Day 1
I wish I had written this on the first day of school because I had a lot of emotions and things have changed slightly. So I will do my best to remember it all…
I remember coming home from day one and feeling happy. I had 6 out of 7 periods listening to every word I said. Yes I had 1 class from hell but I was sure I was going to whip them in shape. The thing about it is this year is all about change. It doesn’t matter that this school is still sucky because it is less sucky than last year’s school.
Things that are different:
- Kids actually listen? WHAT?! This was the strangest thing that I have noticed this year so far. I am so use to saying things five times because no one listens. But now I say them once, maybe twice and every follows suit.
- I leave 10 min after the bell rings for the kids…compared to what 6pm last year?
- I am in bed by 10 EVERY night. I have started reading before bed again. Hell one night I went to bed at 8 just because I was tired.
- I am teaching 7 50 minute periods. That first day of school was a BLUR. Kids come in, do some work, and I look up and they are gone. Its nuts!! And its longggg. I get into work at 7am and leave at 4pm. Last year I LEFT MY HOUSE at 745.
- I also only taught algebra 1 last year. Now I teach algebra 1, transitions to algebra, and a learning strategies class. Last year my big issue was classroom management and just general survival. This year its going to be question of whether or not I can actually teach. Can I get organized enough to teach all these different classes? So far so good. But ask me again in a few weeks.
- BEST PART YET….ladies and gents we went down from 40 kids in my class to an average of 15 with the biggest being 23. WOOHOO. I don’t care what you say, this is the number one reason why I am happy with my big move.
- My classroom management. Wait I actually have some? Haha. Its really hard to say what is as a result the school vs what is a result of me being a second year. I mean the children are much better behaved and generally respect teachers this year. But I would like to think that I have improved as well. I know I have more confidence. I know my voice sounds stronger. And I also can say I came from a neighboring school district that is notorious for the violence in the schools – I believe the kids are a little scared of this? Haha. But does it really matter why? My students are well behaved. (well all periods except for 4th but I will blog about that at a later point ☺)
Its not perfect., in fact its far from perfect. There are a lot of administrative issues still and a lot of the time I just hang my head . Its just slightly more frustrating here because the kids are good. They come to school wanting to learn. They listen. BUT the school is failing them. The school district and admin are just messy and not organized. They make decisions that just don’t make any sense. But nevertheless I will push forward because these kids really do care. First thing I am doing? Organizing the purchase of staff tshirts!!! We need school spirit and it starts with the staff. Haha.
More to come soon.
