Baseball

My favorite thing about the spring is baseball. Ok...maybe not all of baseball just little kid baseball. I love it all. The smell of the grass and dirt. The kids with dirty knees and koolaid stained faces. The sunflower seed spitting and nachos with little bits of overcooked cheese. How the kids look wobbly with their oversized cleats and how their helmets are about 3 and 1/2 times as big as their bodies. I love the parents who say things that I don't understand like "Come on, hips and whips this time!", "In and on the outside!" and "Getcha head in the game"...oh wait that last one was from High School Musical. I love how the little siblings play in the dirt and eat rocks. In essence there are very few things I would rather be doing on a spring Saturday than sitting on a bench and cheering for the ________ (insert name of team my student is playing on). Going to Little League games is the only thing that makes my ovaries flutter and my biological clock tick. I work 7 hours a day with kids and that is extreme birth control and yet when a goofy looking kid who is all arms and legs and no teeth tries to hit a ball it make me understand why people chose to procreate. Anyway... I love baseball and I was enjoying one of my student's games this evening (they won! YAY!) and three funny things happened:
1. This very small kid was playing first base and every time he caught the ball he would leap off the base, fly through the air, and catch the ball with such great enthusiasm that he would jump off the base and belly flop on the ground, ball in glove, and tippy toes about 1 inch off the base. The runner was always safe and the first baseman was always a few centimeters from glory.
2. As one of the Jayhawks was running around third, a Cardinal caught a pass and then threw it with a lot of gusto. With soooo much gusto in fact that it flew past third, flew past the third base coach, flew past the fence, flew past the spectators, flew past the previously mentioned kids eating dirt, and into the field across the way. The best part was that no one knew what to make of it. Pandemonium ensued. The coaches were yelling. The parents were yelling. The kids were running everywhere but on the bases. Hilarious!
3. The Cardinals were in outfield and as the first hitter was going up the umpire called a one-minute timeout. This was confusing to everyone as it seemed like an illogical delay of game. Of course it seemed illogical until a tiny little body hopped over the fence, sprinted to the tree line at the edge of the field and then proceeded to relieve himself why everyone waited for him. The umpire said he had a minute and by golly it took him just under. Apparently it was an emergency and the coach said it would take more than a minute to get to the bathroom and back so the woods were the only option. The best part of this is that when the poor kid got back all of the spectators gave him a standing ovation.

Pink Pajamas Penguins on the Bottom

Matsavinya matiseema va vinya yay
Pink pajamas penguins on the bottom
Pink pajamas penguins on the bottom

hmmm hmmm (not sure of the words)
The sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
hmmmmm (more unknown words)
crescendo to It's the Circle of Life!

Ok it's not really that dramatic in Room 15. There is no manic/spooky monkey holding a little lion cub over all the animals of the Savannah but it is special that we have gotten to see the middle, end, beginning, middle, and soon to be end of the butterfly life cycle.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.... no that's a different story. We got these wonderful painted lady caterpillars about a month ago (see previous post about the hot glue/trauma/butterfly crisis for more detailed history). They grew into 5 1/2 butterflies (one was kind of special needs and might have been on the spectrum). As soon as they hatched it was painted lady porn in our room! I didn't take any pictures of the explicit act simply because I didn't think it was appropriate to draw attention to it in front of the kids and because even insects should enjoy private moments of intimacy. If you really want to see it google image search it :).

Here is the boy chasing around the one any only girl.
You can tell by the size of their abdomen (butt).

I have taught my kiddos a lot of good phrases (TCB, You're on the radar,
Touch it again...see what happens!) and one that I taught them was "Peacocking" That is exactly what Lucky (they named them all Lucky...I don't know why) was doing in this picture.

3-5 days after the 8 hour humping session these tiny mint green eggs showed up. It was amazing! You could actually see the mommy butterfly sticking her abdomen down and sticking these little dots to the leaves. If you look really closely you can see a little black speck on the leaf on the left upper part and that is newly hatched caterpillar. There is also one in the middle of the left cluster of eggs. When they hatch they are less than an 1/8 of an inch long and have the biggest head (like an orange on a toothpick!) and the tiniest little bodies.

