"They can't go to school with us!"

I was going through my phone today and I ran across a video of my 7th period doing their presentations on Helen Keller and author's purpose. It reminded me of a conversation I had with them while they were preparing for the presentation.

Kid: "Man, ain't no rich kids at THS. Y'all just faking."
Me: "How do you know they aren't rich?"
Kid: "Cuz it's illegal for rich kids to go to school with non rich kids."
Me: "What?!"
Kid: "It's against the law for rich kids to go to public school with poor kids. They have to go to private school. Don't they?"
Me: *blank stare and walk away*

This is the same kid who said you can't have any contraptions in your essay. SMH

Today I met with some of my fellow English teachers to plan and toss around ideas for next year. I'm really excited about the upcoming year (if you haven't noticed). I shared all of my Pinterest finds with them and they are going to sign up for Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers. Both of those sites are amazing and extremely helpful in planning and finding ideas. My goal for the new school year is to be more organized and to stretch myself as a teacher.  Last year's bunch of kids were fairly intelligent and I had 3 classes of honor students, so they kept me on my toes.  I actually had to know my material.  In the beginning it was a bit nerve racking because I was teaching a new curriculum and I was uncomfortable with it.  As the year went on I saw how successful my kids were at learning and retaining the information and it gave me a confidence boost.  Now I'm going to run with that fire from last year into the new year.  I'm going to start expecting a lot more out of my kids as well as start stretching them as students.  I've got a lot of great ideas!  I pray that I can keep that fire all year. 

Teachers spend a lot of their own money on school supplies and material.  You can help by adopting a classroom.  You can adopt my classroom by going to Adopt a Classroom and donating.  Or you can buy supplies and donate them.  We need a lot of simple things to help our classes run smoothly.  My main needs are Kleenex, hand sanitizer, and copy paper.  My school district doesn't allow me to buy Kleenex and hand sanitizer with the money they give me so that has to come out of my pocket or from the kids, if they bring it.  I would LOVE to have a smartboard in my classroom.  That'd be amazing.  We were told we'd eventually get them in our classes, so I'm patiently waiting.  Thanks for any help you give!

School's out for the summer!

School has been out for 3 weeks and I'm already gearing up for next year.  I've been reading other teacher's blogs and stealing ideas.  Next year I am determined to be better than I was this year.  I will be more organized, use technology more, and other teacher type improvements.  I'm also thinking of revamping my blog.  I've been inspired by teachers across America to do more than share tales from my classroom.  I plan on sharing lesson ideas, classroom management tips, etc.  Pinterest will have you thinking you can do all of this stuff.  LOL.  Anyway, as I prepare for next year, I have to properly end this one. 

My kids had to do oral presentations on author's purpose.  Their topic was Helen Keller.  They were given information about her life, books she wrote, plays that were performed, etc.  While working in groups they had to come up with a presentation that entertained, informed, or persuaded.  With the group of kids I had they were all entertaining.  During one presentation that focused on informing had a weather report.  Here is a picture of the forecast.

Um, really?  He said all of this with a straight face.  I, on the other hand, was cracking up.  I had another group do a rap.  Their purpose was to entertain.  I was thoroughly entertained.  Ok, I tried to upload the video but apparently I'm not that smart sooo... Just take my word for it.  It was good. 

While working on this project my kids decided to play Draw Something on themselves.  SMH

I absolutely loved the group of kids I had this year.  It's safe to say that they were the best group I've ever had.  This group pushed me to be the best teacher I've ever been.  They challenged me (in a positive way) and made sure I knew what I was talking about.  I had to really study my notes and anticipate their questions.  I was truly blessed this year.  While it was a better year than most there was a sad moment.  I lost one of my kids.  I don't have kids of my own, so I adopt my kids and treat them as I would want my kids to be treated.  It was a tough loss especially since so many kids saw the accident.  The day of the accident, he stopped by my room, which was unusual because he didn't have any classes on my hall.  I'm sad he died but I'm glad I got to share a brief moment with him before he passed.  His death really bothered me for some reason.  In my short career I've had 4 students to die in car accidents.  It never gets easier. 

