Thursday, March 8, 2012

Are You There, Spring Break?

It's me, Jill, and I could really use you right about now.......

You know, until today, I couldn't really commiserate with people who were saying they couldn't wait until Spring Break. Things had been going just as well as normal - not perfect but I wasn't pulling my hair out.

However, we have been having lots of physical aggression issues. Like, unprovoked punches to the stomach, scratching, whipping of necklaces into other kids' faces... it is incredibly frustrating to me. The saddest thing, really, is that the "victims" have all been my very well-mannered, kind kiddos who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I checked this book out from the library:
I reeeeally hope it helps. We have had more conversations than I can count about being kind and making good choices and being a bucket-filler. We wrote out a bunch of kindness hearts when we were being kind... I am really at a loss!!!! If you have any words of advice, I would appreciate them. :)

Okay, that is enough of being a Debbie Downer! Here are some things I am happy about!
  1. I started teaching the "counting money" unit to my second graders and found out that they are LEGIT AMAZING at counting money. It is unbelievable. So we skipped straight to the test today and they all rocked it. I think this will be incredibly helpful when the first graders start their money unit. 
  2. One of my first graders, who sees a Title I teacher every day, is becoming a great reader! He was a little low to begin with, nothing really alarming, but the extra help is really making a difference. Today he brought back this tiny book from his Title I teacher, mostly made up of CVC words, and asked if he could read it to the class. I snapped a phone picture of him reading to us and sent it to his parents with a little note, and his parents were SO EXCITED. And so am I. I'm glad things are clicking for him!
  3. My parent club is going to pay for me to go to a Kagan workshop! I am really excited about that. We don't really do any professional development at school and I want to be a better teacher!!!
  4. Two of my second graders were "caught being good" at recess and it was such a relief because I thought the Kindergarten teacher was coming down the hall to tell me that they were beating up little kids. Whew!!!!!

Happy almost Friday!!!

8 comments:

  1. We've been having some behavior issues too...nothing serious but when all added together the aggravation level is high...so spring break, te necesitamos!!!!
    Will you let me know what Kagan convention you're going to? I've heard such good things and would love to see if I can get funding for that from my school...wouldn't that be fun?
    Contando los dias para Spring Break.
    Laura
    Mrs. Castro's Class 2nd Grade...Spanglish Style

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    Replies
    1. Of course! It is the Brain-Friendly Teaching workshop on the 30th in the city. Let me know if you are able to go!

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  2. Jill,
    I LOVE Kagan! The strategies you learn will be so wonderful to add to your bag of tools.
    Camille
    An Open Door

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  3. I can't wait for Spring Break, either.
    Kagan is awesome. AWESOME.
    Love the struggling reader story -- hooray!
    A Teeny Tiny Teacher

    ReplyDelete
  4. Let us know if that book is any good. I have some challenging kinders in my class this year and I could use some ideas for working on their behavior.

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  5. I am sorry that you are going through these issues right now :( Have you tried peer counseling with the kids? Where they sit down and talk about what is causing them to act out with each other? We also do role plays a lot in class, talking about how punching or hitting would effect other people. At least with the 5th graders, learning a little empathy goes a long way in curbing *some* behavior (it isn't easy, but it does help some)

    I am with you...I am looking forward to Spring Break! And that is so awesome your PTA is going to be sending you to Kagan! YAY!!

    ~Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Role plays.... that is a great idea! We did a role play a few weeks back about how to solve a problem fairly, and I've seen them using the strategies in their real lives since then. I will have to give that a try!!

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  6. I've nominated you for the Lovely Blog Award. Check out my blog http://rakiradresources.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/lovely-blog-award/ for details.

    Heidi Raki of Raki's Rad Resources

    ReplyDelete

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