Here is a picture of the first 200 or so that hatched. Yes they are the little tiny black specks!

This is a picture of a one-week old caterpillar and one day old caterpillar. I know that this is the curse of the new mother. Every gurgle, spit-up, and dirty diaper is the best, most wonderful, special bodily fluid ever created. Even though my commitment is only for another month or so I still feel like every leaf chewed is chewed in a way that no caterpillar has ever masticated before, and every piece of frass (poop) is the most perfect frass ever created, and every little tiny molt need to be documented, photographed, and then told to everyone I know.
In essence my caterpillars are in the top 99% of all the caterpillars in the whole entire world.

This is a three-week old caterpillar on a mallow leaf stem.

Here they are getting ready to make their J shapes

Some more of the ridiculously huge 3 week old caterpillars.
On the verge of changing into chrysalises.

Here are some of the chrysalises. As the larvae inside age they get more and more beautiful!

This is a chrsyallis who attached to the top of the net. You can see the silk pat really clearly. Here is the butterfly net filled with our butterflies!!!

More metamorphic madness to follow...until the next insect installment :)
Awesome alliteration also :)

Mealworms to Darkling Beetles...an Incredible Journey

This is going to be the first of several installments about the life cycles of bugs in my classroom. Thank you in advance for reading about something that not even my dearest friends can tolerate anymore...so I am a little obsessed! I can tell when the people I work with start to get that look like they would rather live through a month of Mondays than keep listening that I have gone from "Endearingly Engaged" to "2 Cats Short of Being the Crazy Lady with the 2 Cats" Anyway...I will start where Room 15 started...mealworms! We got our mealworms and eagerly started investigating their weird (and a little creepy) body structures. They are pretty tough and the kids L-O-V-E them. Initially we had put in pretzel bits and graham crackers as food but then that was replaced by bran cereal. Here is one of our cute little mealworm...

It's so cute with it's segmented shell and little pincher mouth. Yes, these are the silly insects that my kids carry around and put on their shoulders, heads, arms, knees, shoes, noses. They even make little obstacle courses with pencils and markers to put them through.

I love his little cute face in this picture!

After waiting for months and months and months....ok less than a month. Our dearly beloved mealworms turned into "mummies" actually pupae. These particular pupae are disgusting looking. They are similar to chrysalises in that if they are bumped then they wiggle like crazy.

Initially I had put the pupae in with the adult beetles but after a tubbie cleaning in which I found about 30 pupae that had either their heads or butts chewed off I moved the few surviving ones back in with the mealworms. It was super disgusting! Even now the kids sometimes find legs and body bits in the bran flakes...sick!

This is before the adults started chewing off butts!

The adult beetles also eat bran and veggies. They have wings but can't fly and they have very sticky feet. My biggest fear is that somehow they are going to escape and invade my whole room. The kids also love, love, love these (even the ones who were scared at first). They have named them all (which makes it a little more traumatic when Sheldon was found half eaten or Rock went belly up for no apparent reason) and have races with them. I was hesitant at first to stick my hand in the tub but over time I began to do it with courage and bravery.

There are some color variations. The light one is newly hatched. When their wing covers are opened (like the one on the left) you can see the ridges that were also apparent on the pupa.

A good example of the sticky feet I mentioned earlier.

