Again! More Obvious Information

Remember this brilliant study?

Well, a new one says "In fact, the study found that low-attaining students were nearly twice as likely to be disengaged in classes of 30 students as they were in classes of 15." I couldn't read any further to find out if my tax dollars had paid for this study or not. They could have just called me.

Calendar Fun

Tomorrow is the birthday of one of my little friends. She's turning 10, but I so vividly remember when she was in kindergarten. I asked her when her birthday was and then realized I had totally stumped her. She thought for a long while and finally said, "Ummmmmmmmm, it's Febwoo-ehwe thuhty-thud." Yes, that's February 33rd. I had to ask her mom if her birthday was February 3rd or March 5th! :-)

Thursday afternoon one of my guys asked me if he could help me update the date listed on the white board: "Can I erase the thirty-oneth and make it the thirty-twoth?" I was too tired to correct any of that sentence, so I just said, "No, thank you."

A Magical Day

A local church gifts our school with a fairly large chunk of money every Christmas. The bulk of the money goes to buy Christmas gifts for some of our needier families, but a portion is put aside to "make a memory" for the children. Today was the day to make a memory.



We wore our pajamas, robes, and houseshoes. On a gray and drizzly day, we all (600 -- including about 20 severely handicapped children) loaded into school buses to travel to our local historic theater, the Paramount. We all piled in to jingling bells and watched "The Polar Express".



The little pajama-clad punkin's clapped when Santa's reindeers appeared. They cheered wildly when "the big man himself" appeared. They clapped when Santa presented the first gift of Christmas. And, of course, they clapped when the gift was returned.



We returned to school and had a grand afternoon. After school, pajama-clad teachers gathered in the cafeteria to wrap the gifts that were purchased with the rest of that money. We had a great time, making our own memory.



It was a magical day.

Question for the Day

I REALLY need someone to explain to me how it is possible that people are living on space stations for months at a time, most of the population of this country has the internet on their cell phones, yet my 2nd grade students are using the same exact style of glue bottles I used back around the time electricity was invented and I am using the same exact style of paper clips that my teachers used to unplug the glue bottles.

Politics in Room 24

Social Studies today was about state government, a phrase that makes me, a slightly interested citizen, yawn in boredom. Eight year olds are no different.

"Does anyone have ANY idea who the governor is right now?"

Several honest people said, "No."

"Would anyone like to even GUESS who the governor might be?"

One raised her hand, "Norm Archibald?"

"He's our mayor, but that was a very good guess. Does anyone have a different guess?"

(different kid) "George Washington?"

(at this point I realize we are completely clueless AND they told me upfront they had no idea. However, I'm also realizing this is golden blog material, so I continue)

"He was a president, but he is no longer alive. Anyone else?"

(another different kid): "George Washington's son?"

"Also dead."

(same kid): "George Clooney?"

"The governor of Texas -- anyone?"

(same kid): "I used to live in Texas!"

"You still do, sweety. Governor of Texas?"

(different kid) "George W. Bush?"

Now that we have left Hollywood and are at least back in the political arena, I feel that I am ending on a high note, so I let them know:

"The Governor of Texas is Rick Perry."

Completely blank looks. Rick has great hair, but he needs better PR with the elementary crowd.

Now Look What We've Done!

Yes, I'm a spelling nazi. Can't help myself. Misspellings and typos bug me less than improper usage of a word: your for you're or there for their, for instance. The other night on ABC News I saw a piece about one dictionary publisher (not Webster's, and I don't remember which one) is completely caving in. For instance, even though 'vocal cord' is the proper spelling, so many people spell it 'vocal chord', that dictionary is including both spellings. Nice. Let's just go ahead and dumb down the entire dictionary to go hand-in-hand with texting. Let's make 'R' an acceptable spelling for 'are' and 'U' an acceptable spelling for 'you', while you're at it.

Today in Room 24 I saw a spelling I was completely unprepared for. Which word in this sentence will be an acceptable use spelling in 20 years?:

Wii have 10 mroe das for Holloween.

