Corn snakes in the classroom...periodic updates to my Chgo classroom donation :)

[Dave123]

Im sure they had a blast at the zoo. Thats right If you have a corn snake farm you will need to have mice too, smart thinking by that kid. Is the picture of just your group? Thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[Cegninedorf]

Im sure they had a blast at the zoo. Thats right If you have a corn snake farm you will need to have mice too, smart thinking by that kid. Is the picture of just your group? Thanks for keeping us updated.

Dave, your age shows you as being only 14. Now, when I was 14, I was quite the lil'academic over-achiever myself, and I loved learning (still do, obviously!). I wasn't a fan of school, but I did quite well for myself, I must say. However, I do know that I would've been intimidated in participating in forums and such, like this one -- in fact, I'm still intimidated because so many people here are so incredibly knowledgeable. Sure, I might know things that those people don't about other areas of life (i.e., how to keep 25 inner-city kids under control without resorting to Ritalin or corporal measures...), but as this is a corn snake forum, those matters don't apply here. But, I guess what I'm getting at is that I'd love to know if you're really 14 & then, to compliment you on your communication skills (I wish the 14-year olds I taught could put two words together & not only spell them right but have them make sense!) and your confidence. Nice job. I'd even give you a sticker, if I could.

So! No, that's not my whole class...one was absent and one was back at school (parent refused permission to go, no biggie) and the others were running around like locos. However, you do see one of the two white kids in my class. (One is Eastern European and the other is plain ol'American...) The rest of my school is demographically 50% Hispanic, about 35% African-American, 10% Asian (everything from Pakistani to Chinese to Filipino...) and 5% Other -- which is where even I fit in, even amongst my colleagues...I love the diversity, though. I have a bright, colorful classroom in every sense of the meaning.

And, as I spent part of my life living amongst farmers in rural central WI, I daresay I shan't be having a farm EVER in my life.

 

[PnyKlr]

Do you mind if I asked what the free/reduced lunch percentage of the school is?

 

[chibitamalove]

The majority of my middle school was Hispanic, too. Probably almost 75%. At my high school, I'm thinking it's about 50%. Maybe less. It's more balanced out between the ethnicities at my high school.

My Language Arts teacher from last year had a farm. We're in a pretty populated area, and I was amazed that she could even have a farm in Santa Ana. She's got horses, goats, the whole works.

I would've been intimidated in participating in forums and such, like this one -- in fact, I'm still intimidated because so many people here are so incredibly knowledgeable.

I know exactly what you mean. I feel like that all the time.

I wish the 14-year olds I taught could put two words together & not only spell them right but have them make sense!

That bugs me so much! I pretty much HAVE to type in complete sentences, becasue otherwise, it nags at me until I retype the sentence with capitalization and everything. Even when I'm IMing someone, I type in complete sentences and with capitalization, because I'm a dork. One of my friends does that too.

 

[Cegninedorf]

Do you mind if I asked what the free/reduced lunch percentage of the school is?

No, not at all...and I'm sure that it's on our school Report Card...something like 99%. All of my students get free lunch except for 2, who pay about quarter-price. And that's the most I've ever collected from kids in my 3 years there now...

 

[Dave123]

Yes I really am 14 and it seems that chibitamalove is too. It is a little bit intimidating because I do know that many people on here are very knowledgeable but I just like learning more and more each day, and helping the new pet owners. I did see that most of the students were not white but I thinks thats great that they have people like you out there to give everyone who wants a chance an education. Sometimes I forget how fortunite I am. I'm off to bed now so Ill talk to you all in the morning.

 

[PnyKlr]

No, not at all...and I'm sure that it's on our school Report Card...something like 99%. All of my students get free lunch except for 2, who pay about quarter-price. And that's the most I've ever collected from kids in my 3 years there now...

Wow! A school I worked at two years ago was nearly that high, and parental support was nearly non-existant. There were a few parents and grandparents in each grade who were great advocates of education, but that was the minority.

Now I teach in a town small enough to be called a village, with only 3 black kids in 7th grade and one hispanic girl. Everyone else is white...and a few think that they are "tough" and "gangsta." The sixth grade science teacher and I laugh at them because they wouldn't last 2 seconds in Rockford, let alone where she used to teach (Cabrini Green).

I just wanted to add that your room/school sounds like it has such a great atmosphere!

 

[chibitamalove]

Yo G, don't you be makin' fun o' us ganstas, foo'. Fo shizzle. Dayum.

:grin01:

 

[jaxom1957]

However, you do see one of the two white kids in my class. (One is Eastern European and the other is plain ol'American...) The rest of my school is demographically 50% Hispanic, about 35% African-American, 10% Asian (everything from Pakistani to Chinese to Filipino...) and 5% Other -- which is where even I fit in, even amongst my colleagues...I love the diversity, though.

