check!

another parent teacher conference day (and evening) under the belt!  and i survived!  parents were mostly pretty happy and of course it's not the parents that you need to talk to that show up!  it's the B students who want an A or the A students who want an A+.  but it was fine.  i only got 2 angry parents who say that i am the reason that their son or daughter did not get honour roll or high honour roll because their lowest marks are in my class.  i said that i don't give marks, but students earn them.  i was able to back myself in both cases and show just how exactly their son or daughter could have improved their marks and earned a higher grade in my class. 

next up, a full day of assessment training tomorrow.  yes!  on the weekend!  sheesh!  this is going to significantly affect my shopping/tv watching schedule!

three reasons i love my job

1.  i'm reading the novel "the tales of despereaux" to my class.  we're only like 7 chapters in and they are HOOKED.  they love it.  when i asked for opinions of the book after only having read 4 chapters, one boys' response was:

"ms.  i really like the book a lot.  when you are reading, there is so much descriptions that it's like a moving playing in my head" he says as he closes his eyes and touches his forehead. 

AH-DOR-ABLE!

2.  a conversation between myself and a rather large boy in my class:

S:  ms.  i have very bad news.  i have to tell you but you can't tell anyone ok?

ME (worried):  ok s.  what's wrong?

S:  well ms., *whispering* i think i'm being stalked!

ME (trying not to laugh):  oh really?!  what makes you think that?

S:  well ms., there is someone who keeps following me.  and she isn't very cute.  and everywhere i go ms., if i look behind me, she is there!

ME (trying REALLY hard not to laugh): oh dear!  well, i'm sure that it's just a coincidence. 

S:  no ms.!  it isn't!  and do you want to know the worst part ms.?  *whispers* it's a girl!

ME:  *hysterical cackle out loud*

S:  ms. it isn't funny!  what should i do ms.?

ME:  you know s, in a few years you aren't going to think that this was quite so bad!  i want you to test your theory tomorrow and keep me posted ok?  

S:  ok ms.

ME:  plus s, she's probably cute!!  *more cackling*

3.  sitting at my desk, well after the kids should be gone home, a young girl comes in my class.  

H:  ah, hi ms.  

ME:  hi h.

H:  ah, ms., do you want to hear the poem that i made up at recess about the boys?

ME:  yes, please!

H:  ah, ok ms.  "go east, go west, you snore like a pig!"  oh.  i guess that doesn't really rhyme does it?

ME:  well not quite.  let's try this, "go west, go east, you snore like a beast!"  

H:  *laughing* ok, bye ms. 

knock on wood...

my classes were so good today!  in fact, my "bad" class was even better than my "good" class today.  is it a full moon?  what's happening??  fingers crossed that this continues tomorrow!!!  i love it!

the weekend blogger

how has it happened that i've become the weekend blogger?!  getting back into the swing of things at school has been EXHAUSTING!  i'm telling ya!

so what's new this week?  let's see...

• sunday i started tutoring again.  it's nice to get into the routine again (and the money!).
• monday i tutored again.  not much happening....
• tuesday i got really angry at one of my classes.  we had the big "respect" talk (again).  i gave them the silent treatment.  i hope they get better soon....
• i've started taking an allergy pill at bed time.  i've been feeling so icky in the morning i decided i'd give it a shot.  i'll keep you posted.  all i know is that this morning i DID NOT want to get out of bed.  
• wednesday (today) my kids were a bit better.  
• i went grocery shopping at the new Lulu's.  i love it there.  i even found egg substitute!  yippee!  (eggs freak me out...)
• i hurt my back lifting a case of pop.  i'm a wimp.
• phil had his first basketball game of the season.  i couldn't attend but i hear it was a nail biter!  in the end the BBS bulldogs came out ON TOP!
• tomorrow is THURSDAY!  i love the weekend! 

pop rock please!!

i need to find some pop rocks.  i have planned an entire lesson based on pop rocks for monday, thinking i would be able to go to the grocery store and buy pop rocks.  think again.  i'm still searching.  two stops today that i can think of....wish me luck!!!

what a week...

i have so much to look forward to this week!  here's what's up:

