Short Days and Long Nights

I don't have anything in particular to blog about at this time, so I will share a few snippets of scenarios that my days short and the evenings away from my kids long.

Finally, I have two computers working in my room. I love it and so do my kids. So far, we've typed Business Letters and played on FunBrain.com. Having the working computers helps my classroom management because it gives those students who finish early something constructive to partake in. Best of all, the family atmosphere is strong and my kids are disciplined enough to work two at a time on the computer. In my highest tiered group, a few students are able to work three at a time. Things are really coming together.

Also, I just had a screen for my projector installed. It has really enhanced my instruction. Now, there is so much more marker to paper action with the entire class involved. However, I did realize with the installation of the screen, that I made it work before the screen. I never jeopardized my kids' education because of lack of resources. Like any sincere educator, I always did whatever I needed to for my kids to understand. The same applies to the computers. Now that I have them, they're a great asset to my classroom management, but I never had any major issues with management anyway. Complaints were more like fantasies in my mind: even though they were incredibly wonderful, I knew the reality of them was far in the distance and that I needed to take care of the present to move further.

It was Turkey day Long on Tuesday. The Gentlemen's Club prepared dinner for the staff. The guys were super excited. Even though all of them are 8th graders, most of them know me through their mentor, Mr. Bryant. (I digress) The guys come to my room during the middle of 7th grade lunch and inquire in an innocent face, which completely contrasts their normal behavior (I still love them), and say, "Ms. Crawford how come you ain't came to eat yet?" I told them my normal potluck response, "I'll be there in a minute." Normally, I wouldn't have eaten at all, but I couldn't turn the GC's down. Then one of them said, "We'll watch your class for you." I said, "No thank you Tony," with a chuckle and then "Can't you see I'm reading with my babies." It warmed my heart like never before when these guys who pretended to be anything, but innocent sat down amongst my kids and chimed in on our reading and discussion, in the middle of their big day. After about 7 minutes they said, "Ms. Crawford we gotta go now, Mr. Bryant probably looking for us." Then one of my students shouted, "Yeah go so you can leave her babies alone." All of sudden, Tony turns around and responsds, "I'm her baby too, I just don't need as much attention as yall." His peer Marcus says, "Yep, yep." This is what makes time away from school long. I love them like they are my own.