Florida Perk

One of the perks of living in Florida is the fact that we have an early, long, enormous strawberry season! In our ward at church we have the nicest guy who happens to own a huge farm. What this means for us is that he offered to let anyone come to his farm and pick as many strawberries as we want...for FREE! 

I went with some friends and their kids, and had so much fun picking and eating strawberries.

Aren't they pretty?!

I brought a pretty big bucket and filled to to the brim. I wanted to pick more, but then I remembered that Chris and I don't live with 30 others (which is how many my berries would have fed) so I held back and ended up being glad because I had to wash, cut, and freeze tons of them.

Not Always a Bowl of Cherries

There are a million and one things I love about teaching, but it is one of those careers that has quite a few negatives as well (see ewwww post). I had to experience one of those today. It wasn't the first time and it won't be the last, but it doesn't make it any easier. 

Imagine: You are a teacher who is responsible for getting little minds ready for the next school year. You know it is up to you to teach them skills like how to read, add, subtract, write complete sentences... you know, just little stuff like that. You know that parents are looking to you for all answers related to their child. "Why don't they understand this?" "Why are they behaving this way?" "I'm doing everything you told me to. What more can I do?" "What is making them fall behind?" You want to answer all their questions and come up with a magic formula to fix all their child's problems, but guess what? Every child has different issues, some really evident and some totally unexplainable. 

Here's the fun part. Imagine: It's conference night. You are already not looking forward to talking to parents all night after talking to their children all day and the only parents who signed up are the ones who you don't need to meet with and two you really don't want to talk to. The reason you don't want to talk to those two parents? You get to tell them that their children will get to do second grade all over again. Yes, retention. Not something that goes over well with many parents. Luckily, I consider myself somewhat intelligent, and have been warning the parents since the beginning of the year that this was a possibility. 

The first parent cried, and didn't believe it was necessary until I finally showed her my grade book with all the students' names covered up. I have had a feeling all year that she just assumed I was a crummy teacher. When she saw how much lower her daughter was scoring on each test, she said, "oh wow!" and stopped questioning the retention. 

The second parents took it pretty well, but were bummed nonetheless. They knew their son was low and understood that it would be helpful in the long run. 

Anyway, a long boring story to show that us teachers do have hearts and HATE breaking bad news to parents. I am not a fan of holding kids back a year, but for very specific circumstances, it actually does help a lot. Hurray to the end of another conference night. 

Bumming it at the Beautiful Beach

This is where I spent the greater part of the day on Saturday. Ahhh, it was so nice. It is in Sarasota, FL (about 45 mins south of us) at a beach called Siesta Key. It is my favorite beach here because of the white powder fine sand, green water, sand volleyball courts, picnic tables, playground, and easily accessible bathrooms. I went with Chris's cousin, Tierney who is visiting from Utah. I kept trying to tell her that Florida's sun is super strong, but alas, she got pretty fried in her desire to tan up before heading back to snowland. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time! Gotta love the beach! Oh, sorry for the lack of pictures of us, but I'm not one to volunteer for a picture in my swim suit very readily.  

Belated Dr. Seuss Blog

Dr. Seuss' s birthday (March 2nd) is a big deal in 2nd grade, so we had to celebrate the day. I wasn't ambitious enough to make my whole class green eggs and ham, but I did break out the paint. Last year I had my mom visiting to help, but this year I was on my own. Luckily all went well and it turned out really fun! Here are some pictures from the day: 

Back of the shirts we made. This was my solution to a child who couldn't seem to stop dripping or dropping the sponges on his shirt. We just added dots everywhere! They are supposed to copy the Dr. Seuss book, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. 

This is the front of the shirts. It has "Dr. Seuss 3-2-09" written on it. 

The back

They made cute two-sided door hangers

I let students take turns on seussville.com which has tons of cute games and even a story making section. 

I had tons of crosswords, word searches, quote matching worksheets, and other fun Dr. Seuss related things.

 

And what Dr. Seuss Day would be complete without a bunch of Dr. Seuss books.

