Charge It

FieldDayProgressReportsParentConferencesEndofYear
ComplimentsEighthGradeGraduationFamilyPotluckLastDayOfSchoolWorkshopsPackingUpTheRoomand..DONE!

Somewhere in this whirlwind end of the school year, I saw my first class of third graders at this school head off to high school, and marveled with my current class about how they've changed over the last two years.  From their first day pictures in second grade to their end of third grade pictures, front teeth sprouted, faces changed, and glasses appeared.

Third grade was the first time they had been part of the school dance competition.  You know you're growing up when you put on your best suit and stand in dance position, waiting for the music to start so you can Merengue your little behind off to win first prize.  Being able to finally join in the competition with the big kids is a much anticipated milestone, often included in end of year letters of advice to incoming third graders.

Third grade was also the first year of standardized testing.  All that bubbling means you're really mature now.  They also know how to multiply and write at least somewhat in cursive.    

They TEXT each other.  And by this age, they even have credit cards!  Well.  Sort of.

Last week, we were starting to clean out their group boxes and send work home when I found a card lying on the ground.  "Whose is this?" I asked.  Brittany spoke up.  "Oh!  That's my credit card."

Not ready to let her friend claim that much maturity, Keanna interrupted to set the record straight.  "No--it ain't a credit card.  It's a library card.  You just go get books from there."

So maybe they're not yet old enough to charge it, but my kids are off to fourth grade!  But first....summer!

I'm Going to Do More!

  When I got back from Midwest adventures last week, I found a letter from my student, Makayla.  She drew herself at the beach and listed off several things she has done this summer--beach, Six Flags, moon bounce.  To close out her list of summer fun, she added, "And I'm going to do more!"  Such optimism for the summer fun that still lies ahead.  Who knows what the remaining days of summer could bring?  Pool?  Movies?  Mini golf?  Maybe even catching a turtle.

  I, on the other hand, am not going to "do more" in the summer fun department.  Yes, work has started back up again for teachers, and we'll be at it for another two weeks still while the kids dream up plans for their last hurrah.

  For those of you out there still on summer break--go forth!  Do more! 

Image: www.neopets.com

Catching a Turtle or Something

  By now, summer plans are well underway.   My summer plans have included working on my quilt (it's getting there), going zip-lining (fantastic), and whale-watching (saw several humpbacks doing their whale-y things).  My students are hopefully enjoying their summers, too!
  The sky's the limit when it comes to kids' summer plans.  At least--their ideal versions of summer plans.  At the end of the year, in between compliments and surveys, my students write about their plans for the summer.  Many of them have grand notions of daily amusement park trips--of effectively living at Six Flags--of staying in the pool for hour after prune-y hour, or of turning the summer into one gigantic sleepover.


On my summer I plan to stay at home or I might go to six flags or astro world.  Which ever one I do I know I'll still have fun.  I hope I'll be able to be with my friends the whole summer.  I also hoping that I be able to catch a turtle on the highway or something.  If I go to six flags I hope to ride every ride there.


  So...turtle-catching, eh?  I didn't realize that was a popular side-of-the-road activity these days.  The kids' plans sound pretty great, but of course the limit is usually not the sky, but rather the extent of parents' money, time, and roller coaster toleration, or the extent of the turtles' willingness to let themselves be captured at exit nine.  Another limiting factor in many kids' summer plans is summer school.  A month of reporting to class in the summer curtails many of these dream plans.  Andrea wrote one year:
 

My summer is summer school and summer school.


What summer plans have you been enjoying?
Have you caught any turtles (or anything else, for that matter) along the highway?
Or--what has been cramping your style this summer?

Gemini roller coaster image: Wikipedia

Yes...That Explains It....

Here in Washington, DC, we've just come off of a long heat wave and are....heading into another one with highs near 100 just in time for the Fourth of July (also known to DeMarcus as "when the Earth was created").
  The heat can explain many things happening around the city--the fountain packed with children cooling off in the water spurting up from tiles, the people carrying umbrellas for shade, the ice cream trucks doing a brisk business.
  High temperatures can't explain everything you might see around the city, though. One year, summer temperatures hadn't yet faded, but school had started for the year and we were walking back from the field. The field we use for outdoor PE is about four blocks away and across a very busy street. "Look where you're going!" I always caution as we approach the intersection. "Hurry up! Walk walk walk! We have SEVEN SECONDS LEFT TO CROSS!"

  After we had crossed the intersection that day, Tyrica noticed a man at the bus stop across the street. He was laying half on the ground and half on the bench in a drunken stupor while a couple of other people near him waited for the bus.

"Uh...why's that guy layin' on the ground like that?" Tyrica asked as we walked by.

"Hmmm..." I thought. "How to explain?" "Well....he's probably....passed out." I said.

"Yeah" Tyrica replied. "It is hot out!"

Yes, yes. We'll go with that.

Image: www.geekologie.com

Mail

Well, nothing much in the mail today. Just some junk mail that I'll put in the usual place (the side of the dinner table, where it accumulates until my husband goes through it and actually opens it to make sure it's not important) and a few magazines, including two health care company magazines with article titles like, "Your Health in Your Hands."

Nothing funny, quirky, or in a bright blue envelope.

I sent my students off a couple of weeks ago with self-addressed, stamped envelopes in all shades of bright colors and the instructions to write me a letter. While I generally like to pretend the students don't exist over the summer, I like to hear from them every so often, with something funny or quirky, or some important update, like Michaela's news last year that her family got cloth napkins. In past years I've gotten letters as early as the very first day of summer, but so far nothing.

Until something sufficiently amusing or informative arrives, I'll post some summer letters I've gotten in years past.


Dear, Ms. Garb
Today
is June 7. Kim possible just came to disney. I really like that show. I just came from swimming. I'm very cold. I hope you're having much fun as me
Your student
Kyron


nataliedee.com

Summer

If the triple digit temperature today wasn't enough proof that summer is here, I'm finally done with the school year!

Last day with kids--check.
Progress reports written, edited, proofed, double checked, printed, copied, stapled, filed--check.
Parent conferences--check.
Math manuals returned--done.
Room cleaned out--yep.
Drawer of confiscated items--emptied.
Half of public library returned--eh, I'll get to it.

And now--I have time to look through the rest of the end of year compliments to everyone in the class. None can really top the one gem I found the other day, but here are a few others I particularly liked.

You focus on the thing the class is doing.

I like when your cheeks turn red which is funny.

Bridget is fancy because she wears fancy clothes.

I like that you follow the rules that I tell you to do.

You sometimes are not my friend but you are my classmate.


Then there's a whole category of compliments praising the absence of a negative. I have no doubt that the compliments in this category are sincere appreciations, they just all sort of hint at an unspoken part 2. "Unlike SOME people...."
He doesn't get into an argument easily. I like how you always pay attention and never are mean. You don't complain about your partners in PE.

Image: www.newrivervoice.com

Two Hours of Summer

Dear Ms. Sarah
Wow! I cant believe I’me already writing to you. It’s been a great two hours of summer so far. Right now I am painting flower pots to sell tomorrow.
Have a great summer,
Daniel