P/T Conferences, Hats, and Flowers!

I can't believe I survived last week! I never thought it would end because I had to do Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday and Thursday night. Let's just say they were LOOOONG days! But they were actually okay because there really were no upset parents, they were either happy, supportive, or concerned and wanted to know what to do to help their child do better, which is GREAT! I just wish they all got better grades, but sadly, some of them got worse grades in some areas, so hopefully the problems can be fixed this term...

I got a surprise on Thursday morning though when one of my cute boys gave me a hat he made! He said he made it on one of those round looms. I thought it was sooo cool! I don't even know how to do them! I guess I need a lesson from him (or Auntie Cari who is an avid knitter! :) )! I guess you know you are liked and appreciated when a student gives you something like that! My mom also brought me flowers on Wednesday during P/T Conferences! I kept them on my desk all the rest of the week and brought them home on Friday. I got so many compliments on them and they smelled soooo good! Too bad they weren't from a guy....but thanks mom so much! I am so lucky to have such awesome parents to help me get through the crazy times in life...and this last week was certainly one of them!

Anyway, here are some pictures of the hat and flowers for your enjoyment!

The Better Days...

This week has been much better as far as behavior for the girl I was talking about...she actually wrote me a little note that said (and I quote) "I'm sory how I have been mene latly". She set it on my desk yesterday at the end of the day. So funny that girl...I swear she is a teenager already with her mood swings from week to week! (and to think that she is only 10!) It gets better too, she actually turned in her math homework yesterday AND her grandma signed her planner saying that she read with her for 30 minutes! YEA! I guess there is some hope...don't know how long it will last, but I hope for a long time!

Another little miracle last week was with my #2 challenge child...A boy with ADHD (stare into space kind) and some kind of learning disorder (he is VERY slow to do EVERYTHING, I have to prompt him every 5 minutes or so to do anything!), got 100% on his spelling and vocabulary test all in one day! He NEVER does that and he hasn't got 100% on a spelling test since October at least!

So I guess it is these kinds of things that I live for as a teacher...not to mention the days when ANY student understands something I am trying to teach them (especially in math!). I just hope I have more of these than not.

Oh the Joys of Teaching...

So I think these past couple of weeks have just flown by and I feel like I am just "floating" along. Where is the time going! I can't believe it is the middle of March! I have had quite the adventure this past week with teaching too...

Remember the little girl I was talking about in the last post about bribing her with rocks? Well, she has earned about 1 rock and that is it. I don't know what to do with her! It seems like nothing works, and she just argues with me about everything. And to put the cherry on top, this past Wednesday I ( and with the help of the Office Ladies) caught her stealing another student's "I Will Follow the Rules" Cards, erasing thier name, putting her name, and turning it in to the office for a drawing on Friday. Well, it was a REALLY big "ta-do" when I confronted her about it after school that day, but I finally got a hold of "Grandma" (that takes care of her and 4 other kids, including foster kids) and told her about it. She didn't seem too concerned about it though, which totally bugged me. I asked her about homework too, and she flat out told me she doesn't read or do any homework with her because she is too busy! This poor little girl! She is already behind socially and academically and she doesn't get any practice at home! It KILLS me! I am trying all that I can, but I can just see this girl making some pretty tough choices when she gets older, because of the kind of life she has been dealt... It really makes me appreciate all that I have and my parents for raising me the way that they have. I am TRUELY blessed! I just wish I knew how to help this girl! She is definitely my #1 challenge this year!

On top of that, there has been more drama...girls complaining about cheating, boys acting crazy while I am out on recess duty and they are supposed to be working on missing work, lice detected in the classroom next to mine, etc....Ya, it has been LOVELY! Whatever happened to just teaching and having children that are "angels"! Well, I guess everything has it's challenges! :) After all, they ARE just kids, and they do make me laugh everyday! I think it is a love/hate relationship....

Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest, because it really has been my life lately! Especially now that Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up in 2 weeks. Let's just say STRESSED! I am happy that it is getting a little warmer and the sun is staying up longer during the day. I know I need to look at the positive side more! Wish me luck!