Like I mentioned earlier I've been working on some stuff for next year.  I'll share my resources.  Pinterest is my top source.  There are tons of resources there all in one spot.  Most of the ideas and blogs are geared toward elementary and middle school but they can be modified for older kids if you use a little imagination.  Another site I've been glued to is Teachers Pay Teachers.  There you can find lessons, PowerPoints, tests, etc made by other teachers.  Some items are free; some have a small charge.  You can also sell your resources and services to other teachers.  If you're good at creating PowerPoints you can offer your services and make some money.  It's a pretty cool deal.  Once I get everything made and set up, I'll take pictures and provide the links to where I got the idea.  I'm super excited about the upcoming school year, but it needs to tarry.  I'm enjoying my break!

"You can't have no contraptions in your essay!"

It's essay writing season! Yay...  I have a love hate relationship with essays.  I hate them because they're so awful to read and I love them because they're so awful to read.  It always baffles me how bad they write as 9th graders.  I mean, it's awful.  While we were looking over some essays written by 10th graders for the English II SAPT, one student noticed that the writer used quite a few contractions.  She knew this was wrong and let us know.  "You can't have no contraptions in your essay!"  You're right young grasshopper, you can't have any contraptions. 

Below are some real examples from real essays written by real 9th graders.  Basically, the topic is something along the lines of do you think it's a good idea for schools to have an open campus policy that would allow students to leave campus during their lunch periods.  Here goes!

"I think leaving for lunch would be a bad thing because kids could get in troble or not want to com back to school."
"There are good and bad thing's. good things is get away from the school adn teachers and the trouble makers."
"Bad things is kids can go home some weed get high and come to school and get in troble or two people have a dissagrement and meet up somewhere and box."
"I do not think this will never happen."
"Students can go to innapropriate places during their lunch periods.  They could go to tattoo and piercings shops."
"The open-campus policy is a policy giving teens the choise to leave campus during lunch time."
"The paragraphs are going to be on open-campus policy.  Paragraphs are going to be ideas on how its good.  I will give examples, just to show you.  Its going to show you how leaving campus for lunch, it good."  "The paragraphs are good and on topic."
"This is an outrage! The principle just stated that our school, Terry High, will start having open-campus policy allowing us to leave the campus for lunch.  Its obvious he do not know the problems that this will cause to the school."

Ok, I can't take anymore.  These are for real from my kids' essays.  Sigh...  I'll be posting more tomorrow when I'm not sad.  LOL

Today I was a little sad because I missed my granny.  Because I'm fairly light skinned it was obvious that I had been crying.  My sweet coworkers cried with me and my kids knew something was wrong.  I didn't tell them what was wrong but they just knew.  While I was sitting at my desk in a daze, one of my kids, who knew how close I was to Granny and had sent Granny cards while she was in the hospital, came up to my desk.
Kid: "It's one of those days, huh?"
Me:  "Yeah."
Kid:  "I understand.  I had a lot of those days when my grandfather died.  It does get better."
I just looked at her.  We understood each other.  It's amazing how your kids just know what to say to make things better.  After that a few of my kids made up excuses so they could come to my room and check on me.  It was really sweet.  Makes me love what I do that much more.  Yay kids!

Friday the 13th

Do I really need to say more?  Of course I do!

My Friday the 13th started off rather normal and slow, so I thought I was in the clear.  Well, my fifth period class saw things a little different.  I guess their parents figured since it was Friday their children didn't need to take their medications.  How do I know they didn't take their medications?  Because they were all over the place!!!  It started with one kid saying something stupid and it all went downhill from there.

Sentence:  My uncles came to visit.
Student interpretation:  "My un-cles... wait, what? What is un-cles?!"
Me: "The word is uncles. You know like aunt and uncles."
Kid:  "I deserve several stupid slaps for that.  You're going to blog about this aren't you?"
Me:  "Yes."

