you are in the middle of a writing project.  With a long weekend ahead of us, I'm thinking we will probably be done by the middle of next week. 

Stay tuned for pics.  And hope that we can get through next week without another snowstorm stopping by.

Day 73: Holidays and Craziness

I realized that Day 72's post was a little off my usual, but I wanted you to get a feel for where I'm coming from as of late.  The church stuff is over, and now I am looking ahead to the school stuff.  Let me tell you (or maybe I don't have to tell you) that the last few days before Christmas/Winter/Holiday Break (whatever your school calls it) is the hardest week ever!  (Actually, scratch that.  The last week before summer is the worst, but this is VERY close--by thousandths!)

I have children who are eagerly counting the days (at home AND at school!).  No one is focused or wanting to work.  So what do I do?  Here is my game plan for the week:

**The students have journal and Daily Edit every day.  That goes without saying.

Today we finished up writing projects from last week.  We finished weather posters for science.  We reviewed for the math test they are having tomorrow.  (I like to have all units finished up before break so I can start fresh after the break.) Somewhere in there we had silent reading time, reading skills groups, our riddle of the day ("How many animals can you think of that have only three letters in their names?"  I must say, they did well on this one!), special, and a discussion and minbook project about Kwanzaa.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week: We will...
*Have skills groups, daily edit, journal, riddle of the day, and special each day.
*Do a Grinch writing project (I read the story and the students write a response letter to the Grinch.  They have to pretend they are one of the Whos in Whoville while they are writing the letter.  Some of them tell the Grinch how awful he is, some tell him they hope he will keep his change of heart, and some of them tell him they hope he learns the true meaning of Christmas.  It's always interesting to see what they write; I can't wait to read them this year!)
*Read some holiday stories.
*Learn about Las Posadas and Three Kings Day.  We will also read The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola.
*Take a math test and a science test.
*Have two assemblies--in one day--on Wednesday. (Why?)
*Have our holiday party on Thursday.
It doesn't sound like much, but it is.  Those of you who work with little ones know what I mean!  Just getting them focused to get the teaching done can be tricky at times.

One day down.  Three to go before break.

Bring them on!  

Day 64: Me? Teacher Advisor?

I can say that today has been one of the most surreal days in my life.  One of those "I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening-to-ME" days.  One of those days where you need to keep pinching yourself to make sure you aren't dreaming. 

What has me so worked up? 

Read on.

A few months ago, I applied to be on the Scholastic Teacher Advisor board.  For those of you who may not be aware of what this is, it is a board of 22 teachers who have been selected to work in conjunction with Scholastic to give feedback on materials, book selections used in classrooms, and suggestions for topics/genres to be added to Scholastic's offerings. 
I am pretty psyched because I was called by the woman in charge of the program.  She shared that while the board has 22 members, they only selected five new teachers this year to join.  AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS!

So in February, I will be travelling to New York to attend a conference and meet the other board members.  We'll have some workshops to attend and...I'm not sure what else at this point. (The packet of info hasn't come yet.)  I can honestly say that I am really looking forward to the whole process!   Except for maybe the Visit.  I was told today that my classroom will be visited and observed by two Scholastic staff members at some point prior to my workshop in New York.  (I may be a bit of a ball of nerves the day before.  You know that feeling you get when you have your formal observation done?)

I was also told that Scholastic will cover my travel, lodging, and meals.  The company has us staying in SoHo at the SoHo Grand Hotel.  I've been to different parts of the Big Apple, but never there.  I would like to check out a few places while I'm in the area, but I have no idea of where to begin. 

Do you know of any eclectic/authentic/interesting eateries I should try out?  Or shops?  Or bookstores?  Or museums? Or anything that doesn't involve drinking or clubs?  (Sorry, those just aren't my thing.)  Don't be afraid to share a comment!

Day 19: I'm So Glad Today Is Over

Well.  This was a day.

