Today was a riot. Here's what went down:
1. Jennifer is a bright, energetic student who is openly honest with me. The first words out of her mouth this morning were, "Ms. Stromgren, wow! Are you having a bad hair day?!"
2. During the first class period, my students are uncharacteristically quiet. At one point, I turn to open a PowerPoint presentation on my computer, and every student erupts into outrageous laughter. "Ms. Stromgren, nasty! What did you do?" Confused, and slightly cranky, I quickly re-direct their attention back to the lungs. About five minutes later, Dominique pipes up that we should do the breathing exercises that I taught them last week. "Please! Just once!" He whines. Fine, I say. Just once. So we start, "Breathe in for four seconds. Hold for 10." About halfway during that magnificently quiet 10 seconds, the sound of a huge fart erupts from the opposite corner of my room. Assuming it is one of my students and not wanting to embarrass him or her, I quickly end the breathing exercise, "Now exhale for 7 seconds." Once again, there is the noise. I instinctively make a face that shows my confusion. My students die with laughter, and I'm pretty sure some of them started to cry. They explain to me that while I was in the hallway, they had taped this 'fart machine' underneath my desk and used a remote control to set off the sounds at will. What a great prank! I loved it! I was doubled over, crying with the rest of them!
3. During homeroom, "Ms. Stromgren, it's National Popcorn Day! Why in the world are we in school? It's a holiday!" I reply that yes, it certainly does fit right up there with Christmas and Thanksgiving!
4. At the end of study hall, a number of my students come rushing into my classroom exclaiming that the band teacher brought her pet baby raccoon into school. About 25 students parade into the room yelling, "Shhh. You are going to scare it! Shhh... SHHH!!!" They crowd around me as I begin to peer into a well-built wooden crate. Well, those lovely students of mine got a great laugh when, much to my surprise, a stuffed raccoon tail comes flying out the door at my face. I, of course, scream. Loudly. They laugh. And, I try to re-compose myself. Again.
Aah. Sixth grade. Sixth graders. What more can I say?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Grace.
This morning our pastor encouraged us to look for God's gifts in our lives. After taking some time to do so, I find that I have so much to be thankful for, especially all the wonderful people in my life!
1. A family who loves me unconditionally and encourages me to be kinder, stronger, and more patient.
2. Friends who are always available to talk. Listen. Care. Laugh. Who snap me out of my moods (Leah!).
3. The Barkers who have been so hospitable and made me part of their family.
4. Kids who still see the joy in life and live to share that joy with others.
On a different note, here are some random thoughts I have had this past week.
* What does it look like to truly love others? And, why is it so frustrating and painful to do so?
* Why is it such a struggle to find a balance between being real about who I am and not disappointing those I already know and those I am just getting to know?
* Does a non-vegetarian society really widen the gap between the rich and the poor? And, if so, could I ever give up Chinese food to be a vegetarian?
* How in the world is the US Postal Service so efficient?
* Where will I live and work next year?
* Why are we not born with usernames and passwords? My life would be so much less complicated!
And, lastly, here are a few things that I have heard or read lately that have really made think about life and my place in it.
"Half the world is begging while the other half steals. Why is everything so wrong?" Goo Goo Dolls
"Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs." Proverbs 30:8
1. A family who loves me unconditionally and encourages me to be kinder, stronger, and more patient.
2. Friends who are always available to talk. Listen. Care. Laugh. Who snap me out of my moods (Leah!).
3. The Barkers who have been so hospitable and made me part of their family.
4. Kids who still see the joy in life and live to share that joy with others.
On a different note, here are some random thoughts I have had this past week.
* What does it look like to truly love others? And, why is it so frustrating and painful to do so?
* Why is it such a struggle to find a balance between being real about who I am and not disappointing those I already know and those I am just getting to know?
* Does a non-vegetarian society really widen the gap between the rich and the poor? And, if so, could I ever give up Chinese food to be a vegetarian?
* How in the world is the US Postal Service so efficient?
* Where will I live and work next year?
* Why are we not born with usernames and passwords? My life would be so much less complicated!
And, lastly, here are a few things that I have heard or read lately that have really made think about life and my place in it.
"Half the world is begging while the other half steals. Why is everything so wrong?" Goo Goo Dolls
"Give me neither poverty nor riches. Give me just enough to satisfy my needs." Proverbs 30:8
Friday, January 25, 2008
Just Roll.
