At Least He Didn't Use My Middle Name

Uh oh. Charlie's mad at me. He just used my full name- Mommy Diedtrich. 

Charlie's First Soccer Game

Feeling Patriotic

A Nice Night For Soccer

Renaissance Festival, Anyone?

Charlie: Tomorrow, and the other morrow, AJ and I are going to play soccer.

See? Books Are Just Trouble

I hate using the issued curriculum at school. It always seems stilted and dry. I prefer to find or make my own.  But, I decided to give the school stuff a try, and tow the company line.

I was doing reading and we were reading a decode-able book called the Big Ram. 

The (male) psychologist walked in the room as I was reading the first line: "I want to be on top, Big Ram".   ( You can't make this stuff up. ) 

I am expecting a sexual harassment summons any day now. 

When Your Mom Is A Teacher

The love notes that get posted on your door can be a little different. 

Bat Phone

I saw this idea online, and thought I would give it a try. The tattling  is out of control in my classroom.  I put the tattle phone in the corner of the room. As long as the tattle does not involve one of the 4 "B's" (breathing, bleeding, barfing or broken), the students can leave a message on the phone. I will check the "messages" at the end of the day. 

Charlie even tested it out for me. 

Wish me luck!

Swim Lessons

Soccer

AJ's team had a great game and AJ scored two goals. It was a great way to start the season. 

That Makes Sense Now

We were driving back from soccer yesterday and I see a Sonic. 

Me: Look a Sonic!

Charlie: I want to go to Sonic! I want to go to Sonic! 

(I am puzzled by this since he has never been there. Then it dawns on me. )

Me: It's a restaurant, not the game. 

Charlie: Oh. Darn. 

A Photo That Isn't Horrible

One Of My Favorite Parts About this House

Marry Wisely

It's Shawn's birthday. When I asked him if he wanted coffee, he said "yes" but only if I walked to the coffee shop to get it. I brought him coffee in this mug. 

Dare To Dream

I don't know who is more excited about Charlie one day having children- me or Charlie.  He insists that his stuffed animals be swaddled. 

Lemonade

Memories

This sweet girl was at the game too. She made me a little teary-eyed for Shyah. 

Family Day

We had family day at my school yesterday. It was a fun day where families could come and spend the day with their kids. We had an assembly, a cookout and family themed activities in the room. I had different stations set up where the kids could make a family tree, an "All About Me" book, play board games, make hand prints or just color. The biggest hit was the "Make Your Own Play Dough" table.  I had all the supplies for the families to make a batch at school, and made recipe cards for the parents to take home.

The best part was that I had the grandpa of one of my students help all the kids whose families couldn't come. He was a very, very patient man. 

Dear Parents (A Few Things You Should Know)

• This is going to sound harsh, but you need to hear it. And it is better that you hear it now, in kindergarten, than later on. Your child is not the center of the universe. Mine is. Did I say the universe? I meant my universe. Guess what? Your child is the center of your universe too. Keep this in mind when you ask me about a random missing marker, or why I didn't see your child take a spill on the playground, or why I don't know if your child finished all of his milk at lunch. I simply cannot be in 21 different universes at the same time. 

• This is the only job I have ever wanted to do. I played school when I was a kid. I watched Little House on The Prairie, and dreamed of working in a one room school house. Even when I was the student myself, I was studying what the teachers did, and making notes for when I would one day be in front of the class. 

• That said, please, please, please assume my good intentions. I think about my class (your kid) when I am driving to work. I think about my class (your kid)  during my lunch break, my ride home, and on the weekend.  Don't tell my own kids, but my class is also usually my first thought in the morning too. Why? Because I take this job very, very seriously. I am constantly tweaking, reorganizing, trying new ideas, all with the hope that I will make this school experience better, more motivating, more fun for the students in my class. 

• I understand that I get the privilege of seeing students do a myriad of things for the very first time. Watching how the students grow day to day is why I get up in the morning.  However, I also feel strongly that my job is to make my students more independent, more responsible, more resourceful, and simply a better citizen than when they first came to me. So, please do not do their homework for them.  Don't roll your eyes when I make them say "please" and "thank you".  And know, that without a doubt, they are more capable than you think they are. Seriously. 

• Finally, there is no one that is going to go to bat for them, worry about them, have dreams for their future, beat off a wild dog, or shield them from a gunman like you. . . and me. So please keep that in mind. We are on the same team. I promise. 

The Zoo

We took Charlie's friend Malachi to the zoo with us today. It was super hot, but it was still fun. 

 

Field Medicine

He wanted a cast.

This Has "Fortune Cookie" Written All Over It

Charlie: What are you doing?
Me: Cleaning the house.
Charlie: Why?
Me: Because it is dirty.
Charlie: Mom, the only reason you think it's dirty is because you are wearing glasses.