Summa-Summa-Summatime

Wow. Another year or teaching under my belt. I really cannot believe that this year is done. I know many people say that but geez it feels like just yesterday they were comnig in to register for school.

I made a photostory for my students and their parents. When I was showing it on honor's day I started crying. If anyone knows my class, that person is probably thinking "You cried over those students?" Many times I heard teachers say, "There is a reason that child is in your class because our personalities would NOT click." And it's true--they wouldn't have clicked with that student. But I came to really love these students. I don't know what it was about them. Maybe it's because they got my humor and quick wit. Maybe it was because I saw so many of them really grow up over the year. Maybe it's because they taught me how to be a better teacher in some ways and that it's ok to laugh at the small or big things. I know I can really say with honesty that it has been a great year.

Ok, now that school is done, what am I going to do? For the last 180 days my time has been consumed and revolved around 22 eight year olds. It's almost like empty nest syndrome. Well for starters, I slept in today. Whoo-hoo! And then I fixed me a cup of coffee and enjoyed my waffles. I have some things planned for this summer (working at Sylvan Learning Center and tutoring 2 of my students from this past year). But I have decided to make a LIST.

-Clean CLEAN my room and make my bed daily.
-Give Josie a bath weekly. (Steena is going to love this)
-Garage Yard Sale Hoppin (Mine and Steena's new obsession.)
-POOL IT!
-Make it to the beach at least 2 times a month.
-Get back to some work out kind of plan
-Save my money.
-Work and reorganize my classroom
-Make a trip to see Heather
-Finish decorating my apartment

I will add things to this list. Any suggestions for what I should do over the summer? What are you doing??

SPRING CLEANING!

My name is Jessica and I teach third grade in Spartanburg, South Carolina. My elementary school is a rural school that brings in a lot of country kids with some city kids. Our school is currently undergoing a major overhaul. We added on 2 wings to our school. With over 800 students from K to 5th grade we are busting at the seams. We have added at least 4 more classrooms, another computer lab and a science lab (which I am the most excited about). We have extended our cafeteria by adding a stage, added an extra music room, and another gym storage unit. This will increase student learning but there are more opportunities to move about the school and more hands on activities for our students. Our students will take pride in our school because it's a new and exciting thing happening in our school. Not only are all these additions happening but some grade levels are switching halls. This means that all teachers are having to clean and pack up their belongings before the last day of school (which is Thursday). I have heard many teachers complaining about moving and cleaning out(especially those that have been teaching for 30+ years). I agree that it does stink that this is one more task you have to take care of before summer break but I do believe that half the teachers DO need to clean out their closet and their junk they no longer need. When I moved into my classroom I found items from the 70's stuck at the back of the closet (visit old Facebook photo albums from last summer-you'll see what I'm talking about). I believe mid-year and end of the year teachers need to clean out. Clean out the closets, clean out the cabinets, and clean out the desks. Weekly my students clean out their desks (it's amazing the things they find). When a classroom is clean and organized, the students are more organized and take more pride in the classroom. When a classroom is less cluttered, students are more able to focus and operate. Switch up the seating and movement in the classroom. I have noticed that this makes students more flexible and adjust better to last minute changes because we all know that almost always happens in a classroom. Bottom line-a cleaner organized classroom means a better way of learning.

A Good Note

No erasers and paper napkins were consumed today by an unmedicated child. That's a positive thing right?

ARE Children Well-Behaved?

I currently read a post on NC teacher's of the year blog post. She blogged about US children misbehaving and where this behavior might come from. Of course, she mentioned media...DUH. Obviously the media has a HUGE influence on how our children act.

The girls in my classroom idolize Miley Cirus and any other Disney teenage girl. They sing their songs a recess, repeat their statements, snap and sass their fingers just like they do. This comes from the drive to be like these girls on the Disney Channel. As for my boys, I'm not sure I would say they idolize Miley or any other boys on the Disney channel. They may...but they won't admit it. Theirs is more of a "cool" image in front of others, and well, just not being able to control themselves.

The past couple of weeks have been horrid at school. My students have been bouncing off the walls and backsliding. I'm thinking to myself, "Am I backsliding? Is it me? Am I slacking on my discipline?" I follow throw with my consequences. Part of me wants to say, "Ok that's it. Let's call the office to come get you." But another part of me wants to say, "No. Work with this child. What is the office going to do?" I'm not saying I don't trust the office following through with the discipline because they do but sometimes I think there are somethings I should handle in the classroom before I send them away with the pink slip.

A question I have always had was, "Are the parents following through with their discipline at home?" I have a parent that says, "let me know and I'll handle the situation at home. You tell me if anything happens and I'll take care of it." I call the parent, let them be aware of the discipline and action that happened expecting the child to be somewhat regretful from the previous days actions. But sometimes they come in the next morning like nothing happened. This really frustrates me. I build my classroom with parent communication and always put this point across during Registration Day: "I need to know we're a team. We need to work TOGETHER to make this year SUCCESSFUL. If I don't have you BEHIND ME, we cannot be BEHIND your child. I'll do my part from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Then I need you to take over." I get many nods and "Oh yes, Ms. Castro. I agree." BAH. Whatever. This year I had to be pretty blunt with my parents. I hate calling parents. I rather e-mail because I can think of my words. But I've had to come out in teacher conferences and say, "I'm sorry ma'am, but he is lying to you. That did not happen" or "Do you realize that she yelled and spit in my face? Is this going on at home?"


I'm just seriously getting close to the end of my string because it's the end of the year. I pray everyday for patience...or I do at least when I'm having to close my eyes and count to 10 before I explode.

