FiElD tRiP!!!!

Ah, field trips!  A day we dedicate to the kids from dusk until dawn just to have a little break from the normal classroom humdrum and trick them into learning :)

Today was our annual field trip to our Louisiana State Capitol and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum.  Our trip began bright and early at 6:45 am when we loaded two chartered buses and traveled east for 2 hours.  For the teachers, this meant 2 hours of work talk about how to figure schedules, how to help our struggling students, and reviewing options for the upcoming Advent celebration at school.  For the kids, this meant loading up on early morning junk food brought from home, chatting on the DSi, playing ipod touches, or simply reading a book.

The museum was a bit rushed, but the activities were enjoyable.  We were having fun learning.  Who needs a bathroom break anyway?  Our kids learned the science behind why we cannot touch art due to the oils in our skin and the damage it does over time.  They also learned how to build a series electrical circuit, a parallel circuit, and how to make a light bulb work with a D battery.

The Capitol was the best, though  Thank God I teach Social Studies.  I love history.  In addition to being a grammar nerd, I get abnormally excited to learn about history.   I'm pretty sure my students do, too (wink, wink). 

I have a student in my class who has struggled all of his life in the classroom.  Of course, he's not the only one.  This kid, however, has a shy personality and lacks confidence in the classroom.  It is obvious to me, and, unfortunately, it is obvious to his peers.  He requires help that others don't.  Well, yesterday was his day to shine.  His dad is a former Senator,  former Louisiana Representative, and currently holds an office in our state government.  I was hoping he would just be able to meet his son at the capitol and enjoy the tour, since this child's parents don't live in the same city.  The second his foot hit the ground off of the bus, he turned to me, and said, "Mrs. Adrienne, I don't see my dad."  Well, there is a bit of the walk up to the capitol, so I told him to wait until we get there.

As we approached, there his dad was, waiting for our arrival.  He came to me and said he had arranged to do the tour himself with the help of another tour guide.  He arranged to have us tour the House, the Senate (these are the norm), and he would take us into the Governor's office, too!  He swore in all 75 of the students as Honorary United States Senators, called them all Senators as we toured, gave them Senate pins, let them run their fingers along the bullet holes still in the wall from Huey Long's assassination, showed us the pencil that remains in the Senate ceiling after a bomb exploded there long ago, and escorted our whole loud crew into the Governor's office.  His son beamed as he stood beside his dad as he told us some history behind the items that hang there.  He had that "I'm trying not to smile so I can remain cool but I really can't help it" smile.  His dad introduced himself to all of us with the offices he has held, currently holds, "but, most importantly" as his son's dad.  He ended the tour by taking all of the kids to the top of the capitol from the 4th floor of the Governor's office.  What a treat!

Finally, as my half of the group roamed the top of the the nation's tallest capitol building overlooking the Mighty Mississippi, I got a call.  Our time was up.  It was 3:00, and the other half of the group had not been able to come to the top.  I just couldn't imagine telling the 40 kids in GROUP B, half of the group, that they could not come up.  So, I made a quick decision and told my team teacher to let only the kids up with one parent per group, leaving lots of parents on the ground floor.  It was the only way to lessen the amount of people.  The elevators are small and take a long time to get up there.  I probably made a few parents unhappy, but the fied trip would not have been complete without those kids coming up, and they NEVER would have forgotten that they didn't get to come up.  They came up.  It took a long time.  We left 45 minutes late.  I worried about that decision all the way home since I had heard that some parents were not thrilled with it.

My son is in my class this year and calls this the best field trip he's ever had.  After we were home, I asked, "What was your favorite part of the entire day?"  "Going to the top, "he said.  He was in GROUP B.  So, I've decided I'll take the blame if any.  It was worth it.

I can't wait to get to school Monday and start working on thank you notes for these men who made our day so special....and of course tricking them again into writing a friendly letter.

Lesson:  Kids remember heartbreak longer than they remember a good time.  I'm glad there were none today.

~ACZ

Zac at the top overlooking the Mississippi.

