This is really Thursday

Friday isn't a school day for us.  Don't ask, the explanation is just too difficult. That's teacher talk for ,"I don't understand why we have a day off, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth!!"  Soooooooooo, today is Friday Eve!!!!!!!!!!!  Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have actually made it to the end of Sept.  I wasn't sure I could do it.

Yesterday, the 35, chaperones, and myself went on a field trip.  We went to a local camp for hiking, firebuilding, and the use of a high ropes course.  Field trips are always a crap shoot.  One never knows how the day will go.  I have taken stellar students who were very poorly behaved and I have taken students who I was sure would be busted for shoplifting.  Fortunately, that didn't happen.  In fact, the 35 did rather well.  The boys outshined the girls on the ropes course but the girls proved to have more patience while lighting fires.  Part of the success of the day was my teaching partner's idea to divide the students into small groups which allowed us to "divide and conquer".   Another plus was the weather.  It was a beautiful day; cool in the morning with lots of sun.  One of those clear crisp days that autumn in the south brings.  Today the students were exhausted!!!!!!!!!!!  They were very quiet.

This is day 26 of the school year and the first day I have felt like I actually taught something.  The previous 25 days have been managing behavior.  Today felt good.  I hope it continues.  It is nice to come home with some energy and in good spirits.

By the way, did you know that there is an African animal named  canatlope?  I think it may be related to an antelope, but I will have to check with a certain student about that!

Also, the definition of inflation is when "them people don't got no money". 

That's all from the schoolmarm.

Ahhhh, Friday.

Why "35" as a name?  It is not my age, nor the number of pounds I have lost or gained over the last year.  I do not have 35 grandchildren or pets or sets of dishes.  What I do have is 35 students in the last class of the day.  I am teacher of 35 years with 35 seventh graders from 2:00 to 3:00 everyday of the week. It is challenging even with my experience.  This challenge is what has driven me to blog.  Blogging has to be healthier than alcohol or drugs!

So, what does one do with so many kids at the end of a busy academic day???  For the last two days we have worked on an art/research project.  They were strong on art, not so much with the research.  What did I learn from this?  I need to include something creative each week and model how to research and write a paragraph.  Also, I need a Staples "That was easy" button!!!  It is not easy.  They don't like to read and think social studies is boring!  If I can find a way to include girl drama in my lessons I will be on easy street!!! Oh,but wait, girl drama isn't part of our curriculum. My girls are so are completely focused on this week's gossip that I can't teach. So is this a teachable moment?????   I don't think so.  Good grief.  I realize they are children trying to be adults, wanting to be children, trying to be adults ...  But this group is all about drama.  Not only the girls, either, some of the boys are in the midst of all this too.  Again, good grief.

Yes, this is skating on the brink of whining, but I don't care.  If you, the reader, don't want to hear whining, don't read this again.  But if you want to know if the old schoolmarm makes it through this year, come back for the next installment.