Sara's Favorite Things

In the last week I heard about Opera's Favorite Things three times. Once on the radio, once at work, and I read about it in my magazine (not the Opera one). It made me wonder why isn't there a list of Sara's favorite things? Would it make people want to be a "joiner" and agree with my favorite things like Opera's favorite things? Here is my list

1. I love summer. The hotter the better.

2. Pools and lakes, especially if a cold beverage is involved.

3. Long car rides in the fall and summer.

4. Being a mom. It is my favorite-est thing.

5. Math- doing it and teaching it.

6. Reading- doing it.

7. Watching tv with my family in the evenings.

9. Facebook

10. My kindle, and I-Pod touch

11. Sleep and naps

12. My puppies

13. BABIES!!

14. My old school, Roosevelt

15. Toyota Highlander

16. Scrapbooking

17. Dt. Mt. Dew

18. Shrimp wrapped in bacon and cheese.

19. A photo of Ethan missing his two top teeth smiling so hard he is squinting and hugging Sam

20. A photo of Noah in Kindergarten holding one 5 pound bag of potatoes in one hand, and another in the other hand saying the 5 pound bag on the left is heavier.

21. Baby pictures of my babies.

22. My house and yard

23. Minnesota

24. Cowbell

25. When my students have art at school.

26. Friends

27. Movies

28. Popcorn

29. A drink after work

30. PINK

31. Flowers

32. Chicken salad with grapes and cashews

33. Last day and First day of school

34. Target

35. Structure and organization

36. Ice cream

37. Fresh cut grass

38. Christmas

39. My siblings

40. Lavender- the smell and color

41. When kids behave at school

42. When kids are engaged in learning at school

43. Julie's toddler, Lilly

44. Memories of my mom.

45. Vacations and trips

46. Wii

47. Basketball

48. Sandals

49. Entertainment Weekly

50. A cozy bed

I Think I Might Be Old...

I've noticed lately maybe I am getting old. I work with a lot of young twenty-somethings. I clearly remember being the "young one" on the staff, but now I've graduated to "one of the old bags", but not quite to the "Good Grief how long are you going to teach? Retire already" group. It's not like I turned old overnight, but it seems like I noticed it in the span of one week... 1. I've watched (and sadly participated in the first) zumba fashion mistake twice. In the early 90's it was "zumba" now they're three times the price and called "granny pants". I'm wondering if the name came from young people seeing us wearing them in the 90's and thinking "they're old enough to be my granny." 2. I do not feel comfortable wearing "outside" boots as my real shoes. Too many bad memories of having to wear my "moon boots" in elementary school because I forgot to pack my shoes in my "book bag". 3. Kids look at me, point and laugh when I tell them to get their "book bags" at the end of the day. 4. I don't understand the comeback of leggings. They were only flattering on 2% of the population in the 90's, why would they be flattering now? 5. Ditto to "skinny" jeans. 6. My theory on jeans is bell bottoms- even thought they sometimes catch my shoes and make me trip on the steps- make your ankles look wider, thus making your hips look as narrow as ankles. 7. I used to talk on a rotary dial, corded phone to my high school boyfriend. If I wanted privacy I'd shut myself in and closed the door to the sewing room. 8. I used to try hard to not dress like a mom. But now I realize it's not my clothes, it's these darn kids that make me look like a mom. 9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least a little bit tired. 10. I can't go out with my co-workers because they want to go out at 9:00 and I have my jammies on at 9:30. 11. I used to have to get up and change the channel on the black and white TV for my parents- and we had only three channels. 12. I remember being one of the first families in town to have a new fan dangled "micro-wave" oven! 13. We used to start the microwave and fight over who gets to put their face right up to the door to watch the food "magically" cook. 14. I watched the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when it first came out. 15. I remember renting a VCR to watch one of the five movies Barnesville had to rent at the gas station. 16. I was at a slumber party and thought we were super cool because we had three of the five movies to be rented- all played on an OWNED VCR. 17. I remember not knowing who was calling until I answered the phone. 18. In college I called a friend who had caller ID and she answered the phone "Hi Sara" and I was convinced she was psychic. It took me two months to figure out she wasn't. 19. I owned one of the first cell phones. It was the size and weight of a brick and was carried around in what now looks like a lunch bag. It only could call three pre-scribed numbers. Mine was my parents, Triple A, and 911. 20. I remember when 911 was in the "trial" phase and only offered in big communities.

