Today I thought I'd try to enjoy the winter wonderland via a nice little run. I bundled up in my warmest running gear and after arguing with myself for about thirty minutes, decided there was no time like the present and headed out the door to try running in the snow. The road had been scraped earlier in the morning and the snow pack on the shoulder hid the lip of the pavement. I rolled my ankle about three times before deciding to run further in the road where it was clear I wouldn't "fall" off the edge of the road. The problem was that the snow on the middle of the lane was packed down. Icy. Slippery. I didn't get far before my feet involuntarily did the cha cha, and I was nearly planting my face in the snowy road. I caught myself on my palms and a knee and was back up and running. I made it to the end of the road and started on my way back to the house. I got just a few yards up the road, and if you can imagine a Tom and Jerry scene where Tom is trying to get his feet under him to chase Jerry - his feet are going, his body is stretched to the max, and he's going absolutely nowhere - that was me. Then I made it four steps. Then I fell flat on my butt. I have never ever fallen before while running, and this was my second fall in less than thirty minutes. The fun didn't stop there. After slip sliding around for another mile, I managed one more butt plant in the snow. At that point I was so mad that I hit the snow to punish it for my frustration. To any on-looker it was something like a gay-man slap. "You stupid snow! Bad, bad snow!" Very convincing, and tough, and effective.
I made it without any other incidents. I don't plan on trying that again. The end.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Snow Day
Yesterday was 46 degrees and sunny. Today we woke up and it looked like this:
I was starting to think they were making things up about snowy Maine winters, but we might have a white Christmas after all.
I was starting to think they were making things up about snowy Maine winters, but we might have a white Christmas after all.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Russ St. Clair
Martha tried to play innocent. "I thought it said Ross." "Ross is a hard name to find."
Ross is not very impressed, but she did have a good point. He wouldn't have ever noticed if I hadn't pointed it out, but now that he does know, you can bet he won't ever let her live it down. That's how Russ rolls.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Christmas Vacation and Merry Christmas to all. I'd like to do a little happy dance for fourteen days of sleeping in past 5:00am. I'd also like to tap my toes to not having to pre-pack a lunch or breakfast or snack from now until January. And if I may, I will sing a little song to celebrate not having to pick out running clothes, PE clothes, and more running clothes before I go to bed at night. Ahhh, I love this part of my job no matter what school I'm at.
Let's do a little comparison of my old job and my new job.
High School vs. Elementary School
Constant battle against swearing Swearing isn't an issue
Constant battle against cell phones Cell phones aren't an issue
Constant battle to get them to dress-down Dressing down isn't an issue
Students tell me I'm an F****** B**** Students tell me I'm "so pretty"
Students want good grades, but don't want to do the work Students work hard and bring me presents
Most students hate PE Most students love PE
Most students hate to run Most students hate it if I don't let them run
I'm digging my new job. Elementary students really help my self-esteem. Watch out friends, my large head is almost to the breaking point. I walk into the cafeteria at the elementary school and feel like a celebrity. "Mrs. St. Clair!" "Hi, Mrs. St. Clair!" "It's Mrs. St. Clair!" That's right, I've got these kids fooled. They all think I'm cool. I just wish I could convince the rest of the world. :)
Let's do a little comparison of my old job and my new job.
High School vs. Elementary School
Constant battle against swearing Swearing isn't an issue
Constant battle against cell phones Cell phones aren't an issue
Constant battle to get them to dress-down Dressing down isn't an issue
Students tell me I'm an F****** B**** Students tell me I'm "so pretty"
Students want good grades, but don't want to do the work Students work hard and bring me presents
Most students hate PE Most students love PE
Most students hate to run Most students hate it if I don't let them run
I'm digging my new job. Elementary students really help my self-esteem. Watch out friends, my large head is almost to the breaking point. I walk into the cafeteria at the elementary school and feel like a celebrity. "Mrs. St. Clair!" "Hi, Mrs. St. Clair!" "It's Mrs. St. Clair!" That's right, I've got these kids fooled. They all think I'm cool. I just wish I could convince the rest of the world. :)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Kindergarten tales
They kill me, the kindergartners. They just don't operate like the other kids. They're still learning how to "do" school at this point, and I'm still learning how they operate. The little guys love to hear themselves. They come stomping into the gym because they like seeing how loud they can make their steps. We only have them for fifteen minutes, so I want to make the most of my time with them. I noticed one of the kindergarten teachers dealt with the loud feet in her class by telling them they sounded like elephants and she wanted them to sound like kittens. Immediately, they softened their footsteps to mimic the light steps of cats.
That day, when I lead my second kindergarten class into the gym, I decided to mimic her instructions. Only I forgot she had said "kitten" and I said rabbit instead. They're quiet, right? Almost immediately, I had 24 kindergartners hopping like rabbits in a single-file line behind me. "Hmmmm," I thought, "that's not quite right. Kittens! Walk nice and quiet like kittens." I turned and continued leading them to the front of the gym, but checking on their status behind me, I found that one after another, the entire line was dropping to all fours, mewing and walking like 'kittens.'
Oops.
Evidently, their teacher hadn't used the same kitten analogy with them. I laughed. I couldn't help myself. And I couldn't bring myself to correct them. Next on the agenda, teach kindergartners how to walk quietly on two feet like kittens.
