Winter Holiday

My wife is a teacher, too.  About 3 weeks ago she wanted to know what I was getting my students as a gift.  "I'd like to get them each a book."  (In the past I have gotten every student a book at the dollar store.  One year I got them all at a thrift store.)
"I'm on Scholastic,"  she said.  "They have a dollar section."  She started reading titles.
"I'll take 3 of those... 7 of those..."  Next thing I knew I had placed an order for 37 books for a class of 24 students.  We narrowed it down, and placed an order that arrived just in time. 
On Wednesday, I wrapped each one while I deciding who would appreciate the story.  There were chapter books and picture books.  I didn't want to offend anybody.  I didin't want to give kids books they wouldn't ever read.I worried about some of these choices.  I was more sure of others. 
On Thursday, I placed a candy cane on each present, set them at each students' seat for the next morning, and hoped for the best.  On Friday, the students arrived.  They were excited for the upcoming break, the half day, and the news program they had planned, written, and would perform .  There was a piece of me that felt the wrapped gifts at their seats would contribute to excitement overload.  Then, it crossed my mind that an unexcited reaction to book presents wasn't ideal either.
What happened next was awesome...  The kids' eyes widened.  Most of them took their seats gift in hand, waiting for their cue to unwrap.  The room buzzed as paper was removed and discarded, and each student discovered his or her book.  And the buzz became a hum of reading and sharing.  I was relieved that everyone seemed happy with their book.
One thing that you don't often get are genuine "thank yous" from students.  There are 3 ways that students typically display this perfunctory politeness.  There's 1) just saying the words, 2) just saying the words so that everyone can hear that you're saying the words, and - this is almost always followed by - 3) the parrot thank you where 15 students shout it at the same time because they were reminded that this is what people do in the given situation. 
But, not on this day.  "Mr. Mikula?" a student approached me while all others were reading.  "Thank you for the book.  I know I'm gonna like it."  I told the student how I appreciated the way he expressed himself.
It was a great day!  That scene replayed itself several times throughout the morning.  The kids finished holiday projects independently, and synergized to prepare the Holiday News Program.  The show went off without a hitch.  We even taped it... and not on the cleaning tape.

The Cleaning Tape

About a month ago my students concluded an author study on Mary Pope Osborne, writer of the Magic Tree House series, with a whole group project.  Every student played a part in the creation of a talk show, and then played a role during the production of the show.  The synergy among small groups and individuals was amazing, the end result was a 25 minute long show that included guests, emails, phone calls, and a commercial.  Parents filled the studio audience and the video camera was rolling (that was actually an IT inclined student's responsibility).  Few mistakes were made, and those that did occur were professionally and inconspicuously brushed over.  When I think of the proudest monents I have had as a teacher, this is in the Top Ten.
Well, that was conference week, typically one of the busiest weeks.   It is my first year teaching 3rd grade which means that not only do I not have any lesson plans ever for the following week, but  I still haven't figured out what the best way to introduce, practice, and assess certain concepts.  I am still building thematic units that effetively incorporate standards across the various subjects.  Viewing the show would have to wait.
Two weeks later things calmed down.  I hooked up the camera to my issued lap top in order to upload the footage.  I needed adminstrator rights.  Okay, so it has to wait again.  I submitted an IT request.  Remotely our IT guy set that up.  Again, I tried and failed to upload the video.  I assumed the problem was with the software.  Our IT guy actually came out to the room, and tried to pull the video.  He had trouble, as well, and said he would be back later in the week with his own lap top.  Then, he resigned.  Another week later, a different regional IT staff member was in the building.  By now, the assistant principal was looking for the camera.  When she realized I had it, she sent him down to help me.  He was there no more than five minutes when he opened the camera.   "What tape do you have in here?  Is this the cleaning tape?"
Well, at least I took some good pictures.