We're Baaaack!

the "first" week back

We are gladly back in school after missing 9 school days! I missed 10 days actually because I had plans to go up to Boston to shop for a wedding dress.  We were supposed to (as in before the hurricane) not have school on Nov. 8-9 for the teacher convention in Atlantic City, which was damaged during the storm.  Because of the devastation of Sandy, the convention was cancelled and schools were in session.  Since we had already made the hotel reservation and I booked an appointment at this bridal boutique, we went up anyway and I took the day off. So on Monday, it was my first time seeing the kids in 2 full weeks. Also, the week before the hurricane our district had half days for parent-teacher conferences. Having not seen the kids for full days/at all in a while, it was like the first week all over again! Some of the classes surprised me with how well they behaved - maybe it was that surprise and excitement factor that had them behaving so well in the first couple classes? For other classes, they were more out of control.  The kindergarteners were the ones I thought I'd have problems with, but it was actually one first grade that was the most shockingly annoying.  

the best laid plans, yadda yadda

I had a wonderful plan to do a fun composition on the Smart Board as a big summative assessment for steady beat, high and low (sol and mi really but we just call it high and low right now), and showing contour.  This was supposed to happen after we did all of our spooky songs for Halloween, but then we didn't have school so I shifted things around.  It's all about being flexible. Now I have to come up with another summative assessment project but that will be a good way to end out the calendar year.  I don't give out grades for my students every marking period - just 2nd and 4th.  It gives me time to be able to set a good foundation, get to know them, and give a more complete and accurate grade for each student. 

halloween

I wasn't planning on doing a lot of baltantly-Halloween-themed songs; the only song I did that said the word Halloween was a cute little ditty called "What Will You be for Halloween". I added in between repetitions a place for the kids to come up and sing to the class what they were going to be using sol and mi.  One little kindergartener came up when it was his turn to sing to the class and said that he doesn't celebrate Halloween. I did not anticipate this, especially because I had done this song with 6 other classes before theirs.  This boy handled it like a champ, though. I asked him if he would sing the name of his favorite cartoon character and he smiled and sang "Spiderman".  I was very proud of his reaction! He didn't melt down or make a scene.  A few days later when I was leaving the building, he yelled my name and waved with a big smile (he's a huge fan of mine, nbd).  His mother walked over and said very nicely how her son told her that we did a Halloween song.  She wanted me to know that her family does not celebrate Halloween and to not require her son to sing those songs. I let her know that her son handled it so well and how this was going to be the only song we did specifically about Halloween.  I assured her that her little boy was a wonderful student and acted very maturely in a situation that could have been iffy.  That made her smile and helped comfort her fears.  I have to make sure before I do any winter songs that there are no other issues, but this kid is a joy!

November has flown by. Next time I post, I'm sure it'll be about my favorite turkey tunes!
Happy Thanksgiving in advance in case my next post doesn't occur before the day of turkeys.