Only Millard Fillmore and Bad Airconditioning ruined it.

Published on August 8, 2006 By InBloom In Misc

Today was the First day of School for me. To tell you the truth, my summer vacation flew by, but hey, at least I got some needed rest.

One change this year is that I am now the Social Studies teacher (replacing the old S.S teacher that moved to another grade level). Frankly, I am looking forward to it. 5th Grade focuses on U.S History, so I am going to enjoy teaching U.S Geography, Goverment, History, Economics, Current Events, and Citizenship. I told the kids that it may not be the most exciting subject in the world, but it is SO interesting to learn about how this wonderful country of ours came to be. Being that the kids are old enough now, we are going to be discussing more mature subjects like slavery and what really happened when the Americas were discovered...and other subjects of that nature.

Anyway, going back to the first day, it went well for the most part. The kids were cooperative and most seemed very eager to get back to class. We did several fun activities and got to know each other a little bit. I also got a big surprise at the end of the day when the computers I got through a grant proposal were delivered to my classroom. I love them...so sleek and handsome!

About the only things that ruined my first days were the fact that the air was not working properly (it got fixed the very last hour of class), and the fact that someone noticed the 13th president missing from my Presidents wall display.

I had gone in on Saturday to work on this display and I was SO proud of myself for putting up all 43 presidents nice and neatly.
I was all smiles looking up at my finished work when lo and behold, I noticed good ol' Millard Fillmore's picture lying on the newly waxed floor. I don't know how he escaped me, but he did. I should have gotten upset, but I laughed instead...it's just so typical of me to do a scatter-brained thing like that. Well, I was SO exhausted on Saturday (I had worked on my room and another teacher's room who needed help) that I decided to put off fixing this mistake, thinking, 'Gosh, no one is going to notice this on the first day of school, anyway!" Well, guess, what...yep, a smart as-a-whip boy took the time to observe them and say, "Ms. ______, Abraham Lincoln is NOT in the right place...something's missing!"

I could have made up some dumb excuse, but I didn't. "Your teacher here forgot to put up a president. Don't worry. It will be fixed soon," I responded.

Maybe I should get to that first thing tomorrow.

Time for Beddy bye.

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Aug 08, 2006

What period of time do you cover with Social Studies? In Virginia, they are really big into the colonial times and founding of the state (you cant drive 5 miles without seeing a historic marker). While in California, they think history started around 1849.

Locamama

on Aug 08, 2006

Don't you just love the first day of school. It's kind of like New Year's, a new beginning and this time you are going to do it right. There's so much potential in the brand new notebooks and packages of unsharpened pencils. My boys still have two weeks of summer left.

Enjoy your school year and don't worry about Millard Fillmore I think he's a forgotten president anyway. Maybe you leaving him off will make more people remember him than if he was up there where he belonged.

Sally jacobs

on Aug 08, 2006

I think I was that smart ass kid at school - the teachers must of hated me, hehe! Don't worry chick, I am sure the hard work you put in was appreciated!

shadesofgrey

on Aug 08, 2006

OMG--I need to go back to the fifth grade. I read your title and thought, "Millard Fillmore, that sounds familiar...hmm, wasn't he the host on one of those game shows from the 70s."

Oh, my history teacher father would be so proud.

Glad to hear that the first day back went well!

InBloom

on Aug 09, 2006

Dr.Guy

~~What period of time do you cover with Social Studies?~~

Doc, I'll be covering the periods from the Colonial Times all the way through the 20th Century.

~~In Virginia, they are really big into the colonial times and founding of the state (you cant drive 5 miles without seeing a historic marker). While in California, they think history started around 1849. ~~

Wow, that would be so wonderful to have students see the real thing....too bad we aren't anywhere near Virginia. I plan to come up with some interesting Colonial time activities and projects, though.

InBloom

on Aug 09, 2006

Locomama

~~Enjoy your school year and don't worry about Millard Fillmore I think he's a forgotten president anyway. Maybe you leaving him off will make more people remember him than if he was up there where he belonged.~~

You are right! Now he's known as the president the teacher forgot to put up. I did finally place him on my wall today, though. Would've felt bad leaving ol' Fillmore out.

