Saturday, February 23, 2013

Are You Insane???!!!????!!!??

My sweet and helpful class has been completely a little wacko this past week. I think they were still on a Valentine's sugar high from last week PLUS the change in the weather....Mother Nature in Texas has PMS and needs hormones...has sent many of them OVER THE EDGE! They are latching on and trying to drag me with them!

I am not sure about you but there have been manymany, many, MANY, MANY times when I have wanted to look at my kiddos and ask Are You Insane???!!!???!!!???

To be honest, there are a few parents and teachers I want to ask that question to also. =)

The past few days I have repeated some of the same things over and over....

You are not being kind or helpful telling her to mind her own business. (Even though I agree!)

He is RIGHT in front of you. The volume of your voice does not need to be that loud.

Walking with your eyes closed is not being safe. You are not keeping your promise to help me keep others safe.

I am not sure why you tore up the NEW eraser I gave you. Do you REALLY think I am going to let you feed that to the tadpoles??!!!???!!!??

It is hard to work on your math problem when your head and arms are inside your shirt.

Are you being a bucket filler or a bucket dipper by fussing and arguing with her/him????

I am not sure why you are licking your hands and arm????? You are not a cat....we don't bathe ourselves with our tongue.

For a couple of days I repeated myself many, many times HOPING and PRAYING it would work like it usually does. My kiddos are almost always very good about taking helpful reminders. So, I had to remind myself of my favorite quote:


It is easy to blame the kiddos and think THEY are the ones that need to make the changes first. Now, please don't get me wrong- I am all for teaching the children to take responsibility for their choices and actions. THEY do need to learn better ways to handle situations and become problem solvers. But, I am the adult and should always reflect upon myself and what I am doing FIRST.

I also need to remember one of the key points of Conscious Discipline about how I cannot change a person or his/her behavior....only my reaction and feelings toward that person. I also needed to remind myself of what I tell my kiddos: No one can make you angry without your permission. YOU are the boss of your feelings.

I think we often get in ruts and find ourselves doing the same things over and over without really questioning and reflecting upon WHY we are doing it. We then get frustrated when things don't go the way we think they should. I need to remind myself more often that I would never find myself getting angry or upset with a kiddo that was struggling with math or reading. So ,why do we find ourselves growing so impatient with our children and their behavior???

Are the words I am saying building them up or knocking them down?

When our kiddos are struggling with their behavior are we letting them know we care enough about them to let them know that what they are doing is not okay? Are we encouraging them through these tough times?


I have realized with some of my Hoovers that the most powerful thing to do is encourage them. This is where I love Our School Family job of the Cheerleader. Instead of driving myself crazy thinking of how can I get these kiddos to stop_________________________, I had to think of what I wanted them to do. 

We had a School Family Meeting about celebrating each other. I started helping the Cheerleader this week really find LOTS and LOTS of ways to celebrate others...especially friends who were having a hard time making helpful choices and started to turn their thinking around.

I think we often fall back on some "insane" thinking when we are going through tough things ourselves. Often our kiddos might be crying out for love through some of their behavior so I want to remember that...



So, even though we want to say "You are driving me crazy"...

Stop and take a deep breath and remember-


I think our kiddos do too. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

34 heart notes:

aware said...

I needed to read this post this weekend :) Thank you for the gentle reminders.

Miss Lackey said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love this post... it sums up everything I have been feeling recently. I told my kids several times last week that they were driving me CRAAAZYY!! Thanks for the reminder to be patient :)

Patty Rutenbar said...

That is EXACTLY how my week was with my second graders! Gosh! It's good to know I'm not alone in my misery!
Patty

Jill said...

I needed this! Thanks for the reminders, you are always so timely with your help.
Bless you
Jill

Haley said...

Hahahah! Literally on Friday I had to say "okay, B, are you a baby or a puppy? Because 1st graders don't crawl on the floor." What it is in this Texas air?!? :)

When you said "But, I am the adult and should always reflect upon myself and what I am doing FIRST." Holy Moly. Right to the heart. Such true words, friend! Thanks for the reminder! :)

Brittany said...

It seems something is in the air. I have been finding myself saying similar things. "I am right in front of you, you dont need to shout!" "You are in 4th grade do we stand on our chairs screaming?" Thank you for the reminder of being calm and positive. I need to focus on that this week!

Brittany
Stickers and Stamps

Joanne Miller said...

What a great post! And you're absolutely right-we definitely have more patience for academic struggles than behavior struggles. Thanks for such a simple, but powerful statement! Hope next week is better!
Joanne
Head Over Heels For Teaching

Deedee Wills said...

Heather, you are wise! There are times when I want to ask, "Where is your teacher?!"

Your heart, like always, shines through! Thank you!

Kelly said...

It is so easy for me to get drawn into the behavior. Once I realized I was doing it, I have gotten a little better about staying out of it. I remind myself of Abraham Lincoln's quote, "People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Kelly
I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher

Christy said...

Such wise words! I must say that I had a little chuckle at the reminder about not being a cat :) It sometimes amazes me what they think is entertaining.
~Christy
: Mrs. Holder’s First Grade

Danielle said...

Hey Heather, What you said is so true. I've noticed so many times with my class that if I can change my behavior, their behavior will improve!

Danielle
Carolina Teacher

Carol said...

You have just described my week complete with your "cat" friend! (That and my shirt chewers just about put me over the edge on Friday!) It has to be the Texas weather! Thanks for the reminder for patience.
Carol
Still Teaching After All These Years

tt said...

