A Great Practice Teaching Memory!

The word "eye" must be in here for Mona's word for the day!

Looking For Mr. Craig

All the way to the high school, on my first day of student practice teaching, I tried to envision my associate teacher and the inevitable meeting that would soon follow. I only knew from his phone call on Friday that he was Mr. James Craig, who spoke quickly, precisely and with a faint trace of an English accent. He was also the Head of the English Department. I would most certainly have to be on my toes throughout this two-week assignment!


Upon my arrival at the school office, naturally, no one knew of Mr. Craig’s whereabouts. I was then directed to the staff room where I could settle my edgy nerves with a strong cup of coffee, after I had donated my fifty cents to the beloved coffee club, of course! They sent all of us there when they really didn’t want us hanging around, biting our nails.


So I shakily grabbed a cup of java and set out to roam the halls in search of the one that was to be my inspiration to teach high school English.
Every male staff member I passed in the hall looked like a possible candidate for my Mr. Craig.

A tall, lean, handsome man strode out of a doorway and down the hall in front of me. My eyes were fixed on his broad shoulders and my heart leaped. How could I concentrate on Grade Eleven lessons on Wordsworth with such an attractive man watching my every move?
I relaxed as he turned in a door marked, "Mr. Martin: Geography".

Then, I noticed a big, burly, bearded man walking towards me and I imagined him reading volumes of Shakespeare while smoking a pipe. In a gruff voice he grunted some form of greeting and I felt sure that this was my destined mentor. I stammered an awkward, "Good Morning" and was relieved to see him enter the Science Lab.

Around the corner, I encountered a man of medium stature, shining eyes, and a very warm empathetic smile. His greeting was so friendly; I was happily convinced that this Mr. Craig indeed knew I was his charge for the next two weeks. But I was disappointed to see him headed towards the History and Politics wing.

Finally, I ended up back at the staff room and reluctantly went inside. My eyes swept the room, taking in the entire scene at once. People were chatting and laughing. Some were teasing others about sipping coffee without having paid into the fund jar. Someone commented offhandedly, that this was the cursed week those student teachers came. Another groaned in reply that she would likely have to re-teach all her lessons. No one acknowledged my presence whatsoever.

By this point, I was feeling so uncomfortable I gladly paid my money for another refill in my cup. With trembling hands, I fixed my coffee and pushed my way through the saloon-type doors of the kitchenette. Strangely, I felt some resistance from the other side. I immediately came face to face with an impeccably well-dressed man with short, dark hair and coffee all over his immaculate pinstriped suit. I gaped at him in horror!

Good morning, Mr. Craig!

Mother of Invention, glad that stage of my life is over!

Hallowe'en and Sister Cruella!

Hallowe'en is over for another year. I've noticed that in town here over the years, people get decorated almost as much as they do for Christmas. All we ever had was ONE pumpkin with triangle eyes/nose and the square teeth carved at 6:00 p.m. in freezing temperatures when my dad got home from work!

My husband's secretary's kids came to show us their princess and monster costumes. She and her husband were dressed up too, to take them around to a few houses. They looked great. My sister used to do that and get my mom and dad to give out the candy while they went out. What fun and fabulous memories these kids will all have!

My sister is a hoot! (She taught me well!) When you teach school, there are all kinds of opportunities to dress up as different characters on various occasions. I think this pic was when "Cruella" came out during an assembly advertising a Hallowe'en Dance-a-thon. All the kids in her class couldn't believe it! To them, she rocked! I can't imagine one of my Gr. 4 teachers ever doing this in 1963.

I have always loved doing this sort of thing; my years at summer camp make it a natural response. It is so much fun, especially if you can find a partner-in-crime. That is sometimes difficult because not all teachers are hams. I wish I had taught at my sister's school!

Here's to dressing up and having fun!

Save These Interesting Creatures!

I used this in a Gr. Two classroom when we were learning about owls. They all wanted to recite it "by heart" and they found it really easy to memorise. Of course, this might have something to do with the little prizes I awarded when they knew it all!

Owl

Owl perching on your tree,
turn your head so you can see
all around to find your prey,
Mice and birds you’ll find today.
Who who-who who who who!

See your wings spread through the night,
You swoop down on the prey in sight,
Bring it back for baby chick,
Your owlet learns to tear and pick.
Who who-who who who who!

On your face the discs so round
Help you try to catch the sound
Your sight is good, your hearing better
You’re waterproof when it is wetter.
Who who-who who who who!

Take poison out of their living space
Do not cut trees you can’t replace
Conservation is the key
Protect the owl for you and me.
Who who-who who who who!

Mother of Invention, who-who-whoing!

Have You Ever Seen....?

This was always my favourite creative expression-word play lesson to do with Gr.7's! They had to come up with an interesting, off-beat noun-verb combo such as ...

