I know, I know it's been more than a month. I apologize. DRAMA.
What the hell. Let's give it another whirl.
Allow me to sum up my week.
I suck.
Wait, my mother doesn't read this. I'll use my away message for IM (that has since been banned by my mother). "LMQ sucks at her job. Tell your friends. "
No really, my meeting with the administration (both of them) after Wednesday's informal observation boiled down to you're sucking - we know you can do better. Do better!
Um. Thanks? I knew that last year.
It doesn't help that my friend got observed the day after doing the same thing with one minor tweak and received a glowing evaluation.
What the hell? Seriously. What. the. hell.
Anyone with great suggestions on "challenging the gifties" would be my bestest friend.
Now, it's back to googling.
Di.ffere.ntiation can bite my shiny metal ass.
It's going to be a long month.
While my kids' first movie finishes saving I thought I would pop in here for a quick hi.
This week is going well. The school carnival is over (what a long day). I had a relatively nice day today, so I'm in a good mood. Smarty made my day as we lined up to go home. Check out her quote over in the left top corner.
First quarter tests are coming up and I'm getting nervous. It's like the dang state tests four times a year! Sheesh! Conferences next week. In-laws this weekend. Eep!
How is everyone else's week?
Yes, I'm still here. Hanging by a thread.
You know that graphic they show every first year teacher about the stages first year teachers go through? Well, I think I'm ahead of the game.
I hit Survival really quickly and I'm coasting at, what feels like, jet speed into Disillusionment. People keep throwing papers and meaningless testing at me. Things I "have to do" yet, we don't use for anything. I hate doing assessments just because everyone does them. Couldn't we get some more definite reasons why I have to give these tests?
Plus, I'm supposed to test kids during class. Uh, yeah, not gonna happen. I have one of the lower classes and they constant supervision. They're not bad, they just get into trouble when they're not perpetually busy.
Everyone is busy, so it's not just me. However, no one can seem to take a second to explain things to the new teachers. Just because you're familiar with how to give the Smith test, doesn't mean I am. Don't even get me started on W.ords Their W.ay. I think it's ridiculous to spend hours and hours planning for spelling when it's only 15 minutes (at best) of my reading block. I don't have time to piddle around with spelling.
Speaking of reading class, that one is keeping me up at night. Right now, I have a really good group. I have a mix. They're all below grade level so I chose a 3rd grade book to read as my reading instruction. It seems to be going well. They're comprehending and everything (who woulda thunk it?). That being said, Monday they're switching up my group. I'm getting anywhere from 5 to 10 new kids and sending a few up or down. I'm terrified I'm going to be stuck where the other new teacher is - with a "wild" group of kids and no curriculum because they're all so far below grade level. Add to that the fact that none of my kids qualify for Title I services so I can't get any help for my kids and I'm scared.
Luckily, I have a friend in the same boat. I'm so glad there are 2 new 4th grade teacher. I don't know what I'd do if everyone else had their shit completely together and I was the only one struggling. As I told my friend last night, I'm a great actor. I may act like I've got everything together, but on the inside, I'm drowning. All I'm trying to do right now is keep my head above water.
My house is a mess and we're hosting a party at the end of the month. Laundry is backed up. My car is mess. I've got piles and piles of papers to grade. I don't have time to cook therefore we eat junk and expensive junk at that. I bet I've gained weight since school began not lost it like my colleague. Have I mentioned money woes? I did exactly what I figured I would do. I got lax about keeping track of the money we spent and thus Quicken is out of date and I have no idea where our bank balance is currently teetering. If the rough numbers I put in tonight at right, we're in trouble for the next week and a half. Time to start cleaning out the freezer! I really should just stop eating. I'd be saving money AND losing weight. Two birds with one stone.
Pay also really bums me out. Between insurance, NEA dues, 403(b) withdrawls, and random taxes over half of my check is deducted. $1000 a month (give or take) sure seems like crappy pay.
Bottom line. I'm really missing my mom right now. She could be such a huge help to me in the classroom. LMK tries to help and he's a good guy to have around (Except when he says, "Well, you knew you'd be busy and have to put in a lot of time when you went into this career." Not helping, honey.).
