but who's counting?
this week has been a little trying. as the students settle in, get adjusted from summer, and become a little more comfortable with me... they become a little less mindful of my strict classroom rules. this is a hard concept for me. i don't like to be a drill sargent in the classroom, at all. but, with twenty 12 & 13 yr olds, you HAVE to be. a little leniency and they are out of control. gone, adios... and forget the lesson!
i worked the volleyball game thursday evening so i could see my student athletes as i had promised them. there is something about a teacher coming to watch her students that makes them so darn excited. i remember those days! anyway, i figured if i were going to have to be there i might as well get paid so i worked the admissions door and made an eay $60 while also getting to see every play by the lady bullpups. while manning the door for a solid 4 hours, i got into discussion with a fellow teacher. i was telling her of my "problem period" and how nothing i say or do seems to have an impact on their behavior. i can threatened detention or ISS and they could care less. so i asked her to come during that period and just see for herself. luckily it was also her off period and she showed up to observe. immediately kids were off task, talking about football/volleyball/who is dating who, some were wondering the room, etc.... basically a mad house! i was telling them to sit, be quiet, get to work, etc... nothing helped!i was so embarrassed! but then again, this is what i wanted her to see because it showed their true behavior and hopefully she had a pocket full of suggestions for me.
and she did! after school she came and sat in my classroom and gave me the "you have lay the smack down" talk. ooh this is going to be so hard. it's almost like starting over! monday i am going to go in and totally refresh them with the rules, consequences, and follow through! i can't wait to have a well-run classroom.
so many people have told me awful stories about this 7th grade group that i have. i have heard horror stories of how veteran teachers threatened to quit because of their reputation, behavior and attitudes. now i understand why. but i can't just give up on them, there are some really good kids hidden in there and i can't overlook those for the bad apples that over shadow them.
after school yesterday i decided to also do ZAP (zeros aren't permissible) because i stay until 6pm on fridays at least anyway....why not get paid to stay? ZAP is from 3:45 - 5:45, so this gave me plenty of time to catch up on the next two weeks lesson plans. there are only about 5 kids in there so it's easily manageable and there is no disciplining them... it's awesome. anyway, my principal comes by to check on the ZAP kiddos and myself while this fellow teacher was in there giving me pointers on my problem period. so we tell him what's going on and my issues with this group of kids.... he immediately gives me the best advice i've heard all year -- take their chair away from them. GENIUS! when they act up, just make them stand and do their work. he also said if this continues he will be happy to come to my problem period and address the students himself. Oh thank you Jesus for good administration :)
I am so blessed to be at Yoakum JrHigh with such wonderful support. Other teachers are always there to help out, lend advice, and just listen when I need to vent. I couldn't ask for a better principal either. I think the day he leaves YJH will be my last day, too. I can't imagine that campus without him! I am so lucky to have found a job that is so challenging and rewarding, and there couldn't have been a better "home" for me than at YJH!
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