Nintendo would be proud.

No Title Saturday

Remember Thing Two, of the confused holiday syndrome? This week he also told me on the WAY to lunch: "My bweath smells like nachos!"

Hmmmm. Anticipatory Halitosis. I think he needs to see someone about that.


Close to my favorite back-to-school commercial, but not quite:



My favorite is for the same store, though. Stay tuned!

Does anyone have any grand plans for Labor Day? Any End-of-Summer hoorahs planned out there? I'm thinking about vacuuming. My husband did a ton of my laundry today, so I guess that's out. Big doin's, I tell ya.

Quote for the Day

Thing One commented that we don't have school next Monday because of Labor Day.

Thing Two pondered this in his heart and then asked, "Is Labuh Day the one where you wear gween so that you don't get pinched by a lepwechan?"

Precisely.

First Day!

I have such a weird life/ occupation. I spent all last week getting ready for school to start. So, what happened today? School started -- and it was my day off! I took my own babies to school -- shed a tear or two over having a middle schooler -- and had coffee with friends, a doctor's appointment, gave blood, did some housework, yada, yada. 'Lest you think I need to move my bracelet, I am NOT complaining! But I did feel disconnected somewhat. I couldn't wait to hear from Kendra, and she reports that we have an awesome class, of course. I hope I don't run out of blog material from Room 24 (like THAT will ever happen! :-)

Everyone in this house had a great first day and all were smiling after school. God provided friends for my middle schooler at every turn. I am so thankful. And tomorrow we will all get up and do it again -- only this time, I will go to school, too!

I need to share some of my new favorites with you! I mentioned a little over a week ago that Paula lost her dad suddenly in an accident. As one who speaks as only one who claims eternal hope can, she wrote of the last public prayer her dad led and how he prayed that he longed for the day he would worship the Lord forever. Oh, that those words would be remembered as our last prayer! Paula went on to mention that it made her think of Chris Rice's song, "Circle Up". So I had to head over to itunes and check it out.

Maybe it's the James Taylor-type style of the song, maybe it's the friendly visuals the song calls to mind, and maybe it's a musical evidence of the hope Paula has in a difficult time, but this is one of my new favorite songs. I just love it.


And, I wanted to share it with you so desperately, this has become my new favorite website because I learned how I can post music on my blog (without you being blasted with it every time you pull up my blog because that is a peeve of mine that causes me to move my bracelet incessantly until I close out the blog).

Enjoy. I hope everyone's first day of school was great. Now grab a hand, twirl a dance, circle up and worship Him!

Back At Home...

Oh, there should be much fanfare and excitement. But there is only concrete dust and boxes. Yes, it is GLORIOUS to sleep in my own bed -- and not within 2 feet of one of my children. Yes, it is GLORIOUS to have my pantry and 'fridge full of food to choose from, or not, for dinner. But we still have much to do before it completely feels like home. And, when we relayed a new plumbing problem to our insurance adjustor, he asked, "Is the wall where the problem is already closed up? Oh, that's what I was afraid of." Cutting into my sheetrock AGAIN is definitely NOT in my happy place.

Much to do and much to tell about end of school and the most fabulous bubble day ever but it is late, I still have two days of teaching/ battle in Room 24, and the concrete dust that has filled my nostrils and lungs is giving me fits and I am not entirely well.

Just wanted to post a quick, "We're here!"

Random Thoughts for a Rainy Wednesday

This scares the b'jabbers out of me.

If I would spend half as much time thinking about what I was about to say as I spend apologizing for something I have already said, I wouldn't NEED to apologize quite so much!

I've never run a marathon, but I'm guessing in the put-the-Stirman-house-aright marathon (there's a t-shirt I need!) we are about at mile 11 -- wondering why in heaven's name we signed up for this gig and realizing in no uncertain terms that the worst is yet to come. Oddly enough, I feel certain that Monday we were at least at mile 14 and we've spent the last two days going backwards. About a week, people. About a week.

