School
Friday, March 05, 2010
the Repeats of the Morning
Husband said that I needed to get out of the house, to not worry so much about our girl kittycat, who is doing much better.
I decided to take a job for Friday morning only, at an elementary school. I thought it was for Kindergarten, but it seems the TA had moved on with the class, and is now an Aide in First Grade. Which is still fine, cuz I remember most of the students, and they sure do remember me! Quite flattering, actually.
This week the lessons have centered on the birthday of children’s books author Dr. Seuss. On the side table is a pile of Seuss books. The teacher explained that awhile back, she was visiting a local public library and those titles had been updated to newer editions, and that heap was next to the dumpster!
Lovely wunnerfully nice books, with strong library bindings, abandoned and alone.
So of course, being an elementary school teacher who knows that any opportunity to open a child’s mind should never be passed over, she tossed 27 Dr. Seuss books into her car, and allows her First Graders to have free reading time.
The morning would be devoted to Learning Centers, which is an educational concept coming into vogue towards the end of my employment at the daycare center. Every 15 minutes, the students change places and lessons to be learned. And we wonder why a long attention span is hard to see in older students.
My task would be to read aloud a book. I got to choose which one of the Dr. Seuss books I wanted to read for 5 different groups. I found I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew close to the middle. The teacher seemed pleased, and said one of the students would be quite happy to finally hear a grown-up read it because he has chosen it on his own to look at every day this week.
It’s one I did not know about before, but after reading it 5 times in one morning, I can say YES, it is one of his best.
I looked up that edition/ used condition online, and see that current price is $27.95, although there is a newer version, with glossy pages and a little more pink in the ink.
The customer reviews are glowing, especially from college students who have been assigned reading in class.
Then I went with the class to help supervise PE, getting a drink of water, then they went to music class down in the basement. I was free to leave at almost lunch time.
I stopped at McDs on the way home for a burger. Bringing it home and inside, the smell woke up the cats, who are 2 of the biggest moochers around. I gave away almost 1/3 of the meat before I got a bite my own self 
Yeah, I got out of the house in a good way, the cats seem to be fine, if sleeping on aphgans next to sunny windows is any indication.
Still, I’m glad today is Friday, a free weekend.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Links to Good Reading about School Lunch
Well, my goodness
Husband pointed me to a fine blog about someone who is eating a school lunch every working day this year.
Fed Up with School Lunch
and then I clicked on someone’s comment there, and found
Mr. Ferguson’s classroom about a teacher in Japan
who gives a little perspective from over the sea
Gotta love the InterWeb
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, February 19, 2010
My Evening out
This evening was a play performance at Kingsley Junior High School. I cannot recall the actual title, and I returned my program to the table to be used tomorrow evening. The main theme was how to get modern students to be interested in Shakespeare.
At times when I had a TA Sub job in the building, I had heard announcements about play practice, but I also received a personal invitation from Caitlin, a girl at church. I’ve known her since she was a babe in my arms in the Nursery, so of course I wrote the time and Admission fee in my planner book. She has a wonderful scene where she gets to wear a long-blonde-hair wig.
It was also good to see so many of the staff of the building in a context other than classroom. The guy running the sound board owns the music store where youngest son rents a room to give guitar lessons.
All this brings about a wonderful “small town” feel. I guess I should know bunches of folks, we’ve lived together in this house almost 27 years.
I got 2 offers for a ride home, but the evening is lovely, the sidewalks still clear, I had my walking stick. It felt good to move again after sitting on those uncomfortable chairs of the cafeteria.
I will ask for prayers for whoever was in the car accident at the corner of Locust and Main. I heard the sirens during the curtain call, and could see the flashing lights when I crossed College Avenue.
A guy in a neck brace loaded into ambulance, and a tow truck already on scene. Somebody must not have come to a full stop and looking before turning right. Carrunnch :(
If you live near Normal, go hand over $4 and see a bunch of junior high kids doing something good.
