Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I want to make my school a fun place.


Yes! My Computer Has Been Freed From the Evil Virus!!!! OK, so that may have been a little dramatic, but seriously, I was thrilled to get my computer back. I couldn't get on the internet at all and to make things even worse, I couldn't use any of my programs like Word or Powerpoint either. Here I was on Fall Break wanting to try to get caught up and maybe even ahead and I couldn't do anything. Fortunately for me, I have a super smart nephew who saved me $149 to get it fixed. Thanks so much Erick!!!

Yesterday, Delaney started her new school. She was thrilled beyond measure. She told me after school, it was the best day of her life. haha It has really made me feel like I made a mistake leaving her at my school. There were a lot of rough kids in her class. The new school is a totally different experience for her. She has always been in the minority at my school. The last few years she has been the only white child in the class. It didn't matter, but several of the girls she was friends with decided they were interested in boys and they have gotten pretty wild (in 5th grade!). 

As I have been going through this process of her changing schools, I have come to the realization that our school just isn't a fun school to attend. I don't know what happened. We just don't do any of the fun things that I read about on other blogs. I think it gotten worse last few years when we were going through all of the construction and renovations on our school. We are a small school and the district has started sending us 2 different music and art teachers. Each comes to our school one day. Since that has happened, there have been no honors choir, art club, etc... Delaney is a great student and since she has been old enough to do any of the special things, there hasn't been anything, no crossing guards, office aids, ...nothing.

Our school scores poorly on the CRTs so we have cut our recess down to 15 minutes to have more "time on task". Personally,  I think the whole thing has backfired. My daughter who is an excellent student and does score well on the CRTs hated school. She used to ask me all of the time if she could stay home. When you walk down the halls, you see a bunch of "data", no fun encouraging bulletin boards. It was one of the first things I noticed in Delaney's new school.

I don't know if I can be successful, but I'm going to call on the help of a few new teachers and see if I can't make our school more fun. Wish me luck!



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8 comments:

  1. We have various clubs Delaney can be a member of throughout the year. Choir is finishing up right now; but last week Vickie Cosby's book club started & yesterday girls basketball & chess club began. Let me know if she is interested in either one and I can fish up some paperwork for her. :-)
    It was a pleasure visiting with you today.
    Sincerely,
    MRS. BLAIN

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    1. Thanks so much, I enjoyed meeting with you today too. Mrs. Cosby told her about the book club, it will depend on her ride to school and what time she gets dropped off. Her is a link to the math journals I was telling you about,
      http://www.rundesroom.com/search/label/Math%20Journals

      Kelly Dugan

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  2. So glad to hear your daughter is happy in her new school:)
    That's too bad about your school and the lack of fun. One year I ran a Mad Science club at lunchtime. It was a huge hit:) good luck!

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    1. Thanks Barb! I think I do fun things in my classroom, I just think for the older kids there just aren't any extras that usually go along with the upper grades if you know what I mean.

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  3. Ouch - that doesn't sound like much fun. I'm glad your daughter is in a better place for her. Sometimes I feel like I have to be sneaky, but I try to have fun with my class
    Sara

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    1. It's kind of funny, I didn't really notice it until I saw a different atmosphere at the new school. I've talked to the principal a little today about trying a few new things. Wish me luck.

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  4. Numbers, scores, data, etc. can have a way of bogging schools down. Be free! :)
    ❀ Tammy
    Forever in First

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