It's 4:70 Somewhere...

I have a student I absolutely adore. "Bobby" reminds me so much of my Ethan. He is easy going and quick witted. If someone says or does something dumb, they both give that person the same look, as if to say "who ARE you?" Bobby also reminds me of Ethan because they both can take or leave almost everything, but when they find something they are looking forward to or love, they get so enthused. Today was Bobby's show and hell day. Usually the kids just tell us what's going on in their corner of the universe. As he sat in the coveted chair, Bobby told us about a trip his family has planned. "After school gets out for the summer we are flying to West Virgina to see my grandpa! I've never, ever been on a plane and I can't wait!! My mom says we will get out own can of pop for free! And I'll probably get to see a MOVIE. On. The. Plane!! We are first flying to Chicago and having a hangover (yep, he said hangover), and I hope it's not too long. Then we will get on another plane and fly all the way to West Virginia! I get to see my grandpa who lived in New Zealand, but moved to West Virginia in February. I met him when I was a baby, but I don't remember him. We talk on the computer and on the phone sometimes." Next, the children get to ask three question, which I have to preface every day "QUESTIONS. Not stories. Something he can answer." Student 1- "How are you getting to West Virginia?" Bobby- (giving the look) "We're flying." Student 2- "Are you um. Flying on a plane?" I really wanted to say, "Nope. He's flapping his arms really, really fast." But I held my tongue, however felt the need to intervene. "Has your grandpa always lived in New Zealand?" Bobby- "No. He moved there right after I was born. He taught college there." Student 3- "Did your grandpa drive to West Virgina when he moved back from New Zealand?" Naw, flapped his arms. It runs in the family. The next statement was "It's 10:75. Isn't it time for recess?"

My Little Friend

Remember a few months ago when I thought for a week I should go back to teaching Kindergarten? Then I saw a little boy, "Jimmy", walking down the hall, spinning and karate kicking the air and he almost kicked a girl in the head. I told him, "Oh no. You almost kicked her. That's not very safe." He ran after her and apologized. That really made me want to teach Kindergarten again because a third grader would probably say, "But I didn't kick her..." Well, I had door duty in the Kindergarten pod this week. I realized three things: 1) even though they are very little, they make A LOT of noise. 2) As soon as you tell them to stop doing something, they listen (for a little while until they forget). 3) They are so cute and think nothing of running up and hugging you. These kids have no clue who I am, yet they were like, 'I saw her yesterday. That means she's not a stranger so I must hug her.' During door duty I became reacquainted with Jimmy. On Monday he ran up to me and asked, "Are you Ms. Smith?" Ms. Smith is a Title teacher who lets kids borrow educational board games over night. "No, I'm Mrs. Fairfield. If I see her I'll tell her you're looking for her." On Tuesday he ran up and held my hand, "Are you Ms. Smith?" I thought 'ohh, honey, you can call me Ms. Smith'. Then I thought, I feel like a hooker, "You can call me whatever you want for enough money..." Needless to say, Jimmy hugged me everyday this week and usually held my hand whenever he talked to me. I hope he's in my class in three more years!

Snow...

Well, it's suppose to snow on and off for the next three days. Following that, we are suppose to get 6 MORE inches of snow on Sunday. Really? Where is global warming? I'll gladly give the polar bears my snow, so they don't all have to crowd on the one ice burg. I remember two years ago, in the middle of May I was at Noah's all day baseball tournament. I wore two shirts, a sweatshirt and a winter coat along with long johns. I think we'll still have snow in the middle of May this year. Oh well, baseball is a mind numbingly boring sport anyway. Maybe I'll get out of a few games this way. Stay tuned for the next blog, "Sam and Max get a haircut so now Maxie has a personality."

