Using those resources!

The 5th & 6th graders would tell you they are on a new business endeavor, but I'm not sure it can be considered a business endeavor since the service is free. A public service, perhaps.

The sink in my classroom has had a dripping faucet since I took over this classroom in August but it seems to have gotten worse as the school year has progressed. I've mentioned it as a maintenance request but I don't think it's been a priority. Anyway, last week, my students decided  to measure the amount of water being wasted at our sink. It was a bit alarming when we realized how much was indeed being wasted. So we have a bowl permanently placed under the faucet to catch the dripping water. This morning it became apparent that we are not able to keep up (24/7 water collection) in using the water so when my students went to make the morning announcements to the school they announced the following: "Breaking news: the 5th & 6th graders will be providing free water to anyone who needs. Bring your water bottles down, kids!"

For a moment we thought no one was coming. Then in streamed 5-6 2nd graders with water bottles ready. My students welcomed them to the new business, filled their water bottles and left them with parting messages such as "Be sure to come back again" and "Tell your friends about us."

They are now in the process of trying to make a plan to discourage the use of the drinking fountain and instead use the water we have at hand. They are also trying to figure out how to reward frequent and faithful customers.We'll see where this leads. For now, I'm happy to have them channeling their energies to something of value.

I'm with Dr. King

From winter break to the winter blues: 5th and 6th graders fell prey to the winter blues not long into January. There just hasn't been a whole lot to blog about. But February has brought beautiful snow and the hope of downhill skiing (possibly as soon as this Friday).

Anywho, my students wrote essays inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and here are some of the highlights.

"Why it is difficult for most people to [have peace] is because they might not want to forgive someone so they don't treat that person equally. They could be mad at someone and want revenge and even though revenge sounds like treating people equally, it's not."

"Martin Luther King Jr. thought outside of the box and saw what was going on in the real world and thought of how to fix it. I like how it's changed and we can make a difference too."

"I think peace is the right way to go. So I'm with Dr. King on that subject."

Are you calling me old?

The following dialogue took place today:

Student 1: "Miss Sjoberg, what is your favorite cartoon?"

Me: "Calvin and Hobbes."

Student 2 to Student 1: "What is that?"

Student 1: "How should I know? I'm not from her time!"

6th Grade Poetry

We're doing a poetry unit. And one of my students wrote this poem that he claims is not about me... but my name is Miss Sjoberg, I sometimes wear black glasses and I do have 13 students. I'm skeptical. For your entertainment:

Miss Spikeburg

With spidery legs that glow in sight

as the helpless children run in fright

with nerdish glasses so so black

you can see her fangs go on back

with 13 cutish, innocent kids

she'll be so awesome...

... or will she.

Freedom of Speech

I feel that teaching my students real life skills is a vital part of my job. In 5th & 6th grade a big part of that is responsibility. From Day 1 I've tried to make them responsible citizens of this classroom. When they leave out the reading bean bags, they find they are without those the following day. This is just one example.

Well, yesterday one of my students left his binder in the middle of the classroom floor. So I confiscated it. However, I  knew that he would need it today so I left him a note that said: "Your binder was found on the classroom floor. What are you willing to do today to get it back?" His solution: give a speech to the class - and a well dramatized speech it was. At the conclusion of his speech I asked for a copy of it. Here it is:

"Citizens of Sjoberg:
Responsibility is the source of growing up. Leaving your binders is not responsible. I think that Ms. Sjoberg taking my binder is very heinous, but I think all of us can prevent her from taking our stuff.
Say 'aye' if you agree with me.
Say 'aye' if you can fight back from her taking our stuff.
Then have RESPONSIBILITY.

Citizens of Sjoberg:
Have a fantastic day and victory is ours.
Yeah."

* I will note that I have never referred to my students as "citizens of Sjoberg" or anything along those lines That was all him.

Black widows and homemade deliciousness

Morning with 5th & 6th graders: "Miss Sjoberg, you look like a black widow. I think it's the hair."


Afternoon of parent/teacher conferences: homemade gluten free cookies from one my student's moms. If I used hashtags that one would be #winning

The Things We Say

It was late morning and I was in the middle of teaching a 6th grade math lesson. One of my students who often refers to me by name of the former teacher or by "Mrs. Sjoberg" (to which I generally reply, "That's my mom, but she might be happy to help you") was struggling to come up with my name. Finally he said, "Can I just refer to you by your initials, 'BS'?" I didn't respond to his request right away and I soon heard murmurs of "BS" throughout the room when one of my 5th graders said, "Wait, that's not right! We can't call her by her initials BS." The room erupted in laughter and I informed them that no, they could not call me BS. I got them settled and went back to teaching but there were still whispers of "BS" in my room. After a moment or two I made the announcement, "Enough with the BS. Back to work." No sooner had the words left my mouth than a parent (from another class) peeks in my room.

Only time will tell if I'm the one to get sent to the principal's office.