Ewwww! Yes, draw out the ewwww.

I am pretty tough when it comes to students doing gross things, but today was just one of those eww days where I felt like I needed gloves and a doctor's mask just to be in the same room as them. 

Ewww #1: Student A is walking around the classroom and doing work at his desk while alternately putting one hand over his eye, then rubbing it, and then trying to open his eyelid with his finger tips as wide as it will go.

Me: Student A, what are you doing with your eye?

Student A: I have to do that 'cause it hurts and I can't open it, but I'm trying to. 

Me: Did something happen to it?

Student A: No, my dad says it's just allergies.

Me: Let me see. (Student A tries to open his eye which is bright red and goopy!) Are you sure it's allergies?

Student A: I dunno. 

Me: Have you had eye drops or seen a doctor?

Student A: Nope. (Student A proceeds to start coughing like he is losing a lung, but really is just releasing tons of flem into his hand. 

Me: Umm, go wash your hands really good please. 

(I go to write him a pass to the nurse for said eye and cough. Out of the corner of my eye I see Student A squirt Germ-X into his flem filled hand and walk away.)

Me: Student A! No way buddy! Try again.

(Student A sheepishly turns around and proceeds to actually wash his hands.)

Oh, outcome of nurse visit? No answer at home, student is returned to my room. Yea.

  

Ewww #2: I am in the middle of a reading group and the other students are doing reading centers around the room. Student B walks up to the table.

Student B: Mrs. Harris? There's something gross at spelling center.

Me: Really? What's wrong? (thinking, please don't be something I have to touch)

Student B: Someone's wiping buggers on the spelling letters. (plastic magnetic letters they spell words out with)

Me: Buggers? Are you sure?

Student B: Yeah. I went to grab the "T" and it had a bugger on it. I had to flick it away.

Me: You flicked the bugger or the letter? 

Student B: The letter, but I got the bugger too. There's more on some of the other letters.

Me: Great. Class, no more spelling center today! Student B, go wash your hands!

Ewww #3:  You know I had to save the best for last...or the grossest to me at least. I am teaching another reading group while the students are still doing centers. I look up to make sure students are on task, etc. when I see Student C at the sink washing cards that go with a tic tac toe reading game. 

Me: Student C, why are you washing the reading cards?

Student C: Ummm, they got dirty.

Me: How?

Student C: Well, I had to go to the bathroom (this is where I groan and know it is not going to be good) and I accidentally dropped the cards into the toilet.

Me: What?!! You brought the cards into the bathroom with you?!

Student C: Yes...

Me: And you got them out with your hands?!

Student C: Yes...

Me: And you were going to wash them off and put them back with the game without telling anyone?!

Student C: Ummm, yes. 

Me: Go put the cards in the trash and wash your hands! Wash them three times! 

(Student tries to give me a hug 15 mins later, and feeling bad but still completely grossed out, I refused the hug by telling him he needed to stay in the line we were walking in.)

Just coincidence that Student A, B, and C are all boys? No, I don't think so. 

You mothers out there probably don't think these are a big deal, and I have seen worse too, but these things happened within one hour of each other, in my classroom, to kids who are not mine, who are 7 or 8 and just too old to be doing these things! It is just ewww! 

A Proposal

Yesterday I got to help with the proposal of my suite mate, Melissa at work! She teaches right next to me with our rooms connected by a small hallway, so we talk a lot and are pretty close. Her boyfriend had called Chris and had him make the ring and I didn't even know about it! I guess he asked Chris not to say anything. Then Brady (her boyfriend) called me a few days ago and asked if I could help with the proposal because he wanted her students to play a part. I was very excited for her and we concocted a plan. Luckily it all went perfectly and she was shocked! 

Our plan was for Brady to hide in another teacher's classroom then for the office to call Melissa down for some made up reason. Unfortunately they were mean and the principal called her into the office to talk to her about moving her to 4th grade next year. Anyway, as soon as she left I grabbed Brady and we had all her students write "Say Yes! Love, their name", on some valentines he had brought. They put them in envelopes and we laid them on a large rug she has on the ground. 

