Day 90-91

So much for another tofer. I had a wedding reception last night and did not have time to get on line when I got home last night. I have been working all week to get ready for my trip next week. I left school at 5:15 p.m. to meet my ride. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. I did manage to get my newsletter out to my parents. The office staff liked it. I hope future additions are as well accepted.

Today is the last day before my trip. I will be gone a week. I have prepared all of next week and the following week materials. I have things in folders so it will be easier for my sub to find. I worked until 8:30 tonight and feel I have things in pretty good shape. I forgot to send home report cards today; they will go home on Monday. I emailed my parents and let them know. There will not be a posting for days 92, 93, 94, 95, and 96. (I think I have dropped a day some where.)

Day 88 & 89

Another Tofer. I went to a play after school on Friday and forgot to get on line and record my thoughts when I got back. Several days latter, I no longer have any memory of Friday except we had two class birthdays/half-birthdays. I left that day in time to meet my ride to the play.

Today was the first day back after four days off. My students were pretty good. We had a normal day and things went has planned. I taught a class to the new student council about flag etiquette.

I did have a little problem with one of my students and I took him to my office in the hallway. I read the riot act to him. He had been off task and I was fed up with his BS. I hope it worked. I left school today at 3:30 so I could get to my history class at the local university.

Day 87

My fourth day babysitting the play ground went well. The principal offered to let me do it full time. Not! I forgot to mention that my daughter is my teacher's aid and came in yesterday to help drill my children with their multiplication tables. Not knowing multiplication is my children's greatest weakness when it comes to math.

I have been working hard to get things ready for the week that I will be gone. Each day I do something else for that week. I am hoping not to come into work on the Saturday we leave. I have scheduled my departure later in the day in case I need some extra work time.

I left school tonight at 5:15 p.m. and went to one of my student's basketball game. It meant a lot to my student and her family to have me there.

Day 86

Today went as today was planned. It is good when a plan comes together. This is not quiet true, I did not have all of the supplies I need for Science so I have postponed my Science unit until next week. Because of school wide reading testing I substituted my normal reading for Science.

I made my schedule for Parent Teacher conferences coming up during the first week of February. I substituted late night Wednesday for a late night Tuesday so I can attend my history class. I am still working on materials for the week that I will be gone. I left tonight at 4:45 so I could attend my history class.

Day 84-85

Well I did it again, I forgot to blog yesterday. Yesterday was the second Monday back from winter break and it was another totally uneventful day except for Science. My Static Electricity experiments go well, it is just my students go crazy. It is really difficult to keep them under control.

I have playground (babysitting) duty this week. I get to spend 15 minutes both before and after school, patrolling the play rounds. I try to make it as fun as possible.

I left last night at 5 p.m.; things ready for another day.

Today was an just as uneventful as yesterday. I made birthday cards for the assistant principal and one of the playground aids. My students signed them and them and delivered them. Tonight was my homework night and three students stayed.

I left tonight at 4:45 p.m. to attend a Scout meeting.

Day 83

I have survived the first week back from the holidays. I am pleasantly surprised how well my students have done. They are still a little noisy, however I expected that this would happen. On Friday our art project was Lego art. I had purchased some candy Lego's and gave each student 25 of them. They built several items to include to see how tall they could stack their Lego's, 24 was the winner.

I went out again today at lunch recess and played tether ball (one of my students challenged me.) Things were going even and I stepped back and slipped. I fell flat on my butt & back. I was not hurt, just surprised. The secretary checked on me to see if I was hurt (something to do with workers comp rules.)

My students left at 1:25 as they do on Fridays. We had our monthly team meeting and wowed them all again. In fact the assistant principal said the 5th grade team was the school "dream team". They school administration refers to us as this because we do so many things right. It was nice to hear the complement. I left at 4 p.m. and went to the open house at the local university.

Day 82

I was told today I would have to give up part of my class computer lab time. I am not happy, but have no choice in the matter. I will have to see how it works out. Other than that the day went as planned. I spent part of noon & afternoon recess out side playing tether ball with my students. It was fun and they enjoy having me outside with them. I tend to loose most of my matches. I also had lunch with my students today.

I let tonight at 4:30 to attend a Scout meeting. I was also able to get my LA ready for next week. The only thing I do not have ready is my Science.

Day 81

Today went well. Science was a hoot. We had balloons races using static electricity. I know if anyone came into my class they would have accused me of not being in control of my class. I was totally in control of an out of control activity. I believe my students learned a lot about SE. Today was totally an uneventful day from first to last. I left tonight at 3:45 to attend my TAH class.

Days 79 & 80

I totally spaced out writing yesterday, the first day back after the holidays, so today is a tofer. Monday went well for the first day back after over two weeks off. Students were hyper as expected. We spent a lot of time pre-testing on new units along with some other work. The big change is we are starting Science after a several week layoff. During the break I sent my students either an email or a letter with a couple of optional assignments to pass their time. I had four students complete the math problem and several studied the spelling words so they could pass the pre-test. I left yesterday at 4 p.m. because of the weather. It snowed all day and the snow was sticking on the ground.

Today went well also. Only one drama issue of note. One of my students was dumped by his 5th grade girlfriend and he was very broken up. I talked to him and I also emailed his mom so she could talk to him. He also made what could have been construed as a threat towards the girl and I talked to him about it also. He thanked me for trying to keep him out of trouble. Tonight was my weekly "stay after school and help students do their homework night. I had two students stay and they both got some work done. It was worth my hour to help them. Hopefully, I am building up some good will with my parents. Additionally, a student I had decided to move to a different reading group, his mother contacted me and asked me not to move him. She felt that moving him would discourage him from doing well. I met with my tutors and we agreed to let him stay, however there were some conditions. It will be interested to see if he follows through. I left tonight at 5 p.m. I had done a lot of work during the break and completed several weeks of work. I start my night class tomorrow night. I hope it works out well.