First Year Teacher
Friday, January 09, 2004
Kids are so uncontrollable.
I think I have too much empathy for them. I just felt at the beginning of the day like I couldn't punish them too much for throwing snowballs at each other...because they are children, you know? I felt like all the older teachers were being so crotchety yelling at them and punishing them for the harmless fun of snowball fights.
But then reality set in when I was reminded that my school is not a Norman Rockwell painting. One cherub of mine good-naturedly (?) hucked a snowball at another of my little pumpkin's and latter pumpkin ran up to him and came crashing down on his skull with his fist. Beautiful moment turned to chaos. Both of my darling's ended up bloodied and bandaged and suspended.
So, that's why those older teachers were being so crotchety! I instantly became crotchety after that. My kids know how cranky Ms. Me gets when one of them attacks another. But they were still unruly all day long. They also love to run up my slick as oil metal ramp with all the little tacks sticking out of it (i lovingly call it the "ramp of death") and crash into the side of the trailer. It is a lot of fun until i run out of band-aids and make them stop their bleeding with their own sweatshirts.
But Rocky Mount is lovely covered in snow. And I just bought a six-pack of beer and am awaiting Owen's arrival. ¶ 2:23 PM
|
I think I have too much empathy for them. I just felt at the beginning of the day like I couldn't punish them too much for throwing snowballs at each other...because they are children, you know? I felt like all the older teachers were being so crotchety yelling at them and punishing them for the harmless fun of snowball fights.
But then reality set in when I was reminded that my school is not a Norman Rockwell painting. One cherub of mine good-naturedly (?) hucked a snowball at another of my little pumpkin's and latter pumpkin ran up to him and came crashing down on his skull with his fist. Beautiful moment turned to chaos. Both of my darling's ended up bloodied and bandaged and suspended.
So, that's why those older teachers were being so crotchety! I instantly became crotchety after that. My kids know how cranky Ms. Me gets when one of them attacks another. But they were still unruly all day long. They also love to run up my slick as oil metal ramp with all the little tacks sticking out of it (i lovingly call it the "ramp of death") and crash into the side of the trailer. It is a lot of fun until i run out of band-aids and make them stop their bleeding with their own sweatshirts.
But Rocky Mount is lovely covered in snow. And I just bought a six-pack of beer and am awaiting Owen's arrival. ¶ 2:23 PM
It is snowing in Rocky Mount!
Just a little. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this development. One advantage is that they may close school early. One disadvantage is that all the kids know they might and will do nothing all day whether they do or not. All I will hear about today is snow. No learning will take place.
I got a new student the other day. And once again I was reminded of how kids get pigeon-holed into roles. Before I even met her, all of my other students were saying that she is bad and that she has a history of hitting her teachers. I immediately steeled myself and my head went to this place where I decided I just wouldn't mess with her and I'd let her sit and do nothing as long as she wasn't disruptive.
But then the Teach for America kicked in. So I decided to hold her accountable and treat her like I had never heard about her. And, what do you know? Yesterday I had her reading a major part in the play we are reading and she did her journal and was pretty pleasant. I don't know if I'll have problems with her or not, but I do think that pretending that I have never heard of her is the only fair way to go.
Golly how I love Friday. Owen is coming to Rocky Mount to bear witness to my life here. Then tomorrow we are going to somewhere we've never been. We are not sure where yet. ¶ 7:25 AM
|
Just a little. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this development. One advantage is that they may close school early. One disadvantage is that all the kids know they might and will do nothing all day whether they do or not. All I will hear about today is snow. No learning will take place.
I got a new student the other day. And once again I was reminded of how kids get pigeon-holed into roles. Before I even met her, all of my other students were saying that she is bad and that she has a history of hitting her teachers. I immediately steeled myself and my head went to this place where I decided I just wouldn't mess with her and I'd let her sit and do nothing as long as she wasn't disruptive.
But then the Teach for America kicked in. So I decided to hold her accountable and treat her like I had never heard about her. And, what do you know? Yesterday I had her reading a major part in the play we are reading and she did her journal and was pretty pleasant. I don't know if I'll have problems with her or not, but I do think that pretending that I have never heard of her is the only fair way to go.
Golly how I love Friday. Owen is coming to Rocky Mount to bear witness to my life here. Then tomorrow we are going to somewhere we've never been. We are not sure where yet. ¶ 7:25 AM
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Ways that teaching has changed my life:
1. I am now officially using eye cream twice a day to try to prevent the wrinkles that have newly carved themselves into my skin.
