Adventures of a Guest Educator

mistletoe

I recently subbed in Middle School (6th grade, to be precise), and was able to observe a Holiday Trivia contest between the classes.  One of the questions surprised me - asking the color of the berries on mistletoe.
  "My" class determined it to be red, and I chuckled to myself, knowing that the correct answer is white, and they were confusing it with holly.
Teacher help was not allowed, so I waited until after the answers had been turned in to chime in about mistletoe.

Later that aftternoon, a student returned to inform me that I was wrong, and the correct answer is red.  After consulting with the other teachers, and a little googling, it was determined that the traditional plant we see during the holidays does, in fact, have white berries.  As a professed Druid, I was relieved.  Apparently, there is also some new hybrid that has yellow leaves, and red berries.  The Druid in me was not impressed. 

The ancient Celts considered mistletoe sacred, and believed it to have magical powers.  Why not?  To them, it must have been quite magical to see a "plant" that does not grow from the ground.  (Mistletoe is parasitical, and attaches itself to trees.)

As time went on, sprigs of mistletoe were hung above the entry ways of homes as a protective amulet against such demonic forces as witches and devils.  Mistletoe was also hung inside barns to protect livestock.

The Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have happened as result of the season when mistletoe is available, and because the entrance of the home is where greetings and welcome kisses are commonly exchanged.

Whatever your reason for hanging mistletoe, here's hoping your holiday will be joyful.

Later,

Mrs. O'R

highlights

Up until Friday, the highlight (if you can call it that) of my week was having a hornet get under my shirt, and sting me repeatedly while I frantically tried getting him out from between... well, let's just say, "the girls" weren't very happy.
But, on Friday, I had a wonderful day of subbing in 4th grade, and, as often happens, was introduced to a great book that I hope to add to my growing collection.  Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street is a delightful picture book, perfect for a read-aloud, and for teaching writing traits.  Eva's teacher has told her to write about what she knows, but nothing ever...
But as the story unfolds, and characters are introduced, she realizes that much can happen, with a little effort and imagination.
It's just the perfect length for 3rd or 4th graders, with enough vocabulary to challenge 5th graders.  For example, the out-of-work actor (on "hiatus"), who takes his cat for a daily "promenade."  It's cleverly written, and very entertaining - highlight of my week!

Later,

Mrs. O'R

 

fifty years ago...

Southern Door School District is having a celebration this week - their 50th anniversary!  And it suddenly occurred to me to ask, "where were you 50 years ago?"
Fifty years ago, September of 1961, I was one of those excited Kindergarteners, looking forward to my first days of school at Rawson Elementary School in South Milwaukee, WI.  Pre-school programs were not prevalent, 4K didn't exist, so these were truly our first days (half days, back then) of school.  I recall bits and pieces - how big the room seemed, compared to our cramped upper flat, my new dress and shoes, the smell of the big, red rubber balls, my teacher's beaded sweater, graham crackers and milk, a big easel with paints, a boy named Jeff, who cried every day for a week and hid in the coat closet every chance he got, a girl named Bonnie, who said mean things to me, and my new best friend, Donna, who would come home with me some days, to slurp chicken noodle soup for lunch, and play until her father came to get her after work...

Fifty years later, I'm back in Kindergarten - for a few days, anyway - helping to ease them into the routine of their very long days.  And I wonder, what will they remember, fifty years from now?  I am going to try to carry this thought with me this year, bouncing from class to class, hoping all our children will look back fondly on these school days, and will be well-prepared for all the anniversaries of their lives.

Later,

Mrs. O'R

back to school...

They say that bad things happen in threes...  my computer's hard drive is "failing," my cell phone battery was shot, and this afternoon, my coffee maker died.
The good news is that I was able to back-up my files, got a great deal on a new phone, and will be able to buy a coffee maker tomorrow after school.
After school!!  It doesn't seem possible that summer is "over."
Although I had hopes of finding a full time teaching position, I will be subbing this year.  And the first three days of school I will be helping my 5K friends at Southern Door.  I helped out at last night's Open House, and there are lots of changes in Kindergarten this year - new schedule, new math, but I look forward to the challenges.
I should sharpen some pencils.
Later,
Mrs. O'R

last/first

Yesterday was the last day of the school year, and I cannot believe how quickly the last few weeks have flown!  So much has happened, and so much has not happened.

This spring, I actively searched and applied for a full time teaching position.  Long gone are my days of commuting long distances for employment, so I have chosen to limit my applications to those school districts that are closer to home - Algoma, Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol, and, of course, Southern Door.

There were SEVERAL openings in Sturgeon Bay that were posted, and I applied to the five that I was licensed for - a second grade, a third grade, and three fourth grade classrooms.  When I handed my packet of stuff to the principal, she informed me that I was number 147, so I'm quite certain there were well over 150 applications.  Long story short, I "got nothing."  I heard later that several of those that had originally indicated they would be retiring were hired back, whatever that means...

