What's the matter with kids these days

In the musical Bye Bye Birdie Kim's Father sings the song What's The Matter With Kids Today. Today I want to ask myself that question. Seriously, what is the matter with kids these days? Today especially. I have not given a good behavior report since my first three classes this morning. One fifth grader had the guts to tell me that it is because I am young and students think that they can take advantage of me. I came back with the statement:

"I didn't go to school for 23 years to get here and have you not respect me. I worked hard to be here, and you should work hard when I ask you to. I may be young, but that does not mean that I am less qualified to teach you than any other teacher in this building."

For the life of me, I could not remember how long I went to school...

17 years is not 23 years, especially since I am only 24

I didn't mean to fib. It was the first number that came to my head, and sounded logical to me when I was MAD in class. This was earth shattering for me, because I haven't gotten mad in class yet. TODAY I AM MAD



Kids!
I don't know what's wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say!
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we're on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can't they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What's the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I've tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we're on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an' roll!
Why can't they dance like we did
What's wrong with Sammy Caine?
What's the matter with kids today!

I am not saying that every child I have taught today is a complete mess, and even some of the complete messes have redeeming qualities, but on the whole, as a group, they are a disaster. Maybe I see the disaster in them because I constantly see the disaster's in me. Perhaps I need to extend grace to both of my students and to myself. That's right... that's what I will do...


TOMORROW

Sing the Praises of the Lord: even when He sends you out to Canaan

Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD. [a]
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

I will praise the name of the Lord,
Even in the midst of the unknown,
Even in the midst of trials and tribulation,
Even in the midst of longing for the past,
Even in the midst of defeating the odds,
Even in the midst of understanding the future,
Even in the midst of admitting miscalculation,
Even in the midst of desiring answers,
Even in the midst of impatience with myself,
Even in the midst of LIFE

I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a child with it's mother is my soul within me.
Oh Israel, Trust in the Lord, From this time forth, and FOREVERMORE

The Buss, the trip, the elesticacity

Today is Body Walk Day. All of our kids get to go over to the high school and go through a model of the human body. This is the first time that some of these kindergartners have ever ridden the buss. I could tell that it was on their minds pretty much because it was coming out of their mouths. That and the fact that some of this town lost power last night made it hard to begin class. As soon as class started I was assailed by loud clamoring of

"Miss Music, We get to go on a trip!" (I Know)
"We get to go on a field trip!!!" (Yes, I know)
"We get to ride the buss all the way to the high school!" (Wow!)
"Miss Music, Did you know that the power went out yesterday." (old news buddy)
"Miss Music...um...we hadda wear socks for the trip of the body." (Good for you)
"Miss Music, Last night my dad said... my dad said... dad... the lect..ele...ctric...elesticacity was broken." (I hope my elesticacity never gets broken.)

So after class when it was time to line up I said, "Ok kindergartners, time to quietly line up."

I was answered with, "Yah cause if we don't hurry we're gonna miss the buss!"
(This happened at 9:05 am, and the kindergartners were not supposed to load until 9:45. I am guessing that it was a long morning.)

I was also informed that one responsible kindergarten citizen offered their kind buss driver money for buss fare this morning. Oh the joys of being little.

Stick in the mudd no more

Sorry that I have been such a stick in the mud. The honest answer to why my posting has been infrequent and low quality is this: being a first year teacher is the hardest thing that I have ever done.

It stretches me to think, problem solve, teach, research, learn, inspire, guide, and all other noble things that teachers do. It also stretches me to stay calm, not stress, stay positive, and even get out of bed in the morning.

I finally feel like I am getting over my cold/sinus infection, so I am ready to post.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I had the fifth graders present the projects that they have been working on for a week or so. It was the simple task of coming up with a rhythm accompaniment to a song that we have been learning. After they performed their presentation, I asked the groups questions like: "How did you come up with what you wanted to do? How did you come up with your group name? Were their any natural leaders in your group? Did you feel like the entire group participated?"

One bold and somewhat cheeky student answered the last question in the frankest way possible.

"Well Miss Music, Here's what happened. First K got bossy, and then I got bossy, and then we both got bossy, and then I got mad and quit, and then I got in trouble with you, and then I decided to let K be bossy, and then I just did what she said to do."

All in one breath, all in an impartial definitive vocal tone, which caused the entire class (including me) to erupt with laughter.

"Well," I said "At least he is honest."

The other great thing that happened yesterday was right at the end of the day. I was in the hallway when two of the most upstanding fourth grade boys came down the hall. They were carrying something small cupped in both of their hands. One boy had his hand as the base and the other had his hand as the lid. They were equally sharing the task of transporting this unknown object outside. As they walked by they said,

"By Miss Music, We have to take Chester outside."

"Who is Chester?" I asked.

"Well," they rebounded "We are reading a book about Chester the Cricket in our class and all of the sudden this big cricket shows up in our classroom."