2. I sort of like sweaters with pictures knitted into them.
3. I have developed a taste for weak coffee with grounds floating in it and the feel of styrofoam cup on my teeth.
4. I have begun to start sentences in the copy room with "I don't mean to be catty, but..."
5. I'm not shocked anymore by the knowledge that many 12-year-olds have sex as often as I do. ¶ 10:26 PM
|
1. I am now officially using eye cream twice a day to try to prevent the wrinkles that have newly carved themselves into my skin.
2. I sort of like sweaters with pictures knitted into them.
3. I have developed a taste for weak coffee with grounds floating in it and the feel of styrofoam cup on my teeth.
4. I have begun to start sentences in the copy room with "I don't mean to be catty, but..."
5. I'm not shocked anymore by the knowledge that many 12-year-olds have sex as often as I do. ¶ 10:26 PM
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Everything is going so well! It is pure insanity.
I am teaching a drama lesson. So we are reading a play about Anne Frank. The kids have never heard of Hitler or the Holocaust and all they could say about being Jewish was "they are going to hell". They are very devout Christians, almost without exception...or perhaps without exception. When I explained (basically) what being Jewish meant, they conceded that it wasn't terribly different from their own beliefs. So we have been having huge discussions about all of this. And by discussions, I mean that they are actually participating and listening. This is pretty new.
I have lost several students to high school. Many of my second year eighth graders have been moved up. This is a great thing because it didn't seem like it was going to happen. I am thrilled. I now have tiny classes and the hardest kids are gone...well, most of them. I keep having to pinch myself when I think of how much I have covered in class over the last two days and how...well, pleasant...the children are being.
Stay tuned for the inevitable crash from this pleasing delirium. ¶ 2:56 PM
|
I am teaching a drama lesson. So we are reading a play about Anne Frank. The kids have never heard of Hitler or the Holocaust and all they could say about being Jewish was "they are going to hell". They are very devout Christians, almost without exception...or perhaps without exception. When I explained (basically) what being Jewish meant, they conceded that it wasn't terribly different from their own beliefs. So we have been having huge discussions about all of this. And by discussions, I mean that they are actually participating and listening. This is pretty new.
I have lost several students to high school. Many of my second year eighth graders have been moved up. This is a great thing because it didn't seem like it was going to happen. I am thrilled. I now have tiny classes and the hardest kids are gone...well, most of them. I keep having to pinch myself when I think of how much I have covered in class over the last two days and how...well, pleasant...the children are being.
Stay tuned for the inevitable crash from this pleasing delirium. ¶ 2:56 PM
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Vacation is most officially over.
Tonight I must lesson plan like a dog because I did none of it over break. I feel fine about that, though, because I didn't want to work over break. And I didn't.
I was sick for most of break. But I still got to hang out with family and friends. I didn't get to go to the Bay, but I got to be in Portland while it snowed more than I have ever seen it snow. I had a great time.
Then I got back to Chapel Hill and had a simply delicious weekend. Perfection.
Now, back in Rocky Mount. Thinking about going to school tomorrow. I thought for just a moment when I left that things would be completely different when I got back. I thought that I may have a revelation about education and know what I was doing suddenly. But I am just as lost and confused as when I left. I am just trying to get through it, which seems like not the best attitude to take. But I'll try to improve.
Wish me much luck with a bunch of students who thought they would be advanced to high school over break and were not. Send me good charma for the fifty kids who have fogotten all the rules since we have been out so long. ¶ 4:00 PM
Tonight I must lesson plan like a dog because I did none of it over break. I feel fine about that, though, because I didn't want to work over break. And I didn't.
I was sick for most of break. But I still got to hang out with family and friends. I didn't get to go to the Bay, but I got to be in Portland while it snowed more than I have ever seen it snow. I had a great time.
Then I got back to Chapel Hill and had a simply delicious weekend. Perfection.
Now, back in Rocky Mount. Thinking about going to school tomorrow. I thought for just a moment when I left that things would be completely different when I got back. I thought that I may have a revelation about education and know what I was doing suddenly. But I am just as lost and confused as when I left. I am just trying to get through it, which seems like not the best attitude to take. But I'll try to improve.
Wish me much luck with a bunch of students who thought they would be advanced to high school over break and were not. Send me good charma for the fifty kids who have fogotten all the rules since we have been out so long. ¶ 4:00 PM
