I have taught in four different schools, in two different states and in two different grades and there are some things that you can be pretty certain of no matter where you teach or what grade you teach. I subbed again today in the same class I was in yesterday and I could see little bits of former students in these kids. Almost every year I taught there was someone who I lovingly referred to (only to myself and obviously never to the child) as pigpen. This is the poor, sweet dear child whose desk is a complete pit even though you JUST had them clean it out yesterday and whose shirt looks like they used it for a napkin during a very messy spaghetti dinner even though it is 10a.m. and you haven’t even gone to lunch yet. Their shirt is always untucked and their fly is usually down. There is usually a student who has their own agenda…these are the ones that drive me BATTY because I also have an agenda and since the teacher (that would be me) is in charge, they should be following my agenda, not their own. There is the student that no matter what you do just doesn’t seem to be able to get their work done. Sometimes they are really trying and just can’t get it together and then there are the ones who aren’t trying because they are either in la-la land or they are too busy messing around. There are usually a couple of girls whose mission it is to please the teacher at all costs…I would like a whole classroom of these please. 🙂 There is the child, usually a boy, who feels it is his job to entertain the rest of the class. (If you can get this kid to come around and be your ally life is a lot easier.) Then there is at least one boy who is super smart, but not too cocky about it and usually very sweet. I’ll take a couple of those, too, please. Obviously there are all kinds of children that make up a classroom, but I couldn’t help but notice today that the kids in that class reminded me WAY TOO MUCH of kids I have seen before…it’s like I never left.
Archive for November 2008
I subbed for the first time yesterday in a second grade class. It was only for the afternoon and there were only twelve kids in the class and two of them were absent, so I can’t complain. I miss teaching and having my own class in a lot of ways, but yesterday reminded me of why I am not going to jump back into my own classroom anytime soon unless I really have to or unless an opportunity I can’t resist comes my way. Like I said, I miss teaching…it’s all the other crud that goes along with teaching that I don’t miss. I just can’t imagine spending my whole day with other peoples’ kids and then having enough energy to love on my own kids at the end of the day. At the end of each school day I would still have to get ready for the next school day, go to meetings, shuttle my kids wherever they need to go after school, grade papers, return parent phone calls/e-mails, cook dinner, clean up, get everyone ready for bed, pack lunches and on and on. There are only so many hours in the day! I am going back to the same classroom today for another two hour stint…wish me luck! 🙂
For part of his homework this weekend Liam had to make a list of about twelve things that he is thankful for. They are going to use this list for a project at school. Liam listed the cats, Colm, me, Sean, the dog and some other things. I would have assumed that some family member would have made the top spot. Nope, the first thing he was thankful for was the television. I came in a close second…at least I know where I stand.
We had a lot of firsts happen at our house this weekend. Liam had his first Tae Kwon Do lesson. He really liked it and he looks adorable in his outfit. Liam also was diagnosed with strep throat on Sunday; this is a first for him. Lastly, Colm had his first ice skating lesson on Sunday. I wasn’t there for it (I was at the dr. with Liam) but from what I understand from Sean is that he was cold and wet by the end. He fell down a lot, but he did well enough that they didn’t feel like he needed a walker thingy.
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| From November 2008 |
He has wanted to do TKD for over a year now. I hope it was as fun as he anticipated. He was a little overwhelmed since there is a lot to know and some of it is in Korean. I assured him that, in time, he will know exactly what is going on and that no one expects him to know anything at this point…he’s only got one lesson under his belt..literally!!!
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| From November 2008 |
This is what Liam did for most of the weekend. The strep throat bug wiped him out completely.
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| From November 2008 |
I don’t know if you can tell from this video, but his pants were VERY wet. Next time he is going to wear his ski pants. 🙂 Again, we’re not expecting miracles here…this was his first lesson. He really wants to play hockey though, so he has to start somewhere.
Monday-Pasta with leftover chicken spedini
Tuesday-Chili and Cornbread
Wednesday-Birthday Party
Thursday-Oven Fried Chicken, Biscuits, Cole Slaw
Friday-Hot Italian Sausage and Peppers with Italian Diced Tomatoes
Saturday-Salmon, Bread and Butter, Asparagus
It is my dear hubby’s birthday today and I am afraid to say it has probably not been his best. Not only did he have to deal with me still being sick, but Liam woke up in the middle of the night throwing up. For the past few days he has not only had to be him (which is more than a full-time job) he has also had to be me. He has been driving the kids to school, picking them up, doing the dishes, picking up the house, putting the kids to bed, feeding them, making their lunches, dealing with the pets and sitting with me in the hospital and at the doctor’s. This is a man who works more than sixty hours a week and work does not stop just because I am sick. So, on top of all the stuff we have been dishing out as a family he has been trying to get some work accomplished, but I don’t think we have been much help. So, sometime this weekend, hopefully, he is going to get a much deserved redo birthday with a cake, presents, a nice dinner and a healthy family. You deserve it, honey.
I will spare you the gory details, but let’s just say I had some fairly serious complications from the surgery I had on Friday and this morning started with an ambulance and more blood than you ever want to see come out of one person all at the same time. I am fine now and am at home resting, but I never ever want to go to a hospital again. I never want a catheter. I never want a nurse to tell me that she blew my vein. I never want to hear a doctor tell me that I may have to have surgery again even though I just had that surgery four days ago. I never want to have two sonograms in a row after they have deliberately filled my bladder to capacity and then clamped my catheter so I can’t pee. Oh, and I never want to have to hear that those sonograms, after all that trouble, were inconclusive. And yes, I have still spared you the gory details.
Monday-Pastina Soup, Salad
Tuesday-Turkey Rueben Sandwiches, Chips
Wednesday-Sean’s Birthday…out to dinner
Thursday-Chicken Pot Pie, Salad
Friday-Pesto with Farfelle
Saturday-Baked Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans
Our book club has chosen John Steinbeck’s East of Eden as our next read. We decided we wanted to read something that might be considered an American classic, so we looked over some high school reading lists that we found on-line and decided on this one. I need to get going on it. We are meeting right after Thanksgiving and I haven’t even started yet. It is not a short book.
Colm came home today from school and was a little upset that he had “unjustly” gotten in trouble today at school. Luke had cut in front of him in line, so Colm pushed him and Colm got in trouble. He couldn’t understand why he got in trouble when Luke was the one that cut in front of him. We talked about it and how to better handle similar situations in the future, but it was just too cute. I could tell that he really felt an injustice had taken place. It’s hard being four.