We had our first football game last night—we lost—phooey. It was exciting. I don’t think I even watched the game, but I had a lot of fun just talking to people and enjoying the environment. I was surprised that so many from our school came out to the game. Parents were excited to see the cheerleaders and were very proud of what they had been learning and doing.
It has been a rough week at school. My voice has been scratchy all week. I think it is because of sinus drainage or just exhaustion from talking all of the time or maybe it is from me being tired. I have very long days. I get up around 5 and don’t stop until 9 at night. I am working hard all of the time trying to make sure that my teaching is effective as well as my cheerleaders are taken care of.
I am finding out that my freshman thinking I am mean! I go over rules and procedures every single day and probably will do so for at least the rest of the month. I am already behind in teaching my curriculum b/c of the student schedule issues that they are having at the school. But I’m going spend this week really trying to catch up. So I will probably lecture more than I had planned to. I’m finding that these freshmen don’t know much of anything. I gave them a Mapping History Worksheet—busy work—and a lot of the students could not even comprehend the directions or what to do with the sheet. This is surprising—I’ve got a lot of work to do and short period to do it in.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
My first week at school
It never occurred to me that I wouldn’t have time to post. I was thinking I could journal a little bit everyday; but the reality is I just don’t have time. When I get home from work, I’m wiped and I’m sleep around ten.
My first week was fun. I enjoy teaching my classes. And my classroom is very tidy right now. I’ve gotten many compliments on the set up of my classroom and that makes me feel good. Especially, since I spent many late nights at school. Sometimes my principal had to kick me out. The librarian said that my classroom was “very inviting.” The sad thing is I still have plenty of things to hang up and I want to start a cheer bulletin board.
Our school system had some problems with the scheduling program and b/c of that the kids schedules were all messed up. So my classes will change next week and I’ll probably do procedures for the next two weeks. Additionally, the air conditioners in most of the classrooms are not working. . . so the week has been miserable for the students. They came to my classroom and worked on mine and it seems that might have a cool room next week. That is my prayer!!!
The first week with the kids was very uneventful. I’ve been drilling, drilling, drilling, drilling my procedures. And they have their first test on Tuesday. Yes, a test over my procedures. I want to make sure they know what I expect at all times, so that I can really do my job teaching. My classes have been very quiet b/c I have let them know that I don’t like noise. . .right now, I think they are a little intimidated—I have a lot of freshman. What really helps is when you have upper classmen who have had me before. . .they back up the fact that you need to do the work in order to pass.
This week I did have to have one teacher-student conference because I got one student who wants to run my class and talk when ever he pleases. I told him that that wouldn’t happen in my classroom and he should get under control immediately.
My first week was fun. I enjoy teaching my classes. And my classroom is very tidy right now. I’ve gotten many compliments on the set up of my classroom and that makes me feel good. Especially, since I spent many late nights at school. Sometimes my principal had to kick me out. The librarian said that my classroom was “very inviting.” The sad thing is I still have plenty of things to hang up and I want to start a cheer bulletin board.
Our school system had some problems with the scheduling program and b/c of that the kids schedules were all messed up. So my classes will change next week and I’ll probably do procedures for the next two weeks. Additionally, the air conditioners in most of the classrooms are not working. . . so the week has been miserable for the students. They came to my classroom and worked on mine and it seems that might have a cool room next week. That is my prayer!!!
The first week with the kids was very uneventful. I’ve been drilling, drilling, drilling, drilling my procedures. And they have their first test on Tuesday. Yes, a test over my procedures. I want to make sure they know what I expect at all times, so that I can really do my job teaching. My classes have been very quiet b/c I have let them know that I don’t like noise. . .right now, I think they are a little intimidated—I have a lot of freshman. What really helps is when you have upper classmen who have had me before. . .they back up the fact that you need to do the work in order to pass.
This week I did have to have one teacher-student conference because I got one student who wants to run my class and talk when ever he pleases. I told him that that wouldn’t happen in my classroom and he should get under control immediately.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Cleaning the classroom
I got a classroom!!!! And I am shouting it from the rooftops. I feel bad for all of my other co-workers who are still floating, but I got a classroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly, a few of my co-workers who I am closest to are still floating and I really feel for them; because, they have been teaching longer than I have, they are older than I am and they do deserve it. I was talking to one of them on the phone and it is upsetting to them b/c some of the new teachers did get classrooms. I am going to try and make this year easier on them; maybe do a few nice things for them.
Okay, now on to other things. I spent this week cleaning my room. It was a science room and so I to clear out a lot of science stuff. The football team and my cheerleaders helped me do this and we able to move about 10 tables and 30 desks and rearrange four computers and put out books and beakers and just tons and tons of stuff. Without them, I would have been still looking at the room thinking, “where do I start?” Now I’ve got maps and posters up on the wall and desks arranged . . . all I have to do now is put my stuff away and start with the lesson plans.
I’ve only got to teach two subjects this year. They are practical law and world history. In practical law, the teacher’s guide gives a lot of simulations and even a moot court activity. So this class’ activities should be very fun. I’m looking for other things on the internet and I need to order some videos.
Tomorrow is freshmen orientation, so it will be another long day: A day when I get up around 5:30 and don’t hit the sheets until 10, but I am so glad to be working. I believe all this working and staying busy maintains my sanity. I’m so excited. . . I guess my next post will be about the first day of school.
Okay, now on to other things. I spent this week cleaning my room. It was a science room and so I to clear out a lot of science stuff. The football team and my cheerleaders helped me do this and we able to move about 10 tables and 30 desks and rearrange four computers and put out books and beakers and just tons and tons of stuff. Without them, I would have been still looking at the room thinking, “where do I start?” Now I’ve got maps and posters up on the wall and desks arranged . . . all I have to do now is put my stuff away and start with the lesson plans.
I’ve only got to teach two subjects this year. They are practical law and world history. In practical law, the teacher’s guide gives a lot of simulations and even a moot court activity. So this class’ activities should be very fun. I’m looking for other things on the internet and I need to order some videos.
Tomorrow is freshmen orientation, so it will be another long day: A day when I get up around 5:30 and don’t hit the sheets until 10, but I am so glad to be working. I believe all this working and staying busy maintains my sanity. I’m so excited. . . I guess my next post will be about the first day of school.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
I've "gotta" Stop Stressing!
It went well. . . .one of my cheerleaders fussed at me, they said “Ms. A, you get stressed out about stuff and when you really should chill and just relax. . .its all going to work out. . . .” I guess I just don’t think that way, I worry about everything. My mom said I did it when I was a kid. When I would hear something bad on the news, I would worry. I was always concerned about people. I guess I still am.
Anyway the clinic, was good. The little kids had A LOT of fun. The big kids, it took them a while to warm up AND we have officially turned a profit!!! We will probably make about $250 from this event, which is wonderful!!! No as much as I had hoped for, but something is better than nothing AND we could probably do it again b/c all I’ll have do is reprint flyers. . . .b/c everything else is set up.
Anyway the clinic, was good. The little kids had A LOT of fun. The big kids, it took them a while to warm up AND we have officially turned a profit!!! We will probably make about $250 from this event, which is wonderful!!! No as much as I had hoped for, but something is better than nothing AND we could probably do it again b/c all I’ll have do is reprint flyers. . . .b/c everything else is set up.
