So I have completed 2 out of the 180 days of school. I am going to take a big sigh of relief. The first week of school is always a crazy one. In fact, these first two days of school were the craziest first days of school I have ever had thus far. Picture this:
First day of school... parents of the 1300 students we have (yeah... this isn't a high school) flooding the hallways... mass confusions about classrooms (indoors and outdoor trailers)... 40 new students registering on the previous day (not to include the other large amount who registered over the summer).... teachers running around trying to get their last minute preparations completed. I am standing amid this confusion shuffling students with an I'm Lost-look on their face to their classrooms. Oh did I mention we have about 15 new staff members (mostly teachers) at our school? Anyhow... I get back to my room as my kids are walking in. I have a huge class. I wasn't sure if I had 26, 27, 28, or 29 students because no one really knows who is registered and who isn't. We sort through what we are to do... and a parent walks in. She said her son needed to move to the afternoon class and therefore was transferred into my class. I am ok with that. No problem, right? I don't really have any extra desks because I gave them away to new teachers. He gets to sit at the teachers desk... in the swivel chair... bad idea. New 2nd graders can't handle a swivel chair.
Then, right before my "later gators" come in, I get another parent who says they need to move their child from Track A to Track B... the office had sent them down to me. Yikes!! My class is overcrowded... and panic starts to set in... this is only the first day. WOW! Obviously this was only the beginning to quite a chaotic day (it always is)... but this one was slightly more chaotic than usual. I'm not as prepared as I'd like to be because my masters program takes over my life, but for some reason, I am calm... worlds beyond what I normally am. Everything always seems to work out.
What made the day all worth it was this. As I went to pick up my students from lunch recess, I see a group of about 15 kids in the doorway looking through the window. They start screaming... "She's coming... she's coming." It's a posse of my kids from last year waiting to attack me with their sweet hugs and smiling faces. They were all squeezing me so tightly I could hardly breathe. Some of these kids didn't seem to adore me this much last year, but hey... look what a summer does. I love these kids with all my heart. This job is so rewarding in everyway. To watch these little minds grow and develop into smart, quirky, funny, intelligent personalities is AMAZING. Miracles are ever-present on this earth, right in front of our eyes. I am so thankful that God has placed me into this position, to help mold the minds of America. He knows exactly what I need and that is to feel like I make a difference. After today, part of me realized that I really do make a difference.... dreams can come true.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
2/25/08
Scene: We are in the gym for a musical assembly. The lady performing in the assembly asks the students if they know what holiday comes in April that teachers just adore... and it isn't Easter (in a sarcastic tone).
Hunter: (shouting) TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!
Sidenote: The presenter was talking about April 15th. Tax Day. And teacher appreciation week isn't even in April...
2/28/08
Scene: Sitting at the carpet, talking about goods and services. I asked if teachers provide goods or services. My students asked me why I wanted to be a teacher.
Me: I love kids so much. I think they are fun and they are so nice. Sometimes adults aren't as nice as kids. I laugh everyday. It's just great!
Daniel: Ms. Berg, you should get plastic surgery.
Me: (somewhat weary of delving into this topic) Why do you think that?
Daniel: Well, if you love kids so much, you could get plastic surgery to look like a kid again.
Me: Hmmm... I think I would make a tall 2nd grader.
Christian: Ms. Berg, what is plastic surgery?
Me: (Thinking: how do I answer this tactfully?) It is a surgery that can make your body look differently. For instance, someone who gets a bad burn, maybe on their face, might want plastic surgery to change the scars to smooth skin again.
Annalise: Do they use plastic to do this?
At this point, I want to end the conversation because first, they will go home and talk about it with their parents. I don't want parents wondering how plastic surgery came up in class. Second, we are SO off-topic... but gave me my good laugh for the day.
Scene: We are in the gym for a musical assembly. The lady performing in the assembly asks the students if they know what holiday comes in April that teachers just adore... and it isn't Easter (in a sarcastic tone).
Hunter: (shouting) TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!
Sidenote: The presenter was talking about April 15th. Tax Day. And teacher appreciation week isn't even in April...
2/28/08
Scene: Sitting at the carpet, talking about goods and services. I asked if teachers provide goods or services. My students asked me why I wanted to be a teacher.
Me: I love kids so much. I think they are fun and they are so nice. Sometimes adults aren't as nice as kids. I laugh everyday. It's just great!
Daniel: Ms. Berg, you should get plastic surgery.
Me: (somewhat weary of delving into this topic) Why do you think that?
Daniel: Well, if you love kids so much, you could get plastic surgery to look like a kid again.
Me: Hmmm... I think I would make a tall 2nd grader.
Christian: Ms. Berg, what is plastic surgery?
Me: (Thinking: how do I answer this tactfully?) It is a surgery that can make your body look differently. For instance, someone who gets a bad burn, maybe on their face, might want plastic surgery to change the scars to smooth skin again.
Annalise: Do they use plastic to do this?
At this point, I want to end the conversation because first, they will go home and talk about it with their parents. I don't want parents wondering how plastic surgery came up in class. Second, we are SO off-topic... but gave me my good laugh for the day.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Today was the 100th day of school. As my students walked into class, saw their desks were moved around, saw their desks moved around into small stations, pandemonium fills the room. "It's HUNDREDS day..." "Whoooo-hoo! PARTY!". Now for a teacher with quite a bit of structure in the classroom, this may feel like bugs crawling under the skin. But, it is to be expected. I don't know why the 100th day of school is such a big deal, but to kids in younger grades, they seriously live for this day.
So, after the kids settle in a start their morning reading, I look over at Hunter's Day. He has a little sign for his forbidden homeless pencil shop that says OPEN taped to the side of his desk. Next to this usual sign, there is a sign that says "Happy Hundreds Day!"
