5 Pennies - Day 212 - Recovered

1. Sent a 'Good Luck' note to another teacher from school

               Well, it was actually a text message because we weren't in school today (weekend), but nonetheless it was to wish him luck today. He received the opportunity to present a speech and lead a discussion about the topic of athletic recruitment to College at a professional Baseball Camp. He is really smart in this area and really cares about the 'kids' that he works with. In fact, several of his 'kids' are drafted by several high quality colleges and even the Major League. He was talking to me about it prior to the end of the day on Friday - so I just wanted to wish him luck today.

2. Brought in items for church's mission project

                Not only am I collecting school supply items at my own school, but I am also doing this at the church that I go to. Both projects are in desperate need of scissors. Who would have imagine? I am always running out of paper & pencils in my classroom. Anyway, I bought 6 scissors for this church project. What was the saying, "Cut, It, Out?" Thanks Dave!

3. Complimented another lady on her hair cut

                  This was actually a former student that I mentored at church throughout her high school and college years. This is her first year at a full time teacher and is hanging in there. The new hair cut was something different and very pretty looking. As I talked to her about it, she said yeah I needed something more simpler to teach in. I thought that this was a cute answer - I remembered saying the same thing when I first started teaching.

4. Helped the grocery worker move carts

                 He was trying to push a long line of them into the store, but there some other customer abandoned her cart right at the door way - thus blocking his movement. I just simply went over and moved the cart out of his way so that he could continue on with his work. Easy to do.

5. Helped mother with her work

                    Her office manager recently quit on her and the paperwork has started to build up. My mother is also taking a continuing education class in which her project is due this week. So in order to give her time to work on her project, I did the regular paperwork that needed to be done - organizing, stapling, filing, filling out forms, etc. Thus we were able to take care of 2 things at the same time. If I wasn't so in love with teaching, I think that I would make a really good office manager/secretary.

5 Pennies - Day 211 - Recovered

Day 220 - Recovered

1. Gave $ to a staff member to help out with a family that recently lost their house to a fire.

             I don't have this student, but still wanted to contribute something.

2. Wrote a note & gave cookies to another staff member 

           Just to celebrate her birthday day. FYI - it was Chocolate Chip cookies. Who doesn't like CC cookies?

3. Wrote a congrats note to another staff member

             The Technology Education teacher had an article published in the BOE online news letter. It was really well written and picture of her is really nice too. I just wanted to say congrats again. She talked about collaboration ideas and how she really wants to connect with her kids. I still say that she is the strongest teacher at my school. 

4. Helped a parent gather work for her sick child

            One of my trombonist has been extremely sick all week. I gave her the All County information, but told her that he didn't need to worry about that yet. That he needed to get himself well, get caught up on his academics, and then I will help him with the music. He has had the stomach flu for about 5 days. Poor kid! Yuck! However, one of the grossest sick kid episode was when a kid threw up in his bass clarinet - absolutely revolting.

5. Talked to another student at lunch time

           He was sitting by himself while the rest of the students that sit at his table went outside for recess. I felt bad for him, just watching him sit there. So I sat down beside him and tried to start up some conversations. This was extremely tough. We were both very quiet. We were watching the announcement screen under the clock in the cafe when he turned and told me that he didn't know any of the students that were being listed on the announcements. I know that he was new at the beginning of the year, but doesn't seem to still not have any friends and its been close to 5 months. Ok, my goal by the end of the year is for him to have made at least one friend. We'll see how this goes.

5 Pennies - Day 210 - Recovered

1. Bought scissors for the school's community service project

               The teacher who is in charge of this activity talked about how we were lacking them the most - so I went and bought some yesterday after school - 6 to be exact. I am going to try to buy some other things this weekend if I have the chance. We also talk about doing a phone message to all of the families about bringing in School Supplies. We really only have enough of materials right now to fully complete 12 bags. We need to complete 60 exactly. More than a bit worried about this.

2. Bough a snack for the cafe assistant worker

            Cheese curls. She seems to be very tired lately. I hope that this cheers her up.

3. Gave another teacher a desk ornament

             A Social Studies teacher & the Panda Bear sharpener. I just had to really and I couldn't hold it any longer. She is a really wonderful teacher & person. I just don't know that much about her and feel awkward in talking. Anyway, she is being very nice and letting me use her room for my band students to have class on the afternoon of the CC Ceremony on Tuesday 1/10.

4. Bought pencil sharpeners for an Art Teacher

               She is always running out of these things. I don't know exactly what the kids do with them, but they are always disappearing. So while I was at the dollar store yesterday after school I saw pencil sharpeners. My son needed some for at home - I don't know what he does with the ones that I gave him either - so I bought him a pack and bought an extra pack for her. She was very thankful this morning.

5. Gave flowers to another teacher

               Her birthday is this weekend and to say hi. 

5 Pennies - Day 209 - Recovered

1. Wrote a fellow teacher an encouraging note

              Another teacher that was really bothered after our morning meeting expressed to me that some of the other teachers on the his team doesn't want to do his idea of the bus dismissal and the gym. It really is a brilliant idea and believe that it could work, but others are set in their ways. Also, he expressed how frustrated he was in that all of the talk a few months ago that he made about not bringing extra work to meetings so that you can be fully attentive has gone by the wayside as others were grading, clipping hangers, and doing other paperwork. I really feel his frustration. So I just wrote him a brief note in saying that I really appreciate his efforts.