I just feel so lost. So tired. So overwhelmed. So inferior.
How is your week going?
After school today, I grabbed my gear and raced out of the building so I could make it to LMK's soccer game this afternoon. The first one I've been to all year! Of course, I think I left some book order money at school. At least, I hope it's at school. Otherwise, I've lost it and that's just a whole kettle of fish I'm not ready to open right now. I'll worry myself an ulcer this weekend and find it first thing Monday.
LMK's game was pretty darn good. The guys played well and even though they only tied, it was a great game to watch. Yaaaaay, team. That being said, LMK has had quite a week. When I met him after the game, we immediately got into a conversation about soccer, his job, and his department head (**cough, cough** jack ass **cough, cough**). My usually observant husband never asked me about my day. So dear blogging world, you get to hear about it instead.
One of my kiddos has been diagnosed with OCD. I'm not surprised at all. This student walks around with his arms up so that he doesn't have to touch anything, washes his hands constantly, and won't eat his lunch if he thinks someone looked at it crossways. They put him on a medication and all I can do is hope it makes a difference for the best. His mom doesn't know just how closely I've dealt with mental illness. I'm grateful I can be his teacher. Just another reason I had to get through LMK's illness. Maybe I can help this student.
My new student is proving to be quite the behavior problem. Yesterday, I sent home detention slips with him and another young thug-in-training (do the abbreviation.....ahahahaha, ok, moving on) because they were caught where they aren't allowed when they were to be at breakfast plus some other misbehavior here and there. I threatened them with loss of recess until I got the forms back and both showed up today. I no more than saw those than the principal came to get them, again.
Evidently, they've been "stealing" food in the cafeteria. I use the word stealing loosely because the aides have been allowing them to eat whatever food is left on the trays that are "pushed to the middle of the table". They're putting the kabosh on the food free for all, but the principal investigated further. My two darlings basically told her they're just hungry. Lunch isn't all that impressive - a protein and 2 pieces of fruit/sides. It's all to common in this country. One goes home to ramen noodles shared with two teenage brothers and the other doesn't have much either. Since our lunch is very late, we've been allowing the students to bring snack.
Well, now we have to have snack for the entire class. The principal made the comparison of inviting someone to your home, eating, and not letting them have any. I can understand that, but here's the problem.
Just where do I draw the line at providing for these kids?
I already provide notebooks, composition books, pencils, crayons, markers, science supplies, books, etc, etc, etc for the students who need them. It's a common teacher lament, I know. Now I'm supposed to get enough snack for the class, too?
Luckily, the principal is aware of the financial strain that causes and is looking into ways to supplement the snack, which I appreciate. Half of me feels sorry for these children. That's all they are afterall, children. I never had to sit through school and be hungry. They shouldn't have to either. No child should have to be hungry.
That being said, they are in trouble constantly. Constantly. Every class, the teacher is telling me how they were misbehaving. They don't do it in my class because I've come down on them. Hard. I'm even pulling out the "I'm so disappointed in you" speech. So I spend my day vacillating between wanting to strangle them and wanting to bring them home and "save" them from this horrible life.
In other news, I finally got a smart board in my room. It's not mine, I'm using one of the one's the school has for teacher's to checkout. I love it! How did I ever teach without this thing? How will I teach when they take it back? It's the bestest toy - EVER! There is so much I want to do with it. I'm already doing my morning journal on the Smart Board. The kids love to come up and correct sentences on it. Today, I found a spelling game where the kid's can click and drag computer magnets. I love technology.
Add to that new teacher responsibilities, house responsibilities, LMK's school responsibilities, and family responsibilities and I'm just zonked. No wonder so many teachers quit in the first three years!
Hand in hand with all the "bad" things about teaching are the good things. I like to think I'm pretty strict with my students regarding behavior. I expect them to be leaders in the school and make good choices. Nine out of ten of them live up to that. Then there are the kids who live to please you. The silliness. The laughter and the learning. The hugs - except from Touchy Feely Kid, I don't want to have my boobs nuzzled like my colleague. Eek. Teaching is the hardest, longest, best job I've ever had. I just can't wait to feel like I'm doing it well, not just acting like a teacher.