Only because I know my blog audience, I would like to send a memo to a certain technology-type-person:
Technology is great,
Technology is grand,
Technology is always there to lend a hand. (at this point even the 2nd grade level poetry runs out)
My campus loves technology, my district loves technology, and I use all $47 worth of technology in my classroom to the fullest! I am whole-heartedly on board with technology and wish the budget-powers-that-be were, as well.

That said, PLEASE don't make me take any more surveys about technology. My plate is full of other things currently.

Second Grade Quote for the Day:

Introducing the cursive capital 'Y':

"Cool! Now we can write 'universe'!"

Huh? Do you mean "you-niverse"??

I Don't Do Sympathy

8:07 a.m. Thing 1 approaches

Thing 1: "Both of my legs feel like they're broken."

Teacher: "Well, it's a good thing you only need to be sitting at your desk right now."

10:23 a.m. Thing 1 returns

Thing 1: "My head and ears hurt."

Teacher: "Okay. I'm glad your legs are better!"

Like a Fine-Tuned Machine

Today wouldn't have won me any educator awards, but it certainly went more smoothly than many days prior to spring break. We got things done, had time to spare, even took a little stretch-break mid-afternoon 'lest I fall asleep standing up after a fitful night of not-really sleeping. We ended the day at a breezy recess. All in all, very do-able.

My after-school meeting was canceled, I got to many items on my "to-do" list, and was actually on my way out the door on time. For the first time in... ever, I think! One last glance at the plan book showed me that the wheels of my day fell off long ago and I didn't even know it -- my class was supposed to go check books out of the library early this afternoon. It isn't our usual day, but there is a field trip tomorrow, so we rescheduled for today. It's only written in inch-high letters in the plan book that I've been looking at all day.

A good day -- so close, yet so far...

My Mental Health Day

I did not go to Room 24 today. I took a mental health day today. Yes, at 8 a.m. this morning, we had scarcely more than 30 hours to go until the official beginning of spring break. Yes, I felt a wee bit guilty for about 36 seconds. Yes, I stayed at school until 6 p.m. on Tuesday getting ready for today. But what a wonderful day.

I went to TWO exercise classes. I walked my children TO and FROM school. I wandered the aisles at Target without a list or watch. I had lunch with my honey. He needed to go to Wal-Mart. Even Wal-Mart is fun on a mental health day. I napped in the sunshine like a kitty. I organized a kitchen cabinet. All because I wanted to. I only did what I wanted to today. It was GLO-REE-US.

So tomorrow it is back to Room 24 and all the drama that entails. But today was my mental health day -- so I think I can face it.

In the Know... Or not

The last week has found me responding to others' comments like so:

"Britney did what??? No, I haven't heard anything about that."

"Now, why is Hillary demanding that Barak return a campaign donation? No, I haven't heard anything about that."

"Seriously? The humidity here yesterday was 8%??? That's CRAZY! No, I didn't see any news yesterday."

People, I used to know what was happening in the world. Granted, none of the above listed information is last week's 9/11 by any means, but I used to watch the news at least once a week. I used to listen to the radio (which included news) on a regular basis. I have evidently moved into an information vacuum (but I still CANNOT get away from THIS!)

Here is what I do know:

• When the kids have to be at the Bible Bowl lock-in, and what they have to bring.
• When my local development officer has another out-of-town trip scheduled
• When Jump-Rope-for-Heart donations are due
• When Room 24 has to be at an all-school assembly
• When book orders are due -- in Room 24, as well as Ashley's class
• When Ashley has to be evaluated for soccer
• When I'm getting my haircut
• When the kids are getting their haircut
• When the kids have to be at church for various and sundry LTC practices
• The next time Troy sings at church
• How many HOURS until spring break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've only got so much brain power and room in there.

Tuesday

I started my day with this:

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Cor. 4:10)

Beautiful, isn't it? Unfortunately, it didn't get me very far.

