Friday, January 13, 2012

Currently and the Year of the Beaver

It seems each year or class can be summed up in a few words. 2 years ago was The Year of the Beaver. I did not just have kiddos who chewed on pencil ends or ate the eraser off. I had a kiddo who ATE entire pencils. At first, I thought someone was hiding pencils. Then, I thought someone was taking pencils home because many of my kiddos do not have pencils, pens or crayons at home. Well, pretty soon my OCD was kicking in and it was my MISSION to find the pencils that kept turning up missing. We did backpack searches, I asked the kiddos to be detectives, and finally one little friend came to me to tattle helpfully inform me that Beaver Boy had something in his mouth.

I ask Beaver Boy what he had in his mouth. Nuffing Beaver Boy told me. Are you chewing gum? No ma'am....and all of this is said with marble mouth talk. Open you mouth Beaver Boy. Nothing. I am asking you to do something because I am worried about you being safe. Please open your mouth. Nothing. Open your mouth or I will open it for you (yes, these words did come out of my mouth as I was praying no one was walking by to hear) He opens his mouth and half a pencil is a chewy wet mess. Disgusting does not even begin to describe this. This poor, sweet kiddo was also one I was going to have to learn how to brush....but that will be for another post! =)

Last year was The Year of Snot. NEVER, EVER in my life have I seen so much snot come from such tiny people. AND to make it even better, we are talking about projectile snot that shot across the room. We would go through a box of Kleenex in 2 days. This is AFTER a lesson on how to use Kleenex instead of just smearing it and the snot all over your face. I Lysoled everything and we bathed in Germ-X.

This year we are all about GAS! Burps and Toots are the music of our room. It got to the point we weren't even listening to our classical music as we worked because Mozart and burps and toots are just not something I want their brains to connect together. Maybe it is because I have double the amount of boys as I do girls but OH MY WORD! Is it rude for me to go spray the air around them after they have passed a toot that lasted for 12 seconds??!!!??? At least I can say we can now successfully withstand the orchestra of the original wind instrument without any giggles, smirks or comments. For a Firstie, that is HUGE...probably more of an achievement than mastering reading all of your sight words but I have yet to find that on any of our district assessments. I, however, am learning to breathe through my mouth and be well stocked in Bath & Body Works air fresheners! =)

I have linked up with Farley finally (after thinking about my OLW for a long, long time)!!!




When I come home from school, I let my bunny out for Hop Time. He and my cat Edison play and I cuddle with them. My bunny's name fits him because I have elaborately had to wire his cage shut because he kept escaping!

I love 3 day weekends and am ready for the break even though we just had a break but it has been a LONG 2 weeks. My nieces are my Chickadees and the weekends are a time I cherish with them.

Yes, I did tell my cat he was being a Bucket Dipper when he took Houdini's carrot away from him. Yes, my cat is weird too and eats carrots and cilantro.

I AM seriously considering buying someone toothpicks. This person picks her teeth while you are talking to her and then EATS whatever food she foraged...am I the only one to find that gross??!!!??? I try really hard to not let it bother me but it does. In the WORST way.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about my OLW (one little word). HEART is my word that I am going to try and embrace. I share on my profile the verse from Colossians 3:23 about "whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

We all have things we pour all of our HEART into because it is something near and dear to us BUT we often do not show our heart's priorities in our actions and everyday life.  Too many times, I put my love for God on the back burner. I let my quiet time be taken up by other things. My pastor shared about how time is like tithing. Where you spend your time is what is the most important in your life. I know my love for the Lord will grow even stronger when I put ALL of my HEART in His word and following Him.

I also need to put ALL of my HEART into the things I don't like teaching as much. I LOVE word study and therefore, know I do a pretty great job teaching it to my kiddos because of that. But Social Studies??? BLAH! It is hard for my kiddos to understand a subject so abstract therefore, I know I do not always do a very good job with those standards. I need to teach each thing with passion, creativity, and my HEART.

I also need to do everything with a joyful HEART. My negative attitude (which is not often) does not make an unpleasant task easier and whatever the situation is I am blessed to be going through it. Whether it is a time of praise or a time of storms, it is a time to turn and give my whole HEART  and praise to God.

When I look at all of my kiddos with Eyes of the Heart, I will touch the lives of each little one God put in my classroom. As I tell my kiddos: when you walk through the door, you walk into my heart and I will love you forever!

From My Heart to Yours,

31 heart notes:

Lisa at Fourth and Ten said...

What a great OLW! I enjoyed reading more about it! Thanks for sharing more of your heart! :)
Lisa
Stories From Second

Traci Clausen said...

Never heard of of Chilly Fillmore Sorbet...but an italian margarita sounds fabulous right now.

You are absolutely right in finding the tooth picker gross. Eww.

HEART fits you perfectly, of course.

What is it with kids and pencil eating? Totally grosses me out.

Happy weekend.
♥ Dragonflies in First ♥

Unknown said...

Your year sounds almost as interesting as mine!! lol (mine would be the Year of Poop Balls)
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies

Miss Squirrels said...