Thanks for reading through all this, if you're still here, I needed to share it with someone. Have a great weekend!
Well, after almost 60 hours spent at school this week I am finally home! Tuesday was Open House until 8. Wednesday was staff development until 5. Thursday was new teacher stuff. Add meetings every day during my supposed break and I'm sick and tired of school.
I stayed until 6 tonight to get my lesson plans done. I'm very excited about them. They're my best ones yet. They won't make it until next Friday, but darn it, I hope one of the administrators comes in to observe me on Monday (I've gotten informal observations every week so far). I'm ready, dag nabbit!
Highlights of the week:
Had my first fight Tuesday. One of my kids got punched in the face by one of the other new 4th grade teacher's kids. Suspensions all around and the parents of my kid are pressing charges. Good for them!
As I was leaving tonight at six o'clock I ran into the new 1st grade teacher. "Oh, I figured I was the only one here." I commented. Then New 3rd Grade Teacher walked in. Soon after New Music Teacher arrived. Yep, the new people were the only ones left at school - and no wonder with all the meetings we've had this week. Sheesh.
I've got a grade full of five finger bandits. I caught three of them stealing candy from me on Tuesday. Want to know what makes Mrs. cuss like a sailor? Stealing. LMK will attest that I dropped a lot of F-bombs that evening. Today, someone stole another student's snack. They're gonna push me too far and then be in a world of hurt.
One of the other 4th grade teachers leaves as soon as the bell rings and takes nothing home with her. What am I doing wrong!?
I still feel like I'm floundering. I guess that's how I'm supposed to feel. New Fourth Grade Teacher feels the same way only she's got a cold, too. She's really down. It's no wonder so many teachers quit in the first 3 years. Good gravy.
I'm kind of annoyed because the two new teachers have the low reading group and then we have the opposite grouping for math. Sounds fair, right? Wrong. Our reading textbook is too hard for our kids. So we're having to dig up resources just to fill our 45 minutes of reading and spelling. Yes, you read that right, 45 minutes. Good luck getting anything accomplished in that amount of time. Even if we had the low math kids, we'd still have a textbook to use. Right now, my kids are doing a book study (which means I'm sure they'll fail their first quarter district test) and the other teacher is just trying to get her kids to read. I'm sorry, it just seems like we got the short end of the stick.
How was YOUR week?
I made it through my first week of teaching.
Holy hell.
Bullets are a must!
- The first day went well. In fourth grade, most of the kids are still excited about being back in school. If you're nice to them, they'll love you. I also showed them my All About Mrs. movie, which they loved. Some of my kids have seen it 6 times and still ask to see it again. I call that a success. They really just love seeing the pictures of the cats, but I'll take it.
- I have a student that goes to the beach every year the first week of school. Mom asked me for homework a week before school started. I didn't have the heart to tell her I was taking things hour by hour and planning the second week of school, uh, not gonna happen. The first day of school she arrives early and asks if I have her daughter's homework ready. Uh, no. Just trying to make it through the day. "Well, we're leaving on Friday!" Yeah, yeah, yeah I'll get something to you. I got homework around Wednesday night, it'll just have to work. Good enough for government work.
- Another student suffers from a medical condition that makes him throw up randomly. Uh, I don't do throwing up. Luckily, there haven't been any problems...yet.
- Same student's parent asked that I refrain from giving him candy. Fine. I can understand that, especially with a kid with ADHD. HOWEVER! Every day, he has brought a different kind of candy from home. What the hell!? I can't give him a jolly rancher, but he can bring a container of Warheads with him? He's also the only one bucking the water bottle rule. My kids can have a water bottle with water in it. I told them, no powdered drink mixes for the water. Just water. First day, he brings Gatorade. I told him it has to be just water. "Okay, Mrs." he replied. The next day, he brings fitness water. Flavored fitness water. For the love of Pete, water. W-A-T-E-R.
- We've already got a problem parent. The kicker? She's another teacher in my school! Our team decided as a "goal" 4th graders have to know their multiplication tables. Since it's a 3rd grade standard, we figured that's fair. We are going to give timed multiplication tests at least once a week. To "pass" you have to get at least a 90% three times. If you don't know your times tables, you can't get an A. I think that's fair. Thoughts? She went to the administration about it. Too bad it was the administration's idea. Heh.