Just when I think I cannot make it through the rest of the school day, I see my students and they remind me why I am here.
My day was crazy to say the least because we had an award ceremony in the morning. So, my first block was 30 minutes, the second was an hour and 10 minutes, while the third was 40 minutes. How am I supposed to keep three classes on the same schedule when the day is like that? It was really frustrating! But, I just continue to learn that the only way to make it through alive and sane is to roll with the punches. So, I did. And, I will once again share some stories about my students because they are pretty much my life right now.
* "What is that?" McKayla asks while pointing to a breathing apparatus. "Pneumonia!" yells Tristan. No, it's just been used by someone who once had pneumonia...6 years ago!
* During a rousing conversation with a group of my students I ask, "Why would you kiss someone on a first date?" Little Colin looks up at me, "Why wouldn't you?" Point well taken.
* After a particularly frustrating moment in class I ak, "Why don't you all just listen to me?" Jennifer responds, "Because we like you. You're cool!" They feel far too comfortable in my classroom!
* After a conversation about Alex (yes, you, Alex!), Cristian kindly states, "I have a therapist, Ms. Stromgren. I can give you his number." And, Dominique pipes up, "Ms. Stromgren, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I am here for you!"
*During a rather crazy study hall, Cobi looks up at me sadly and shakes her head, "I'd be stressed if I were you, Ms. Stromgren."
They stress me out to no end but also make me laugh a lot. But, like I said, you just have to roll.
My day was crazy to say the least because we had an award ceremony in the morning. So, my first block was 30 minutes, the second was an hour and 10 minutes, while the third was 40 minutes. How am I supposed to keep three classes on the same schedule when the day is like that? It was really frustrating! But, I just continue to learn that the only way to make it through alive and sane is to roll with the punches. So, I did. And, I will once again share some stories about my students because they are pretty much my life right now.
* "What is that?" McKayla asks while pointing to a breathing apparatus. "Pneumonia!" yells Tristan. No, it's just been used by someone who once had pneumonia...6 years ago!
* During a rousing conversation with a group of my students I ask, "Why would you kiss someone on a first date?" Little Colin looks up at me, "Why wouldn't you?" Point well taken.
* After a particularly frustrating moment in class I ak, "Why don't you all just listen to me?" Jennifer responds, "Because we like you. You're cool!" They feel far too comfortable in my classroom!
* After a conversation about Alex (yes, you, Alex!), Cristian kindly states, "I have a therapist, Ms. Stromgren. I can give you his number." And, Dominique pipes up, "Ms. Stromgren, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I am here for you!"
*During a rather crazy study hall, Cobi looks up at me sadly and shakes her head, "I'd be stressed if I were you, Ms. Stromgren."
They stress me out to no end but also make me laugh a lot. But, like I said, you just have to roll.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Oh, to be 12 again!
As I contemplate my day, I find myself sitting alone in my classroom enjoying the silence. Today's lesson was a flop; I'm pretty sure nothing went right. But, tomorrow should be fun. We will be making models of the lungs and diaphragm...the model I was trying to make when I sent myself to the emergency room last semester! (I'm pretty sure I still owe Betsy. I probably would've bled to death if she hadn't been there!) Knowing my dislike for blood, my students will most assuredly enjoy my ER story!
While studying the heart this week, I randomly mentioned how certain friends of mine (Kate!) and I hate Valentine's Day and always wear black on that particular day. After ranting about it being a commercialized, consumer-driven faux-holiday, to which my students just giggled nervously, they decided they would like to celebrate with me. They decided on "The Day of the Dark" and have committed to wearing black. They seriously are so into it! I'm pretty sure the memo was written on my calendar and white board multiple times today even though I reminded them that it isn't for a couple weeks still!
Later, two of my students decided to stay after school and help me prepare for tomorrow. They swept my floor, cleaned my boards, and then helped me with other odd jobs around the room. Unfortunately, I still had to straighten the desks...just once though since a friend kindly commented that twice was too much! My students just really enjoy cleaning my room, and I really cannot complain about that! They also apparently want to buy me a swiffer for Valentine's Day!
My favorite moment of the day occurred in my last class period when we were discussing the lungs. Dylan and Torin decided it would be fun to make themselves hyperventilate (which I strongly encouraged them to discontinue) by breathing in and out rather rapidly. After about two minutes of this, a voice yells from the front, "Quit it, guys! You sound like you are women giving birth back there!" I am pretty sure any resemblance of control I had before then was completely gone. I thought I was going to cry!
