One of THOSE days

Hey Y'all!

My day today was running so hot and cold I couldn't keep track. Here is a fun way to share things in your day that are good and bad. Sunshines are happy shares and clouds are not so happy. We do these in morning meeting.

Sunshines:

• Teacher Appreciation Gifts and a note from a boy telling me that his favorite thing about me is that I have a "loving heart." How blessed am I?

• Lovely goodies from parents to show teachers that we are appreciated.

• Making iMovies for kids to show at our upcoming 5th Grade Recognition program. I did some "directing," but had no part in the planning for each scene or for any of the props or acting. The kids have also been showing me the ropes at how to use the program. They have already edited and added sound effects and music in some videos. I am not doing much at all! They are so savvy with technology.

• Seeing our Honor Choir and Orchestra perform at the assembly this morning.

• Having time to chat with co-workers.

Clouds:

• Having to be strict and spending much of the day alternating between channeling the principal from the Breakfast Club and attempting to avoid  failing at avoiding a power struggle.  

Something like this:

Richard Vernon:That's another one right now! I've got you for the rest of your natural born life if you don't watch your step. You want another one?
John Bender: Yes.
Richard Vernon: You got it! You got another one right there! That's another one pal!
Claire Standish: Cut it out!
Richard Vernon: You through?
John Bender: Not even close bud!
Richard Vernon: Good! You got one more right there!
John Bender: You really think I give a @#$%?
Richard Vernon: Another! You through?
John Bender: How many is that?
Brian Johnson: That's seven including when we first came in and you asked Mr. Vernon whether Barry Manilow knew that he raided his closet.

Not THAT bad, but it seems like it! Taking money from students for not following Mini-Society rules can really stink!

• Missing part of both solos at the choir assembly to manage behavior. UGH.

• Having the exact same conversation over and over.

• Monster headache from you know where

Hey, you can't win them all. It always gets harder to manage behavior this time of year. 5th graders are ready for middle school, but not really. You know? Our schedules get more loosey-goosey with all of the assemblies and special visits. We also have several unstructured projects and novel units. Not the "regular" schedule can sometimes signal to the kids that we are done learning, even though I HAVE NOT been showing videos or taken posters down to avoid the "end of the year downward spiral."

How do you keep it all together at the end of the year?

Toodles,