Friday, February 17, 2012

A Goat and More

Lately, there have been several posts whose titles include words like "random" and "bits and pieces."  A quick look will reveal how many posts have multiple nouns collected in the title.  I think it is because this is a cRaZy time of year and many of us are struggling just to put one foot in front of the other.  Our mind is filled with "bits and pieces" because that is as close to a complete thought (yet alone a complete post!) that we can get!  This "Odds and Ends" post is like that.

I.
So I'll start with my favorite chuckle of the week.
One of my students had written something partially-decipherable in his journal.  I was able to make out something close to gowdtcard.  Just for fun, I'll leave his spelling in the conversation.

T:  Can you read me this part?
S: We went in my friend's gowdtcard.
T: {still trying to decode} Was that fun?
S: Yes.
T: Hmmm.  Can you tell me more?
S: We went in the gowdtcard at his house.
T:  Oh... Ummmm.  There was... um... a goat?
S: No! There was no goat.
T: Can you read this part again.
S: {Sighing} We went in my friend's gowdtcard. 
T:  Did you say goat cart?
S:  Yes.
T: {Biting my lip at this point} We went in my friend's goat cart?
S:  Yes!
T:  Sweetie, we write that word like this: go-kart. And it starts like go...
S: Oh! Go.... Cart!


II. 
I'm pretty crazy about caring for my textbooks. Knowing they may need to last forever, I expect my children to take care of their materials.  In truth, we don't use textbooks daily (or sometimes even weekly--except for math), but I still want them to look pretty on the shelf!  

My students are numbered alphabetically (that makes no sense when I type it--yet I know any teacher would understand the reference) and the books are numbered on the front and the spine. Kids are assigned books according to their number in line.  I have found that neon labels make it easy to find your books when you work at three different tables in one day!


On Thursday, however, our room looked like this. These are social studies and reading books. The math and science textbooks were piled on top of the adjoining bookshelf.  Yep, those shelves are empty.  Why?


A group of people went from room to room to do this...


If you've ever "lost" a kid (Hi BlogFriend!), you may wonder why we don't bar-code the kids instead of the books...

Oh.  Did I mention this happened DURING school?

III.
Some people had last Monday off.  I sure was jealous.  Our district moved Lincoln's birthday to tomorrow/Friday...Sorry Abe.  Like most folks, we have Monday off (Sorry, George, we've redesignated your birthday too!).  My four days of bliss will be even more blissful due to this collection.  My kids know me so well.  They rarely bring their homework, but on Valentine's day, they brought lots of chocolate.  Some of it is not pictured.  I bet you know why...


IV.
I'm still trying to figure out how to fix my numbered comments.  First, there were no comments.  And then there were a few comments, but no numbers.  And then there were numbers AND comments. I was happy. Comments make my heart sing. And then there were no numbers--but I had threaded comments (which I never asked for... they just appeared).  Then a friend tried to re-number the comments... and now every comment has TWO numbers.


Why does this matter?  Because...

V.
I am getting ready for a giveaway.

               Not  a little giveaway.

                                A BIG giveaway.

A BIG, THANKFUL giveaway.

                                         
And I am really, REALLY excited.

I like teaching math, but trying to pick a winner when each comment has two numbers is like an algebra problem gone wrong.  I have to fix that first.

So be watching...

*
*
*
 Hey!  Maybe I can bar-code my entries!


19 comments :

  1. You might be the funniest friend I have . . . bar-coding kids is hilarious!! And the rest of the post . . .LOVING the randomness.

    EnJOY your day off; in our district it's an inservice day, so we'll be in training. Have a VENTI for me!

    Barbara

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  2. Hehe some craziness!
    Love your textbook organization!!!

    Have a fantastic & relaxing weekend!

    ❤ Mor Zrihen from...
    A Teacher's Treasure
    Teaching Treasures Shop

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  3. lol!!!!! Love the goatcart!!

    and why does yuor blog have 2 numbers?!!? so weird...lol, but I can't even get my numbers back anymore :(
    boo...

    ♥ Jen
    The Teachers' Cauldron

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  4. Kim!!! I am laughing so hard right now! I don't even know where to start...but I definitely get what you mean about this week.

    That numbering comments thing is so weird! Is the code in twice, by accident (which is something I would totally do!). I know it is supposed to only work when the comments are embedded below the post and when that reply (threaded comments thing) is not enabled. I don't know if that helps though.

    Happy Friday girl, you've earned your long weekend!!!!
    Kristen :)

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  5. Ok 1. I am laughing very hard.

    2. Goat cart hahahaha.

    3. I had numbers, went to threaded and have no numbers and

    4. 2 numbers is crazy! Lol.