Next, there was comedy time:
What do you call a computer that can't sing?  A-dell.  (for those of you who are lost, Adele is a singer)

Then there was Twitter time:
Kid 1: "Man, Twitter getting lame now."
Kid 2: "That's cuz you're on there ALL THE TIME!"
Kid 1: "No I'm not!"
Me: "Uh, yes you are. Every time I get on there, I have 50 gajillion tweets all from you. Then you tweet about stupid stuff, 'My toe itches,' 'I'm sleepy,' 'My hair grew a milliliter.'"
Kid 3: "Yeah, and you change your profile picture every 10 minutes.  The one you got up now is funny. *proceeds to imitate pose*
Kid 1: "Shut up! No I don't! Mrs. Scott do you follow Billy? His Twitter name is..."
Kid 3 *jumps up and puts his hand over her mouth.*
Kid 4: "You better quit before you get charged with rape."
Me: "What?!"
Kid 3: "Man, this ain't no white woman.  The most I can get for this is 3-5.  If it was a white woman I'd get 10-20"
Me: *palm to forehead* "What?! You know what, we don't get to talk anymore.  Let's just go to the bathroom."

I mean, where do they learn this from?  Sometimes I want to just go to their houses and observe.  But then, I remember the foolishness that comes out of my kids' mouths and I change my mind. 

My kids are so obsessed with when I'm going to have a baby.  They ask me frequently if I want kids, when am I going to have one, etc. 
Kid: "Mrs. Scott, I want you to have a baby.  Do you want kids?"
Me: "Yes, one day."
Kid: "Does Coach Scott want kids?"
Me: "Yes, he does."
Kid: "Well are y'all even trying to have kids?! Never mind. That was inappropriate, huh?"
Me: "Yup."

"Mrs. Scott, I got smarty-er during Christmas break!"

One of my Facebook friends asked her students to write a paragraph about what teachers do when they go home.  Here's what one kid said:

We obviously die.  What a sad existence...

Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Today was PTC Day.  *cue exciting music*  I knew which parents I was going to see today, so I mentally prepared myself all last week for them.  There were 2 parents in particular that I really prepared for because, well, they're "those" type of parents.  One parent insulted my intelligence and ability on Meet the Teacher Day and the other always makes excuses for her child.  On Meet the Teacher Day, arrogant parent asked if I was an honors quality teacher and what qualified me to teach honors.  I answered him and then asked him if his child was an honors quality student and what qualified her to be in my honors class.  He couldn't answer me and sadly his child has shown me that she is not honors material.  She's irresponsible and immature.  She's a decent kid, just not ready for honors yet.  So anyway, her dad comes in with his same arrogant ways, looking down his nose at me and what not.  We talked and I explained to him what was going on with the kid and showed him her grades.  Silence.  He thought for a second then came up with his "let me turn this around on you" question.  He asked me how I personally felt about his child.  In other words, this wouldn't be happening if you didn't have something personal against my child.  I told him exactly how I felt.  I said she was irresponsible and immature.  She's not a behavior problem and a fairly good kid.  He didn't like my answer so he left.  An hour or so later they were back.  Why?  Because the kid left her purse.  Can you say point proven?

The next parent I expected to see was making excuses mom.  This mom is always making excuses for her child as to why he can't pass or why he's getting in trouble.  She's combative and confrontational, but I was ready.  I pulled out the grade book and explained to her all the good things he's done then moved to the bad.  I got her to let her guard down.  She asked me the typical "what are you doing to help my child" questions and when she saw that I had done all she wanted she broke down and took the blame.  She tried to make excuses saying he had a learning disability and she took him off his medicine.  I asked what was the disability and she said slow learner.  Uh, that's not a specific disability.  Nobody's IEP says "slow learner."  I think she's going to pull him out of regular school and try something else.  He's not going to pass my class this year and he's already behind (this is his 2nd year in English I).  We'll see how this goes.

