Back to the Grind

Learning:

Still. No. House. I don't know how many times we will have to reevaluate what we want. I guess as many times as it takes. Lets move on from this though. I haven't blogged in awhile and I am hoping to try and blog once a week. Here is what I need for that to happen; 1. A new computer 2. To know how to work a computer 3. Someone to just do it for me.

I am also learning how to run a 1/2 marathon. My friend Meagan and I (shout out!) are training and my Runner's World App tells me we have 81 days. Someone tell me how I am supposed to run in this heat. It is awful, and I am pretty sure I almost passed out the other day. I never have passed out before, but I bet what happened to me is probably what happens right before you pass out. Thank God I am really tough and I was able to stay standing.



Teaching:

Ahhhhh back to the grind! Back to the 5AM alarms, the rushing in the morning between the Pledge of Allegience and the moment of silence to make sure I am ready for the day. Back to the staying at work until you are actually done with work instead of leaving at that 3:00 time teachers are allowed to leave. Back to the, "Please stop talking while I am talking." "Please stay focused." "Please raise your hand before speaking." The, "We do NOT talk to each other that way" "MOVE YOUR NUMBER!" some of you may call that the, "GO CHANGE YOUR COLOR!" What else am I missing teachers?

Let me just say, I wouldn't have it any other way! I love being a teacher. And no, not for the summers. I see my students from last year walking the halls saying, "Hello Ms. Shields, I mean... Mrs. Patterson!" It gives me a sense of accomplishment. I am going to have a great class this year. They are really great kids who LOOOOOVE to participate!

This week we have been working on poetry. Fourth grade is a really big year for writing, so we are starting it out right with poetry! So fun right!? Once it comes to writing time our classroom transforms to a dark, cool, slick, Poetry Cafe. Snapping fingers and all. They really seem to enjoy this and get into the beat while reading their lyrical poems. They are such great writers too. Through poetry they really do show some emotions and I am really getting to know a different side of my students. I haven't done much poetry in the years before with my students, but it is something I will from now on always do with them.

We have been discussing lyrical poetry. Today we sang "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus and discussed the line breaks, the meters, the rhyming, and the basic structure. We also sang the Wierd Al version of "Beat It", "Eat It." That was fun! Tonight they are going home to find a song they like and put their own words to it. Some of them were all ready naming songs and singing rhythms they loved, and were really excited about this assignment...some were just not sure what they were going to do. I will show you some samples once we get them published this week. Until then, I will leave you with our favorite poem we have read this week. We really like to get into while reading and it gets a smile every time!

Sick

'I cannot go to school today, '
Said little Peggy Ann McKay.
'I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox
And there's one more-that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut-my eyes are blue-
It might be instamatic flu.
I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke-
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,
My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb.
I have a sliver in my thumb.
My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.
My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.
I have a hangnail, and my heart is-what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is...Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play! '

Shel Silverstein