Tardy Boy

I have a student, Tardy Boy, who is - I bet you'll never guess - always tardy! He has my class from 8:30 - 9:10. Tardy Boy isn't just a little late, he strolls in around 9 or 10. Every day! Of course Tardy Boy is struggling in reading (or he wouldn't be in my class), but he is one of my lowest students. He's in 2nd grade and doesn't know all his letters, much less what sound they make. I don't know how to get him to school. His mom has been to court, I've talked to her about the importance of my class, principal and assistant principal have talked to him, I reward him for showing up on time, I've kept him in from PE for being so late, and I'm out of ideas. She promises to get him here, but doesn't. Just for an idea of how much he misses my class, in the last 15 days of school he has missed 7 times and been late another 5. So 3 days he was on time. He has been less tardy this week, but still about 45 minutes late for school. Tardy Boy is so frustrated in his class because he is so far behind. I'm so frustrated with this parent. Last year she withdrew him for about 3 weeks. He didn't go to another school. He was helping clean the house. WHAT?? But yet mom says she's concerned about his progress. Argh. Any ideas are welcomed!

Ahh, a work day!

Let me start by saying I don't like the name of my day. Work Day. Like I don't work everyday?? (For those of you who aren't in education, a work day is a day the kiddos don't come and teachers finally have a little time to catch up on everything that piles up for months!)



Anyway, here's all I wanted to accomplish today -

• Get ready for Tuesday's classes


• Get all objectives for the week typed and filed for easy access


• Complete 3 RTI packets


• Clean off my junk table


• Gather materials to give a mini training for 6 different grade levels of reading teachers


• Clean off computer table


• Type up inventory sheets for 2 take home literacy bags
  
• Catch up on my MRT paperwork

So what did I accomplish? The ones in green are ones I did off my list and red are things I did, but weren't off my list.

• Drink coffee and check email.
• Check evites from party I'm planning.
• Email people about party.
• Start RTI paperwork!
• Get distracted and take things to be copied for the week to workroom.
• Stop by friend's room on the way back.
• Post some books she gave me on paperback swap.
• Back to RTI paperwork.
• Hmm, I have new email!
• Oh, someone requested one of these books! Wrap it up to mail after school!
• Oh yes. RTI paperwork!!
• LUNCH!!!!
• Finish one packet! Whoo-hoo!
• Reward myself with checking a few blogs.
• Must get stuff done! Get objectives typed!
• Good job - look at a few more blogs.
• Pull material for tomorrow.
• Start cleaning off junk table.
• Interrupted by assistant principal and principal - they want to see me. This can't be good.
• Get informed that one day a week I have to cancel one of my classes and part of another to tutor 5th graders in reading. Never mind that pesky grant that pays my salary and states I'm only to work with k-3rd.
• Found out it starts TOMORROW!
• Spend the next hour trying to find materials to use with 5th grade.
• Figure out a way for my class to still be taught (I'm borrowing a student teacher - won't she be thrilled?) and inform teachers of this change.
• Finish cleaning junk table since I'll have 5th graders at this table now while my 2nd graders use old table.
• Change clothes to go to gym.
• Try to prepare for for 5th graders.

Oh - I thought I'd add that I was given 1.5 hours for lunch, but only took 20 minutes to make up for my ADD moments! So, not the best "work day" for me!! I did get things done. Just not all I wanted!

Vegetarian?

On lunch duty with 2nd grade today, N had an interesting insight. "I'm not sure if I'm a vegetarian or not. Sometimes I can't finish all my meat." They crack me up sometimes!

I've noticed I work with several families lately. I guess they've noticed too. I redid my schedule recently and added a few new students. My few first grader told her teacher, "Well it's about time, she works with everyone else in my family!" Cute, but it also makes me sad to see so many brothers, sisters, and cousins struggling to learn to read.

Pink Throat

The other day one of my 2nd graders came into school and I noticed her older sister wasn't with her. I asked where she was and was told she had "the pink throat." Apparently my girl had "the pink throat" over Christmas. I saw their mom after school - the sister has strep throat! Love their descriptions!

What do your cats do when you leave?

What happens when you leave 2 cats at home without letting them open their Christmas presents?

Sorry for the bad pic - it's off my cell phone at night. In case you can't see - there are overturned gift bags, tissue paper, many toy mice, and cat treats scattered all over my living room floor! They had a great time! This morning, I moved our hassock to do the wii fit and found another bag of treats! They managed to open this one though! When I put it up, Max (the black cat) came and stole more treats! So, which one do you think is the ring leader?

Back to Reality

Well, I guess I have to go back to school tomorrow! I've loved sleeping in and staying up late. I enjoyed visiting family and friends. Too bad I was sick from the day after Christmas until - oh yeah, I'm still sick! Great way to spend the holiday! Well, I did get lots of rest and reading done. My mom took great care of me. I'm feeling better, just not 100% yet. Tomorrow will be a long day of redoing my schedule based on testing we did before break. It's always fun working around 13 teachers' schedules!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!