Every three weeks, a new group of students prepares to leave for vacation and a new group prepares to come back to school. Those transitions are, very apparently, difficult times. Last Thursday, the year-round school thing bit us all in the butt. It was the last day before students left for vacation, the last day before a long weekend for all, all the 5th grade teachers were sub-ed out for a workshop and the day of a full moon (scientifically proven by teachers and psychiatric clinics everywhere to turn people into crazies). Or as I refer to it, The Perfect Storm. Each classroom, even those with the best classroom management turned into a den of chaos students were sent to the office in droves and multiple students were sent home.
I keep trying to apologize for my student's behavior, but then I realized I can only control my behavior (which, ironically, is what I am constantly telling them...). So if my class decides to transform itself into the looney there is really only so much that I can do.
I fled to Phoenix. I prefer it here. They have coffee shops at which I can blog. It's pretty much like heaven.
A
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
as promised.
I here are more pictures. These are from when Thomas was here--we went to Red Rock Canyon and the Bellagio Fountains--the most opposite experiences Vegas has to offer.
This is the city as seen from Red Rock Canyon. Seriously more impressive in person.
This is why they call it Red Rock. Genius in action.
Thomas and me--self-portrait (Thomas took charge of this one, thankfully)
The Bellagio, er, Fountains. Pre-fountainness.
This was a cool accident down on the Strip.
Back at Red Rock--Hey Valpo! Check it out, Sand Dunes in Vegas.
A really nice couple took our picture and they didn't even take our camera, golly!
I'm thinking about contacting Pontiac with this picture--my little Sweet Tomato (that's what I'm calling her)
This is my classroom before the students got into it too much. It's changed already to groups of four. We're making it work.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
and so it goes.
The visit with Tyler and Thomas was really fun. I have pictures to post, but clearly you'll have to wait as my timeliness is not a skill I excel at yet. Tyler, Karen, Ben and I went on another hike to Mount Charleston which I think is Vegas' redeeming quality. Thomas and I went to Red Rock which is a hike for people who don't like to hike. No hills, just pretty.
Thomas' surprise was that Karen and I got tickets to go see the Producers. That was fun, I didn't really like the show (Tony Danza should quickly end his singing career) but I do like the people I went with.
School, needless to say, has consumed my life. I am annoyed by that fact although I anticipated it. I just feel like I don't have enough time for me or any other relationships. So today I'm making time for some and not thinking about school, well, except to blog about it(?). I failed. Oh well. I also read a book today, "The 7 Secrets of Teaching" (or something like that, it's on the other couch and I'm not about to get up to look at it). Overall, it was really helpful and informative but mostly I enjoy telling people that I read an entire book today. I think that's neat. It's makes me feel terribly productive and intelligent even though it really means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I think one of the biggest lessons that I've learned over the past three months is that while you are starting your first year of teaching you need to cling to the successes in you life and forgive yourself for your failures. There will be both, but understand the difference between the two and using them to improve your teaching will keep you from frustration and burn out. Well, that and taking Midol at appropriate times. (That might be another story...)
Late September and October are the best months to be in Vegas (I'm sure March, April and May will be similar). The temps have stayed a pleasant 75-85 degrees with a good cool down at night. We don't have our AC on because it's such a dry heat, it stays really comfortable (and even a tiny bit chilly a night so you can really snuggle in your comforter). If you ever decide to take a trip to Vegas, definitely do it in the Fall.
Time to do laundry....the fun never stops here!
A
Thomas' surprise was that Karen and I got tickets to go see the Producers. That was fun, I didn't really like the show (Tony Danza should quickly end his singing career) but I do like the people I went with.
School, needless to say, has consumed my life. I am annoyed by that fact although I anticipated it. I just feel like I don't have enough time for me or any other relationships. So today I'm making time for some and not thinking about school, well, except to blog about it(?). I failed. Oh well. I also read a book today, "The 7 Secrets of Teaching" (or something like that, it's on the other couch and I'm not about to get up to look at it). Overall, it was really helpful and informative but mostly I enjoy telling people that I read an entire book today. I think that's neat. It's makes me feel terribly productive and intelligent even though it really means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
I think one of the biggest lessons that I've learned over the past three months is that while you are starting your first year of teaching you need to cling to the successes in you life and forgive yourself for your failures. There will be both, but understand the difference between the two and using them to improve your teaching will keep you from frustration and burn out. Well, that and taking Midol at appropriate times. (That might be another story...)
Late September and October are the best months to be in Vegas (I'm sure March, April and May will be similar). The temps have stayed a pleasant 75-85 degrees with a good cool down at night. We don't have our AC on because it's such a dry heat, it stays really comfortable (and even a tiny bit chilly a night so you can really snuggle in your comforter). If you ever decide to take a trip to Vegas, definitely do it in the Fall.
Time to do laundry....the fun never stops here!
A
Friday, September 28, 2007
my collection of mice
So I really thought when I created this blog that I would be updating it often. I don't know what I came over me, I've never maintained something like this with great voracity. Alas, the first week has come and gone and I am approaching the close of the second week.
We are getting there. The first week didn't go quite as well as I wanted. My class is awesome--most of my students are very quiet, a third are ELL and the other's are simply fantastic. I'm really excited to get to know their personalities more as the year progresses. I do have one little stinker who is causing me a lot of grief. He (I'll call him A.S.) came to my class with a belligerent attitude and hasn't stopped talking back to me. I'm doing my best and have a lot of support from my colleagues, but the principal and A.P. have already had a formal meeting with his mother about his behavior. He's been down right nasty to the school crossing guard and nearly incited a riot in lunch the other day. Needless to say, A.S. came to me like this, on the first day of school.
