Adventures of a First Year Teacher

Just discovered a forgotten journal I was keeping for the first few days of teaching last year. Here are selections from my entry beginning with the second day of my first year of teaching.

The Good:
Today I had my first crackdown, discipline-wise, and I handled it tremendously well, if I do say so myself. I handed out this assignment to the kids and told them not to worry about finishing it tonight; it wasn’t homework, that we’d finish it in class tomorrow, but that they should use their time today wisely. The kid—who we’ll call Andrew because that is his name—packed up early. I told him to sit back down and finish working. He said he’d do it tonight. I said, well then why am I giving you time tomorrow? He said nothing. I said sit down and finish it. We had a stare down. The thing is, he was standing up first and was much taller than I was, but as I stared him down, he gradually sank into the chair until I was taller (never underestimate the importance of body language, as Ursula would tell me, if I were a mermaid named Ariel). But even though he did that, I could tell he wasn’t going to back down. So I stared at him for a few more seconds and then said, “Okay, it’s homework. For everyone.” He immediately said, “No, I’ll do it. Look I’m getting it out.” But I completely ignored him and turned around to a bunch of girls digging through my books and said, “Did you hear that girls? The assignment’s homework. If anyone doesn’t have it done tomorrow at the beginning of class, it’s late.” And since I have a really strict late policy, I think it will all be finished. I heard one of the kid’s say, “Way to go, Andrew,” but I didn’t even look at him for the next minute or so until the bell rang. No skin off my back. It was great!! I really don’t think I’ll have another problem like that one with him again. Knock on wood…

It’s so weird to have my own classroom. To know I can do anything type of curriculum I want. I don’t have to answer to anyone (am having a bit of a problem remembering I don’t have to do all of the previous teacher's curriculum, especially all the stuff with careers). I’m the teacher. I can do whatever I want. THERE’S SO MUCH FREEDOM!!! I LOVE IT!!!

Good day all around. Knew everybody’s name as they walked out of my classroom. Hopefully at least half of them will carry over. WOB came in during sixth hour when the kids had their dictionaries open and were working-slash-quizzing me over their names. Very good moment for him to observe meJ Am excited to get back there tomorrow morning and get to work again.

The Bad:
I’m having lots of fun, but am physically exhausted at the end of every day. I fall into bed and am asleep in minutes. Plus, I have no life and I’m broke. I have $1.90 in my checking account and don’t get paid for eight more days. Hmm.

The Inbetween:
Me, today in school sixth period: In the scene of Romeo & Juliet you read last night as homework, can anyone tell me what the nurse and Lady Capulet are talking about.

[Several hands go up]

Me: Emily?

Emily: They’re reminiscing about Juliet’s childhood

Me: Exactly! Nice work. What else? Andrew?

Andrew: Is there a war going on in Iraq?

Me:

Amanda: Andrew! Shut up!!

That kid is unlike any other student I’ve ever met in my life. Despite his inability to focus on ANYTHING at hand, I do really like him. He’s fun…although I wish he’d quit flirting with me. It’s especially embarrassing when kids from other classes comment on it.

Ha! How hilarious!! I'm happy to say that the flirting did stop once I no longer had him in class. I am currently laughing to myself about how excited I was to get back to work the next day. I am now counting down the days until summer vacation (for the record, it's 21--four full weeks of classes plus one day for the teachers).