Over 100 of us crammed into the Governor's office.

The Senate

The kids being sworn in as Honorary Senators

Father and son.  Look at that sweet smile!

Times Three

This is my life...this thought....times three.

When you have 3 kids, everything happens in threes.  Not just bedtime, bathtime, dinnertime, morning time, and snacktime.  Tuition to that sweet private school.  New winter shoes.  New winter coats. New winter wardrobes.  New booksacks.  New school supplies.  New sporting gear.  Christmas.  Easter.  In my case, birthdays since their birthdays fall in July, August, and September.  Halloween.

Halloween...have you been to a costume store?  Are they insane?  I guess there are some people out there who pay $40 for a costume to wear one single night.  That's not me.  In fact, we have been blessed to have hand me down costumes most years.  This year, we're on our own though.  I was able to talk Catie into wearing her "beautiful princess dress" in her closet.  I bought a cheap tiara and robe to complete the ensemble.  Zac will be a zombie like every other 10-yr-old this year.  Abby is difficult.  She is not girly at all.  She would wear the dracula costume if I allowed it.  She finally decided on a lady vampire and only if blood can drip from the corner of her mouth.

So, tonight, after dancing, we decided to make the trip to the dreaded costume shop.  It is important to know that no mother toting more than 1 child in the history of the world has ever left a store feeling like a successful parent.  We either leave utterly embarrased that these whiny children are following us out the door, starving and crabby because this trip was taken too close to dinner time, or like a total loser that we did not buy the 2,345 things that our kids asked us to buy THAT day.  We get into filthy minivans and SUVs (noticing the mess again when opening the back door), fuss at the kids to get in already, drop a teddy bear and a DVD on the ground, throw it back in, and calmly back up while trying to see around our 45 blind spots that our cool SUVs have brought to our lives.  We eventually calm down before the return home and all is well with the world again.

Anyway, the shopping trip.  Just as expected, this entire scenario happened once again.  Abby was a perfect angel and found a costume that did not cost $500.  It was a dress :(  but I told her she could put black leggings with it, so she's cool.  Catie asked for eyeballs, a princess mask, clown hair, a bloody arm, a crawling zombie, spiders, a bloody ax, the dry ice machine, a pirate costume, fishnet stockings, and a zombie baby.  The horrid zombie baby was $60 and she cried into the next store about that one.  "I WANT THE ZOMBIE BABY!!!"  {{{Who is this kid following me out the door?}}}

Next we had to go to Wal Mart for fangs to complete the ensemble (of course, the Halloween store was all out of fangs).  Here, Catie asked for cantaloupe, donuts, a "cute" T-shirt, SLIPPERS!!!!, pumpkin lights, pumpkin candies, pumpkin napkins, pumpkin pretzels, a pumpkin, fangs, spiders, a hoola hoop, a basketball, some jeans, pajama bottoms, a purse, and cookies.  She got the pajama bottoms since they were on clearance anyway.  That was not sufficient.  As usual, I left with an unhappy child whom I clearly do nothing for.....ehem....for whom I clearly do nothing.    [[[[[don't end sentences in prepositions]]]]]

She has now nibbled on the few morsels of food that were lucky enough to grace her palate, she has fussed at me for not getting her some ice cream, and she has faked throwing up 3 times.  It is time for the princess to lay that pretty head down.

Lesson:  Leave the kids at home when shopping!

~ACZ

Is That a Garage I See?

Today, as I returned from a looong day at work, I was able to smoothly pull into my new garage at my new house.  Big deal, you may say.  You have no idea.  You see, at my old house I only was able to park in the garage on very few occasions.  When my husband bought our SUV, he called me and said, "Honey, the truck won't fit in the garage.  It's too wide.  Should I still get it?"  After drying my eyes from the tears of laughter, I said, "Todd, I don't park in the garage. Buy whatever you want!"

Now that we have moved, it has been a long process of unpacking and organizing to get to this day.  How ever was this impossible task finally conquered?