I started off with a parent meeting because I have concerns about a student.  The parents seemed to be receptive to my concerns and had some of their own.  I'm hoping we can get this child some help so s/he can be successful.

Next, I was stopped in the hallway by my principal because of the newspaper article.  It wasn't a huge deal; he called me a "newspaper star" or something like that.  He also mentioned that he had received a call from the Administration Building (Oops!).  I thought I was in trouble and probably should have contacted someone over there, but he said that wasn't necessary.  The only thing the article mentioned was my district and school, and didn't have anything to do with district policies.  The article was about my choice to use the website DonorsChoose to get supplies for my class.

By then, we were in the midst of another hot day.  (I thought this was fall!) By the end of the day it was a toasty 92 degrees outside.  Which means nearly 100 degrees in my room.  Let's just say my class and I were sweating a LOT today.  One girl complained that she was sticking to her chair.  Ew. Let's also just say that being sweaty with a "breathable" neoprene knee support on is not the most comfortable thing in the world.  Double ew.

That being said, I have returned to my air-conditioned home, removed the knee support, showered, and eaten a snack. I'm feeling pretty darn content right now.

TGIF!

Day 18: Updates

Topic 1:
I didn't find the book order.  After I ripped everything apart--again--I e-mailed the mom of the student and told her what happened.  She didn't seem to upset about it, but I still feel terrible because now she has to cancel her check for the amount and pay whatever fee her bank charges.  I went ahead and ordered the books anyway because they aren't in the next brochure. I paid for them with my bonus points.  I figure it's the least I could do.

Topic 2:
The reporter interviewed me yesterday about using Donors Choose.  You know, why I decided to use the site, if I asked my students' parents to donate to it, and all that stuff. 

I decided to use the site because I've been wanting the WhisperPhones for a while, but I can't afford a class set.  (Sharing is not an option; it's a hygiene issue for me.  I figure each student can be assigned one to use for the year and I can periodically disinfect them.)

I didn't tell my parents about my being on the site. I generally don't ask  the parents for much; I pretty much buy everything I need/want to use outside of what the school provides.  (See the post from Day 15.)  Anyhow, outside of Kleenex, hand soap, and paper towels, there isn't much else I feel comfortable asking for aside from the occasional class book donation from the yearly book fairs.  The parents in my school are very involved in the PTA, from appreciation luncheons for teachers and class parties to assemblies and book fairs.  With all that they already do, it just doesn't feel right to ask for more, especially with the expense of the product I'm asking for.

With Donors Choose, donations are through anonymous donors.  There may be some parents who want to help with the class but may not be able to afford to donate items, through Donors Choose or just in general, and that's fine.  I feel like I'm removing the pressure on parents and allowing them to help however they are able, whether it's during class parties, helping in the building, etc.  

I know there are probably some people who would say that parents want the best for their children and want them to succeed, so why not ask them for donations on Donors Choose?  As a parent, I understand the reasoning.  I donate to my children's classes as I am able.  I think not asking parents for certain items eliminates the feeling/pressure of "having" to donate because someone's child happens to be my student; I don't want to be the one to say you absolutely must donate to the class.  To me, that's too much control over someone else's choice.

But, if after reading the article I have parents who want to donate, that's okay.  I just don't want to tell them they have to do it.

I know some of you are reading this and questioning the fact that I'm asking strangers for these items.  I look at it like a common interest.  When there is a crisis, donation drive for illness, or special collection taken for a need, people contribute if they feel moved to do so.  I look at having supplies to help students be successful as a vital need, especially in these times.  People will contribute if they feel moved to do so, just as they donate to animal shelters, hospitals, and other organizations or causes.  Will I be upset if no one donates?  Maybe.  I'll just try to find another way.

Topic 3:
Still dealing with the issue of the torn meniscus in my knee.  I'm learning how to hobble around with a brace on my knee while trying to keep up with my second graders until I get the MRI on Monday and the doctors tell me what they think should happen next.

As one of my friends always says, "I tell ya. Never a dull moment!"