So, even in the misery of lessons that just don't click, there is just so much to enjoy. I mean how can you not enjoy life when you try to carry on a serious conversation with a girl who says "testicles" instead of "intestines"? You just got to love middle school students!
While studying the heart this week, I randomly mentioned how certain friends of mine (Kate!) and I hate Valentine's Day and always wear black on that particular day. After ranting about it being a commercialized, consumer-driven faux-holiday, to which my students just giggled nervously, they decided they would like to celebrate with me. They decided on "The Day of the Dark" and have committed to wearing black. They seriously are so into it! I'm pretty sure the memo was written on my calendar and white board multiple times today even though I reminded them that it isn't for a couple weeks still!
Later, two of my students decided to stay after school and help me prepare for tomorrow. They swept my floor, cleaned my boards, and then helped me with other odd jobs around the room. Unfortunately, I still had to straighten the desks...just once though since a friend kindly commented that twice was too much! My students just really enjoy cleaning my room, and I really cannot complain about that! They also apparently want to buy me a swiffer for Valentine's Day!
My favorite moment of the day occurred in my last class period when we were discussing the lungs. Dylan and Torin decided it would be fun to make themselves hyperventilate (which I strongly encouraged them to discontinue) by breathing in and out rather rapidly. After about two minutes of this, a voice yells from the front, "Quit it, guys! You sound like you are women giving birth back there!" I am pretty sure any resemblance of control I had before then was completely gone. I thought I was going to cry!
So, even in the misery of lessons that just don't click, there is just so much to enjoy. I mean how can you not enjoy life when you try to carry on a serious conversation with a girl who says "testicles" instead of "intestines"? You just got to love middle school students!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Love to laugh.
After 12 days in 6th grade, I have a variety of joys and frustrations that I feel the need to release. To vent. To share. Take them as you wish. I hope they make you laugh as they do me!
1. Every time I turn on my SMART Board, I am welcomed by the message "Please clean filter". And every time, without fail, a number of my students will loudly say, "Ms. Stromgren, your filter needs to be cleaned!" I, without fail, laugh and reply, "Excuse me?!" Then, "Yes, I know. We saw that yesterday. And the day before. And, I'm pretty sure the day before that." "Then why don't you clean it?" they will ask. And, I will reply, for the hundredth time, that I don't know how to. Imagine this occurring 3 times a day for 12 days! I'm about to break that filter!
2. Every day at the end of school, the wrestlers meet in the room adjacent to mine. They play the most ridiculously loud music I have ever heard! But, I love it! Their fierce yelling along with the pounding make me feel as though I am never alone. I especially enjoy it when the coach chews them out. Sometimes, I try to lock some of his sayings into my memory. I feel they would be very effective with a few of my students!
3. Towards the end of each day, I gather myself back together by sweeping the floors, picking up the counters, and straightening the desks. As many of you know, I am anal by nature; and those dang desks must be perfect! I probably spend 20 minutes going through this routine. Then, I confidently go to the school library while the music appreciation teacher uses my room. Now, I have nothing against appreciating music, but I just wish he would appreciate straight desks as much as music! Needless to say, I re-straighten the desks again once his class is over!
4. I am very honest with my students and am unafraid to share my many weaknesses with them...including my propensity to want to pass out or puke at the sight of blood or any internal organ. (Which, they find hilarious, seeing as how I am the science teacher who teaches about the body!) So, they like to show me pictures. Most of them are of bone fractures or surgeries, which I love!! I get ridiculously excited and share them with every one of my class periods. But, once in a while, they will stick a gross one in with the rest. Take last week for example. Morgan brings me a picture of the inside of her knee cap. My knees buckle, and I gasp loudly in disgust. Thank goodness I didn't pass out. That would've earned me some respect, right?!
My students also say some of the most hilarious comments I've heard in a long time. Here are a few that I can remember.
1. I ask, "The blood releases oxygen and picks up which gas?" "Nitrogen!" screams Rylan.
2. We were playing charades in home room, and it was my turn. I say, "This is a thing. The thing I want most in my entire life!" Without missing a beat, Andrew yells from the back, "A man!" No, it was a tree house actually!
3. "Ms. Stromgren, why are you eating an apple?" Jeffrey asks. "Well, I want to make sure it's not poisonous," I reply. He looks at me and asks me again. Then, he and his little friends proceed to call me "apple" the rest of the evening!
