Special Thx
Go fast, turn left
It’s race season in the area. What does this mean? LOTS of people, lots of traffic, and lots of fun. Our church volunteers to run golf carts for those in need at the track. The priority is elderly and handicap. It is amazing how many people are so caught up in themselves that they will rush past a guy on crutches to get a ride. “But I got money!” It’s not about the money. One guy told me “it’s always about the money.” Um, no sir, it’s not. Excuse me, but I will be carrying the guy who is on crutches.
Three for one…
One being a little peace and quiet…maybe. By 7:40 this morning there had been three fights in my area, only one in my room. Really? I certainly hope it was worth it b/c now dear students you will miss valuable test review time…and for what? Someone wouldn’t pick up a paper that had fallen/been knocked/whatever off your desk, someone made a comment you didn’t like, or you’re probably going to fail so you want to take a few more down with you…what? CRAZY.
The rest of the day went really well. My students worked in groups and did exactly what I wanted them to. They thought through the test material and questioned the value of each possible answer choice. They didn’t get all the right answers, but they demonstrated that they had learned the test taking skills I spent time teaching them. I’m very proud of their progress.
Fourth period I felt validated by a student taking refuge in my room. He is never a problem for me and does what I ask him to do. I don’t think he has the same rapport with other teachers. I found him in the hall with a security officer. He had been kicked out of his fourth period class so asked to come to mine instead of going to ISS. Works for me. This was an opportunity to spend some one on one time and really encourage him to step it up before his senior year. I got to know him better and even experienced a compliment or two. He likes the way I teach and the way that there are some days I seem to understand today is not the day to force the work issue. He said he appreciated the fact that I realized they had life to deal with outside this school. This kid has his head on straight. I just hope he learns that you really have to work within the system provided and not fight against it. Even if someone, a teacher maybe, pushes your buttons you have to look out for your own success and keep pressing forward with the end goal in mind. Don’t give in to your urges.
I’m really going to miss these guys next year.
FYI, it’s my classroom…not yours
Maybe this is one of those times when I should just go to bed and forget about the frustrations of today, but it is going to bother me until I rant. My classroom. My rules. My time. This is not to say that I am not flexible. I am, and I do a good bit to give students a say, but I do not appreciate being told that I am not doing my job because I do not drop everything and write a student up for a dress code violation or I do not cave to your desire to only work with the “smart” kids or your friends. These were my two major frustrations of the day. First period I sent a student out b/c she was disrupting everyone with her rants about someone’s dress code violation. I didn’t notice. Pointed out that it was my mistake and I would deal with it. The disruptive would not let it go. I had not stopped everything to deal with dress code. Excuse me? I’m trying to update everyone on their progress and recovery needs. I had written another student up for a similar violation earlier in the week. It is not my desire to write up dress code. If I don’t see parts I shouldn’t see, I really don’t care…but admin does and I will be called to the carpet if I don’t do what I am supposed to. After telling disruptive one that I would handle it, get back to work, she kept on. She then proclaimed that I was not doing my job. No ma’am. You’re gone. You will not remain in my room and disrespect me and all your classmates by such obnoxious behavior. Wrote her up, sent her out, and she didn’t go where she was supposed to. Strike 2. Not smart. Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity for the situation to be addressed. I can let a few things slide, but not disrespect.
Student number 2 was extremely unhappy because of group work. I get it. I know. Everyone hates group work, but it is a tool for learning. It provides collaboration opportunities, which we are required to do. Strategic grouping allows stronger students to teach weaker students and in turn strengthen themselves. It provides an opportunity to be more hands on in your learning and it builds a connection to your classmates. She was not happy with her assignment and felt that it would bring her down. She refused to listen to reason. She refused the opportunity to move herself away from the group she wanted to work with and work alone. It wasn’t a simple expression of concern. She had to loudly exclaim how she would have her momma call up here and it wasn’t her responsibility, etc…yeah, um…goodbye, here is your security escort. From this point forward she will work alone, test alone, and not receive the benefits of our group test preparations and activities. Kind of hard to do from ISS anyway.
I feel slightly better now. Once the chaos of removed we really had a good day today.
