Discipline is an Issue

So, it has been a while! I am going to attempt to get back into this.

Today, I want to address some school stuff. I am not even touching mass shootings. That has been covered plenty and I will say we have a major people problem, a generation of undisciplined adolescents and it is scary.

Now, this is pertaining more to discipline as a whole. I am not in a school currently, but I have had a plenty of time to read articles, teacher posts, converse with past colleagues and just watch. Honestly, partly for this very topic, I needed a mental break from it all. Ten years of this escalating trend made me hate what I loved at times. It made me mentally exhausted. It took time away from my own husband and children because I had NOTHING left to give when I got home. There is a HUGE problem in schools with discipline.

There are districts claiming numbers look good and it it under control. There are districts flat out lying on data. There are districts with blinders on pretending there is no issue. There is a massive problem.

When a child is written up by a teacher for a legit (I use this because there are some coocoocachoos that live in a false reality) reason and the child has directly violated the Code of Conduct or a rule, there should be a consequence. The discipline should be handled in a timely manner so that the child understands the cause and effect relationship.

You want to know why test scores across the state of Alabama didn't look great? I will let you in on a little secret. It is because the schools are out of control.

In my classroom, I used PBIS. Positive behavior is a great tool and works wonders with some kids. However, there also were times when there was nothing to positively reinforce because it was a direct violation of a behavior that had repeated itself. It clearly needed to be handled in a different manner.

There are teachers in classrooms frustrated beyond frustrated because they are not having the support needed. There are districts saying the numbers look good. Another little secret...you know why they look good? Nobody is keying the issues into the computer. In school detention or In school suspension is often given and isn't counted. Referrals are trashed because of a variety of reasons. The teacher is questioned for a behavior of a child and punished more than the child. Students are wasting countless hours in classrooms across the state mindlessly copying paragraphs while it is being called "reflection." Those "reflections" aren't helping test scores either.

The problems are not being fixed. The issues are swept under the rug and then escalated. The teachers and parents are out of control because there are NO consequences enforced with regularity and clarity. It is KILLING the classroom teacher. There is no resolve at this point.

Now, does this all fall back on the administration? There was a time in my building where that would have been a definite, "yes" shouted from the rooftop. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes, the district is at fault. They are so worried about numbers that they keep kids from alternative schools that need to be there, they want only x number of referrals, and they make it near impossible to expel a child.   You know who is suffering here? Your children. The ones sitting in the classroom not learning because little Betty Sue has learned she has no consequences and literally destroys the room and takes all of your child's instructional being corralled by the classroom teacher.  

There is a major problem. I have noticed a running theme in the "fixing" of it. They claim the numbers are good, the data supports it and then pretend there is no issue. There are PHENOMENAL teachers leaving the profession because of this. Everyone thinks these mass school shootings are an issue now. Give the kids in the elementary schools that are now running the buildings a few years. You haven't seen anything yet.

We have a REAL problem!

Third Grade

There are so many new and exciting things in my TPT store.
Our curriculum....well, I don't like it. I love teaching how and what my kids enjoy WHILE teaching to the standard. Who likes a scripted curriculum? BLAH!

After years of being forced to follow it to a T, we were finally given the freedom to TEACH. Imagine that. I have enjoyed it so much.

Just a few of my favorite things. New little readers. Foldables. My kids LOVE these. My parents LOVE these. They are easy to make, and pack a HUGE punch with home-school. They are wonderful! 

Check out my TPT store

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sunny-Jae

1st Two Weeks

I survived the first two weeks of school.
We have been busy. I am implementing so many new things in my room this year. I spent a lot of time this summer reorganizing all of my things and preparing them by standard. Our district finally gave us the go ahead to teach and do what we know is best for our kids. Such a novel idea...so we are about to start training on project based learning. I will keep my thoughts to myself and relish in the few weeks I got to do what was best for my students. I have gained an enthusiasm for teaching again in being allowed to TEACH! I love it!

We worked on classification of plants and animals for two weeks. We broke out our little eyes as we call them and got some closeups of our leaf margins and vein patterns.

We created crazy hair self portraits. We are finally getting an art unit and I am so happy. I do the best I can with art, but I will gladly hand that task over to a trained professional. 

One of the first days, we read Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon and talked about the importance of being yourself.  We then talked about what all we could offer each other in our little (25 strong) classroom community. The students drew flowers and wrote a sentence about themselves on each petal. They were instructed to do no less than five and no more than 7.  Easily, I could see who could follow directions. I also knew who could write sentences. 

