Friday, October 22, 2010
WORLD SERIES!
My kids have been nuts this week, but the Rangers are going to the World Series so I'm over it. :)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
ESL Certified!
With the arrival of the wonderful Mrs.Saldivar came a mad dash to get me ESL certified.
We taught three classes of 25 3rd graders (maybe 5 or 6ish being ELL's) for three weeks without an ESL certified teacher on the team, and while I knew that this was a problem that needed to be addressed, nobody (administration wise) seemed to be in any hurry to make sure that one of us take the steps to get certified.
Mrs. Saldivar was assigned to join our team and already was (thank goodness) ESL certified. I thought this would put everyone at ease, BUT I was mistaken. In order for my class to switch with hers and viceversa, our adminstration panicked about me being certified as well. They immediately got me registered for an ESL review course with Region 10 that would take place in Richardson 3 different nights for 4 hours a session. Rouuuugh.
I took the test this past Saturday and found out today that I passed. :) One or two more steps and I will be OFFICIALLY certified with a few more bucks added to my paycheck.
We taught three classes of 25 3rd graders (maybe 5 or 6ish being ELL's) for three weeks without an ESL certified teacher on the team, and while I knew that this was a problem that needed to be addressed, nobody (administration wise) seemed to be in any hurry to make sure that one of us take the steps to get certified.
Mrs. Saldivar was assigned to join our team and already was (thank goodness) ESL certified. I thought this would put everyone at ease, BUT I was mistaken. In order for my class to switch with hers and viceversa, our adminstration panicked about me being certified as well. They immediately got me registered for an ESL review course with Region 10 that would take place in Richardson 3 different nights for 4 hours a session. Rouuuugh.
I took the test this past Saturday and found out today that I passed. :) One or two more steps and I will be OFFICIALLY certified with a few more bucks added to my paycheck.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Time Flies
Time's got the best of me. I honestly can't believe that it's been over a month since I've updated this. SO much has happened since I told my little ones goodbye.
Mrs. Saldivar
Lisa Saldivar is an absolute BLESSING. The poor thing was pulled from her 2nd grade class at Whitt Elementary and given 48 hours to get her 3rd grade room at Eisenhower ready for a class of 16. She did. Not only has she been just what those precious children need during a transition like this, but she has been just what I need to survive the struggles that come with the first year. It turns out that she knows my mother and that her son was good friends with my sister growing up. Her homeroom switches with my homeroom and she teaches ELA while I teach Math and Science. Lisa is extremely helpful and is constantly looking out for me. PLUS, the kids absolutely adore her. :)
1st Six Weeks
The first six weeks came and left so very quickly. Getting classes settled into their new homerooms created some trouble when transferring and entering grades online, but after everything was sorted out, grades were done. My sweet boys and girls had a difficult first six weeks in dealing with a huge transition from 2nd to 3rd and a shuffling of homeroom/math/ELA teachers within our own 3rd grade team. I don't know how we expect them to be at the top of their academic game when they have so many things on their plate. Nonetheless, I'm proud of them. I can not wait to see how much they grow this year.
They also took Six Weeks Tests provided by the district for Math, ELA, and Science. Oh boy. Once again, had these boys and girls had a consistent schedule the first six weeks, the same teacher for the same subject the first six weeks, and ample time to receive every lesson that was supposed to be taught the first six weeks, I'm sure they would have done great. BUT, that just wasn't the case. I just about fell over dead when I saw the results for the grade level, but there's not much we could do. Lucky for us, the test results don't have to be recorded. So, we used the data that was beneficial to us and set the tests in a big 'ol pile to worry about another day. There's always next six weeks...
Field Trip
The first Friday of the second six weeks found us at the Grand Prairie Nature Center for our first field trip. A few interesting tidbits from this adventure:
- It makes for an uncomfortable journey when 136 third graders, 7 teachers, and 2 parents have to ride on just 2 buses. Try sharing a seat with 2 of your students.
- I learned that our 3rd grade team is the LARGEST elementary grade level at any of the campuses in the district. Great.
- Two of my students have severe allergies and had to stay with me all day which forced a change of (already complicated) plans.
- If you don't let students go to the restroom when they say it's an emergency, they'll pull down their pants and pee on the nearest tree.
- Yes, you read that last one right. He peed on a tree.
Lifted Spirits
Just when I thought I was never going to get the hang of anything, I found my inbox flooded with emails from other people I know and my parents know throughout the district. Every day, there is a "Today in GPISD" email sent out to the district full of news and updates and announcements and shout outs. In the "Today in GPISD" email last Tuesday, there was a shout out for me. (This is the part when I brag on myself a little.) :) After I realized that all of the emails from people I know on my campus, around the district, and people that know my parents were responses to the daily email to the district, I went to the "Today in GPISD" email that I normally just quickly scan, and read down to find this encouraging note.
