So last Wednesday one of the other first grade teacher came into my classroom after class. He told me i would never believe what had happened today. He told me that during reading time he sent one of his little boys to the bathroom. After the boy had been gone for a while the maid that cleans our block came into the classroom...note that she never talks to us. I guess it's a cultural thing that they "workers" don't talk to the teachers...weird but it puts it into perspective. Anyway the lady motions him outside. Jason is the last classroom on the row. The maid tell him that she caught this little boy of his pooping next to the wall just around the corner from his classroom. Sure enough there was poop there. The maid told the boy to go to the bathroom to wipe and wash his hands...haha! So the little boy comes back and Jason asks him if did it. He says "no Mr. i didn't do it..." Jason then pointed at the security cameras and said he would just look at the video. The little boy then quickly admitted to doing it...His reasoning? He was having such a good time in his reading group he didn't want to be gone too long. WOW...I told Jason that he should take it as a great compliment to his teaching! haha!
So for the past 4 schools days: Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday I have been on my own...aka no cooperating teacher and no substitute. Which is fine but has been very taxing especially since I am trying to get things done before I go home in 2 WEEKS! I can't wait for a week in Florida with my Dad for most of it than the rest of my fam for 4 days!
Friday one of my favorite teaching moments...like EVER! I found out via a mom that the girls in my class had been ganging up against one of the girls and she was going home crying every night. This broke my heart especially that this is the one of the nicest sweetest girls that is in my class. So we (me & my assistant) told the girls they had to come in during break and eat lunch with us. While they were at specials we rallied the troops and got around 7 other 1st and 2nd grade teachers to join us. We planned a little skit in which I was left out by all the other girls and they wouldn't talk to me. The same situation my little Mia was in. When they came into the room they all sat around one table expect for Mia. I wanted to cry just looking at them! I couldn't believe my girls were doing this! I didn't tell them what we were doing...we just started acting. It was awesome! A few of the girls came up to me during the skit, while i was cry and ask "Ms. Laura are you ok? Are you crying? What's wrong?" After it all the other teachers left and we talked to the girls about how they thought I felt. Mia started crying and we were able to really reconcile the girls' friendships with each other! Mia was all smiles the rest of the day! It was so rewarding and she kept coming up to me and giving me hugs. All I could think was: This is why I want to be a teacher! I want to be able to teach kids to love each other...build community and grow together!
My first graders have also started dating I guess!? What in the world!? I had one of my little boys writing "Takoa <3 Mikela" on his paper! I told him he better erase it or I would hang it up in the hallway...haha! He doesn't even care that the whole class...including all 3 of his teachers know! The best things is for Valentines he sent her a candy gram. The next day she brought him a little card. For cards we usually put them in their homework folders so she gave the card to my assistant. At break Laura, who is my assistant, told me Mikela had written Takoa a card. I asked if it was really bad that I wanted to read it...she told me she already did so I did too...(not sure if this is professional, probably not, but too cute to resist) Let me paraphrase the card to the best of my knowledge. "Takoa, Thank you for the candy gram. I know that you love me and it's ok. I love you too but please don't tell the class. Mikela" You can't tell me that isn't precious. Yesterday, I talked to his mom who is a friend of mine. She said she doesn't understand where he gets it...She explained....They don't even have a TV! haha The best part is Takoa's little sisters is telling her mom that my cooperating teacher's son is her 'novio'...aka boyfriend. They are in K4...which is preschool.
I'm going to keep this one strictly class related because I have so much other stuff to say that no one would read it if it was that long. But I hope you enjoyed these little tales :)
Day 19: Traveling back home from BCN to BNA
3 months ago
