2/29/12

Today is SDRAWKCAB YAD! We started the day with 6th period and we will end with first period. Joke of the day from my student. "Ms. Torres you are in luck today because I have another joke!" she says "What did one eye tell the other?" "somebody nose about us?" I replied "You are close! Between you and eye, something smells!" How cute is this?!

2/28/12

Today has been very interesting and funny! One of my students came in singing. The rest of the kids told him to stop and his answer was " Life is better when you sing...about everything! (singing in a very bad tune) There you are with your backpack and your books...." So we decided that they will have to do the math warm up singing. If they volunteered today, they had to sing the question and the answer! Imagine this "two and five tenths plus three and eight tenths equals six and three tenths. This problem is cooooorrrrreeeeccccttt!" or "How many edges does a sphere haaaaaavvvvveeeee? The answeeeeerrrrr is nnnnnnnnnnoooooonnnnnneeee!" How much fun is this? I lllllllllloooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeee ittttttttttt!!!!!

2/27/12 part 2

I have butterflies today!!! Last week, a butterfly was left on my desk anonymously It was really cute and made in origami. I finally found out who made it and it just made me smile. Sometimes the kids can be so sweet!! I love butterflies!!!

2/27/12

Same student stayed after class today and with the biggest smile on her face tells me "Ms. Torres, I have another joke for you!" "Ok! I am ready!" I tell her. "What do you call an egg that died a long time ago?" she asks I wanted her to feel like she got me today, so I said "Rotten Egg" "No Ms. Torres, you call it EGGstinct! Get it! just like extinct!" She smiles. "I really like that one!" I said, then she skips out of the room.

2/24/12

I do love that it is Friday, but a Friday like today is happening a little too much.
My students are having a really difficult time with talking....for everything and at any time.
It takes double the time to get them to do their regular routine.
"3rd bell for the day guys!" I exclaimed.
"What? NO!!!" the whole class yelled out.
"Remember, I am your teacher not your babysitter. I am not here to remind you how to behave or control yourselves." I said.
"chirp....chirp...chirp.." from the students. Not a single word.
"We will postpone our group work today because as a class we need help. We have our detention next week!" I said.
"What??!!!!! No way!!!" they whispered.

I hate using threats on them, but I have to not only teach them Math and Science, but I have to teach them manners and behavior. Sometimes...most times, that is too much!

2/23/12

I have a few students that try to trick me with riddles.
"What flies but does not have wings?" they ask.
"Well time of course!" I answer.

"HOw do you always know the answer?" the ask
"I am just that amazing!" I tell them.
I am just happy that they have not asked me something that I don't know yet.

Another student stayed after class, really excited and with a huge smile on her face.
"Ms. Torres I have a joke for you. What did the dog say when he fell on sand paper?" she asked
I actually had to think about this one. I knew it had something to do with their bark..... "Bow wow...no....Oh yeah! He yelled, Ruff, Ruff"
"yes! Ms. Torres, you are so smart!" she told me.

I love it that they still think that about me!

2/22/12

My students have been having a really difficult time with talking. They are talking, chatting, saying answers out of turn, you name it, they are doing it. One student in particular is driving me insane...
"I need you to stop talking please!" I reminded him
"But it wasn't me talking" He replied
"Sweetie, I just need you to stop and focus"
"I am sorry Ms. Torres. I really didn't mean any harm!" he answered in a whiny voice.
I had a hard time making sure I didn't laugh outloud. He has such a hard time with self control, that I actually believe this comment. The way he delivered it was hilarious!

2/21/12

BACK AT WORK!! Not sure I am 100% excited to be back after a very restless night, but it doesn't really matter.
"Ms. Torres, is your voice back?" students ask.
"most of it is back. I still can't sing, but at least I don't sound like an old man." I replied.
"Oh good! Now you are normal again!" a student said.
"Yes, Ms. Torres, it was weird when you couldn't be yourself." another student commented.
"Am I ever really normal?" I asked.
"Yeah huh! True Ms. Torres, very true!"

2/20/12

It is Monday and I am at home!!!!!
I woke up at 7:47 AM, the longest I have slept in a long time.
As much as I love my work and my students, it is amazing to have some time off to be a little lazy (even for a little bit of time) before I do all I have to do today.
I woke up with a song in my head "I want to be billionaire so bad.... buy all the things I never had. I want to be on the cover of Forbes magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the queen...."

Days like this make me not want to go back to work because it is so nice to sleep in and do all the things I want, but then by the end of the day I realize, I would go crazy not working or seeing my students.

some time off is GREAT!!! and I am going to enjoy every minute of it today, until the next time!

2/17/12

Sales tax and tip lesson today at Burger King with my students. We had so much fun! It is amazing how easy it is for them to change their mind about me with some fast food.
"Best Friday ever!" a student said.
"Ms. Torres is so generous!" another one said
"Is this really a fieldtrip? It feels more like a student-teacher luncheon." another student said.

I took tons of pictures and had lots of laughs with them.
I love this assignment. Book practice combined with real life experience. Priceless!!!

2/16/12

Today we did our Restaurant lesson.
I have menus from five different restaurants around the school and the students receive a blank sales receipt. I am their waitress for the day and then they pick whatever meal they want. Money is not a problem for them. They get to be big spenders!!!
"Excuse me waitress Liz, I am not getting the proper service I deserve. Maybe I wont tip you 15%." A student said.
"Oh really? Then I wont be able to give you the best grade because you didn't give me the best behaviour that I deserve as your teacher?" I responded.
"Oh.....can I give you 20%?"