4. While reading an article about the three types of muscle: "Ms. Stromgren, this is really inappropriate. We probably shouldn't be reading this!" I ask them what is bad. And, they softly reply that the word 'uterus' is in the text. Except, that they pronounce the beginning like the udder of a cow, so it sounds like 'udderus'.
I just really love my job if you haven't noticed!
1. Every time I turn on my SMART Board, I am welcomed by the message "Please clean filter". And every time, without fail, a number of my students will loudly say, "Ms. Stromgren, your filter needs to be cleaned!" I, without fail, laugh and reply, "Excuse me?!" Then, "Yes, I know. We saw that yesterday. And the day before. And, I'm pretty sure the day before that." "Then why don't you clean it?" they will ask. And, I will reply, for the hundredth time, that I don't know how to. Imagine this occurring 3 times a day for 12 days! I'm about to break that filter!
2. Every day at the end of school, the wrestlers meet in the room adjacent to mine. They play the most ridiculously loud music I have ever heard! But, I love it! Their fierce yelling along with the pounding make me feel as though I am never alone. I especially enjoy it when the coach chews them out. Sometimes, I try to lock some of his sayings into my memory. I feel they would be very effective with a few of my students!
3. Towards the end of each day, I gather myself back together by sweeping the floors, picking up the counters, and straightening the desks. As many of you know, I am anal by nature; and those dang desks must be perfect! I probably spend 20 minutes going through this routine. Then, I confidently go to the school library while the music appreciation teacher uses my room. Now, I have nothing against appreciating music, but I just wish he would appreciate straight desks as much as music! Needless to say, I re-straighten the desks again once his class is over!
4. I am very honest with my students and am unafraid to share my many weaknesses with them...including my propensity to want to pass out or puke at the sight of blood or any internal organ. (Which, they find hilarious, seeing as how I am the science teacher who teaches about the body!) So, they like to show me pictures. Most of them are of bone fractures or surgeries, which I love!! I get ridiculously excited and share them with every one of my class periods. But, once in a while, they will stick a gross one in with the rest. Take last week for example. Morgan brings me a picture of the inside of her knee cap. My knees buckle, and I gasp loudly in disgust. Thank goodness I didn't pass out. That would've earned me some respect, right?!
My students also say some of the most hilarious comments I've heard in a long time. Here are a few that I can remember.
1. I ask, "The blood releases oxygen and picks up which gas?" "Nitrogen!" screams Rylan.
2. We were playing charades in home room, and it was my turn. I say, "This is a thing. The thing I want most in my entire life!" Without missing a beat, Andrew yells from the back, "A man!" No, it was a tree house actually!
3. "Ms. Stromgren, why are you eating an apple?" Jeffrey asks. "Well, I want to make sure it's not poisonous," I reply. He looks at me and asks me again. Then, he and his little friends proceed to call me "apple" the rest of the evening!
4. While reading an article about the three types of muscle: "Ms. Stromgren, this is really inappropriate. We probably shouldn't be reading this!" I ask them what is bad. And, they softly reply that the word 'uterus' is in the text. Except, that they pronounce the beginning like the udder of a cow, so it sounds like 'udderus'.
I just really love my job if you haven't noticed!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Up and Down...
Today was frustrating to say the least. I was unprepared. Tired. Crabby. Impatient. My lesson went awry. The kids were unbelievably distracted and hyper. Honestly, it was a struggle to get through the morning. But, then, I told myself to shape up and changed my attitude. Amazingly, the rest of the day went much better. My kids were psycho during study hall, but that was to be expected for a Friday afternoon. Overall, I am just starting to figure out what 6th graders enjoy...what peaks their interest. This is my list so far:
* Stories of pain...especially visits to the hospital, bone fractures, concussions, surgery...
* Anything having to do with DDR or Guitar Hero
* Sports
* Food
* Competition
I am also experiencing what it is like to be a pre-teen:
* Little to no attention span
* Easily embarrassed: my favorite moments so far were when I displayed a picture of the gluteus maximus, gave the kids an article with the word uterus in it, and had them hold hands in a circle for an activity...what fun for me!
* Attention-seekers. I go home exhausted, because they are constantly telling me stories. I love it!
So, this is what I have learned thus far. I'm sure more will come.
* Stories of pain...especially visits to the hospital, bone fractures, concussions, surgery...