Well, that's easy.  You see, around 2:30 on Wednesday afternoon, my husband sent me a quick, innocent email just as my students went to PE.  It said, "There's a kayak fishing tournament in Lake Charles this weekend.  What do you think?"  I had to sit back and give this some thought.  My husband and I, in our 12 years of marriage, have always been very respectful of allowing each other the time to go and do what we'd like to do whether it be social or hobby. 

Not this time.  The reply he received was long, detailed, heartfelt, definitely more than he bargained for.  To spare the details, it had something to do with junk...mess...clean...respect...work hard all day....hanging shades...love...garage...boxes...Sanford and Son...you get the point.

So, to make a long story short, I came home to a dust colored husband finishing the lawn and a wide open garage to pull into.

Lesson:  Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

~ACZ

Teacher Tip: Top Reading Mistakes

This is a list I quickly decided to put together after working with a couple of kids today.  When a kid has trouble with reading comprehension, it really affects them in all subjects.  Worse than that, the kid's parents have no clue how to help.  For advice on that, you must read this post:

http://atozlesson.blogspot.com/2011/06/teacher-tip-reading-like-champ.html

Moving on.....

TOP REASONS YOUR KID DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY JUST READ:

1.  They may not be stopping at ending marks.  This makes sentences flow together in an odd sort of way.  The meaing of the sentences are lost.

2.  They make mistakes in reading and do not go back to correct what they read.  When a child does this, they are not paying attention to the story, but sounding out the words...again, losing meaning.

3.  They do not understand the vocabulary.  The struggling reader will simply continue, hoping to get the meaning figured out.  They typically do not.  They passed up the sentence or two that would've helped.

4.  They do not ever reread.  If they do not understand what they read, or forgot, or was daydreaming while reading, they continue.  They think that it will show their struggle if they have to read it again.  When I tell a struggling reader that I have to read things more than once all the time, they are shocked.  Their eyes actually get wide.  They have no clue that successful readers reread and poor readers do not.

5.  They do not envision what they read.  I always thought this was a natural thing until my husband and a couple of friends said to me, "I don't see the movie in my head when I read"  Gasp!  Use art to help this skill.  Have them draw their favorite scene and tell you about it.  They are retelling the story when they do.

6.  They are reading above their level.  My daughter is notorious for this.  She wants to read what her brother is reading.  They are too hard. This causes frustration and eventual disinterest, causing them to think all reading stinks....and giving up.

7.  They have not found a genre or author they enjoy.  A dyslexic student came to me this week and said, "Hey!  Mrs. Adrienne, I hate to read, but this book is so good!  I can't put it down!"  I quickly had him write down the series and the author encouraging him to find more books by him.  He got in trouble for reading during class today:)

8.  They do not find out anything about the book before reading.  Have them read the back cover.  If they do not, they spend the first few chapters distracted until they find out what is really going on here.

9.  They are still learning how to read.  In this case, read with them.  Listen to how they read, and read to them in a way that fixes those mistakes, exaggerating your pause at a comma, the stop at an ending mark, the excitement with an exclamation, and the sadness the character may feel.

...and # 10~  Well, you'd have to read another post for #10.  Here's the link.
http://atozlesson.blogspot.com/2011/01/teacher-tip-getting-that-dang-straw.html

God Bless!

ACZ

The Sprinkler

My sweet little ballerina just came back from her second ever ballet class.  Now, both girls can't get enough of dancing.  Catie is showing Abby the pliet she has learned, which she insists is called "Cliet" /kleeyae/ {{no matter what you or I say}}.  That is the extent of Catie's ballet knowledge thus far.  Realizing this, Abby seized the opportunity to teach something new to her baby sister.  Catie is now well versed in the "Salsa" (which looked more like a Tango).  She then proceeded to teach Catie the more complicated Pas de Chat.  To which Catie exclaimed,

"That's boring.  I hope they teach us to do the Sprinkler."
((Immediately giving her best Sprinkler))


Lesson:  Catie needs more involved classical ballet training, stat!
The sprinkler???

