Bye Misis

"Misis, are you staying next year?"

When a class of 13-year-olds asks you a point blank question like that, you better answer them straight on. They dish out enough B.S. in their daily lives that they are pretty accustomed to detecting it in others, so I decided to tell them how it is. 

I guess the same is now true for my blog.

The truth is, and has been since I decided in November, that I am officially leaving my job in Colombia at the end of this school year. For the purpose of being much closer to family and friends, come June 2012, I am Minnesota bound! 

There will be plenty of blog posts to write about final to-dos, goodbyes, things I learned, things I will miss, things I won't miss, and somehow trying to capture the last three years, for now...here is what you need to know. 

Shortly after telling some of my current 8th grade students that I am leaving in June, I knew I needed to tell some of the students in 9th grade who I am still close to after last year. I didn't want them to hear from the rumor mill, and I have always asked them to be straight with me, so I owe them that in return. Last week I told some of the girls and boys I still talk to on a regular basis about my decision. I will forever love them for their gracious response and exclamations of "You can't leave!" when in all reality, it's not like I am their teacher anymore anyway.

One student in particular, who I taught for two years in a row on account of his not passing 8th grade the first time around, came to my room later, just to chat as he often does. While there, we talked about 9th grade math, new student gossip (duh!) and his Christmas vacation. This student loves music, and while we chatted, he sat at my desk and played music on my speakers while I was helping a few other students who came for after school help. When he left, I found the following notes, in order, posted to my computer screen...

 {yes, they all call me misis...they call all their female teachers that}

 {he only knows this because another 8th grade teacher is from Wisconsin}

 {yes, I also talk to them about Gossip Girl...I think this is a threat for what happens if I leave...}

While to just anyone, this isn't too much, but from a now 15-year-old boy, and this one in particular, this is A TON. He is someone who jokes around about 99% of the time in an effort to never show actual feelings, and these few post-its are a testament to the working relationship we spent two school years building. Yeah, I can't wait to be closer to family and friends in Minnesota, but Colombia and its people and my students will always have a very special place in my heart.

XOXO,

Being A Teacher in May

This week I spoke with my mom for awhile on the phone and she asked me how school is going. I replied that my students have increased their ridiculousness ten-fold and are absolutely driving me insane a daily basis. She wanted me to explain further and I had trouble citing all the examples of the things that make me want to pull my hair out on a daily basis, because really, it's the little things.

Except when you're a teacher, the little things in May are the little things your students have been building towards since August. Therefore, there comes a point when you. just. cannot. deal. with. them.

These little things include:

• Writing all over & inside of what were my brand new textbooks last August.
• Drawing on my desks.
• Asking to leave class because they forgot their backpack at lunch. (Really?)
• Ordering in food for lunch and having their drivers (yes, my students are that wealthy) bring it to them.
• Showing up to a test, quiz, or class in general and asking me to borrow a pen or pencil. On a daily basis. I swear my students' lockers eat writing utensils.
• Asking me to move a math quiz so it is not the same day as an English quiz. Even though in three weeks they have five finals in three days.
• Complaining about finals in general.
• Taking a quiz, going to another class for 70 minutes and then banging down my door asking if I graded their quizzes yet.
• Showing up for after school help because they didn't listen in class.

The list could go on and on, and yes, I realize none of it is terrible. But I am just sick of it and them. Yesterday, one class asked why I have been so upset all week. (Yes, they notice this) I told them it always happens this way, because of the stress at the end of the year. But then I said, don't worry I will like you again in June.

The student I was looking at said "You don't like me?"

"No, not you, everyone."

Another student asked, "Just our class?"

"No, the whole grade."

There is just so much to do before summer gets here...in fact my to do list has been separated into four categories to accommodate for everything. Sad face. But like I said, I will like them again in June, it's just this hard time when there is so much to do before summer that I am not finding their crazy idiosyncrasies as amusing as I once did.

However, there's always THIS:

Which, May or not May, totally made me laugh out loud. At least my students are funny in their sassiness. Even if they obviously didn't learn about exponents.

8th Grade Celebration

Only two more days left with our students, so today we took the afternoon to celebrate the 8th grade class as they prepare to move to high school. The school ordered sandwiches from a local restaurant, and then we had a small awards presentation. As tradition goes, every year two members of the class hand out funny and memorable awards to each student. The awards are basically supposed to represent one specific thing that each person will be remembered for. Some examples include best girl/boy football play, prettiest eyes, biggest flirt, class clown, most fashionable, most organized, etc.  I enjoyed just spending the afternoon hanging out with the kids and seeing them recognize the things they appreciate about one another. 

