Comments for Phat Teacher http://www.phatteacher.com The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly...and Definitely the Funny! Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:43:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Real Teachers… by Cordes http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/10/02/real-teachers/comment-page-1#comment-27 Cordes Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:43:14 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=83#comment-27 Mary -- Great blog --absolutely brings me back to the "why" of this profession we have chosen, or that has chosen us!!! On another note...I need the delete key almost every time I teach clay...Try saying "scratch and attach" over and over to Middle Schooler's....or "Scoring" (a method used to attach two pieces of clay together). If only I could find other words that describe the process so much better the laughter would end....but then again, maybe it's better this way! As always, thanks for sharing! Mary –
Great blog –absolutely brings me back to the “why” of this profession we have chosen, or that has chosen us!!! On another note…I need the delete key almost every time I teach clay…Try saying “scratch and attach” over and over to Middle Schooler’s….or “Scoring” (a method used to attach two pieces of clay together). If only I could find other words that describe the process so much better the laughter would end….but then again, maybe it’s better this way!

As always, thanks for sharing!

]]> Comment on Christmas Vacation…and Visions of School Dance In My Head! by Barb McMahon http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/12/29/christmas-vacation-and-visions-of-school-dance-in-my-head/comment-page-1#comment-26 Barb McMahon Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:02:10 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=148#comment-26 I too have the same dream. I am in a classroom where not one single student is listening to me. No one follows any directions. The interesting thing to me is that the setting always changes. Sometimes I am in the elementary school where I went to school. Sometimes I am in one of the many buildings I subbed in. Sometimes I am in the first elementary building I ever taught full-time in. Sometimes I am in my curent building. Sometimes it is in an elementary building that I'm sure I have never been in. But always the mad chaois. And it is fear. Not fear of students. It is the fear of not being great. I too have the same dream. I am in a classroom where not one single student is listening to me. No one follows any directions. The interesting thing to me is that the setting always changes. Sometimes I am in the elementary school where I went to school. Sometimes I am in one of the many buildings I subbed in. Sometimes I am in the first elementary building I ever taught full-time in. Sometimes I am in my curent building. Sometimes it is in an elementary building that I’m sure I have never been in. But always the mad chaois. And it is fear. Not fear of students. It is the fear of not being great.

]]> Comment on Cash For Clunkers! by peak sister http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/09/02/cash-for-clunkers/comment-page-1#comment-10 peak sister Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:07:35 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=29#comment-10 Mary, enjoyed your musings...funny how it doesn't take the newbies long to begin to look forward to Thanksgiving! WH Mary, enjoyed your musings…funny how it doesn’t take the newbies long to begin to look forward to Thanksgiving! WH