~ACZ

Drama Club

I can't decide where the personality of my sweet youngest daughter, Catherine Alyce, also known as Catie, comes from.  My middle child, Abby, clearly is my daughter in personality and all.  I was the painfully shy tomboy that I see when I look at her.  My son exhibits my personality when he is too indecisive.   We are unsure about the influence which created Thing 3.

Catie, hmmmm...currently (past bed time) she is doing quick claps and shimmying from side to side mimicking Michael Jackson.  Every now then, she busts into a quick rap about her socks and sandals (I think this is a Disney Channel thing).  Daily, she makes fake phone calls to order room service..."Yes, this is Catie Zembower.  I would like Honey Nut Cheerios and Cheetos and Apple Juice.  I'm going to need A LOT!  I'm SO hungry!  Thanks.  Bye." ....click..."Yes.  This is Catie Zembower.  I need a large pizza with everything on it.  Thanks. Bye." click.

She fake calls fake friends.  "Hi, this is Catie!  Are you coming over to sleep?  Okay, see you soon.  Bye"...click...."Hi.  This is Catie....ummm, I can come pick you up.  I'll come in a little bit.  Yes.  Mmhm.  Well, I drive a really big truck.  We can go to California (squealing).  My truck doesn't have seat belts either, so we don't have to buckle up!"...click.

I often have to say "Amen" to the Ritz cracker or Wheat Thin that is presented to me with a serious "The Body Of Christ".  She changes her clothes 5 times a day.  Spells things to me like, "Mom, d-a-h-f-r-g-v.  That means I love you (head tilt, smile)."  She thinks it is a cruel and unfair world when her brother and sister can have friends over and have sleepovers, but she can't. When asked who she would invite, she lists 3rd graders (Abby's friends).

She's a big faker.  Often, when we are getting out of the car, she quickly closes her eyes and pretends she's sleeping. It would benefit her if she could control her laughter when faking, but she can't.  Her eyelids flitter furiously as she tries hard to keep them closed while still making an effort to see my reaction.  Lately, she has realized that if she fake sleeps through mass, she does not have to get up and down so often.  So, immediately upon finding our seats, she goes limp in our arms, faking, faking, faking, then finally actually sleeping.

The most embarrassing so far, though, would have to be when Zac's 9-year-old visiting friend (also my 4th grade student) walked through the living room sans shirt after a stinky fishing trip on his way to the shower.  Catie whistled at him, except she can't whistle, so she faked it in a high pitched squeal.

Dear God, give me patience and guidance and the knowledge I will certainly need to steer this child in a positive, fulfilling direction.  Guide me to opportunities to help her imagination to grow.  And please, God, show me the best location in our home for her first Oscar.    Amen

~ACZ

My First Born

Sunday is my son Zac's 10th birthday.  He's growing up fast.  This year, though, I have watched this boy turn more into a young man.  This is a major year of growth.  There are a few things that have happened recently, suddenly, overnight.  A few nights ago, I was getting dinner on the table.  It suddenly felt odd to give this big kid the plastic kid plate he's eaten dinner on for years and years.  I shrugged and pulled out an actual full sized dinner plate for him.  A few weeks ago we were barbecuing.  It felt like we HAD to teach him about the barbecue pit and how to grill.  So, now he grills.  Tonight, at dinner, as I ordered drinks for everyone at a restaurant, I had to say, "Wait, instead of 3 child drinks, make that 2 child drinks and one regular."  The biggest sign of all, though, may be that this alien has suddenly chosen to shower without whining, bargaining, complaining, sometimes without even being asked!

Sunday will be 10 years since that tragic day in New York, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania where thousands of innocent fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, friends, servicemen....(((children))) lost their lives.  It was a day that our security of living in this invincible country was shaken, shattered.  We've never gained that feeling back, either.

Zac was due on September 3, 2001.  I was examined and told I had no progress, come back in a week.  I was big, fat, pregnant, dying from the heat, and extremely anxious to meet my first child.  We came back in a week.  Still no progress.  We were instructed to check into the hospital the next morning to be induced.

So, at 4:30 am Tuesday, September 11, 2001, we left for the hospital.  Around 6:00 am, I was examined again, and was told still no progress.  In fact, it seemed as though this baby was nowhere near the point for delivery.  My doctor decided to schedule a C-section feeling my labor could be long and possibly dangerous for both of us.  We would just wait in the room until the next available operating room.  So, that's what we did. 

All I could do was watch TV.  A little before 9:00 the channel was interrupted because a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  Shocked, I watched the horror of that burning building.  Actually, I assumed it was a smaller plane, and not a passenger plane.  I don't know why, but maybe I was more focused on the flames than the airplane.  The news media, of course, stayed with the story.  Suddenly, as a reporter stood in front of the flames, I watched a 2nd plane crash into the other tower {{{{silence}}}}}
Todd had been down the hall and came running into the room.  "Did you SEE THAT??!"  {{{Silence}}} This is when I realized the size and appearance of the planes.....passenger planes.  This is when the magnitude of the events struck me...TWO passenger planes don't hit buildings on accident.  Oh, and all of the people INSIDE the buildings!....oh, no. {{{Silence}}}}  I don't remember even reacting or saying a word.  I remember it all being surreal, trying to process what just happened, how many people may be killed...THIS will be my son's birthday.  This tragic day will be the day I will also have cause for celebration.  This was hard to process.  It already felt wrong to celebrate...anything at all.  My most joyous day of my entire life was immediately filled with sadness for these families who would lose loved ones on the same day I would welcome one.  The day went on with 2 more terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.  Nurses and staff kept coming into my room, watching a bit of the news, then moving on to their next patient.  I was glued to the TV until I was wheeled into surgery.

Zac was born at 12:24 pm.  He had a head full of black hair and weighed 8 lbs., 12 oz.  He had been so high up that they literally had to push down on my belly to get him out via C-section.  (A hint of what motherhood would be like).  We were thrilled.  The rest of the world and all of its anguish disappeared for the time.  Family and friends galore came to see this blessing that had come on such a dark day.  I stayed in the hospital for 3 days.

I left the hospital on September 14th (as my cousin was being wheeled in to deliver her first as well).  I remember that when we got to the car, we had a flat tire.  Strange, I remember that now.  Normally, I guess that would be a story to tell as you leave the hospital with your first born, but it is a vague memory.  I was mesmerized at what had happened to Lafayette while I was in the hospital.  The town was painted red, white, and blue.  All cars had flags, stickers.  Businesses had their windows painted...it was crazy.  Everyone had been living with the circus of it all for these 3 days, and I had been ...absent.  I was absent for over a week more as I stayed home while I healed.  Again, when I left the house, the same patriotism could be seen everywhere.  What a time that was!  You almost felt an incredible bond with every American, like we had all been through this tragedy together. 

We visited the site of the Flight 93 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania about 6 years ago.  What a feeling you get being there.  It is nothing I can put into words.  It's very spiritual.  You just want to hit your knees and pray harder than you've ever prayed for peace to these victims and their families.  You want to ask God "WHY???"  over and over.

As I think back on that day, my feelings are like a roller coaster.  Every year, for Zac's birthday, I feel I cannot fully enjoy it until I give credit where credit is due.  This is Zac's birthday, but this is also the 10th year that loved ones and servicemen will be missed around the dinner table.  It's the 10th year that those families will celebrate the upcoming holidays without their family members.  It is the 10th year that our military risks everything to protect our freedom.  It's the 10th year that military families sacrifice their togetherness for us.  I cannot fully express my gratitude for any military who gave so much as a weekend dedicated to this cause.  I cannot even begin to express my sympathy for those families who lost someone in New York, D.C, or Pennsylvania.  Now, on to another bittersweet birthday.

Happy birthday, Zac.

This is Zac at age 4 in front of the shrine that has been

placed upon the fence in Shanksville, PA. 

Peace,

ACZ