Round 2

So I haven't really done very well at this whole blogging thing yet this session. I'm way busier than my first session already, and it's only the second week! So tiring!

So I'm at Sioux Center Christian in 6th grade. They are definitely different than my third graders. Not quite as cute, and not quite as nice. Sixth graders have attitude. There are some kids who are just so much fun, and even though they're talkative, they're really nice kids. And then there's some kids who just get on your nerves! But I'm learning. I'm getting to know the kids better which is fun.

I'm doing my unit this session. Making Children's Picture Books. It's actually quite fun. There are piles and piles of picture books all around the classroom right now to serve as models for the students. We've been reading several of them, and I have definitely found a newfound love for Chris Van Allsburg. Amazing man! (He's the guy who wrote Polar Express, Jumanji, Wretched Stone, The Z Was Zapped, etc.) I also love books by William Steig! I think the kids are enjoying reading the books too, even though they try to read the shortest ones and get away with the least amount of work possible. Hmmmm

Anyways, I'll try to keep up with this whole blogging thing, but I have a feeling I'm going to be ridiculously busy coming up here pretty soon.

The Grand Finale

It's over. Done. I'm currently sitting on my water bed in Sioux Falls, dreaming of the warm Florida weather that I've left behind. Remind me again why I came back?

I miss my Florida friends! Sooooo soooo much! Can I please forget this whole Sioux Center thing and go back to Florida?

Ok, sorry. Done complaining. So my last week at Lake Worth Christian was quite interesting. The week started off with my teacher being sick for two days, so I was in full control. This last week was my week of having full control anyways, so it wasn't really a big deal. It is really interesting though to see how the kids act differently when their actual teacher isn't in the room. Definitely a little more talkative.

It was heartbreaking telling the kids that it would be my last week. So sad! I had become so attached to them, and they'd become attached to me. But, the week went well, and I expected the class had a little something planned for Friday - my last day. Third graders aren't very good at keeping secrets - especially about parties. They would come up and ask me what my favorite kind of cake was, and try to be all sneaky about it. Oh my.

So Friday came, and what do you know, they threw me a party! They all went around the room and said why they thought I would make a great teacher. We had brownies, ring pops, and Capri Suns. And they gave me a framed picture of me with the class. Also, a bunch of the kids made me cards, which of course were adorable. One card, written by one of my cutest, sweetest little girls, brought tears to my eyes. It made me really realize why I want to be a teacher.

It said:

Dear Miss Van,
I will miss you a lot and I have high hopes for you.

I will never forget you. You were a great teacher and I'm

sure any school will be greatful to have you there.

You made everything different in third grade and something

happened. You made it exciting and I hope all of your friends

like hearing about us. You changed third grade.

You changed me.

I will miss you very very much and I hope I will see you

again one day. I loved you being here and I will really miss you.

Love your best pal.

Bible Food Fest

So we're doing a nomad unit on Abram and we had a Bible Food Fest! There were lots of new foods that I was sure I wanted to try, but I ended up liking a lot of them! Surprisingly, my kids were probably even more daring than I was and wanted to try everything and liked almost everything too! I would've never tried goat cheese or lentils in third grade!

Do You Have These Kids Too?

So I've been definitely picking up on some things about my students, and I was wondering if there are kids like this in every class.......my guess is yes.

--- The girl who can't seem to answer a single problem on her worksheet without your help. She would have you do the whole thing for her if she could. She just can't seem to figure out the answers without you going over every one with her. She's always coming up to you and asking questions. VERY needy. But cute.

--- The girl who can't stop talking. No matter what. She always has a comment, and it's usually funny. But you have to try to hold back laughter to let her know that it's not appropriate to say something about EVERYTHING.

--- The boy who is NEVER paying attention. No matter how many times you tell the students what page of the book you're on, he still doesn't even have his book out of his desk because he was off in Lala Land.

--- The kid who always seems to forget to put his name on papers.

--- The kid who thinks that everyone in the class has to raise their hands but him.

--- The kids who should be getting things right on their assignments, but are too lazy to read the directions.

--- The kids who wave their hand around in the air crazy excited, and then when you call on them they say, "ummm.....I forget."

--- The kid with ADD that sometimes forgets to take his medication. Ahhhh!!

--- The kid whose mom brings him fast food for lunch EVERY SINGLE DAY! And then he complains.

--- The sweet, shy, quiet girl who barely ever talks to you.

--- The kid who asks to go to the bathroom everyday and gives you that look that says they're about to explode, so you can't say no.


I'm sure you guys probably have kids like this in your classes too. And my kids have a ton of other quirky little things about them, but I love them so much. It was my birthday on Monday and they all sang to me like three times (once in Spanish!) and they all made me cards. Oh, they are just so adorable! As much as I want to teach middle school, these little third graders are definitely starting to grow on me.

"No Hi-Fives for Satan"

On Thursdays we have chapel, and this past Thursday we had a band called the Carpenter's Tools. They did praise and worship songs and then did a little liturgical dance, drama thingy to the song "Dare You to Move" by Switchfoot. One of the band members played the Jesus figure, one played the devil, and two others played demons, or bad people, to bring the main girl down.

So after chapel, we were all filing out of the gym, and the band members were in the crowd giving hi-fives to the kids. All of my third graders were going crazy, except for one - "Stanley." He stood there with a very somber look on his face - almost a glare. When the band member got to Stanley he was like - "What? You don't want to give me a hi-five?"

Stanley simply said, "No hi-fives for Satan."

The band member happened to be the guy who played the devil figure in the drama dance thing. He laughed in disbelief and was like, "But I'm not really Satan!" Stanley just shook his head at the man and walked away.

It was possibly the most hilarious moment at school thus far. AND it can be the new Christian slogan on all the t-shirts in Christian bookstores - "No hi-fives for Satan!"

Third Grade Humor

Q: What do you call a mini rockstar?




A: Elfis

The Many Different Ways to Spell "Sentences"

- sentnces

- sentensese

- sencets

- sentenseces

- sentencents