tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post2404199032816854303..comments2024-02-29T03:44:14.590-08:00Comments on Herding Kats in Kindergarten: I need a do over!Jennifer K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15114666136412667718noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-20584113108061704572011-11-19T21:06:46.554-08:002011-11-19T21:06:46.554-08:00I just read you post on your observation and had t...I just read you post on your observation and had to laugh and cry for you. I totally feel your pain. My first year teaching every time I got observed something went wrong. I had a student throw up in front of my principal, an irate parent need handling so my principal had to leave, and then to top those a pipe burst open the day before christmas break in my room while I was teaching. The kids all started scream that water was coming into the room. Needless to say that observation was cute short as I had to get all the students out of the room and across the hall, and the principal and janitor had to shut the schools water supply off. But they are things to laugh at now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-13890671644196699172011-11-10T17:28:40.262-08:002011-11-10T17:28:40.262-08:00I think the full moon can be blamed for the strang...I think the full moon can be blamed for the strange behavior, lol! The picture made me laugh--I'm sorry, I feel for you, observations are nerve-wracking.<br /><br />I teach in a private school and I have potential families dropping in on my classroom at unexpected moments. Maybe someday this won't bother me, but it is not an easy situation. I have visitors coming in the morning. Hopefully, my kinders will be kept safe from trolls tonight!<br /><br />PS: Do you teach K or 1st? :-)Chrissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07841483739221560253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-19025570050311704272011-11-10T17:24:01.980-08:002011-11-10T17:24:01.980-08:00Oh my gosh...my brain has turned to mush after thi...Oh my gosh...my brain has turned to mush after this week. How many "buts" did I put in my previous comment? What does that say about my state of mind. I'm starting to sound like my kids!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02561016951887815461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-88147899201208058442011-11-10T17:18:53.141-08:002011-11-10T17:18:53.141-08:00Sounds like the barometric pressure did a number o...Sounds like the barometric pressure did a number on your little kiddos, too! I have to admit I lit into mine today, too. I told them that they were acting just like it was the first day of school! But we started the week with a field trip, then had a big Farm Breakfast yesterday and a veteran guest today...but they just couldn't follow any procedure. But, some of these little apples haven't fallen too far from their trees....Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02561016951887815461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-82064111546517336242011-11-09T15:36:58.547-08:002011-11-09T15:36:58.547-08:00Bless your heart! I have to be honest, I have nigh...Bless your heart! I have to be honest, I have nightmares about being observed and things like this happening. I feel so bad for you! I'm sure it makes you feel better to know that your Principal is letting you do it again. I think that shows that you accept that things didn't go the way you anticipated and you deserve to be given the opportunity to at least have another day to compare this one to. :) <br /><br />I will pray for you observation next week. The whole troll thing cracks me up. I think that happens every time I have a sub. The next day I come back and it's like aliens have replaced my students with Energizer bunnies that have no regard to rules. Scary! I had a sub yesterday and had to be observed today by a teacher trainer. I was nervous all day about how the kids would behave and hardly had time to worry about what I was actually going to be doing. <br /><br />I hope the rest of your week gets better!<br />Marlana<br /><a href="http://lilcountrykindergarten.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Lil' Country Kindergarten</a>Marlanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884674618478175955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-79852293866268598932011-11-09T05:29:08.807-08:002011-11-09T05:29:08.807-08:001. it is obvious the administrator doesn't hav...1. it is obvious the administrator doesn't have a relationship with the students that they feel uncomfortable when he or she comes it. SO SAD!! Kindergarten students is like a group of cats and you never know when one will "sping!" or quietly go in a corner. Yep.. I'd possibly talk prize.. but not WHAT or some sweet child will say... do I get my MM's now? Grin grin.. <br /><br />2. Jennifer, this IS life in the K classroom. Please don't beat yourself up. It is real and authentic. We make a million decisions in a second's notice and manage it all. Just like lunch count.. you are doing real life- solving problems. Always relate it to real life because that is what it is. Each day we get another chance! So when you talk w your administrator.. talk about what you take from that.. and how you use that information to guide your next lesson. Of course you rock girl! You ARE a K teacher!!