There was a second grade opening in Algoma.  I just received my rejection letter this past week, informing me that there were many applicants, etc., etc., and, well, I "got nothing."

Sevastopol had a couple of openings, but again, it was rumored that due to low enrollment, those positions would be filled internally.  I'm not sure exactly what happened, because, like Sturgeon Bay, Sevastopol does not mail out rejection letters.  You just do not hear from them.

Southern Door is still in a state of flux, I believe.  Once again, rumor has it that there may still be some changes in staffing, but those changes may not happen until August.

The last day of school was always a sad day for me, as long as I can remember, and these past few are no exception.  As a substitute, I don't really get an official last day with the kids, because I usually don't get called to sub much during that last week.  So, it just ends at some point, with no fanfare, no good-byes.

So, today is the first day of my summer "vacation" and I'm trying to remain optimistic.  I've decided to continue my education, and will start summer school next week at Silver Lake College.  I'll be taking two courses toward my 316 Reading License.  I did a lot of subbing at Southern Door in the Title I Reading program, and I really enjoyed it.  At the very least, an additional license should make me more marketable (yuck, I hate that phrase) and, as my dear husband keeps reminding me, no education is ever wasted.

Later,

Mrs. O'R

 

Moon stuff

I hope many of you have seen the fabulous Supermoon.
The next one will occur November 14, 2016.

Use this link to learn more:
"Supermoon": Biggest Full Moon in 18 Years Saturday.

Here's a poem that will help you remember the phases of the moon:

The Moon
by Karen Gunderson
The light from the Moon really comes from the Sun
Watching its phases can be lots of fun.
We can’t see a new Moon, because there’s no light.
But then a thin crescent shows up in the night.
Next, quarter moon, half moon, and then very soon.
The sky is lit up by a big bright full Moon.
As the phases continue the light moves on.
Until once again it looks like it’s gone.

And here's a fun moon phase chart:

Download Oreomoonphases

Have to go, I'm suddenly hungry for Oreo cookies...

Later,

Mrs. O'R

the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day

As I pull out my green sweater, and look for my shamrock pin in the jumbled mess I call my jewelry box, it occurs to me, once again, that people do not really know the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day, March 17th.

St. Patrick is the Catholic Patron Saint of Ireland, and St. Patrick's Day began as a religious celebration.  Catholic saints have their own feast days, with March 17th being the feast of St. Patrick.  In America, St. Patrick's day is a celebration of all things Irish, but the true meaning of St. Patrick's day in Ireland is primarily religious.

History
Patrick was born in England in 387 A.D.  As a boy, he was forcibly brought to Ireland as a slave.  Life was horrible for him in captivity, and Patrick turned to God.  He escaped his captors several years later and returned to England.  Once back in his homeland, he claimed to have heard the voice of God, who told him that he must return to Ireland and help the Irish turn to Christianity.  Through much opposition, he was able to spread the gospel in Ireland for 40 years.
    
Mythology
At first, the works of Patrick were forgotten after his death, but legend slowly began to grow around him.  The tale was that he drove the snakes out of Ireland.  In actuality, there were never any snakes in Ireland, as the freezing ocean that surrounds it kept snakes from migrating to the country.  The legend arises from the snake's symbolic meaning in Christian lore, where the snake represented evil and the devil.  The tale symbolizes Patrick driving paganism from Ireland by converting the Druids to Christianity.

Shamrocks
This tiny three-leaved clover was considered sacred by the ancient Druids, and it is said that Patrick used it to illustrate the Holy Trinity to the pagans.  He learned much of their beliefs, language and symbolism, in order to better understand them, and eventually, convert them.
     
Traditional Meaning
Patrick was ordained as a saint, and the celebration of his feast day began in Ireland in the 1600s.  His feast day, March 17th, falls in the middle of Lent.  During Lent, eating meat was prohibited for Catholics in Ireland.  However, an exception was made on St. Patrick's Day.  The Irish would celebrate St. Patrick's feast by drinking and eating Irish bacon and cabbage.
     
Changing Meaning
St. Patrick's Day, as it is now celebrated, began with Irish soldiers in America, not in Ireland.  They used the day to connect with their countrymen and remember their homeland.  The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts.  These parades did not appear in Ireland until the 1840s and were organized by Temperance organizations trying to stop the Irish from drinking on St. Patrick's feast day.
     
Modern Meaning
Today, St. Patrick's Day is used by Ireland to draw the attention of the world.  The meaning has changed to a sense of national pride.  A week-long celebration of St. Patrick is held each year in Dublin with a fireworks display called "Skyfest."  To celebrate, many of the Irish don a bundle of shamrocks pinned to their shirts or hats.  Children wear green, orange and white badges, and many girls wear green hair ribbons.




