Mirrors for my Dance Room

Hi blog followers. I realize that I havent posted since tue beginning of the school year, but that's because I have had an insane year! I coach cheerleading an it's football season, so that takes up most of my time. And I'm teaching 10th grade English, which I love, but it takes so much time. AND I'm teaching ELD, which takes endless energy. And then, I'm teaching 1 section of a brand new dance class. It's SO MUCH fun, but so much work!

Anyway, the point of this post is to beg. Unfortunately the state of public eduarion is that we don't get any money for anything. I started the dance class on the grass. 2 girls were stung by bees. I was given an empty room, so I'm trying to turn it into a "dance studio". I got some posters from dance stores to put on the walls and bought some shelves and a speaker. Now I need mirror but have exactly $zero to pay for it. I've set up a way to allow anyone to help out. Pretty please? With sugar on top and some low-income-dancers? :)

Www.donorschoose.org/MrsBrownell

Thank you in advance! Spread the word!!! These are amazing kids who deserve te chance to dance dance dance!!!

How's your Day?

Cause here's how my Tuesday ended:

She's OK, but fell straight on her back from about 7 feet up.  She complained of back pain, and you don't mess with back pain....

Cheer Fundraiser

The money thing for the whole state of California is actually beginning to cause me to lose sleep.  I am lucky enough, that money isn't a regular concern at home.  We live comfortably and I don't really stress about day-to-day expenses.  My cheer team's finances, on the other hand, is going to literally kill me.

The ACLU recently settled a case in CA where they stipulated that schools can no longer charge for an activity or sport.  They can merely request donations.  Now, this lawsuit began when 2 cheer parents from a low income school sued about a decade ago.  The idea was that by asking for donations, sports would be opened up to all kids.  Sounds like a great plan.  BUT, what they forgot about is the fact that the low income kids won't make the donations (not because they don't want to, but rather that they can't), so it just TOTALLY screws the low-income kids out of everything kids at other schools have.  This year my kids didn't get to go to cheer camp, don't have uniforms, briefs, heck they don't even have cheer shoes.  Now my low-income kids are going to feel even worse when we play against a team with decked-out cheerleaders who aren't affected by this new law (since their parents will glady make the "donations")  It's just really widened the chasm.....

Now, I know this sounds like I'm just sitting around whining about my poor, poor students.  Well, I agree, that is what I'm doing.  Although I do this while we do a ton of fundraising.  We've made about $10,000 just this summer alone.  The unfortunate thing about that is that that just barely paid off what we spent last year.  Apparently I would make a horrible accountant.  Actually it's because the girls all signed a contract promising to pay last year, but then several got wind of this new law and decided they didn't have to pay.  But, they had already gone to camp, ridden the buses, competed, etc.  The money was already spent and now they don't have to pay it back.  I think this is actually just teaching the kids a HORRIBLE lesson.  You can get stuff for free........

We have done tons of car washes, sold candy, sold cookie dough, sold snacks at school, sold newspaper subscriptions, sold pies, run a firework booth.....I'm out of ideas!  We have asked literally every business in Westminster for donations, but we get the "in this economy...." kind of reaction.  I have had a family member offer to buy poms for my girls, and that seriously took off a lot of pressure.  My sister and I are going to make bows this weekend, but that's another cost for me.  And remember, I VOLUNTEER to coach.  It costs me THOUSANDS of dollars every year to volunteer.  What the heck???  We have to pay for buses to and from football & basketball games (it's district policy that they can't get themselves there, but then ZERO funds are provided to cover the thousands of dollars that we have to pay for the school buses...arg!).  This whole thing may drive me over the edge!

I mean, what kind of world do we live in where a teacher, who already doesn't make that much money, is sent one of these every summer?  I mean, ya, we get the summers off, but we surely don't get paid for them!

Yes, teachers buy MOST of the stuff your kids use in the classroom......