"Can I see him?" I asked, and immediately they produced one of the largest crickets I have ever seen. "Wow, He is huge!" I exclaimed as the cricket realized that he was no longer the captive of his keepers.

The sly cricket began to inch his way up the boy's arm. As soon as my fourth grader realized this cricket's intent, he began to whimper. I thought that he would be ok, because he was holding the darn thing in the first place, but instead of hold his ground the whimper became a cry, the cry became a yell, the yell became a moaning, screaming, yelling, fourth grade boy. They both ran off outside to be rid of Chester the Cricket.

Ah Chester... You made my day

sick

being sick takes all of the fun out of posting...

maybe I will post soon...

maybe not.



Oh Yah, and Hurray for Kylie and Ryan and new little bundle of joy!!!

more to come

I am still thinking, I am trying to perfect a kindergarten post, but I hit a creative wall. I think I need to blow some bubbles or fingerpaint. Something that is fun, without being too constructive.

I also need to get back to work.

Dad's birthday

So, I should have posted this yesterday, but I didn't have a chance, because I was effectively going crazy all day long. Yes, It was an all day thing, and yes it was crazy. I have my yearly end of the summer cold, and it is hitting on me like a bat on a ball.

Ode to my father:

Dear old dad
What good times we've had
You're up in your years,
But don't let that cause fears.
For age makes you wise
and gives wrinkles round the eyes.
Wrinkles made by smiles
That you and I've shared for miles and miles.

Much love,
Much joy,
Much peace,
Much patience,
Much kindness,
Much goodness,
Much self control.

Your darling daughter,
Jen

A cheesy poem is all I really need to show you how I feel.

Stare down at the KF choral in (kinder) GARTEN town

Genera: Western

Setting: A Flourishing Boom Town on the Frontier

Characters:
Ban the Man,
The Innocent Garteners (Citizens of Garten town),
and Sheriff Music.

Imagine a bright and sunny day in (kinder)Garten town. All of the little tykes are behaving like good citizens in the booming town of Garten. The KF Choral has only been in existence for four weeks now, but all of it's (kinder)Garten citizens are walking, talking, listening and learning just like they should.

All of the sudden a shadow falls over the sun. The silhouette of a lone kindergartner dressed all in black with a black cow boy hat and a red bandanna has stepped between me, Sherif Music, and the light from the sun's radiating path of knowledge. It's Ban the Man. A slight breeze blows a tumble weed across the classroom er... Choral. A kindergartner has broken not one rule but three as the camera angel zeroes in on his slightly taller than his peers frame. His eyes slowly move from looking down angrily at the ground to meet mine as I call his name.

(Whistle the theme from every western stand off ever made, It will bring a better effect to the post) (doo Doo doo Doo doooooo, wah, Wha, wha, doo Doo doo Doo doooooo, wah, Wha, WAH!!!) (rattle snake tail...rattle...rattle...)

We stare at each other, our eyes narrow. I place my hand to my belt loop hoping for my golden lasso, but to no avail all that I find is the remote to the CD player.

"You've got two choices mister. Either you behave like a gud citizen, or I'll set you down in the pokey (time out chair) for the remainder of class"

No one made a sound. The tension in the air was so high you could have powered the whole of Garten town for a year on that one little moment. The stare down was on.

Seconds ticked by, and then Ban the Man flinched. It seems that he knew that I mean business, and he grudgingly turned toward the next activity.

Hopefully you won't have to stay tuned for more adventures of Sherif Music and Ban The Man

I'll Eat My Hat

Wasn't Labor Day weekend wonderful. I have a seriously large appreciation for the long weekend that I just had. I think that people who do not get to have labor day weekend should be paid double for their efforts, because really, EVERYONE should have a labor day.

So, as part of labor day weekend, Chris and I traveled back to the burro to help with music in church. We felt so at home back at our church, that it was almost too good for us. It reminded us of how much we miss the burro and the people who we. We even missed the goofy parts of church like the Hour long announcements, the awkward moments created by the children's story, and that one person who sings loudly off key. (come on now, Every church has one.) This Sunday the hour long announcements were welcomed by our ears, the awkward moments in the children's story were hilarious, and the one person who sings loudly off key was oddly comforting.

And now I have to eat my hat for missing the burro. The little town that rolls up the sidewalks at 5:00 on main street and 8:00 at the grocery store has gotten under my skin.

I keep having to remind myself that I will begin to feel at home here up north. I like my job, even though it is hard, and I like the people whom I have met. Change is a process, and I have to learn how to go through the process.

My one good Kid story of today. I was asking my kids what George Gershwin was, and I was pointing at the word Pianist on the bulletin board. I made the P sound and one first grade child earnestly raised her hand and said. "George Gershwin was a Poser?" "no" I said, "He was a pianist and a composer" Poor George, He couldn't even defend himself.