Who knew?

My class is loving our new Money Project.  They keep encouraging others to bring in money to support Manna Food Bank.  AFter we counted the money, we continued reading Mr. Popper's Penguins.  Before I finished the chapter, the dismissal bell rang.  The whole class went "AHHHH".  I hurried up and finished the last part of the chapter.  Wow, never thought a time to leave bell would spark an AHhhh!

They know that I'm going to buy the Mr. Popper's Penguins' movie, so we can watch it on the last day before break.

Funny Moments during week of craziness...

These are all fun things for me to go back and laugh at...please feel free to laugh along.  I really want to write a book eventually of all these stories.

1. Student is making a face and asks if he can not have a neck (craft stick), so he can go home and pretend to be a doctor like Dr. Bob.  I said, honey Dr. Bob doesn't use tongue depressors.  He is a hearing doctor and uses an otoscope; he always says put nothing in your ears smaller than your elbow.  (Thinking that the next thing may be, can you put a craft stick in your ear.)
2. Student (I'm so excited to take tests).  Me (excuse me?)  Student repeats self.  Me (Are you crazy?  I was laughing...I am not a good test taker, so I don't care to give tests).  Student (I love them.  I guess I am (crazy)).  I love it when a student gets me.
3. A student from another class and a door....really can't say much more than that.
4. I am so much taller can we tape my head higher.  Of course, we did.  This student is almost as tall as me.
5. A bee at lunch while we were eating outside.  One student almost jumping into another students lap.  Then, another student (as I'm saying, just leave it alone) freaking out.  I used my teacher voice about what is appropriate before outside, but inside I was laughing hysterically at the thought of that student jumping into another student's lap.  
6. She just called me prissy.  Student says as she is about to kick against another teacher's class (talking about the other teacher).  Well...I say to her, just show her.  She kicked that ball so hard and then WALKED to 1st base.  They now WANT class shirts.  Oh Vistaprint why don't you make kid sizes.
7. Ballard at kickball throwing off her shoes and playing barefoot, a former student comes up to me and says am I seeing things or is Ballard not wearing any shoes.  (Me): Nope she's not wearing shoes.

When you have a classroom full of boys...

you notice that your strategies change.

Here's some examples:

1. Don't make me turn into the Hulk...you won't like the Hulk.
2. May the Force be with you (as I hand them a calculator to check their work).
3. (pretending to be Darth Vader in first movie where you put your arms on and pretend to squeeze)  I think that they think this is the funniest one (Alice gets this one).
4. Throwing a football far to earn street credit.
5. Relaying everything into a sport...how do you meet friends?  How do I meet friends...then we mention kickball.

Top 2 moments of the day:

1. When my one student who has been struggling to stay focused, figured out a Math problem on the back chalkboard.  I was SOOOOOO excited...I gave him a great job certificate and sent him to Ms. Nguyen...my cheerleader for this student.
2. We also had many compliments for Music today : ).  One student who doesn't care for bucks would have gotten 2 today!!!!!  I pretended like FIREWORKS were going off around him.  

Ace of Base Came in Handy During Math...

These are words that I never thought that I would say.  Yesterday during math, we went from estimating sums to estimating differences.  My students kept wanting to add rather than subtract.  I said something like you need to look at the sign.

Of course the word sign had me thinking about the oldie song, I began to sing...I saw the sign that told me what to do, I saw the sign.  Well, that is our new song for singing in our classroom.  They know are paying attention to the sign (+, -, X, /).  Who knew...

The little things in life : ).

Pass the tissues please...

The last few weeks (last week of school) has so many funny kids' quotes (or summaries of them) that I don't want to forget them, so that is what this blog is for.  Here are my funny kids' quotes:

-You should retain us so we can be with you next year.

-I have mixed feelings about this week.  I'm happy, but I'm going to miss you so I am sad.

-You know Dr. Bob is just like my dad.  Hmmm is he your dad?  (me: nope he's my husband).  Oh well I think that they would make great friends.  Come to think of it my mom and you would make great friends....you should e-mail her to do something over break. (me:  you have my e-mail.  You can e-mail my work e-mail anytime).  Actually it would be way better if you call her, can I have your cell #?  (me- well I looked into my crystal ball, nope not a good idea).  lol

-You would make a great mom one day.  (me:  Ahh that is very sweet.  I hope to be a mom one day).  another student:  what you want her to be wood...you are going to turn her into Pinkokko.  (me:  do you mean Pinocchio?) other student: haha yeah.

-Dear God, please have a huge bag of ice fall in this classroom. (after being out in 100 degree weather)

From a parent today:

-I had to convince him that it was okay that he was moving on to the next grade.  Thank you.

Top 10 reasons you know you are a teacher on spring break...

10) What, oh yeah I'm on vacation! Some of my favorite words.

9)  Getting up in the morning and enjoying a SIT DOWN breakfast outside.

8)  Sunday nights will NOT include the thought of oh no what assessment, meeting, after school activity do I have tell Bob about this week?

7)  You can FINALLY read a book on your nook without thinking about what you have to cover in class the next day.

6)  You can work in the yard during the day more for the enjoyment of the exercise and getting some sun rather than the grass is to your calves.

5)  Can take my time to pack and clean the house.

4) FCAT who?, Writing what?, GO where?,

3) You still have plans, but they include BEACH, pool, pedicures, and getting your tan on (using sunscreen of course).

2) Having a sit down lunch and not having to worry about anyone but yourself.  AND it lasts more than 15 minutes.

1) Sleep in past 5:45am!

Please reduce your speed, we are approaching SPRING BREAK ZONE!

First off, the reason that I created this blog was to help me put done some fun things in the classroom and things that I can learn from year to year.  I am a way faster typer than writer so this made the most sense.
That being said I had a few funnies, ahhhhh and Errr moments this week.  I will choose to remember the ahhhhhh and ha ha ha moments rather than the one or two errrrr moments.

Being the week of testing (and my hubby moving his practice), I knew our stress levels would be up.  I would tell my students to walk in the classroom (before the test) like they were charge so it who is boss.  As the week went on, I noticed that the students were coming earlier and earlier.  I guess that my tasty treats were working.  In the middle of one the 4 tests, a student looks at me after he was done and puts his hand up to act like he karate chopped the test.  It was quite humorous.  I've been using this phrase to get them to ease up about Math specifically.  After the test was over and out the door, I said "okay how do you feel about the test, you can't tell me what was on it remember".  One student raised her hand (this is a student that I have been tutoring after school for several weeks).  She says, "I'm not going to tell you that I did good on it Ms. ___".  I feel a pit begin in my stomach, BUT then she says, "I'm going to tell you I ROCKED it!"  To give some more background, I have been telling them that they would tell me this.  I told them that we are working mornings and afternoons (and some after school) on math and that have been working really hard.  AMEN, stomach felt better.

That same morning I had a typed note from a student telling me how she is going to rock the test and how she knows that she can do it.  After we review, I'd remind them "remember when you would freak out when you'd see this problem....remember when you didn't know your place values then we learned the song....remember when." blah blah blah

Our week ended with math workshop and beginning our multiplication fact quizzes, reading workshop/ar quizzes, and movie day/pizza/popcorn.  Let's just say a GREAT ending to a stressful week.  We watched Miracle Worker since we had been reading about Helen Keller all month.  They said afterwards, "that was a really nice movie".   I even had students ASKING to not go to special area to stay back with me.  For those that don't know we only had a 20-25 minute break each day from the students so needless to say that was not an option :).  They even didn't want to go home for the weekend???  I told my husband that I think this is the year that I'll need some tissues the last day of school.