Photo taken on Friday, May 20, at 10:55 am
Two students from my 10:30 reading group just adore this book. They sit together laughing as they sing aloud the words.
Watching them, sitting with them — absolutely fills my bucket. But, for some reason, right now, it just isn’t enough.
There is a hole in my bucket, and I am trying so hard to fix it.
I used this book for many years. I couldn’t find it today, but I did find this.
Let’s go back to when I first noticed the hole.
Monday, May 2
I walked into work and found out that instead of my writing workshops, reading groups and extra doses of number sense, I needed to fill in for a second grade teacher. Nobody picked up her job.
Plans usually include worksheets and packets and those just aren’t my thing, so I went through my bookshelf and Prelutsky’s poetry spoke to me.
I was gifted this over thirty years ago. We are still friends. Both teachers. We usually talk each morning on our way to our different schools.
I turned down the lights and read aloud.
I am Growing a Glorious Garden
I am growing a glorious garden,
resplendent with trumpets and flutes,
I am pruning euphonium bushes,
I am watering piccolo shoots,
my tubas and tambourines flourish,
surrounded by saxophone reeds,
I am planting trombones and pianos,
and sowing sweet sousaphone seeds….
They created their own. Pokémon Gardens. Butterfly Gardens. Book Gardens. Ice Cream Gardens. Racecar Gardens….
Of course there were great moments. I love kids. But it wasn’t easy.
Tuesday, May 3
Writing Workshops*. Because*. An extra dose of number sense. My bucket filled, but not all the way.
Wednesday, May 4 and Thursday, May 5
I was a test administrator. Both days.
I walked around the room for hours, reading questions and response choices. Inside — I screamed. Outside —I smiled, speaking softly and clearly.
I had math groups that afternoon. Making coins. Four different ways to show $.25. Go shopping. You each have $1.00. I drew pictures of what was for sale. Slime. $.47. Pencil. $.15. Bracelet. $.50….I didn’t let them see, but I was tired. Frustrated. Sad. From the mornings.
The small hole from Monday grew bigger. Much bigger.
Friday, May 6
I woke up ready to start anew. I had found this book in the bookroom, New Kinds of Animals. Nonfiction. Seemed like something all of my students would enjoy. Since I now do heterogeneous reading groups, I didn’t bother looking at the reading level. I took the books and created a sheet to go along with it, the most important information. I added a Labradoodle, not from the book, and I added a place for students to create their own new kind of animal.
But that’s not what happened that day.
As I walked into work, I heard a ding. An email. My chest tightened.
I would be filling in for a teacher — third grade.
School systems around the country continue to face teacher shortages, but the most pressing appears to be a lack of substitute teachers.
I got the key, brought them back to my room, and I tried; these kids deserve the very best. It is never their fault.
Therefore, I put on a smile and we read and we wrote and we played and we talked and we discovered and we….
At the end of the day, one of our assistant principals unlocked my door, walked in and told me that I needed to sub for this class again on Monday.
Saturday, May 7
the 11th annual South Florida Gifted and Talented Symposium at Dillard High School
Money, Measurement, and Number Lines: A Make and Take Workshop for Primary Teachers
Hi. My name is Alison Levine. In my current position, I provide academic support to our second graders. My morning: Reading and writing, but at 12:30, I transform my classroom into a Math Workshop. I have my gifted endorsement. I have taught gifted, and my two children were identified as gifted in elementary school. This is a story about what goes on in my room. Instead of me being the Sage on the Stage, this will be a flipped session*.*
I am going to give you time to read. I passed out copies.
Money, Measurement & Number Lines — Making Math Authentic and Meaningful in the Primary Grades
When you are ready, you can start making and taking and asking me questions.
It was a wonderful day.
Monday, May 9
I pulled weeds. I picked up palm fronds. I needed to be outdoors.
Did I do a terrible thing? On Sunday night, I put in an absence. I logged in. I took off. That simple. I have accumulated so many days over the years because I don’t take a lot of days off.
I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to sub again. I felt like I was breaking.
Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday, May 11
Testing again. My bucket broke.
Thursday, May 12
These were my plans from Friday, May 6.
A blugle and a shocodile. The glue that I needed.
Friday, May 13
This was a planned day off. I helped my daughter move into her summer internship apartment. I was happy.
Sunday, May 15
I woke up to find out that I would be subbing again on Monday. No. We were driving to St. Augustine. We would be back late. So, I did it again. I logged onto my computer; I put in an absence for Monday and the minute I pressed confirm, I could breathe. It was the perfect day.
Monday, May 16
I didn’t even get dressed. I texted and talked with family and friends.
Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday, May 18
Testing again. Are you screaming with me? Is your heart also breaking for these children as you wonder what all the testing is for?
Thursday, May 19
So excited. Testing was over.
I was inspired by the lesson I did on May 2.
At 8:00am, I was welcomed with hugs and smiles, so thrilled to be back to my classes, leading a morning writing workshop. At 8:30am, my first group arrived. Lots of smiles and hugs. We had missed each other.
An email. I felt the anger burning up inside my chest.
I could finish my reading groups, but then, from 11:30–1:30, I needed to be the art teacher. Today and tomorrow.
Friday, May 20
7:55am. I ran upstairs. I told them how proud they must be of the writers they have become. 8:29. I ran back to my portable and welcomed my five reading groups. So much going on. Highlighting. Reading. Drawing. Writing. Some still on their new animals. Some on their poems. Some finished both. It was wonderful.
But Art wasn’t easy.
A fifth grade class gave me a really hard time. By the time I got home, I worried that there was no glue strong enough.
Saturday, May 21
I woke up this morning and started patching that hole. I walked. I wrote and I am hopeful that Monday will be better.