Someone told me today that they had too many problems of their own to care about what was happening to the rest of the world. My response is this- 


Even when our problems threaten to overwhelm us, we must always remember that we are blessed enough to offer another person compassion.  No matter how low we may feel we are sinking, someone is always below us, needing a hand to reach down and pull them up. Yesterday it was Japan, before that Haiti, now it's Joplin and tomorrow someone and somewhere else.  


I take this vow for myself, that even when fatigued, I will fight to keep caring. I refuse to take the respite of apathy. I will not stop caring about people far and near, family, friend or stranger.  Our lives should be about the betterment of our world because THAT is the only thing that gives us worth. Even if it's the tiniest thing, do, do, do. Do care. Do help. Do speak out. Do good. 

This year was a rough year and there were moments when I felt pretty low on inspiration when it came to the classroom. But I got to share in a little moment of success with my students when they had a "book release" party and got to share some books they had written with the rest of the kids in the school.  This was part of a year long process. We spent weeks learning about how to become authors.  We learned what the component of a story were, proper illustrations, sequencing events.  It went on and on.  They  put everything they had into creating these books and the pride they had in them was tangible.  They were willing to go slow, think about it and enjoyed the process.  I loved this moment and loved helping them create this success.  Authoring a book is something I have always wished I had the talent and drive for.  I transferred a little of that onto them I think and even if I'll never have the joy of my own "book release" event, sharing theirs was enough.

Lesson Learned

Today I learned that one of my students can read much better than I thought he could.  He brought a book from home that he had read first with his Dad.  That simple act of reading it before hand with his father had given him enough self-confidence to read with fluency that shocked me literally speechless. The lesson here: Parents- read read read with your children. Teachers- never underestimate the power of self-confidence as an impactor on success. 

The Official Lunch Box Pet Peeves List

All kinds of families pack all kinds of lunches for their kids. Some kids come with a lunch so wholesome and tasty that it tempts me to try and trade MY lunch for a 5 year old's. Other's I simply don't understand why? Some just downright annoy me.  At times it's clearly just poor nutrition being passed down the family line, other times it's so odd I have to wonder if there really was a superb reason to the insanity packed in that Hello Kitty or Go Diego lunch box.  Either way I can't help but feel a little irritated as I watch the lunch boxes pop open.  Here are a few lunch room pet peeves I have-

Anything that comes in a Cambell's can with the pop off lid.  Yes I wore a white blouse today and yes you sent your kid with a can of Spagetti-O's he can't open. And when I grab that tab and pull that lid, red sauce is going to splatter all over my shirt.  Thanks a lot.

Something that needs to be microwaved....EVERY SINGLE DAY! Do you know how long it takes to microwave an entire classroom of lunches? PB&J people, PB&J!

Soup. Come on, they are 5! Seriously? Soup? And by the way, when you put the soup in the thermos at 6:00 a.m. this morning, the steam caused the lid to vacuum seal as it cooled. So yea, when I finally get it open (permanently damaging my wrist in the process), it's COLD. And a metal thermos can't be microwaved. But did you think to include a bowl? Or a spoon for that matter? Of course not.  

Juice bags. They always poke the straw through the other side, then squeeze sticky juice all over themselves. (Albeit preferable to the juice box missing the straw off the back. How pray tell are they supposed to consume the juice?)

Sugar overload.  The cinnamon bread with the 1/2 inch of nutella along with a side of oreos and a fruit roll up (NOT actually considered a fruit by the way) plus the sugary juice IN A BAG.  Exactly what kind of a day are they wishing on us?

Sending the same thing EVERY DAY.  I'm sick of seeing it, smelling it, and heating it up- so I'm sure the kid is sick of eating it. If they aren't they should be. For the entire school year, pizza bagels was the only thing you could think to purchase from the freezer section? Corn dogs, frozen burritos, tiquitos, hot pockets, chicken nuggets, lean cuisine, frozen PB&J sandwiches, pizza bites, pizza sticks, personal pizzas, pizza pockets, fish sticks, frozen mac & cheese? None of that seemed like an equally reasonable choice to throw into rotation?

And then there is the other extreme...nine billion different little packages of goodies. Oh the selection, the variety, the possibilities, a smorgas board of choices! FYI, it is physically impossible for a five year old to focus on eating if they know existing in their possession is an un-open bag of chips. By the time they finish struggling with all 5 billion types of packaging? Lunch is over.

And holding the top spot on my Lunch Box Pet Peeves list! (drum roooooolllllll) YOGURT IN A TUBE! It's yogurt. In a tube. Enough said.

