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.