Anyway, if anyone actually does read this and
1. knows a company that is just SEARCHING for something to donate to (for the tax write-off)
2. knows a really rich person who is just SEARCHING for something to donate to (for the tax write-off)
3. Knows of an amazing fundraiser that I haven't thought of yet....
please let me know!!!!!

Go to www.westminstercheer.shutterfly.com to see their adorable faces!

I'm not above working, begging, pleading, and am getting close to being ready for stealing.  OK, not yet, but almost. Help!

(and for those of you that are sick of hearing me whine, sorry!!!!! and, thank you for listening!) :)

Amazing Girls

So, I posted a last week about being sad about my girls graduating.  Today I found this in my cheer notebook. 

What the heck???  Just these few pictures won't flip!  Anyway, it says "Melanie misses you & Michelle will always be thankful for what you did for her" 

So sweet!  I miss them already!

Beach & Cheer Practice

Yesterday was the very first day of summer for me!  yipeeee!!!!  Though I am normally quite bored during the summer, the next 4 weeks are jam-packed!!! 

Today Maximus and I went to the dog beach and met up with another dog (and human) friend.  Maximus loves to fill his beard with sand.  Then choke.  Then cough.  Then run around and begin again.  He likes the water, but doesn't like the waves.  He's a weird little dog.

Help!  This picture refuses to flip over!!!  Anyway, check out the adorable sand beard!!!!

Then, I headed out to cheer practice from 1-5 and discovered that it's SUPER hot outside!!!  I proceeded to get really burned.  I'm currently on fire!  Luckily I have skin that will tan by tomorrow, but it will be pretty rough in the next 24 hours.  And, this is only the 2nd practice of about a million this summer.

OUCH!!!!  I'm going to have a very interesting tan in Hawaii next week....... yikes.

Triple Sad Face

I have a triple-sad-face on right now.  

Yesterday several of my favorite human/cheerleaders beings graduated from high school.  As a teacher, I should really be happy that they graduated.  They're growing up and moving on with their lives, but that means they are leaving me too.  I know it might sound weird that a teacher could grow that attached, but these girls are with me more than anyone else I know in my life.  They are in my 6th period class, eat lunch in my room, hang out in my classroom before class and before games, cheer at games, sit next to me on the bus, etc etc etc.  One of them I've had for FOUR years and the other two for TWO years.  It totally breaks my heart to think they will not BURST into my room to tell me something inane like it's the most important thing of their life.  :(    :(    :(

t honestly makes me feel a little weepy - if I weren't a black-hearted robot, I would be totally sobbing right now.  

Cheer Tryouts!

I realize that it's long time no post.....after I SWORE up and down that I would be posting ALL the time.

This week I have cheer tryouts.  This means that I'm surrounded by 52 teenaged girls (actually 49 girls and 3 boys  - YAY!!!) that are learning a new routine and generally freaking out.  Reminder to me next year - DON'T SCHEDULE TRYOUTS THE WEEK AFTER SPRING BREAK.  I'm seriously dying from the 13 hour days.  omg.

Anyway, I will return to a normal human, albeit one that has crushed the cheerleading dreams of many, this weekend.....

Just a Regular Day in the Life of a Teacher.....Right?

Today I saw a teacher yell and be on the verge of tears, was hugged and headbutted (all at the same time), made a student cry, gave 5 quizzes, stood barefoot on my desk while my students were concerned, almost fell off a wobbly stool, and was knocked to the floor by a football player....sounds like a day you imagined a teacher would live??? 

 I'll explain.....

Teacher Crying: Monday mornings always start with 1 1/2 hours of meetings (kill me now...).  Today we were discussing a possible new schedule for next year and the teachers were all VERY impassioned!  I just sat there, since we would be voting, there was not much reason to raise my blood pressure so very early in the morning.  The teacher sitting across from me popped up and started yelling about the schedule she proposed (that was ignored).  Her eyes were full of tears and after she sat down, the tears came.  I'm not one who deals with emotion, so I just sort of ignored the situation.

