Observation(al) Humor

Because having report cards go home, a full moon, excitement over the upcoming spring break and two days of snow and temps that unseasonably cold wasn't enough, I got observed today for the last time this school year.

As I pulled out of the garage and saw the full moon shining, I was rest assured of three things: death, taxes, and certainty we would be squirrely.  (Anyone else feel like they can write a novel on the shenanigans that happen those unfortunate days we work and there's a full moon?)

On a good day, I don't like being observed.  It has nothing to do with my principal, I just don't like it.  Period.  You know those people who have testing anxiety?  I have observational anxiety.

For your entertainment, let me give you a rundown of how my day went:

2:00 a.m. 

It's pitch black and I awaken from a nightmare.  About the observation today.  One that involved my room being invaded by a SWAT team carrying body shields and wearing camo on their faces.  (I think I may have seen an Army ad before I went to bed.)  They came in through my window and the door between my room and my next door neighbor's. 

Needless to say, it was unsettling.

6:15 a.m.

Sit down at my desk.  Begin to print report cards to find server is down.  Realize I can't print my lesson plan.  Pray for divine intervention. 

7:30 a.m.

After printing out my eight page lesson plan I can no longer find it.  Reprint.  All but staple it to my hand.

10:00 a.m.

Principal walks in and the lesson begins.  I am reviewing the letter K and we are identifying the /k/ sound at the beginning and end of words.  Because we heard a story about sharks, we make shark fins to swim infront of our bodies when hear /k/ at the beginning.  Everything is going swimmingly until I see Precious up front.  Not content to move a fin infront, Precious begins to swim back and forth at the front of my rugs.

10:15 a.m.

I realized mid-sentence I am out of sequence.  I had meant to start by reading a book and now my lesson is all out of sequence.  I sheepishly admit this to the principal who just laughs and says he couldn't tell.  He was just enjoying the lesson. 

10:30 a.m.

Back on track.  After Precious infoms me that they were a machine and in sleep mode.  We take a movement break where one child proceeds to show the principal how skilled they are at galloping.

11:00 a.m.

Principal leaves and I am no longer in super stress mode.  I am able to form coherent thoughts again. 

  9:00 p.m.

Laugh about the observation.  Thank the Lord my principal is understanding. 

Letter-Sound mashUP

(First, did you notice how I mashed up the font on the title?  Just wanted to point out that bit of genius.)

Riddle For You:

What to you get when you cross and J and an H?

Answer:

A "JayCh". 

Don't believe me?  Ask the etymologist in my classroom.  He'll tell you.  But probably  because he invented it today. 

I can't wait to see what it looks like.

What I'm Reading: Intervention Edition

So I got an iPad mini for Christmas.

Because the weeks that followed suit were kinda...busy.  And sickly.  And time consuming.  So I'm just now getting around to really learning how it works and the fabulous apps that must be on your iPad or you will be that girl in 2010 who didn't have a smartphone.  (Speaking from experience here...maybe.)

I have just recently begun to download books and essays from Amazon. 

As intervention is something I continue to figure out how to best plan for and utilize in my classroom, I realized I needed more resources.

Enter:

 

I'm currently reading this book and I love it.  The format is easy to use and follow and you can flip back and forth.  If you're looking for a book that will give you not only the instructional strategy but background knowledge on why it's useful (it's easy to share with parents) and sample lessons, this book is for you.

I am now wishing they will develop one for math.  Fingers crossed!

On deck:



I'm reading this second because a)it's longer and b) it has to do with planning so I think it will be more beneficial when I have more free time to reflect on what worked best and what needed tweaking as far as RTI planning is concerned. 

I can tell you that I appreciate that this book has links so you can print out any forms you admire in the book.  It's also home to some very handy "If...Then" menus so you can see what to do if a student needs help with a skill.  The "If...Then" menus are so handy because not only do they show a plethora of strategies, but show if those strategies need to be delivered individually, small group, or whole group.

For fun:
Because all work and no play makes me a drudge, this is on my iPad because a) I LOVE Celia Rivenbark, b) it was free and c) it's nice to open my Kindle app and not see all school related materials on my personal device. 



Here in Kentucky it's mid-March and while we should be thawing out, a fair portion of the state is under Winter Weather Advisory.  (My district also had a snow day on the first Wednesday of March.  Nearly a week into the month.  What is that?  Which reminds me I have a post I need to write about old wives' tales that are true, but I digress.)

Which means even though the days are getting longer it's still nice to curl up with a good book by the fire. 

And I will happily take any suggestions you have-happy reading, folks!