Kontan’s Place

Regarding my post: How to appreciate your kids more… Tense teacher had this to say:

I find that often after a hard day with other people’s kids, I have no patience left for mine, and that’s not fair to her, because she’s a good girl.

This is so true. I come home and I don’t want anything to do with anyone for at least 30 minutes. I just need a little time to decompress and not here “Missummmmmm”, which is the equivalent of “Momma or Mommy” when I am at home. Just a FEW minutes without anyone needing my assistance PLEASE! The other problem is observing my own children displaying behaviors that I can’t tolerate out of my school children. I get this feeling of OMG they are on the path to turn out like “student”. NOOOOOOOO! A little over the top I know, but it’s true. Yes, there are some names a teacher who is mom/dad to be can never use because it makes them cringe.

Just call it occupational hazard, it’s why we have summers off…we have to remember that we still like kids.

Mississippi ranks right up there in obesity. Some reports say we’re number one, others have us right behind Alabama. Not something to be proud of. Childhood obesity is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Children do not get out and play like we used to. These days my kids are on tv restriction and it has been the BEST thing for them. There have been a few more scrapes and bruises, but they are finding ways to entertain themselves outside. This hasn’t really been an issue with our youngest, but the oldest would rather watch Hannah Montana reruns. I’m liking the increased outdoor play. I do not stock up on junk food either. The girls are not allowed a constant stream of cookies, chocolate, ice cream, or any other junk foods. It’s just not healthy. I’m not saying we are on top of the game here, but we try. This brings me to another point…would it hurt kids to be dropped off at a bus stop and be required to walk to their house. This may be the norm where you are, but in my neighborhood if you are behind the bus you will stop a minimum of 10 times before reaching my driveway. Here is my drive home if I am unfortunate enough to find myself behind the bus. I usually meet the bus on the main road where it will make three stops before turning onto our drive. Stop at house one on the corner. Let one child out. Close the door and drive to house two, which is the next driveway only about fifteen steps away, let out two kids. House three is even closer, but the bus door will close and the bus will move to the driveway. House four and five are a little further, but not a block. Four children are let out at the new stop sign. House six is two driveways up. House seven is the very next driveway on the opposite side of the road. Then house eight, the next drive which is maybe a whopping 30 steps away. Next two families are let out at the circle. Then the bus has to back up to turn around and leave the neighborhood. In my opinion, it wouldn’t hurt any of these kids (age 6-14) to be let out at the first drive. The neighborhood has only neighborhood traffic and is safe. They could use the walk! Wouldn’t it save the school gas too? It would certainly enhance my sanity. I could understand doing the door to door drop off when it’s raining.

Next on the list…how much homework should a first grader have?!?! AR reader, phonics sheet, handwriting sheet,and two math sheets. Must we? Any idea how long it takes a chatty perfectionist to complete this much work each night? Geegads!

I’m also pretty irritated by the number of fundraisers we have been asked to participate in. Every week we have been asked to send money or ask our closest friends to donate (buy junk). This week is the “turkey trot”. Sponsor the child with a pledge per lap they walk. At least there is exercise involved. A few weeks ago we were asked to send the amount of money we would spend on baked goods so they could have a bakeless bake sale…a few days ago we were asked to bake goods for a bake sale. ?!?!?!? We’re pretty tired of it. Sad part is I’m a teacher and should probably be defending all this, but I just can’t find it in me to do so.

Lastly…I despise homecoming week. The students will act up to their dress. Yesterday was dress up day, nice clothes and presentation of homecoming court. Wonderful behavior. Today was costume day…and behavior to match. Tomorrow is tacky day. Oh joy. Thursday- Senior citizen day and Friday- spirit day. Why do we have homecoming anyway? Sorry to be a fuddy-dud but I would really like to have a week without uninterrupted instruction. Hasn’t happened yet.

To end on a bright note…instead of having to teach a whole new prep next semester I was allowed to swap with someone that mirrors my schedule! I have MS and he has World Geo…we were going to flip next semester…now no. As much as I want to teach geography I have to say Woohoo! Recycle plans!

Have a great day.

This was a bright start to my day…beautiful isn’t it:

It’s a goal we should all have, appreciating our kids more…if you would like to appreciate your kids more, realize just how wonderful they truly are, then I have a suggestion.

Are you ready?

OK, very simple…

Spend time with other people’s children. Yours then do not seem so difficult. Many of us have a higher appreciation for our own children. Call it tolerance if you like. It just seems that when I am around other people’s children I can truly appreciate my kids more. Despite the fact they they have a tremendous talent for driving me nuts, they’re pretty respectful and mannerly most of the time.

Just a thought…

Spent the weekend out of town. Bummed about the AU game. Props to Arkansas for taking the win. Pffffffft to AU for giving it up. Had to happen eventually I guess.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope life slows down soon.