Hugged and Headbutted AND made a student cry: CAHSEE scores were posted today online from the February exam.  My 4th period ELD class had several students that wanted to see their scores.  The first boy that looked (they had to come up to my computer to see, so we were literally like 3 inches from each other) didn't pass by about 10 points.  He tried to keep a brave face, but turned around and the tears began.  Great, second set of tears in the day.  The next girl who came up passed by 11 points.  She jumped up and down and then asked if she could hug me.  Since I was sitting I attempted to stand, but she was leaning down - she headbutted me hardcore in the ear, then proceeded to hug me for what felt like 12 minutes.  She was so happy that I didn't really mind the show of emotion.

Gave 5 Quizzes:  Really, what are you supposed to do when a kid turns in this quiz at the end of a half an hour.

I wrote - "I know you know the answers and I wish you would take the time to show the world how smart I know you are."  I'm sure it will just get an eye roll from him, but hey, I tried!

Almost fell off of a Wobbly Stool: So between classes, I was trying to hang something on the top of the wall, and am apparently not 12 feet tall.  I thought standing on a wobbly stool was an excellent plan.  Needless to say, I gave up.

Stood Barefoot on My Desk: After I gave up on the stool, I decided the better idea was to stand on my desk.  My class was taking a quiz, so I figured it was the perfect time (why, I'm not really sure...).  I took off my heels and climbed on up to hang the two white posters.  I was minding my own business and then I looked around and saw that all 30 kids were no longer taking their quiz and were now staring at me.  I said "stop staring at me and take your quiz!"  They laughed and said that they have never seen a teacher standing, barefoot, on their desk.  I'm a great teacher.

A desk is as good as a ladder, right???

Got Knocked to the Floor by a Football Player: And finally, the best part of my long day - CHEER!  This is honestly what I look forward to.  I get to run around on a field with noisy teens and dance my little heart out!  Today I had 2 practices - a regular cheer practice and then a practice with a bunch of boys (for the next assembly).  A boy who probably weighs twice what I do and has at least 6 inches on me was trying to catch his flyer and pretty much tackled me to floor!  Right to the floor.  In front of a few football coaches.  He was super awkward afterwards.....so that  happened........

 I'm guessing everyone wants to be a teacher now, right?

I am a 12 year old boy!

At tonights basketball game (my 6th of the week), the other coach kept yelling "Stop the penetration! He's penetrating you right now! STOP HIS PENETRATION!". I giggled like a 12 year old, looked around, and saw that I was the only one. That's what she said anyone?

NATIONALS!

Today, both of my cheer teams qualified for nationals! JV had never competed before. Like none of them
Had ever been on stage together (or even apart for that matter!) and they got 3rd out of 7! Go JV! Varsity got 3rd out of 5, but I literally changed the whole routine on Friday (one girl got suspended from school and I suspended one girl from the squad on Friday). So, needless to say I'm a proud cheer mom! :)

Oh Teens...

So, the whole reason I wanted to start this blog was to whine/tell stories/brag about/laugh at my students.  I feel like there are just too many, so, instead of writing some, I just write none.  Great thinking, right?


Anyway, I just go these two little gems from some ELD kids and thought they were too amusing to keep to myself.


They were asked to write 1-2 sentences on a historical figure:


Martin Luther King Jr. gave a Speech and died in May 12, 1766


and


John Washington was the first President of the United States.  He read the Delare of Indepent for the United States in July 4, 1967.


I think they may have a few dates, names and or places confused...

Being a Crutch/Enabler to a Special Ed. Student...

I have a hard-set rule for my cheerleaders: get suspended, you're off the team.  No questions asked, no second chances.  They are representing the school (and thereby ME) every time they put on that uniform, so they need to represent it all the time.  And, like a lady.