I'm assuming you meant to say, "one of the two NONHISPANIC white kids", right? As my many Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican relatives would point out, Hispanics are white, too.

 

[connord94]

*sigh* Wish one of MY teachers would bring a corn snake in to school, or heck, any animal would do, British schools are soooo boring. I think the most animal related thing our school has encountered was when my English teacher let one of her older pupils bring their pet rat in.

 

[chibitamalove]

*sigh* Wish one of MY teachers would bring a corn snake in to school, or heck, any animal would do, British schools are soooo boring. I think the most animal related thing our school has encountered was when my English teacher let one of her older pupils bring their pet rat in.

I'm right there with ya, dude. I've never had a classroom pet until this year. Yeah. A freshman, and none of my teachers have ever even had so much as a fish. This year, our biology teacher has a pet leopard gecko in the classroom. But we don't get to do much with Hermione. I really felt bad for her. My bio teacher was waving her around during a lecture, jabbing the gecko at the whiteboard saying, "Most geckos can climb this whiteboard, because they've got special fibers that let them stick to almost any surface. But Hermione can't, because she's a leopard gecko and she's got little nails." All the while, Hermione is trying to get out of my teacher's hand. I felt bad for Hermione. Imagine being held around your middle by a giant hand connected to a giant thing that waves you around and jabs you at whiteboards.

 

[connord94]

the rat wasen't a classroom pet though, it was in for half a day.

 

[Cegninedorf]

I'm assuming you meant to say, "one of the two NONHISPANIC white kids", right? As my many Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican relatives would point out, Hispanics are white, too.

Ok, I'm not here to start a race-naming battle of words...but, by stating the demographics in my school, I'm going by what the parents state their children as being as per the racial survey that *they* fill out (not me), based upon the races delineated per the school system. And, much to my pleasure, Chicago Public has now created a "Multiracial" category, which about 99.9% of us fall into now (unless someone has been living under a rock all of this time, but I daresay I won't leave anyone out...). However, until the Multiracial category catches on, we're left with Hispanic (which breaks down as well into several categories, as it seems that -- for example -- Cuban Hispanics are not to be confused with Castillian Hispanics, Mexican Hispanics, Puerto Rican Hispanics, but all Central American Hispanics and South American Hispanics are one & the same...makes you go "hmm?", doesn't it?), White (Non-Hispanic or Caucasian, which is stated as per the category, however the race is determined by the parent), African-American/Black (depending on the form/application), Asian (which includes everything in Asia, east of Europe, so Russians would fit in this category too, despite being "White"...) and then Native American/Eskimo and as I don't really see the other categories all too often, I really can't remember what they are...

So...to answer your question: I go by what their parents tell me they are. If they say the kids are white, then the kids are white, regardless of who the parents are or last name or whatever. The end.

Interesting enough, I read this article awhile back...completely fascinating stuff, especially for all of those genetics-philes out there...
Human species "may split in two"...completely reminded me of reading Brave New World in high school...I can't wait to be coffee-colored actually as my pasty-glare does not suit me at all... And, after thinking about all of that racial-stuff at so early in the morning with only one cup of tea in me, I really can't wait for there to be only one race floating around out there.

 

[Cegninedorf]

Ack!

Slightly :-offtopic , but it's my thread and it *does* involve classroom pets, so I feel it pertains...

All the while, Hermione is trying to get out of my teacher's hand. I felt bad for Hermione. Imagine being held around your middle by a giant hand connected to a giant thing that waves you around and jabs you at whiteboards.

Oh, gosh...poor Hermione!!! I have 2 leopard geckos, as well, and actually -- at another forum for leopard geckos -- I had people all over my back about my wanting to bring them into my classroom. They told me that what I was doing was awful and would kill the geckos due to stress and so forth. I guess that that teacher never read that forum.

(One person even tried to make the point that what if my school burned down over the weekend? My reply was, "well, I could keep them at home, but what if my apt burned down while I was at school -- or better yet, while I was asleep, so that I could burn with it, too? Does that make the situation any less worse?" I hate games of "what if?" unless it involves happy, fluffy stuff...)

I would like to bring my leos to school to visit so that the kids can learn about other reptiles. We did see some at the zoo, but the trip was chaos -- organized chaos, but nonetheless (you'd think that these kids were raised under a rock because they run like cockroaches when they come out!) it was crazy. So, it'd be fun for them to see my other reptiles...and, by the way, here are the darlings...

First is Flaca, who I call Flaquita Bonita Gordita Perezosita, named such because when I/we (my boyfriend & I picked the girls up together...and he's Mexican, so we went for Spanish names because my animals all get non-English language names...), Flaca was sooooooo skinny...she's now a little Gordita and has the prettiest disposition, as well as the sweetest blue eyes.

(I know that they all seem to have blue eyes, but Flaca's are especially pretty...how can you not love that face?!)(We call her "moist hide" her little "spa"...she loves it...)

