June 2016

The Knit Wit Teacher Thursday, June 16, 2016 2 comments

When I received word that I was being moved back to Scottsburg, I was also told I would be teaching a new classroom. This classroom would be for students that did not need to repeat kindergarten, but they weren't ready for first grade either. It would be a "Gift of Time" room. I would have a max of 15 students. I would teach kindergarten the first half of the year, and first grade the second half of the year. At the end of the year my students would be promoted to first grade for the following year.

I was told that I wouldn't follow the kindergarten curriculum or the first grade curriculum. I also wouldn't use the textbooks for those grades. I would have free rein on my curriculum.

Hmmmmmm.......sounds like a dream doesn't it?

But, this means that I'm winging it. I have no standards, I have no Scope and Sequence. That first week of school I will see where my students are, and I'll go from there.

I'm a planner. I like to know what I'm doing, and how I'm going to do it.

Right now, this new assignment feels very vague. I've tried Googling Transitional First Grade, and there isn't a lot out there. My TPT cart is full of materials that I think I could use, but again, I'm not sure.

These are a few of the TPT products that look promising:

Anyone else a T1 teacher out there? How does your classroom look? Pros/Cons? What works? What doesn't?

-Tracy

The Knit Wit Teacher

The Knit Wit Teacher Monday, June 06, 2016 No Comments

Last night I was sitting in the yard with my sister when I heard the words every mother dreads to hear.

"Don't tell mom!"

I quickly jumped up from my chair and ran around to the side of the house where I found my twins, my dog, the neighbor boy, and 3 dead baby birds.

It seems that the neighbor boy wanted to check out the birds in the nest in the tree by the house. Gavin decided to get a stick and tilt the nest so they could see. As you can imagine, that did not end well. The poor birds along with the nest fell out of the tree, and my dog got to the birds before I did.

I was traumatic for all of us. I was beyond upset that the boys went against the "Stay away from the birds" rule that has been in place for weeks. I was alarmed that Gavin didn't seem to know how to act after the fact. I was upset that they their first instinct was to hide what they had done, instead of calling for help.

The neighbor boy was sent home. I disposed of the birds. Both boys were sat down and we talked about hiding things is not the way to handle things. We also talked about how animals deserve to be treated just like humans. It doesn't matter if it's a cat, dog, baby bird, etc. Neither of the boys were wanting to talk about how it happened, they were more concerned about why the dog attacked the birds. We talked for awhile, and the boys were sent to bed.

This morning both boys woke up and came and hugged me to say they were sorry. They then sat outside talking to me about the birds. This is when they told me there were 4 birds, not 3. I immediately put the boys and the dogs in the house, and I ran around to the side of the house. I quickly found baby bird number 4. He was still alive, and huddled up to a drainage pipe.

How my dog missed him, I have no idea.

I ran inside to get my husband to help me, and then donned my gardening gloves and went back out. I picked the bird up and we tried putting the nest back in the tree but it was crumpled and the baby bird kept falling/jumping out of it. Mommy / Daddy bird were close by and ticked off that I had the baby at this point. You can imagine the scene. I was huddled under the tree trying to get the baby while dodging Mommy / Daddy.

Hubby went inside to get a small box that we set the nest/bird inside of and we wedged it into the tree. We quickly backed away and Mommy / Daddy bird immediately went to the baby. We watched from a distance and Mommy / Daddy bird quickly went about feeding their baby.

Owyn and Gavin were thrilled that one bird survived. They are now banned from going near the tree and can only watch from a safe distance away. We then talked a great deal about how even if you think you're going to get into trouble, you have to ask for help when you need it. If you don't, others could be in danger. Animals should be given the same respect as people. I think the boys finally realize it. But I know that curious minds don't always think clearly.

Gavin is our curious child. He always wants to be right in the middle and asking "Why?". As a parent, it's hard to keep that curiosity strong, while keeping him and others safe. I don't believe for a minute that he wanted to hurt the birds. But, he didn't understand the consequences of his actions either. Being young, and trying to figure out the world around you can be a challenge.

Today I'm thankful that 1 bird did survive. I'm thankful that the Mommy / Daddy bird didn't abandon him, and I'm thankful for the teachable moment.

Parenting is tricky business.

-Tracy

The Knit Wit Teacher

The Knit Wit Teacher Friday, June 03, 2016 No Comments

I'm sure most of you have read a sexy shower scene in a romance book at some point in your life. #noraroberts fan anyone?