 We worked heavily on math centers, rotating, volume, and directions. I do math centers all year so having a strong foundation in them is crucial. I need them to be able to work in small groups with each other while I have a group. We worked really hard on this. We also began number talks and were focusing on making tens which tied right into our review of place value and building numbers through 1000. We also threw in some rounding and they GOT the rounding rap! I LOVE the rounding rap!!!!

 We are using our space to it's max. They have a strong foundation of our rules, my expectations, how to celebrate each other, and we have already learned so much!

Back to School

School has begun. I moved rooms this year. I am back in an old building. I love it though. I have SPACE! I have windows. I have sunlight. I feel free from the building that reminds me a little of a locked facility with little sunlight and drab color. I have new tile. I have fresh white paint. I have matching TABLES again and bright blue chairs. 

For some reason the pictures loaded backward. Scroll down to see what I started with. Nothing. I still have no technology, but we are getting there. I hung the blinds and scrubbed the best I could. I have a FULL class this year. I love the group already. We are going to be able to do so much this year. Did I mention I have SPACE? I am so excited we can move around! 

I spent the entire month of July revamping my stuff. I consolidated. I created. I cleaned. I organized. I printed. I laminated. I am ready. I am so excited about ditching the textbooks and teaching the standards. I am thrilled to have the freedom to meet my students where they are and watch them grow. The ONLY textbooks in my room are our reading series, but that is as a supplement and I couldn't be happier. 

I hate being told what to teach, how to say it, and when to do it. We are finally out of the cookie cutter mold that made me forget my creativity. I have read blogs, watched periscopes, searched, read books, and I am so excited that I finally have that love for teaching back. I don't dread going to work. The focus is the 24 kids in my room. We have a set up for collaboration. We are getting set up for research through technology and I am excited to see how far we can go in the next few months. 

Since I started teaching, there have been so many shifts and implementations. We started with figure it out, here you go. We moved to this is what you will do when we say you will do it and the blue text will show you what to say. Fidelity was key to success. It didn't work. We switched gears and went to research when told. Through out the blue text. Spent tons of money on new black text. It didn't work. Now, I can finally teach. Our state superintendent is phenomenal and wants growth. Isn't that why we are there? To grow! AYP and No Child Left Behind are OVER! I couldn't be happier about it. The mess that tagged along with it made me dread going to a job that I once thought I loved. 

I can finally do what is best for my kids. I teach with enthusiasm. I can slow down. I can speed up. I can go back. I can skip ahead. It doesn't matter what so and so down the hall is doing. It doesn't matter what people three miles down the road are doing. The focus is on the 24 people in my room. 

Let's do this! 

We Survived School Start 2014

Today, I woke up the earliest I have in my eight years of teaching. This year was different. I had two little people to get ready for preschool.

I was not worried about my class or anything at school. I can do that with my eyes closed now. I had a ball of nerves for dropping off Asa and Jude. They have NEVER been dropped off anywhere before other than with family and if we are in the same building. We talked and prepped the whole way there. They did great. Jude walked in asking when they were going to the playground and Asa looked like he might cry, but just stayed really close to Jude. Lisa dropped Bekah off shortly after and they said they loved playing with her.

I then dropped Titus off. I think he was in shock to be alone.

I made it to school by 7:15 which was pretty amazing if I do say so myself. I was proud.

I started the morning with 18. By 9:00 I had 21. By lunch I had 25. We started hauling in desks. That is more than I have in the eight years I have been teaching. It is a fun, big, full of life bunch. I am looking forward to a busy year. 1 day in the books.

Here is a glimpse into the real life of the Skinner's. Our 1st day of Preschool pictures: (Keeping it real over here...)

Newbie

I am new to this daycare/kindergarten/preschool/school parent thing. You would think that it wouldn't seem foreign since I told 3k, worked at a daycare for three years, and taught school for 7.

Since I worked at a daycare, taught pre-school, and school, I have TONS of questions and concern for where MY kids are going. I guess it is the whole knowing what goes on part that gets me. That director was probably wishing I would G-O.

If you read my facebook ever, you know that I had a BAD first experience where we thought the boys would go to pre-K. The only reason they are even going is to "wing from B" (ween) before real school next year. There was a big turnover and a fire and the day I went, it was utter chaos. I was determined they just wouldn't go.

There was a meeting last night that several people I know went to and they left feeling like it would be ok. I went this morning and talked to them. Still a little concern as far as the organization, but I am giving them some time to get it together. They did have a price and a form for me to fill out today so that was a step in the right direction.