- For the first week we had to eat lunch with our children. Oy.. Vey. The kids love it, but really, I'd like a few moments to myself. They're going to be sad next week when Mrs. leaves them in the lunchroom and goes to put her head down on her desk.
- Friday just about killed me. I think I've mentioned my 0 tolerance of heat, right? Well, I get to school on Friday and the air conditioning in the fourth grade wing isn't working. WHAT!? They call the repair guy and I figure we'll just deal. I've got a fan, we'll survive. By lunch we were melting. I finally felt the air kick at 2:30. The kids leave at 3. Did I mention the bank clock said it was 108° today? I told the office I was seriously considering getting the personal air conditioners I saw at T.arget. I'd just take it with me wherever I went.
- Don't tell the other teacher's on my team, but I think I got the best classes. How do I know? Well, yesterday I had the team leader's class for science. Oh. my. goodness. It was bedlam! He has all the inclusion kids in his class and it was...in a word, bedlam. The special ed teacher was there as a co-teacher to help and that's the only reason I made it through the class. He's talking about having to teach another class during the afternoon. I told him after school, "Please, please don't leave me alone with these children. PLEASE!" He laughed. When is a good time to tell him, I'M NOT KIDDING!
- My homeroom is great. Sure, they get squirrelly. They're 9! However, they listen and they're kind. I'll plan four different subjects, just let me keep my own kids! After team leader's kids yesterday afternoon I love my homeroom!
- I was talking to Mo Mom about the bedlam in my room yesterday and she laughed and said, "Oh, it's like a class full of Wild Childs" (Wild Child is another nickname for her middle daughter). I told her she needed to go hug that little girl and tell her how wonderful she is because I would take a class of Wild Childs over this class, any day.
First, thank you all for your wonderful words of support. They mean a lot. It's nice to hear them. And a special thanks to Mike. My teacher friend will be thrilled to get some sort of answer to our burning Swedish question.
Today was a better day. Mainly because I went to school today with the attitude that it was going to be a better day. It actually helped. It also helped that I wasn't bombarded with paperwork. Good gravy the trees we're killing! I stayed late tonight (until 7) and put a lot of stuff away in my room. I'm finally less stressed about the room looking and being ready for Open House next week. I'm meeting the other new teacher at school on Sunday so we can work in our rooms for a while. Hopefully, I will be ready at that point. I'm hoping to be able to enjoy Labor Day weekend with the in-laws.
Regarding mentors: Yes, I have a mentor. He's also my team leader and a really great guy (except for a huge character flaw of hating cats). I've talked to him some about the mean teacher and he's assured me it's not personal. She's just dingy. That being said, they're also friends since she was on the team last year. So, I don't want to say too much because I don't know who to trust yet.
Well, write it down. It only took them a week to break me. Technically, half a day.
Today was our back to school orientation. The paperwork. The meetings. The training. Everyone I meet is handing me papers and telling me what I should do with them. I've met what seems like hundreds of new people. My room isn't ready. The psycho in my room before me is a bitch. No other word for it. Planning has me so terrified I don't know where to begin. And school is starting soon!
First, the psycho drama. Last night, she came into my room and disconnected the dvd/vcr combo. It was hers and it's fine that she took it. I would have liked to have been told she was going into my room, but whatever. She left the vcr that was in her room on my counter. Not hooked up, not plugged in, and with a dvd that I had accidentally left in the other player tossed on top. I feel completely violated. Who knows what else she's come in and taken. Be an adult and come to me and say, "I accidentally left my dvd/vcr here, can I switch them?" I'm not going to say no.
LMK urged me to lock my room at night when I leave. Great idea, honey! There's just one problem. She hadn't turned in her key for that room. That's right, she had my key all summer! The secretaries cornered her today and got it back, but what the hell.
The other problem is I spend every day feeling completely stupid. I swear, everything I learned in college is gone. GONE. Now I have diagnostic tests to give that I have never heard of while I have students in the room. How do I take one kid to the hall to administer a test while I have 25 others sitting in the room. Number one rule of teaching - never leave them alone!
