September 25, 2014

The sixth graders managed to finish their MAP tests today. They came in for about an hour first thing in the morning and the ones who didn't finish came back after the evacuation drill and finished. All of my worry was for naught. Although it was still well placed because things could have gone bad.

Speaking of the evacuation drill, we had that this morning. My first year I walked with all the kids but last year I rode with the librarian and some other people down to the building where we evacuate to. I did the same this year. I don't really serve much purpose there. I helped the music teacher move a table out into the lobby and then I handed rosters to the librarian as classes walked up so she could ask the teachers if they had all their kids. Then I helped the music teacher put the table back where we got it. Such a vital role.

In the afternoon we had our lock down drill and I wandered down to the library slightly beforehand because that is where I have gone the past two years. The first year I was locked in a closet with a group of fifth graders and the library aide. That didn't go well. Last year I think it was just the librarian, the library aide, and myself in the closet. This year there was a second grade class in the library and they did a really good job. Not a single peep. A group went in the closet, some went under a desk, and I sat with a couple against the wall that the door is on. Had someone gotten in the library, we would have been screwed. It took the cop and the principal awhile to find the other two groups. After they found us they asked if there was anyone else in the library and I responded with “I'm not a snitch.” It was kind of funny. I learned later that one of the kindergarten teachers put a sign on his door that said something about the room was under quarantine due to a smallpox outbreak. He said he could tell when the principal and cop made it to his room because he could here both of them start laughing when they saw the sign.

In the event of a real lock down, I would be kind of screwed if I was in the lab. Especially if I had a class. And even more so if I was alone with that class, which I frequently am, because I don't have a key. Speaking of, I was locked out again this morning. But back to the lock down, I wouldn't be able to lock the lab so I would need to run next door to the music room if they hadn't already locked the door, which they probably already would have. My other option would be the two bathrooms down the hall. And hope that the cause of the lock down isn't nearby because it is kind of an exposed route. I need to talk to the principal about it and see what her thoughts are.

When there wasn't a safety drill or MAP testing, I had a few classes in the lab and I worked on other things. I finished up editing pictures for the kindergarten teacher, I printed off MAP scores for one of the teachers and the Boys & Girls Club / math enrichment teacher, I worked on my spreadsheets, and I continued working on the bingo game. I have finished completely finished two sets of boards, I finished cutting out the pictures for the third set of boards today, and after I get those made I will only have one set left. I'm getting there.

I didn't have a visit with the new volunteer kid tonight. I texted him yesterday because I couldn't remember if we were going to try and hang out last night or tonight. He said tonight. But when I texted him today I never hear back from him. So that's great. I'm saving on gas money but I also kind of look like a delinquent volunteer because we've only had one visit in two months or so. It is hard trying to find time in a seventeen year old's school and work schedule.

I kind of used my time productively and read half of the next research chapter. I called it good after that because it was putting me to sleep. And then did nothing with the rest of my night. Nothing of consequence anyway.

Tomorrow morning I have to wake up early for a dentist appoint. Then I want to go to the DMV and get a new license with my new address on it. And then my goal is to write my first reflection journal so I can send that to my professor and get feedback on it so I can jump into the next two entries with a little less fear and uncertainty. I also heard back from both of the university librarians so I need to read over those, see if I have any follow-up questions, and maybe start thinking about writing my paper based on those interviews. I haven't decided who's interview I'm going to use yet. If I think I can work both in I might email the professor and see if that is something I would be allowed to do. Tomorrow has the potential to be a really productive day. I really hope I can get that reflective journal done. I need to pull the trigger on that already. Take the leap and go for it.