Apartment Overhaul

My parents kick my butt sometimes with how amazing they are. In my search for a new roommate, we've created a bedroom/study of sorts in the converted living room. The dining room has combined with a living room, and we added to the kitchen and bathroom. Check out these pics- what a warm space!

Looking into the new bedroom space

View from outside the building

View of the hallway from inside the (now empty) bedroom

Looking through the living room/dining room to the kitchen

Kitchen- new shelves and decor

New shelves again in the kitchen

View into the hallway from the living room/dining room

Other side of my new bedroom/study

The now empty room- waiting to be filled by a lovely roommate 

Another shot of the new bedroom/study space

Living room/dining room

Oh, Fifth Grade

The difference in maturity levels within my fifth grade class is rather astounding. Some of them are still very much babies who play with toys, and others are growing into young adults with all of the awful things that come with that. Today I overheard a very dramatic girl mentioning why she likes a certain male security guard of ours. He is rather good looking, but all the same, I wouldn't say that he has a "FINE" adam's apple. Just not the feature I'd choose to highlight.

In other news, I mentioned to my fifth graders today that it is my life goal to make a graphic organizer that allows for comparison and contrasting that is not a Venn Diagram. I never am able to make enough room in the middle for the comparison section, and the whole non-linear thing is rather annoying to me. One of my students said "Ms. Sablich, just draw lines like these!" She held up her paper and had drawn three columns. "It's a Venn Lineagram!"

Appropriate

There is a third grade cartooning class that meets in my classroom as part of the after school enrichment program. Today they are drawing a winter scene. The enrichment teacher in the room is a bit... well... let's just say she makes me feel like a really great teacher.

When you tell third grade students to create an appropriate winter scene, how do you think they respond to that?

"So no bloody dogs?"

"We can't draw Santa with the milk maid?" (Umm.... huh?)

"Death is out?"

And my personal favorite- "I guess frozen people wouldn't be appropriate either, huh?"

No dearest, it isn't.

The Magic

(At the tail end of an absurdly long day)

"Ms. Sablich, I keep falling asleep and I keep trying to stay awake but I keep falling asleep."

"Okay buddy. Um, oh! I have a magic trick to wake you up. Keep your hands up and snap your fingers three times." (Yes, I realize that I'm a terrible person for manipulating nine year old children.)

Student returns to seat, attempts the magic.

"Ms. Sablich, I can't do it because my finger hurts and the doctor said it would be Friday before it stops hurting so I can't do it until Friday."

"Um... okay. That kind of stinks. Does your finger hurt right now?"

"No, but it won't stop hurting until Friday cause the doctor said."

"Ummmm..."

Student returns to seat.

"Ms. Sablich, I thought cause it was magic then I would learn how to snap. But I didn't."

I love these kids.

Emotional

I'm a teacher of preteen girls. This wasn't such a huge issue... until they realized it.

"We got all kinds of hormones goin' on up in here."

It didn't help so much that I was emotional today too. I only cried three times.

"I guess Ms. Sablich got them hormones too."

Yes baby, she does.

Well Then

Just in case you wondered.

Weekends with a Teacher

Since I have spent the last week crashing with friends of mine whilst on the hunt for a new apartment, I have learned that weekends with teacher Stephanie are not unique. Perhaps when I have a bit more understanding of what I'm doing things won't be like this. Perhaps someday I will spend just 5 hours on a Saturday afternoon planning lessons and preparing for the week.

For now though, here we are.

It is Sunday evening, and I took Friday night off.

It is Sunday evening, and I worked a total of 18 hours since leaving school at 5:30 on Friday evening.

It is Sunday evening, and I had a 61 item to-do list this weekend.

It is Sunday evening, and I have worked 73 hours in the last week.

It is Sunday evening, and I feel guilty about the time I spent relaxing.

it is a good thing I love my job.

Bring it ON, week five. Behavior system, phone calls, small groups, pointless half-days... bring it ON.