Keep that in mind while I tell you how that works in real life.

I was in the shower yesterday when my husband came in to check on me. I've had a terrible cough lately and I thought the steam would help. He did what any husband would do when looking at their wife in the shower and he kissed me, and then our oldest son started banging on the door yelling for my hubby.

Hubby closes the curtain and opens the door. Oldest tells him that our youngest son was messing around with the bird nest in the tree by the front porch. Hubby deals with that, and then shuts/locks the door again.

I hear him shaving. At this point I know I'm going to get kissed again, with no whisker burn. Woot! Woot!

Hubby walks across the bathroom. He reaches one hand up and grabs the shower rod while pulling back the curtain with the other hand. He leans in to kiss me and.....

He pulls the shower rod / curtain down on top of me.

While he's falling he somehow hits the shower head and pulls it down so water is now hitting me in the face.

He continues to fall and grabs the shower dial turning it to freezing.

He's half in the shower at this point fully dressed.

I'm frantically trying to untangle myself from the curtain, and trying to get the water to stop spraying me in the face at the same time. I finally get the curtain sorted, and I'm able to turn off the freezing water.

Hubby stands up dripping wet and looks mostly pitiful. I just started laughing.

Hubby turns around and grabs a towel for himself while I get the shower rod/curtain hung back up.

This is real life.

In romance books the shower is romantic.

In my life the shower is where I have a few minutes to shave my legs. Most of the time.

Often times my husband will come in and talk to me or a kid will sit down on the floor and talk to me. Why do we talk in the bathroom? I have no idea. It's just happened.

I have found out more about my kids while I'm washing my hair or shaving than at any other time. I know it's weird, but it's life. It's not unusual in our house and privacy is respected.

While my shower scene may not be romance book worthy, I wouldn't change it. It shows that hubby and I can laugh at ourselves and we get it. Life, or even a moment in life, doesn't always go as planned.

Enjoy it anyway.

And if you get a sexy shower scene, I hope it doesn't end in cold water. ;)

-Tracy

The Knit Wit Teacher

The Knit Wit Teacher Thursday, June 02, 2016 No Comments

When I was in 5th grade I had a very strict teacher. In his class you always had to fold your papers a certain way, turn things in number order, and stand up when answering a question. Everyone else in the class had to turn and face you.

One day he called on me to answer a math word problem. I stood up and gave the wrong answer. He read the problem again, and I gave the wrong answer again. He read the problem for a 3rd time and I again gave the wrong answer. He made some comment about me getting the problem wrong.

At this point I broke out of my quiet shell and shouted "Maybe if you actually explained the problem to me, instead of just reading it, I could figure it out!"

I was sent to the hall......and this is the day I decided I would one day come back and teach at that school and not make students feel like I felt in that moment.

That dream came true. My first full time spot was indeed at my home school. My husband also worked in that school.

I taught at Lexington for 3 years and then had to move to another school in my district, Scottsburg, so my youngest boys could be picked up from preschool/daycare on time. Then I transferred back to Lexington last year. A few months ago my husband was offered the principal spot at our school. Under 1 condition, I had to leave.

Saying I was heartbroken would be an understatement. I couldn't stand in the way of his dreams, but I was going to have to leave mine behind for it to happen.

Once again, I had to pack up my room. (My 5th move)

At first my school board was going to move me to the Middle School as there were no elementary spots open. I was going to work on an emergency license and teach Family and Consumer Science. I had a minor freak out over this. I looked at the State test for that license and it wasn't pretty. I can cook, but the questions on the sample test were crazy.

A week later my Superintendent came back and told me there was an opening at Scottsburg elementary, and I was now moving to that spot.

I am now going to be teaching a Transitional First Grade class. It's a "Gift of Time" program. Meaning, it's for a small group of kids, no more than 15, that don't need to repeat kindergarten, but aren't ready for 1st grade either. They will be with me for a year and then the following year move into first grade full time. Half of my year will be kindergarten material, and the other half 1st.

I won't be using our kindergarten curriculum, or our first grade curriculum. I'm winging it!

I hate that I'm leaving my home school behind. I truly love it. It's been my dream for a long time.

I'll miss my knitting kids and the staff that have become my second family. But, I have worked at this school before. I already know the staff and routines. That makes things easier. I'll be spending this summer figuring out my curriculum and once again preparing a new room.

My friend Michelle was kind enough to go into my new room and take pictures the last day of school.