Yes, it's a little toot of my own horn...

This week brings the much anticipated Teacher's Convention. Now, some teachers actually attend the convention...but I have chosen to use my two days off to play major catchup on tasks that have gone by the wayside. It's going to be a busy day today of a little Turbo Jam action bright and early, voting (yippee!) early, pneumonia shot which will supposedly decrease my almost monthly sinus infections, and a much needed haircut to clean up my shagalicious (i think i just made that word up for this context...it could seem much racier than it actually is) split ends.

Today, my 5th grade kiddos were wacky and wild, anticipating the long weekend that included Trick or Treating. Toward the end of the day, one of them asked, "Mrs. Angels (don't ask where they get this stuff!) how much longer will you be with us?" Then I realized that I really only have 8 more days of actual teaching until my long-term sub position is over. Even though there are days when I really have to refrain from actually hot-gluing a sign that says "Broken Record" on my forehead for the many times I have to repeat due to inattention or just plain naughty behavior, I am going to miss them. And what was even sweeter is this slew of messages from a few of my boys and girls (I erased the ones from yesterday) right before they left for the weekend.

Now, keep in mind that 5th graders are hormonal and moody...so they may say this one minute and the next be fuming mad that I made them take Choice 1 lunch instead of allowing them to eat 4 small, dried pasta shells and a brownie for lunch.

Regardless, it was a sweet gesture and made me feel pretty great for the end of a short week that seemed impossibly long:

This is my favorite...the one about candy. I told this student to take a look at the probability meter hanging across from his statement. We had a mini-math lesson determining how likely it was that I would bring candy for him on Monday. It was in the unlikely range. We also had a lesson in "wait, what did I actually say?" because I never mentioned bringing candy at ANY point. Interesting...no?
I mean, come on...I gave them fun Halloween pencils and erasers today...and they are already going to be hopped up on pure sugar from their own trick or treat loot! It's not like I am a witch of a teacher!