And be careful out there. A body is fragile skin and bones.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
here’s the blurb blatantly copied from the school website Come out to support the Drama Club, the Stage Fighters, with their performances of “Shakespeare Unplugged” at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, February 19, and at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 20 in the KJHS cafeteria. Tickets are $2 for students and $4 for the general public. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to American Red Crass/Haiti. You won’t want to miss their second performance of the year, because the first one in the fall was outstanding!
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
One Hour of my Day
Today’s TA Sub job meant duty as a Supervisor over Noon hour. That particular school does not hire anybody extra to help the way some others do. It just expects the TAs to work awhile away from the classroom. I suppose it saves money for Payroll. On the other hand, the laminating press seems to be in constant use, so there’s a balance.
The notes from the office did not tell me where I would be, so I had to ask the Assistant Principal. Turned out to be Recess, which I like so much better than Cafeteria. In the Cafeteria, there’s spills and waste and crazy tattle-tales.
Even though Free Play was indoors in the gym because outside was 16oF, I was just fine with it.
We pulled out some equipment for the kids to play with. Basketballs and hula hoops. One kid asked for jump ropes, but the lead teacher nixed that request. Too many people in the space.
However, I began to time a couple of the kids working the hula hoops. I called out each 10 seconds, one minute ten, one minute 40 and so on. Next thing I know, a competition of sorts started up. I had to take my watch off my wrist to be able to see it better and longer. And 9 kids were wiggling like crazy.
During first period, one girl made it to 4 minutes 18 seconds.
After the change, I challenged the next group to try to beat that record. They had already had lunch, so a bit more subdued.
It became clear that 2 girls would be very good at hula hoops. They both passed 3 minutes. But then, a basketball rolled into one girl’s ankle and she lost her rhythm. Kinda sad, but later she told me she was getting tired anyway.
The last girl kept going. The lead teacher blew the whistle for the line up, but I waved him off, and told her to keep going.
At 4 minutes 30 seconds, all the other students were quiet and watching her. Teachers came in to collect their class; realized what was happening. We all waited, but she was now feeling awkward at being the center of attention.
And getting tired.
I called out the time 5 minutes.
Seven seconds later she let the hula hoop drop.
My oh my, such a nice show. I began a spontaneous applause.
The whole room clapped for her.
She put the hula hoop on the storage hook, then took her place in line with her classmates.
the boy behind her patted her shoulder
the teacher said she should get a drink of water at the fountain
a different girl waved me over and asked if I am going to be at that school again very soon?
she liked having the time for hula hoops
A boy spoke up saying he has a watch with a second hand, so he can do it next time there is Indoor Recess.
Teaching kids how to add some fun while moving.
There are times when I just love the job I do.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
There Again, Home Again
Last evening I was all excited to have a TA Sub job available! Whew, earning a bit towards postage for sending out boxes! Plus in a building where I have not been a Sub yet this semester, a drive in the country on a pretty morning. There were machines and trucks at work in a corn field, which is very telling about the weird weather lately.
The office did not give me any Sub notes, but as soon as I got to the room the First Grade teacher explained my duties as a one-on-one with a student. One Adult—One Special Needs Student (our tax dollars working hard)
I know my job pretty much, but I have found that a teacher wants to be sure the lesson is heard and her expectations met within that classroom. And this one is fair and flexible.
She then asked if I know how to run the copy machine, and would I please go make 24 pages? I love being a TA, getting paid to operate an automatic machine.
When the kids filed into the classroom, it seemed that my assigned student was not there. I was sent to the cafeteria, where the Aide motioned for me to wait while a little boy finished his breakfast. I thought he was mine, so I did.
I rescued a still-wrapped, warm biscuit just before it went into the trash (our social program food dollars). School kids send so much food into garbage bins.
One day at a different school, I watched a boy toss a cheese and cracker snack pack into the trash—something his parents paid for and had not even been opened. When I asked him why he threw it away? he said his mom doesn’t like him to bring stuff back home. She thinks he eats all his lunch.