The boys have been so excited about going. I think they will really enjoy it. They love being around other kids and they play good with people. It will be good for them.We also need to get used to not being at B's house in pajamas, watching toons, playing outside, drinking Pepsi, and unfortunately peeing in the yard everyday. We need a little structure before school. B may have to home-school because they LOVE their B. This could be a very interesting August 6.

So, I signed them up today. If we don't like it, we can just pull them out; it is monthly. I about died when I saw the supply list. It is seriously longer than several real school lists I have seen. They better create the mess out of some artwork with glue stick. This house is going to be adorned with marker drawings. There are two people I am getting it for so it seems like a lot more I am sure, but geez louise.

Also, I signed the boys up for soccer yesterday. We have been talking about it for a while. Jude really wants to play baseball, so we may try that in the spring. It cost ALOT too and its cheap compared to the competitive mess.

I have always heard people talk about how expensive kids were. So far we have just fed them, clothed them, and put diapers on them. There were two, then Titus, but it never has seemed like a ton. Well, I feel ya now people. Kids are expensive. They are only four. I can't imagine two 16 year olds and a 13 year old, or three in college at the same time. I think we are going to search for a list of professions that train as you get paid. You know the whole technology deal, robotics, all that futuristic seeming stuff. No college needed. Money in the pocket as you go. Sounds like a plan.

I have been a mom now for four years, but today, it all felt new. I have gotten a lesson in quite a few things. I can tell you that at open house, I will probably have more information than I have in the last seven years available because I now know what it feels like to walk in to a new place with new people who we will be trusting with our children.

Getting Ready

I spent an entire day at the school getting ready on Wednesday. I always forget just how exhausted I get. It was my goal to do everything I had to be there to do in one day and bring the rest home. It was successful. Some people had donated books to me throughout the summer so I needed to get those added to my library. That was the most time consuming thing.

This is the fiction section. All books are labeled on the inside cover. All buckets are labeled with my new labels on the outside. It is organized. FOR NOW. I plan to keep it that way:) 

I also got my math board somewhat done. I have a few tweaks to make the next time I am there. The Math Board is one of my favorite parts of math. Their little minds get going during this time and we do the bulk of our review here. I do Math board everyday and if not it is a minimum of three times a week. You can get the plan/outline of my math board here:http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Board-Plans-1322511

There are plans for the first ten weeks of school. They are simple to follow and you should have everything you need in your classroom. You can write it with a marker if need be. I have magnetic base ten blocks, magnetic calendar, magnetic shapes, blank number lines that are dry erase and magnetic, I have my calendar with magnetic numbers and my calendar cards with magnetic strips. I purchased magnetic locker organizers that I store supplies in. I also have magnetic fraction bars and a few other manipulatives that I will pull out of the drawer organizer (under the board) later in the year. I love that everything is easy to manipulate on that board. It stays up all day. I will write the problem of the day so it is large enough for all to see each day. 

What I didn't get done I have been working on at home. I will have plenty more to share later this summer. I have a last vacation coming up soon! 

We Have GOT to Do Better

Children are suffering.

Parents are not parenting.

Children should not be the money maker.

Parents shouldn't have a favorite child.

Children should feel safe.

Children should be able to handle confrontation in a positive way because parents should be teaching this.

Parents don't handle confrontation in a positive way, therefore, the point above is interesting to say the least.

Children should be children, not raising their siblings.

We need to teach children to play.

Children need to be given a voice.

Parents need to teach children healthy ways to deal with anger.

Parents need to stop telling children to fight.

Children need to know they are loved.

Children shouldn't feel like a burden.

Parents should teach children to care for their own basic needs and then relinquish the duties as the time comes. It is not the responsibility of a child to be their own caretaker.

Parents need to be actively engaged in the lives of their children.

Children shouldn't be raising themselves.

Parents should learn how to communicate without yelling and always blaming someone else. Children are looking/listening and unfortunately, they are learning this is the way to get through life.

 Parents need to be involved in education.

Parents need to love themselves a little less and their kids a little more.

Children need to run.

Children need to laugh.

Children need to explore.

Children need boundaries.

Children need parents, not adult friends.

Children need to see healthy relationships.

Children need to know there are people they can talk to in their home.

Children need guidance.

Children need food.

Children need clothing.

Children need shelter.

Children need laughter.

Children have needs and if you have children, you should be the one providing them.

