We need a babysitter

My blog posts have been few and far between. Not because nothing funny ever happens but because I seem to have filled my time with things other than blogging. I still cherish and appreciate the humor I see in the classroom. Yes, the students are a little more cranky these days - it's spring and they're still in school, but there's something about spending 7 hours a day with these kids that whittles away at my heart - the truth is, I'll be sad to say goodbye to many of them after this year. Enough with the sappy stuff though, here's a couple highlights from the week:

Monday while giving a spelling pretest, I say the word "parachute." Suddenly a sixth grade boy breaks into song "I came in like a parachute." This will only mean something to those of you familiar with Miley Cyrus's song "Wrecking Ball." Any-who, it got the whole class laughing -myself included.

Secondly, while on lunch duty yesterday, and during the 5 minutes of quiet eating time, a second grade boy raises his hand. I walk over to him and ask what he needs. Student: "We don't have a babysitter this summer. [short pause]. So we were wondering if you would want to do that?"

Not a kid anymore

My 5th & 6th graders all have email accounts through the school. We use them frequently for school related things but the students also send personal emails back and forth. As domain administrator over them I can view the emails they send back and forth (just to make sure nothing inappropriate is going on). Well, just to keep them in check, I sometimes make reference to an email that was sent from one to another that I clearly was not part of. Two of the girls in my class send emails back and forth that seem to make no sense and I mentioned this to them back a while ago. Today, out of the blue, I received this email from one of them:

Subject: My gmails

"Ms. Sjoberg, I think that why you don't understand some of our emails is because you aren't a kid anymore. You are past the age of 18 and you are past college. If you think I am wrong then just say so, but that's what I think."

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.