The boy I had supervised walked down the hall to K-gdn. The child I was to assist was nowhere to be found. The office assistant had to call two phone numbers to learn that he would be absent today.
The teacher said she did not need me for anything else, other teachers were doing fine, there was no pile waiting beside the copy machine.
So, I was sent away after being in the building a whole 40 minutes. When I got home, I called PayRoll and asked what to do about my Time Sheet, and was told that I would be paid a Half Day for driving there and waiting until cleared to leave.
There are no other jobs on SubFinder for today. I had a biscuit with butter and Ginger Peach jelly, and a cup of tea as a mid-morning snack. So it looks like a dvd and some knitting will be happening!
So nice that I have a working husband. You already know how easy my life is, and still I’ll be paid for a few hours to be at home
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Little Eyes have Big Ears
Yesterday morning worked as a TA Sub job in K-gdn.
One part of the schedule was for me to be leader of a Reading Group of 3 in a different room. I’m seeing some real cognitive delays in that bunch of kids, meaning this extra intensive attention is needed.
During that time, a couple little girls came in with mini-cupcake treats for the adults, probably extras from a birthday snack in a room down the hall.
Even though I am a Sub, I was given a sweet. I thanked her nicely, then set it on the corner of the table after they left the room.
My students had watched with great interest.
One said I should eat it, but I said “No, I can’t eat it now while I am On Duty, so I’ll have it at lunch time.”
(Delayed gratification at work. Later I learned that 88% of the students in that class get Subsidized Lunch)
When it was time to leave that area, I carried my goodie back to our regular room, and set it with my bag on the edge of the desk. A child asked me about it. Before I could reply, one little girl who had been in Reading Group spoke up. “No, she can’t eat while she is On Duty so she’s gonna eat it at lunch time.”
A nearby TA made a little breathing noise of surprise, caught my eye, and raised her eyebrows at me as if to say “Now what made HER say That?” Apparently even though the child’s visual clues aren’t up to age level, she has not much wrong with hearing and parroting skills.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, November 23, 2009
Students Fine, Teacher a bit Unreasonable
Today, I failed First Grade. Well, at least parts of it. The time when I decided 38 minutes was long enough to be sitting on a carpet square on the floor, so I stood up before the teacher finished her sentence. If looks could kill…
Next time was when I was helping a girl put her Math problem in the correct box on the paper, but the teacher had pulled her name out of the can, so she was supposed to be providing the answer, so her name got called 3 times before we realized the rest of the class was waiting.
And then when a boy kept getting the wrong answer for his adding, I asked him to show me how he was using his Number Line (the little graph “cheat sheet” taped to the top of his desk because of his learning problem) but the teacher said I was not to be helping him, that was why he had the Paper in the first place. It did not seem to matter to HER that he was not beginning at the proper point, not understanding the problem set, therefore he would still wonder why he keeps getting the wrong answer.
So he reached into his desk to get his eraser (the one on his pencil was already bent metal) and got told to leave his desk stuff alone. So while she was busy writing on the board, I sneeked the eraser out for him. She turned and said “And Mrs. Wiman is not supposed to be in the desk either” but I said I chose to do that, erased all his mistakes, then set it close to his hand.
I’m thinking Why else would a TA get paid to be with him if all he needed was the little paper?
She walked back to us and took away everything except the stubby pencil and the paper of Math problems. Both the kid and I had had enough by then. He just copied everything from the board for the last couple problems. I’m not sure if he will be understanding adding for awhile.
And then, when I went to fetch/escort the class back from the library, at least two asked if they could stop for a drink. I made sure no other class was in the hall, then said Yes, three swallows. Maybe 3 kids got a drink, then the teacher came around the corner looking for us. “NO, we do not stop for drinks after library” so we scooted on back to the room, passing two other water fountains while doing so.
At about that minute I thought I recognized in her a couple symptoms of menopause.