Usually on PTC Days you gain a better understanding of what's wrong with your kids.  I didn't fully understand the whole "apple doesn't fall too far from the tree" thing until I started teaching.  One particular student of mine doesn't listen and follow directions well.  His dad came by today and asked me the same questions twice, left, and came back to ask the same questions again.  I was like dang! That's why your kids does that.  A mom came by and rambled on and on about stuff that had absolutely nothing to do with anything.  I sat and listened, interjecting every now and then.  At the end she said several times, "I like her."  Her kid does the same thing.  He gets picked on so he's looking for acceptance.  Apparently she is too.  They're both high strung people too.  It's always funny to see where kids get their quirks from.

As with any PTC day you have those parents who are just downright funny.  There is a particular man and his wife who always come see me when they're at the school.  I taught their son twice so I guess they took a liking to me.  Ha! Anyhoo, they always ask about my family and how things are going.  Today was no different. They didn't know that my sexy granny had died and they offered some sweet words of encouragement.  I was almost in tears until the dad said this:  "You know we as Christians (pronounced christy ans) don't have to worry about death.  I was like "Christy ans" What? I couldn't even get my tears out.  SMH

One of the great things about being a teacher is being able to do more than teach.  Kids look to teachers to be more than a teacher.  They look for a friend, a confidant, a counselor, a safe place.  When my granny died my kids were so sweet.  They gave me hugs, encouragement, cards, everything.  Well, one of my student's granny died last week.  Her mom texted me asking if I'd see about her because she was really struggling with the death.  At first I was considering not doing it because I was still not 100% ok with my granny's death.  How am I going to console somebody else when I cry thinking about Granny?  Then I remembered how my kids were there for me when I needed them and how they looked to me for comfort and encouragement.  I agreed to help her and I'm glad I did.  She told me that my messages made her smile and that was enough for me.

Friday during our lesson on subject and verb agreement, my 2nd period class was feeling rather musical.  I had them take a little pop quiz to see if they were paying attention on Tuesday.  While going over the answers the following took place:
Me: "What's the subject?"
Class: "Everybody"
Me: "Ok great, what's the verb?"
Class: "Was"
Me: "Great! Everybody was"
Class: "Kung fu fighting!"
Me: *palm to forehead*

How many weeks until spring break? LOL

"There go Mrs. Scott."

After school I went to Subway to grab a bite to eat before the game.  Apparently a lot of my kids had the same idea.  I could see them inside laughing and cutting up but it was after school so I was going to completely ignore them.  I walk in, minding my own business, ignoring the kids when I hear, "There go Mrs. Scott.  Time to go!" and they all left.  They already know that I don't have time for their foolishness so they corrected their behavior.  Gotta love it!

My 5th period class is obviously used to running whatever teacher/class they have because they come in Room 300 trying to run the show.  I don't know why they feel like they have that right but they try me anyway.  Every time they try me, I strip away a little bit of their pride and they act right.  However, every now and then they forget how to act.  Last week they forgot.  They were loud in the cafeteria, loud walking to lunch, loud walking from lunch, hitting each other, taking their time getting back from lunch, being loud in class, etc.  I just sat back and allowed the foolishness to take place.  Today, I pounced.  Today they had to walk to lunch in a single file line with their "flags" up.  If the line got crooked we stopped and lined back up and tried again.  Once we made it to lunch, I sat at the lunch table with them as they sat in their assigned seats.  When it was time for us to leave, they had to line up on the wall, in front of their peers, with their flags up.  We then proceeded to walk back to class in a single file line.  They were extremely embarrassed and apologized profusely for their behavior.  They will be on punishment for the rest of the week.  I told them if you act like middle schoolers then I'm going to treat you as such.  I don't know why they mess with me...

Fun quotes from Room 300:
"Mrs. Scott, it smells like dried spit in your room!"

Kid 1: "Be careful with my scarf. It was $40!"
Kid 2: "You paid $40 for that?"
Kid 1: "Girl yeah! That's real polyester!"