However you choose to recognize St. Patrick's Day, here's hoping that:
...the light always find you on a dreary day.
When you need to be home, may you find your way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.

Later,
Mrs. O'R

PBIS

I've heard much discussion recently about the pros and cons of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support), and have decided to do a little research.

Personally, I am not in favor of any system that rewards children, with "stuff," for simply doing what they are supposed to do.  I recently subbed in kindergarten, and during one of our bathroom breaks, one of my students ran over to the garbage can next to the sink, and picked up a stray piece of paper toweling.  After getting my attention, he tossed it in the garbage, and ran back to confront me.  I praised him and thanked him for his good deed.  He, in turn, asked me if he would now get an Eagle Ticket.  When I told him no, but that I really appreciated that he had helped keep our school clean, and told him how responsible and respectful he was, he got angry.  He expected an Eagle Ticket.   It reminded me of a blog post I had read recently by a teacher in Canada that stated "use of rewards and punishment perpetuate a preoccupation with self-interest, and predictably stunts moral development..."

I have to believe that there are ways to encourage and "reward" good behavior, without using prizes and contests.  Used to excess, they lose meaning.  We want children to behave for a reason, and I'm hoping we can make them understand the reasons, and appreciate the value in our expectations.  If children are behaving in a certain way just for the reward, or just to avoid a punishment, without any deeper understanding, we're doing them a terrible disservice.

I've just scratched the surface of the subject, and would appreciate any feedback or resources you have to share.

Later,

Mrs. O'R

 

Well, this has never happened before...

If you're not in northeastern Wisconsin, you might not know that we're experiencing extremely cold temperatures right now.  No, I mean EXTREMEly cold - double-digits below zero.  I don't even want to think about the wind chill factor.  Anyway, this past week I have subbed a lot for teachers who are doing reading assessments of their students.  They pull them one by one from the classroom, test, then send them back, while I teach their class.  No problem.  Things were fine, the day was almost over, and I had just delivered my class to the room where they would have their last inside recess of the day.  Now remember, they had been inside all day - morning, lunch, afternoon.  As I headed back to the classroom to correct some math papers, another teacher came around the corner with one of my students - he was completed dressed in coat, hat, snowpants, etc., and she informed me that he had been OUTSIDE.  When he finished his reading test, instead of coming back to the classroom as instructed, he realized it was recess time, and dashed for his locker, and then straight outside.  Only after the door closed (and locked!) behind him did he realize that there was no one outside but him!  He was smart enough to pound on the door and yell, and he was lucky enough that someone saw/heard him right away.  I was shaken, but calmly escorted him to his locker to put his stuff away, then back to the classroom, to have a little chat.  After I was sure he understood what he should have done, I started for the teacher's desk, to resume correcting papers.  I assumed he would stay put, and hoped he would think twice next time before bolting for the door without checking in with his teacher.  But he got up, headed for the door.  Yes, he was going for recess.  When I questioned him, he said, "I shouldn't be in trouble, it was just a mistake!"

Couldn't argue with that.  So I walked him down the hall, to join the others.  I also informed his teacher right away, so I imagine that for the remainder of this round of testing, students will be reminded to go back to class.

It's never dull.

Later,

Mrs. O'R

 

"Due to technical difficulties..."

I had good intentions.

I had planned to use this blog regularly in the classroom, as I completed six weeks of student teaching.

But it just didn't happen, and I don't want to talk about it.  (funny thing to post on a blog, isn't it!?)  Sometimes we learn by doing, and sometimes we learn by not doing.

Time to move forward.  Since my last entry, I completed my student teaching, completed my coursework, filed the paperwork, paid my fees, and just recently received my teaching license in the mail.

So, now what?

I have to admit it has been very stressful, spending so much time and expending so much energy with/for 17 kids, and then, suddenly, it was over.  I was no longer their teacher, and I wasn't part of "the team."  I'm a "real" teacher, on paper, but I'm not really there yet.

Back to the sub pool, waiting for the Bat Phone to ring each morning.   Depressing.

Things are better, and the fact that I work almost every day makes the difference.  I know from past experience that all work is honorable.  But I also know that what I really want now is my own class.  I love being a substitute, but it has it's limitations.

For the past two weeks, there have been many subs in school, as teachers attempt to finish reading assessments and fight the flu that is raging.  An elementary student told me that her teacher had been gone for three days recently, and she was "getting sick of it!"

Substitutes are tolerated, might even be loved by some, but over all, are not missed when they are gone.  "Real" teachers are missed.

Later,

Mrs. O'R