Hello, all!! Thank you, everyone for your amazing amounts of support the last couple of days! Hello to new readers and followers!!
image via weheartit
Today at school was trying. As was yesterday. Kids are pushing it to the limit each and every day, and more and more I hear the famous "YOU aren't even my real teacher, so I DON'T have to listen to you." It's one of the most frustrating things to hear from a student, and there is almost no way to combat it, other than to tell them they are being disrespectful. One student asked when Christmas break was today, I replied "December 17th." She said: "Is that when you're leaving?" and I nodded my head. She said: "YESSSS!!" It kinda hurt my feelings a little.
After my class on Tuesday night at UC, I have had a lot of great ideas. I have a meeting planned with my principal next week, just to get to know her a little, and I also am planning to go to the homecoming game on Saturday night to make myself visible outside of class, and to introduce Nick to some of the kids. It will be nice for them to see me outside of class.
Also, one of the girls in my cohort spoke about her "three battles" that she has chosen for her class. These are a set of three rules that she absolutely does not bend on. I think this is a great idea, and I plan to implement it in my classroom. I think that after school tomorrow, I am going to change the room around so that it's like a brand new place when the kids come to school on Monday. I plan to put these rules in place, and hopefully see a change in behavior. The two I have chosen so far are:
- No eating. (The kids have been allowed since day one to eat in the classroom. Holly keeps a microwave and small fridge in her room, and they completely take advantage of this. It causes SOMUCH disruption.)
- No standing, walking, getting up AT ALL unless you have permission. (The kids pretty much do whatever they want, because there is little structure in our room. This is one of the MOST disruptive things.)
- I haven't figured out the third thing yet. Do you all have any suggestions/opinions?
I just have to keep reminding myself that it won't be like this forever. I am ready to be a "real" teacher with a license and a classroom and a salary. I cannot wait.
Tomorrow we have a pep rally, and Holly volunteered herself to stay behind with the kids in the school who are not allowed to attend. This means that I have to take fourth bell (our worst bunch) to the assembly on my own. I am TERRIFIED. Please cross your fingers that this goes okay. I really, really hope it does.
On a more positive note, my advanced kids turned in SOMANY of those Catcher in the Rye literary analysis papers today! Most of the ones I got were rushed and not very good, but they still have a chance to revise. I am a happy teacher! [for that bell...]
Check back later tonight to see Morgan's first Bloggin' Ladies feature for Blackbird Fly!! I am excited to post this one :)
Thanks, again, everyone for stopping by! Gonna kick back with my little Chihuahua son for a bit!
