Three Weeks In and Three Feet Deep...

Well, we are now completing the 3rd week of school. Time flies when you're having fun...or maybe it's just when you are too busy to eat and sleep...haha. Nah, it hasn't been too bad so far. There have been a few days where I have questioned the outcome of this school year, because I have a couple of periods that are a little trying to the patience; however, I have laid down the law in those classes and called home for several students and things have been much better this week. I created a new system that has worked really well so far in getting those out of control classrooms back into control, so I thought I would share that today. My periods that are a handful are not a disrespectful bunch of kids intentionally; however, they are overly talkative to the point where it becomes disrespectful, because they will not be quiet when it is my turn to talk. Nothing was working for a while and then I got this great idea that involved using post-its...my all time favorite thing. The way the system works is, every day my kiddos get to come in and start off the class period with a clean slate, because I believe in forgiving what happened the day before and giving them a fresh chance to start over every day. So, when they walk in the classroom each student has three strikes to give. If they are talking when they are not suppose to be I simply walk over to their desk, place a post-it on it and write a check mark on the post-it. Once they get to three check marks they have an automatic Lunch Detention with me. However, if they argue with me when I place a check mark we skip getting any more chances and go straight to a Lunch Detention and add on to the days of Lunch Detention they have to serve from that point. This system allows them a couple of fair warnings before there is a severe consequence, since their main problem is just being talkative, not being malicious. It has worked amazingly well so far. I also use the check mark system on quizzes and tests as well. If they are caught talking during those times I put a check mark on their quiz/test and that counts for minus 2 points from their overall score, they can get as many check marks as necessary, however, after 3 it as an automatic lunch detention again, and I warn them that if the check marks do not make their talking stop then I will simply write them up and allow them to spend a day in ISR. We discovered that half of our freshman class that came from one of our feeder schools spent all last year doing whatever they chose to do all day long every day without any consequences. This is causing it to be twice as hard to get those same kids under control this year, because they are not used to having consequences for their actions. Although the kids and I have good days and bad ones overall I enjoy getting to see them every day, they can be a lot of fun.

First Four Days

The school year has begun. This year my preps go as follows: Algebra 1, Title 1, Algebra 1, Title 1, Plan, Algebra 1, Title 1. Right now I only have students in my three Algebra 1 classes, because the Title 1 classes are supplemental remediation classes that won't be filled until we finish testing all of the students and determine which ones need supplemental remediation. My three Algebra 1 classes have gone pretty well. I only have one class that is, "behaviorally challenged," I guess you could say. However, today went much better. I have high hopes for these kids this year. I believe they can do great things if they put their mind to it, and I hope I can be the inspiration they need and deserve.

It was such a blessing the first two days to have a total of about 10 - 15 of my old students come find me to give me hugs and see how the summer went. That always makes you feel good when you know you've made a difference somehow. I do miss my old students, I think about them often throughout the day, and hope that they are doing well in their new classes. I pray this year will go just as good as the last. :)

Final Work Day

The day started off beautifully, walking out the door for work to a magnificent promise from God etched across the sky. As I captured this picture of God's everlasting love for humanity I was refreshed with a reality check about the most important part of my job as teacher; being a Godly example to every child I am blessed to have in my classroom. I try to remember this saying, "Even on your very worst day, you may be some child's best hope." So as I begin my second journey through the jungle of education I am trying to focus my attitude on the relationships I can build with my students, and the unique evangelistic opportunity that this occupation provides me with daily.

Final preparations

I went up to the school today on my last day off to hit up the copier before the mad rush of printing syllabi and beginning of school documents began. When I got there I found all of the desks in my classroom had been stacked up and pushed to the corner again with a note from the janitors saying, "Sorry, your floors weren't done yet..." Argh!!! Anyway, I got everything put back where it belongs with the help of another teacher. At least this time I had A/C! I did end up getting my copies made and ready to go. Getting closer to the big day.

Professional Development

Today started early with rise and shine sounding at 4:00am. I got ready and headed to the administration building where a group of district teachers and myself departed for Muskogee, OK at 5:30am. We arrived in Muskogee at 8:30am and this was just the start to a long, adventurous day. The conference began like most with a keynote address about why our schools will be changing standards in approximately 3 years. To sum it up, we must change learning in schools due to how fast the world is changing around us. It was a fine kick off to the day, where we talked about how it may appear that our schools are very low compared to other schools across the world, but that we are in fact improving and we are the best school system in the world due to the fact that we teach ALL kids, not just the most ideal kids. We went through a series of other lectures throughout the day which discussed what we must change to become higher performing schools, and how we must go about changing them. All-in-all, today was a great boost to start a new school year off on, reminding ourselves that we are investing in the future of EVERY child, not just the elite or chosen ones. I enjoyed being reminded that I do this for those kids whose only way out of their current situations may well be the knowledge they gain in my class or at our school.

Getting Ready...

After two days of work I have finally gotten my classroom set up and ready to go for students. I was fortunate enough to inherit some posters for my classroom this year, which has made my room look a little more cozy. It has been unfortunate however to have to deal with the heat in my classroom. It has been around 109 degrees outdoors every day recently, and the A/C in my classroom has not been turned on yet, so I have been sweating it out in my steam box both days, but it will be well worth the organization and comfort in the end.