If you are like me, you've had a ton of notifications about the  GDPR privacy policy updates and  compliance.  And, you're probably sick of reading how people intend to be compliant. I really hate to add to your mail so I'll keep this short and sweet.

For my EU readers:
1. I never share any information with anyone. Period.
2. If you signed up on my email list, no worries. Nothing changes. Unless you change it and you can unsubscribe at any time.
3. If you wish to continue with your subscription, do nothing. And life goes on just like before.
4. I use Blogger which does use cookies (that's the 'cookie' part of my privacy notice) and you can learn more about them by clicking on this link. This is the same link that was automatically published on my blog (for EU readers) yesterday.

Have an awesome Memorial Day Weekend!

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Let's face it, we may belong to a group of humans that teach, but we are not all the same.  Take for example the primary teacher. Soft singsongy voice.  Smiling. Motherly. Cute. Everything is cute.    Next to a high school or middle school teacher they look so innocent and ... well... cute.   Speaking of middle school teachers, you can see the sarcasm written all over their faces. Or rather, their smirks.  Everything and anything (and I do mean anything) can be reduced to a swift sarcastic comeback.   High school teachers crank it up a notch. They are more 'adult' in their casual dismissal of teenage angst. Oh, and let's not forget elementary teachers.  They are the middle child of the education family.  They do a little cute, a little sarcasm, and a participate in a little adult competition. Granted it isn't intentional competition, but there is a sense of the finish line push in the bulletin board race.

There is no way in this world that I could have spent my teaching career in a primary classroom. No way.  I'm not soft. I don't sing. I'm as far from motherly as you can get. And, cute? That would really be a stretch of the imagination.  Almost every word I utter is tinged with sarcasm. I've perfected the 'look' and the eye roll.  And the blank face... almost.  Nope primary is not my thing. I mean the kids are cute, but they are little germ bundles just waiting to wipe their snotty hands on you.  I almost gag thinking about it.  If I could just listen to their kindergarten drama all day and laugh, it might work. But to try and teach them something?! No way.  I just don't have the patience.

Teaching high school would not have been a happy career for me either.  The first couple to tell me of their undying love that will stand the test of all time would put me over the edge.  The first kid who tried to tell me that he knew more than any adult and had the world in the palm of his hand would soon realize that I had already jumped over the edge.  The world of status would leave me gagging. I really don't care who your daddy is or what he owns. And that new little sports car that he bought for you does not evoke any feelings of envy. I'm just thinking what an idiot would buy a new little sports car for a teen-age driver. I was one. Once. And I did have to learn a few lessons the dented-fender-ticket way, but thank heavens my parents had the sense to put me in a used tank.

Elementary. Now that could have been a temptation.  They are old enough to blow their own noses. They can still be disciplined (to a degree). I mean, let's face it, recess is the life-line of every 9 year old. And, no one likes to have mom called.  On the other hand, they tattle. About everything. Every look. Every thought. Everything. You can see them coming a mile away. They have a determined look on their face. They have a mission. To tell the teacher. Well, this teacher doesn't want to be told that someone looked at them wrong so I head it off at the pass. "If you're not bleeding or vomiting, I don't want to hear it. If you are not hurt and no one can get hurt, don't tell me."  Harsh? Well, you try listening to a dozen or more "he looked at me mean" or "she said my backpack was ugly" and then judge.

I know God put me right where He wanted me.  I wasn't perfect (who is?), but I loved the ups and downs of life with teen-agers. Occasionally, I'd have the urge to run from the building screaming, but for the most part it was fun.  Please don't ask my students if it was fun. They'll tell you how much work I made them do and how strict I was. Don't ask administers about my classroom management. They'll refer to me as the little general. But ask them if they learned and they will say yes. That was my goal. To teach them to learn and keep learning.  To not quit or give up or give in. To be strong and independent.  To think for themselves and not believe everything they heard or read.  I have regrets. Sure, who doesn't? But if I had it all to do over again, I would go right back to middle school.



Great summer review - great for year-round school!  Check it out (and the free sample!)

ELA skill review

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Do you plan during the first part of summer? Get everything prepared, organized, and ready to go for fall? Or do you take the summer off and jump into 'school mode' a couple of weeks before school starts?

I'm a planner and organizer. I want everything in order and ready to go before school starts. I want to take time off  without anything to worry about. I want to have my lessons prepared (or at least a good idea of them) and needed materials accumulated.  I am not a procrastinator.  Every 'i' dotted. Every 't' crossed.  So... tell me why I closed up my room without getting everything ready to go for day one????

I have no idea. Except maybe that it is summer and my room was going to be cleaned so I couldn't put up bulletin boards and set things out. That's it! It wasn't that I didn't get it ready, it was that I couldn't.