More than disrupting my class (which is a huge concern!) I am worried about A.S. There is something inside him that is causing him to act this way. I wish that I could help to fix it, but I really feel as though this one is out of my hands. There are my child psych tendencies. So now A.S. is back at school (after his momentary suspension) and we will work together to find something that he can get excited about. Pray for him and me!
I am slowly getting into managing a class on my own, writing lesson plans, keeping track of students' schedules, my own schedule, standards and a pile of papers. It only took me 6 or 7 hours to write lesson plans for the week....I'm improving? I sure hope.
This first year teacher thing is kind of a nightmare. Eventually you'll wake up and it's over, but in the meanwhile you have to pretend you really know what you're doing. I like what my teacher mentor said, "you're trying to figure out how to teach while figuring out how to manage a classroom. You just can't do both at the same time yet. You'll get there...." So I am here waiting until I get there.
In the meantime--my principal was in twice this week to do observations. TWICE. I didn't particularly enjoy either, but it's getting easier. I just get so intimidated by him, and for no reason. He wants me to do well and I want me to do well, I just wish we could ignore the parts that I don't do well. Hmmm think of the possibilities.
Thomas comes tomorrow! Yay--special times ahead. (I can't tell you yet, Thomas wants it to be a surprise).
Sleep now
A
We are getting there. The first week didn't go quite as well as I wanted. My class is awesome--most of my students are very quiet, a third are ELL and the other's are simply fantastic. I'm really excited to get to know their personalities more as the year progresses. I do have one little stinker who is causing me a lot of grief. He (I'll call him A.S.) came to my class with a belligerent attitude and hasn't stopped talking back to me. I'm doing my best and have a lot of support from my colleagues, but the principal and A.P. have already had a formal meeting with his mother about his behavior. He's been down right nasty to the school crossing guard and nearly incited a riot in lunch the other day. Needless to say, A.S. came to me like this, on the first day of school.
More than disrupting my class (which is a huge concern!) I am worried about A.S. There is something inside him that is causing him to act this way. I wish that I could help to fix it, but I really feel as though this one is out of my hands. There are my child psych tendencies. So now A.S. is back at school (after his momentary suspension) and we will work together to find something that he can get excited about. Pray for him and me!
I am slowly getting into managing a class on my own, writing lesson plans, keeping track of students' schedules, my own schedule, standards and a pile of papers. It only took me 6 or 7 hours to write lesson plans for the week....I'm improving? I sure hope.
This first year teacher thing is kind of a nightmare. Eventually you'll wake up and it's over, but in the meanwhile you have to pretend you really know what you're doing. I like what my teacher mentor said, "you're trying to figure out how to teach while figuring out how to manage a classroom. You just can't do both at the same time yet. You'll get there...." So I am here waiting until I get there.
In the meantime--my principal was in twice this week to do observations. TWICE. I didn't particularly enjoy either, but it's getting easier. I just get so intimidated by him, and for no reason. He wants me to do well and I want me to do well, I just wish we could ignore the parts that I don't do well. Hmmm think of the possibilities.
Thomas comes tomorrow! Yay--special times ahead. (I can't tell you yet, Thomas wants it to be a surprise).
Sleep now
A
Sunday, September 16, 2007
big news
I almost forgot--
6 days until Tyler comes to visit
12 days until Thomas comes to visit
this month brought to you by the letter "T".
A
6 days until Tyler comes to visit
12 days until Thomas comes to visit
this month brought to you by the letter "T".
A
Only in Vegas
I met a male model. He's also the pastor of a local church.
He's a pastor before he's a model, which is cool because he's convicted to minister to those who aren't actually pursuing a relationship with God. The guys he works with receive more than a formidable companion, but someone who is genuinely interested in their story and cool with exactly where they are at.
I hope to do that.
So, tomorrow is the first day that I will meet my students. I am SO anxious to put their names with their faces. Mostly, I am really nervous about how the day will go down. There is so much emphasis and importance encapsulating the first day/week that I'm fearful of failing. Fixing any problems or shortcomings from these next two weeks would be an uphill battle.
Wish me luck.
For now I have to focus on finalizing my plans for tomorrow. I have 25 little dears that will be gracing my with their presence and I refuse to disappoint.
A
He's a pastor before he's a model, which is cool because he's convicted to minister to those who aren't actually pursuing a relationship with God. The guys he works with receive more than a formidable companion, but someone who is genuinely interested in their story and cool with exactly where they are at.
I hope to do that.
So, tomorrow is the first day that I will meet my students. I am SO anxious to put their names with their faces. Mostly, I am really nervous about how the day will go down. There is so much emphasis and importance encapsulating the first day/week that I'm fearful of failing. Fixing any problems or shortcomings from these next two weeks would be an uphill battle.
Wish me luck.
For now I have to focus on finalizing my plans for tomorrow. I have 25 little dears that will be gracing my with their presence and I refuse to disappoint.
A
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
planning.
The students arrived, went to special, came back. We spent some time developing classroom rules talked about expectations and then I stared at them. They stared back. I realized that I forgot to run of some copies of things for lessons that afternoon. So I attempted to go to my fall back--Read Aloud, but as I scanned the room and my desk but I couldn't find my book, or any books for that matter. Nothing. (Which is odd because I just recently loaded up a bookshelf with books...) Finally, I just panicked and nearly started to cry.
Then I woke up.
Now, I plan. I shall plan my little heart out. There is so much pressure surrounding the first day and weeks of school that I am getting nervous. Hopefully these kids are as psyched for school as I am (right!)
A
Then I woke up.
Now, I plan. I shall plan my little heart out. There is so much pressure surrounding the first day and weeks of school that I am getting nervous. Hopefully these kids are as psyched for school as I am (right!)
A
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