There was a snack time, with crackers. And then 4 students at a time were allowed to go out to the water fountain for a drink. Last one name called was the first kid who had asked if he could get a drink after library. 38 minutes had passed.
At the break, the teacher says “I know you don’t know these kids, but they really do seem needy, always twiddling with something, not staying on task. It’s a difficult year already, and we’re just at Thanksgiving.”
I told her that I do know most of them. This is my fourth year of being a TA Sub, so I remember them in Mrs. C’s Early Childhood room, and Mrs. B’s Kindergarten. There is a TA in the room to help with Disability Accommodations. One of the nice things about being a TA Sub is watching kids grow, knowing where they have come from.
I said that I bit my fingernails and pulled out every hair of my eyebrows in First Grade. Maybe that’s why I’m willing to work as a One-on-One with the LD kids, because I know how difficult it is. And why I carry a crochet hook and yarn so many places. At least something pretty gets done by my fidgeting. She did not seem to be very understanding about using a little more moving around to help with learning.
The last part of the afternoon was watching a dvd of The Magic Schoobus. It tries to educate and entertain during each show, and gets the kids settled down before they get on the bus.
As I was walking to my car, an older man was looking anxiously towards the door of the building. I asked if I could help him? He said he had to pick up his grand-daughter, his daughter was having car trouble. I told him that students are not allowed to cross the yellow line of the bus lane, and that he would have to pick up a child in the office if someone had called to make other arrangements. He said he didn’t think anybody had called the office. I told him that is still where he has to go if he wants to take a child off the property.
He seemed a bit confused, but I just shrugged and said “Rules are supposed to help us”
Long day, I tells ya.
First Grade.
Tough Job.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Some Days We have to Let it Pass
Karen at Chookooloonks has decided to to come clean about her way of speaking in everyday life, rather than the edited version which we get to read on her blog.
She is talking about letting loose a swear word, which reminded me of a TA Sub job I was working the other day. I was a classroom Aide for CGI Sixth Grade, their first year of middle school. Even though there is a first quarter gone, some of the students haven’t quite adjusted to all the rules.
We were in the Adaptive PE boys locker room, where I was waiting in the little area near the door and two boys were in cubicles changing back into regular clothes. Neither one should have needed help with the task, but soon I heard some forceful muttering, one kid said the door was jammed, a loud thunk.
I went round the corner and asked them to calm down, maybe climb under the door to get out. The one boy really does not like closed in space.
However, I noticed the reason the door was jammed, so I pressed on it from my side, and got it open.
Two boys came out, one breathing heavily, the other trying to explain it all away that he was trying to help.
I sent the one who was fully dressed on back to the classroom, where he proceeded to tell the teacher about how the other kid got all upset, and HE CUSSED!
Meanwhile, I managed to calm down the guy with the sensitivity issues, had to help with his shoes.
And then, the lock on his locker decided to be uncooperative. We dinked around with it awhile, but I knew we had to get moving. He was worried that somebody would steal his clothes, so I gathered them and the lock and carried it along to deal with later.
When we got to the room, the first boy hollers out about the cuss word. The teacher looks to me to handle it, since I was the adult at the scene. By then, my own issues about ‘being late’ were coming to the surface.
This outburst also got the second boy on the defensive again.
So I took a deep breath, looked right into the face of the first kid and said “Yeah, it was a tough situation, so swearing was IN CONTEXT” which he did not quite know the meaning of, but the other TA and the teacher both had to cover their lips with their fingers to stop the smiles from showing.
Then I patted him on the shoulder and asked if he would please let it go, PE and locker room were last hour, so now is time for Social Studies and snack.
The other TA hurried to the snacks box, the teacher turned on the projector for the SmartBoard, and we managed to settle back into routine.
Later at the break, I explained about the lock, which worked perfectly for the other TA. The boy still says he wants a lock with a key, which we told him to ask his parents if they would purchase one for him.
At lunch time, the first kid was telling his tablemates that the other kid got away with cussing in the locker room. One of those teachable moments all over again. I told him that the school rule does mean No Cussing, but sometimes we just have to understand certain people have to be accommodated.
