The True Meaning of Report Card Comments

So apparently I only blog on Snow Days...yeah New England! Today however, I am not spending my time in pj's watching movies and lazing around...it's report card season. Something I actually dread probably as much as going to the dentist. It's the 4 times a year that I let myself purchase Mc Donalds...because really, what solves stress better than a cheese burger with extra pickles and no onions?

I'm generally a pretty honest person and can read people well, which makes it quite difficult to not be TOO honest when it comes to the "comment" section of the report card.

I've tried starting with the good kids then working on the tougher ones next. I've started with the bad ones then would leave the few good ones for the finally stretch...either way, doesn't make it easier. My method is what I like to call a hamburger. Bun = Encouraging comment #1 Hamburger = truth or issue (in gentler terms of course) and finally thet Bottom Bun= another encouraging comment #2.

Hamburger Example:

"Billy continues to do well this quarter. At times Billy still struggles to stay on task and is easily distracted by his peers and anything in his desk. When Billy puts forth his best effort he does a great job. He is very respectful and a good friend to his peers. Great job Billy!

True meaning:

"Billy isn't failing, no stress. Billy never tries. He breaks all of his pencils and picks at the nametag on his desk. I've had to replace it 5 times! When he's not doing this he yells across the room and gets his neighbors in trouble. On the SLIGHT occasion that Billy really works, he does OK. He doesn't talk back, and doesn't hit his friends which makes him ok."

There are many more but I don't want to see like a hater. I do love the kiddos, just not report cards!

Snow Days!

It's 11:11 (make a wish) on a weekday Wednesday and I am NOT at school. Actually, I'm in sweats, drinking my coffee; cup numbmer 3. This could only mean one thing...Snow Day. LOVE THEM. Although it's more of a "Rain Day" than a "Snow Day" I'll take it. In Thunder Bay terms this would qualify as a regular March day, requiring you to just add a little more window washer fluid, put on your regular boots, (the ones that won't get ruined by slush, salt, etc) and be on your way. Although it's not the perfect, dump 5 ft of snow, kinds of snow days, I am loooving being a teacher.

Favorite things about Snow Days:

1. Sleeping In- Nothing is better than going to bed and being woken up by the school hotline...Love the secretaries voice at 6 am!

2. Coffee- It's not often that I get to sit and just have my coffee, in a regular mug. It's usually in a travel mug, being forgotten all over my classroom. I often play "Find The Teacher's Coffee Mug"....I should add that to class jobs!

3. Chilling with Lola- When she's entertained she is so much more fun, and a lot less destructive.

4. Shovelling- Although I have a snowblower, there is nothing better than a good shovel when it's cold outside...just feels good.

5. Playing in the snow

6. Soup (or chilli) - must haves on a snowy day

7. The excuse to not leave your house and watch movies all day!

My Very First Blog

So I've been telling people lately how I really want to start a blog. Not sure why, I think I'm sercretly envious of people's witty writing capabilities. My main block was finding a name, these are key. Fellow bloggers share the importance of a name saying things like, "oh the perfect one will come to you" or "ya, you don't just want to choose ANY name." I was secretly wondering if I was choosing a baby name... Anyways, lately in recent convo's I've been using "look at the brightside" a lot, and voila, my blog name. Of COURSE someone had choosen it, so kudos to Heather for getting crafty!