When I logged on to start writing tonight, I forgot that I switched the font and all sorts of things on my blog! Anyway, these past two days have been busy at school! I am really trying to focus on writing with the whole class and catch them up to where they should be. Many of them still cannot write complete sentences on their own! We have lots to work on, including getting them to enjoy writing! They dread it every time I say writing but I'm convinced I will get them to enjoy it by the end of the year. I think they do not enjoy it right now because they are actually having to work and getting corrected when they make mistakes.
More on writing later. This morning, one of my girls came up to me with a question. It was in the middle of their French class so I wasn't sure what she was going to ask and what came out was definitely not close to my own thoughts. She said, "Ms. Halstead, can the girls at my table and I be bridesmaids in your wedding?" ha ha! Did you know I'm getting married and sorry friends and sisters, my 7 year olds want to be my bridesmaids! I could not help but laugh and went to tell Julissa who laughed as well. After school, I asked one of the girls what color their dresses were going to be and she said that she was a flower-girl so white, of course. She told me where I was getting married but that I get to pick my future husband and when we get married. How lucky for me!
During tutoring after school, one of my second grade boys was too shy to ask a fourth grade girl to move so he could get into his desk so I had to do it for him. I could not help but laugh and the fourth grade girls giggled. Later though, he started asking me about having a boyfriend. This is a weekly topic for them yet I assure them that I will tell them when I get a boyfriend. He asked, "Ms. Halstead are you going to date a black man...or a white man?" Once again, I laughed and said, "I have no idea! Do you have anyone to set me up with?" He informed me that there are lots of boys in the school (meaning all the students!) but I said they are way too young! He offered the PE teacher (the only white, male teacher that is there everyday) for me but I informed him Coach has a girlfriend. He gave up after that. I am pretty sure my students are dead-set on finding me a husband or at least boyfriend by the end of the school year! God's the only real holder of that information and that's okay with me.
My day was not all about future weddings though. I did encounter a bullying issue today that was very hurtful for two girls. A mean picture had been drawn, mean words had been said, and tears flowed from two sets of eyes. The hard part about this school is that they have been together since kindergarten if not before in the Early Learning Center. Even in third grade, they still hold grudges from first grade! As a teacher, I suppose that's the downside of working in a smaller school. Regardless, we sat outside and talked for awhile about how to handle situations where a friend is saying something mean to them. We were able to get lots of bottled up feelings out in the open and eventually all was well again. They both apologized for the hurtful things they had done to the other and were friends once again. As we talked about bullying though, neither realized that bullying does not just have to be hitting someone. I explained that there is emotional bullying with words and their eyes got wide. By no means do I think I changed them forever but I feel good about the fact that at least I made them aware and hopefully they will spread that to their friends in the room. I wish I could prevent all the mean and hurtful comments from coming out but they are 7-9 so no matter how hard I try, unkind words will still be said and feelings will still be hurt. That's the life of a teacher though and anyone that works with children (and adults somedays).
My evening has been spent unpacking a box from home, organizing, working out, and eventually grading math tests from today. This weekend I am going to Tampa to go watch a friend play football and can't wait to see him as well as my friend Cristina and her roommate Candace! Keep Cristina in your prayers for me, though. She's been having really awful allergic reactions for about a week and is going to have some testing done so fingers crossed they figure out what's going on. I'm feeling super thankful tonight for everything and everyone in my life so thank you for being a part of it! I really should go grade my tests but I hope you have a great day on whatever day you read this!
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