5/9/14 -XOXO

I teach at a K-8 school and I always feel like our 7th/8th graders are much better behaved than kids at the local 7-8 middle schools.  We haven't had a fight in two years, there is no cursing (well, none that we hear) and I rarely ever have to confiscate phones.  

So today at dismissal I was literally shocked when one of my 8th grade boys went over and kissed a 7th grade girl right on the lips!  They are just babies!  My husband is giving me a hard time about this, but I called both parents and gave the boy a detention.  I hope the girl doesn't get in trouble, I explained to her mom that she was just standing there and HE kissed her, but she sounded pissed!  I have a great relationship with the boys mom and she was like "And THATS why he's going to an all boys high school!"

Did I do the right thing by calling?  I think I did.  Other teachers saw it and if it I let go and it got back to the principal I don't think that would be too cool.

On a happier note, since 4th grade was finishing up the science portion of the state test today, we didn't have a regular schedule today again, so I only saw two real classes besides my homeroom so we played the 24 Game and it was AWESOME.  I love how engaged kids get with that game!  I really want to set up an official tournament since I have the whole kit.   One class got stuck on a good one and they ended up working on it all day in other classes and trying to get their other teachers to figure it out.  It was 7, 7, 5, 6.  Can you figure it out?

5/7/14-WTH?

So yesterday was the math portion for 8th grade and the first half for 7th grade.  I'm not sure why, but I came home from work made the kids dinner, washed the dishes and promptly went to bed. I slept until 5:30 this morning!!
I was was physically exhausted, I can only imagine how my poor students felt.
On a positive note, they said they felt good about the test and they confirmed that I had taught them everything that was on it which was all I was hoping for!
One of the things I hate most about the test is not getting the results until the end of summer. I think that is something that will change with PARCC.

5/6/14 State testing in full swing

Day 2 of NJAsk testing at my school today.  I could definitely tell the kids were "not as fresh" as they were yesterday.  What is going to happen tomorrow and Thursday when they have to take the math portion?

Also, why does 8th grade only get 1 day of math when everyone else gets 2 days?  4th grade has to take the Science also, but they get to do it on Friday.

I really hate this whole process.  I understand the need for it in a way, but I wish it was in June and given as a "Final exam"  We will still have 14 full instructional days after this and the kids think that school is now over.

5/5/14 -Something's Better than Nothing!

So I decided to blog everyday and promptly blew off three days!  Ugh!  I kind of have a good excuse, it was a crazy weekend at our house.  My in-laws and niece came to visit from KY so they could see my son in his first "starring" role.  He got to play the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz!  He was great!  I am so proud of him!

Today was the first day of NJAsk.  It went OK, kids acted like it was no big deal.  Hope the rest of the week goes the same way!

Oh, something a student said last week keeps nagging me.  He said "Mrs. Nehila, you are such a nice person, why do you teach such a mean subject?" I was like "What do you mean by that!?" and he went on to say how math is so horrible and I am too good of a person to teach such an evil subject!  I just don't even know what to think about that.  He is a good math student too!  Yikes!

Blogging Challenge Day 1!

Hey Happy May Day!  May 1st!  I'm starting my own 30 day blogging challenge.  Ready?  I am....not!

Ok here's whats going on.  First, non-teachery stuff...I went to an amazing concert last night-Twenty One Pilots.  I have a 16 year old daughter who loves the same kind of music as I do, and one of our only favorite shared activities is going to concerts.  I was not supposed to go last night, it was going to be the first time I dropped off her and her friend, but at the last minute her friend couldn't go.  So I went, first, let me complain that not only did I not get carded, they might have well said "move along grandma" I can't help it, I was bummed about that.  But, the show was really good!  I love every song on their latest album and the show itself was really entertaining. Although I complained about being old earlier, I am really glad that I got to sit at the bar and watch the show instead of toughing it out in the pit.  My daughter has bruises!

Now on to teacher stuff!  Not good news to report.  I had my first and only observation today and I was not pleased with my students.  I scheduled it for my homeroom which is the high achieving class.  I prepped them and they behaved horribly.  I haven't had my post observation conference yet, but I don't care, I was pissed at the way they acted.  Just to name a few things, they didn't listen to my directions, they argued over who was going to go to check the work of other groups, they didn't take out their notes to help them when I told them to do so, etc.  Then to top it all off, the third class of the day came in, rearranged their desks and found gum smeared all over one of them.  I was thoroughly finished with all of them!

 I just need to get through tomorrow and then next week is state testing.  I wish I could say that I am confident my kids will do well, but at this point, I would be surprised if anyone passes!  As far as school goes, I am a Debbie Downer today!