I question a lot of parents...not only in my classroom but in general. There are some amazing parents out there. I have seen students come from these parents and I would say my parents did a pretty decent job with me. But then there are some parents where I sit and think, "What do you do with your child during the week? Could you tell me at least 5 of his spelling words? What mutliplication fact is your child struggling with? What unit are we studying in Social Studies? Did she tell you your 6 vocabulary words today in a sentence? When was the last time you read with your child for 20 minutes? Do you what upsets your child or what is making him so angry lately?"

Some parents could spit these answers off in less than 30 seconds. Then I know there are some that would have to scratch their head and say, "You know, I'm not quite sure..." I realize that some of my parents are single parents working 1 or 2 jobs, going back to school and working and I know it is crazy. But this is your child's education. This is your child's behavior. Follow through with actions. Follow through with discipline. Ask questions. Spend 15 minutes with your child before they go to bed. Such simple steps can make the BIGGEST difference in the classroom.

If I were a parent I would...
-awake my child an 45 minutes to an hour before we have to go to school.
-feed my child breakfast.
-give medicine if needed.
-make sure my child has their bookbag and they are prepared.
-say one positive thing to my child before they get out of the car.
-let their teacher beware of anything stressful going on at home (it's ok to share! we don't judge! well, we try not to but we'll be understanding)
-pick them up from school at a reasonable hour
-ask about their day and not just accept "It was good" statement.
-not only ASK but CHECK their folder and bookbag for homework and important notes
-help with homework.
-read for 20 minutes with my child
-eat dinner at the table
-make them go outside to play. limit video games
-BATHE.
-tuck into bed by 9 PM. no tv in the room.
-kiss goodnight.

The "Ology" of Jess

Stole from Jed...of course.

FOOD-OLOGY

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Itailian. And Jed was right-Kan Pai

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
PF Changs or Maggianos.

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of?
Evidently Pizza. I've been devouring pizza lately.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Depends on my mood: Pepperoni, Mushrooms, Onions OR Sun dried tomatoes, feta, and spinach.

What do you like to put on your toast?
grape jelly or lots of butter

TECHNOLOGY

How many televisions are in your house?
3

What color cell phone do you have?
silver gray

What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it?
"Ok Sounds good" -Josh

Who was the last person to call you?
Heather

BIOLOGY

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
nope

What is the last heavy item you lifted?
my cello case. man alive i'm glad i live on the 2nd floor

BOLOGNA-OLOGY

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
No

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Elana.

DUMB-OLOGY

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
Not sure. Maybe 5 or so?

Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Last Saturday 2:30 AM. Well, we didn't have a run in but I called them so they could have a run in with the people below us

Last person you talked to in person:
Steena

Favorite Month?
January!

CURRENT-OLOGY

Missing someone?
My Josie Bella

Mood?
exhausted. that mood between tired but too restless to sleep

What are you listening to?
Private Practice

Watching?
Private Practice

Worrying about?
This weekend.

RANDOM-OLOGY

What’s the last movie you watched?
Random ones but the latest has been "He's Just Not That Into You"

Do you smile often?
I try

Do you always answer your phone?
No

It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Steena.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
BLUE!! Geez I always thought a girl with brown hair and blue eyes is gorgeous

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
Cherry.

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes....that's dumb

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes still alive. Josh "won" it at the state fair in 2007. Still kicking.

Favorite Christmas song?
Oh Holy Night and Mary Did You Know

What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
GPS or Sat. Radio

Can you do push ups?
heck no. that's the one thing at the gym that i could NOT do no matter how hard i tired

Can you do a chin up?
heck no

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Both

Do you have any saved texts?
yep. 110. just deletes and erases automatically.

Ever been in a car wreck?
No

Do you have an accent?
I sure do. It's the reason why I can't speak Spanish properly.

What is the last song to make you cry?
God of this City. And the Revelation Song

Plans tonight?
I've gone and accomplished a 2 hr Orchestra Practice. I'm pooped.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Oooo yeah.

Name 3 things you bought today?
Smoothie, Coffee, Biscuit.

Have you ever been given roses?
Yessss

Met someone who changed your life?
I Love Jebus and he makes me smile. And the ones I love change my life daily.

What song represents you?
Swan Dive by Sister Hazel

Name three people who might copy this.
Laura, Whito, and...that's it.

What were you doing 12 AM last night?
Sleeeeeping

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
Ok it's 6:30. I need to leave 7 AM. What does NOT need ironing? COFFEE!

Mission: In Progress

Misson: "Evict 10 person family of Mexicans living below us that play Flamingco music Thursday at 7 PM til 3 AM Sunday while shooting fireworks inside the apartment while dealing pot on the porch" is in effect.

Will update as more events unfold this week.

First Monday Morning

Last night before I went to bed I was worried that I wasn't going to get up in time in the morning to make it to school. When I lived with mom, I was literally only a mile away from work. But now I'm 15 minutes away from work.

I set my alarm at 5:30 to wake up but I didn't get up till 5:50. One thing I don't like about the apartment is that I have to put Josie on a leash and walk her around the apartments till she does her business. And considering the pot-smoking mexicans living below us, I have to be on guard at all times...especially in the dark.

Well, I'm half a sleep, in my robe, with my phone in hand, ready to dial 911 if anyone attacks me. We're walking around the courtyard, shuffling along, when I hear...

"OOOOOOHHHHH MYYYYYY"

And I jump about 10 feet in the air. One of our downstairs neighbor was on her balcony (why at 5:50 AM I have no clue) and saw Josie. She then preceded to tell me how small and cute Josie was and just had to get a better look at her.

Goooood gracious. Do you think next time you could NOT scare me out of my skin like that???

Oh, and I made it in PLENTY of time to work. I got to work in 15 minutes, and had plenty of time to get my stuff done before the kids came in. GO ME.