Could this be her "Aha!" moment?

Mr. Hatcher, Mr Hatcher! A spink is a waterfall!!!!

If this were not the most obnoxious child ever running to give me this wonderful piece of information, I would have enjoyed it much more. However, the more I have thought about that short encounter from earlier today, the more I realize what a great piece of material it is. After my initial confusion (don't bug me when I am prepping work and you are supposed to be independently reading), I had to sit down and think why I should know slash care what a spink was in the first place. And this girl knows I'm not her biggest fan, at least for today. But no, here she comes, running to my desk with a giant smile on her face. The same smile I ask her to get rid of when I am trying to discipline her. No, this one is slightly different. She actually feels good about something. She isn't just being obnoxious.

I realize after I send her to her seat, she had come to me last week asking me what a spink was because it came up in her reading. As I have not read every book in the class library (shocking!), I gave her the great teacher line of "Why don't you read on to find out?" Apparently this is what she has done. And to think I thought she never read.

I guess the real test now is whether or not a spink really is a waterfall. Anyone read Pippi in the South Seas?

Also, Kleenex Boy has been without meds for awhile now I think. Anytime I had my back to the class today he would jump up to the unoccupied desk in the classroom and do a little arabesque/acrobatic move. And he and Smelly Feet were the only ones who voted for a Disturbia dance party. Too bad. I was actually kind of looking forward to that.

*Sidenote: Someone outside my apartment is going up and down the street yelling "GilBERT?"* !!!!

I use my friends. Their names at least.

Receiving my pink slip and being forced to look for work elsewhere, I am faced with the task of revamping my resume and pulling together a (half-assed) portfolio. I have since found that my ePortfolio has been disabled. I'm glad I paid the big bucks for a nonexistent document. Meanwhile, I am trying to find any and all components somewhere on my hard drive or memory stick. I found a blog project I had to do for a technology class and was pretty amused at my lack of concern when completing work at National. Here is just a tidbit of the project:

Andrew

Week 1 Response

I am Andrew. This is about me. This is a sample word document. I am in second grade. I like eggplant. I do not like salmon. This is the end of my piece.

Click Here to Go to Andrew’s Main Page

Click Here to Go to the Week 1 Page

Click Here to Go to the Table of Contents Page

Feel the rhythm of the music getting stronger.

In preparation for reading Gloria Estefan by Sue Boulais, I had my students prepare interview questions for their favorite singer. Some of the results were exceptional.

Interviewer: Sean Interviewee: Freddie Mercury
Q. Freddy murcury how did you get your worldwide fame?
A. Well, I just tought some songs practice alot and did it in front of an adience.
Q. Have you ever taken a break from singing?
A. Yes I have, but not for very long.
Q. Do you think your career is the best choice you've made?
A. Yes because I started when I was just a boy.

The assignment was to prepare at least seven questions. No answers were to be included since we do not necessarily know how these singers would respond. Apparently, not all fourth-graders know how to follow directions.

Interviewer: Hunter Interviewee: Jason Mraz
This is newes 8 at 6:30. Welcome, today Hunter Modo toke a visit to Quallcomm Sadem with Jason Mraz who just sang I'm Yours.
1. Did you eventually get tired of singing!?
2. Did that song efeket your career?
3. Was the song sang worldwide?
4. How long is your contract?
5. Do you think you did good?
6. How many people came?
7. How long did you sing?
Now backe to the newes room!

Not only does this child include the required seven questions, he included a proper news greeting! However, beware of the attack of unneeded "silent e"s.

Interviewer: Sheridan Interviewee: Carrie Underwood
How long did you practice a day?
How many times did you practice before a concert?
Are you a worldwide singer yet?
Do you think you'll ever get tired of this career?
Did you ever sign a contract?
Have you ever demonstrated anything?
How long have you been singing?
Do you have a boyfriend? If you don't my teacher is free and he has a crush on you!

No need to explain why this was my favorite. My unrequited love for Carrie is brought up several times a week by my students. Sometimes funny, sometimes annoying, this time it worked perfectly. Way to go, Sheridan!

Also, can we please revisit the fact that a biography of Gloria Estefan is part of the Reading textbook? Amazing. Let's enjoy some of her greatest, shall we?

Mr. Inappropes

Today I shouted at my kids, "I have seen too many balls today!"

I chuckled on the inside. After some puzzled looks from a few students, one girl, a self-proclaimed tomboy, replied, "I'm sorry. I have a ball."

An altogether-too-with-it boy then mumbles, "That's just not right."

What to learn from this? Quietly discuss the need to put away bouncy balls on an as-needed basis.

A Beautiful Poem

In response to "The Lesson" by Della Rowland:

Rose are red.
Violets are blue.
You might think your dad is a coward but maybe he's not.