2. Wrote a fellow teacher a get well note

             Another teacher who as been fighting a major illness this year wasn't feeling that well today. Her medicine got the best of her. I feel so bad for her, which is definitely something that she would never want to hear. I am also not that close to her - so I don't feel comfortable in asking how she is doing or if she needs anything. So what I did do is take a spare uniform hanger and wrote a note that said "Hang in There." I hope that it brighten her day, even if is just a little.

3. Filled up the copiers with extra paper

              I was copying the music that the 7th/8th students will be performing for Regional Large Ensemble festival. Before I left the copying room, I checked and filled up both copying machines so that they would be ready for other teachers tomorrow morning.

4. Gave my cup of coffee to another teacher

             So I was cleaning up the coffee machine right before 8th grade lunch started. Once I poured out the extra coffee, another teacher came to me and asked if there was any coffee left over. I didn't know that she was back to drinking it. I felt so bad because I just poured it out. Well, prior to pouring it out I did pour me a cup and was heating it up in the microwave at the same time. So I just decided to make things right, I would just give mine to her. It was perfectly fine too. I was eating some left over spaghetti for lunch - so coffee really didn't go with the meal. I felt better then.

5. Bought church attendance person extra tablets

           So I was at the Dollar Store prior to church tonight and notice that they had the particular writing pads that the church attendance person uses. So I picked up a packet of three. Good thing too because she was on her last tablet.

Recovery

Ok, so me being OCD just can't let go the feeling of not being complete with the missing 5 pennies. Therefore, I have decided to redo the 5 pennies for around the next 100 days to catch up on those pennies that have become lost. I am calling them the 'Recovered Pennies'. Then I will resume in discussing the final days within 'Penny-Lane' of the 300's.

Yes, I'm a Beatle-nut.

Please enjoy!

5 Pennies - Day 319

1. Wrote a "Thank You" note to a teacher that helped me with important paperwork 

              So I recently was accepted to present twice at an important teacher conference next November. The biggest problem with this activity for me isn't the actual presentation, it is all of the logistical details - filling out paperwork for the trip, requesting money from the board of education to sponsor me on the trip, making flight plans & hotel reservations, etc. Luckily another teacher from my school was also accepted in presenting too. So we did our paperwork together. He was so helpful and knew who to ask questions & how to ask the questions. I'm so very grateful for all of his assistance - the least I could do was to write a thank you note.

2. Wrote  "Nice Job" note to another teacher who put together a special science activity

            The one science teacher had her students figure out how to make their own miniature hot air balloons. I was amazed at how much the kids learned, could speak about their project so intelligently, and how much joy this was bringing to their lives. Science was not my favorite subject in school - far from it. So to see my students enjoying their work so much, it was really great to see. I just had to write a nice job note to this particular teacher.

3. Gave an extra ink cartridge to another teacher

           Another teacher in my music department was out of ink and really needed to print off things for her up coming concerts. I had an extra ink cartridge that I knew that I wasn't going to use. Most importantly, it really did need to be used up - sometimes when ink sits around they start to leak. So I gave it to her - simple.

4. Gave money to an animal shelter activity

          Ok, as much as I complain about having a dog - I really must admit that I do like the furry substance. And yes, I am even working on loving the creature. He brings so much joy to my son - even when they are wrestling over toys. So yes, I'm a sucker when it comes to giving to animal shelters. This was something else easy to do today.

5. Picked up trash in the cafe after lunch

             If everyone helped with the trash after lunch - it would be much easier to keep clean. Besides, it is everyone's responsibility to keep our school clean - a part of being respectful and responsible.

5 Pennies - Day 318

1. Helped another teacher bring in refreshments for a student reward activity

            Little did I know that this teacher was starting her pregnancy and didn't tell anyone yet. Later on today she came to me and asked if I knew. I told her - knew what. Then she told me that she was pregnant but really hadn't told anyone and wanted to know why I helped her with the refreshments. I told her that I liked being nice to people. She gave me a funny look and then went the opposite direction. Crazy - right?

2. Complimented a student on her pretty dress
            This student rarely wears any dresses, so she just looked so pretty today. It was cute outside after lunch because I noticed that she noticed some of the boys noticing her. Aaaahhh, spring time in a middle school atmosphere!

3. Cleaned up Auditorium area after a previous nights concert
                   I moved the breakfast table back to the back of the auditorium because the morning attendance person really gets bothered when it is moved for a concert and not put back.

4. Cut out lamination materials for another teacher
                    We have the 8th grade award ceremony coming up in in the matter of days and these items were awards for her 8th grade ELA students. I just wanted to do something nice for her in advance.

6. Brought in newspapers for another teacher

             Its been awhile since I have done this, but still glad to do so.

7. Held the door open for a mom who was trying to carry a small child and dinner at the same time

             Yup, been there and done that. Sometimes with kids you begin to feel like a packed horse or a waitress - trying to carry and balance everything. This is both a literal & metaphorical statement.