Everyone on my team has such great, creative ideas. Most of the time I feel like a bumbling fool. They explained how we were dividing kids up today. Everyone is furiously scribbling text scores and I'm still trying to figure out how exactly to do it. I feel like it takes me a second (ok several minutes) longer than everyone else to pick things up. I feel like I'm always scrambling to catch up. Lesson plans? I have no lesson plans, I have no idea where to even start planning.
Everyone keeps telling me how great I'm going to be. Well, I'm not so sure. I spend the day feeling inferior and trying to catch up. I know I'm putting a lot of unneeded pressure on myself and I know it. I don't want to make mistakes. I don't want to look weak. I don't want people to look at me and think, "Why did they hire her?" But I wonder that every day.
To add insult to injury, we watched a really cute video today and it was about a school near my hometown in Ohio. (Near as in - my dad attended high school there) As I'm watching the video it hits me. This is not where I expected to be starting my teaching career. I wish I was in my old district, where I knew everyone and everyone knew me. Worst of all, I miss my mommy. She'd know what to do. She'd be helping me and giving me advice and I wouldn't feel so alone.
The saga, coupled with my other feelings were just too much. Luckily, I have a wonderful husband who got lunch with me and "talked me down". We're good for each other.
When I thanked him tonight, he told me that he would have never gotten through his first few months of teaching without me telling him he would be fine and he was doing a good job. He said he was going to do the same for me. At that point, I laughed and told him, "The difference is, I know you're lying." Even he had to laugh at that.
Since I haven't gotten my curriculum guides, teacher's editions, staff handbook, etc. I'm pretty much flying blind. I still want to be thinking about what I will do next year so I've been making lists. Here are some things I'm thinking about (I'll add to it as I think of more). Feel free to add suggestions! I'd love more ideas.
- I definitely want to institute some sort of classroom economy behavior system. Pigs has been gracious enough to send me what she did and it's given me lots of ideas. The scale of the system will depend if the other teachers take part or not. I'm perfectly fine having my own system and having a school store with school supplies and privilege purchases (i.e. extra computer time, homework passes, lunch with the teacher, etc.).
- I'm thinking of creating some sort of attendance incentive. One teacher I used to work for had a pizza cut into eight pieces displayed in his room. If everyone in the class was in school (no tardies and no early dismissals) he gave them a slice of pizza. When they earned the whole pizza they got a pizza party. That sounds do-able.
- I've been perusing the state standards and math ought to prove interesting. One word. Fractions. Luckily, I live with a math teacher than can explain any concepts I've forgotten. It sounds like I'll be teaching either social studies or science. I don't know which I'll have. Science seems interesting - electricity, plants and life processes, ecosystems, adaption, weather, etc. Social Studies isn't as clear. I think it's Virginia studies which could prove challenging for a non-Virginia native.
- The first day of school, I think I will introduce myself with "Me in a Bag." Then I'll give the kids a paper bag to create their own Me in a Bag. I'm thinking I will give the kids lunch size bags, that way there is less of a chance they can bring in inappropriate things. Still thinking on this one.
- My classroom website is already being created. I've put some basic things up but I'm open to suggestions on pages I should definitely include. I figured a homework page would be good. That way kids have less of an excuse about not knowing what the homework was if they're out of class or go home early.
90% of the time, I love LMK's kids. They've got good manners and they are good kids. However, 10% of the time, they're typical teenagers.
Case in point, last night, LMK is grading the senior's exams. LMK is pretty leinient. He allows students pages of "cheat sheets" on regular tests, but he made the one for the final. Every formula they needed is on that sheet. He did not, however, put example problems so all they had to do was change the numbers around. They had to study. God forbid.
One little angel, obviously didn't prepare. This little angel is also one that is up at his desk during tests asking for help. When Mr. LMK wasn't around to help her, well, she was sadly unprepared.
On her test the following notes are written:
Dear Mr., I remember doing this problem and it taking three hours. I don't think this one should count.
Or this one.
Dear Mr., There is nothing about conics on the note sheet. I don't think this problem should count.
