HartlynKids Shout Out!

Check out the HartlynKids blog.  It's  a wonderful source of information for parents, educators...hmmm.. all people!  Pay particular attention to their new and upcoming book line dedicated to teaching kids all about cultural diversity.  I WILL be ordering and using these books with my students. Much love to HartlynKids!

Clarification

Pet Peeve number 1 in previous post refers to able-bodied 7 year olds.  Those that are quite capable of tying shoes but are too mommy-dependent to even bother trying.

Welcome to A,B,C...1,2,3

Yes, I am a public school teacher...in NYC. (I can already see you slowly shaking your head back and forth....hmmmm...so am I!)  For over a year now I have been sharing "teacher/student," "teacher/teacher," "student/student" or just plain school madness stories with one of my daughters; and, she always followed up with, "You need to create a blog...because this stuff is just too unreal."

Well that was last school year when I taught first grade.  I have taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and as of September 2011 I will be teaching kindergarten.  Hmph! Say it with me..kin...der..garten.  Even though it is only July, I already feel the need for a blog.  So we have a little time yet, but I thought I'd stop by and say hello.

While I'm here let me share a few (and I'll try to be brief), just a few of my teacher pet peeves:

1. 2nd graders who can't tie their shoes (age 7)
2. parents who refuse to buy their child a new notebook and tells child, "I'm not wasting my money on no notebook."
3. 1st graders in high heels...as in pumps...with a matching bag
4. parents who do their children's homework and do not even bother to disguise their handwriting
5. parents who do their children's homework and send me a note that says, "Dear Ms.___, I did ___'s homework because he fell asleep and I wanted to make sure he turned it in."
6. parents, well, no, ONE parent who accompanies us on a school trip....and gets lost....TWICE

Just a few...just a few.

Let me clarify though, I love what I do.  I especially love the children and having the opportunity to play such a key role in their lives. But then there are those days when ____________.  (I am sure you can fill in the blank.)

OMG...how could I forget

    7.  "You get off at 3, you get all those holidays, and the summer off, you have it so easy."

That should have been at the head of my list.  Students are dismissed at 3.  I get off when the last paper is graded/marked/corrected and/or the next bulletin board is posted and/or lesson plans, supplies and materials are laid out for tomorrow and/or the gazillionith piece of paperwork is filled out for administration. 

Every now and then I actually take a holiday break...yes they are given to me, but too many times those breaks are laden with lesson planning and such. 

The summer off you say?  Well the last day of school was in June, and this is July 20, and yes the school building is closed.  But if you look carefully to my right, on the table next to the computer desk, you will see curriculum maps, teacher editions, lesson plans, flash drives, a list of kindergarten friendly web sites.  Need I go on?  Yes, I can sleep late, take two naps a day, but the preparation for next school year is alive and well...so I'm technically not 100% off. 

Oh boy am I looking forward to this blog!!! We are going to touch on so many things...some of them may be touchy for me...some of them may be touchy for you.  But I do invite honest and open sharing.

Ok, ok. ok...you said I have the summer off...so...until the next tme.