School’s out for summer

Well, if you couldn’t tell from our last post (on April 13), the months of April, May, and June are busy ones for teachers… Here’s a quick recap of some of the memorable moments from the end of the school year:

  • Attending an overnight camping trip with 150 7th graders
  • Being informed that Miss N will be teaching 6th grade Spanish for native speakers…Apparently I’m a native speaker, y’all
  • Freaking out over lice and bedbug infestations
  • Witnessing a tragic fall from the monkey bars, resulting in an almost broken arm
  • Celebrating the 8th grade graduation of Miss P’s first class
  • Welcoming a new student…one month before the end of the school year
  • Saying tearful “goodbyes” to very special kids

It’s been a hectic, but overall rewarding first (for Miss N) / second (for Miss P) year of teaching.  We will never forget the many lessons our students taught us throughout the year such as:

  • Though they may look innocent, 7th graders most certainly are not.
  • To avoid bad jokes being repeated over and over, you must laugh the first time.
  • Dabbing is always on fleek.
  • If you tell a first grader not to wipe his sweat on you, he will wipe his sweat on you.
  • Ketchup packets are very difficult to open.
  • If you have an angry student who is throwing a tantrum and kicking the wall, pretend to read his mind.  Works like a charm.
  • Kids like a challenge. Don’t be fooled by all the groaning; they’ll appreciate it in the long run.
  • You’re a better teacher than you think.
  • Teaching is the best job ever.

We will miss these goofballs / punks a whole bunch.  Thanks for a great year.

#HAGS

betty

-Miss N and Miss P

 

 

Victory

Accomplishments of this week:

  1. Received a new nickname from my students, and it’s unique, to say the least:
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  2. Participated in (and won!) a fundraiser basketball game between the teachers at my school and the teachers at our rival middle school. Our victory was made possible by this incredible pep “talk” from one of my teammates:
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Go Fight Win!

-Squishy P

LOL

A joke, courtesy of a first grade comedian:

Kid: “Why was there a cat in these people’s house?!”
Miss N: “Why?!”
Kid: “cause it was their pet!!!! HAHAHAHA!! Isn’t that so funny!!?!”
Miss N: “I don’t get it…why is that funny??”
Kid: “I’ll just tell it to you again!”

Still laughing (he is, not me…),
-Miss N

Sweaty pits and basketball

What teacher doesn’t enjoy a nice school-wide assembly on the Thursday afternoon before break? This assembly should have been even more exciting because the 8th grade boys’ basketball team was competing against the male teachers in a high stakes game. The only problem was I was surrounded by squirrely 1st graders who kept breaking my focus with their questions about the game.

“Miss N, they’re throwing the ball in the hole?”

“Miss N, they’re running to the other hole?”

“Miss N, the teachers scored?”

“Miss N, can I go to the bathroom?”

When another student tapped me on the shoulder, I was expecting a similar question. Instead, when I turned around, she had her hands under her armpits. Without an ounce of embarrassment or shame, she said, “Miss N, my armpits are sweaty!” In complete shock, I just stared silently as she proceeded to remove her hands from under her sweaty pits and smell them.

superstar

Ew.

-Miss N

Feeling foolish

The only LA homework for the night: return Phineas Gage book tomorrow.  Sounds easy, right?  Wrong.  The next day, when I prompted the students to turn in their books, only four stepped up.  I was trying to keep my cool, let it roll off my shoulders, but cool only lasted so long.  How could a class of 15 7th graders be so irresponsible, especially when the “assignment” was so simple?!  I channel my sternest teacher voice and let the unsuspecting class have a piece of my mind.

“Alright, we have to talk.  I am VERY disappointed in this class.  Out of 15 of you, only 4 brought in their books…”

But just as my speech was really getting good, I spotted a few unveiling smiles.

“Wait a second…”
“APRIL FOOLS!” shouted the entire class.

Students whipped opened their binders, flung opener their folders, and revealed their hidden homework assignments.  Stunned, I slammed my clipboard on the desk and joined them in laughter.  I have to say, they really got me!

Just fools being fools on April Fools.

-Miss P

Phonics Test (PG-13)

Miss N debriefing with Miss P about a controversial 1st grade phonics test:

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You try keeping a straight face while repeating this sentence three times and sounding out every word.  Phonics is no joke!

Teaching your children valuable lessons every day.

-Miss N

SB 2k16

This year, our spring breaks were on different weeks, but that doesn’t mean that we didn’t take advantage of our freedom from students.  Some of the (many) accomplishments of spring break 2016 include:

  • Binge watching Seasons 1 AND 2 of Younger (#TeamJosh)
  • Browsing boutiques of Wicker Park
  • Drinking sangria at Latinicity
  • Burning through three candles
  • Having the pleasure of getting cat-called during a stroll through the hood
  • Indulging in Greek fries

Feeling refreshed and reenergized, we were ready to tackle the last quarter of the school year.

Anyone know when Season 3 of Younger starts?!

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-Miss N and Miss P