Regardless of the hows and whys, there is work remaining that must be completed. My to-do list is growing longer by the minute. Shortening my summer with each passing task. I can't say that I mind it though. Teaching is in my blood and so is the prep work. I enjoy creating anything for my classroom. My home away from home.  I'm just thankful for the time I can now devote to it.

And, I'm thankful for the time I can spend with family and friends or just staring out the window if I want to. I'm learning to be thankful for each phase of my life. And for each gift.

And that is what summer is.... a gift.  Unwrap carefully :)

Enjoy!

43 pages of ELA review 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken 

Read more »

Chocolate 4 Teachers

End of the year. Last minute assignments to grade.  Grades to post. Grade card comments to make. Inventory to take. Emails to answer. Room to organize and clean - Why? It won't stay that way for long, but it feels so good to walk into an organized room! Summer farewells to say. Summer plans to make.

I made it. I survived the end-of-the-year!

It always seems overwhelming. And it never fails that the computer that worked fine all year suddenly develops a mind of its' own.  I always list too much to do in too short of a time. This year was no different. Except for one thing. This year, I was not looking forward to the end of the school year.

I landed on a soft spot this year. A dream for a teacher. Great administration. Super colleagues. Fun kids. A dream job.  All year I haven't minded getting up, even though I am not a morning person. I've stayed late, even though I am not expected to stay. I've looked forward to my school day in ways that I hadn't in years.  Why? Because, after four years of semi-retirement, a school who believed in educating kids by teachers that knew what they were doing asked me to come.

At first, I wondered what I had gotten myself into, but after the first day I was hooked. This was teaching.  I wasn't expected to impress or pretend. I was expected, and allowed to, teach. That's it. Just love the kids and teach.  The administration has our backs. They support us and respect what each of us brings to the table.  In return, we are grateful. It is rare, in this day and age that a teacher be allowed to teach. That a teacher be treated with respect. That a teacher be treated as a professional.

Outside our little world, schools have been consolidated as a means of improvement, but they've lost the value of the small school system.  Character and quality have been absorbed into a vacuum that often fails in so many areas.  Talk has been traded for text. Email instead of conversation. And devices have replaced learning basic skills.   I don't think that's an improvement at all.

I'm blessed to find a place where kids still learn cursive (yes, there is still a need for this lost art). A place where teachers talk to each other. A place where kids and learning are priority one, and teachers are viewed as the expert to see that this takes place. A place where the principal pitches in and moves furniture at the end of the year.

So, I survived the end-of-the-year. I'll miss this little country school for the months that we are off.  I'll miss the friendly faces. My family. But I'll have something to look forward to... fall.

Hurry! The give away ends on May 13th!

Who wouldn't like $100 gift card! 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken 

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

I've spent the past two weeks in primary. And I mean primary. Little People. Short kids under the age of six. Small.

I've learned a couple of things. Like why I spent over 21 years teaching middle school and up. Why my mom had gray hair. And why the good Lord blessed me with cats instead of kids.  In His wisdom,  He knew that I would go crazy. A short trip.

I also learned that I am squishy. I have to be older than seven or they wouldn't let me teach. I can't sing.  I can't find the ABC song that they are used to singing. I don't know the difference between a cheetah and a jaguar.  I'm funny. I must be a grandma. I'm grandma teacher.  The name sticks. For the rest of the day.

They tell you anything. And I mean anything. Nothing is off limits. Or private.  No filter. What pops into their heads comes out their mouths.  "Do you know what dad said when mom tried on her swimsuit last night? Want to know what mom said back to dad?" Advice to parents: Don't say or do anything in front of your kids that you don't want others to know.  They will come to school and tell all making it hard for me to look you in the eye and not burst out laughing.

After my days with the little people, I come home and use a sing-song voice to talk to my husband, who only looks at me funny and asks me about my day.  I tilt my head to the left and smile and sing (off key of course), "It was great. We sang the ABC song and used blocks to build a zoo, and we even had time to draw pictures. I love coloring! It is so relaxing. And, I had forgotten how fun it can be to swing. We swing during every recess! Snack time is my favorite... "  By the time I reach the end of the verse, his eyes have glazed over. He is probably thinking about having me committed.  During supper I offer to cut his meat. Dumbfounded he stares at me. He's looking for signs of a mental breakdown. I laugh as I recount my day. I squeeze my arm and tell him that I am squishy. He continues staring.

Later, I find him looking around the house. I ask him what he is looking for and he tells me, "Your marbles."
Think I'll go help him look.  :)


Here are some little people resources I made for a little person friend of mine. Now available in my store!

nouns, verbs, adverbs, & adjectives

Practice syllables, long & short vowels

transition words

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken 

Read more »

Chocolate 4 Teachers