I mentioned another time when I was with him and he did something maybe too much, but I let him be okay with the difference. And yeah, he did remember that. Sometimes being the TA Sub blipping in and out one day time for different classrooms and grade levels does pay off.
Letting out some slack helps us all to get along.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, October 26, 2009
There Awhile, Home Again
The dawn was a dreary gray this morning, but after a three day weekend, I realized that I might as well face a fine day at a TA Sub job (by request a week ago).
Husband cooked some oatmeal for us to have breakfast, then I showered and got ready.
Made it all the way to the school office, signed in, given directions to the classroom.
When I got there, two teachers looked at me like I had donkey ears or sumthin. What? we don’t need a Sub, that was supposed to be cancelled. One gal walked with me back to the office, where tension tightened.
I spoke up, saying I have a bit of a toothache, so if I was really not needed, then they could forget I happened by, just white-out that name on the list today, I’ll be on my way.
And so I found myself with an open day after all.
Back home, I hung up the duty clothes that had been on my body 57 minutes, put away the dishes from the counter, empty the dishwasher, checked e-mails, wrote to Husband all about it, stuffed envelopes for paying the bills, wrapped a package to send off, started a load of laundry.
Sometimes the feeling of free doesn’t even take money into consideration.
When I got back from the Post Office, there were messages on the answering machine. Once the TA Sub job got cancelled within the system, it decided I should be working somewhere else this afternoon, and really really wants me to respond with my Sub number.
Next time it called, I just pushed the “don’t bother me” button, and will continue doing my little chores and hobby the rest of the day.
Right after I have a mug of hot chocolate and a pumpkin donut.
May such a sweet blessing come your way also 
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Help from a Little Friend
The weather today was great! 68o sunny, light breeze
Got to be the TA Sub in Pre-K classes
Phys Ed outside both morning and afternoon
Snack time, only one spill of a half carton of milk, straight across the table, not on anybody, so eezy-peezy clean-up.
However, getting my Bus List students to the door, one little guy began to run outside while the bus was still moving into the lane, so I grabbed and pulled back and got a bit in his face with the lecture, so he began to cry.
I mean, the Sub has been a nice teacher all day, then a mean old lady is hollering, so he didn’t take it easily.
Well, Pre-K is the time to learn that nobody gets out of line while the bus is moving, before the arm drops, and the lights flash. NOBODY lets not one toe over the yellow line until the bus comes to a complete stop.
Here’s a little kid working himself into a good wail, and I’m feeling bad about yelling, but he had done something dangerous and scared me, and I’m not quite sure what to do now.
An after-school mother was waiting nearby, who had seen the whole situation and was just about to walk over to console the kid, when another boy from the class, who had been where he was supposed to be by the wall, stepped over to stand right in front of his friend and said
“Yeah, NO Running (pause for effect) and NO Crying either”
Well, Disobedient Kid pulls up his shoulders, sniffles one last time, wipes his cheeks with the sleeve of his jacket, and goes to his place by the wall.
Other kid gives me a look as if to say “He’s okay, I took care of it” turns to look toward the bus.
The driver motioned for us to come forward, so I matched the Bus # on my list, called the driver’s name but it was different than the ID he showed me, saying the regular guy was off sick the rest of the week,
then I began checking off names of the students one by one up the steps to board
Last on was Little Mister Peacemaker, who announced to the driver “We had a Sub teacher today” as if all the hoopla hadn’t been noticed already.
the driver nodded and said “She’s doing her job real good…”
Doing a good job sure has me all tuckered out.
You All Sleep Well, too….
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Education Happens
Today’s job was at a junior high in the homeroom for students with Autism (that may not be the most recent and proper term. sorry).
The usual schedule is that once a student has completed a schoolwork type task, the timer is set for some “free choice” time.
