What's with the 80's music?

Today was Day One of a workshop called Rock Solid Math. It is a workshop that two 4th grade teachers from each school in the district are attending, so that we are all on the same page about our math instruction. I'll sum (that's my math pun) up today in terms of pros and cons.

PROS:
- The monotony was broken with short segments of Name That Tune.
- There was one cute male teacher.
- I already do teach problem solving strategies the way that is highly encouraged.
- We didn't start until 8:30 and I was out by 3:30 (and did not return to the school to get papers or see how the sub's day was).
- I was able to spend my lunch break in IKEA.
- I was able to pass notes with a teammate from my school.
- We went on a cruise after lunch.
- I learned about a Mathematician's Chair (think "Author's Chair").
- We were given a composition notebook...good for coloring in between the black spots.
- I get to share my meeting with John Mayer to a new group of people, because at these workshops, you always have to share something unique about yourself.

CONS:
- All of the Name That Tune songs seemed to be from the 80s. (I don't know 80s music...I was only 5 years old when they were over.)
- It's hard being a student...quite tiring.
- I was stalked by a guy in IKEA.
- There was chocolate sitting on the table after lunch and I have no will power.
- The people I was in groups with had terrible hand writing...and they actually volunteered. If you know me, I should have written.
- The after lunch cruise did not help me escape the workshop...it was actually more work and learning.
- We kept reading the same thing over and over about a Mathematician's Chair and problem solving strategies.
- I found out my sub called in sick and I did not have a sub when school began this morning.
- I worried about what was happening in my classroom.
- I missed my class!

I hope you all noticed how many pros and cons were actually focused on what I was supposed to learn...I would like to reiterate that I did not want to attend this workshop to begin with, but it was not a choice.

Day 2

OMG! Today was LONG and somewhat dreadful. It was an exhausting day of doing nothing. I don't doubt the program that was presented or it's future effectiveness in our school, but the energy of the presenter made me more than excited about the thought of it.
Scenario 1: Welcome! You all need to make name plates for your tables. On the board it says to fold it hot dog style (any kids or teachers know what this is immediately), so that you have 3 parts. The speaker then proceeds to demonstrate and narrate how to fold the paper. SERIOUSLY? I think we can manage. Well, this was just a peek at what we would be dealing with the rest of the day.
The concept of the positive behavior expectations was very reasonable, realistic, and easy to implement in our classrooms, unfortunately, the presenter felt the need to go into depth and give example after example after example of each concept. I got it after the first example. I do understand that some people need more, so the second example was good...were the 3rd and 4th necessary?

7 hours later...The anticipation is killing us....who is in our classes? The principal handed out rosters only to have the 3rd grade teachers rush over immediately to give us the news. This is always a debate...Would you rather know and have a chance at preventing anything you could or would you rather not know and start fresh and give every child a clean slate? Well, I only heard good news about my kiddos. Either I only have well-behaved, high-achieving students...or they just didn't spill the bad beans. I will of course work with either of these options, but my fingers are crossed....because...
I do know that I am an inclusion teacher. I will have at least one student who will receive special services for a portion of the day. I have been quickly briefed on the disabilities and will be later given a formal debriefing. It doesn't matter what the outcome is...I will work with whatever the situation. Luckily, my school offers lots of support to inclusion teachers and the students that are being serviced. I know that I won't be left outside to dry alone and that I'll have support whenever I need it. I feel very positive and optimistic about this year and can't wait to meet all my kids and see what kind of unique personalities they bring to my classroom.

Day 1

Today was the first day of professional development, which means it was the first day I've not had an afternoon doze in front of the TV in a few months. It wasn't so bad waking up...I've done early waking up this summer. We arrived to see everyone we haven't seen since the last day of school and also to meet many new-comers to our school. We played some ridiculous games and did some catching up about summer. Of course, I found a way to let everyone know that I had met John Mayer. And then he continued to fit into conversation for the remainder of the day.
We did the usual first day activities of new employee introductions, team building, and handbook orientation. We also talked about our new Positive Behavior Support program and how it is going to be implemented. It sounds like a good program and why should I think otherwise until I've seen it in action. It will make expectations school-wide and allow us to remind the students what is expected in every school setting from arriving at school, walking down the hallway, or sitting in assemblies. I'll keep you updated on details and the success rate of this program.