It's hard to be patient, isn't it?? We can only hope that we get through even a bit and the children take away something positive from us. So true, no one knows what it's like in the trenches - they can throw new ideas, new curriculum, etc. but these people don't know if it works in the classroom and it is usually the teachers who are always picking up the pieces. Great post!!
bon weekend.
Cheers
Tama

Jessica F said...

Thanks for the great reminder Heather! I can so relate! :) This week my refrain to myself has been, "What you focus on, you get more of... what you focus on, you get more of!"

~Jessica
Fun in PreK-1

Thrills in Third Grade said...

Thank you for writing this post! Not only are your words "spot on," but you truly hit the heart! I definitely needed to read this. Thanks.

Jamie
Thrills in Third Grade

Mrs. Griffith said...

You have such a way with words...you should be a writer!!

The weather this week definitely had our kiddos crazy too! I'm sure we haven't seen the end of it either!

You mentioned consicious discipline...we were just told we have to go to training for this during the summer. Is it a good training or one of those ones that is just another waste of time??

Lindsay
For the Love of First Grade

Rae said...

I must say your quotes of the week made me giggle. A lot. It reminds me of the words I say everyday, multiple times a day, to my kiddos!

I must say that, especially working with special needs kids who require lots of support around prosocial skills, I find it not only okay (not demeaning), but extremely beneficial to their future social skills. I often rephrase, like you do, their question, or their comment and ask them to reflect (example: Do you think that telling Brian that you don't like his new glasses makes him feel good? What if a friend said that you?)

Rae
Mindful Rambles

Unknown said...

Thanks for another wonderful and honest post! I have definitely been feeling low on patience lately. I have one little "Hoover" who is a "wedhead" through and through. I full on had to tell myself...take a deep breath, she's only six, don't let her frustrate you so much! Haha! I felt a little better after that self pep talk! :)
I also went back and reread some of your old posts that I never deleted from my inbox. One of them was when you talked about not getting into power struggles with your students and offering them 2 positive choices. That cartoon you referenced from the CD book about the teacher not accepting the power struggle 'tug of war' rope really hit home!
Thanks for always posting from the heart with relatable and honest topics! Our classrooms are definitely more than cute activities and well thought out units. You always remind me to think about where my students are coming from. Have a fantastic week!

goernerv said...

Hi Heather,
I started following your blog last year when I opoened up a new first grade classrom after school had started. I had been out of the classroom for 5 years working as a reading specialist. I had a crazy urge to get back into the classroom. It wasn't my best year in 20+ years of teaching but it did help make up my mind to become a school counselor, so it was a success in one way :)
All that being said, I still continue to read your blog even though I am back teaching reading and graduate school for school counseling. Thank you for being a light and inspiration to many of us. Have YOU thought about school counseling? I think you would be great at it from all I see on this blog!
Again thanks!!!!
Valerie G.

MrsBalius said...

Heather:

It was great to meet you today! I hope that we all can get together again soon.

Barbara

Anonymous said...

You are a hoot! I love the insanity poster....it was always posted in my room but it also applies for our own lives as well!

The Teaching Twosome said...

I love this post! I can relate. So glad I stopped by to visit. I'm your newest follower! :)

Shannon from The Teaching Twosome

Unknown said...

Oh my the first couple of paragraphs made me laugh HARD- I've had one of those weeks too! By the way... what is with the licking? One of my boys has been licking everyone and everything the last week :( Thanks for the cheerful tips to see me through the term :)

Nicole said...

Hi!! Thank you sooo much for visiting my blog!!! I'm completely new to the blogging environment so I'm not sure how to get going! Reading your message definitely made me smile and know that people can see it! haha If you try out Lorcan, the Leprechaun, I'd love to hear how it goes!!

Your blog is absolutely adorable as well!! I was reading some of your posts, and it was like a mirror image of things here in Indianapolis as well. :) It's nice to connect with teachers around the country! I'm looking forward to what opportunities blogging will bring to me! I'm following you now, too!

Thanks again for being so welcoming!! I sooo appreciate it! :)

Nicole :)

Unknown said...

I thought I was the only one! I have been thinking the same thing about my first graders. However, I may add one more MANY before the insane! LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! Thanks for sharing and reminding me that I'm not alone! :)

http://frugalinfirst.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Thank you! Definitely the way I've been feeling lately, but it's been a few weeks for me and my kiddoes. I have a lot of behaviors this year, and they are really pushing me. I've been working at turning around my attitude and it's making a HUGE difference!

Unknown said...

Heather,

Wow I am really glad i checked out your blog it is amazing! You are lightyears ahead of where I am at in the blogging world! I strive to get to where you are! =)

I loved this post! I def. needed it right now! My kids are a little wacko as well lately! I am going to share this with my team! I think we could all use this message.

I also want you to know I am adding your button to my blog under "Blogs I Love"! Because yes I truly love it!

-Sammy
http://ohtheplaceswellgoinfirst.blogspot.com/

Michaela Almeida said...

Heather, thank you so much for pointing me to your blog! I really needed to read this post today. I had one of those days.. this made me reflect! Thanks!

Magic Mistakes and Mayhem said...

Love the quote about a minute of encouragement during failure is more valuable than an hour of praise once they've succeeded (paraphrased haha)

What a brilliant way to approach things- even tricky behavioral issues that are driving you insane at the time!

I also agree with the fact that no one can make you angry without your permission- but wholley molley, even as a calm, level-headed adult there are times when it takes every ounce of self-discipline to not react so I've got to remember it must be so hard for kids to control themselves at times too!

x Serena x
Magic Mistakes & Mayhem