Monday I arrived at school an hour and a half early to practice breathing. The parents all started arriving with their students to help them with their schedules. A couple were crying, one threw up from nervousness, and they all pretty much had a terrified look on their faces. It was cute. Homeroom was 2 hours long, and consisted of teaching them how to use a lock for 45 minutes, assigning lockers in random places, giving them time to open their pencil packs and write their names on their stuff, and to encourage them to make it through the day. The rest of our classes were 15 minutes long, but taking into account that they walked into the room, sat down, and realized they were in the wrong place, we didn't get much done. Somehow I survived, and I've been blessed to have a sub in my room which really worked to my advantage (she can get the little stuff done!) I came home Monday in a daze, not quite sure what went on, but already thinking nonstop about how precious my kids are.
Two days later, I feel like I've been there for weeks. And not necessarily in a good way, just my physical exhaustion. We're all tired... we have no planning, and it's been hectic as the administration attempts to figure out scheduling. Yesterday we went over more expectations for my classroom procedures, except I'm kind of lying because I really don't know exactly how I want them to do things. Where are they going to turn in their papers? How do I want them to ask to go to the bathroom? What if they have to sharpen their pencils? What the heck am I going to do for homework? These are all questions that I'm bs-ing the answers to, because I really haven't decided how I want them to do things. I guess we'll just go with the flow.
Sixth graders are adorable. They don't know what's going on, they can't make decisions for themselves, yet they're starting to gain some independence and grow up a little. I see this through their "I Am" poems, which are pretty incredible. I'm really proud of them for getting into them and answering from their hearts. Some of them are kind of heart breaking, but it makes me remember how important teaching is and how it can really affect students' lives. Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I hope these kids will at least remember that I truly cared for them. Even the annoying ones. They make me think of myself as a middle schooler, dubbed the 'social butterfly.'
Today we wrote the poems, and I took their pictures. I'm going to post them up somewhere random around the room. Not sure where, or what its purpose is, but I guess it'll make them feel special. Maybe. I'm not sure they'll all want me to put their poems on the wall, but I want to start portfolios because I think they're great. Then we'll keep all the good stuff together, and I'll do something with it at the end of the year.
Oh and I'm finally hired by the county! Hurray. Now I can actually get paid, get my school laptop, email address, and website. That is exciting stuff. Back to grading papers; the Chinese takeout guy (aka michael) is almost home with the 'dinner' i prepared. Way too lazy tonight.
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