Although today wasn't bad, I'm not really looking forward to the rest of the week. I'd rather have time to get my thoughts together and plan my first couple weeks of school from my classroom, rather than random notes scribbled on my inservice papers. It's hard to keep straight what you're actually going to do and what you would like to do in fantasy land when you're writing notes everywhere. I do look forward to Wednesday, which is all day teacher prep.

Inservice updates to come...

Summer Workshops = Ridiculous

As I've been sitting home this summer trying to pass time, I looked forward to my summer workshops in order to break the monotony. It's been quite boring in between my summer vacations being at home and looking for things to keep me busy. I've made some materials in preparation for next year, played with my dog, and watched every marathon of every TV show made in the last few years--including: Kimora Lee Simmons: Life in the Fab Lane, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Food Network Disney Challenge, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People Big World, Whose Wedding is it Anyway?, Flipping Out, Clean House, How do I look?, Cash Cab, Deadliest Catch, (a new favorite) Wipe Out...and basically any other show that has come on back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

On to the break in the the dullness of my summer. I wasn't sure where the school I was going to was located this morning, so I woke up super early in order to work out, get showered, and then ready for a fun-filled day of science ideas. I showed up to the school super early because it wasn't as hard to find as I thought it would be. I find the classroom for my workshop and my hopes for the day are raised. I see materials everywhere, an agenda with fun lessons planned, and energetic presenters. UNFORTUNATELY, I realized that this was not my class. I walked into this one because it was where I was told to go, but this was the K-2 workshop for the same topic (Managing the Science Classroom). I was told where my class would be and walked into an empty room. My presenters were not here yet. As I sat in the empty, silent classroom thinking about how lame I was for being the only one there, the presenters walked in. The word flustered doesn't even begin to describe how they looked and sounded. They rushed around in order to prepare for the day and in a rush of things told us that we would not be starting for another 30 minutes. **If there is one thing I can't stand, it's people who are late.**

After a bit of waiting, we began. We were given a packet of materials and engaging lessons...oh, I think it's time for me to go now...I've got what I need. Well, I didn't leave and stayed to hear the presenter babble through the lessons. Imagine a man too nerdy to work for the Best Buy Geek Squad and you're probably not even imaging the "nerdiness" I witnessed all day. It made me smile, but more in the manner of laughing at rather than with.

Well, in the midst of learning how to implement easy science lessons in my classroom (and for my team next year), I was constantly watching the clock. Similarly to the way my students count down to lunch or specials, we were counting down for our break and lunch. In fact, we were getting so antsy, that I think it's why we went to lunch early. He then wanted to trade minutes at the end of lunch, but that didn't happen...a room full of women overpowers a man any day of the week. Even with a long lunch that came a bit early, we still negotiated our way into an early release. We started telling him that we didn't need to actually do the lesson ourselves in order to get through the packet much faster. We managed a release 1.5 hours early...GIRL POWER!

All in all, it gave me something to do all day. Oh, did I mention the cube puzzle that I spent most of the day being distracted by?? It was quite entertaining and kept me engaged...too bad the engagement wasn't focused on the presenter. Tomorrow I have another workshop, but this one is technology based...probably not something I need practice with, but it gets me those professional development hours that I need each year.

You's A "Hoe"!

Today started off well because I was able to sleep in an extra hour. It was going to be a long day of staff development, but an extra hour did me some good. Luckily, there were other teachers from my school at this workshop and we were able to sit together to make the day go faster.
There were a few interesting moments during this mostly boring day of learning about ESL learners.

One of these moments was when we heard some yelling coming from the hallway. (Did I mention this workshop took place in a high school?) All we hear is, "You's a 'hoe'! No, you's a 'hoe'! No I ain't...but you is!" (I know I spelled hoe wrong!) The other teachers from my school who think they have some very behaviorally challenged fifth graders then realized that they have nothing to worry about. It made us laugh.

The rest of the day was filled with boredom and realizations that I am smarter than any of my older counterparts that I work with. We were reading a passage and one of the teachers couldn't even understand what it said...I had to explain the meaning. By older counterparts, I mean older, but that's just at my school. I was definitely the youngest in the room, but here were many close to my age asking what I like to call STUPID questions. These are questions that could be answered by being aware of what happens around you, listening to the speaker (even though I wasn't doing that), and just knowing because it's stuff we are supposed to know.

I am going to bed early tonight because I'm just so anxious about another day of ESLness tomorrow....NOT!