Dear Mr., Your note sheet is not helpful. I like making my own cheat sheet because I can put examples and I know what I'm talking about. Oh, there is a typo on your note sheet.
Dear Mr., This test is unfair. I'm going to have to give up and FAIL.
God help this little angel next year in college. Am I the only one that would have died before speaking to a teacher like that in high school? Ungrateful little brat.
We're back to our "normal" lives. LMK is working. I'm subbing for him on Thursday afternoon. I have an interview on Friday for a job in small county. The job is actually at the school I can virtually see from our front yard. It's literally down the street from us. I'm going in hoping for the best. I really like what I've heard about Large County, but a 30-45 minute commute does not fair well against a 30-45 second commute. I like the administration at the school so that is another big plus.
In other news, I have my fingerprints, I just need to take them down to the board office along with a check for $37. Forgive me if I'm being a bit cheap. I had a set of prints done for The School and they took care of whatever fees needed paid. Not only will Small County not accept The School's record, they want me to pay additional money. I'm a sub - money doesn't just grow on trees for us!
My plans for the rest of today include catching up on the shows I have DVR'd, playing with my newest toy (my electronic portfolio is going to be bitchin'), and perhaps making a movie for my cousin's daughters. I have great video of Wild Middle Child shoveling in berries and peaches while making fruit pizza. So cute.
We had an exciting weekend.
Friday, I went to the doctor because my rash was still itching and still getting worse. He was as stumped as I was about what had caused this rash. He did a biopsy (ow) and gave me some antibiotics. I go back to see him on Thursday and hopefully he'll know more. Meanwhile, I'm still itchy. It waxes and wanes, but generally, I itch.
Friday evening we set out for Richmond. Of course, at the time it was alternating between sleeting and snowing - making the roads lots of fun to be on. However, we took our time and made it to Richmond in 3 hours. Only a half hour longer than it should have taken. Our hotel was right downtown, only 6 or 7 blocks from the convention center. LMK and I discussed it and decided that since the weather on Saturday was supposed to be very cold and I was planning to wear a skirt that we would get up early and drive to the convention center instead of walk.
Then we went off in search of food. We had no idea where we were going, so eventually we ended up back at the hotel. Around this time, I was getting VERY, VERY itchy. Of course, I had forgotten my Cortisone cream. We checked the phone book, located the nearest Wal-Mart and set out. We drove and drove and drove. No Wally World. Finally, LMK spotted a Target. Hooray! Target! I like Target better anyway. I got some cream and we started back to get dinner. I chose Panera and LMK chose Wendy's. LMK was tired and ready to go home, he would have picked anything at that point. We got our food to go and went back to the hotel. We ate and LMK called for a 6AM wake-up call. Me? I was still itchy. Finally at 11 o'clock I fell asleep.
At 4:30 our phone rang. WTF!? "This is your wake-up call." LMK called the front desk to see what was going on and we decided that some wonderful hotel guest had called our room to prank us. Grrr. We tossed and turned for a few more hours until our real wake-up call came.
We arrived at the convention center at 7:30 and we were able to pack in an adjacent parking garage. Hooray! We checked into the Teach-In and waited until the booths opened. I visited 6 surrounding school districts. Two weren't conducting interviews. Small County had sent the man I had interviewed with for subbing. He asked if I had all my paperwork in and essentially sent me on my way. Gee, thanks. I'm consistently underwhelmed by Small County, but I digress. I interviewed with two districts. One is where a friend of mine teaches. The other is Large County. I am in love with large county. I want to work there.
LMK was able to meet with licensure specialists and figure out exactly what he needs to do to get his teaching license. He also met with two universities a local one and the only one (Go Hokies!). He wandered around the booths while I was interviewing wearing his polo from The School. Wouldn't you know it, the man from Small County tried to recruit him! "Are you happy at The School?" They don't give me the time of day, but LMK is in high demand.
Grrrrrr.
I subbed and the high schoolers didn't emotionally scar me. Woohoo!
I also went to Substitute "Inservice" for Small County today. Oy vey. I basically sat in the room with 8 parents from around the district and watched a movie on Classroom Management and Instruction. Dude! My college education, in thirty-five minutes. Score! I must call home and tell my mother how they wasted all their money sending me to college.