And, here is Rosa...I named her such because she has such a pink belly. I was told that that's indicative of her being partly albino...I have no idea, but all I know is that she's shy & lovely.

Finally, I'd also like to bring in my bearded dragon...Jolie is a cutie and growing so fast! I received her as a bday present mid-Sept...

The only pets I won't be bringing in are my cats...they'd have too much fun, but I would like to bring in my other two corn snakes so that the kids can see a "normal" (Bellerouge) and an amelanistic (Maizie), which I plan to do in Jan around MLK, Jr Day so we can talk about how our colors may be different but yet we're all the same underneath.

Quite a few teachers have heard about TicTac (Fritz) and I was asked by the middle school science teacher to give a presentation. I do think that I'm going to have to make a sheet to give to all of the students now so that they get some actual information, and not just walk away thinking, "Cool...I touched a snake, man!"

Anyway...I need more tea if I'm going to make it through today.

 

[diamondlil]

This thread is fantastic, I look forward to each update and thoroughly enjoy the whole story, from the donation of the snake (go forum!) to the planning, the lessons that will revolve around Tictac, your inventiveness.

 

[Cegninedorf]

Thank you. I have to admit, it's a lot of fun not only having TicTac (Fritz) in my classroom, but also thinking of ways to involve him in the classroom (he's going to get a lot of attention this week -- it's only 3 days, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and we're going to be focusing on *giving thanks*, wink wink... ) -- I was so paranoid in the beginning and now that he's in the classroom, I've realized that it's not so tough, after all. So much easier than a guinea pig or a rat! The kids love him, too. And, it's been fun keeping this thread, too...it's allowed me to do quite a bit of brainstorming on lessons and pet-keeping etiquette to teach the kids. I also found out this year that Science is going to be mandated by the state for testing in 4th grade, so I feel like I'm giving my kids a bit of a step-up in getting ready for that...and all due to one lil'cute corn snake.

 

[Dave123]

I love those picks of the Leaperd Geckos, they look soo happy!!! Im sure Fritz will have a good time this week with all of the attention. Are you going to keep Maizie in your classroom or just bring her in a few times? Thanks for keeping us soo up to date.

 

[PnyKlr]

:-offtopic *Sorry*

I'm assuming you meant to say, "one of the two NONHISPANIC white kids", right? As my many Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican relatives would point out, Hispanics are white, too.

You have Portuguese relatives? Then you might know that Portuguese is not considered Hispanic (and many Portuguese would be offended at being considered this) and that there is not a good defining category in the US census to claim. "Other" always seems the most appropriate.

"Hispanic" is basically an American term referring to a person who lives in the United States but who originally came from, or whose family came from, South America, Mexico, Cuba or Puerto Rico. It is also used to refer to people from Spain (although they would be Spanish) or the culture of Spain.

 

[Cegninedorf]

:-offtopic *Sorry*

You have Portuguese relatives? Then you might know that Portuguese is not considered Hispanic (and many Portuguese would be offended at being considered this) and that there is not a good defining category in the US census to claim. "Other" always seems the most appropriate.

"Hispanic" is basically an American term referring to a person who lives in the United States but who originally came from, or whose family came from, South America, Mexico, Cuba or Puerto Rico. It is also used to refer to people from Spain (although they would be Spanish) or the culture of Spain.

Completely understood. :cheers:

I used to work for Boston's public school system and I would help parents register their children for school...messy, and the parents had to decide upon a racial category for their children because the schools were required to have an equal racial distribution (which, I do believe, is no longer the case...), mostly due to the fact that some neighborhoods are still completely segregated and the school system wanted its students to realize that there is more to this world. Anyway, as may also be known, Massachusetts has an enormous Portuguese (Brazilian, mostly, I think...) population -- I do believe that Portuguese is the second most spoken language in Massachusetts, yet. Some parents chose Hispanic, some did not. My job was to inform them of their choices...and yes, it was actually fun to have the Spanish-Portuguese conversations (as I don't speak Portuguese, but I can wade through it, as I also have experience in Italian and French -- go Romance languages!). I guess it depended on how "South American" the person felt, or how "Portugal/Portuguese" the person felt.

But my Mexican boyfriend -- and all of his family, and many of my Puerto Rican friends/colleagues, my Cuban boss, and Central American colleagues and friends -- would *never* consider themselves "white" or "non-Hispanic"...that would be an insult to them, their culture, their heritage -- sus raices. In fact, my boyfriend teases me about my being a "guera" (put an umlaut over the u...what is that accent mark in Spanish called?) because I'm so "white." (I just give it right back in my polite, little upright Germanic way.)

:cheers:

 

[PnyKlr]

We've got one for "white" people in Hawai'i: Haole (pronounced how-lee).

But now it refers more to "mainlanders" than just white folks.