Parents, we have got to do better. Be the better  parent. Set the bar high. Be the example.

I DO NOT Want A Re-Do

I hate Tuesday. I am thinking of having a shirt made.

Tuesday is bus duty. Really, I hate bus duty day. I have to be at work ridiculously early because our school starts thirty minutes before everybody else. What this means is I wake up three ill  little children at the butt-crack-of-dawn and drag them to my parents and pray my Dad had a good nights sleep. He will need it going into Tuesday. That is always FOR SURE! They do not like for you to wake them up. They all enjoy their sleep. 2/3 beg for it. It is treasured time in our house. The mail lady, UPS man, and everyone else who frequents our house knows this.

Today, the baby cries. I look at my clock....8:34. WHAT IN THE WORLD? I need to leave at 6:30 on bus duty day. I jump up and run to the kitchen. 6:24. Is this some cruel joke, what time is it? I look at the television because I feel certain it is accurate...6:23. Apparently, the T-mobile tower or my phone wacked out during the night. The alarm never went off. Thankfully, the baby did. Ok, I have seven minutes to get ready, make-up, clothes, hair, pack bags, and get coffee. OH HOW I NEED THE COFFEE. I get David up and tell him he has to get them in the car. He is probably thinking I've lost it since I am in pajamas, but he does. I pulled out of the driveway at 6:34. Not to shabby. I called my mom and told her to have everybody ready to grab children. I threw them all out (not literally) and hauled it to school. I clocked in at 7:03. This really is miraculous. I live 20 minutes from my parents/school and had to do the drop off. I was impressed. I am thankful for David and my parents everyday, but today more than normal.

Thankfully, I am a planner. David gets on to me about my over organization, but I was thankful today. I made overnight oats for me for breakfast, had the boys lunches made and milk poured. Score. Throw it all in a bag. The hair went up, I put on make-up at red lights and thankfully didn't look like a meth-head when I looked in the mirror.

It is April, every teacher in America starts counting down the days until you hug those little ones off to their mommas for the summer and wish them the best of luck in the next grade. I give it my all everyday, but by this point in the year I am lacking in the what-I-have-to-give department. The last two months have been extra challenging for me. It has been rough.

And holy guacamole at the teacher absences that start this time of year due to meetings off campus, the countdown, and life. I try not to do it, but life happens. No blame here. So, we had some extra people from another grade. I won't call them little people because some were bigger than me. So, I had a grand total of 28 darlings on Terrible Tuesday.

So... did you notice? I didn't  pack me a lunch. I eat crispitos on crispito day. Diet, who cares. It is crispito day. I circle it every time I get a lunch calendar and plan accordingly. Apparently, there is a natzi somewhere in Alabama that thinks teachers grow money out their butt or that teachers are fat. I am not sure which. On crispito day, I get two crispitos. I don't like rice unless it is really bad for you and from the Japanese place and that is always the side. So, I just want two crispitos. That is it. Well, you can't get two crispitos if you are actually a paying person anymore because apparently Americans are fat. Who knows? Either way add to the crappy day that I had to pay $3.00 for one crispito and I could have 7-8 vegetables/fruit, but not another crispito or that would be $2.00 more. Yeah, I don't get the math either. I am sure that 8 fruits and vegetables cost more than a crispito, but whatever. I am not really over the fact that I probably just ate my last crispito ever. If you are wondering, I am bitter. I was on a seven year stretch of never missing crispito day.

Then, the ONLY thing I like about Tuesday is it is meetings. Most teachers despise meetings. I enjoy it.For one whole hour, you can talk to people taller than your shoulders and they talk back with things that make sense. It is quite glorious. Also, it is the ONLY day that I don't have to walk all over creation for specials/PE. Well, guess what didn't happen today? Any of the above. It completely wasn't my counselors fault because she would pulled by someone else, but it still blew.

Thankfully, with full out bribery, we all made it through the day. I have zero ounces of energy and my own children probably won't get a bath, but they will be fed. Carbs. Oh the carbs I am about to consume. I am pretty sure this will not benefit my wasteline, but probably the budget so we don't have to pay for AA meetings. Does our insurance cover that? I am not sure and it is probably best I don't find out.

I have a stack of 300 surveys on my desk to sort through. Papers to grade. Emails to respond to. Quizzes and tests to make. I picked up my purse, bid the room farewell, and walked out with my purse, keys, phone, and empty coffee cup that I will refill before I do tomorrow.

TERRIBLE TUESDAY, I hate you. Wednesday, please be better.