* Anything having to do with DDR or Guitar Hero
* Sports
* Food
* Competition
I am also experiencing what it is like to be a pre-teen:
* Little to no attention span
* Easily embarrassed: my favorite moments so far were when I displayed a picture of the gluteus maximus, gave the kids an article with the word uterus in it, and had them hold hands in a circle for an activity...what fun for me!
* Attention-seekers. I go home exhausted, because they are constantly telling me stories. I love it!
So, this is what I have learned thus far. I'm sure more will come.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Six Days Later...
I officially made it through my first six days of teaching. There were many ups and downs...but mostly I just laughed a lot. 6th graders are odd, to say the least.
Here are a variety of thoughts I've had since moving back to Orange City and teaching:
* I would die without my radio, especially on these lazy, lonely, rural roads. Please, speakers, don't die on me completely!
* Sleep is good. So good. 8 hours is great, but 9 is ideal!
* I cannot-and never will-live alone.
* I am in love with my SMART board. I asked my students to name calcium-rich foods, and they looked at me with complete contempt. Then, I told them they could write their answers on the SMART board and, you would not believe it, every stinken' kid had their hand waving wildly in the air! I laughed...a lot.
* Students LOVE to share stories about broken bones. My lesson on bone fractures took twice as long as anticipated, because an unrealistic number of my students are either completely reckless or unbelievably unlucky.
* I am once again experiencing empathy for my students. I feel anger towards those who socially ostracize their peers. Sadness for those who just don't fit in. Frustration with parents/guardians who are unavailable, unkind, etc... Gosh, it's hard working with people!
* It is difficult to learn the names of 65 kids. I still have no idea who 'Tommy' is!
* The Barker family completely spoils me. I have never felt so pampered in my life!
* Every day I am amazed at the many ways I see God. Even in my apathy, God is continually blessing me in such profound ways.
And, for those of you who love these, here are some Daniel stories:
* On Monday, Daniel spent a large portion of the evening hanging out in my bedroom, frantically trying to grind wintergreen lifesavers into a cocaine-like substance. He said that we could sell it on the street. Apparantly, this is worth a fortune, especially in Chicago! I told him I love new adventures that put my life and work at risk!
* We have watched the 5th season of Family Guy an ungodly number of times. We've even watched EVERY SINGLE episode with commentary.
* Daniel owns a number of masks. One in particular, from Slipknot, is absolutely terrifying. Knowing that it freaks me out, he tries at every chance to scare me. Whether this means hiding behing doors, in my closet, or at the bottom of the staircase, he never tires of making me scream!
Here are a variety of thoughts I've had since moving back to Orange City and teaching:
* I would die without my radio, especially on these lazy, lonely, rural roads. Please, speakers, don't die on me completely!
* Sleep is good. So good. 8 hours is great, but 9 is ideal!
* I cannot-and never will-live alone.
* I am in love with my SMART board. I asked my students to name calcium-rich foods, and they looked at me with complete contempt. Then, I told them they could write their answers on the SMART board and, you would not believe it, every stinken' kid had their hand waving wildly in the air! I laughed...a lot.
* Students LOVE to share stories about broken bones. My lesson on bone fractures took twice as long as anticipated, because an unrealistic number of my students are either completely reckless or unbelievably unlucky.
* I am once again experiencing empathy for my students. I feel anger towards those who socially ostracize their peers. Sadness for those who just don't fit in. Frustration with parents/guardians who are unavailable, unkind, etc... Gosh, it's hard working with people!
* It is difficult to learn the names of 65 kids. I still have no idea who 'Tommy' is!
* The Barker family completely spoils me. I have never felt so pampered in my life!
* Every day I am amazed at the many ways I see God. Even in my apathy, God is continually blessing me in such profound ways.
And, for those of you who love these, here are some Daniel stories:
* On Monday, Daniel spent a large portion of the evening hanging out in my bedroom, frantically trying to grind wintergreen lifesavers into a cocaine-like substance. He said that we could sell it on the street. Apparantly, this is worth a fortune, especially in Chicago! I told him I love new adventures that put my life and work at risk!
* We have watched the 5th season of Family Guy an ungodly number of times. We've even watched EVERY SINGLE episode with commentary.
* Daniel owns a number of masks. One in particular, from Slipknot, is absolutely terrifying. Knowing that it freaks me out, he tries at every chance to scare me. Whether this means hiding behing doors, in my closet, or at the bottom of the staircase, he never tires of making me scream!
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