Author Archives: James Hudyma

About James Hudyma

I'm a dad, husband, and an elementary school teacher. I am also a co-founder/contributor for the online parenting magazine, Dads Round Table at http://dadsroundtable.com

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Being a Dad makes me a Better Teacher

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When I became a dad I learned to get more done in less time.  I’m more efficient at school so I can have more time with my family.

In the College of Education they told us each parent sends their best kid to school.  This makes way more sense now.

Being a dad of a child who is very challenging helps me relate to the parent of the kid who can’t seem to behave in class.

Having a child who is very shy and sensitive helps me understand the stress some kids feel when I ask them to share something with the class.  I am more patient and understanding.

Having a child who is visually impaired has given me a much deeper understanding of the impact of a disability and why it is important to make sure these kids get extra help so they have the same opportunities.

To Love a Worm

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mealworms in hand

We’re raising mealworms in order to study the life-cycle of an insect.

Along with our class colony, each student was given 3 worms in a plastic cup with some oats and a piece of apple.  Names were given.  Bonds formed.  Soon, more luxurious accommodations were created.

mealworm home 2

This morning a student approached me with a worm in his hand.  He was visibly upset.

What’s up buddy?

Max is dead.

Let’s see… Oh… I’m sorry.

(Starts welling up)  I didn’t know I could love a worm so much.

Snowmobile Taxi

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Students are always fascinated by life long ago unless you call it History, then it’s “boring”!

The photo below is of my wife’s great-uncle Harry in his fancy new Snowmobile Taxi in Shelbrooke, Saskatchewan.

History is cool so long as you don’t call it History.

Imagine getting a ride in this taxi?!

Imagine getting a ride in this taxi?!

Snowman Zombie Brain Freeze

Zombie T-Rex

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zombie_colorMy class has really been into zombies lately.  I don’t know why, but as a fan of the macabre, I like it.  It’s very cute to listen to the narratives because in Grade 3 they are starting to grow up and are doing a lot less imaginative narration in their playing, especially the boys.

On the playground they play Zombie Tag.  The game begins with a few zombies and is over when everyone is a zombie.  Zombies stagger around the playground moaning and sticking their tongues out as they chase the humans.  It’s hilarious!  They love it when I become a zombie because I really ham it up.

In class, they’re creating Eraser Zombies and having epic battles.  We’ve had a few indoor recesses lately because it’s been so cold outside.  As you can imagine, the Zombie attacks have become quite elaborate.

Eraser Zombies

Yesterday a student introduced a new character: Zombie T-Rex!

Would you rather get chased by a zombie or a T-Rex?

Zombie.  They’re way slower.

But zombies never give up and they never get tired.  You can escape a T-Rex.

Well, what about a Zombie T-Rex!

This discovery produced much awe-ing and ooh-ing, a few high-fives, and a cheer!  This is followed by a detailed analysis of a Zombie T-Rex attack and how one might survive it.

Zombie_T_Rex_by_Skyfyre09

 

Frustrated Teacher

A Tough Group of Kids

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Whether or not you’re a teacher, you know what it means when a teacher says, “I have a tough group of students this year.”

Teaching a tough group is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining.  A tough group can make a teacher question whether choosing teaching was the right choice.  Teachers of tough groups lament the loss of instructional time to dealing with behaviors and conflict.  Field trips are cancelled.  Experiments become demonstrations. Group work becomes seat work.  Thankfully, in most schools there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  It’s only a year.

Next year that tough group will move on to the next teacher.  They’ll try to split up some of the characters who make the group particularly tough, but there is only so much you can do and you can’t prevent kids from clumping together on the playground at recess or after school.

Sure, a tough group is hard on teachers, principals  and the office staff.  What if you are a student in this group?

Imagine having to spend all your school years with a group like this.