<br />As for the fingers.. well to me ANY way you can get a kid to learn is the key. Some need the physical touch to drill it in their mind.. that is HOW they memorize some don't-visual and auditory and they memorize it. All depends on the learner! It is our job to meet each learner and help them learn.<br />Best wishes and watch out for trolls.. they always goof stuff up. imafarmgirl who teaches K!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-44685679265012292112011-11-09T03:06:05.983-08:002011-11-09T03:06:05.983-08:00You know we all have days like that and your happe...You know we all have days like that and your happened to be when you were being observed...yikes! I hate formal observations - they just give a glimpse,a small, small glimmer of time...and you really cant' base anything off of that. It's like judging a book by its cover. And I could care less if the kids use their fingers...I mean, I team them many strategies to hopefully avoid doing that, but I still use them for my own adding!!!!!! (and I think I'm pretty succesful in spite of it) At this time of year, they truly are just firming up the CONCEPTS of addition and subtraction and are *just* working toward automaticity.<br /><br />HUGS!!!!!!<br /><br />Holly<br /><b><a href="http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade</a></b>Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861143488616582042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-46275796254090125412011-11-08T20:43:35.993-08:002011-11-08T20:43:35.993-08:00Oh Jennifer, I am so sorry that you are feeling so...Oh Jennifer, I am so sorry that you are feeling so down about your day:( This whole evaluation process sounds very scary to me! I don't think that we have that system here in Australia. You know that saying...never work with children or animals ...;) I hope that once you have a good night's sleep, you will feel a little more positive. I am sure that your Principal knows that things don't always go to plan...come to think of it, do they ever in a classroom? Wishing you (and your sweeties) the best for next week ~ xx<br />Tina<br /><i><b><a href="http://goodmorningmrsrubie.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Good Morning Mrs Rubie</a></b></i>Tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16312125482245936560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-43603940233890107002011-11-08T19:45:44.282-08:002011-11-08T19:45:44.282-08:00Yikes! I hate it when twilight zone things like t...Yikes! I hate it when twilight zone things like that happen. I would hope that your principal sees a lot of wonderful things happening in your room informally and will recognize that we all have off days. Yes kids need manipulatives even in high school, but fingers are a manipulative (probably the original one) and a strategy. And why didn't she bring that up during your time to go over your evaluation instead of during class. Sounds like she needs to be stopping in more often for a peek and then maybe the kids wouldn't be so freaked as well. Life is all about do-overs :)<br /><br /><i><b><a href="http://2bhoneybunch.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">2B Honey Bunch</a></b></i>Erikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01535929124900144607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-46882153201488713312011-11-08T19:41:15.505-08:002011-11-08T19:41:15.505-08:00O.M.G. That sounds AWFUL! I'm so sorry!
I agr...O.M.G. That sounds AWFUL! I'm so sorry!<br /><br />I agree with you 100% that students should NOT always have manipulatives. In fact, I've told my students that I don't want them relying on unifix cubes. I have said, "It's OK to use the cubes if you are ABSOLUTELY stuck on a CONCEPT, not one math problem." I don't mind counting on fingers. How can I? Like you said, they will always have their fingers. <br /><br />PS: Love you honey, but there's no such thing as a foolproof lesson, But there are such things as prizes. (So awful- but if that makes them behave while the principal is there then so be it!)<br /><br /><i><b><a href="http://rowdyinfirstgrade.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Rowdy in First Grade</a></b></i>Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13194571225988930877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-52491167695594702952011-11-08T19:36:38.801-08:002011-11-08T19:36:38.801-08:00You will blow her away next time. Teaching near do...You will blow her away next time. Teaching near doubles is just difficult. Believe me. I had my own struggles with it today. :)<br /><i><b><a href="http://livelovelearnwithmrsl.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Life with Mrs. L</a></b></i>Mrs. Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18420914503608188696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369565567676810137.post-18632577304658191092011-11-08T19:35:04.695-08:002011-11-08T19:35:04.695-08:00Your blog name explains it all! It truly is like ...Your blog name explains it all! It truly is like herding cats! Hope your next one goes better!<br />Tessa<br />Spotlight on KindergartenTessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05612420288946595838noreply@blogger.com