Our principal talking to the students about the last days of 8th grade and the awards.

My award!

Yes, even the teachers got awards and this is mine!  "Wannabe future Mrs. Mauer" Haha! I'm not quite sure what they mean by "wannabe" since I think "Future Mrs. Mauer" would be quite fitting.  In summary, some of them might not know algebra as well as I want, but they sure know a heck of a lot more about the Minnesota Twins than they did nine months ago. Education comes in all forms. ;) 

Some Students Make a World of Difference

With only a month left of school, some days are definitely a struggle to motivate myself and my students. However, at times like these I love remembering all the amazing things I love about being a teacher and helping my students. The students that truly care about each other and the people around them remind me that there is hope for our collective future. And the ones who make me laugh, really laugh, make the weeks seem so much shorter. Here are a few photos I have taken from my classroom lately...

Any note that involves mathematical properties and calls me the Best Teacher of the World is a winner in my book. :)

Even my students believe I have a shot. Today I asked them to give me an example of something with a probability of 1 (always happens). They said me marrying Joe Mauer. God bless them and their childhood ability to believe that anything can happen.

Not very exciting but my friend Lindsey just posted pictures of her workplace and it made me realize how much I enjoy being able to picture someone at their job. We spend so much time at work, yet how many of our close friends and family members can actually envision us in that place? Here is my desk at work this morning.

My updated word wall with assorted Twins memorabilia thanks to my mom, grandparents, and other various care packages throughout the year.

With that, Happy Tuesday and remember - only four weeks until summer! ;)

You Must Be Joking

Picture this:

So I am in my fourth hour today. The students are taking a test. One boy finishes and I am working with him on the problem of the day. He works really hard and so I let him choose a piece of candy from my desk. On the way back to his seat he checks out the Joe Mauer bobblehead on my desk (naturally he is curious). Flash forward 5 seconds later...........

Joe Mauer's head is in about 6 pieces on my classroom floor.

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!? I'm holding back tears at this point. The kid looks up at me like I might kill him with words. (I considered it.) In the calmest voice I could manage after seeing my 2006 Joe Mauer Batting Champ bobblehead that I waited in line for 6 hours for decimated on the ground, I said "You owe me super glue tomorrow or you're failing math."

By fifth hour (after lunch) all my students came in and asked how I was doing. Apparently this incident was the discussion topic of the 8th grade lunch tables. Cute. I'm traumatized, what do they expect?!?!?

So after a disasterous afternoon I'm here at school grading tests (aka blogging) and waiting for parent open house. When upon I will have to pretend like my children are lovely human beings and not Joe Mauer destroyers.

First Day of School!

Official first day of school today and I'm a real life teacher. Weird. And exciting!!

Maggie and I started off the day by waking up on time (yay!), eating a delicious pastry we bought for breakfast (yay!), and making it to the bus on time (yay!). Note: Stay posted as we predict we will miss the bus no less than 3 times this year and I'm sure the stories those days will be eventful.

My school operates on a block schedule, which means there are five 70 minute periods each day, but then the schedule rotates. I do not see every class every day, but instead see each class 5 times in each 8 day cycle. (It's about as confusing as it sounds, but I think I'll get it someday...)

Here's what my school days will look like:
5:30/5:45 Wake up, realize it's dark outside...hit snooze at least once
6:20 Goal time to leave apartment
6:22-6:25 Actually leave apartment
6:28 Ride on bus with awkward arm rests that are not movable
6:50 Arrive in classroom

7:30-8:40 Period 1
8:45-9:55 Period 2
9:55-10:25 Break (Aka eat snacks and/or half my lunch because I'm starving)
10:25-11:35 Period 3
11:40-12:50 Period 4
12:50-1:30 Lunch (For a whole 40 minutes...which is pretty much un-heard of in the U.S.)
1:30-2:30 Period 5

2:30-3:20 Solid 50 minutes to finish things in the classroom before going home
3:30 Bus leaves school to go home!

Today I only had two classes, which was lovely, but also kind of a slow start to things. Tomorrow, as is typical after having a two period day, I will have a four period day. Thus far my students seem fun and excited to be in school, which is great.

Amusing note from today: During question and answer session where I let the kids ask questions to get to know me, one boy asked if I was pregnant. I responded with "Do I look pregnant??" His face got really red and all the others kids laughed. But I just explained that no, I will not be having a child anytime soon, thanks for asking. In his defense, lots of teachers at the school are having kids or just had a kid so I guess it's pretty typical. Also, he apoligized to me after class which was super cute. :)

In summary...guess I better hop on that yoga train and not eat very many pastries. More updates tomorrow!