First Week

I apologize for my tardiness, but I only just obtained internet access once again. And on that note, I would like to say we are officially moved to Ada, as of last weekend, that being the reason I did not have internet access until today.

So, last week on Thursday, we found a rent house - extremely quick, concerning Dell had only had his job for a week! Friday, Mom, Dell and I (yes, my parents are EXTREMELY happy that we moved back - they have both been over nearly every day this week to help in some way) cleaned the rent house, and Saturday, Dell's aunt, uncle, 2 cousins and grandmother, and my parents all came and helped us move from the City back to my home town. It was CRAZY!!!! But we got moved in, albeit without gas (meaning we did not have hot water - couldn't do laundry, dishes, or take showers at home - don't worry, we took showers at my parents').

Monday I sat through more meetings, still having no clue how the things they kept telling us were going to play out in the actual classroom, and Tuesday I got the ENTIRE DAY to prepare my room! It really seemed like I wasn't getting much done, but when I looked back at my list, I really had gotten more than I realized, thankfully. One key point, the SMARTboard, was not working as I did not have access to the adapter that fits from the plug into the Mac. So, all the things I had planned to put on that board had to be moved to the dry erase board. Flexibility, you know. I borrowed one from my fellow teacher, however, whose computer died and who had to bring his own computer to use.

Wednesday was my first day of actual classes. It actually went pretty smoothly. We only had one fight at lunch, the kids thought my knighthood theme was lame and didn't even know what the term chivalry meant, and most of the classes stayed on task.

Thursday was a different story. Three of my five core classes (I have one enrichment class at the end of the day) were absolutely awful. It being an emotional, stressful time for me, I broke down at lunch, thankfully not in front of my classes, but thanks to the support of my fellow team teachers, especially my supervising teacher (bless her!) I got it under control and realized I cannot allow them to sit idle or do work completely on their own at this point at all. If I do, I will have shouting and paper wads flying across the room. Oh, yes, they are VERY mature. I made it through the day, though, and even went back on Friday! I do have to admit that the thought crossed my mind that I don't HAVE to do this job, but it didn't last long. I was determined to last the year, if for no other reason than to spite my students. It was not really a matter of being bothered by the students' behavior, or letting their smart-alec comments get to me. I knew it was going to be like that. I was more frustrated with myself for not figuring out how to deal with the situation better. By the third awful class I finally figured out a fun assignment of making them write down the procedures as I read them aloud - you should have heard the complaining. I also found I had to remember my own procedures - if I wanted them to raise their hands to ask a question, I had to make them raise their hand and wait on me to call on them before I answered the question. By the end of the hour, I had made them raise their hands and repeat their questions enough that they finally began to get it a little. It was tough and gruelling, but it started to work.

Friday. It was a little better. I played catch-up with my first two awful classes, and their complaining was just as bad at having to write procedures as the class from the day before. Oh, and I loved how the class who was throwing paper wads was "in the eighth grade now and too mature to have to write procedures now." They're going to have a nice surprise when I spend my entire weekend making sure they wrote everything down word for word and took off points when they didn't. I hope so, at least.

One note I would like to remember for next year and to pass on to any other teachers. I began with procedures on the first day and then tried a get-to-know-each-other activity for the second. Don't do this. Instead, switch them. Introduce yourself the first day, maybe with a video or something along those lines. Go over the syllabus and classroom rules, as well as any new rules or new processes or activities the school is introducing that year. Maybe go over the different things like cafeteria procedures, library procedures, etc., for the new students as well. If you want, give them a survey or something about themselves at the end of the hour and maybe for homework. Save your procedures for the second day, and make sure you drill them on them all hour - give them each something to do, such as write them down or act them out. They really aren't ready to simply sit and listen all hour without being involved themselves - at least that was my experience. The last day I gave them an assignment to do on their own (we only 3 days that first week), but even this was a struggle for some of the classes. They really needed direct instruction the entire hour in order to stay on task. Now some could handle it, but even those classes were a little talkative, it being the last day of school the first week. I have a few adjustments to make on my beginning lesson plans for next year now, and for next week as well, but I feel that overall it was fairly productive, and I am beginning to get bluff in. Oh, and did I mention I made a few students come clean my room at lunch Friday for their behavior Thursday? Yeah, I'm a mean teacher. And one of them didn't even come. If he wasn't alreay in trouble for another teacher, he's going to have a fun two days at lunch! I am dying to create positive relationships, but I am quickly learning that they need to learn their part in the relationship and how to behave in a class of 25 kids before that is going to be possible. Can't wait for next week and more staying on them about procedures! They'll get it. It may take a while, but that's why we do this, right? Because it's one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and only a special few can truly handle making a difference in the lives of 128 students every day. Bring it on!