Synonyms: Irate, Angry, Mad, Raging

Everyday we learn a new word of the day. We talk about the synonyms, antonyms, syllabication, and then come up with an action. During the day I try to work it in to sentences and questions. Some are silly (scrumptious), some are content related (conservation), and some are just words that "feel right" (hullabaloo).
Today, a big house lizard came into the classroom and you can imagine the hullabaloo that ensued. There was some screaming, some ruckus, and some general foolishness. I being the competent and ever-ready lizard wrangler I got two rubbermaid lids and started my strategic way towards the door-the child wrangling was a little more difficult then the lizard. Anyway, as I am scooting and cajoling the lizard towards the door I hit the edge of a paint palate, which was sitting on the table, with my arm. This particular paint plate I had asked Preciosa to put in the trash about 1 hour before. When I hit the plate it didn't spill, it didn't tip, it didn't even fall. It flipped up and stuck to my sweater...I had a rainbow of tempera all over my sweater with a paper plate stuck to it, a lizard I didn't want, and a class full of hysterical 7 year olds. I was sooo angry at Preciosa for not doing what I had asked, even when I had reminded her. I was also angry at myself for not just throwing the paint away, and I was very mad at this lizard who interrupted math and my life. I looked up into 18 pairs of saucer eyes and a tiny voice in the back peeps "Furious! You look just like the word of the day." Before I could growl, shout, or exclaim. A chorus of agreement erupted and it was at that point I realized how ridiculous this situation was. A teachable moment-yes. However, when they talk about teachable moments in teacher education programs they never mention paint, lizards, or chaos. Tomorrow's word of the day: pandemonium

Another Field Trip

Things overhead on Room 15’s field trip:
-Look Ms. A. it says F…..U…..C……
-Ok, that’s enough good reading skills though!
-Look those monkeys are doing what the butterflies do in the class (oh YES they were getting jiggy with it).
-Ms. A. do you think that I could live with the tigers when I grow up?
-He’s my best friend! (10 minutes later) I’m not inviting him to my birthday!
-Can we see the snakes again…pleeeeaaaassseee!
-Please sit down when the bus is moving.
-Please keep your feet inside the bus.
-Please do not stick your hands outside of the bus.
-Please do not stand on the seats while the bus is moving.
-Please sit down.
-Sit down.
-Sit now!
-SIT! SO HELP ME I WILL TURN THIS BUS AROUND!
-What?!? 300 hundred pounds of poo!
-What is that smell?
-That my friend would be the 300 pounds of poo.
-Look it’s peeing on the other orangutan’s head.
-Ms. A. this sunbutter tastes really bad….next time I’m bringing a Lunchable.
-Here Ms. A. I saved you a Dorito.
-Wow, thanks I really was hoping you would give me one.
-This was the best day ever!

Books, Books, Books

The most powerful catalyst in my reading is listening to people talk about the books they love, it makes me want to sip, slurp, and savor stories. We had a lady come to our school and do an inservice on books and it made me want to read, re-read and share the good books in my life. Many people have asked over the years for a list of the books I love and this is it...I will probably remember one in the middle of the night and add to it. I have also categorized it in a way that make sense to me so don't judge me on my genres :). Oh... and to conserve space and my fingers I am only listing the first in a series even though you should go on to read all of them.

Realistic Fiction:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid- J. Kinney: A graphic novel which is written in first person by a middle school boy who is chronicling the big (and not so big) events in his life. Hilarious! A book that will keep you laughing and turning the pages to the very end.

Freak the Mighty- R. Philbrick: Max and Freak are an odd couple whose friendship sees them through some hard times. Get out the Kleenex because there is a Max in all of our lives and his joys and sorrows make an impression on every reader.

Frindle- A. Clements: A great book for kids who are precocious. A boy changes the English language by creating a new word. An awesome book about the etiology of language and how it changes over time.

Holes- L. Sachar: A crummy setting and situation are changed by a stroke of dumb luck. You will fall in love with the characters and be engaged by the flashbacks.

Ida B:..and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disasters, and (Possibly) Save the World- K. Hannigan: The girl in this book is feisty, fun and has a fantastic voice. She copes with changes in her life and tries to deal with them in her own way. After you read this you will start writing a children's book of your own because the language is amazing.

Maniac Magee- J. Spinelli: Maniac doesn't have a home, an address, or a reason to stop running until he meets some unforgettable characters and remembers what it's like to have a family and friends. This book makes me want to be a better writer.

Stargirl- J. Spinelli: A boy tells the story of his high school life and the people who drift in and out of it. The main character is his friend/girl friend who lives life her own way. Bad things happen when he wants her to change more than he wants her to be happy. The sequel is a little disheartening.