• sunday - field trip with my class.  and a reading party with one of my classes.  then tutoring.
• monday - english test in my class.  which isn't that exciting but it means a quiet day!  :)  then tutoring.
• tuesday - word games and fun stuff in class.  then the spa after school.
• wednesday - winter party in my classes!!  fun, fun, fun!  staff christmas lunch!
• thursday - last day of school!!  reading party with my other class.  early dismissal!  
• friday - in the middle of the night...FLY TO ITALY!!!! and meet naomi to begin our italian christmas vacation!!!  YAY!!!  

it's going to be a GREAT week!!

terrible, i know.

i am sorry that i have been absent so much this week.  but this time, i swear it's not my fault!  my internet ha been TERRIBLE in the evenings which of course is the only time i am home.  it seems to be working well right now so hopefully it keeps up!
so let' see, what did i do this week....

• tutored.  sunday, monday, tuesday.  for an hour and a half each night.  

• went shopping and for dinner at city center.  groceries mostly.  along with a few kitchen items. 

• yesterday was sports day at school.  it was a hectic but great day.  the kids had SO much fun and i got to work with lindsay!  i seem to have damaged my voice a bit in the process but these things happen...

• pinterest.  i have finally been accepted and i am OBSESSED.

• planned for a supply teacher.  i am going to be away in bahrain on sunday and monday of this week coming.  i have to go on a visa run.  so i had to plan and make sure that EVERYTHING was ready for the person who will cover my classes.  

• in my down time i watched some shows and did a bit of work on my course (which has also been a pain since the internet was so bad.)

this weekend i have the holiday bazaar, a surprise party, and lots of marking to do!!!  then off to bahrain on sunday!  time flies when you're busy!  only  4 weeks til christmas vacation!!!! yahhhooooo!

almost there...

after 2 month of school, one set of progress reports, and then parent/teacher conference tonight, we have ALMOST arrived at our very first holiday!!!!!!!!!!  only one day left - tomorrow - a day of more meetings with parents along with some planning (hopefully).  and then WE ARE DONE!  and off for ONE WEEK!! 
i am so excited!  it's definitely time for a break!


come to think of it....i have a lot to do over the 'break'.....but that's ok!  cause most of it's FUN stuff!! 
the count down to thursday at 2:00p.m. is ON!

course update

as of tonight i am officially CAUGHT UP and AHEAD of the game for my course!  take that course!!  and as long as i don't fall asleep, i plan to get some more stuff done ahead of time on it tonight!  fingers crossed that i can stay awake!

blech!

doing homework tonight.  trying to get ahead.
remind me again why i took this course???

enough procrastinating....off i go.

oh kids...

this morning when my students arrive:

H:  ms. did they fix the lockers this weekend??
me:  they sure did!
H:  i knew it!  do you know how i knew ms?  because it smells drilly in here!!

ya!  so take that!!  ....i want to know what drilly smells like....

no more missus nice guy!

times they are a changin' in grade 5!  one of my classes has been less than wonderful lately (read: out of control!!!!!!!!) and the other continues to be relatively well behaved.  well, the not so well behaved class is going to see a change.  the change started today and i will just tell you that the old "don't smile until christmas" rule has been implemented by ms. emily.  that's it.  that's all.  wish me luck!

student council elections

i had been warned about the insanity of student elections at our school, and apparently it will get even better over the next couple of days.  but today ian, alex and i went to check things out.  turns out their are two parties, senses and 1977.  i asked about the name 1977...apparently that's when our school was opened..."plus ms. it's cool because it's so retro!"  obviously!  i should have known!
anyway, there were pens, balloons, buttons, popcorn, hamburgers from mcdonalds, and more.  plus there were couches, fuseball machines, ping pong tables, tents, a deejay, and many loud high school students.  it was so much fun!  and i can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!  i'll keep you posted :)

kids are aweomse

A:  ms. emily, i need to tell you, i hate school.

me:  no you don't hate school!!

A:  yes ms!  i do!  i really do hate it!

me:  oh!  so what you're trying to say is that you love me??

