How is this possible

I swore I would say no to some things, but it has not turned out that way. I do love being a teacher. However, the amount of meetings and deadlines and observations and slcs and plcs and staff issues I can not keep it all straight. On top of all of this I am told on a daily basis how much better the school is this year. I am so, I don't have the words, I am so . . .

Regardless, today was one of those special teaching days. The day before a holiday. Halloween. Oh my goodness. They had a dance for the kids at lunch. It was free if they had no Us and no Fs on their report cards, otherwise it was a dollar. Does anyone remember Middle School Dances?  I did not attend because I had spent my conference period with another teacher's periodic assessments and had to finish my work during lunch. So here it is:

Boys sit in the chairs on one side of the room. Girls want to dance -- with the boys. Girls line up in front of the boys who are still sitting in chairs and dance for the boys. Oh, no! is what you are thinking and to that I answer "Oh Yes." I really didn't know if I believed this description, but as my 5th period class filed in one student exclaims, "J got a lap dance!" 

Middle school is some kind of crazy social experiment. They smell bad, they talk bad, they behave like jack-a-ninnies and today they were hyped up on way too much sugar and hormones and walked into my room. 

Result of this day = I am exhausted and completely mentally and physically beat down. However, I fill my weekend coming on strong and will not be down for long. 

My mantra goes something like this: "they are only children, they will learn something, it will get better, some day they will be embarrassed about their time in middle school."

That is all I have.

Today was a Good Day

I dreaded today. Testing is so difficult. Having students sit for an entire period and work is just crazy. However, they did it. I am not sure if it was the incentive of the raffle we will be having for students who do not require a make up day and who take the test seriously and do not disturb the rest of class. The prize is an MP3 player. I like incentives. I am just grateful I had very few issues, even in my crazy 6th period.

Of course, it wasn't all roses without thorns. 3rd Period did not test today because we had an assembly. Assemblies are the only thing worse than testing. The entire 7th grade sitting in the auditorium together listening about bullying, sexual harassment, code of conduct and grades. OH JOY OF MY LIFE. And my class was one of the good ones. It was just ridiculous. The students did not care if the person speaking was a teacher, counselor, AP or security. They just can't sit quietly that long. Wow. The assembly went 10 minutes into the next period because they could not keep quiet. UGH and then hustling to class when we finally dismissed them. IT is late, the bell has rung and yet they just stand out on the grass talking. They have no sense of urgency or doing the right thing. 

It makes me look forward to testing part II tomorrow. Plus, with my well behaved classes I can get caught up on grading and have no work this weekend. YEA!

I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday and that October has just a bit more than a week left. Where does the time go?

BTSA UGH

Today was orientation for BTSA. BTSA is the way you clear your teaching credential in California and in Los Angeles LAUSD is in charge of the program. That's right, the program is annoying in every way. Maybe because it is a bit unorganized. Maybe because in my Masters Program I have already done all the things they ask. Maybe because it is tons of busy work. Maybe because they expect you to work with a support provider 2 hours per week. Maybe because it is so much busy work. I know I already said that.

Last year I was in Local District 1 and the supervisor had no real love for me or my other colleagues at my school for some reason. I know I can be annoying and a know-it-all, but seriously this program makes me mad just thinking about it. And last year I had a lovely support provider, but she was a science teacher and during one observation she told me it was hard to critique because the students were reading and writing in groups. I TEACH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. They should be reading and writing. She made me have a new observation where I was showing a film with a modified Cornell Notes worksheet. I stopped the film 12 times in the first 25 minutes to have them take down ideas. This she loved and it was a good lesson and all was fine, but you sort of get the point.

This year I am in Local District 7 and we met during the orientation today and it was completely different from how last year was approached. I am glad I had year one signed off because this District had culminating tasks and we had nothing like that. I don't actually have a support provider for this year yet. At my friend's new school she asked her colleagues about support providers and they told her they didn't have one last year and they all just worked together. I have no idea how this is going to go, but I know I have no love for this program. It is a mess. All of the facilitators are well meaning and the teachers try hard, but I just HATE it and I am glad this is the last year I will have to deal with it. UGH. 

I even came home and started filling out the class roster forms and the classroom layout forms. I attempted to start my K-W-L but I need to print one thing in order to even start it, so, I am done for the night, but on Monday I am going to seminar 1 of 3 for the year. OH DEAR!  Wish me luck for BTSA yr 2

Taking the Day Off

I have had a cold for nearly two weeks. At first it did not seem that bad. Then a turn for the worse over the weekend, however, there was just too much to do at work to take a day off. I had standards to cover, a PSAT to administer and grades to enter, plus meetings and the list goes on and on. My other problem is dealing with my classroom after they have a sub for even just one day. I can not just not show up without a plan in my room. Even if the sub doesn't follow the plan, even if the students don't do the assignment, I can't leave it completely up to chance. 

There is also the issue of hiding things like the stapler, the tissue, the good pens, the tape dispenser and in some cases the hall pass. Somehow an unruly class will behave well for the sub and the best behaved classes take it as an opportunity to run around like chickens with their heads cut off. (I've been teaching idioms recently) 

So, I cleaned the room, put the assignment on the board, printed new copies of the seating charts, acquired more referral forms, typed up a detailed note to the sub, made copies of word searches and put them into packets for each period, called subfinder, gave our office administrator my confirmation number and made my way home on Thursday.

And then I was in my car leaving the parking lot and I look up and see the blimp! Oh yes the blimp. And for a moment I am confused. And then I remember. I was going to take the Metro Rail to work on Thursday because the Dodger game starts at 5pm. But, I have been sick and so extra tired when the alarm goes off at 5:15. In order to take the metro rail and get to work by 7:15 I need to leave my house by 6:00 a.m. No way I was going to make that and I think it will be fine. UGH, nearly two hours to get home on a Thursday. 

