Random Tid Bits

1. I've been tired, since Daylight Savings Time hit! Lights out early, so is my brain power. I've even bumped up my Vitamin D3.


2. Isaak's been put in 2 groups at school. One group doesn't seem like they'll listen to him. The other group had one sleeper and another one that left the group to go do what they wanted. He's pretty frustrated. I don't blame him. While it's important to learn to work with people, middle school is a rough time even without being in groups.
   
   I was in a group in middle school where boys were violating my space. One put his pencil on my chair and said, "Sit and spin!" Then he kept putting his hand on my upper leg. You could say I hated groups at that moment! BUT I asked the teacher if I could switch, and said the boys were doing things to me that wasn't acceptable. He didn't ask questions, he let me switch groups. I got in a group with one of my best friends at the time. We're still friends. It was a negative situation that turned positive.


3. Mr. Sunny is now pooping regularly. YAY! Not Vet follow-up.
   
   We actually have seen him grow. His tail is thickening up. Such a good thing! The Vet said his tail was too thin. His diet has expanded. He used to only eat 2 small mealworms every other day. Now he eats 1 superworm, and 2 small mealworms, or 1 cricket, and 2 small mealworms. We're attempting to breed mealworms and superworms. He could eat roaches, but after a fun back prick allergy test I know that's something I'm allergic too.
   
   
   
   
   
4. I had a student that came to me and said, "I'm sorry I wasn't in class. I had a reaction to a med I was taking." I asked, "Can I ask what med you had problems with?" She said, "Well I had an allergy flair up, so I took Claritin D, an Equate Allergy, a Zyrtec, and a Montelukast. No one could wake me up."
   
   If you know anything about allergy meds, she basically took 3 of a similar med; overdosing! Montelukast is the generic of Singular. It's, it's own bird. Basically it's primarily for Asthma. The rest of what she took are all the same type of drug!
   
   I don't worry about drugs with students as much as I do with them mixing drugs! I hear all the time about them being on an anti depressant, and drinking on top of that. Not good!
   
   
5. It might not stay this way, but as of right now Isaak has higher grades than Mica. Mica found out he had all A's mid way through. I think that went to his head. 

Random Tid Bits

1. It's been rainy late at night and early in the morning for a few nights and mornings lately. I take these photos when I just hit a stop light that just turned red through my windshield, or while I'm getting gas.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   It tends to clear up quickly, for a sunny day. I was asthma free, since the spring. Now I'm feeling it again. I'm trying to stay on top of it with my daily inhaler that I wasn't taking when I didn't need it. No real attacks, just a heavy chest. 


2. We went out to eat last night. That's not something we do often. Travis said, "So the boys and I got new clothes, but you didn't get any." I said, "Well we have a choice...1) We could take the boys home, and leave them there. 2) We could take them with us, since we're 1/2 the way to Kohl's. We took them with us. They weren't bad, but giggly and talkative. Travis was getting so annoyed. I've been there. I was actually glad they were happy, and not complaining the whole time.


3. A sale's clerk and I really cracked up when Mica said, ""Dang woman! You look good." I thought, Maybe it's good I have these boys with me if he keeps talking like that! I tried on a bright pink shirt. Mica said, "Wow you look like a pretty, pink flamingo." The sale's clerk laughed again!


4. A thing came up in the news that said kids shouldn't have cell phones until they are 14 or 15. I voiced my opinion. I think it depends on the kid, and situation that kid is in. If a kid is dropped off by their parent everyday to school, and they have a landline then they don't need a cell phone. The bus system last year didn't do so well, Mica has to walk 4 blocks to the stop in a city, so I felt like it was needed. We found an app to track him. We also don't have a landline, so again it's important to have one. It's good for him to be able to look things up for school.
   
   Our kids have never had a game system, so they aren't glued to having screen time. We've taken Mica's charging station, and moved it to the kitchen. Then he isn't playing apps or texting his friend at night.
   
   On the news report - facebook thread there were some people that jumped in saying, "They shouldn't have a phone until they can pay the bill." I just think it depends on the situation your family is in. What are your thoughts?


5. I have a student in first year that has an A- in one of her classes (not mine), and she was panicking. She's going to have to get over that. That's part of the struggle here. They all come from high schools where they all got A's in their art classes. They all can't get A's. 

Random Tid Bits

1. Part of me thinks everyone should work retail at some point in their life. Even if it's just a summer job. 

You may be wondering why I'm saying this?

I learned how to deal with people more when I worked at ShopKo behind a jewelery counter for a summer, than I have as a teacher. I'm talking about how to deal with rude people. As a teacher I have some rude students, but it's nothing compared to working retail. When I have rude students I think I deal with them in way as if to turn that negative energy into a positive.

We have a few people that work right inside the front door at my work. I walk in and say, "Hi!" :) or "Good morning!" :) All I get back is silence. I know their desks just happen to be there, but if they worked retail in the past they'd know that it's nice and important to say, "Hi!" to anyone that walks in the door. At first I thought I did something to piss them off. Other people have experienced the same thing. I know it's not me. I'm the type that says, "Hi!" when I see someone. I say, "Bless you!" when someone sneezes. I walk in the door at home and say, "How was your day?" Life is too short just to be grumpy. I find it awkward when people are silent. How do you feel about this? Part of me wonders if I over analyze things though. 


2. I have to say that I'm ready for the semester to be over. I have one student that is very demanding. She doesn't make decisions on her own. It's 50 questions kind of a day. Yes my job is to teach her. It's just that I start to feel like she's taking up other student's time. I have politely said, "Can you go back to your desk; just while I answer this next student's question." I'm not alone in feeling this way. So far I've been VERY patient. I feel like I should answer any question a student has. Students pay a lot to go here. I should be helpful.

One other teacher was in the classroom last week, and got super irritated by this same student. He snapped. Rule number 1 in teaching: Don't snap. If you need to discuss something important with a student call them into a different room to discuss how you feel with them! It was so awkward after that moment in time.


3. I have another student I discussed absences with. Her's are high. That's compromising her work. She said, "I think I should be given a break. I don't have a car, and can't get here on time, all the time."

Rule number 2 in teaching: Don't laugh when a student is serious. I didn't laugh, but I wanted to. I felt like saying, "Be ready early. I'll pick you up at 7:30 AM. That's right before I come to work." I didn't say that of course. Instead I said, "Maybe you need to talk to the Director about this." Somehow what's a student's problem becomes my problem.


4. Rule number 3 in teaching: No surprises. I work at a small school. We have the ability to print off their grades. This time of year I print off grades at the beginning of class day, and at the end of the class day. I don't want them to have any surprises on their grade when the class is officially over. I remember being in school, and really not knowing how good, or bad I was doing. 


5. I love teaching, but I have to say that I'm happy to have some time without them. I still have to be here over the summer. I teach summer school, and get prepared for the fall. There comes a time when students and teachers want a chapter to be over with. That time has come.