Remember to Use Your Words

I think I say that exact statement everyday to one particular child. Today I found myself saying that to my entire class. However, it was not for the reason you are probably thinking. We started a new writing topic focusing on the 6+1 writing trait of Word Choice. I emphasized the importance is using your words to keep your reader engaged and for them to actually visualize what you are trying to express in words.

Once I got them started I sat at the back table to read a few of their most recent writing samples before individual conferences were to commence. Our previous topic was, "If you had 8 eyes and 8 legs what would you do"? Here are a few of my favorite samples that I would like to share with you.

Sample 1-I love the beginning and end of this one.
"If I had 8 eyes and 8 legs I would get web insurance. I would get it from Speico. Then at dusk I would go to town scaring people. I would mock them when they dive behind a trash can. I would repeat this when they killed a spider. In fact, I would only do that when they killed a spider. I would also explore Spider Cove and the Temple of Spider where the Golden Spider resides. "

Sample 2-I love that I can hear this child's voice in their writing.
"If I had 8 eyes and 8 legs I would be Spider-John. Which means... butt kick'n time! Boya! I would love it! I would also live in a web. Hey, I can sell my web. Web! Web for sale! Aaaaaaaaaah, lady with a purse! Freak."

Sample 3- Another sample of voice.
"If I had 8 eyes and 8 legs it would be a disaster! How would I wear shirts? What about pants? What about shorts? I would be able to see in all directions, which is pretty cool. But I would look sooooo ugly!"


I love getting the chance to read my student's writing. Seeing how they are able to manipulate their words to create these unique masterpieces. Talking to them about their thinking and how they form their thoughts on paper. Look how different they are? No one the same. I love it.

My New Habitat

Today was a pretty long day. I had so much to do and no time to do it in. Usually that is what I say during school. I found myself thinking that as soon as the bell rang to dismiss the kids.

My school is doing a canned food drive and guess who designed the shirt? Me! Of course. Well that goes along with finding someone to make the shirts, taking orders for the shirts, collecting money for the shirts, having invoices and paperwork filled out, and then sorting the shirts when they come in by the time the carnival this weekend.

That would have been fine had I not needed to do a million other things after school. I also had to tutor one of my low kids, submit grades, get a T.V. from a co-worker, see a man about a couch, run to the bank, and grade papers. I was able to do all these things, the only saving grace of the day? Coming home to my new, clean, and awesome apartment!

I moved in on Saturday with the help of amazing friends. I could not have done it without them. As their treat I ordered pizza and bought some beer. I think it was a fair trade. Anyways I love my apartment. I love coming home to, well, my home! I feel like such an adult working all day and having my own place. It is slowly coming together. After I get my couch later this week all I will need are:

• a bed
• a dresser
• a vacuum
• a washer
• a dryer

I will have to keep my eyes open on Craigslist! Not bad for a newbie, huh?

Reading Level

I found neat widget for finding a student's reading and interest level. Here it is!

En Mi Familia!

My sister and nephew from California came into town. I hardly ever get to see them so I was nice to spend some time with them. We stopped by a prospective apartment. That is all. Simple and short. Like my close friend!

Eat It!

Finally I am updating my blog after a long hiatus. Eat it occurred several weeks ago. I was on duty for recess and a small child asked me to play four square with him and some friends. I said, "Sure, what could it hurt"? Boy was that the wrong question to ask.

I remember four square as a young child and all the different tricks you could do to try and get the head person out. There was the good ole cherry bomb where you slammed the ball as hard as you could to send it flying away from your jittery adversary. Then there was bubbles where you basically bobbled the ball in your hand while you patiently plotted your plan of attack. Those were my two favorite.

The small child decided to review the rules for me as to what you can and can not do. A staple in any four square game. He sad Pac Man was legal. I was a little confused and had the child explain it further. Pac Man is where you stay on the lines of the four square box and walk around them avoiding the person with the ball. I thought that was genius! Why hadn't we thought of that in the olden days?

After a few rounds it was evident the kids were out to get me, but I showed no mercy. I am pretty sure there was a little smack talk. The server call Pac Man and everyone in the square jumps on the line and scatters about. I saw the child with the ball give me a devilish grin before jumping on the line and heading to me. He was quite the scurrier. I took off in the opposite direction.
Before I go on, let fill you in on a few details of our environment:

1. I was wearing a brand new pair of boots that went up to mid calf.
2. We were playing on a black top right next to a gravel playground.
3. There were a few moms there covering other classes.
   
4. I am a whole lot of man.

As I rounded the corner I stepped on a patch of rogue gravel that took residence on that particular corner of the four square that I approached. I swear that my legs flew up and I was parallel to the ground for what seemed like minutes. I just remember thinking in my head as I was flailing through the air, "My boots! Please don't be scratched"! I hit the ground on my knees and hands. I don't think it would have hurt that much if there wasn't gravel littered about and now embedded into my palms and knee caps. It also would not have been so bad if there wasn't a group of moms watching our game. Seriously, shouldn't they have been watching the kids?

Under Pressure...

I have an enjoyable student in my class. For the sake of anonymity we will call this enjoyable student Earl. Earl is an average student or shall I say an average young male student. Earl enjoys sports and enjoys rough housing with the other boys in the class. Earl also enjoys reading science fiction books and talking about bodily functions such as farts and burps.