The Thief Lord- C. Funke: A group of orphans and runaways are lead into a life of crime by a disguised leader. The protagonist has his beliefs challenged by experiences, discoveries, and being the caretaker for his brother. A lengthy book but well worth it.

Historical Fiction:

Al Capone Does My Shirts- G. Choldenko: A novel set in the 30's and about a boy and his family who live on Alcatraz island. The subplot about his interactions with the warden's daughter are a sunny spot this powerful book about growing up. It has a great plot and fascinating characters who are endearing, frustrating, and delightful.

Esperanza Rising- P. Munoz: Set in the 1930's a girl finds her self, her courage, and her hope in a desperate time and situation. A very interesting story of field workers and their trials.

Milkweed- J. Spinelli: A story about a orphan who grows up in during the Holocaust and finds refuge and friends in a Jewish ghetto, even though he is not a Jew. A different perspective on the Holocaust story told by a little boy who doesn't understand why his friends live behind the fences and why things are changing.

Number the Stars- L. Lowry: A story about a girl growing up during the Nazi invasion of Denmark and how she overcomes her fears to be the hero her family and best friend need.

Petey- B. Mikaelsen: A unique look from a severely disabled boy who is institutionalized in the 1920's and his growing up. This story is heart breaking, uplifting, and life changing.

The Teacher's Funeral, A Comedy in Three Parts- R. Peck: This book has a dry outlook on growing up in the early 1900's. The boys are smart, playful, a little obnoxious and exactly how boys should be.

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle- Avi: Written in first person by a girl who shuns convention on her voyage across the Atlantic in 1802. This book challenges stereotypes of girls in the 1800's and their roles in society. WARNING: This is a slow starting book so push through the first few chapters to the murder and betrayal parts and there is one with a stupid cover so get the one that doesn't have the lame dame looking girl on the front...believe me- EVERYONE judges a book by it's cover.

Biography/Autobiography:

Harris and Me-G. Paulsen: This could be my favorite book of all time....really! It combines the hard topics of foster families and the sheer joy of 11 year old boys on a farm. You will laugh until you cry and then cry some more because the story is so good and powerful. It is written in what I like to call "stream of consciousness" style which is entirely entertaining. A good read is Popcorn Days and Buttermilk Nights, same setting, author, and concept but fictional characters.

I Have Lived A Thousand Years- O. Bitton-Jackson: A heartbreaking book about the courage and resiliency of the human spirit. The author lives through the Holocaust as a teenager and loses her family, friends, and life but never her integrity.

Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid- J. Spinelli: This is best read after a few Spinelli books-it links the stories and the author. A great book to illustrate how authors write about what they love and know.

Fiction:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- R. Dahl: This book is as odd as the day is long and twice as delightful. If you have never read it-do yourself a favor and read it!

Charlotte's Web- E. B. White: A classic that is better as an adult (in my opinion). It is a slow starter so be ready to push past the first few chapters. If you've only watched the movie then spend a day or two with these characters and fall in love with them again...or for the first time.

The Giver- L. Lowry: A great book about a utopian society that has some dark secrets. A boy is given the memories of the city and finds a great life outside of this highly structured society. You must read Gathering Blue and The Messenger...it will blow your mind!

Gossamer- L. Lowry: A book that explores foster parenting, second chances, and anger through the perspective of dream makers. An interesting look at the problems that kids, adults, and families face.

The Ink Drinker- E. Sanvoisin: A little book with big figurative language. This book is great short read that is as suspenseful and it is well-written. The author has captured the essence of enjoying a book and wrapped it in a wonderfully engaging story.

Tale of Desperaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread- K. DiCamillo: Exactly what the title says. It is written in second person which adds some interest. The stories intertwine and the moral is that every action starts a chain of events. This is another book that makes me want to be a good writer.

Nod's Limb (Edgar and Ellen)- C. Ogden: Engaging for non-readers. Similar to the Lemony Snicket books except the children are throughly bad and nothing ever works out in their nefarious plans. The pet that they hate and torment is really good and foils them at every turn.

