Our test scores are fine.  They are better than average, but low for our district.  Our school does very well compared to other schools with 35% free/reduced lunch qualifying students, but that is not what people use to compare us and decide if we are doing a good job.  Sure, our… Read full post »

Sometimes I think I have heard everything - that there isn't something a student could tell me that I haven't heard before.  I had a student tell me about the accident his father was in before he was taken to jail.  I had a little girl tell me her father… Read full post »

A couple of days ago, our principal experienced a personal tragedy.  A close relative and dear friend of hers is dying.  She has had to take some time off and this has affected us all.

We are a close-knit family at our school.  Our staff of 23… Read full post »

Today, as was discussed on Friday, we all tried to fill in to the MPU (multipurpose room) to watch our President address the school children.  In doing so, we faced two big barriers, neither of them political. 

First and foremost, our custodian was out.  She has been overworked l… Read full post »

Today is Labor Day.  We (my family) are all home - including the one daughter who has just started college hours away- and doing what we like to do best - nothing.  We are enjoying the nothing, knowing that it won't last.  

 Tomorrow, though, I face controversy.  My class, al… Read full post »

Today, I got up and did it all over again.  It was the second day of school.  Today, they lined up in the right spots and seemed to have some of the routine down.  It was smooth as laughing cow cheese.

 Today did bring the first assessment I had to… Read full post »

Today was the first day of school.  It was short and sweet.  Everyone is always on thier best behavior on the first day.  The students seemed intimidated, as I know few of them.  For the few have had brothers and sisters in my class, things were a bit more relaxed.  All… Read full post »

I have spent this weekend stapling - literally.  Not the whole weekend, but off and on all weekend, I have been sitting on my bed, with my trusty swingline red stapler (just like the one from Office Space), stacks of papers, sorted, all ready to be stapled.

 These are the… Read full post »

Yesterday and today I spent in my classroom, opening cupboards and shifting around stuff that spent the summer in boxes.   I had my itunes cranking and got a lot done. 

I would have been able to do more if I had internet.  Not sure what else I could have done,… Read full post »

This morning, I picked up my key.  At the end of each year, we have to pack up our classrooms so the rooms can be cleaned, including the carpet and floors.  Everything needs to be put away and off all surfaces so everything can be cleaned.  We pack things up, shove… Read full post »

I am about to embark on my 13th year of teaching elementary school.  I have spent almost my entire career at the same public elementary school in suburban San Francisco bay area.  As I start this 13th year, I feel that I am about to embark on something new and more… Read full post »