What a trip!

So my first month has come and gone. My classroom protocol has been established and now the students have turned to finding ways around this "ideal" management philosophy. . .and they have found the loop-holes. I shall spend the next few weeks patching up these holes.

It has been such a long time since my last blog and for good reason. I apologize and do let me explain. See, being I am a newbie to the real world experience, I cannot yet afford internet or a computer for that matter. Who would have thought "high speed" internet could cost so much. I then turned to plan B: blog from school. Well, for all those in education or any other business building where internet can be a distraction for both students and staff, the Spooner School District was kind enough to filter this blog site. I can see my blog but I cannot publish any posts. . .go figure. I even pulled out the stops and pleaded with the tech. department that the blog is my way of reflecting and will be used in my Professional Development Plan (the NEW way to get relicensed in education). With no avail, I am left to plan C: blogging from Michael's computer whenever I get the chance to be in EC. Sorry for stealing your computer Michael.

The first two weeks of school were packed with blog-worthy stories highlighted by a hot September day in which I held classes outside. Apparently, Spooner elementary grounds are great breeding grounds for grasshoppers. As I took one 1st grade class outside to play some kicking games, I noticed the students were no longer listening to me, but rather hunched around the mesh ball bag looking at something. I knew right away what they were looking at. . .grasshoppers. I went over to break up the distraction and one student blurted out "Mr. S, look, that one hopper is tackling the other", as he pointed out 2 hoppers that were um. . . mating for lack of a better word.
"You bet!" I reaplied. I was immediately corrected by different student who clearly has parents that must not hide their in-bedroom practices that well. Jacob let everyone in the class know "They aren't tackling each other. They are HUMPING". Of course, this was followed by a slew of questions from various students regarding what "humping" meant. I am still 6 credits short of my health education certification so I figured I was not qualified to answer this question. Needless to say, the rest of my management that day was spent redirecting the class. I couldn't help but immediately bust a small laugh. Loved it!

As I sit here tonight (Wed. Oct. 8th), getting ready for my first teacher convention, "OOOooooo", I am drowning in reflection on what a great month this has been capped off by an amazing day today. The kids made my day today. I have truly realized my frustrating days and weeks are when my "education" has not been centered around the kids. When I get caught up in the business and politics of it all, I begin to get frustrated and confused, but when I re-center myself to the children, my job again becomes the best job in the world. Lovelove!