    Hope you have a great weekend!

    Journey of a Substitute Teacher

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  6. Ok, so I didn't catch the double # thing- and I was like "why did she start at 21 and WHY is going up by 22 each time???""" I couldn't figure out the pattern...guess it was a CAtch 22 since there was nothing to figure out in the first place.....ba dum dum (that was a drum thingy after a joke)...Staci

    Going Nutty!

    misssquirrels@yahoo.com

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  7. Hi Blog Friend!!! Barcoding kids would be GENIUS!!
    Okay, we have all our textbooks barcoded, too. Except in first grade, we have 5 different textbooks just for Language Arts. Then one for Social Studies and one for Science. If I can calculate this correctly, that's about 220 or so texbooks. And the librarian also did it during class time. But first, I had to take out ALL of the textbooks out of the cupboards and stack them accordingly so that she could accomplish this task. And then I had to put them all back. So I understand.
    I do not understand numbering comments. Or threaded comments. I've tried both and it's not working. SO!
    Let's get to the giveaway!!!!!

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  8. Hello,
    Thanks for your comment. Things seem to be going better, but I guess all I can do is wait and hope for the best :) I appreciate your support!
    Lori @ Cachey Mama’s Classroom

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  9. Ok....loving the goat cart. (visual is awesome....I'm a visual learner:) )
    We had out textbooks done too...with about a 5 minute notice in the middle of the day!!!! AND towards the end of the year they do it again....oh joy:/

    Can't wait for the giveaway:)

    I'm glad I'm not the only one who has few cherubs not bring in homework but gurl you scored in the chocolate dept!!!

    Your blog issues boggle me.....You STILL don't show up on my blog roll so then I thought I wasn't following you again but it says I am!!!!! What's the deal???

    I had 4 days off too! Wish we lived closer! We could have done some shopping therapy:))))

    4th Grade Frolics

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  10. Hi there,
    I keep running into you and seeing you on blog rolls so I had to come check you out. I am a brand new blogger and believe it or not I'm very tempted to make the move to 6th grade from first. Unfortunately we have middle schools in our district in CA. But my daughter is in middle school and now I'm tempted...I will have to visit often to see what you are up to. Best wishes! I'm your newest follower!
    ~ vicky

    Traditions Laughter and Happily Ever After

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  11. I am so excited I am came across your blog!! I am a student teacher in Kentucky and will start my second placement in 6th grade on Monday!!! Our 6th grade is also still in elementary school! :) I can't wait to see what you have to offer on here! I am your newest follower!

    --Emily
    Ms. Emily Shell

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  12. LOVE the title of your post!!! And I like the neon sticker numbers on your texts (we're not high tech enough for bar codes up here). Hope you had some time to relax this weekend ... and enjoyed a bit more of that stash of chocolate. Sweet ;)

    Jen
    Runde's Room

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  13. sweet! lucky you with all those chocolates! I am still giggling over the goat-kart...too cute!

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  14. Neon labels - I am adding that to my list of items. Thanks for the amazing textbook organizing tip.

    Bar-coding the kids is a brilliant idea!

    Still laughing!
    Misty @
    Think, Wonder, & Teach

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  15. Love your goat-cart story. I am cracking up! Thanks for the textbook organization tip. Hope you enjoyed your day off!! Just found your darling blog!!
    Robynn
    BusyBees

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  16. Thanks so much for the sweet comment on my blog. It really helped to brighten my day!

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  17. Goat Cart...way too funny! Thanks for stopping by my blog and following and entering Miss. S's giveaway. I am your newest follower and looking forward to more!
    Shawna

    The Picture Book Teacher's Edition

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  18. I am your newest follower! Thank you for visiting my blog!!

    I think the timing they chose to do "book coding" is hilarious! While getting my Masters I actually had to do student teaching for a few months...I know again...(mostly because I was it was a duel Masters in Sp ed). I was in a 7th grade science classroom during a "district review"...mind you, there were about 42 students in that particular period and not even enough stools for every student! Then about 5 minutes into the lesson, the district "swat team" announced themselves on a group of 10!!! that's right, 10 adults (large adults. the room was so crowded and they were such a huge distraction and completely rude. They were loud and I was amazed that the students were vene giving them dirty looks because they couldn't hear the directions...I was so appalled by that! I had never witnessed such a rude group of district admin (actually, they announced everything, but their position). I really hope that was like a district training for future admins...hehehe. The teacher did AMAZING!!! I think I would have passed out...LOL!

    Michelle

    The 3AM Teacher

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  19. LOL, goat-cart! Love it! I'm your newest follower!

    Seina Smith
    Classroom Magic

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