Freddy Kroger...??

Last week in Language Arts, our students were doing writing circles. They had to write their own stories and then share with a group. Beyond that, I'm not really sure what they did seeing as how I don't teach Language Arts. However, the LA teacher on my team shared this story with me. Since last week was Halloween, many students wrote about something that had to do with Halloween. As she was circulating, she walked by a group of girls as one of them started reading her story. One of her characters was Freddy, but instead of Freddy Krueger, she called him Freddy Kroger and just couldn't figure out why her group mates were laughing uncontrollably!

I started a homework competition with my classes last week. Every time everyone in the class turns in homework, their class gets a point. The class with the most points at the end of the 9 weeks gets a celebration. My third period has zero points right now. The class always gets mad at the student(s) who don't have their homework. I walked by one boy the other day and he didn't have his homework. As his classmates fussed at him, I just kept walking to collect homework. The next thing I knew, he was standing right behind me. He said, "Mrs. Snyder, my cat scratched up my homework." ... I looked at him for a second and he just nodded his head. I said, "What does that mean?" At this point, people around us are beginning to snicker and laugh. He said, "I'm serious. My cat scratched my homework up." I said, "I understand what you're saying, but what does that mean?" He looked at me for another second, then walked away and went and sat down. My cat scratched up my homework...I'm still not really sure about that one.

I mentioned I had to rearrange some things in my classroom since I got my BrightLink. Here is an updated look into my room...

 I moved my RULES above my side board...

 ...and the things above my side board over my front board

 a closer look

 My homework competition...I realized I had to give points for everyday everyone turns in their homework. I originally told them that when someone forgets their homework, their class would go back to zero. It didn't take long (I realized on day 2 of the competition) that all classes would stay at zero if I did it that way. What is the deal with students not doing their homework??

For memory sake, a quick recap of the week: In the past week, I found out through some serious unintentional stalking that one of my best friends was getting ready to elope. After freaking out and calling her, she got married this past Saturday and I couldn't be happier for the two of them. I got to take a day off of work. We elected President Obama for a second term in the White House. A young man at church, the father of a 7th grader and a junior in high school died suddenly last Friday night. I attended his funeral and would be totally fine if I never have to go to another funeral for someone so young. I had lunch with another one of my best friends and got to sit and catch up with her for several hours. I finally got some quality time with my husband. It's been a busy few weeks. My cousin who is in 7th grade has a boyfriend. 

What a week, my friends...what a week!

PS Thanksgiving is two weeks away...two weeks! That's really soon! Where is this year flying away to??

Happy Wednesday!