Circus

If you know me at all, you know I LOATHE the circus. I hate that the animals are locked up and "forced" to perform, and well I hate clowns. However, I do love the smell of cotton candy and popcorn. I remember bringing Noah when he was two years old and he wanted to leave at intermission. I spent the next six years dragging the kids to the circus. I took the last two years off mostly because 1) I didn't tell the kids the circus was in town and they didn't realize until it was gone and 2) Ethan didn't want to go because it would cut into his pajama wearing time on a Saturday morning. Last night Ethan and I were snuggling on the couch watching TV. A commercial for the circus came on. Me- "Do you want to go to the circus this year?" Ethan- "Can I have dots?" (an ice cream that melts in your mouth) Me- "Do you only want to go so you can eat dots?" Ethan- (Pausing) "Kind of. But one time there were three tigers and they jumped through a hoop that was on fire." So I guess I'm going to the circus. It'll probably be the last time, so I'll bring my camera and morn my children growing up. When did they get so big. What was I doing? I swear they do it when I'm not looking just to spite me.

Maybe I DO Make A Difference

I have acknowledged and almost accepted that I do not make a difference in the lives of children, especially working on the South Side. One the South Side, the class sizes are so big the kids get less one-on-one attention. The schools are so big the kids could go a month or more after moving onto the next grade without seeing you, and when they do it's like, "That lady looks somewhat familiar. I wonder if she works with my mom..." Having taught for four years at the Kindergarten Center, I found this to be especially true. The kindergartners go off to their "home school" and never see you again. One time I saw a girl two years after I taught her and I went to talk to her and her mother. Neither one recognized me, and actually ARGUED with me about having been her teacher. The kicker is she was the type of student I wouldn't "dream" of having. I really deserved a metal-or five to six tall ones at the end of the year with her. That was when Ethan was a baby and the last time I went up to a former student.
One the North Side, the schools are so small you can (and I did with many) teach all of the siblings in the same family. Also if you're willing to switch grades you teach the same kids for two years. Even though after TWO years Andy Panda still called me "Teacher" and I'd bet money he can't recall my name, but if I saw him at the Mall I know he'd sprint over to me and give me a hug while telling everyone around him, "She was my teacher. Twice."
Anyway, recently being re-located to the South Side and adopting my new bad attitude I've been proven wrong THREE TIMES!! I know- crazy- I'm never wrong!! The first time was when a girl from one of the other third grade rooms asked me if I used to teach at the K- Center. "Yes." "You were my brother's teacher!!" "Really? You were a newborn. I remember the day he came to school and announced he had a baby sister!!"
The second time was this week. I was walking to the office and a fifth grade stopped me. "Are you Mrs. Fairfield? Did you teach Kindergarten?" "Yes." "I was in your class- I'm Baily!" Oh my gosh! She was so grown up! I never would have recognized her (even if she wasn't wearing a stocking hat). The fifth graders don't fit in our school because of over-crowding so they go to the Middle School, but get to come back for after school activities. After telling her she's tall and asking how she could be so grown up, I asked her, "Are you here for open gym?" "I came for open gym, but now I'm going to do net books and I just got my last rabies shot today." Of course you're Baily!! Only Baily can make leaps like that and logically think those things are related. There was a time when I could totally catch up with her leaps and make perfect sense of them as well. While we were talking about the reason she's gotten "either 5 or 30" rabies shots, the fourth grade teachers walked by and Baily points at me and yells to them, "My Kindergarten teacher!" as if I'm some sort of exotic exhibit. It made me happy. I did make a difference. She remembered me. She can't remember how many rabies shots she just finished receiving, but remembers me. After I finished my chat with Baily I told her fourth grade teacher, Donna, that she remembered me. Donna told me I was her hairdresser's daughter's kindergarten teacher too, and she talks about me all of the time. I thought about it and that girl must be in eighth grade by now. All three kids were from the South Side. I didn't teach them for two years, and they didn't see me when they were in first grade, but the remembered me. Maybe I do make a difference.