Becoming Ms. Frizzle

Today has been the best day of my teaching career thus far. And it's not just because I got home at 3:05 and have no work to do over the weekend.  I genuinely enjoyed teaching today!  Yes, even my afternoon classes!

We have our six weeks exam on Monday.  I know you are asking yourself, "Why would she give a huge exam on a Monday?" The answer is "Because the school said so."  In preparation for the exam I opted for a game of Trashball.  The alternative was having the students quietly (right....) sit at their tables and answer questions on a review that most likely wouldn't make it home, or more likely even to the next class period.  Not only would this be boring, it would be less productive. Thus we played a game.

For any teachers out there unfamiliar with Trashball, let me introduce you to a surefire winner.

1. Divide your class into 2 teams (boys vs. girls always a good option)
2. Prepare questions which correspond with the necessary study material
3. Get an empty trash can (basket) and a wadded-up piece of paper (ball)
4. Place three strips of masking tape at increasing distances from your trash can
5. Label the lines "1 point", "2 points", and "3 points"
6. Individuals on the team will alternate answering questions and subsequently have the opportunity to shoot some baskets for additional points

The point system I use is:

• Answering the question correctly: 1 point
• Additional points earned based on line from which the students throw
• If student misses the shot, no additional points
• No points earned if question answered incorrectly

The team with the most points at the end wins.  You will have to watch for cheaters, but taking points away for cheating is a great stopper to that problem.  Additionally, if you post the rules on the board, your students will not be able to argue with your calls as long as you are fair and abide by the rules.

Onto how the game made my day great!  Lately I have been struggling with a few of my classes being too rowdy.  My attempts at keeping my students quiet had failed and I was about to hang my head in shame.  BUT today I wanted them to get into the game and enjoy class and biology.   And Trashball did just that!  I played on their loudness and exuberance and joined in the shenanigans. The old adage is true-If you can't beat them, join them. And that is just what happened today.  So my advice is to let your kids be kids on occasion and you will all enjoy the day much more than sitting in silence.

This has been a week of laughter. At my students' expense. I know that we are supposed to be supportive 100% of the time, but sometimes you have to let out a belly laugh at the creativity of your students' incorrect responses.  Below you will find my top 2 favorite wrong answers of the week!

Q.  What function does the stoma serve in plants?
A.  "Yes, plants" have stoma.

Q.  List in order the classification heirarchy:
A.  Kingdom
      Phylum
      Class
      Order
      Family
      GENITAL
      Species

I kid you not!

I'm assuming it is true for every profession, but teaching is the only career with which I am personally familiar, so I'm basing this idea off my teaching experience.  There is just not enough time in the week to get everything done you want to get done.  Let me give you a taste of a typical weekday for me.  Wake up at about 5:15, get to work by 7:00, leave work at 6:00, go to gym until 7:30, get dinner ready and eat by 8:30, clean up dinner and prepare lunch for the following day, and it is now 9:15 or so.  As I wake up in 8 hours there is not much time left for anything other than a short phone call with my Marine, and sleep. 

For some sleep isn't as important, but as any of you who have known me for a while realize, I turn into a dragon when I don't sleep. I begin to breathe fire and snap at those around me. It's not pretty. Therefore, I do my very best to get adequate sleep so that I don't become a fire-breathing dragon.

Not only is sleep important for my sanity, but it's also important for my health. They say that first year teachers are notorious for getting sick. Let me explain. Kids aren't always sanitary. We are around approximately 130 kids for 7 hours a day. There is ample opportunity for disease transmission. Generally this isn't a problem for veteran teachers as they have built up incredible immune systems and achieved the all important balancing act of time management. I am reassured by all teachers that it does get easier. I won't always spend 11 hours a day at school only to be followed by more work at home. I pray that is true. Until then, I plan to eat healthily, exercise thoroughly (great for immune system AND stress), sleep amply, and drink my Crystal Light Immunity everyday! Perhaps the fact that I look like I'm still a kid will keep the germs away. Maybe they won't recognize that I'm a first year teacher.