A Field Trip, a Lockdown, and a Poetry Unit

So this past Friday, we had our first field trip to the aquarium.  I like field trips, but am I the only one who thinks they are WAY more exhausting than a day of teaching?  Especially on a Friday because Fridays are my (somewhat) relaxing days.  My kids really liked it and asked a lot "Is that a real animal?"  I had to keep telling them over and and over that the aquarium does not have fake animals!  I was glad to get back to school as my kids were literally running all over the aquarium on our field trip.

When we got back, I had them write a paragraph about our trip and illustrate.  It was nice and quiet and gave me a chance to sign their communication logs.  I know I've posted them before, but here's the communication log I use in PDF.  I like how I can just circle the positive and negative behaviors. 

Conduct Calendar #2

So it's time for dismissal and one of our buses wasn't there yet so I was walking one of my bus riders outside and say cop cars speeding by on the road in front of our school.  There was a lot of talk among the adults that something was going on.  A few minutes later, we were on Code Yellow: Administrative Lock D and had to bring all students inside.  In came all of the car riders and they took all of the kids on the bus off so we had pretty much everyone in the cafeteria.  This was of course the one day that everyone (teachers) planned to leave right after school!  It didn't last long and I was still able to leave before 3, but it was kind of scary!  I'm still not sure what went on, but there were a ton of cop cars I passed on my way home.

Next week, I am going to start a figurative language and poetry unit.  On Monday, I am going to give them a pre-test to see what they know.  The students are going to have a poetry folder where they put their poetry and a sheet listing the figurative language they need to know.  I called it Perfect Poetry Possesses (how do you like that use of alliteration?!).  Here it is for ya!

Perfect Poetry Possesses

I have been working on all of this grad school stuff and I cannot WAIT until this semester is done!  I hope everyone has been doing well!  I am super excited about this week because Friday is a teacher workday/PD.  Whoop whoop!  I consider that not even having to work because I can TCB :)