WHAT. A. DAY. in Room 24. Never, never, never do I want to drive away from those babies and never come back. Oh, I desperately want to go home, and many, MANY days I am thankful I don't have to go back the next day, but I always look forward to loving on them again when I see them again. But the rest of it? The paperwork, testing, disgruntled parents -- I could drive away from and never come back to in a heartbeat. Again -- WHAT. A. DAY.

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My ladies retreat this weekend was an interesting study in human nature. I find that I look at all groups of people as, "What would that person be like as a second grader?" They aren't too hard to peg, generally. There's the kid that likes to annoy people because they take great joy in it, then there's the kid that annoys people and doesn't even know it. There's the kid that's everyone's mommy, and there's the kid that can't sit down and/or stop talking if their life depended on it. Then there's the kid that is all of those rolled into one. There's the kid who gets stuck in work because they missed one word way back there and are fixated on it. Just so funny. I was the kid in second grade that couldn't shut up. I doubt that surprises you about me.

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The other unbelievable event of the weekend was the dust storm. If you weren't here -- well, I can't even describe it. But you know I have to try -- imagine unbelievably thick, orangy-brown fog. There you go. And WIND like you wouldn't believe. Around 50 mph, with visibility about 1/4 mile. Track meets, soccer games, baseball tryouts were all canceled -- due to DIRT. Have you ever heard of such? It was simply amazing. And, thankfully, it is over, leaving wheezing, sneezing, hacking children in its wake.

At one point I knew...

Grading spelling tests:

It's 'sauce', right? Not 'sause'??

Is it 'family' or 'familly'??

Is it 'awful' or 'awfull'??

I've seen it wrong (or was it 'rong'??) TOO many times!

They Call Me 'The Stirmanator'

It has not been an easy week in Room 24. Many of those situations that come from being in a different mindset than mine, different world, different household have come to light and been hurdles for us. Add to that some cold (was that last week or the week before that I said I don't get colds?) or something that only has me coughing when I lie down to try to sleep at night and I am emotionally and physically exhausted.

Yesterday, in getting geared up for what had the potential to be a tense parent conference, I put on something that looked nice (including my black pants) and because it was about 34* when I left the house, I threw on a black suit jacket. Even though the jacket was bought about 10 years before the pants, both being black, people assume I'm wearing some fancy suit-type thing when I put them on together. Then, because the sun was out for the first time in a month, I stuck my sunglasses on top of my head so that I would have them for recess because come what may, Room 24 was getting OUTSIDE in the sun!

The daily chaos began when the bell rang to come into the class and I was still juggling papers, welcoming kids, receiving signed papers when the perpetually-tardy Thing 1 came into class breathlessly asking if he was late. "No, sweetie, you still have 5 minutes. You did great today."

"Thanks. You look really beautiful, Mrs. Stirman. You look like, like, like a Secret Agent."

At that point I realized I still had my sunglasses on top of my head. God just continues to give me little blessed surprises amongst it all -- I did have a good laugh over being mistaken (by a 2nd grader, of course) for a secret agent while I was a 2nd grade teacher. Yeah, I get that a lot! HA!

Just Another Day in Room 24

• Thing 1 walked in the door telling me she had already thrown up this morning. ("Then why are you here?" seems too logical...)
• Tantrum from Thing 2
• I forgot to make copies that I needed at conference time, so moved reading to after lunch -- I'll just use the overhead for this part.
• Overhead bulb blew.
• Thing 1 throws up.
• Fire drill.
• Kids think "fire drill" means "circus tumbling act" -- re-enact fire drill appropriately during centers.
• Thing 3's mom comes into the chaos that is dismissal -- we're sharpening pencils, getting backpacks, passing out homework -- with her other two kids AND THE DOG.
• Thing 4 goes into panic attack mode when mom is late for pick up.
• On the way out the door I realize the act of squenching my eyes together trying to press my headache into my brain and away from my eyballs has caused my make-up to vanish. At least my looks reflect the day...