Inspiring?

An actual card I received:

Dear Miss. ....,

Salutations! I wish you the pre-eminent during this equisite holiday season! I anticipate that you will have a wonderful and memorable Christmas and New Year this year of 2008/2009 and I wish you holiday happiness and exultation during this time of year where happiness over Christ's birth flourishes greatly. Ms. B... you're an awesome teacher! It's amazing how you are patient and compassionate with a class that is ignorant, immature, unacquainted and hostile but that's what separates you from other cruel and harsh teachers who scare students into doing their work.....Anyways, thank you so much for educating me this year on various topics of English, it was an excellent learning experience. Now, I have a greater passion and liking towards Shakespearean plays. .... I acknowledge the sincere effort and time you placed into aiding your students this year. Thanks a lot. Most teachers would have given up a long time ago on us. But you didn't, so you're cool....

And it goes on a little more......


I hope this warms your heart. At least one kid is inspired. Ta Da!

Woo Hoo!

Well, I applied for a spot at a conference for new teachers back in September, but I assumed that I wasn't chosen. I got an email yesterday that I am one of eight new ( less than 5 years of teaching experience) secondary teachers in my board to be selected to go to this conference. They are paying for my mileage, hotel and release costs. It should be an amazing professional development opportunity for me. It is not until February, but I am super pumped to have been chosen. YAY!

Only 6 working days until Christmas break.

Woot!

Mental Health Day

I had always thought that people who took "mental health" days were just doing so for a day of shopping or sitting around in their Pjs. Well I take back my judgmental feelings, as Friday I took a day away from the kiddies. I piled them all up with worksheets and I am hoping just hoping that they didn't kill each other. This is the 3rd time I've left them in 16 weeks. Its more work being away then actually being there.

I am currently creating two new units, I just finished writing 3 exams that were due for photocopying on Friday, and the pile of essay marking I have is taking over my life. Of course I did nothing on Friday--well other than get my hair done. I also went to a big party that night, but thats besides the point. So mental health days are necessary and important. That is my point.

There are 10 more school days until Christmas. I am losing one child a day due to the Christmas dreamland syndrome. You can speculate what that means.

Until later.

A long awaited update.......

Ah... sorry for the long abscence. I have been crazy busy these days. My final exams and culminating activities are due this Friday and being the procrastinator that I am, I am still not finished. Well I have one exam to go.

Last week I was at the school until 9:30 pm on Thursday and 12 midnight on Friday. On Thursday I had parent teacher interiews. I was over-booked, with 20 interviews. Most of the parents were pretty receptive, with the exception of one parent who told me her sons mark in English should be the same as his English one. She seemed to blame me for her sons success--but in reality her son is a lazy lazy kid who doesn't edit his work. I knew she wasn't going to be convinced with anything I had to say, so I stood up and thanked her for coming slightly earlier then the interview was supposed to go.

On Friday evening I volunteered for a grade 9 girls sleepover that promoted self esteem and friendship. We had a famous Canadian plus sized model and a very well known anchor for the six o'clock news (she had triplets if thats a clue) talk and overall it was successful. I ran the healthy snack workshop for the girls.

This past week I ran a slightly painful workshop for my grade 10s on essay writing. Most of them wasted their time and now paying for it. Its hard to have sympathy for those who don't give a.......you know what.

On a more positive note, my department head told me that she is so happy with me. She told me that I work so hard and she hopes that she can keep me on after my contract expires. Also, I am running 10 hours of after school literacy help for grade 10s, and I am getting the highest numbers of any course that has been run. It must be my charisma ; )

I am tired and looking forward to Christmas break! 17 working days to go : )

Until later,

Rate my Teacher

Well... only 10 weeks have gone by and two students have felt compelled to rate me on the website "Rate my Teacher". As the comments are still under review---I don't know what they have said. But apparently at least two students like me. I guess my crazy bitch act hasn't worked on all of them. Hahahaha.

We dressed up a student for Halloween in my fifth period class as Hannah Montana. It was a guy. It was hilarious.

I have 7 days till report cards are due and 18 until Parent Teacher interviews. I have a pile of marking so high, I could build a bridge between the stacks. Seriously.

Super.