Earl is also 1 of only 3 kids in my class who hugs me regularly. It is kind of refreshing knowing that boy boys can show a softer side. Earl is quite the interesting character as well. He has one of those dry senses of humor. However when using humor back he does not get it. Often times when I talk to Earl he stares blankly back at me. I look into his eyes and there is seriously nothing really going on there. This Earl is quite intriguing. And it does get better!

Earl occasionally bursts out into song! I think Earl might be my illegitimate child. Here is a catalog of songs he has been singing:
Under Pressure by Queen
Disturbia by Rhianna
I Like Big Butts by Sir Mix A Lot
The Final Countdown by Europe
and I am quite sure there are more to come!

I also think that you can find all of these songs on my iPod!

This is why I love being a teacher. The randomness that life has to offer brings these little joys in small child form.

I Apologize

Here is the email I send in response to my safety stars.

Dear Staff,
I wanted to apologize for the safety stars my class posted through out the school. The kids asked if they could share their safety tips with the school and I thought it was a wonderful idea. However, I was notified that some people were offended by them and didn't think that they reflected our 3rd grade team very well because of some grammatical errors they contained. I currently have 21 0f the 22 stars in my possession and only one of them had a safety tip that I sis not deem as a valid safety tip. I did look over most of them before the kids went to put them up but a few did escape my glance. I sent a few students to collect them for me this afternoon but it seems that we can not locate 2 of them. If you happen to stumble across them please feel free to drop them by my room or put it in my box. Once again I apologize for this innocent mistake. I am a first year teacher so I am going to make some here and there. Please feel free to come to me with any suggestions or concerns, I will not be offended. I will, however, be offended if I have to hear your concerns from someone other than you.

Thanks again and I look forward to a great first year with you all. I am very honored to be here among some of the best teachers in Round Rock.

Jesse Sosa
3rd Grade Teacher
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world".

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star...

How I wonder what you are?I know what you are! You are a disgrace to your team and very offensive!
Is that not how the rhyme goes? Oh no that's reality. Shall I explain further?

In class yesterday my class and I read "Officer Buckle and Gloria" by Peggy Rathmann. It is a story of an officer that goes to a school to give them safety lessons. His lessons are not very responsive and leave the kids in a comatose state. The officer receives a canine partner named Gloria. Gloria attends the safety lessons with the officer and before you know it the kids are into the lessons and send the officer off in applause. The officer thinks that his lessons are finally getting the appreciation they deserve. Unbeknownced to him, however, Gloria is behind the officer entertaining the crowd. The officer finally figures out what is going on and gets his feeling hurt. The officer receives a star shaped letter from a student asking him to come back and telling him of a time when she used a safety lesson she learned from him. This letter rejuvenates the officer and he returns to teaching lessons.
After reading the story and discussing some character traits I handed out star shaped paper. I told them to write down a good safety tip that they think is important. A few minutes later the kids ask if they can share their safety tips with the school. My heart swelled with pride. I said of course they could. I set my little minions free to distribute their safety tips among the school. They came back and we talked a little bit more about the importance of public safety and then transitioned to our writing block.
The day has ended and as a few kids leave they tell me about where they put their star and why. I was so happy my kids were excited about helping others be safe. It is about 5 minutes after the kids left and my team's lead teacher approaches me. She advises me that I should take down the stars my place just distributed earlier in the day. I politely asked why and this is what she said, "I had 2 people approach me and they said that the stars offended them and the kid's grammar and spelling reflected poorly on the 3rd grade team". I said that I understood and grabbed a few of my kids from YMCA and had them round up the stars. I was feeling a little uneasy since I didn't really read all the stars. My mind was racing at the possibilities of what they could have said.
I would now like to share the safety tips my kids came up with. I have 22 students so that is 22 safety tips. I will write them exactly as my kids did.

Safety Tip #1: Don't touch electricity posts!
Safety Tip #2: Never jrink and grive.
Safety Tip #3: No pushing.
Safety Tip #4: Never pass a red light!
Safety Tip #5: Always look both ways before crossing a street.
Safety Tip #6: Never stand on a char.
Safety Tip #7: Always touch animals only if your parents say.
Safety Tip #8: Never stand on a swevel chair.
Safety Tip #9: Never lift up a chair.
Safety Tip #10: Never leve a thumb take were you might step on it.
Safety Tip #11: Always label everything because if you trip on a pencil, you know who it belongs to.
Safety Tip #12: Pay atenchen to your teacher because if they have a ruler they will hit you.
Safety Tip #13: Never lean back in a chair.
Safety Tip #14: Always push in you chair so nobody slips and falls.
Safety Tip #15: Never put a plastic chair because you will sufacet.
Safety Tip #16: Never jump of a sky scraper without a crash helmet.
Safety Tip #17: Always wear a helmet when biking or skating.
Safety Tip #18: Don't bend back in you chair.
Safety Tip #19: Never run with scissors in your HAND!
Safety Tip #20:
Safety Tip #21: Never put a plastic bag over your head.
Safety Tip #22: Always have ear muffs on while shooting a big gun so you wont be def.

After reading the stars I was shocked. Are you kidding me? You made me take these down? I was livid. I admit that 1 star was ridiculous. I will post the mass email I sent out to my school in response to this. If you notice there was 1 star we could not find. I hope it doesn't get found. It is my act of defiance against the ignorant people who made me take them down.
Viva la un estrella!