Equality for all?

This has been one of those weeks as a teacher where I just want to pull my hair out. For starters, I lost my dog this past weekend. He was at my parents house, and disappeared. I had Monday off for MLK Jr, searched all day. Then, I got a cold, took on Wednesday, and ended up searching most of the day, making myself even more sick. So, even though it was only a three day week for me, it was a rough week.

I really do enjoy 2nd grade. They are funny and witty. Lately though, we've been having a lot of disrespect and name calling issues. They seem to be constantly going on.

Today, I had a student have a complete, mental breakdown. Hysterical crying sobbing, under his coat, sitting under the kidney table. Why? Let me tell you. He simply can't handle doing anything that he does not want to do. Ok, this is typical for a two, three, four, maybe even five year old. But a 2nd grader? Come on! His mother struggles with this at home, and we had a team meeting about it yesterday.

Today we also had a Martin Luther King Jr. presentation. The 2nd grade did a great job. However, the school would not allow any children on stage if they weren't in uniform. Now I understand how the junior high students like to rebel, and wear jeans. But in the primary grades, it's not kids fault, its the parents. I hate punishing children for something that is in the control of their parents. However, my lowest level student, who has such a fragile self esteem, yet bright spirit, was singled out and not allowed to perform. So sad. There is a volunteer who works with the lower level students everyday. She came into my room and let me know that she was leaving because they were sending students home who weren't in uniform. She said, "I don't think that Martin Luther King Jr. would be very proud of this, and I can't support this." She left. She is one of the dearest volunteers that we have.

Then, to end my week I learned that there will be two less elementary positions next year. I am the low man on the totem pole, so that means to job for me. I'm okay with that. Everything works out for a reason. I will apply to the suburbs, and to other schools in my district and see where my next stop will be.

A New Year

Well, to be honest, I'm not really sure why I didn't keep up with my blog. When I first have to move to a new school, I was pretty bummed. My heart was really into my first school, it was just a neighborhood away from my own, and I was dedicated to it. However, I quickly adjusted to my new school and classroom, and I really do love 2nd grade.

My new school is also a brand new school, but we are a failing school. Therefore, if our test scores aren't up to par this year, we all get laid off in April. So, needless to say, there is a lot of pressure at the school, and it was hard to adjust to.

I've managed to adjust to all of political issues, and to stay excited about my classroom. So far, my positive attitude has kept me sane. 

I have 18 children in my class. Right before Christmas, we participated in the "Adopt a Class Program." Brown Mackie College "adopted us" and gave each child a gift that they had asked for. I held in my tears as I watched many of my students open up their only gifts this year. As a sweet little girl, Naudia, opened up her Barbie, with tearfilled eyes said, " I just can't believe it, I am just so happy." And to think, it was probably the first Barbie doll that the 9 year-old has ever received.

I have made my new goal to really step up my Language Arts program up a notch. We have a program that we are required to use, but I'm just not thrilled with it.  It's kinda funny, but while I was at my parents over Thanksgiving break, I found my elementary workbooks, and picked up my nephews old workbooks and have been getting new ideas. 

So we've added new hands on activities, that I hope will help my struggling readers to soar. I'll let you know how it goes!

Well we have a snow day today, so it gives me a little bit of time to catch up on things.  I promise to do a better job at keeping up with my first year.