Handmade is better...

Kids in handmade clothes are super cute! Yes this is a shameless plug for my sister's handmade tutus business, but check it out. She makes adult sizes too. I've ordered on in red and blue to wear to the next UH Cougars game. :)

Handmade tutus

jerm-o-fobeeya

Back to that thing about teaching being a "dirty job."  Why DOESN'T Mike Rowe feature some local elementary school on his show?  I mean really, I don't think people fully appreciate some of the stuff we experience.  

I consider myself pretty tough. I can handle vomit, accidents of any kind, runny noses, boogers and yes the consumption there of. Germs? They've never bothered me. I've never been fanatical about hand washing.  Build up your immune system, that's always been my philosophy.... Of course this year I get Scarlett Fever.  No, contrary to popular belief it was not eradicated with Small Pox and Polio. It's very much alive and a full blown symptom of strep throat.  So I increased my hand washing policy... slightly.  But still, I am an educator. I have an immune system of a bionic person.  I can't be slowed down by a Purell routine.  

But parasites?  Now those get me going.  Any whisper of someone having warts, lice, a lesion of any kind and I'm panicked.  During a previous years a small lice epidemic swept our campus. Just the thought made my head so itchy I was convinced I was infected.  I was constantly running to the mirror to examine my scalp for the source of my psychological itching, convinced I felt critters crawling through my hair.  It finally got so bad I washed with the lice shampoo for a week even though the school nurse kept insisting I was okay.  No doubt did permanent damage to my scalp and hair.  

I thought I knew the major afflictions to look for...lice, ring worm, warts. I'm onto those suckers like white on rice. I feel confident in my ability to spot and prevent the above mentioned so my paranoia is pretty much under control.  

Then comes the Pin Worm.  I get a casual note from a parents saying that over the weekend Sally was diagnosed with Pin Worm.  She's been treated (medication is over the counter so how severe can it be). All good. Back on Monday.  I've never hear of Pin Worm, but since it contains the word "worm" I notify the school nurse.  She brings over some pamphlets to send home on the symptoms and says it's fairly common, just send home the information and let her know if there is anymore cases. Hmmm, I'll just take a peek at that pamphlet so I'm fully educated on the symptoms.  

Key words "highly contagious parasite....inflicts 90% of the population....intestinal....symptoms include...." Oh my god! I'm suddenly itching in places I can't even scratch.  I can FEEL them crawling in my stomach! They're everywhere in my classroom. In everything I've touched.  I glance at my students and suddenly imagine the worst.  Geezus I'm out of Lysol and Purell! IT CAN BE TREATED OVER THE COUNTER! My assistant is as panicked as I am. Together we fuel each others panic attacks. I hit Google like a mad scientist (big mistake). I can't get to a pharmacist fast enough.  I call my husband on the way (he handles it with less grace than I and threatens to ban me from the bed).  

Upon arriving at Walgreens I rush to the pharmacy counter and explain my delima (slightly embarrassed I stress that I'm exposed NOT infected. I'm a teacher I keep saying, as if it makes my predicament noble). He shows me where to find the famed Pin Worm treatment.  I seize a box and turn to go.  

"Uh ma'am." It's the pharmacist. "Might I suggest you wait until you have symptoms before taking the treatment."

"Symptoms?! Symptoms?! Do you know what the symptoms of Pin Worms are?! Wait for symptoms?!  If I had symptoms I'd have checked myself into intensive care good sir! I am a TEACHER and THIS! This is a PREVENTATIVE MEASURE!" 

Pin Worms? Just Google it. Only be prepared to head to Walgreens immediately after. Like I said, it's a dirty job and some of us love to do it.  

Hot Thoughts

In class we talk a lot about the kinds of ways you can influence the people in your environment.  We also try to instill the idea that while you can't control other's behavior you can control your own behavior and through your choices and behavior change others either for better or worse.

Some of the wordage we use are the terms "whoa thoughts" for when we do things that make people feel or think negatively about us, and "warm thoughts" for the thoughts we can give others to change whoa thoughts into more positive ones via positive action.  

Today in class during calendar time one of my students, who if in a certain mood can be a bit prone to giving others "whoa thoughts," reached out and surprised us all with the kindest of actions.  He gave up his favorite task at calendar to a classmate (with whom he frequently clashes, making it all the more noteworthy) because he knew this particular classmate was really wanting a turn. I was so delighted.  In turn his classmate turns to him and says "Wow Johnny, you are so nice you gave me a Hot Thought about you!"