High Fiction:

Artemis Fowl- E. Colfer: A boy who is equal parts smart and self-serving tricks the fairy world into releasing it's secrets and gold. The greatest lessons in life are those that are learned through trial and err and Artemis learns a few along the way. A great series. An even better book on CD-the reader is AMAZING!

Eragon- C. Paolini: A boy and his dragon...need I say more. Similar to Tolkin and Lewis but wonderful and worthwhile all the same. The books are pretty heavy and need to be read with an alertness that isn't often found after 9:00.

The Edge Chronicles (Beyond the Deepwoods)- P. Stewart: Set in an alternate world with a very definite class system a boy realizes his dreams of being a sky pirate. The pen and ink illustrations make this book come alive. Clear your calendar and settle in for a good read.

Magick- A. Sage- A boy is the seventh son of a seventh son and this changes the destiny of his world. The the plot is complex, the characters multi-dimensionally, and the pace surprisingly fast.

Midnight for Charlie Bone- J. Nimmo: A boy with special powers fights against the dark powers to find his father and save his friends. The characters are engaging and memorable.

Poetry:

House on Mango Street- S. Cisneros: A refreshing free-verse poetry book about growing up in the barrios. The writing and words are playful and celebrate life. Not all poems are appropriate for students so pre-read :).

Where the Sidewalks Ends- S. Silverstein: A collection of wacky poems that will make you smile, laugh, and shake your head in wonder at the odd creations of verse.

Adventure/Mystery:

Among the Hidden- M. Haddix: In the future the government limits the number of children a family can have and the "hidden children" fight against the population control. Every book is by a different third child and tells a different part of the story. You will not put this down until you get to the end and then you will immediately go to the library and get the next one in the series.

Chasing Vermeer- B. Balliett: A odd pair of friends solve a mystery of a missing painting using observation, pentominoes and good old fashion sleuthing. The following two books are also very good.

City of Ember- J. Duprau: Set in the future it's the story of a city whose foundations are being shaken by the unknown. A few kids set out in search of answers in a suspenseful, fast paced story.

Hatchet-G. Paulsen: A boy, a hatchet, a airplane crash in the Canadian wilderness adds up to a very good book that combines courage, ingenuity and sheer luck.

The Sisters Grimm- M. Buckley: The two sisters are descents of the Brothers Grimm and solve mysteries for the Ever Afters (fairy tale folk). It's interesting to find who are the heros, who are the villians, and who are the clinically insane. A great fractured fairy tale spin.

Field Trips

Things to remember when going on a field trip:
-Your driver's license...especially if you are driving
-If a kid is absent you should recognize that fact before getting to the destination
-If a new kid is coming find out EXACTLY how to spell her name before putting in on a million and one things
-If previously mentioned new kid is starting on the first day we've had a field trip all year then maybe you should ask her mom if she has accidents often
-If aforementioned new kid pees her weight in urine on the field trip then it might be good to have spare clothes or a mop or a shamwow
-Sunbutter (peanut butter made out of sunflowers) is no substitute for peanut butter
-Do not carry even one kid's jacket or you will become the pack mule/coat rack for the rest of the day
-If you are the one setting the meeting time and place maybe you should have a map and a watch...eventually you may need one or the other
-When you go down stairs eventually you will have to walk up them again and usually when you are late to the meeting place
-If there is a switch, a flip, a pipe, a handle, a lever, a wheel, a toggle, a pedal, a knob then every single one of my 19 kiddos will touch, jiggle, shake, and bang it until it moves somehow or they are distracted by the next doodad
-Before listening to a playlist on the way home you should make sure the explicit songs are not included
-Always volunteer to carry the lunch basket on the way home...when it is empty
-If the butterflies are mating when you leave and still mating when you get back maybe you should cut down on the Viagra tablets you are crushing into the sugar water
-After all is said and done if a kid looks adoringly up at you and says, "Ms. A. you are the best teacher in the whole world and this was the best field trip ever!" then all the paperwork, lectures from the principal, and calling in favors is worth it