Mrs. Saldivar
Lisa Saldivar is an absolute BLESSING. The poor thing was pulled from her 2nd grade class at Whitt Elementary and given 48 hours to get her 3rd grade room at Eisenhower ready for a class of 16. She did. Not only has she been just what those precious children need during a transition like this, but she has been just what I need to survive the struggles that come with the first year. It turns out that she knows my mother and that her son was good friends with my sister growing up. Her homeroom switches with my homeroom and she teaches ELA while I teach Math and Science. Lisa is extremely helpful and is constantly looking out for me. PLUS, the kids absolutely adore her. :)
1st Six Weeks
The first six weeks came and left so very quickly. Getting classes settled into their new homerooms created some trouble when transferring and entering grades online, but after everything was sorted out, grades were done. My sweet boys and girls had a difficult first six weeks in dealing with a huge transition from 2nd to 3rd and a shuffling of homeroom/math/ELA teachers within our own 3rd grade team. I don't know how we expect them to be at the top of their academic game when they have so many things on their plate. Nonetheless, I'm proud of them. I can not wait to see how much they grow this year.
They also took Six Weeks Tests provided by the district for Math, ELA, and Science. Oh boy. Once again, had these boys and girls had a consistent schedule the first six weeks, the same teacher for the same subject the first six weeks, and ample time to receive every lesson that was supposed to be taught the first six weeks, I'm sure they would have done great. BUT, that just wasn't the case. I just about fell over dead when I saw the results for the grade level, but there's not much we could do. Lucky for us, the test results don't have to be recorded. So, we used the data that was beneficial to us and set the tests in a big 'ol pile to worry about another day. There's always next six weeks...
Field Trip
The first Friday of the second six weeks found us at the Grand Prairie Nature Center for our first field trip. A few interesting tidbits from this adventure:
- It makes for an uncomfortable journey when 136 third graders, 7 teachers, and 2 parents have to ride on just 2 buses. Try sharing a seat with 2 of your students.
- I learned that our 3rd grade team is the LARGEST elementary grade level at any of the campuses in the district. Great.
- Two of my students have severe allergies and had to stay with me all day which forced a change of (already complicated) plans.
- If you don't let students go to the restroom when they say it's an emergency, they'll pull down their pants and pee on the nearest tree.
- Yes, you read that last one right. He peed on a tree.
Lifted Spirits
Just when I thought I was never going to get the hang of anything, I found my inbox flooded with emails from other people I know and my parents know throughout the district. Every day, there is a "Today in GPISD" email sent out to the district full of news and updates and announcements and shout outs. In the "Today in GPISD" email last Tuesday, there was a shout out for me. (This is the part when I brag on myself a little.) :) After I realized that all of the emails from people I know on my campus, around the district, and people that know my parents were responses to the daily email to the district, I went to the "Today in GPISD" email that I normally just quickly scan, and read down to find this encouraging note.
I would like to acknowledge a special teacher:
First year teacher, Miss Aren Lackey, is Capturing Kids Hearts even on the weekends. This Saturday, to my surprise, Miss Lackey approached me while I was sitting on the sidelines of the GP Dolphins Pee-Wee football game at Parkhill Park. She had made a promise to my son and another student that she would come watch them play football. The boys were celebrating homecoming, and at the end of the game she stayed to congratulate them on a job well done. Kudos to our new teacher for being FABULOUS! I think Miss Lackey has exactly what it takes to make a GREAT teacher here in GPISD! Sent in by Ashley Logan, 8th Grade ELA and Pre-AP Reading Enrichment teacher at Fannin Middle School.
I felt like a celebrity and it felt absolutely wonderful. I was so glad that I got to see two of my boys play in that game, and I didn't even realize the impact I was making. I must be doing something right. I guess?
Ms. Turner
Emily Turner is also a first year teacher and has been such a good friend as we tackle this crazy little thing called teaching. She is our P.E. teacher and has an enormous amount of challenges she faces on a day to day basis as well. They cram as many kiddos into that gym as possible each period and leave her with an unteachable amount of students. Despite all that, she comes and says hi to me every morning and every afternoon and has a great listening ear. :) And we all know I have plenty to talk about.
Personal struggles
My students have had so many challenges, but I, too, have struggled to find happiness. I lost the one I loved and thought would be mine forever, and I've never experienced anything so tough. I just take on one day at a time and hope that something with someone will work out somehow someday. All of my time and attention and energy is being spent on my third graders, and I work very hard to stay positive when I'm around them. They deserve it.
I'll do my best to NOT wait another month before I blog again, but I'm a busy girl. :)
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