Good Things

Normally my Do Nows on Fridays are sharing good things that happened that week. First, I have the kiddos share at their tables, then I ask for volunteers to share with the whole class. Those who volunteer get a raffle ticket (I'll have a post on that soon!), so I sometimes have to limit the number of volunteers (some classes are super into the raffle and others are lukewarm about it).

I know it's Sunday, but I wanted to go ahead and share my good things!

• I went to the freshmen football games Thursday since I have a lot of football boys and one period has been especially insistent I attend. I got there and sat next to one of my girls, so it was a super win situation. I got to see my boys doing something they love and I got to know one of my students way better. I also saw my cheerleaders and my one dancer. They all got a HUGE kick the next day when I told them they did a good job on [insert specific instance here]. One even asked before I could say anything if he "did good" the night before.
• I had to keep 3 of my freshmen football boys after class on Tuesday to discuss their constant chatter and distractions. I mentioned it to the coach the next day, which earned them bear crawls. I DID NOT mean for that to happen. But every day since then, I only have to raise an eyebrow and they correct their behavior and the behavior of those around them. They then ask me after class every day how they did. They fist pump and exclaim "no bear crawls!" when I say they were much better.
• My 8th period econ kiddos are totally into staying after and having discussions with the teacher. It's all fun and games until they get in over my head (I'm still learning economics myself). But seriously, I enjoy those talks and just shooting the breeze with them.
• Geography had a quiz over climate regions and landforms on Wednesday. Since they sit in groups of 4,  I made 4 different versions since I've already noticed some tendencies to "work together". I passed them back Friday and told them they could make corrections up to a 70. One of my boys then grabbed the quiz of the kiddo next to him who got a 100 and started copying. I said, "Those are two different quizzes, sweetheart. It's not going to do you much good." His face fell before quipping, "I was helping him correct his! He needs a lot of help, you know." That's when I completely lost it and doubled over laughing. Goodness gracious, that class has me doing that a lot!
• Most of my students actually followed through on seeing me before or after school to make up missing assignments! It was like pulling teeth last year.
• My Horned Frogs won yesterday! It sure wasn't pretty, but a win's a win!

Now, back to getting grades in for progress reports and figuring out what I'm going to say at Open House!

Just Some Reassurance

I did a summer program for the last two summers and some of my fellow teachers from there are in their last year of college. They (and others) keep asking me how real teaching is, so I wanted to get some thoughts down.

Yes, being in charge of 150 ish kids is absolutely bananas, especially when you add in the English Language Learners, the 504s, the IEPs, and the BIPs. If I total up all of that paperwork, I have about 35 kiddos who need extra help in some form or fashion. That is unreal for a first year at my school. HOWEVER, THIS IS STILL SO MUCH BETTER THAN BEING A LONG TERM SUB. A few of those kids I had last year made me want to never go near a classroom again. What a world of difference starting the year out with your very own kids makes! Thank goodness I kept pursuing my lifelong dream.

So, yes, the whole staying organized/slightly ahead of your kids business is challenging. But I have yet to feel like I'm totally drowning or simply surviving. We had a training day this past Saturday and almost every other teacher looked EXHAUSTED and kept mentioning how they were happy to just be surviving. Meanwhile, I am LOVING every minute of training, professional learning, meetings, teaching, tutoring, grading, etc. Well, except the emails from parents. But you can't win 'em all.

Funny story about juggling all these kids: I said "Hello, [name]!" to a girl entering my room last Friday and she got the biggest smile on her face and exclaimed "I love it when teachers learn my name and say hello!" Like, it's week two. That should just be a thing. I'm glad I made her day, though. They know I'm trying and when I have a bajillion girls who look exactly alike, I do pause from time to time. But I know them. And I'm learning stuff about them. And they LOVE that. Like, I am 100% committed to attending the freshman football game this Thursday because otherwise I'll have a riot on my hands since I didn't go last week. And I bought a coupon book from one of my choir kiddos and he thought that was the neatest thing ever. THESE KIDS, Y'ALL.

So, friends worrying about the ever nearing future, despite being hired two weeks before school started, I am lovin' it oh so much. I am doing exactly what I was born to do and that is an incredible feeling.

P.S. Once I'm totally settled (haha yeah right, that's a never ending process), I will have some sort of blogging schedule. I really am going to prove secondary education can be cute and awesome. I got lots of stuff to share :)

My First Week Ever (!) In Review (Of Sorts)

Real talk. I was absolutely dreading my first week as a real life teacher. I had a long-term sub position in the spring and it was AWFUL. We're talking I wanted to quit every time I got to my 8th period class. I loved my other classes, but that 8th period almost made me stop teaching altogether. And I've wanted to teach since kindergarten. HOWEVER. This week was the best first week I could have had. Absolutely none of my little darlings are like some of the kiddos I had last year. Sure, there is a lot to balance between two preps, 150 ish students, and a whole mess of paperwork. But y'all, my classes are fun. No crazy behavior issues yet and most of them are willing and ready to participate. What a breath of fresh air.

I'm still getting my room in order and all organized and cute. I am on a mission to prove that it's not just the elementary classrooms that are all cutesy and fun. My goal with this blog is focus mostly on social studies plans, but also discuss classroom and behavior management ideas that can work for high school and middle school, all while being goofy and adorable. Let's see how this goes. I'll leave you with a picture of how my room looked on the eve of classes starting: