Papers

I' ve been finding papers here and there and everywhere. The papers contain words and quotes from my students. I write them, stuff them, and find them later. I'm ready to clean out a few from my purse. Hope you enjoy:

• I'm pretty sure I've written this one before, but after hearing a new word when I read aloud, most of my kids start to use it. The word was dung. The sentence was, "My dog's dung is disgusting." I love the alliteration. I love the sentence used the word correctly. I love my class.
• We read a book with our Twitter buddies in our corporation. Hooway for Wodney Wat. Wodney can't say his r's. I have several students in my class that can't say their r's. I thought it was perfect. When we read another book, one of my boys popped in with, "That's how Rodney feels. I mean, Wodney." I just smiled.
• We are getting ready to write informational books. We are in the midst of researching. Straight from my Star Wars boy, "Did you know that dinosaurs were invented before dinosaurs?" He paused...looked at me, then said, "I mean, did you know that sharks were invented before dinosaurs?" I thanked him and then started writing it down before I forgot.
• A few weeks ago, one of my students came up to me after putting away his items for the day, asked if he could fact drop with me. Absolutely!!! Later on, I noticed he was standing next to the bathroom just waiting there. Wanting to know why he was just standing around, I said, "What are you doing?" He calmly came back with, "I'm just waiting to throw up." I quickly said (okay, maybe screamed), "Get the trash can and go to the nurse." And within one millisecond of grabbing the trash can, he was throwing up into it. Good timing and great aim!
• We were on Brainpop Jr. watching a video about the main idea (which we've been working on for over a week). Afterwards, you can take quizzes. A hard one or an easy one. It says so on the screen. I don't let my class say easy. Simply because it's not for everybody. Two years ago, I had students recreate the word into "e-word". It has stuck. Some of the students started chanting, "E-word quiz. E-word quiz." I just had to smile and write down e-word quiz.

I truly am thankful for the smily moments. They get me through the rough spots!

My 11 for 11

This may change...my original ideas are written somewhere and I can't find them right now.

While attending a retreat this weekend, my OLW, be, is becoming larger in my mind. I am working on another sign which I'll keep at home. (My first sign is at school to help me remember there.)

BE healthy

• get into clothes (and feel good in) that I used to be able to wear and cannot right now - black cords, gray pants, blue trousers, and green pants
• control eating habits and not let the eating habits control me
• be able to run five miles again

BE balanced

• grow professionally by reading three books
• participate in at least three book studies (can be fun, spiritual, or school related)

BE relational

• one dinner party a month with friends
• write my Compassion kids four times this year
• find a small group or accountability partner

BE creative

• create at least 12 recipes from the cooking blogs I read
• knit at least 3 projects this year that are not the simple scarves and hats that I currently do
• create at least 1 hand-made card a month

Yuck!

Apparently, our state thinks that students that have nits and lice in their hair are okay to be in school. We can't send them home if they have it anymore.

And unfortunately, it's been a good year for the louse. He and his family have been visiting several students in my grade level and it's traveled into my classroom. I've taken the pillows home, brought trash bags in, and sent myself to the nurse just to check.

In ten years of teaching, I have NEVER gotten lice. I went to Honduras and didn't get lice. Somehow this year I did.

I felt like a leper. I still feel like one. I don't feel clean. I'm frustrated. I'm tired of cleaning. I'm grateful for a friend who has now cleaned my hair out twice. I'm thankful for parents of students and friends who have volunteered to come and help me clean.

We only found five eggs tonight. Doesn't that just creep you out? You want to scratch your head now, don't you?

I wish they were gone. I miss my down comforter. I miss my fancy pillows. I miss my scarves. I miss my second down comforter. I'm thankful that my house seems pretty clean.

Go away, louse, go away!

If you're reading this, and you can relate, any tips would be greatly appreciated.

One Little Word 2011

More later...