The First Long Day

During second block, I got a nearly perfect evaluation from my principal.

During fourth block, I had to call in the assistant principal because the class was totally out of control, a kid threw a bag full of some unknown food item across the room, and it broke open, leaving a mess across the entire room. This was in addition to the talking, the disrespect, and the walking around that doesn't seem to be deterred by mere detentions.

I walked out my room at the end of the day at the verge of tears.

I learned a few lessons.

1) I am being an awful teacher.

2) My classroom management suffers when I am really tired.

3) I need to go back to laying down the law.

4) I need to stay calmer in these situations. Raising my voice wasn't productive.

5) When these situations do occur, I know that I can make it through.

6) Tomorrow is a new day. I need to make it better.

It is ironically on "pay day" that I was reminded that I am not doing this job for the money. I am clearly doing the job because I love these kids (even though they are testing my last nerve) and I am insane.

A New Start

I am now eight days into my illustrious teaching career and I have a few observations.

The Good
- The students (they don't know it but I actually like them)
- The administration (they actually have my back)
- Cross Country (running is great and so are the kids)

The Bad
- The students (they WEAR ME OUT)
- The bureaucracy (too many layers, too little useful help)
- The school lunch

A day doesn't seem to pass now where I don't give a detention (yesterday I have five detentions in a ten-minute stretch), a student doesn't make fun of my voice (it's not even funny anymore), and students don't seem to be able to do something as simple as remaining quiet for five minutes. They also feel like it is OK to disrespect me because I look young. It seems like each day I have remind them that disrespect will not fly in my classroom.

Thankfully out of the six classes I teach, only two of them consistently generate problems. I never realized the extent to which the students influence my behavior. With the better classes I feel more comfortable cutting up (in an appropriate way) and having more group activities. With my other classes I feel this need to keep control ALL THE TIME to make sure the something gets done.

I have made a few rookie mistakes. I accidentally escalated a confrontation (which I thankfully "won") over something that could have been dealt with quietly. My kids don't think I respect them because I use consequences so liberally for things they think are minor (talking in class and not staying on task).

I also need to be more consistent, especially with my problematic classes. When I give a student a consequence I find myself questioned about what I did for other students. I often just respond by giving the other student in question the same consequence. Really, I should just be more liberal with the consequences until they realize that I actually do mean business.

I have also held my ground as well as I know how. I won't be disrespected in my classroom. If a student makes fun of me they earn the reward of having to spend Friday afternoon with me in detention and doing a copying assignment.

I learned that my seating arrangement sucks and that my seating chart/arrangement needs to be fixed. That will happen this weekend when I have time to think about the optimal solution.

Things could be worse.

Things could be better.

But I'm OK with the way things are for the most part. There's still plenty of fuel in the tank.