The Comment Box

There are many things I would love for my classroom.  Some of them are crazy expensive, some take time, and some are simple and easy.  This one falls under simple and easy.  I found this idea on Pinterest and I knew I needed it!  I have a student that can never stay on the subject, and I hate to tell him he has to wait to tell me or not at all.  Enter the comment box!  Now my students can write notes or draw pictures to my assistants and I without interrupting class, and do it without the rest of the class hearing if they choose.  I will set it up on the counter near my desk with paper and pencils.

Materials:
unfinished wooden tissue box
acrylic paint and brushes/sponges
paint pens (optional)
Mod Podge sealer (optional)

First, cover your surface.  I couldn't find a wooden tissue box cover, but I did find a box with a hinged lid with a wire mesh inlay.  I took out the wire and it's perfect.  My classroom is done in black with multicolored dots, so that's what I painted it.  I painted the box black then used different size circle templates to make my circles.  I used a pencil to lightly trace them on.  Then I colored them every color of the rainbow.  I wrote "comments" on the lid with a paint pen.  Done!

Once it dried, I looked at it and realized that I probably should seal it, since some of my students have a hard time keeping their fingers clean.  I gave it a quick coat of Mod Podge and we are set to go.  I decided to just paint/glue the lid shut since the opening is wide. I hope this will be effective at school.  If not, it's darn cute!

Summer is NOT Just a Vacation!

Every year as the school year goes on, I have a list (shocker).  When I run into things that would be great to have in the classroom that requires some time to do, I add it to the list.  It is my summer list!  Then, when I am at home during the summer, I take the time to do all of those things I didn't have time to complete.  This year, the list was on my iPad.  It was four pages long!  I think it was longer because it is a new classroom (to me), and I need more school age things. And--it needs to be cuted up!! So, I've been working on making things to make my classroom run smoother and cuter too.  As I finish things, I will post pics, the how and the why.  Just in case you wanted to know.  I love summer--so I can sleep in, be with my family, and do stuff for the classroom.

May 20, 2013--Snow Cones, Students, a Bathroom, and a Tornado

It was the first day of the last week of school. I had so many fun things planned for my students! The day before a huge tornado ripped through Shawnee, Carney, and Little Axe, leaving lots of destruction. The entire state knew that the weather would be favorable for severe, even tornadic weather on Monday too. The dry line stalled, so we needed to be ready.

I had been preparing the students all day that we might not be able to walk to the snow cone stand. If we couldn't, one of the adults would go for them. Two of my students were having a hard time staying calm (which should have been an indicator) so we decided to stay in the classroom for music. We looked out and saw that it was clouding up. I went to tell the office that we were going to go, and to ask what kind of snow cone they would like. This was right at 2:00. It was very warm and humid-unusual for Oklahoma. The air felt electric. I was a little concerned because that is how it feels when a big storm is coming. Anyway, when I went to the office, they told me we were under a tornado watch and the students could not leave campus. That was fine, since we had been prepping them all day. When my assistant and I left, the wind started to pick up and the temperature began to fall a little. As our order was finished, the first thunder sounded. We looked at each other and hurried back to school. This was approximately 2:15.

It wasn't five minutes and the parents began to come. They came quickly. Lots of them. It got to the point that Mrs. Gifford asked everyone to turn off the movies and smart boards and all equipment so we could hear dismissals. She read a constant list of names. She was very calm. At this time, it was the normal time my students were leaving. We were frantically trying to get everything ready for them to go, get the room together, and get ourselves together because we knew we would be doing our procedures soon.

My daughter called and said they kept her at school. All of my students but one were checked out or left like normal before the first siren sounded.

Our procedure is to go to the Kindergarten room, line the inner walls with Kindergarten and Sixth grade. At the beginning of the year, the other teachers and I had decided that if the real thing ever came, that we would pile into the bathrooms between the two rooms. That is exactly what we did. My student didn't really understand what was going on. He just knew that I wanted him to come and sit on the bathroom floor.

We were there a few minutes and my student's mother came to the door to take him. I almost didn't let her leave with him, but the sirens were not going at the moment, so I did. At that point I left the Kindergarten room and went to the office to see if I could help. The line of parents was long. Staff had clipboards and had them sign out as Gifford was saying their names as fast as possible. Toni, our assistant principal, asked me to listen to the tv or radio and give her updates, away from the office. I went back to my room and listened. That is when I heard Mike Morgan say it was a wedge tornado, heading straight for Moore. I tried to text Toni but it wouldn't go through so I went and told her. The sirens began again. I went back to Kindergarten to help.

The sixth grade boys were doing alright with being in the situation, but some of the girls and the Kindergarteners were scared. They began to tear up. We kept reassuring them that it was going to be okay. We were together, we took cover, and we will be fine. Mitchell and I went and got the crash pad from my room to put over them if it veered to us. We were all in the bathroom, waiting and listening. Pelley had Gary England on her phone, and he said it was at Orr Family Farm, coming straight for us. We kept telling the kids it was going to be okay, we were safe right here and we were together, and they were doing great. Inside I was pleading to God to watch and deliver us all.

By this point Gifford wasn't dismissing anymore, but telling us to be in position, that it was on its way. She was very calm. On the phone I heard them say 4th and Broadway. That was close to my oldest daughter's school. I stepped out of the bathroom for a sec to get myself together so the kids wouldn't see me upset. Gifford came on again and said, "Take your positions now!" And we did.

The lights began to flicker. It was very quiet. The girls whimpered. We reassured them. I prayed. Gary said it was past Bryant. I popped my head out of the bathroom and I saw it. It was huge. I prayed it would steer clear of my youngest daughter's school, Bryant. It did. 

We knew we were in the clear, so we let the kids out of the bathroom and into the class. We fed them some snacks and calmed them down. There were a few sixth grade girls quite shook up and crying. I held them for a bit and let them cry. They were in shock of it all, I think, and one was worried about their family. I helped them calm down a little, and then I got a text from my sister.

She had no idea that we just had a tornado go through. She knew about storms, but that was all. Then she asked about our other sister. She lives in a group home on Santa Fe between 4th and 19th. So all of my family could possibly be injured, for the exception of Lauren, because I saw it pass her by. I had no idea about anyone else at this point. 

I helped bring all of the kids up to the main building for dismissal. I stayed for a bit until Toni said that if we needed to go, we could. I went. My truck was filthy with small flying debris. It was all stuck to it. I headed home.

Then my husband called. He was safe! He fled the pharmacy, grabbed the pugs, and went to Crossroads. He said he had Lauren and she was safe. He was closer to getting Anna than I was, so he went to get her and I began to call the family. Our house was still standing, no damage, and even had power, but no water. When my family came home we all hugged each other tight. The next task was to find out about my sister. It took a bit, but I finally got a text that she was fine. 

Later on we found out my husband's work was spared by yards. He works in the pharmacy between Highland East and Moore Schools Administration. There were damaged cars and lots of debris in the parking lot. Not a window was broken in the pharmacy. They still do not have any power or Internet to do business. They have been renting a generator to have power. My sister's home is in the quarantine area, and they were evacuated Tuesday morning. She is still with us. She was quite shaken up when I got her, but she seems to be recovering fine. When utilities are restored, I'm sure she will want to go home.

I am extremely blessed. I hurt for my neighbors and my hometown that we are going through this again. But one thing I am positive of is that God has been with us, and he will continue to bless us with this indomitable spirit and we will recover, rebuild, and grow. We are an amazing community, and I am proud to be a part of it. 

5/22/13