Journal days are the best!
Hello all!
I had one of the first relaxing weekends I have had all year. It helped that I got to meet with a teacher from one of the KIPP schools here, and in one hour she gave me many hints out of her bag of tricks. I hope she can serve as some sort of mentor for me.
I just completed my favorite activity of the week: reading the kids' journal entries for the week. They star one that they really want me to read, and it usually one that says how much they love school, OR it is one that is mind-blowingly good. Doneisha Martin (of "Money Tree" fame) is at it again- writing poetry these days. Her last entry: "My Blues and the Sky Blue." Michael is writing a scary novel, one chapter each day; there is lots of blood and gore involved, I should probably make sure it doesn't get too out of hand! Writing is so incredibly hard to teach because grammar is so complicated and often not logical, but reading their ideas and seeing how awesome their imaginations are really does make it worth it. They regularly tell me that they love me and wish they could go to school all 7 days of the week, etc.
Turns out that after Christmas I have to start teaching science as well, since they will be tested on it in the spring. I have mixed feelings- science at this age is fun, but lesson planning for two subjects will be a challenge that I dread. We did just get this cool new computer that has a science curriculum created by George Bush's brother Neil Bush or something like that. Anyway, it's very state of the art and will hopefully help me since I am not too scientifically inclined.
The kids are so funny. We have this Homework Derby and if all the kids in one homeroom do their homework, their car can move forward. After 5 moves, the class gets an ice cream party. When one class moved it might have been the best day of their young lives. They were hollering in the halls. Then 5th grade won for the best lines in the school (when we line up in the hallway) and once again, pure joy.
We are taking our kids to The Nutcracker this week- they get to dress up in their nice Church clothes (breaking uniform! they are stoked!) and take a half day for the fieldtrip. Someone has to stay behind- cross your fingers it's not me! We had them watch some of the movie version and the boys loved it even more than the girls. Some of our "tough guys" liked it the most, it was so surprising and so cute!
So that's it from H-town.
Sarah B.
P.S. If anyone is interested, I am collecting Target and Wal-Mart giftcards for my kids' families for the holidays. Many of them still need basics like clothing, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. If you are interested in contributing, you can buy them online, or send one to me at
3601 Allen Pkwy. #505
Houston, TX 77019
Thanks again!
I had one of the first relaxing weekends I have had all year. It helped that I got to meet with a teacher from one of the KIPP schools here, and in one hour she gave me many hints out of her bag of tricks. I hope she can serve as some sort of mentor for me.
I just completed my favorite activity of the week: reading the kids' journal entries for the week. They star one that they really want me to read, and it usually one that says how much they love school, OR it is one that is mind-blowingly good. Doneisha Martin (of "Money Tree" fame) is at it again- writing poetry these days. Her last entry: "My Blues and the Sky Blue." Michael is writing a scary novel, one chapter each day; there is lots of blood and gore involved, I should probably make sure it doesn't get too out of hand! Writing is so incredibly hard to teach because grammar is so complicated and often not logical, but reading their ideas and seeing how awesome their imaginations are really does make it worth it. They regularly tell me that they love me and wish they could go to school all 7 days of the week, etc.
Turns out that after Christmas I have to start teaching science as well, since they will be tested on it in the spring. I have mixed feelings- science at this age is fun, but lesson planning for two subjects will be a challenge that I dread. We did just get this cool new computer that has a science curriculum created by George Bush's brother Neil Bush or something like that. Anyway, it's very state of the art and will hopefully help me since I am not too scientifically inclined.
The kids are so funny. We have this Homework Derby and if all the kids in one homeroom do their homework, their car can move forward. After 5 moves, the class gets an ice cream party. When one class moved it might have been the best day of their young lives. They were hollering in the halls. Then 5th grade won for the best lines in the school (when we line up in the hallway) and once again, pure joy.
We are taking our kids to The Nutcracker this week- they get to dress up in their nice Church clothes (breaking uniform! they are stoked!) and take a half day for the fieldtrip. Someone has to stay behind- cross your fingers it's not me! We had them watch some of the movie version and the boys loved it even more than the girls. Some of our "tough guys" liked it the most, it was so surprising and so cute!
So that's it from H-town.
Sarah B.
P.S. If anyone is interested, I am collecting Target and Wal-Mart giftcards for my kids' families for the holidays. Many of them still need basics like clothing, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies, etc. If you are interested in contributing, you can buy them online, or send one to me at
3601 Allen Pkwy. #505
Houston, TX 77019
Thanks again!
posted by MissBliss at 8:19 PM
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