I can't sleep right now for various non-school related reasons, and the strangest memories are popping into my head. Last Friday was Friday the 13th. I realized this quickly since the LCD projector I signed up for was MIA, my overhead screen would no longer pull down and stay like it had the day before, and the speakers were busted. As my second block kids were coming into the room, a kid sat down to start the Do Now and asked me the date. "It's the thirteenth. Friday the thirteenth," I responded. A female student immediately turned around and announced, "Don't have sex today. Ooops, sorry Mrs. D., but they shouldn't." I simply told her it was good advice and continued with my day, but as I look back, I'm starting to wonder if I should have her make public service announcements at the beginning of every class.
"Having unprotected sex will get you pregnant and probably keep you from graduating."
"Refusing to do your homework or to study will cause you to fail this class."
Maybe I should just have some cheesy posters of garfield made up that say the same things. Or a cute white kitten doing something adorable. There is an amazing lack of cheesy posters in my room.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Small Blessings
I've been really grumpy the last few weeks. I'm just starting to get really worn down and my pacing guide and textbook both went loopy after WWII. I'm trying to piece things together from other sources and I'm just tired and ready for this marathon year to be over. A few small things have made it bearable, though...so let's focus on the positive (random side note: my kids took a survey today to see which job they would have had in the Middle Ages (why??) and I was an impractical dreamer--I see the silver lining in everything...man, if that were only true Mon-Fri!)
1. Irate parent. She's been at the school non-stop since the week before Spring Break. She's frustrated because her son is failing. She's frustrated because his IEP isn't being followed (which they never are)...She's mostly frustrated because she's starting to realize that he may not graduate with a regular diploma. I've managed to use my southern charms to keep her from turning her anger towards me. Randomly she and the head of the exceptional ed department walked into my classroom last Wednesday and sat down. Her son happens to be in my evil lunch class. They were getting ready to take a test that I knew they would all fail, since most of them had been suspended/in-ISS/in the hallway for more time than they had actually been in the room. I was making a desperate attempt to review before the test. They didn't recognize the two women who walked in. Suddenly, the room was silent. Students were answering questions and paying attention. Suddenly, the ratio of adults to students had dropped and the behavior problems had disappeared. All but one of the students passed the test, and she came for tutoring this afternoon. Everything was back to normal today, but I'm still happy we had that opportunity.
2. The same class went to the career lab today where the teacher is much older and more experienced. They treated her and each other like dirt. She was shocked. Suddenly I can see (or actually believe) that it's not just me. They actually treated me with more respect (although not by much)
3. I only have 6 1/2 more lessons to plan before I start reviewing for the semester exam (ok, I have a lot more lesson plans to WRITE than that, but they're already in my head).
4. The principal asked me to take some kids to the Rotary Club. I think it will be fun. I don't know the details, but I've been struggling to find an extra-curricular and he finally suggested something. At least I don't have to coach anything.
5. I'm a lot calmer at school now. It was a subtle shift, but I no longer feel like a nervous wreck all day long. Even my classes that act ridiculous don't wear me out quite as much.
They sound like small things, but in a world of impossible demands, every little bit helps.
1. Irate parent. She's been at the school non-stop since the week before Spring Break. She's frustrated because her son is failing. She's frustrated because his IEP isn't being followed (which they never are)...She's mostly frustrated because she's starting to realize that he may not graduate with a regular diploma. I've managed to use my southern charms to keep her from turning her anger towards me. Randomly she and the head of the exceptional ed department walked into my classroom last Wednesday and sat down. Her son happens to be in my evil lunch class. They were getting ready to take a test that I knew they would all fail, since most of them had been suspended/in-ISS/in the hallway for more time than they had actually been in the room. I was making a desperate attempt to review before the test. They didn't recognize the two women who walked in. Suddenly, the room was silent. Students were answering questions and paying attention. Suddenly, the ratio of adults to students had dropped and the behavior problems had disappeared. All but one of the students passed the test, and she came for tutoring this afternoon. Everything was back to normal today, but I'm still happy we had that opportunity.
2. The same class went to the career lab today where the teacher is much older and more experienced. They treated her and each other like dirt. She was shocked. Suddenly I can see (or actually believe) that it's not just me. They actually treated me with more respect (although not by much)
3. I only have 6 1/2 more lessons to plan before I start reviewing for the semester exam (ok, I have a lot more lesson plans to WRITE than that, but they're already in my head).
4. The principal asked me to take some kids to the Rotary Club. I think it will be fun. I don't know the details, but I've been struggling to find an extra-curricular and he finally suggested something. At least I don't have to coach anything.
5. I'm a lot calmer at school now. It was a subtle shift, but I no longer feel like a nervous wreck all day long. Even my classes that act ridiculous don't wear me out quite as much.
They sound like small things, but in a world of impossible demands, every little bit helps.
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