Name Games

I love Thanksgiving break! It comes right when you are just about to loose your mind and gives you at least 3 days away from students and lesson plans and all the stuff teachers have to think about.

Today started off pretty well. After my five day weekend (did I mention how much I LOVE Thanksgiving break?) I have returned to work in my favorite Nicole Miller dress and Jimmy Choo boots. Sometimes it even surprises me that I can get around so deftly on those 41/2 inch heels, but I love the shoes and they are surprisingly comfortable.

You would think that all would be great on the first day back, but of course there is something to vent about. Let me let you in on a little secret:

I teach first grade.

Not such a little secret, right?

Well, here's the deal. I spend the majority of my day teaching students how to use letters and sounds to read. There are 26 letters in our alphabet. Some of them have more than one sound. Then there are the blends and digraphs and clusters that then just foolishness that you have to remember to become a good reader (I for the life of me have never been able to figure out why the word 'daughter' is not pronounces daft-ter, considering it is just one letter away from the work laughter...go figure).  It is hard enough to maneuver around all those sounds without parents just confusing me and the kids with how they spell their name.

I mean come on....spelling your name should be one of the simplest things you should have to do in life. I am a wiz at changing I's and Y's in names...but when you complete change the sound a letter makes?

I got a new student today.  His name is Adan.  It is pronounces A-don. Now, just so happens today we are reading a book call "Dan and Dad".  He is saying  "Don and Dad" and rightfully so considering the spelling and pronunciation of his name.  So, what I then have to do is spend time explaining to this student that most of the time a has an "a" sound like cat.  Not and "o" sound like octopus.  He says to me that his name is spelled correctly and wants to give a lecture on sounds.

I really just did not have the time today. I will try it again tomorrow.  I can not spend too much time on first day back going over letter sounds.

I just "con" not.