Over at teacherfocus.com I’ve been having a discussion concerning students taking notes and its value. The other teacher, ductape, does not see the value of making students take notes. I strongly disagree. Taking notes focuses students on the lesson being discussed, keeping their mind from drifting. It helps them develop the skills needed to pick out important information, and it helps them develop organization. Ductape sees no value in copying slides, and I do see the point here. However, students have to learn how to organize information somehow. I also mentioned the lack of resources that some teachers face. For example, I have to provide paper for all copies: tests, handouts, worksheets. That’s a lot of paper when you teach, on average, 240 students a year. Exam copies are covered by the school, which is a really good thing because my exam is about four pages. If using scantrons, those have to be purchased by the teacher as well. Let’s just say $140 doesn’t go very far. Anyway, back to the note taking subject. I do not believe it benefits students to simply hand them all notes and not make them write anything. I think that only enhances their desire to be lazy. (If you teach hs, or have one of your own, you understand that this is a true goal in many a teenagers’ life.) It doesn’t prepare them for college. It doesn’t prepare them for life. I’m not saying tell them what to write, nor make them copy slides. I am referring to the process of listening and writing down what is important for later recall. There is value, and it is not a worthless busywork activity.

Just my two cents…here’s a fountain

When my students feel like this:

and I feel like this:

the beauty of a sunset can take the tension away.

I took these as we drove back from the Shoals this past weekend. Had we pulled over and stopped they might have been a little crisper. Turned out OK though.

This one was taken with my cell phone.

All things considered, driving down the road and using my phone as the camera, it turned out OK.

I love a good sunset. Sunrises are great too, but let’s face it…I’m not a morning person and see few of those.

Now for the strange and creepy…

Open door is fair game in this house:

I had to buy groceries after school today. Since I planned on buying the basic needs of the month I went to the dreaded W*mart. ew. A huge buggy full later I get the girls in the car and begin unloading bags into the trunk. I am then approached by a strange guy carrying a plastic bag with a very thin briefcase in it. “Hi I’m with American wholesalers (or something like that) and would like to interest you in…” (not a clue what he said b/c he opened the briefcase to reveal a set of very large stainless steel knives.) As he started his speech I stopped him saying “stranger with case of knives makes me nervous, back away.” He closed the case and took a step back explaining he was with (whatever co). I told him I didn’t care, I was in a parking lot, not interested today…thank you good bye. He then asked if I taught high school…I realized that I still had my badge on. He then asked what I taught, suggesting geometry (those who know me guffaw now). I never answered him but he questioned if he had my class in maybe 10th grade. Backing away I told him I didn’t remember, goodbye. He then said sorry for the inconvenience and left. When he got a few lanes away I glanced to see if there was anyone else around and there was a small group just a few cars up. They had noticed the odd exchange. I finished putting my groceries in and then took the girls inside to inform mgmt that they had someone trolling the parking lot. This has apparently been an issue lately. I can’t get across here how creepy this was. My kids were in the car so I couldn’t leave and go back in the store. I couldn’t turn my back on him to get in the car and leave. Besides my buggy was behind the car and not empty. Just reminds you to be more careful, aware, and alert while in a parking lot.

OK, so I’m neglecting my blog. It is not intentional…just that crazy life. Sometimes sleep wins out over blogging. Spent Saturday in Florence. The girls had a blast at Chuck E. Cheese. Not a bad deal there. For the price of a regular dinner out we were able to get pizza, drinks, and 50 tokens. Since everything is one token it works out that the kids get a lot of play time. We split the tokens evenly and they had over an hour of gaming fun. I was so proud of Djembe. Let’s just say that not everyone’s kids behave well in public. Our’s know that running and screaming are not appropriate, even in a playplace. Yes, I know, let them be kids. Yes, and that is how they end up getting hurt in a playplace. It is still public, let them have fun while they behave like normal human beings. Djembe was great all day, not just at Chuck E’s. We drove to the campus of UNA, but couldn’t see the lions b/c they were getting ready to go the football game. I look forward to going back and letting the girls walk campus to see the lions, Leo and Una. Jem dropped us off to shop at Target while he had daddy time. After shopping for a little while we headed to Hibbett Sports Super Store. I worked there throughout my first several years of college. I was on the team that started the store as Sports & Co. Great place to work, and it was a great place for us to pick up Auburn jerseys and shirts. You just don’t find that many around north Mississippi. I can’t wait to spend the weekend in Auburn for a game with Jem and his drum buddies. It will be so much fun to watch the girls enjoy their first tailgating/SEC game experience.

Several weeks until that will be an opportunity. The week ahead is exam week. I just hope to make it through without incident. Here’s hoping I finish grading by deadline.