Cegninedorf
Twang'em into trees!
So, yes, it's September, and the new school year is upon us...and I'm now finishing my first complete week back to school this week. I didn't want to simply just bring Fritz -- my lil'anery going into my classroom from Terri/CornCrazy -- into the classroom without any prefacing being done by me and the students. I want them to gain a full sense of understanding and responsibility to owning a pet, as well as a desire to learn more about the animal's role in the environment. A lot to expect of a 2nd grader (most are 7 years old...), but I trust that they can do it. 
So, in all honesty, no, Fritz isn't in my room yet. The students, however, do know that something special is coming and they're very excited about it. They also do know that I have snakes as pets, and they're extremely intrigued and would love to see them. I've shown colleagues photos of my babies and they're charmed by Fritz & Maizie.
I'm a bit slower than usual this year in getting things established (granted, this really is only my third year teaching, so I only have the previous two to go by!) because I have quite a large number of students, out of my current 23, that have varying physical and academic disabilities, with all kinds of services coming in & out the door stipulated by their IEPs, along with a few other students who have homeless & academic issues, and over half my students get pulled out for ESL services...once I get that schedule set, get the general curriculum going, then I feel that I'll be able to introduce my own personal touches to the general curriculum -- including Fritz -- without it feeling like an incredible burden. (You should see the paperwork on my desk right now...!) The last thing that I want to feel in regard to Fritz is that he is simply another item on my checklist to tick off...I want for him to be a source of enjoyment, pride and learning for my students AND me, not simply something "to do." I'm hoping that by the beginning/mid of Oct, we'll finally be ready...
Also, a slight snafu is that Fritz regurged. I've felt so awful and guilty about it that I only wrote about it in my online journal...I've been following advice that was posted in the FAQs and that given to others questioning about regurging, and I've been giving Fritz his space & time. He's been out & about lately in the evening, exploring and being curious, so I take that as a healthy sign...I imagine that the stress from the travel and then all of the undue stress I most likely caused him -- and I imagine that I fed him too soon, simply was too much for him...so, I'm going to wait & see how things are going for him. Obviously, his health comes first...I'm not about to put on a circus here.
In the meantime, the kids are going to be graphing on what they think should be their classroom pet, as well as then looking up info on corn snakes and simply all kinds of reptiles...as obviously any responsible pet owner should do prior to owning a pet. I have a book shelf just for reptile books, as well as a table all ready for Fritz with his tank, and kids are already taking out the reptile books. The students are going to write about what the snake needs to live, as well as create diagrams on such. We're also going on a field trip to the zoo where I do know that they have a corn snake. We'll most likely take in the rest of the reptile displays, as well.
I *have* been glad that the weather has been unseasonably cool lately, though...my school building is an old-fashioned factory-like building with AC in the new part...which I'm obviously not in. I can always make it warmer in there, but making it cooler is tough (though I have plenty of fans!). So, with cooler weather, it is more encouraging to bringing Fritz in, as well.
So, that's the deal, thus far. A bit worrisome for now about Fritz, but I imagine that he'll be fine once he adjusts and his body calms. He kept the fuzzy in for a few days, really, and what was regurged looked only like half of the mouse's innards (and WOW! did that stink!). He actually seemed to feel better after regurgitating because he came out and was as social as could be...so, I'm guessing just an upset stomach. I'm ordering some grape-seed extract for his water, as well. Hopefully that will all help.
If any advice about the regurge, feel free to let me know. Any thoughts on other preliminary activities to Fritz's arrival, also let me know.
Thanks.
Christina
So, in all honesty, no, Fritz isn't in my room yet. The students, however, do know that something special is coming and they're very excited about it. They also do know that I have snakes as pets, and they're extremely intrigued and would love to see them. I've shown colleagues photos of my babies and they're charmed by Fritz & Maizie.
I'm a bit slower than usual this year in getting things established (granted, this really is only my third year teaching, so I only have the previous two to go by!) because I have quite a large number of students, out of my current 23, that have varying physical and academic disabilities, with all kinds of services coming in & out the door stipulated by their IEPs, along with a few other students who have homeless & academic issues, and over half my students get pulled out for ESL services...once I get that schedule set, get the general curriculum going, then I feel that I'll be able to introduce my own personal touches to the general curriculum -- including Fritz -- without it feeling like an incredible burden. (You should see the paperwork on my desk right now...!) The last thing that I want to feel in regard to Fritz is that he is simply another item on my checklist to tick off...I want for him to be a source of enjoyment, pride and learning for my students AND me, not simply something "to do." I'm hoping that by the beginning/mid of Oct, we'll finally be ready...
Also, a slight snafu is that Fritz regurged. I've felt so awful and guilty about it that I only wrote about it in my online journal...I've been following advice that was posted in the FAQs and that given to others questioning about regurging, and I've been giving Fritz his space & time. He's been out & about lately in the evening, exploring and being curious, so I take that as a healthy sign...I imagine that the stress from the travel and then all of the undue stress I most likely caused him -- and I imagine that I fed him too soon, simply was too much for him...so, I'm going to wait & see how things are going for him. Obviously, his health comes first...I'm not about to put on a circus here.
In the meantime, the kids are going to be graphing on what they think should be their classroom pet, as well as then looking up info on corn snakes and simply all kinds of reptiles...as obviously any responsible pet owner should do prior to owning a pet.
I have a book shelf just for reptile books, as well as a table all ready for Fritz with his tank, and kids are already taking out the reptile books. The students are going to write about what the snake needs to live, as well as create diagrams on such. We're also going on a field trip to the zoo where I do know that they have a corn snake. We'll most likely take in the rest of the reptile displays, as well. I *have* been glad that the weather has been unseasonably cool lately, though...my school building is an old-fashioned factory-like building with AC in the new part...which I'm obviously not in. I can always make it warmer in there, but making it cooler is tough (though I have plenty of fans!). So, with cooler weather, it is more encouraging to bringing Fritz in, as well.
So, that's the deal, thus far. A bit worrisome for now about Fritz, but I imagine that he'll be fine once he adjusts and his body calms. He kept the fuzzy in for a few days, really, and what was regurged looked only like half of the mouse's innards (and WOW! did that stink!). He actually seemed to feel better after regurgitating because he came out and was as social as could be...so, I'm guessing just an upset stomach. I'm ordering some grape-seed extract for his water, as well. Hopefully that will all help.
If any advice about the regurge, feel free to let me know. Any thoughts on other preliminary activities to Fritz's arrival, also let me know.
Thanks.
Christina