It is so cute to see how excited they got about this lesson. I didn't allow them to order any alcoholic beverages though....they are still under age (even if it was pretend).

2/15/12

My voice is still not completely back yet. As soon as the kids come in they ask "Have you found your voice yet?"
"It is much better now, you can actually hear me now." I tell them. "I just don't like to hear my laugh. It sounds like somebody else is in my head when I laugh. It is just weird."
"Come on Ms. Torres, laugh." they insisted.
I just nod and try to not laugh.
"Watch, I will make her laugh today. I can always make her laugh." A student tells his friend.
and yes.... I did ended up laughing pretty hard today.

I am hopeless!!!!

2/14/12 part 2

I got the most amazing flowers and teddy bear delivered to my classroom. My heart is overjoyed!!! Thanks Chuck! You are amazing!

2/14/12 Valentine's Day

Ten minutes into my day, i was showered with gifts and hugs from my babies!!! I am so loved!

2/13/12 Part 3

Usually my stories are about my students, but today I had a great one from a coworker.
Everytime there is a birthday for one of the teachers, Mrs. Saporito (my favorite person in school) bakes a cake for the birthday person. This time she told me that she would bring something for me since I can't have gluten or dairy. She gave me a bag and inside was something very gluten free and very dairy free..... a can of sardines! Gross...but oh so funny. Thanks Helen!

She actually baked me the most amazing gluten free and dairy free brownies!! Extra good day on top of an amazing weekend!

2/13/12 part 2

One Student asked me later after class...."Will your voice ever come back?" How cute is that? She looked so worried.

2/13/12

Today I have no voice. When my students heard me trying so hard to get them to listen, they just got so concerned and asked "What happened to your voice?" They asked. " I lost it on Saturday, and I don't know where it is." I joked. Then one student said, "Don't worry Ms. Torres, I'll help you find it. I'll keep my eye out for it"
Another student then said, "Could I please be your second voice today. If you need to get our attention, just tell me and I'll make sure they hear you."
"I'll be your third voice." "I'll be your fourth voice." They kept saying.
This brought me so much joy and made me smile. They are so sweet.

2/9/12

Today I had a conversation that happens a lot in my family.
"Ms. Torres, I am your favorite student right? I know I am." a student said,
"No! I am her favorite student. I know because I make her smile a lot!" another student said.
" I have no favorites in my class" I responded. "you all are my favorite."
"You love us though right? I know you love us!" student asked.
"That I can guarantee! I love you all so much!" I responded.

How does your heart not melt?

2/8/12

This week has not been a joy to come to work. It has been hard to get to work in the mornings and hard attending the meetings that are required. I somehow find such joy in the faces of my students. I know that eventhough I am cranky, irritable and moody with the "higher powers" in this district, I can find a smiling face or a student yelling my name across campus. This helps me get through the day.

I received a few new students for the second semester and they look so scared and lost in my class. I make it a point to try to reassure them and help them, but I've realized that I don't have to. Several of my students that have been with me since September have taken it upon themselves to explain and make sure the new kids are understanding. I even heard one student explain the lesson personally to the new student. Those moments.....priceless!

2/6/12

During the Math warm up this morning, a problem said that a boy worked for 3 days and made $70.
"What kind of work gives you that much money?" a student asked.
"I don't know. Maybe mowing lawns, babysitting, or helping old ladies cross the street" I joked.
"Ms. Torres would you pay me if I helped you cross the street?" another student asked.
"Did you just call me old?" I asked.
"No.... I mean no! But would you?"

2/3/12

"Ms. Torres, you should be in the school talent show" a student tells me today.
"Why do you say that?" I ask
"Because you have perfect voice" She answers
"Wow! Perfect? How do you know?" I ask
"You are always singing Ms. Torres. We hear you all the time!"

I guess I am always humming or singing in my classroom and many times I don't even notice it.
What a compliment! Made me smile!

2/2/12

Today my coworker has a headache. She asked me to press a pressure point on her shoulder. As I was pressing her shoulder, the students were coming into class and were asking "What are you doing?"
"I am killing Ms. Saporito. I don't want any witnesses." I said.
A student walks by and says, "Don't worry Ms. Torres I wont say anything!"

Ms. Saporito just laughs and says "Thanks a lot! That is not comforting for me!"

2/1/12 part 2

Some of my students heard me have a conversation about how I cannot have any wheat or dairy anymore. So one of them asks me what is wheat, so I explain it to him. Then out of nowhere one of my students asks "Isn't that illegal to have anyway?" "What do you mean?" I ask. Then next to her another student says "No, she said wheat not "weed".
"Please don't go home telling your parents that Ms. Torres is not allowed to have "weed" anymore. That would be bad!" I responded.

Then we laughed for about 5 minutes. Hillarious!!!

2/1/12

Yearbook teacher came in today to take pictures in my class for the yearbook. Most kids got shy and hid their faces, but some posed for the camera like big hams.
"Make sure they take your best side!" I told the kids
" I don't have a bad side Ms. Torres!" A boy student answered.
How do you not laugh at that.
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"Don't forget that today is tutoring afterschool today!" I reminded my students.
"I will be here today." Boy answered. " I don't have to feed my guinea pigs today. That was the important thing I had to do last week, that is why I was not here!"

Apparently, I am not as important as guinea pigs!