Ah HA!!!!

Last week I was caught off guard.  This past weekend I was sick and exhausted and couldn't get off the couch (so no house work, awww, gee, shucks).  On Sunday night I got a bit of energy and thanks to Pansy came up with a discipline chart to help make the day run a little smoother.  Now I'm not saying this is brilliant artwork, but the idea is very effective and some parents even use it for home discipline (check out Pinterest).  First up were my 2nd graders-- they loved it and enjoyed seeing their clothespin names move up to the smiley face.
  

cheap Sub chart! recycled cardboard from the water cooler packaging. Marker and a few colorful letters from another project. Viola!

Next up the kinder class-- yep, they weren't as concerned but delighted in the sticker at the end of the period.  Then my spanish-speaking first grader.  Their English is way better than my Spanish.  I love the way they all help each other.  I read to them in Spanish. They were so good and didn't even laugh at my pronunciations!  Let's just say they love correcting the teacher!  LOL  After lunch I had 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade.  I decided not to use the clothespin chart in the afternoon.  My 4th graders consist of 2 classes so it is larger than the others.  And did I mention the class is after lunch.  They are fed and wired!  Everything was going fine till I noticed some children were congregating in and near the "resource" room.  There is a laminating machine so my heart skipped a beat at the thought of one of them getting burned....so I did what comes naturally and I raised my voice as I screamed "Please get out of that room!!!"  

"Miss, Miss" (all female teachers are "Miss")... there is a rat. There's a rat and it is BIG!!!!"

"GET OUT OF THE ROOM!!!!!" yelled Brave Strawberry the super Librarian.  Sure enough, rat droppings in the room.  We called the custodian who confirmed that there IS a big rat (she told me it looks like a black cat.) Ummmm, can we say "kill the cat rat!"  Sorry, Rat Girl.  Trevor is one thing, but a rat the size of a cat running around the library??? Nope!  We cannot keep that one!

Needless to say, the 4th graders were distracted and talking in hyper-drive when the teacher came.  Of course we were still checking out their books thanks to the rat distraction.  In the meantime, the 5th graders were lined up and waiting at the library entrance.  One class will not come in until the librarian walks over to greet them. But not being such a super librarian, I told the 5th graders to come in and sit at the tables.  Yea, that was a mistake because  I was still checking out books for the 4th graders. I heard laughing (nothing wrong with that, but it continued to escalate) and before long yelling was coming from the other side of the library and then the words every teacher fears....."fight, fight, fight."  Oh heck no!  We are not having a fight on my watch.  Thankfully it was just wishful thinking on one of the boys' part.  No fighting.  The rest of the day went off without a hitch.  I'm scared to think that I have to start it all over again today.

Looking for volunteers....anybody????  h.e.l.p.