Here I am on a Friday. I don't really feel too sick, but I did sleep until 7:30 this morning and my voice is pretty week and the idea of leaving the house is not too appealing. I know this day off will work in my favor going forward. I will get the rest I need and my voice will reappear by Monday no problem.

This is the life of an English Teacher. She needs her voice. She needs her rest and on a few occasions she needs a day to regain her health. 

I need to blog more

I find if I actually take the time to blog (aka reflect in teacher speak) I feel a bit better about what is going on. So here goes.

Yesterday. Tuesday. Shortened day = 40 minute periods. Should be a good thing, but I find it harder than a regular day which may have to do with having Professional Development after school for 1 1/2 hours. We actually accomplish things in PD, so I can't complain. Anyway, I digress.

My 6th period is a huge challenge. So, I plan with them in mind. What can I come up with where they do not have to sit still in their seats and be quiet for the whole period and still teach them?  This is the goal each and every day. How can I make it work for all of us.  So, I planned a Narrative Gallery Walk. They had sheets with the different terms on them. On the walls around the room there were examples of all the different terms. They had to getup, walk around and put the correct number next to the term. It was not easy, but I promised prizes to any one who got all 12 correct. I didn't even tell them they couldn't help one another. Period 1, 2, 3 & 5 were into it and had a great time and learned something. 6th period comes in and I get them started after the normal amount of pain in the butt behavior. While I am clarifying for a student I suddenly look up and they have torn half the examples off the wall. SERIOUSLY!  I lose it as much as I can with a voice that is barely a whisper because of my cold. I tell them again about respect and rudeness. I am just so angry. I get over it, but I think I stayed up late planning for them, and they just don't care a bit.

So, today we are giving the PSAT to our students for periods 1 -4. 5th period will be doing word searches, mad libs and cloze activities that are basically fun. 6th period will be copying commonly misspelled words from their textbooks.

Tomorrow will be a new day and a new lesson, but seriously . . .

It's Friday

So, I was observed today. It happens a lot at our school. I am used to it, but something amazing happened. My students were on fire. They were engaged and on task and new direct and indirect comparisons. They analyzed similes and metaphors. It was awesome. And seriously, they did not know this stuff three weeks ago. SO, I continued through the day and honestly, my students were on fire all periods. Even the oh so challenging 6th period has apparently learned. I am so proud of them and so fortified to keep going.

This was such a tiring week. I had a cold and meetings at school and deadlines and back to school night and I just wanted to get through it all. And I did and the exhaustion feels worth it. All of it was worth it. Today it feels worth it.

Bad Day on Monday turned into a Good Day on Tuesday

I had one of those horrendous days on Monday. Yes, I had a cold and was not feeling well. Yes, it was Monday and I was tired and Yes, I made the mistake of putting my students in one giant oval. So, for that I take responsibility. The fact that all students seemed to forget over the weekend all of our classroom procedures set us up for a day of raised voices and frustration. (Me and my students)

So, I left school exhausted and mad and sad. All on a Monday. I went home and decided to take the night off from teaching. I was ready to enjoy Monday Night Football Favre Extravaganza. I was relaxed. I had tea too soothe my nerves and cold. All was well. And of course, this is when it happens. In the quiet relaxed moment I take to my computer, update my rosters on my grading program and create a seating chart that makes sense. Groups of 3 and 4. And not what you think. Not separating everyone, but placing them where I can manage them and they won't disrupt everyone else.

I have no idea how today (Wednesday) will go, but Tuesday was lovely. They managed themselves. They worked hard and they were able to talk a bit and we were all happier. And amazingly, I felt better when the day was over. My cold seemed to take a turn for the better and I was ready to tackle planning and grading. 

Today, 5:30 still seemed early, but I am pretty happy to be at work.

The Small Moments

The 7th grade team I am a part of is pretty amazing for a bunch of new teachers. That's right, two second years (both coming from high school) and two first years make up our team. Granted we probably don't have the hardest kids on campus, but it is no picnic. Especially during 6th period. All of our 6th period classes seem to be having major trouble with their behavior. We have a plan and we have help from our Magnet Coordinator, so all will be well. This brings me to the small moment that felt like a turning point. 

I don't even remember exactly what was said, but 6th period was going better than usual. They were loud, but they were on task and they seemed to be enjoying the assignment and even came to me to show me their work and ask for help. I allowed them some free range of movement and talking. They were creating visual representations of idioms on a time limit. A few students had to go to the book room (most of them are my bigger behavior issues) and one had gone to the nurse. I took advantage of a few less students and less distraction to get them started. When the others returned they could see everyone was having fun. I assigned one of their classmates to help them get on task and gave the whole class a few extra minutes. Again, it was a bit noisy, but they were being productive. My biggest behavior issue (though he is really smart) did act up a bit, but I had someone observing my class and he took him aside. (Help is a good thing) So, all was well.  Then we had to clean up and move on. 

Transitions are especially difficult for this class, but I was not giving up. I was correcting them as needed and then I told them they could have one last chance to earn back the after-school time they have earned the past two weeks. I counted down. almost, but not quite quiet. I tried again, almost, but not quite. However, not the usual suspects causing the problem, which I pointed out. I tried again and got the giggles. Yep, me. They all giggled back. We all tried again. Nope, giggling. So, I took my lemons and made lemonade, though actually we made rain, or tried to. You know, rubbing hands, snapping, clapping on thighs kind of rain. I had them repeat rhythms of claps and stomps. They did it, together and they were quiet and at times giggling. They left class on a happy note and sound and so did I.

Aahh, the small moments of victory in a classroom. So, I guess there is hope for 6th period.