He went back to the teacher's classroom and she came back in all wound up about what the principal had talked to her about. I told her that her students had been all secretive while she was gone and I thought they were working on a valentine surprise for her. She went over to the carpet and started opening all the cards. She was so confused and the students just kept yelling for her to keep opening the cards. I had texted Brady that she had started opening, so he waited a minute then came in the room with roses. She didn't see him for  a minute and kept opening. Finally she looked up and saw him there in his suit and all. She was so shocked, it was awesome!  He got down on a knee and proposed. Her face was so red and she was tearing up. She said yes and the whole class (including mine who couldn't resist coming in) cheered and was jumping up and down. You should have seen how excited they were to help. It was really sweet. The ring Chris made is amazing and huge! She LOVED it and it was perfect. I am so happy for her because he is a really great guy and they are really in love with each other! I took pictures, but they aren't so great on here because I either had to crop of fuzz out students because we can't post pictures of them online.

Her opening the cards on the carpet

She finally looks up and sees him

The proposal

A yes and a hug

The beautiful ring

Melissa and I

25 Random Things Tag

I really have nothing to post about, but I know it drives me nuts when I check people's blogs and they have the same thing up forever. (hopefully I didn't hurt feelings!) My cousin tagged me with one of those 25 random things about you tags. Just stop here if you don't want to read a list.

1. I have no problem splurging for shirts, dresses, skirts, and jackets but hate spending much on shoes, jeans, and athletic wear. This makes me a really good bargain shopper though!

2. I have pretty much a hate/hate relationship with my red hair, but I can't bring myself to try dying it. Weird, I know. 

3. I don't like tomatoes, however, I will eat them cooked or in mexican food.

4. I love to read. I will try most genres but my favorites are children's books and 17-18th century english literature. Current reads: Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Yes, I am reading books by sisters. I guess I wanted to compare them.

5. I wouldn't mind spending most all of my vacations with family. 

6. I think the San Diego Temple is the prettiest building I have ever seen/been in. 

7. I have started to become addicted to 7-11's hot chocolate. I love the taste of the cheap stuff better than hot chocolate at nice places. I have to tell myself each night now that I don't need any.

8. I will watch or play most any sport. Soccer is the funnest to play and football the funnest to watch...in my opinion of course. Now that I'm an adult I have grown to like going to the gym.

9. I hate the color pink, but I love being and dressing girly, yet I have no problem getting dirty.

10. I don't like decorating my house because I want stuff out of my price range.

11. I could spend days at the tide pools in La Jolla, CA without getting bored.

12. I crave Sombrero's mexican food from San Diego a lot. I have even considered paying my parents to overnight me some on dry ice. 

13. I love christmas trees. They literally make me happier when I see them. Mine goes up right after Thanksgiving and goes down the week after New Year's. 

14. My husband says my body temperature is very "messed up". My extremities are usually either freezing or burning.

15. I can't walk by a blanket without touching it to see if it is soft. I have more blankets than a 26 year old should. Yes, I still sleep with a "blankie." 

16. I prefer baths to showers. That's my favorite place to read.

17. I have tried most brands of sunless tanner. It really stinks being pale.

18. I am normally just not that competative of a person but I can turn it on in certain instances. 

19. I love the color blue.

20. I am a total cuddler.

21. I can cry easily in books and movies but crying children have almost no effect on me. I guess I've seen too many fakers in my time teaching.

22. I seem to be one of the few left that is not cynical about marriage. I believe in true love, faithfulness and happily ever afters. 

23. I can't imagine doing any other profession besides teaching. I have known I would be a teacher for as long as I can remember. 

24. Growing up my cousins were my best friends. We spent the night at each other's houses as often as we could, were in school and church classes together, spent every holiday together, and they were even my bridesmaids along with my and Chris's sister. 

25. I was (and still am) freaked out of getting in trouble growing up. This is funny because I have really kind, patient, and understanding parents. I have never even had a detention. 

Now you know more random things about me than you ever wanted to!