A:  yes ms!  i like you.  but i don't like school ms!

at least i'm not the reason!!  let's see what this week will bring!! cross your fingers for two wonderful grade 5 classes that have miraculously learned to raise their hands and stop chatting over the weekend!!

good one!

today was a good day.
i woke up feeling a bit less sore after night two in my own bed (i will be going out to purchase a new mattress this weekend)
i had a good day at school - my kids were not spectacular but they were pretty good - but i had a really great lesson that worked out just so!
i got paid!  and got a bank account!  and atm card.  and pin number!  YAHOOO!!
i got wireless internet!

not bad right?! 

oh and i decided i'm getting a kitten....
love you mom!  xo

good for a chuckle.

last year, while teaching in vietnam, i gave my students these for prizes...

they are silly bandz, which are essentially rubber bands in cute shapes.  fun.  cute.  inexpensive.  age appropriate.

fast forward to this year in kuwait.  my students are wearing these:

REAL cartier LOVE bracelets.  GORGEOUS!  expensive!  really expensive!  not intended for 5th graders.  EXPENSIVE!

i guess i can't use silly bands as prizes this year...

t-t-t-today!

today was the second full day of school with students for the 2011/2012 school year.
today lindsay and i had a tea party during period one...before either of us even started teaching for the day.
today one of my boys told me i had a nice haircut.
today one of my classes ready SILENTLY for over 10 minutes!  i was shocked.
today i got all my kids settled into their lockers...though some still can't use a lock...
today lindsay and i had a second tea party before lunch.  we needed tea!
today i was actually quite productive on my spares!
today another one of my boys gave me an origami shirt that he made.  he wrote "to ms. emily" on it.  he is adorable.
today i had two major leg cramps and one made me cry.  i felt silly but it hurt SO much!
today i was trying to do some homework but i fell asleep. 
today i didn't go on the treadmill cause of my leg.
today phil made a delicious dinner as always.  too bad he messed up the corn. HAHAHA just kidding philly bear!!
today is wednesday, which means tomorrow is thursday, which means WEEKEND!  YAY!
today was a good day.

meet and greet

tomorrow is the first time we will get to meet our students!  i'm excited!  and nervous!  going back to school as a teacher is nerve wracking too you know!!  that makes me think.  i wish i had brought the book "first day jitters with me.  it's about a girl who is so nervous to go to school that she doesn't want to get out of bed.  and it turns out it's the teacher! 

i'll get out of bed.  i promise!

back to school shopping

today lindsay, pat and i made another trip to avenues.  it's the big fancy mall that they like here.  and from what i hear it is a friday ritual!  i'm ok with that :)  anyway, we had to do some back to school shopping.  obviously.  because whenever it's back to school time, it means it's also time for new school clothes!  right??  RIGHT!  we were very successful today and even found some clothes that come in my size!  YAHOO!!  

tomorrow is our first day at school with the whole staff.  we have meetings tomorrow and sunday.  and then monday we have some meetings and we meet with any parents and students who drop in.  tuesday is our first full day with students.  am i ready?  not yet!  but i will be ready by monday, inshallah!! 

"back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that i'm not a fooooool."

facts about today.

fact:  kuwait is very hot. like someone is blowing a hair drier in your eyes. 
fact:  i much prefer this heat to the humidity of vietnam.
fact:  i hurt my neck today and currently can't turn my head.  i don't know  what i did. 
fact:  i got my classroom keys today.  i'm going to make it awesome.
fact:  i am very happy to be living with the parkinson's right now.  they are awesome hosts/friends/family.
fact:  today i had a meeting with the rest of the new middle school people.  i think MS is going to ROCK.
fact:  i met the head of the english department today.  i am so excited to meet the rest of the english department and learn more about my job for the year ahead. 
fact:  lindsay and i baked cupcakes tonight.  they smell delish.
fact:  i napped today but hope i can still sleep tonight. because last night i was not very successful at sleeping.
fact:  tomorrow i don't have to go to the health tests with the other teachers because i don't have my work visa.  thank you fed ex.  NOT.  (p.s. will keep you posted on how i will go about this process). 
fact:  it's big brother time.  good bye!!