So, one of the boys worked a couple pages of Menu Math problems, then chose to go to the computer to watch a program on the PBS website. He was wearing headphones, but I could see the screen had wolves and buffalo (although he said BISON out loud) and other critters pertinent to a national park.
When time was up, he willingly logged off and gave his seat for the next student to have a turn at the computer.
I asked him something about the wolves.
He turned towards me rather quickly
and said “Not School Work! NO Questions!”
Nothing quite like putting learning into categories
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, August 24, 2009
Starting to get busy
Yep, the phone rang at 6:01am for a TA Sub job
at the junior high closest to the house, so I will walk
Gotta put down my crochet hook for awhile.
Welcome to the new school year!
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
They are our future
The other day I had a job in a Pre-K classroom.
Most of the students are close to 5 years old, and will be wading in to Kindergarten in the Fall.
It being the beginning of a new month, the teacher was setting up for a new theme for games and decorations and books. I got to be the adult who would carefully open the box for a brand new jigsaw puzzle with many kinds of fish in the picture. The piece sizes were about 6 inches, ready for small hands to manipulate and put together on the floor in the carpet area.
The students sorted themselves into play groups, one of those new-fangled ideas about freedom of choice, which makes for interesting educational experience.
I watched one kid go over to the puzzle pile on the floor, pull out a piece and put it under his bottom. Hiding it from the others. One smart kid kinda took charge, saying they should turn over all the pieces so they could see the picture, laying out the corner and edge pieces. He knew what he was doing, and most of the others got going to see what it would be.
It got down to the last piece. Everybody looked around, even lifting the edge of the carpet. The leader looked over at me with a helpless expression, thinking they would get into trouble, losing a piece of a brand new puzzle already.
Then the first kid moved a little, holding up the lost one and said “Hey, that piece is here!” then reached over and put it into place.
The other kids all gave a sigh of relief that the whole puzzle got done, and how great it was that he “found” it.
I wonder what need exists in a child’s heart that so craves the attention of putting in the last piece of a puzzle.
One they will be working with several times in the next few weeks.
Who shows a little kid how to do such a thing?
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, April 16, 2009
It’s been Two Years, but still….
Memory of Virginia Tech as written so thoughtfully
at Gifts of the Journey the Ways We Remember
Friday, February 20, 2009
Having the Day Off
Last evening, just before bedtime, I checked the SubFinder computer schedule.
The message said “No Jobs Available at this time” so I went over to another category and clicked the Do Not Disturb option for my number. I really do not like having the telephone wake me up too early.
When my alarm buzzed at its usual time, I came to the computer and checked the schedule again, finding two openings.
There was one name for a TA who is a one-on-one with a student that I do not get along with. I suppose I should make more effort, but I know the student has Special Needs with quirks and social problems, and today is not a day I feel up to dealing with it. Sometimes I wonder if the Do Not Accept button will send an electric shock up to my elbow, but this is a chance I’ll take.
the other position is one I have worked before, easy enough for a Friday
However, when I clicked on it, there was a message saying another Substitute was considering, check back later.
I waited 15 minutes, while I read the comics, until just about the time I should be hitting the shower, and checked again.
“No Jobs Available at this time”
the sun is shining, no wind blowing
although the temperature is below freezing
What’s a gal to do with a day off?
I finished a crocheted cotton potholder begun yesterday at Yarn Group, then finished a baby hat which has been on the peg loom for a couple weeks already. They will be going to the Mennonite Relief Sale next month.
I’ll begin the weekend chores early, and do a bit of grocery shopping. There is a lunch at church this Sunday, and the announcement says for someone with my name letter of the alphabet to bring a dessert.
It has been awhile since I turned the oven on.
Good thing I have outside influences to keep my skills ready.
Somebody asked me for pictures, since I haven’t put any on the blog lately. Actually, I haven’t had the camera in my hands for weeks, ever since we sent Lucas off on the train to see his sweetie.
I guess I’ll have to make sure the battery is charged and see what I can do to remedy the situation.
~~love and Huggs, Diane