Moisturize!

I'm getting the feeling I need to be more diligent in my moisturizing routine...

Student 1: You look really tired today! Are you tired?

Student 2: Do you have a daughter in the 8th grade?

Even though I haven't been working super late this week I feel more exhausted. One of my least favorite things about teaching ESL is how often my students tend to move. It makes me sad when they move and it is even harder when I know they going to be in a difficult living situation. Lately it feels like many of my students are experiencing problems outside of school. It is so frustrating and I wish I could do more to help them!

Writing Test...

Last week my students participated in our school's all day writing test. Obviously, an English writing test is quite a difficult test for some of my students. Most of my students did well and I had a fairly successful testing session with a class of eighth graders whose teacher was out sick. Testing all day and then a long teacher training totally wore me out. My students definitely made me feel better when I saw them the next day.

Student 1: I think I did well on my test! I remembered what you taught us about words that end in f changing to ves when you make them plural. I knew it was suppose to be leaves.

Student 2: I remembered that when something owns something it needs that little mark and the letter s.

Me: You mean 's?

Student 2: Yes! I'm glad you taught us that!

Student 3: O...I guess I got all those questions wrong.

Me: That's why you should listen to what I say.

Student 3: I know. You are really smart! Do you know everything?

Me: Not quite...but almost.

School Moments...

Student 1: Somebody stole my music!

Student 2: No! Your stand is turned around backwards!

Student 1: Oh...

Me: Does it feel good to be a bully?

Student: No...

Me: Then stop!

Student: Ok.

School Clothes & More Quotes...

One of the things that I have been excited about lately is that I am finally finding new clothes to replace my worn out attire from student teaching. Part of the problem is that it has taken me some time to learn what styles best fit my body. It has also taken time for those styles to be popular. My old clothes fit fine but they are so faded and are getting those little fuzz tufts all over them. I feel one step closer to being an adult professional now that I have black pants instead of grey pants that use to be black. I'm sticking with fairly simple pieces I can mix and match easily. A special shout out to my college roommate Amanda! I'm a little sad to be getting rid of the clothes we shopped for together at the various places you were employed. I guess we will be less likely to accidentally match when we see each other.

I try really hard not to be overly sensitive to grammatical errors outside of school. I know how much Mike loves having me correct his grammar so I try to spare the people who aren't required to love me forever.

Student: I don't need no book.

Me: Don't speak to me in a double negative! After all the time I have spent teaching you the English language you thank me by using it recklessly!

Student: O...I don't need a book.

Me: Fine...sit and wait until everyone else is done checking out books.

Student: Can I look at books?

Me: Argh!!!

School is going well overall. My students have been very well behaved although my sixth graders are a little babyish this year. I have spent a lot of time the past few weeks training other teachers in the district. I have learned that teachers can be much worse behaved than students.

Teacher: Do you know where room 101 is? I have to go to some stupid training!

Me: Hi! I'm your stupid trainer! Room 101 is just down the hall on the left.

Teacher: I don't know why we have to be here so late. I worked all day!

Me: At least you get to sit, turn pages, and daydream! I worked all day and I'm still working!

Flu Precautions...

My mom sent me this picture since I am a big fan of Winnie the Pooh. It sort of makes me think of school. I usually wait for students to ask to go to the nurse before I send them but since the flu is already going around in full force I'm being a little more proactive. I've gotten pretty good at recognizing the "I don't feel good look". They are suppose to stay home until they have been fever free for twenty-four hours but some come back as soon as they think they feel ok. When they come back too soon, I stop them at the door and send them down to the nurse. I usually tell them "I miss you too but I would rather wait until you are completely healthy before we spend time together."

Quote from early last week:

Student: Is it Friday?

Irritated students: No! It's Tuesday!

School Quotes...

Student: Why do I have two periods of your class and my friend only has one? That's not fair!

Me: I agree! It isn't fair that your friend only gets to spend one period a day with me and you get to spend two periods with me. I guess you are lucky. That's what you meant...right...(sarcastic smirk).

Student: No.

Me: It should have been!

Student 1: I don't understand #2.

Me: We are studying proper nouns and on this page you are writing the names of people you know in the blanks. Names are capitalized because they are proper nouns. The sentence says "________ is the kindest person I know".

Student 1: What does kindest mean?

Me: Nicest.

Student 1: Oh...(student writes Mrs. Rogers in the blank).

Student 2: That's not true! He just wants to be your favorite.

Me: Well it is working! He knows who grades his work. You should try harder!

Me: (Attempting to tell my new non-English and non-Spanish speaker about taking the bus to and from school...I was frustrated and she was confused.)

Student: I saw her yesterday. She got beat up. (Referring to the student I was talking to.)

Me: She couldn't have gotten beat up! I walked her to all her classes yesterday and out to her mom at the end of the day.

Student: She did! She got beat up! I saw her!

Me: Beat up!?!?!

Student: Picked up...by her mom after school! I saw her!

Me: Picked up?

Student: Yes! Her mom picked her up in her car!

Me: (Sigh and head shake...note to self to spend more time teaching pronunciation.)

Sniffles...

Every year as summer starts to become autumn I get a cold. I suppose it is probably allergies related to the changing season. It really hasn't been too bad. I have had a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough, and sinus pressure on and off. I sound sick but I feel mostly normal. I'm glad I don't have whatever illness has been going around school. Mike has been very sweet. He even made a special trip to the grocery store to get ingredients to make homemade Japanese chicken soup. He also did all the chores last weekend so I could rest.