drill debrief

After our drill yesterday, my AP came up to me to thank me for not opening my door when she knocked. Apparently I was one of two teachers in the building who remembered that during a lockdown you are not to open the door for anyone. Awesome.

The best part was after she thanked me she said, "You were in your room, right?"

Mission accomplished.

a day!

Today we hung the last hot air balloon on the Land of I Can. That means that every student in our class is reading at at least an A-level. 

Every. Single. Child.

Including our newest addition who has only been here for two months. Crazy excited Ms. Haley came out for a short minute and did a reading dance.

Here's a close up of our rainbow. Look at all of those hot air balloons. Each additional sticker represents the next level of books. Each color of the rainbow represents 10 sight words mastered (red =10, orange = 20, etc.)

on turning 23

Last week was my golden birthday, and it really was awesome.

First, my coworkers surprised me with a decked out room and breakfast. Then, in one of my favorite moments in my classroom so far, my kids spontaneously pig-piled me. All of the sudden I had 22 bodies trying to hug each other and me and it was a moment of pure love. Shortly thereafter, one of my boys, N, started singing happy birthday during a math lesson.

Then, in a fantastic surprise, I got to have dinner in my favorite building in the city -- something I've been wanting to do since I moved here.

Even more than all that, I unabashedly enjoyed having love poured all over me. I got some awesome mail, a beautiful sketch, and sweet melodies on my voicemail, among other things.

Thank you!

drill

We have a dry sense of humor at our school. The code for a serious threat entering the building is actually kind of funny in a non-threat situation.

During our writing lesson today, the code came over the intercom. Usually we have an idea when a drill is coming and I hadn't heard anything.

I had everyone squish into the corner of our classroom. I closed the door, shut off the lights, grabbed my phone, and closed one blind out of five -- evidence of my clear thinking.

As I whispered to tell all of my kids what I was going on, I had to consciously fix my face, relax my shoulders. I had to remind myself that during fire drills, I always tell them to look at me and if I don't look scared, then there is nothing to worry about. My door doesn't lock. Our only hope in a real situation is that we are quiet and hidden and the perpetrator doesn't try the door. I moved the portable whiteboard in front of us. I crouched and thought about how truly helpless we would be.

It was an unpleasant five minutes, but I'm so glad it happened. I needed to know what it would feel like to be responsible for 22 lives, so that if something ever happens the magnitude of the feeling won't surprise me.

terrible horrible no good very bad

This day really has sucked in the most unremarkable ways possible.

grumpy

I am in just the most atrocious mood today. I haven't really taken it out on my kids, thank goodness, but let's just say I'm not feeling very generous towards anyone.

5:00am

All I could think when my alarm went off was, "This is my life?"

Looking forward to the longest day of the week.

three day weekend

Although one day off does not equal February vacation, I appreciate the break all the same.

I played some games.

And ate some food. Above are Benedict waffles. Below are Chicken and Bacon waffles. Both from Waffles in the South Loop. 

I also worked a lot on a project that I cannot yet unveil. I wish I had this whole week off -- these three days have left me refreshed but not quite energetic. 

the few minutes before school starts

Are always the best. Teachers running. Printers humming. A silence and focus that only happen once a day. Preparation for battle.

I laugh at how much we do in the last five minutes.

article about police response time

What's crazy to me is that all of this information is available publicly.

When my school experienced a theft in the fall, we called the police and it took them an hour to respond. As we waited, staff members who live in the area made jokes about how long we would have to wait. By the time the ONE office who came took all of our statements, there was no point in even looking for suspects. The only point in even talking to her was to ensure that we could make an insurance claim.

If there are no consequences for crime, then why not do whatever the hell you want? Sure, it's morally responsible not to steal from or harm others, but when society has done nothing for you what do you owe society?

Read the whole article here.

vday

Our class had a lovely friendship party yesterday, complete with lots of sugar.

My favorite valentine came from Javari. A Toy Story card read: This Valentine's Day, you and I are going to stick together.

I wonder if his mother noticed the irony.

I want this.

I seriously want this art to hang over my couch in my living room. I wish that I could just steal the fourth graders' work.

I did mention to the art teacher that my birthday was coming up... I wonder if maybe I can convince her to let my kids make these -- and then convince my kids to give them to me.

the story of how one week can feel like a lifetime

Walking back into my classroom after my observation Monday was heaven. Plus, I had the new-found sense that nothing in the classroom is magic. It's just instruction -- thoughtfully planned and well-executed. In other words, even though I am not doing it, I can do it.

Tuesday I went to a "class." A block of time wherein somebody who could help to develop me as a teacher actually just sits at her desk and eats her dinner as twenty or so new teachers attempt to summarize the chapter of the week to each other as quickly and efficiently as possible. Yes, we usually get out early. And, no, I don't have to do any heavy lifting. Here's the problem: I ACTUALLY WANT TO LEARN. And more than that, I need to learn. Does anyone else see the irony in poorly educating urban teachers?

Wednesday during a grade-level meeting an administrator looked me in the eye and told me he didn't care if I quit. Later that day, his favorite teacher did. That makes five teachers since Christmas.

Thursday, I caught J spread-eagle on the floor in the hallway during dismissal. Worse things could happen, but I was still not pleased by her linoleum snow-angel attempt. I told her to take her name off of her locker and throw it out. She is now keeping her backpack and coat in the classroom for the time being. Why, why can't I  reach her?

And Friday I went out with my school family. The people who have stayed since the beginning, who for one reason or another have weathered six months (or more) at our school. I am simultaneously comforted by their presence and our collective strength, yet haunted by the closeness of June and their likely departure.

the feeling I have

Walking back into my classroom after being in someone else's space is indescribable. These kids are my heart.

And, I just got some good (albeit bizarre) news. Javari is coming back! The school that they moved to didn't take him. He'll be back tomorrow.

My goodness.

observing

I have been trying for months to schedule a trip to another classroom for an observation, and I was finally approved. My grade-level partner and I are heading to another Kindergarten class tomorrow to observe a math lesson on graphing. I am so excited!

quit playing games with my heart

Another one of my students is gone.

Javari was absent yesterday - which was a little weird, but nothing so unusual that I did anything. Then, when he was absent again today I thought that maybe he was away for a long weekend. Nope. He's gone from my roster and I just confirmed it in the office.

He's got these adorable cheeks and a smile that lights up his whole face. I'm a little worried because he is one of my students that gets picked up by different family members all of the time. I know his mom just had a baby and I'm guessing they need more space.

He is a student that I have spent weekends strategizing about. Someone who keeps me up at night. I know that I'm never going to feel like any of my work is done, but why does the rug keep getting pulled out from under me?

free help

I am working to expand my listening library in the classroom, now that I have some beautiful headphones from my last Donors Choose grant.

I am going to be posting volunteer challenges on a microvolunteering website through Donors Choose. These are going to be mostly read alouds of books I already have multiple copies of.

If you would like to be famous in my classroom, grab your smartphone and record yourself reading a children's book. See my post here.

First up is Clifford the Big Red Dog. Next is probably Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters.