What makes a good parent?

Remember when I talked about the book Surviving the Applewhites?
Well, while we read the book, we filled out a study guide. One of the questions asked about what makes a good parent (I think I've mentioned this in a previous post). These were some of the answers my students in 7th period gave:

-"A good parent is that she feeds you trust you and gives you the freedom she thinks she can trust you with."
-"Well there are good parents because they have fun together, they play togither."
-"They should be nice and fun!"
-"to be a good paret you have to be hard working and fun but with disaplen [discipline]"
-"A good parent is if they are nice to them and have a good job to by them something."
-"They will make you do chors [chores]"
-"The best parents are the ones who don't care what you do as long as you don't get in trouble."

I kept the spelling and grammar errors because it makes them so much more endearing. :)
Aren't these great though. I thought you might enjoy them.

-Ms. Damron-

Sunny "D"

March 19 - 23 was Girls' Week. Monday - Friday there were various dress-up days for the girls only. The next week was Boys' Week and they did the same thing. (Just for the record, the girls were so much better at dressing up then the boys!) My little section of classrooms and teachers was the BEST. Erin Radandt, Lisa Fisher, and I dressed up almost every day. We were a fun corner to walk by. Wednesday or Thursday was "hip-hop" day and I couldn't really come to school dressed like this:

Although now that I think about it, I wish I had found this picture earlier because it's not too bad (except for the exposed midriff, that it NOT even an option with me). ANYWAY, I did my best to find some baggy sweatpants to wear along with a big, trucker-style hat. Fortunately, my sister hooked me up. After school, I took some pictures with Erin Radandt. It was hilarious describing what "hip hop" meant now-a-days. She was thinking hip-hop meant 50s or 60s. When her students told her that hip-hop meant gangster, she didn't believe them! Lisa and I quickly filled her in while doing the gangster walk through the halls. It was hilarious.

Here's what came out of our explanation. She beat me hands down.

Isn't she great? I stinking love this woman.
Well, earlier that day we also had a practice fire drill or something like that. When we went outside, my classroom lined up next to K. Christen's class  (it's all alphabetical). We were joking about giving me a gangster name or something and so we had this converstation:

Kenyon: Heavy D.
Me: I'm still a girl!
Kenyon: Okay - Skinny D.
Me: Wait - Sunny D!

And that is how my nickname, Sunny D came about! I think we may have forgotten about it already, but later that day Kenyon was talking to our principal in the middle of the hall and he shouted out, "Yo Sunny D!" I turned around and made a little peace sign or something and Kenyon and my principal just started cracking up. Good times!

-Ms. Damron-

Are you saying Ms. Damron is a hot babe?

Catchy title, eh?
This is such a great story.

So my dear friend, Kenyon Christen, told me this story Friday after school. He was texting in between classes and one of his old students (and a current student of mine) stopped by and asked him who he was texting. Kenyon replied, "Hot babes." This student paused and said, "Oooo. Are you texting Ms. Damron?" Without skipping a beat, Kenyon said, "Are you saying Ms. Damron is a hot babe?" The student wigged out and said, "Wait! What? No! NO!"

Bahaha I'm so finding and teasing that student tomorrow!

What if you don't remember what it's like to have parents?

In my 7th grade Resource Learning classes, I've been reading a book called Surviving the Applewhites. The idea to read this book came at the end of Term 2 when I was having some serious issues with bullying due to a particularly difficult student who belittled the other students regularly. I was looking up lessons on bullying using the internet and I stumbled upon that book. I immediately bought it on Amazon, read it, and then started reading about a chapter a day. The students took to the book and really enjoyed it. I was a little worried they wouldn't enjoy it because middle schoolers can be tricky, but they liked it (for the most part).

We finally finished the book this week. I meant to finish it last term, but the end of the term was crazy and I didn't want to take up precious homework help time reading that book. The kids were pretty excited to finish the book this week. We also finished filling out their study guide that goes along with it. One of the questions asked about the parents in the book and then asked what makes a good parent. When I opened up this question for a discussion, I got several things:

-doesn't make me do too much around the house like mopping or the dishes, but I can help with my brother and sister

-has routines

-let's me do fun things

-no curfew

-is pretty chill

-trusts me

-helps me take responsibility and learn things for when I go out on my own

It was a pretty good conversation, but one boy innocently raised his hand and asked this question, "What if you don't remember what it's like to have parents?" For a second there I didn't know what to say. This boy's mother died a little while ago, and dad has been out of the picture for a while now. He lives with his aunt now. I told him to write about whoever takes care of him.