Me: "Y'all ,they're just gonna go ahead and cancel the rest of the NBA season since they can't come up with an agreement."
Kid: "OMG, Mrs. Scott, I got a problem!"
Me: "What?"
Kid: "How am I supposed to marry a basketball player if there isn't an NBA season?"
Me: *blank stare*

Me: "You're Vietnamese, right?
Kid: "Yes ma'am."
Kid 2: "You're Vietnamese?! I thought you were Asian!"
Me: *palm to forehead*

Since it's the end of the nine weeks and some of my kids' grades are less than perfect, I allowed them to retake 2 test that they failed, with their notes.  I gave them the same test AND I gave them their original test to get the correct answers from.  Why did one of my precious babies make the same grade as he did the 1st go round AND miss 12 different questions?  I mean, how does that happen?  You deserve that C you made. Yup, sure do.

Only 3.6 days left before Christmas break! Woot!

"I didn't know y'all lived together!"

It's been a long time since I last posted.  I've had quite a bit going on this semester, and I've had to make some adjustments.  I've had to adjust to being a wife, teaching honors kids, and I had to cope with the loss of my sexy granny.  Needless to say, I haven't felt like or had much time to blog about my precious children.  I think I've gotten my life in order and I'm ready for action!  Here we go!!

Over the summer I got married. Yay!  I married my high school sweetheart, best friend, and coworker.  I went from being Miss G to Mrs. Scott.  This change has brought about a lot of excitement from the kids, old and new.  My kids this year had my brother-in-law last year for English and they had my mother-in-law for a principal in the 6th grade.  Last year's group of kids swore up and down they knew we were going to get married and were upset because we lied to them about not dating.  Um, #1 we weren't and #2 why are you in my business?  Naturally, they have been full of questions about us.  My favorite question, that I've been asked more than once, is "So, now that you and Coach Scott are married do y'all live together?"  No, we don't live together.  We weren't ready to make that much of a commitment.  Maybe next year.  Silly kids...

Every year I am fortunate enough to teach a very special group of students whom I hold very near and dear to my heart.  I get to teach the repeaters.  With each passing year, the kids have gotten progressively worse; however, this particular group of kids has surprised me.  They actually work without a lot of pushing from me.  It may all be wrong but at least they work.  Last year's kids did jack squat.  And I've even learned a few things from them, mostly illegal things like how to pick locks, roll a joint, and what the new ways to get high are but hey, at least I'm learning... Right?  It's amazing how comfortable they feel with me.  They also know I'll punch them in the throat if they get in trouble.  For example, on Friday one of my sweet babies decided he was going to attempt to skip school.  Of course he was caught.  Who caught him? I did.  He didn't know I spotted and reported him though.  Anyway, after school I saw him as I was leaving.  He immediately dropped his head and said he was sorry.  He already knew I wasn't happy with him without me having to say anything. 

This year has shown me the importance of having a relationship with your students and having their respect.  My kids knew I loved my granny with every fiber of my being.  They knew that her death tore me to pieces.  The Beta Club sold pink ribbons in honor of breast cancer awareness month.  My homeroom alone bought over 100 ribbons in honor of my granny.  It was such a blessing to see them pull their money together to do something that #1 honored my sweet granny and #2 showed me that they're there for me no matter what.  They showered me with cards, hugs, and kind words as I grieved.  It made going back to school a lot easier.  They even made me a card to hang on my wall:

I cried like a baby when they presented this to me.  It's moments like that that make me love what I do despite the foolishness displayed below:

Did you notice the misspelling of bitch?  My kids asked me if I was upset by this.  I laughed and told them no.  Why would I be upset?  The kid couldn't even spell bitch.  Some insult...

That's enough updating for tonight.  I'm going to try my very bestest (yeah, I said bestest) to remember all the other foolishness that has taken place in Room 300 so I can share it with all of you wonderful people:).  Until then, good night!