Play that funky music
As I listen to the London Symphony perform the music of Sting I am able to relax and ponder life. I’ve been in a blog funk for a while. I have been reading blogs, but rarely commenting. I consider blogging, but rarely follow through. All of us go through these periods in our blogging life. I was just reading over at TenseTeacher and she made the statement that perhaps it is best to forget and move on. That is where I have been lately. The days have had ups and downs, and the chaos of life just gets in the way. I felt like everyday I had the same thing to say, I’m tired. Some blessings and some frustrations were the nature of the day. In January a friend told me that I would adjust to the 5 AM wake up call. Hasn’t happened yet. I try to go to bed early, the earliest possible being 9:30, but it never seemed to work that way. Even when I was able it was almost impossible to fall asleep without the assistance of Tylenol PM. Jem’s schedule was such that we were never seeing each other awake, and I found it very difficult to sleep until he was home. Now that area is fixed, and I have a new issue…what does the future hold? I have been officially notified that my contract is not being renewed. It is not because of performance, it is because of my “low man on the totem” status. That irritates me because my scores are better that some of the department veterans. I hate the phrase, but it is what it is. I must look at this as an opportunity to do something else and a push for me to seek harder a position in the same district as my children. Maybe it is also an opportunity to test my patience, faith, and dispose of my self-righteous attitude. I don’t think I deserve to be cut, but I also don’t feel that my colleagues should be cut either. But I ramble on about the frustration, and it solves nothing. As I created a new template yesterday I clicked around and enjoyed the pics that I have posted. I have gotten away from geocaching, hiking, and so many things that I enjoy. I’m consumed by life and that is no way to be. Life is to be enjoyed and I need to do more of it.
Marriage, the things I’ve learned
A friend of mine is a newlywed, new parent, and facing health recovery from surgery. She asked me if it got easier. How bad do you want it? The following are a few things I have learned in our soon to be 15 years. Feel free to add to the list…
1. Communicate, talk it out
2. Don’t expect him to just KNOW what you want. He’s a guy, you have to be specific.
3. Along the same line, “if you don’t know what’s wrong then I’m not going to tell you.” Again, he’s a guy, he doesn’t know, you will have to communicate.
4. You are not competing with the television, or his favorite sports team. He really doesn’t realize you think you are…you will have to tell him…nicely.
5. Invest in a DVR.
6. Learn to appreciate his interests. You may not like it, but you can probably find something interesting about it and he will appreciate the effort. It’s also a great way to spend time together.
7. Blog. Journal. However, if you choose to vent your frustration you may want to consider doing this privately. Remember, it is NOT a platform for blasting him in order to produce change. Please refer to items 1-3, I cannot stress enough the importance of these items.
8. Date night. Do not allow money to stop this from happening. Walk in the park, go for coffee, whatever…but go out and don’t take the kids. (It is important that you find a suitable babysitter, I am not condoning just leaving small children home alone.)
9. Date night is NOT a time for you to talk about the kids. You probably will anyway, but try to find something else.
10. Listen.
11. Notes and texts are totally cool. If these need a rating please be certain you are sending them to the right place, that could be embarrassing. No, I wouldn’t know…just sayin’ that it makes sense to not mess that up.
12. He isn’t the only one who needs to adjust. Marriage takes two people working together to make it work.
13. God can help. Pray. Pray for your spouse. Pray for direction. Pray for what you need. Give thanks. You married this person, there is something special there so build around that.
14. Please refer to item #1.
all is well
I’m still waiting for the news I have been expecting. This morning was simply at opportunity to remind me to check dress code. Really? That couldn’t have been handled by an email? Ugh. This is not a game that I am interested in playing much longer. Just give me the news so I will know for sure. Tonight is the budget meeting so I expect the news should be delivered soon. Although, a guy last year was told on the very last day of school. How cold is that?
Outside of the unknown all else is going well. The problem students are not coming to school or have officially dropped out. The rest are showing effort. I have a lone holdout who tries to disrupt every time he is in class. Hopefully he will soon realize that if he doesn’t conform he is going to fail.
“please see me’
Can’t be good. OK, it could…but I doubt it. Just being real. I meet with admin tomorrow, per request. Hoping it goes well.
Grading
not interested. no choice.
Recovery
Tonsil removal took less than 20 minutes. We are at home recovering and all seems to be going well. The next pain dose is not until 3:20 and she isn’t complaining much. We have had two rounds with what we have deemed the happy sucker. If you suck on it for 20 seconds every hour or two it numbs the throat.
I really think the hardest part is going to be keeping her sedate for almost two weeks.
waiting room
We are sitting in the waiting room. Lil Bit hasn’t gone back yet. She was nervous last night, but is currently enjoying a riviting game of hang man with Daddy. Praying for an easy time and smooth recovery.
For a surgery center there is a lot of noise and activity. I could do without the less than soothing background tunes. Chatty people, ok fine, but music with a good beat for background noise is just not what I need right now.
Flair
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