The whole conversation made me think about my own parents though. I feel so blessed to have such amazing parents! They love me and they let me know it. They taught me to take care of myself. They go out of their way to help me. We had certain rules in the house and we followed them. Etc. I owe my parents so much because they helped shape and mold me. I love them dearly and I hope they know how grateful I am for what they have done for me.

-Ms. Damron-

So I do have this job next year?

Could Friday have come at a better time? I feel like I have been waiting and waiting for it to be Friday! I have just not gotten enough sleep this week and it has really affected me!

This morning began a little hectic because Mrs. Radandt's daughter had an emergency C-section last night, so she had to take a personal leave day. Normally that would be fine, but because it's BYU's graduation, she couldn't get a sub! (There are so many students at BYU who sub. Who would have known?) I hadn't even thought about that, but now I know! Anyway, we knew she wouldn't be able to get a sub, so one of the paras ended up watching over her class. She did a great job, but that meant that she was in there all day. The other two paras were helping with the CRT (end-of-year) testing, so they were busy all day too. That meant I was a lone all day. Now, I am the teacher, so it's not a big deal, except that I teach four homework-help classes. That means I have to try to help however many students I have in my class do their homework all at the same time. It is not easy! You would think that they would love the help with their homework and they would cherish their time in my class. In fact, you would think that they would be so grateful for the opportunity to get help on their homework, that they would be perfectly on-task, never waste time, wait patiently when I'm helping another student...

Yeah right. You would think I'm torturing them when I DEMAND that they get homework out and get to work. (Demanding is the only way to get them to do homework these days.)

The day actually went fairly smoothly considering I was on my own. 4th period can be tricky though because it's my largest class. I was in the middle of helping about four students with a science packet when my principal walked in my classroom. Don't worry though, I was managing all of my students and they were being so obedient and quietly working on homework...

Oh. Gottcha! There were three girls in the corner who were "reading"/TALKING and then a boy at a computer goofing off doing who knows what (I had asked him to read his book) and another boy drawing a picture informing me that he was drawing what he was thinking and it would save the world. (Just a side note, when I told him he needed to be doing homework because he was failing four out of seven of his classes, he told me that doing his homework would not help the world. I informed him that drawing that picture would not help him pass his classes, which is what he was supposed to do.)

To say the least, I was a little stressed when my principal walked in. Of all the days! haha Oh well. My students were at least being quiet and it wasn't complete chaos, which was good.

On my way to lunch, I stopped by the office to drop something off. My principal was in there and started talking to me. This is how the conversation went:

Mr. Swenson: Hey! I submitted your name...

me: Oh really? I was going to ask you about that.

Mr. Swenson: You were? Are we talking about the same thing?

me: I don't know. What are you talking about?

Mr. Swenson: Summer school. Every summer some 6th graders go to summer school to help with the transition into middle school. We generally have one teacher from Centennial and then a teacher from the elementary school teach. In the past Erin Radandt, Mary Buynak, and other people have taught those classes. I thought you would be a good candidate.

me: Oh man! I wish I could but I'll be gone in June. :( I was referring to my position next year. I got an email from the district saying I need to re-apply for the position because I'm a first-year teacher. If my principal likes me though, it should be an easy process.

Mr. Swenson: Oh. I have never heard of this. I thought you were an automatic shoe-in for next year.

me: Oh really? So I do have this job next year?

Mr. Swenson: YES! I didn't even get that email so I don't know what you're talking about. This last year they did things differently. It was the first year in my 11 years as principal that I have not had a say in who I got to hire for Special Ed.

me: Wow. Well, I'm glad to know I have a job next year! I'll forward you that email so you will know what they were talking about.

Mr. Swenson: Great!

I felt much better after that conversation. :)

The rest of the day went pretty well. And it's Friday, so that means it's always a good day.

-Ms. Damron-

Why didn't we think of this earlier?

This past Tuesday I had to get a sub because I had an appointment. My friend Katie Thevenin has been subbing since she graduated from BYU in December. I really wanted her to sub for me because I didn't want to be gone the whole day because I hate writing sub plans, and there are some things that are just easier for me to do than for the sub to do.
So, I figured if Katie subbed, then I could come back when I was done and it wouldn't be weird or awkward. (I always feel weird coming back into my classroom when there's a sub. It's like, what do we do now?!)
Well, it worked out just that way! I came back part way through 6th period, and Katie and I manned the classroom together. It's so great having two adults in the classroom. The students were typing out paragraphs for their blogs, and it is really hard for just one person to walk around and help edit every paragraph. Katie was doing a great job when I came in though.