Tired

I officially had a terrible day. My fifth period class had a great assignment in perspective writing for To Kill a Mockingbird, and totally did not get the point of it. Four people did not do their homework, so I shipped them out of the class to ensure that they caught up with work. One particular student who has something called Oppositional Defiance Disorder, was told to work in the Resource Room ( a room with teachers dedicated to helping students with disabilities) but instead followed his friend into another class. The teacher, who in her innocence thought I sent two kids to her, didn't question this action. I get a call about 30 minutes into period 5, telling me that I had sent her a terrible student and that she sent him back to me. He didn't come back.
I was suprised, and upset because the student I sent to her room is normally a nice individual who would never do the things she told me. I find out later that my 'special' student lied to her, told her his name was Bob, told her he doesnt do afterschool detentions and that he didn't have to listen to her. Needless to say this was all referred to his Vice Principal--and I spent a good 30 minutes in her office about this situation.

I also had a student this week get a friend to call in pretending to be her mother. That was an interesting coversation. "But, like, miss, like, I didn't feel good." "So is that a reason to lie and skip my class. " " Um like no"

Thanks. Super. Wonderful.

Blegh. I am tired. But not broken.

Supposedly I'm a racist...

Well well. Everyday these kiddos come up with something new. I am teaching my Grade 10 Academic classes, "To Kill a Mockingbird", which happens to have a very rich historical background--specifically to do with racism. I was talking about the KKK in the 1930s and how it (the organization) had grown in strength during the 1910s and 1920s. In my first period class, they said, "Hey Miss, did you know that the KKK still exists in G------?" They happened to be referencing my hometown. "No guys, cmon thats just hearsay...I actually live in that town." Let's keep going and the subject was changed and I kept on teaching. In my fifth period class, I was teaching the same thing, and the same sentence came up, "Hey Miss, did you know that the KKK still exists in G------?" My response again was, "Guys, cmon. Not true. I actually live in that town" One of my brightest students (also one of the biggest smart alecks too), responded: "How am I surprised by that?" I kicked his butt so fast out of that class, he didn't know what was coming.

Needless to say that was an interesting conversation in the hallway. Some of my less bright students did not understand why I was angry. They must not have understood what he implied. I'm not racist, nor will I ever be.

Hmm, but isn't everyone a little bit racist sometimes? (This is meant as a joke--- take a look at the musical Avenue Q and you will understand)

Another exciting day at the office.

Monday's

Ah.. its Monday. I happened to be away from school on Friday. It took everything in me to not book an NTIP Classroom Management session and be away from some of my more "delightful" students. (NTIP stands for New Teacher Induction Program). As an individual with a contract of 97 days or more, my board happens to provide 2 release days for extra training or in service sessions. I didn't tell my kids that I was going to be away on Friday, so they were confused today when I was back and really didn't tell them an answer.

As for the classroom management session, it was helpful in a few ways--but it covered things that would really just help any old rookie. (An oxymoron!) But it didn't really help in some of the ways I need extra help. Ie// The students who don't care, the student who won't just shut up, the student who thinks English 2D is party central, the student who hates teachers, the constantly late student.

I called a parent today to tell her that her son stuck his middle finger out at student in front of me. She was really suprised at that incident and genuinely shocked.

On the day of the incident, it took everything in me, not to scream at the student"YOU ARE AN IDIOT". After that particular incident, a student told me I have the patience of a saint. To that I replied, "I hope you pray to that saint every night"

Things are going fairly well, don't get me wrong. It's just a challenge. I never know what to expect.

Happy Monday.

"All teachers are the same"

"All teachers are the same, Miss. They are all out to get you." This is something I heard today from a very angry and resentful Grade 12 Essential level student. I saw him in the hallway right before my class (that he happens to be enrolled in) and motioned him to come inside. "One second miss, I have to go outside for a cigarette. I will be there in 20 minutes" I resent the fact that students happen to believe that school is an incovenience for them or a drive thru lane in life. They all want the McGrade, the Happy Meal version of life. I proceed to talk to the student who tells me that all teachers are the same. That I know his reputation and have judged him. Not true. I am judging him now, because he has chosen to go out and smoke a cigarette instead of actually showing up for class. As bad as this seems, my class would be great if he chooses not to make an appearance everyday. These kids like to cause me a lot of unecessary paperwork.

I really like teaching--but its all the administration, paperwork and annoying little things that probably cause a lot of teachers to go insane. I am slowly but surely getting there. I just have to have patience.