~~My boys still have two weeks of summer left. ~~

Lucky them! Tell them to enjoy every bit of it.

InBloom

on Aug 09, 2006

Sally

~~I think I was that smart ass kid at school - the teachers must of hated me, hehe! Don't worry chick, I am sure the hard work you put in was appreciated!~~

Smarty alecky kids CAN grate my nerves, but you know, they are always interesting people. I love conversing with them...can't help but like their little quirks.

Shades

~~OMG--I need to go back to the fifth grade. I read your title and thought, "Millard Fillmore, that sounds familiar...hmm, wasn't he the host on one of those game shows from the 70s." ~~

:

:
Hey, no worries....I didn't remember the guy myself until I purchased that presidential display and saw him again. In fact, he isn't the only one I had forgotten about!

foreverserenity

on Aug 11, 2006

Yep, first days back to school on my side of town too. Only the college kids are not back yet, but they will be in two weeks. Then the place will be jammed!

Congrats again on your new computers! I'm proud of you! I know getting those grants is not an easy task. I've spent many a days assisting on getting paperwork and all that stuff just to even get qualified. Good job!

Good luck with the new school year and congrats on being a SS teacher!

uDigItTheMost

on Aug 11, 2006

Here's a fact that you may find funny considering the title of your article.

Millard Fillmore invented the first air conditioner in 1868.

No, I'm lying, but it would've been cool if he had.

Have they fixed your air conditioner yet? I don't think the maintenance guy is going to fix since I heard he's mad at you. Apparently, he's a huge Millard Fillmore fan. Damn, you never should have left the pic of good ol' Millard on the floor.

InBloom

on Aug 11, 2006

FS~~Good luck with the new school year and congrats on being a SS teacher!~~

Thanks, Serenity.

Things are going good so far...I'm glad it's the weekend, though, because I feel so exhausted.

As for the computers, they are up and running and ready for the kids to use. Can't wait.

MySweetie

~~Millard Fillmore invented the first air conditioner in 1868.

No, I'm lying, but it would've been cool if he had.~~

Yeah, that would have been crazy.

~~Have they fixed your air conditioner yet? I don't think the maintenance guy is going to fix since I heard he's mad at you. Apparently, he's a huge Millard Fillmore fan. Damn, you never should have left the pic of good ol' Millard on the floor. ~~

Well, I guess he got over the Millard thing because it's feeling mighty comfortable in my room now.

Dr Guy

on Aug 12, 2006

Well, I guess he got over the Millard thing because it's feeling mighty comfortable in my room now.

You GOT to let Udigit post more! We need more laughter!

InBloom

on Aug 12, 2006

~~You GOT to let Udigit post more! We need more laughter!~~

I don't have him tied up, so all he needs to do is get his behind in here more often to write.

Tova7

on Aug 12, 2006

Glad you had a good first day...

That smart as a whip kid is gonna eat your lunch this year isn't he?

I could look at a line of presidents all day long and not know Fillmore was missing. Heck I didn't even know we had a president by that name!

Yes I know....but my son will get that this year so I imagine I will get it in spades again and then promptly forget it again until my next son has to learn it.

They should tell you before becoming a parent that having a kid is like doing school all over again....with EACH ONE!

InBloom

on Aug 12, 2006

~~That smart as a whip kid is gonna eat your lunch this year isn't he?~~

As I've gotten to know the kids so far this week, he isn't the only one who's gonna call me on things.

But you know, I love that they are inquisitive...it makes it all the more interesting. I'm fine just as long as they don't irk me toooo much!

~~They should tell you before becoming a parent that having a kid is like doing school all over again....with EACH ONE!~~

That's true! Hadn't thought of it that way.

Tova7

on Aug 12, 2006

That's true! Hadn't thought of it that way

Yeah, I think of it everytime my son brings home "new math."

Tell me what was wrong with old math? Heh. It had a lot less steps.

And I thought lattice was something you put around the bottom of trailer porches...now its a math method? Buwhahahahahaha.

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