Katie could have gone home, but she hung out with me! The great thing is that she got paid for her subbing job, but then it ended up that we just got to spend time together. So let me explain this one more time in case you're not understanding how cool this was: KATIE GOT PAID TO SPEND TIME WITH ME. -ish- More like she got paid while spending time with me, but you get the idea. How wonderful is that?

We ended up talking after school for about an hour, during which we took these pictures:


Fun, yes? We weren't having a particularly serious/smiley day.

We decided we wanted a treat, so we drove to The Chocolate on State Street. We ate a terribly delicious cazookie after which I wanted to die from pure happiness. I love my dear friend and I'm trying to figure out how I can be gone again, yet come back and have Katie help me. It was such a great idea!

-Ms. Damron-

Running on less than FOUR hours of sleep...

Welcome back from spring break folks!

It was such a glorious week. April 9 - 13 were some beautiful, school-free days! I flew to Arizona Friday night, April 6th and then flew back to Utah Friday night, April 13th. I don't think a week has ever gone by so quickly before! I may or may not have shed a few tears on the plane ride home back to Utah...

A little background on Sunday nights: I almost never fall asleep quickly on Sunday nights because I sleep in Sunday morning. I dread going to bed Sunday nights because I know I will just lie there wishing I could fall asleep while the clock slowly gets closer to morning. Well, last night I knew I would have a hard time falling asleep because I got on a pretty bad sleeping schedule during spring break. Don't worry though - I still was not asleep around 2:30 in the morning! ARG. It was VERY frustrating and when I woke up this morning I felt ill. Somehow I've survived the day so far, but I have two, long block periods left, so we'll see how well it goes.

WolfPack today was funny though. One of my cute 7th grade girls asked me how my dating life was. Then she asked if I had a boyfriend. Finally, she asked me if I would like her to hook me up because she has some cute older cousins. The only ages I remember her mentioning are 25 and 34. The 34-year-old apparently just got a job and finally moved out of his parent's basement. The 25-year-old was just let go by his girlfriend because he hasn't gone to college or served a mission. Apparently he has big muscles though. And he can sing. He tried out for American Idol, but sadly didn't make it.
Did that whole scenario make you laugh as hard as I did (in my mind - because out loud would have been rude)? Anyway, it's been a great day already. (And I'm not being sarcastic.)

For the last ten minutes of WolfPack, some of my students convinced me to look up some youtube videos on my laptop. We got a good laugh out of some Glozell videos (tik tok, bruno mars' beautiful, your love is my drug) and then the video "Bromance," which was quite entertaining.

Just two more periods!!!

-Ms. Damron-

A sweet treat.

Remember when the Special Ed department got audited last fall? Well we had our second audit today! A couple of the district ladies came and pulled one "blue folder" for each of us is and went through it to see if everything was in compliance. It's been quite a stressor for those of us Special Ed teachers!
Lisa, one of our fabulous Aides, knew how freaked out we all were, so she brought us a treat today! She said she stopped by Provo Bakery to get us donuts, but she couldn't pass these little treats up! Aren't they adorable? And so festive!


And yes, my hair is different in both shots. I got my hair cut about a month ago and my hair drives me absolutely crazy sometimes! You can decide for yourself which hair-do you like better.

**In case the picture doesn't explain the treat very well, it was a cake Easter basket! The little handle was a pipe-cleaner, the eggs were little candies, the basket was made out of cake that was frosted and covered in coconut. So fun!

-Ms. Damron-

Booger-covered sticks and toilet water

EW.

During 3rd period today a couple of the Aides from Mrs. Zuber's classroom came into my classroom with some...interesting food. The brought me, and I quote,

"Booger-covered sticks" and "toilet water."

What might that be, you ask? They looked like this:


The "booger-covered" sticks might have been pretzel sticks covered in Whiz Cheese dyed green and the "toilet water" might have been Sprite that had ice cubes with tootsie rolls frozen in them...but I don't know. It all looked awfully sketchy to me.
The best part is that one of the Aides, Liz, came back after school and asked me if I tasted them. Ew. I had a hard time looking at them...

-Ms. Damron-