Here goes...

I am currently watching a video on another teacher's blog and getting a pretty good chuckle while watching, luckily, I do not have that issue with my administration. In fact the staff is utterly amazing!
Where to start....
I am sure some things I wanted to make note of happened before Thanksgiving, but I can't remember off the top of my head, and do not want to COMPLETELY bombard you lovely readers with too much classroom stuff!
We had a school board meeting at our Elementary that we combined with our Lunch and Literacy event at the school on the 18th, (yes yes I know this is BEFORE T Day) My students did a Reader's Theater of "Stone Soup" they had practiced a ton and were so excited and proud of themselves, they presented in front of the school and parents. They did great I might add, except it was hard to understand them in the gym, but not their faults. Microphones next time for sure. Then the first graders did a song from their Reading Program, and 4th, 5th, 6th did a presentation on anti-bullying. Everyone sang some songs and then we had a wonderful home cooked Thanksgiving lunch by our amazing cooks!
Unfortunately, I had thought I was over a nasty bug I had and felt well enough to eat some lunch, food is a BIG weaknes... And well, I shouldn't have, I ended up taking off for home and my toilet/bed right after lunch. Leaving my kids to do the best performance of Stone Soup for the school board in the library. I heard they were FABULOUS! (grr I am mad I missed it, but I am pretty sure no one wanted me in that building!)
*Also got a bonus snow day before break :)* Nothing like a full week off for T Giving!
My mom flew out for Thanksgiving, we had to go pick her up during a Winter Storm Warning, oh you know, just some ice on the interstate, saw a handful of accidents on the way, were only able to go about 30MPH on a 75MPH interstate. OH THANK YOU HUSBAND for driving, I was sick just as a passenger. I do not like winter roads, I do not like them Sam I am.
Had some friends over to enjoy the food with us, took madre back to the airport just in time to be up in town for the Black Friday extravaganza! Got the nieces and nephews all shopped for along with some others. I really should have splurged on a Flip recorder, but I didn't.
Successfully did NOTHING school related, except buy Holiday Decor, during break! LOVED IT!
What comes next....Oh yes, that just brings us up to last week. Last week was a week to test my patience with two particular kiddos in mind! GAH was I ready for 3:50 Friday! :) But we made it.
I had a great success with my struggling ELL boy! He is very hesitant to speak English or Spanish, and we have began enlisting his help with errands between the secretary and myself and anyone else, to help improve his conversational English. Out of the blue on Thursday last week, he came up to me during our brief 10 minutes of what I call "Organizational time", where I check folders/planners, we pass back papers, write down homework, do jobs, get paid for prior jobs, etc. and asked me, in REALLY good English "Can I pass back folders?" And of course it is my policy that if you ask the answer will be no, because I can NOT have 12 kids every time asking if they can pass back papers! Of course this was an exception to the rule! I WAS SOOO PROUD! I literally, jumped up from a quick grading I was doing, gave him a great smile and a high five and said "WHY OF COURSE _(name)____!" I could see he was also proud of himself! oh YAY! FEEL GOOD moment for SURE. I have heard more and more from him lately and couldn't be more excited, spelling tests are even beginning to get the beginning sound of a word, and occasionally an entire correct word! KEEP IT UP!!!
What else...
Unfortunately this weekend, a very well known man in the community passed away. He was a long time secretary at the High School, and Mother to a high school Employee, as well as Grandfather to three amazing children at my school. One of which is in my class, the family knew it was coming, which doesn't make it any easier in my opinion. However today the kids all seem to be in fairly good spirits and I think enjoyed being back in the comforts of our small and understanding school.
Out of the events that have happened thus far this year I think back to my schooling and how different it is to live in a small community where everyone is helpful and understanding.
One of my boys, my biggest behavior challenge, not that he is horrible by any means, just likes to test me, and see what he can get away with, had previously last week had a tough tough week. Lost his homework, made up an ellaborate story, had his mom write a note and call in saying they couldn't find it, and if I could send home another one. Yea I can, I don't want to because it's not the point of homework, I really want to teach these kids some responsibility here. So I make another copy, get it in his homework folder, write a note home to mom telling her Sure no problem, not a big deal. THEN little Mr. forgets not only his homework folder with copy #2 but also his planner! And comes back the next day with his "missing" homework! Oh that kid, he provides me with daily laughs and sighs.
This weekend he went to visit older brother in college, and came back with an adorable buzz cut! AND the best behavior I have ever seen out of him! I told him "Oh my goodness! When you cut your hair you cut off all the bad hair that was preventing your brain from breathing and being as smart as it can be!" He loved this and continued to have a great day and earn a stamp in his planner (part of his personal Positive Behavior System).
Keep your fingers crossed for the rest of this week!
We have our school Musical Thursday as well as an Early release for the Funeral services.
7 more school days until Christmas Break! (but who's counting?)