Have you ever seen ...

butter fly

milk shake

a house fly

a fire fly

a car wash

a house paint

a mouth wash

a clam bake

a waffle iron

a pin point

a cat fish

a hog wash

a lemon punch

a fork lift

a barn swallow.....

You should have seen the clever illustrations and speech bubbles! Hilarious! The students and I had so much fun.

Can you think of any more?

Mother of Invention, still thinking about what a great morning that was in my class!

The Joys of Snack Time!

Today, I had a delightful conversation with an eight-year-old boy during our snack time at school!
I was by his desk just as I was crunching into my apple, barely missing the paper sticker label they now put on each and every piece of fruit. (That must take up a tremendous amount of time and salary for the grocery stores!)

"Yikes! I almost ate another one!" I exclaimed. "I should probably be more careful."

Said little boy offered, "I just ate one, too. I don't even look anymore, I just eat'em all now. Go ahead, they don't hurt you. I bet my stomach's way more fuller of 'em than yours is! And my stomach doesn't even hurt."

Then we spun off on a whole line of questioning and wondering what his stomach would look like, if you could see them in an x-ray, and more importantly, if you'd still be able to read what kind if apple it was!! We speculated about whether they'd all be stuck together in a heap or all stuck to the inside of his stomach....and yes, (this is a little boy!) whether he'd actually see them again!! (He hoped so!)

I was sad when the bell rang to go out for recess. I had enjoyed a simple, yet prominent highlight in my day! Best brain gym I'd had too.

We'll share snack time again soon and I'll be sure to go to his desk. Who knows what we'll ponder next?!

Mother of Invention, still wary of all the labels I've eaten!

Enjoying My Time Off!

I don't really post much about daily happenings in my life but there's no Poetry Friday word so I'll take a break from it.

I've been going in to my elementary school every Wednesday all year and volunteering in a Gr. 3 classroom. I love it! Just a few years ago I was in charge of a whole class and teaching from the same reading material so it is very easy for me to take a group out and guide them through the lesson. I don't have to discipline, mark, do anything for the report cards, and I can leave at noon. NO STRESS! And I still have the connection to the kids and teachers I miss. The teacher gets a big bang for her buck with me since I absolutely know what I'm doing. (I team taught Gr. 3 with this teacher for 3 years.) It's perfect.

I also go in on some other days and help judge presentations of projects in history and public speaking contests, do special poetry lessons on my own poetry or my favourite seasonal poems, or read a story to the kids in role dressed up as one of the characters. It is so much fun for me! Most teachers don't have the time or energy to do this so I know it is much appreciated and the kids find it interesting.

Right now, the Grade 3's are gearing up for the 3-day Provincial Standardized Testing and need a lot of training or practising. Most of us, including myself, don't totally believe in this battery of tests because it is just too difficult. Conceptually, the kids simply aren't there yet and it is nearly impossible to cover all the skills that are outlined in the curriculum. It follows, then, that we can't even "teach to the test" because the skills are never transferred and applied to the new test they will actually get.

Although I empathize with my colleagues, I am just as glad that I do not have to contend with the politics and pressure to have kids achieve high scores. After saying my good-byes, I walk home and meet a friend for a stress-free pleasant lunch!

Poetry Friday: Cookies!

Mona's daughter gave us the word this week and she's writing her own story so check it out!

I did some "Cookie" writing and singing with Gr. 1's and 2's last year and here's what we came up with:

Cookies in the mornin'

Cookies in the evenin'

Cookies at suppertime

I just love my cookies

I think they're mighty fine!

(This is sung to the famous tune of "Sugar in the mornin'...." but they can make up their own tunes and the rest of the class has to echo what has just been sung. Good music skill to observe!)

This next one can be used as a clapping game or you can get out the skipping ropes!

You can make up a simple tune to this using basic guitar chords like D, G,A, C and F. Perhaps some kids could make their own tunes to these words. This works well in Gr. 2/3. I'd also hand out some rhythm instruments and teach them the Beat of the song (the underlying pulse) and then I'd show them how the Rhythm (tapping to each syllable of a word)was different from the Beat.

Cookies in the bakery,

Cookies in the store,

Cookies on the cookie sheets.

Bake me some more!

Mix it up, crack an egg,

Add a cup of butter,

Drop a glob or roll them out

And use a cookie cutter.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip,

Oatmeal, Macaroon,

These are all my favourites

So make me some soon!

Naturally, you start by brainstorming ideas and then progress to printing out lines on huge chart paper. You colour code rhyming words and mark the beat with accent marks above the parts of words. The kids would practise this every day until they know it, before you start making up clapping games and using instruments. It's a great multi-purpose lesson which integrates many skills; reading, writing, spelling, language (syllables) singing, elements of music, movement, participation and group/partner skills.

Wow! This is all bringing it back to me what I've done for the past 27 years!

Mother of Invention, missing teaching music just a little bit!