Praying for patience.

Sick? Already?

Schools are the breeding ground for new and exciting variations of the common cold. It's week 4 and I have just got my first cold. I think I should go to bed now, I'm sure my Grade 10s could handle more work from the short story unit if I don't plan tonight..........Blegh.

Period 5 is slightly more manageable--but still difficult. Its really a daily battle where the captain (myself) is wading through mud. I get things like, "Miss, I hate reading. Why should we have silent reading time? " "Well, you are in Grade 10 Academic... we do read. What.. why am I justifying this to you right now?"

From the stupid question files, one student asked me if I thought another student was cute. RED LIGHT RED LIGHT. My response, " I have no comment on that question". "But Miss, don't you think he's cute??" "I think all of you are very special individuals, that is all" On another note, kids aren't very good at passing notes these days. I should have read one out loud. But I wasn't in my Super Bitch mood today, and reading it would have just irritated me as much as the students. I never got caught passing notes. At least they could be secretive about it.

I love children, really.

A Random Thought

A student asked me an interesting question today in class. He said, "Hey Miss, how much do you think I could get for my virginity if I sold it on Ebay?"

My natural reaction--which I cannot voice "Well, not much."
My actual reaction--" When those words came out of your mouth, did you actually think that sounded like an acceptable question?"

Kids are so darn cute. Really.

Time Flies

Wow.. I just finished Day 2 of Week 3 and I am still alive. Thankfully. Teaching has been taking alot out of me, not physically but merely mentally. A Grade 12 student died in a car accident a week and a half ago, and the students are still trying to wrap their hands around it all.

My fifth period class is a nightmare. I can't seem to not feel inadequate in my classroom management skills--when I can't manage a group of 24 10th graders. I can manage my first and third periods okay.. but this last class is driving me wild. I actually had to slam the door and yell to get their attention. I pretty much asked, "Are you just warming your seat, or are you actively participating in this class...?" One of my more intelligent yet snarky students, told me I was inspirational. How incredibly sweet of him really... blegh. My fifth period class contains quite a few weaker students--18 out of 24 received a 65 or less last year. It proves to be a challenge.

So... I have a new plan. The plan being 1) Changing the seating 2) Talking to each student individually 3) Using a classroom management worksheet to document more and more 4) Talking to their parents. 5) Only explaining things once to ensure better listening skills.

Man... I have turned into such a bitch on wheels during class time. So much for inspiring young minds on a Tuesday.

Day 1 and 2

Ugh.. I am exhausted. Is that okay to say? Who knew dealing with 70 or more teenagers per day could be so physically and mentally exhausting. The first day went okay, Grade 10s tend to hate English and like to test boundaries. One the upside, one of my essential kids made me raise an eyebrow when she asked how to spell the word Swastika. I know.. crazy huh? Supposedly she is reading a book about the history of the symbol. My 5th period English class thinks I am an insane crazy English dictator--who gives them too much work. Really we are doing tons of diagnostic work to make sure that kids are in the right stream and level. I scared a fair bit of kids into wanting to change levels. My patience with the kids has been fair, although with 19 boys and 6 girls in my 5th period class-- I am treading above water at least........... Today was good--I actually had a beautiful first period and third period class--and ended off with my crazy zoo animals. Blegh.. is it too early to call home.

And the entire right side of my closet collapsed. Super. Super. Fun.

First Meeting

Today was my first "real" staff meeting that brought together all new staff in the morning, and all of the returning staff just before lunch. The staff at the HS is huge, over 150 teachers! I met a few really nice teachers--the new ones seemed alot more willing to make 'friends' then the returners. The meeting was long--maybe too long to keep the attention of individuals who work to keep students attention everyday... I got a pile of keys today, and I think I already misplaced one. UGH. I think I must have just left it in the staff room, but hey I don't really need a washroom key, right?

My workstation at the window is deluxe. So when I forget about curriculum, I can watch kids smoking and maybe see the football field. (Note the enthusiasm) My department head seems really supportive of new teachers, she already made up some easily moldable stuff for the new teachers to use in the first week. I am sure she is trying to help with our stress level. Ha ha.

I will probably go in sometime tommorrow--to drown my sorrows in curriculum development and the reading of short stories.

--And you can call me Miss.

: )