One of the girls who made the squad for next year just got suspended.  Since she is not technically on the squad yet, I can't kick her off.  Her special Ed. case carrier came to me to discuss this girl.  When I told her that she cannot get suspended at all next year, she asked if it was just like one suspension per quarter.  When I responded "NO SUSPENSIONS - ALL YEAR!"  Instead of a response like "they shouldn't be getting suspended" or "Yeah - great rule!" she said "wow, that is a tough rule."  (she then proceeded to tell me that she "has seen a lot of growth & maturity between this suspension and her last few"...looking forward to an awesome year.)  WOW??? WTF?  Not wow, they should not be getting suspended.  Talk about being a crutch and an enabler for this girl.......

Mrs. Brownell sinks in a boat...

So I will do anything for my students. Literally anything. Following is a video of what I am talking about - I sank in a boat. Fully clothed. In a boat made of paper. Honestly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfJkvGVhTME

(I can't get the video to upload here....)

(SEE BELOW FOR AMAZING EXPLANATION!)

So, here is how this whole thing went.

Text from a STUDENT: "Mrs. Brownell, will you help me with a physics project?"

ME: "Of course."

The next week she asks if I am still going to help her. Of course I will.

STUDENT: "wear red, black and white becuase that is the theme of their project."

ME: "I am going to wear black and red to the banquet that night, so I will just wear that!"

STUDENT: "You may get wet, so you should bring a change of clothes."

Hmmmm.

ME: "What do you mean wet?"

STUDENT: "You will be in my boat and paddling across the pool."

ME: "........."

a few minutes later.....

ME: "K, so what kind of boat..."

STUDENT: "The boat I made for my physics project. It's made out of paper, paint, and thin strips of wood."

ME"................"

So, anyway, of course I would agree to it, to which Andrew laughed about for the entire day.

Here is how the video goes:

I noticed a hole in the boat a few seconds into the ride (you can see me attack the bottom of the boat), so I am plugging it and screaming at poor Trang to paddle faster. Then the hole just burst and we fell in. When I got out, everyone was yelling

"Mrs. Brownell, if you had paddled, you would have made it!"

ME: "I was plugging up the hole!"

Though, watching the video now, I'm going to have to agreee that I just look like a giant fat lump while the tiny skinny girl is paddling (and I am yelling at her).

Andrew said that he hoped I had learned my lesson. Then I proceeded to tell Christina that I would OF COURSE ride in her boat again next year! I never learn...

Funny things at cheer practice...

Being a teacher, I have to always watch what I say. Now, because I am a lady, I do not curse, but I do say things like "crap" or "jesus" if something bad happens. I try to watch what I say, but sometimes it is hard to do it when I am at cheer practice, as I spend so much time with those girls and there are many people falling down - and pretty often! Last week one of my cheerleaders fell out of a stunt and pretty much right on top of me. I caught her upside down and almost went down myself. As she was coming down I yelled "AH! Jesus!!!" One of my girls - thinking she was funny - said "Mrs. Brownell, that is not Jesus, that is Kari. It's Kari Mrs. Brownell." Giggling ensued.

Also, I am noticing a trend to these posts....Apparently I need to hang out with adults more often, as most of these are regarding teenagers.

Sometimes kids are funny....

I am in the process of reading "Julius Caesar" with my 10th grade classes.  I remember hating Shakespeare in H.S., so I can't even imagine how much torture it must be to my large population of language learners!  I try to make it fun, but sometimes it is hard to get them into it.  Then last week, while I was working it and performing magic (i.e. the kids were interested), some kid carrying a gun and beating his girlfriend (classy, I know), came on campus and we had to go on a complete lock down.  Try teaching Shakespeare to students when they know we are on lockdown.  Actually don't try, it's impossible!  Then on Wednesday we had a massive power outage and I was without power for two periods.  So, I had to teach in the dark.  Awesome.  

So anyway, today we are reading and they are pretty into it.  I am feeling like the day is going so well and then I proceed to describe Portia.  Shakespeare tells us that she has "the mind of a man, but the heart of a woman," which makes sense to me.  A kid yells out "HOT!" and the class giggles.  I attempt to control myself and not giggle, as I can imagine what he is imagining.  I failed and giggled like a 10 year old school boy.