Toots are funny! After lunch I have to cover my mouth with the book I am reading sometimes because the toots make me giggle.
Of course, I teach them to say excuse me and move on- but in my head- I am crackin" up.
My fav is when they "forget" where they are and "hike up" to let it go...
Staci

Going Nutty!

Erika said...

What a post! One minute I was grossed out, the next laughing, and the next nearly choked up. Wow!

One year I had the nose pickers. One little boy would pick until his nose bled. He was also an eater! Eeew!

I love your OLW. I still haven't decided on mine.


2B Honey Bunch
The Best Endings

Malarie said...

Oh man you are hilarious! I love reading your posts! "Beaver Boy" I was dying!! I also have a year of the toots! I swear, I am going to start passing out digestive enzymes when they come to school in the morning. ;)

www.youcanmakethesunshineanytime.blogspot.com

meadowt said...

Thanks for the laugh and enjoy your three day off.
Barbara
happyteachingfirst.blogspot.com

Anita said...

Thanks for the laugh! {Even though I know full well that these things add to stress for the teacher too.} Thanks for sharing the reminder that our work should come from the HEART. Enjoy your time off!
Anita
Mrs. Bremer’s Kindergarten

Susan said...

Hi Heather- Thanks for sharing.
Your stories made me smile.
Enjoy your 3 day weekend.

Susan

kellerskiddos.blogspot.com

Kelley Cirrito said...

I am so excited to have a 3 day weekend too! I have homework to do, but I can't wait to just snuggle up and watch a good movie! Enjoy your weekend Heather!

Mrs. Nunley said...

I LOVE your OLW! Thank you for making me laugh!
-Megan

http://firstgrademagic.blogspot.com

Sarah said...

Hi! I love your math games and blog! Thank you for becoming a follower! I am now a follower of yours too! :) Enjoy the long weekend!

~Sarah

funintitlemath.blogspot.com

Anita said...

Maybe we should have a fun linky-party called "Year of The ____" and teachers can describe what they are facing for the year :)
Anita

Unknown said...

you are hilarious! I LOVE your post! Yes I really think the year of the -----. Should def. Be a linky!.

Unknown said...

Love your OLW! Heart fits you and your blog! Thanks to you, I am going to put more Heart into quiet time. Thank you for your insight! :)
Cheryl
Crayons and Curls

Dee said...

What a very *heart* warming post! I love your OLW. And your explanation of it really touched my heart.

Thanks for your comments on my blog. Now I'm a follower here!

DeeFirst Impressions

Des said...

Just wanted to stop by your blog and say thank you for being my first follower! It made me feel all warm inside. :)
I really enjoyed this post and am glad that I work with 6th graders since they are better at hiding the fact that they eat pencils...but they still do!
You chose a great OLW and I look forward to following.
Des
whatiwanttobe31.blogspot.com

Keri Kelly said...

I {HEART} your blog and am your newest follower! Thanks so much for checking out my currently :)

Mrs.Cheney said...

Hi Heather! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a helpful and positive comment. I really appreciate it! I checked out your blog (and followed!) and really am very interested in the conscious discipline theory. I have read your blog as well as checked it out online as well. I would love to be able to go to one of the seminars at some point. Thanks for introducing it to me! Hope to hear more from you soon! Thanks again!

Tomi
http://taleofanewbie.blogspot.com/

Miss DeCarbo said...

What a sweet post! You had me laughing one moment and smiling the next. Thank you so much for that little *inspiration!* You're students are lucky to have a teacher with such a positive mindframe all the time! :) Enjoy your weekend,

Second Grade Sugar and Spice

Anonymous said...

Your post was just lovely and beautiful- and FULL of HEART! You truly see the gift of our profession and you have blessed me this morning with your words. I also believe that God gave us these little babies for a reason- one we may not see for years. Thank you for praising Him publically and freely!

Miss Marcy said...

Hi Heather,
Just found your blog. It looks great and I can't wait to spend some time looking it over. I am your newest follower. Have a great day!

Marcy
My First Grade Backpack

Kat said...

Sweet Heather,

You are a real inspiration. I take all your words to *heart*... I am thanking God for bringing you into my life! You are funny too!!!

Thanks for following my blog and making me smile tonight!

Kat

Kimberly said...

I laughed myself silly over this! You are such a good teacher! :)
Kimberly

Mrs. S. said...

Thanks for sharing. I laughed, too. Your heart and sense of humor, along with the info you share make you awesome. I'm glad you commented on my blog. I thought I was already following you because I read your blog lots! I'm following now. :) May God richly bless you! Thanks for blessing us!

Melly<><

Stapler’s Strategies for Sizzlin' Second Graders!

Trish said...

This post totally speaks to me!! Currently I am in the year of the beaver too!! One day I even said to the children, "Hmm, I think we have a Beaver loose in our classroom!" The children suggested that we set a beaver trap! I tried so hard not to laugh!

Thank you for all you do I LOVE your blog!!

oh' boy said...

LOVE this post...maybe because you did my currently but also because you say TOOTS... LOL
I agree you should do a linky party where it is... The Year of the ________...that would be HI LARRY US!!!! thanks for linking up

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