of mice and students

The above picture was taken last week during fourth period (you can see my cart in the background). I had my kids using markers. The student behind me put a bunch of markers together and they all laughed because the stack of markers was taller than me. Ha. Ha. Ha. Let's all make fun of how short Mrs. Hubert is....AGAIN!

As usual, life's been super crazy! I've basically been running non-stop since my last post. And unfortunately, it doesn't look like life will be slowing down anytime soon.

Most of you know that I started a master's program. The first day was yesterday. And I'm already loaded with "homework." Luckily it's all online so I can work at my own speed, but since I have SO much other stuff to work on (ie, ESL class and freaking grading more papers!) I haven't really had a chance to start. So on my agenda for the night: 1) Figure out exactly what I'm supposed to have done for my first masters class (the first assignment is due today), 2)complete at least one period's worth of poetry portfolio and grading, 3)organize my desk (for the one thousandth time this month), and 4) maybe eat dinner, er, something.

We had an interesting experience last Friday. During my 2nd period, I was working with some students on yearbook pages so I was sitting at the desk working on the computer. I started hearing a little scratch, scratch, followed by a click, click. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a MOUSE with a bottle of pop top in his mouth just scurrying away under the bookshelf. I did my best to remain calm and cool, so I pushed the chair out and walk, with my hands up as if under arrest, over to where the rest of the students were sitting and calmly said, "There's a mouse in here!" after which all the girls and most of the boys screamed and jumped on their desks.

Just as everyone is screaming in hysterics and jumping on the desks, the principal walks by and hears the commotion. I walked out there and said, "There's a mouse in here!" and he turned around to get the janitor. We all sat as far away from the desk as possible and several brave students went on the search for the little creature. Needless to say they couldn't find him anywhere.

So we're all just chilling on the desks with our feet up and I'm trying to console several terribly upset girls. I had my back against the part of the room where the mouse first appeared and all of a sudden I hear the shreaks of the whole class: our new class pet was running in a zig-zag pattern across the front of the room...heading for my stuff on the floor.

Well, there was no point in trying to keep them in the room after this and the majority of the students were in the hall in complete chaos, screaming and squirming. Luckily this was at the end of class. I passed my friend whose room it is in the hall on my way to my next room and told her of the little visitor. She wasn't all that excited to hear this news, but I don't think he came out any more that day.

After our faculty meeting on Friday, the principal handed me and RB (the other teacher) a bag with the following: a pack of mouse traps and a jar of peanut butter. He said he felt bad and that the janitors would try to take care of it asap. We're two days in the week and our friend hasn't made a recurring visit and we hope to keep it that way!

I was observed a few weeks ago by the principal, part of my provisional teacher status. He caught me today during my lunch to go over the results and had nothing but positive things to say, which is always a good thing. He expressed his sincere appreciation for my hard work and flexibility in being a traveling teacher. He said I was doing a great job. It is always to hear such positive comments from a boss!!!

I've been working with my 8th graders this week on the 6 traits of writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions). Like most writing instruction, it can be tedious and the efforts sometimes futile. Today we started our first trait: ideas. This is all about having a good, narrow topic in any piece of writing (often the hardest part)

I gave each student a little handful of popcorn and read to them some interesting popcorn facts while they ate. Then, we brainstormed all we could think of about popcorn. I taught them how to narrow the broad topic of popcorn and they began writing a 3 paragraph story/explanation of popcorn.

For the most part this worked really well. Food is always a great way to get them into anything. Minus a few logistical problems, the day was successful and most were able to get 2 of 3 paragraphs written. Tomorrow we're talking about how to write an interesting introduction.

There are about 60 days of school left. Yay. I'm really considering creating a little chain and hanging it around the edge of my cart. I'm very anxious for the year to be over!!

One good mile marker of the end of the year is coming next week: Spring Break, baby! I'm going to go hiking with my mom in Moab for a few days and I'm just so freaking excited, it's ridiculous! It will be a nice break!!

I suppose my list of things to get done today isn't getting shorter by me sitting here, so off I go to be productive, er, something.