That day, when I lead my second kindergarten class into the gym, I decided to mimic her instructions. Only I forgot she had said "kitten" and I said rabbit instead. They're quiet, right? Almost immediately, I had 24 kindergartners hopping like rabbits in a single-file line behind me. "Hmmmm," I thought, "that's not quite right. Kittens! Walk nice and quiet like kittens." I turned and continued leading them to the front of the gym, but checking on their status behind me, I found that one after another, the entire line was dropping to all fours, mewing and walking like 'kittens.'
Oops.
Evidently, their teacher hadn't used the same kitten analogy with them. I laughed. I couldn't help myself. And I couldn't bring myself to correct them. Next on the agenda, teach kindergartners how to walk quietly on two feet like kittens.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Kindercrazies
Kindergartners. They look like little people, but they are wired a bit different. A lot different. I am finding it more challenging learning how these miniature people work than any other grade level. They are very busy, have lots of energy, are easily entertained, and are very, very literal.
My first couple of days went like this: "Okay class, sit on your squad dot and I'm going to call your names. Raise your hand and let me know if you're here." Immediately, 24 hands shot up in the air and 24 voices were raised in competition to let me know they were indeed there. "Wait, wait, wait," I said, "when I say your name you can raise your hand. Just one at a time."
"Faith."
Faith raised her hand, and 24 voices said "She's here!" Wow. Thanks guys.
I've stopped taking roll out loud. When I do, it goes more like this. "If I call a name, I only want to hear the voice of the person whose name I call. I should only hear one voice. Nobody else should speak. It should be quiet except for the person whose name I call." Was I specific enough?
"Faith."
Faith says here and I only hear two other voices besides her's. We're getting better.
The other thing I've learned with kindergartners is, you don't ask them if they have any questions because they all do, and most or their questions A) don't have anything to do with the activity or your directions, and B) are really comments and stories. A comment out of one student, leads to comments out of 15 other students that may or may not have anything to do with the original comment.
Kindergartners are a breed of their own. I'm not sure I will ever really understand them, but I've got about six more months to figure this batch out before we start all over with a new group. :)
My first couple of days went like this: "Okay class, sit on your squad dot and I'm going to call your names. Raise your hand and let me know if you're here." Immediately, 24 hands shot up in the air and 24 voices were raised in competition to let me know they were indeed there. "Wait, wait, wait," I said, "when I say your name you can raise your hand. Just one at a time."
"Faith."
Faith raised her hand, and 24 voices said "She's here!" Wow. Thanks guys.
I've stopped taking roll out loud. When I do, it goes more like this. "If I call a name, I only want to hear the voice of the person whose name I call. I should only hear one voice. Nobody else should speak. It should be quiet except for the person whose name I call." Was I specific enough?
"Faith."
Faith says here and I only hear two other voices besides her's. We're getting better.
The other thing I've learned with kindergartners is, you don't ask them if they have any questions because they all do, and most or their questions A) don't have anything to do with the activity or your directions, and B) are really comments and stories. A comment out of one student, leads to comments out of 15 other students that may or may not have anything to do with the original comment.
Kindergartners are a breed of their own. I'm not sure I will ever really understand them, but I've got about six more months to figure this batch out before we start all over with a new group. :)
Friday, December 9, 2011
I.O.U.
It's only been two months. Not much has happened. I really haven't had much to write about. That's my excuse.
So I'll start from October 31st. That was the last day I worked at McKay, my first "real" job. My first teaching job. My weekday home during the past 5 years and 2 months. I have to say that from a teaching stand point, it was one of my more enjoyable semesters. We were on a seven period day, I was teaching two classes of health, my class sizes were tolerable, and my students were pretty a pretty good group. On the plus side, I left just as we were starting the sex-ed unit in health, the admin decesions and demands were...interesting, and my new co-workers were not Jessica and JJ.
November 2nd I stopped being a high school PE teacher and became an elementary PE teacher, which isn't as big of a change as you might expect. First graders and freshmen have a lot in common. I love my new job. I miss my friends and my sister and my nephew. But I like going to work everyday, I like having people to run with, I like being close to my parents...like in the same house...again. Most of all, I love living with my husband again. I sort of like the guy, and the nine weeks leading up to this moment were rough. I was pretty grumpy. All the time.
I have some pretty funny stories from my first few teaching days. There has been a bit of a learning curve. At some point I'll try to get these posted as well. I've been told that it's mandatory for me to keep up my blog if I'm going to live in this part of the state. (Stacy.) I'll do my best.
That's my story for now.
Peace out.
So I'll start from October 31st. That was the last day I worked at McKay, my first "real" job. My first teaching job. My weekday home during the past 5 years and 2 months. I have to say that from a teaching stand point, it was one of my more enjoyable semesters. We were on a seven period day, I was teaching two classes of health, my class sizes were tolerable, and my students were pretty a pretty good group. On the plus side, I left just as we were starting the sex-ed unit in health, the admin decesions and demands were...interesting, and my new co-workers were not Jessica and JJ.
November 2nd I stopped being a high school PE teacher and became an elementary PE teacher, which isn't as big of a change as you might expect. First graders and freshmen have a lot in common. I love my new job. I miss my friends and my sister and my nephew. But I like going to work everyday, I like having people to run with, I like being close to my parents...like in the same house...again. Most of all, I love living with my husband again. I sort of like the guy, and the nine weeks leading up to this moment were rough. I was pretty grumpy. All the time.
I have some pretty funny stories from my first few teaching days. There has been a bit of a learning curve. At some point I'll try to get these posted as well. I've been told that it's mandatory for me to keep up my blog if I'm going to live in this part of the state. (Stacy.) I'll do my best.
That's my story for now.
Peace out.
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