Do you ever feel like you are just meant to dash student dreams to dust?
A student walks in with a new hat/bracelet/necklace/ring/magnet/toy car/insert object here
and the first thing out of my mouth is “Go put it in your backpack.”
Today’s dream was to write the number 4 and the number zero this way.
It became viral in 2 seconds after super popular chapter book reader student said, “I only write my 4s like this and my zero’s like this” “Big fat donut!”. Before I knew it every child was determined to only write like that too up on the smart board with 4 erases because they couldn’t quite get it right…Dream SQUASHED.
Can I go to the nurse to get ice for my near death boo boo five day old bruise? Dream Squelched.
Can I just go to the workstation that I want to go to? NOPE
Can I play on the computer instead of picking a learning game? um….NO
Can we sit wherever we want on the rug? NEVER (it’s one of those years–we had to get carpet spots)
It’s so hard to stay positive some days…I asked my team if it was a full moon. They said…No false alarm..it’s just your class.
We have a new principal this year. As she was walking the hall with her ipad (which holds all our observations and is just as ominous as wearing a power suit) My class happened to put on a spectacular show. We left the room with a good 90% of students with
hands behind their backs and bubbles in their mouths. But by the time we rounded the corner and headed up
the green mile ramp, all chaos broke out. I have a mouthy, squirmy young
and trainable group of firsties this year. So if one little thing
happens the news travels not only quickly, but LOUDLY. Well one of my
sweeties with some self control issues had her shoe laces untied and the
next sweetie with the self control issues accidentally stepped on one
of those bouncy long shoe laces. Student one took a loud nose dive
sending student two over the top of her. Student three yelled and
jumped on the pile up (why the heck not-seems like a perfectly good
thing to do) Insert principal and ipad walking down the hall here…I quietly and quickly get everyone
back up and moving in the right direction, but one of the students in
the front of the line had an ice bag from a near death boo-boo
5 day old bruise. (ok- he wore me down) That ice bag had a very drippy hole that was
unnoticed until we started a slippin’ and a sliddin’ on up that ramp.
Needless to say I almost sprinted back down to my room the chocolate jar after leaving them at PE today.
But since we can’t leave them at specials all day….I decided to buckle down and get some learning in
We did a blob map (I named it) of the Oceans today.
I love to do this lesson because the students grab a hold of the new information like the little sponges they are. They sound really smart too when they can say the names of the oceans. (notice the boo boo tape on my compass…Yes I did mix up east and west)
Another chart we do for oceans is the Layers of the ocean graphic.
I pencil both of these charts lightly before I teach and then I teach and draw in front of the kids. They think I am a brilliant artist. I don’t want to squash that dream!
I also want to share a math tub that I am using this week. Nothing to do with Christmas or Oceans, but it has been a hit regardless. It is a fact family tub. Can they ever practice this enough???
You can check it out {HERE} It’s only 2 dollars.
Well since I can’t crawl into my science center- beach in a box- and hibernate till Summer vacation I sure appreciate venting blogging with you!!!
Math Journals For First Grade
Book Barn!
May Math
It’s Official. I am a hoarder. Oh, and a Farm Freebie.
Your class sounds a lot like mine!! I hear myself saying the same things!
Quench Your First
Haha!
I am so happy/surprised that I am not the only DREAM SQUASHER!
Sometimes I feel mean but I just think… we don't have time for that!!! We need to be learning! LOL
🙂
Oh honey…hang in there…winter break will be here soon! In the mean time treat yourself to something yummy! You definitely deserve it!
Gladys
http://teachinginhighheels.blogspot.com
hahahahah!!! This made me laugh so hard, it was excellent! Your charts came out wonderful!
Kristen
I love your phrase "dream squasher"! I'm right there with you on that!
As Michael Jackson says…"You are not alone…." I feel ya!
Oh I totally have the twin class to yours! OMG too funny!
☺ Tanya
First Grade is Fantabulous!
I can rest a bit easier tonight knowing that I alone do no squash the dreams of my firsties! There are others out there too! How sad is that … I'm actually happy there are others… I love that term "Dream Squasher" … I will be borrowing it… if that is okay. Please don't squash my dream by not letting me borrow your phrase!
First Grade Delight
[email protected]
I understand how you feel……I have a new principal this year…..and I feel that he walks by when I am the most frustrated with my class.
Sue
theverybusykindergarten
Hi Reagan:
This was my favorite post of the night! Thanks for the chuckle.. When sixth graders fall down, they (and the surrounding audience), make enough noise to drown out a football game. And I am seeing a lot of velcro and elastic… since they still can't tie their shoes!
Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
Making me smile!!!! I have never thought of myself as a dream squasher. But apparently, I am part of the club. 🙂
A Teeny Tiny Teacher
I'm a dream squasher! It's really Arctic Ocean with a C! Bu I enjoy a god laugh too!
OMG!!! ha ha ha ha ha…I will get out the post it tape again! dang it!
Found your blog via Teaching in High Heels via Pinterest.
I'm a high school French/English teacher always looking for fun ideas for the classroom and clever teachers. I'm glad to have found your site!
HAAHAAHAAHAAHAAA – I am laughing still so hard my eyes are tearing up – I even read your post to my husband who said, "Hey, how did she get YOUR class???" HAHAHAHAHAHA! We all need to start a club called "Dream Squashers Anonymous." Lisa
First Class with Mrs. Mac
Boy I needed a laugh after the day I had with my Kinders. Thanks so much for letting us know we aren't the only ones who need a chocolate jar and cover-up tape!!
Thank you! Your class sounds so much like mine that I was laughing so much and picturing my own students doing the same thing, I invited my principal to check it out 🙂 Perhaps it's just a squirmy group of firsties that we all have this year. I also love the maps! It is amazing that they are always so enthralled by our drawing skills. 🙂
I too can relate to your class. I am certainly having one of those years. Your post made me laugh and realize we're all in this together and every year isn't always as smooth as we would like!
I had a class like that last year! Glad I don't have a lurking ipad. Yikes! If it wasn't a full moon, it may have been the wind. That will do it too. Good luck from a fellow dream squasher (sometimes).
2B Honey Bunch
I checked our teacher handbook and page 17 paragraph 6 says:
"Show and Tell does not have a CCSS attached to it- send all trinkets that your students take pride in to the backpacks immediately!"
Ha! Ha! It sure is how I feel sometimes!
They end up with those sad eyes (like in those disturbing beanie baby things that are really creepy)!
I think I am going to have to go rouge and squeeze in some "look what I have" time!
Going Nutty!
Staci
I love this post. I have squashed a lot of dreams over the years – you may NOT come spend the night at my house, we can NOT have "bring your dogs to school day", I will NOT win a class pet in the teacher giveaway, we do NOT bring a full course meal for SNACK time. Those are just from the past couple of weeks. Poor kids. Thanks for easing my guilt!