The day, a little crazy continues on... the kids seemed pretty happy. There is a point in almost everyday where I am required to walk 6th graders from Music back to their classrooms. Now, this may not seem like a large task but I teach 2nd graders. When I talk, they listen. When I talk to 6th graders, most of them just keep talking. So, I decided last week that I was done having them walk all over me. I enforced the hall rule of NO TALKING. The girls are pretty good at it... the boys are another story. Today, I let the girls go. Then I let the boys ago about 5 at a time back to their class. The last group was waiting... and I asked them it they thought they could walk as quietly as the last class did. One young man said... "I can, but I am not sure these guys can. They are always talking. I guess they aren't front of the line material." It took everything for me to hold back and not die laughing.
Back to my classroom, I was having a little discussion with some kids who were counting 100 chocolate chips out. Jace says "Man, this is like going to work." "Why?" "Because it is SO hard." Then Jayden says "Yeah, well this is actually like mini-college. This is getting you ready for what you do in real college." Next time, I go to work or college, I want to count out 100 chocolate chips.
Towards the end of the day, I was reading some of their writing about what they would like to be doing when they are 100. One boy's, Tyson, says "When I am 100, I will be knocked people with my cane. I will not want them on my lawn and if they do, I will knock them out." After a good laugh, I, of course, made him change to something a bit less violent. So now he will be tapping people on their head with his cane.
So, after the kids settle in a start their morning reading, I look over at Hunter's Day. He has a little sign for his forbidden homeless pencil shop that says OPEN taped to the side of his desk. Next to this usual sign, there is a sign that says "Happy Hundreds Day!"
The day, a little crazy continues on... the kids seemed pretty happy. There is a point in almost everyday where I am required to walk 6th graders from Music back to their classrooms. Now, this may not seem like a large task but I teach 2nd graders. When I talk, they listen. When I talk to 6th graders, most of them just keep talking. So, I decided last week that I was done having them walk all over me. I enforced the hall rule of NO TALKING. The girls are pretty good at it... the boys are another story. Today, I let the girls go. Then I let the boys ago about 5 at a time back to their class. The last group was waiting... and I asked them it they thought they could walk as quietly as the last class did. One young man said... "I can, but I am not sure these guys can. They are always talking. I guess they aren't front of the line material." It took everything for me to hold back and not die laughing.
Back to my classroom, I was having a little discussion with some kids who were counting 100 chocolate chips out. Jace says "Man, this is like going to work." "Why?" "Because it is SO hard." Then Jayden says "Yeah, well this is actually like mini-college. This is getting you ready for what you do in real college." Next time, I go to work or college, I want to count out 100 chocolate chips.
Towards the end of the day, I was reading some of their writing about what they would like to be doing when they are 100. One boy's, Tyson, says "When I am 100, I will be knocked people with my cane. I will not want them on my lawn and if they do, I will knock them out." After a good laugh, I, of course, made him change to something a bit less violent. So now he will be tapping people on their head with his cane.
Funny Things from the Past
1/9/08
A real conversation between two 2nd graders:
Anna: Lauren said she dumped you.
Hunter: Does she even know what dumped means?
Anna: Yeah, its when you get a divorce. And I dump you too.
Sometime last year during a group project:
Tameka: My mom says "love" is a big word.
Male student: No its not. It's only 4 letters... L-O-V-E.
1/14/08
After coming back from a half day meeting at the district, I pick up my kids from lunch recess. This is the conversation that took place.
Addison: Dude, Miss Berg... that sub was so cool. She let us do whatever we wanted. She said we could sit on the counters, lay under our desks, and just kind of do whatever until Track B comes in. Can you get her to come again when you leave again?
Miss Berg: (thinking) Yes, Addison. That is exactly what I will do. Throw out all of my hard work in teaching you structure so that you can do what you like...
Seriously, I wonder what these kids are thinking when they tell me stuff like this.
1/17/08
Ethan (speaking to a friend during indoor recess): Hey, did you see that video on YouTube....These are words that should never come out of a 7-year-old's mouth.
A real conversation between two 2nd graders:
Anna: Lauren said she dumped you.
Hunter: Does she even know what dumped means?
Anna: Yeah, its when you get a divorce. And I dump you too.
Sometime last year during a group project:
Tameka: My mom says "love" is a big word.
Male student: No its not. It's only 4 letters... L-O-V-E.
1/14/08
After coming back from a half day meeting at the district, I pick up my kids from lunch recess. This is the conversation that took place.
Addison: Dude, Miss Berg... that sub was so cool. She let us do whatever we wanted. She said we could sit on the counters, lay under our desks, and just kind of do whatever until Track B comes in. Can you get her to come again when you leave again?
Miss Berg: (thinking) Yes, Addison. That is exactly what I will do. Throw out all of my hard work in teaching you structure so that you can do what you like...
Seriously, I wonder what these kids are thinking when they tell me stuff like this.
1/17/08
Ethan (speaking to a friend during indoor recess): Hey, did you see that video on YouTube....These are words that should never come out of a 7-year-old's mouth.
I need somewhere to collect my thoughts and remember things I hear...
I have been sucked in. I finally started a blog, mainly for myself. Crazy as it sounds, I need a place where I can record all the funny things kids say... why? Because I teach 2nd grade... and not a day passes where I don't get at least a little chuckle out of some of the things these kiddos say. I want to be able to remember these funny little things... it might help my sanity to read over them on a day when I want to gauge my eyes out because the kids are driving me crazy. Anyway, hopefully someone stubbles across this and gets a good laugh.
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