]]> Comment on Monogrammed Chairs by peak sister http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/08/31/monogrammed-chairs/comment-page-1#comment-9 peak sister Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:49:21 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=17#comment-9 Ahhhh, that is inspirational...I know the old school building routine well. This is my 3rd year in a brand new elementary after our district retired our 105 yr old historic home, my home for 14 years. She was sturdy and thick but rather frazzled, suffering from chronic diseases and a lot out of touch. Our computer lab was a maze of wires and conduits: over, under and around the walls, floor and ceiling. The air conditioners planted in the old coat closets regularly dripped water on the floors below. Nice wide stairwells in the three story structure made for great exercise paths, especially during fire drills if you were housed on the top floor. When it rained, the old plumbing would back up and a good hard rain would flood the basement. Aquariums and electically powered educational items gradually gave way to computers and printers as the two outlets in each room were commandered by technology. The third floor housed a ghost that eerily opened and closed doors and made odd noises, although no students were ever consumed. The 15 foot high classrooms may have had peeling paint and years of dust matted along the wall trims and in long neglected corners, but the wall of tall windows allowed natural light to stream in and raise the spirit. Old wood floors had long been covered by thin, cheap carpet which didn't mute the creaking sound when walked on or compensate for the slight slant of the whole room. The main hall with it's high arched ceiling and original tile floor was a singer's paradise, echoing melodious tunes or the sounds of occassional seat swats from the principal. Now landlocked in the poorest, most run down part of town, the former queen of schools finally retired two years ago, replaced by a low, snazzy, green and cream, technology- friendly ediface. The students still come in with snaggle toothed grins and sometimes tears, they still love pe and recess best, still amaze their teachers with their insights and confound them by refusing to do homework...and they still dog ear the library books. At least the smart, self flushing toilets and automatic water faucets have the upper hand on bathroom etiquite. No matter what school house, kids are still kids and we as teachers have the great opportunity to send them down the path of opportunity just by letting them know we care about them. Ahhhh, that is inspirational…I know the old school building routine well. This is my 3rd year in a brand new elementary after our district retired our 105 yr old historic home, my home for 14 years. She was sturdy and thick but rather frazzled, suffering from chronic diseases and a lot out of touch. Our computer lab was a maze of wires and conduits: over, under and around the walls, floor and ceiling. The air conditioners planted in the old coat closets regularly dripped water on the floors below. Nice wide stairwells in the three story structure made for great exercise paths, especially during fire drills if you were housed on the top floor. When it rained, the old plumbing would back up and a good hard rain would flood the basement. Aquariums and electically powered educational items gradually gave way to computers and printers as the two outlets in each room were commandered by technology. The third floor housed a ghost that eerily opened and closed doors and made odd noises, although no students were ever consumed. The 15 foot high classrooms may have had peeling paint and years of dust matted along the wall trims and in long neglected corners, but the wall of tall windows allowed natural light to stream in and raise the spirit. Old wood floors had long been covered by thin, cheap carpet which didn’t mute the creaking sound when walked on or compensate for the slight slant of the whole room. The main hall with it’s high arched ceiling and original tile floor was a singer’s paradise, echoing melodious tunes or the sounds of occassional seat swats from the principal. Now landlocked in the poorest, most run down part of town, the former queen of schools finally retired two years ago, replaced by a low, snazzy, green and cream, technology- friendly ediface. The students still come in with snaggle toothed grins and sometimes tears, they still love pe and recess best, still amaze their teachers with their insights and confound them by refusing to do homework…and they still dog ear the library books. At least the smart, self flushing toilets and automatic water faucets have the upper hand on bathroom etiquite. No matter what school house, kids are still kids and we as teachers have the great opportunity to send them down the path of opportunity just by letting them know we care about them.

]]> Comment on Cash For Clunkers! by Pat Perrine http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/09/02/cash-for-clunkers/comment-page-1#comment-8 Pat Perrine Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:45:35 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=29#comment-8 Geritol and Ensure - Breakfast of Champions Fo sho you PHAT girl Geritol and Ensure – Breakfast of Champions

Fo sho you PHAT girl

]]> Comment on And We’re Off… by Pat Perrine http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/08/28/and-were-off/comment-page-1#comment-7 Pat Perrine Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:44:05 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=8#comment-7 You PHAT girl You PHAT girl

]]> Comment on Cash For Clunkers! by Mary Pat http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/09/02/cash-for-clunkers/comment-page-1#comment-6 Mary Pat Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:18:21 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=29#comment-6 Mary......you continue to amaze me with your creative writing. You truly are an awesome teacher and every kid that walks through your door every fall is so lucky to have you. I know my own daughter is better because of YOU! Thanks for all you do and will continue to do with our kids! Evan and Kelly will be there in just two short years! You may NEVER retire (even when you really ARE a grandmother!) Mary……you continue to amaze me with your creative writing. You truly are an awesome teacher and every kid that walks through your door every fall is so lucky to have you. I know my own daughter is better because of YOU!
Thanks for all you do and will continue to do with our kids! Evan and Kelly will be there in just two short years! You may NEVER retire (even when you really ARE a grandmother!)

]]> Comment on Cash For Clunkers! by Susan Kishner http://www.phatteacher.com/2009/09/02/cash-for-clunkers/comment-page-1#comment-5 Susan Kishner Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:00:31 +0000 http://www.phatteacher.com/?p=29#comment-5 I must say this is a great article i enjoyed reading it keep the good work :) I must say this is a great article i enjoyed reading it keep the good work :)

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