I even found a way not to jump over the table and strangle the HR guy when he used anecdotes to tell us about "stupid things subs do." That took a lot of self-restraint.
Over the past few months, I've been adjusting to life in Virginia. People talk funny. Everything is in English and Spanish. All in all, I'm liking our new home. There is so much to see and do that I've never done before that each time we go out, it's an adventure.
This week, I will interview with Small County schools to get on their subbing list. I will also sub for LMK on Wednesday and Friday (if his games aren't cancelled like todays). Finally, we will travel to Richmond so I can hopefully interview with all the surrounding schools in hopes of getting a job for next year. This week starts the beginning of the spring break count down(2 more weeks!) and we are busy, busy, busy.
I'm looking forward to getting into the Small County elementary schools and seeing if I like it. I've been warned about Small County, but it's mostly been from people involved in the high school. I've seen the teenagers around here - and yep, they'd worry me too. However, with no specifics, just a "watch out" I can't help but not worry.
I'd like to think that I can teach anywhere. In fact, my cooperating teacher told me once, if I could teach in Roanoke City schools, I could teach anywhere. Mind you, I won't be heading into the DC schools, but most urban schools don't worry me. Every school has it's problems - urban schools have urban problems, rural schools have rural problems. Right now, all I want is a job. Once I get some teaching experience, I'll think about moving to a more desirable district if needed.
Now, about those pod-teenagers...
I am constantly amazed, no, flabbergasted by LMK's students. Not only do they come up to him in public and speak to him. They're polite! Uber-polite! It's always, "Hello, sir. Yes, sir. No, sir. Nice to meet you, ma'am." It's all I can do not to stand there and stare at them with my mouth hanging open.
Friday, I went up and met his kids. I always like to know the kids a little before I walk into a classroom. Being a first time high school sub, this was doubly important to me. These are still typical teenagers. They're concerned with themselves, make stupid choices, and whine, but under that - they're just nice kids.
As his last class was leaving, several students stopped to say, "It was nice meeting you, Mrs."
"It was nice meeting you, too. I will see you on Monday," I replied.
"Oh no, Mrs." One student said stopping and looking proud, "I won't be here. I have a game."
"In that case, good luck!"
As we were leaving Friday afternoon, one of LMK's students all but jumped in front of the car to get us to stop. LMK got out and the student turned over his missing homework assignments. "I'm sorry they're late, sir," he apologized, "and I'm sorry to have to interrupt you on your way to practice."
Saturday, we went to a movie with LMK's parents downtown. We ran into another one of his students. He, too, was unfailingly polite and well-spoken. It's refreshing to speak to teenagers who are trained to be polite. My mother worked hard on my brother and I to teach us manners and respect for our elders. For goodness sakes, when I subbed for her colleagues that had known me since I was born, I still called them Mr. Smith and Mrs. Jones. I thought manners had all but disappeared.
Teenagers, with manners! At The School, teenagers with manners aren't the exception, but the rule. I swear, The School is spoiling me. No school is going to live up to the atmosphere at The School. Everyone is so unfailingly polite, generous, and kind it's amazing. I don't know whether I should be proud to be associated with such a wonderful program or if I should be upset that a little dose of manners and common courtesy are such a shock.
I'm glad I'm not working at The School more. All these kids would have to do is "ma'am" me a couple times and I'd give them whatever they wanted.
I have the best cousins ever.
Molly, my cousin-in-law, is one of my very best friends. She's taking online classes to get a business degree. I definitely miss seeing her on a daily basis. I have no one to get into trouble with here!
Mo Mom is also taking online education classes to get her associate's degree. Both LMK and I have been helping her when she needs it since online learning can be really tricky. She's also got three little girls to keep track of so she's juggling a lot of balls. They're in Missouri, so we don't get to see them too often.
Anyway, today I received the following in the mail:
I admit, I got a little misty at the thought of finally getting to use these in my classroom. Of course, I can't actually use them. I must save them. Mo Mom has ordered me to use them so that someday I can get new ones. I have one word for her:
Laminator
They're just so neat! How could I use them!?