Completed Marking = 1/F*

(Friday's Workday - 8:00am-4:45pm)

* where F is the amount of fun I've been having (represented in whatever units you measure fun in).

This is the proportion I introduced to my grade 9 math classes. Actually, I merely described the proportional relationship. On Friday (of course) they all wanted to know when they would be getting their tests back. I told them it would be sometime next week, but how early or how late in the week would depend on how much else I have to do. I said if they got them back on Monday they should be thinking "aww, poor Ms. Smartypants, she has no life!".

The conversation was actually more ingenious than I'd first realized. Now the kids might be slightly more open to getting their marked tests and quizzes back a little later. Not because they'll be happy for me for finding something better to do (even though this is exactly what I told them they should be thinking), but because they'll probably enjoy putting me on the spot for each day they're delayed.

On Friday night, in fact, I did have a life. I went to see a musical with a group from school (some staff, mostly students). One of our music students was cast in the ensemble, and we were all excited to see him perform. This outing is why I couldn't post last night (I got home at 1am) and why I could consider my workday to be 8am to 12am! After all, I was out with students. It might have been a field trip! But, sure, okay, as you can see from the top I didn't include it. I was at school until almost 5pm doing real work, though. I was working one-on-one (and later on two) with the Chattanooga girls.

To summarize my thoughts on last night's performance, first of all, the student was great. His performance was awesome, he had a couple of lines, and I found it pretty cool to see him in there. The musical itself, however, was godawful. And I don't mean the performance, but the actual piece. It was some rarely performed, widely unknown, and poorly acclaimed Rodgers and Hammerstein production. It's so rarely performed, in fact, that this little company's performance of it was the Canadian premiere!

The company included a couple of fairly good performers, but also a number of fairly terrible ones. I could even pick out this ear-bleeding singing while some cast members were in the background chorus (as they were not introduced as main characters until later in the musical). I had picked out a particularly awful chorus member early on, only to find out she was cast as a major character in the middle of act two! Sure enough, she had a couple of solos so I could hear for sure just how poorly she sang. Her tone was throaty and flat, and then she would actually shake her head at the ends of phrases to give some illusion of vibrato! It was painful to watch. I don't know what they teach people in musical theatre these days, but that is definitely poor practice.

Regardless of everything I mentioned above, it's still good to get out to "the theatre" one in a while. I really need to see shows more often. When I'm rich and have a car (once a laughable statement, this may actually happen next school year), I will certainly look into it.

What Is Up With People?

Workday - 8:15am-2:15pm

Strange things happened today. I thought of a number of stories I wanted to write about in this entry, and I couldn't tie them all together. They were all weird events, however, and so I figured I'd just list them.

First of all, I began my day by nearly being hit by a car. Always a good way to start one's morning! I was crossing (with the light), and he was approaching the red and turning right, and made no attempt to stop whatsoever. We were about an inch apart when we "met". He almost went through without ever seeing me, but then we finally made eye contact as my face was nearly pressed against the driver's side window. I saw him mouth "oh, sorry", but he still didn't stop as he was saying it! I lifted my arms up at him in a "what the hell are you doing?" gesture, but that's it. When I told my students the story, later, they were surprised I didn't react more fiercely. I told them, being in the school neighbourhood and all, I wasn't going to cause a scene (not that I'm ever someone to cause a scene). The person driving the car could very likely be a student's parent, and that would be a bad situation.

In second and third period, my math classes wrote their tests. As I figured, they were too long. Most students still seemed to finish in time, however. When third period began, I watched a student take out three (THREE) calculators.

I said to her, "wow! Three calculators?? The test isn't that hard!"

She then took out the rest of her things and laid them out in front of her, saying "yep! I have three calculators, three pencils, and three erasers!"

Indeed, she did.

My first thought was, hmm OCD? The three pencils made sense, as they weren't mechanical and the lead could have broken. I don't think I'll ever figure out why she needed the other things in multiples. I assume she's just trying to be quirky.

I also have two, very beginner ESL students in this math class. They're so beginner that I don't think they understand a word I say, even when I speak in monosyllables. Actually, one guy seems to react well enough when I say a word and point to what I mean (e.g., "book" and then "me", and then he realized he should give me his book). That student even knows enough English to say "yes" or "huh?" in response to whatever I say. The second guy, on the other hand, obviously knows zero English. The light is off no matter what I say to him. I have no idea how either of them are going to pass this math class, when more than half of the questions involve lengthy word problems. I tried to tell them they should use (Chinese-English) dictionaries to help them, but they can't understand me! The solution is usually to use another kid in the class as a translator.

Of course, when I said to my wise-asses, "can someone please tell him that he should use a dictionary?" the kid sitting next to him looked straight at him and said "you should use a dictionary!".

Duh.

I don't even know if the two of them speak Mandarin or Cantonese, because most kids in the school only speak one or the other (and thus can't translate to just anyone). Oh well. I'll look into this problem next week, perhaps.

After the tests were finished, my day was over. I hung around another hour, though, and did some work. On the bus home, I was unfortunate enough to glance past a passenger just as he was horking into a tissue. I almost lost my lunch right there on the bus for having seen that. I really don't understand the compulsion to spit.

...but it gets worse. After he finished this expectoration, he placed the tissue onto the floor of the bus! Ugh! Not a few minutes later, he repeated the exact same process. Luckily, I managed to avoid watching him spit this time, but I did see him place the second tissue on the floor.

*shudder*

The Big Test

Workday - 8:30am-6:30pm

Good lord. How did I end up staying at work until 6:30, tonight?? Well, I'll tell you how.

I was expecting to stay maybe 30 minutes later while I photocopied some math tests. My first delay was thinking of a bonus question to add to it. I eventually typed that up, printed it off, and stuck it to the last page. Then the tests took about 15 minutes in the photocopier. After they were done, I checked them over and began to realize the test looked too long. I'd already cut it down a lot, too. Coincidentally, a couple of grade 12 students saw the pile of tests and asked if they could write them for fun. Actually, one was a grade 11 student, but she's currently taking grade 12 math.

These students were probably two of the top students in the whole school. Of course, I knew they wouldn't give an accurate representation of how much time it would take a grade 9 to write that test. They just insisted on writing them anyway. Plus, they both insisted on not using calculators (which would help increase time factor). And so, they decided to race each other. It still took them a half hour to write the test.

I marked their tests, and the grade 12 guy won by 1% (he also finished faster). Both students received over 100% overall, still (there was a 2-mark bonus question).

So that's what kept me at school forever. Watching them do the tests, and then marking them! Insanity. But it did help me realize that the test really would be too long. Seeing where they struggled also helped me think of one question I could cut out. I'll just call it another bonus.

And now it's 8pm, and I haven't had dinner. What a day. I also worked all through my prep period and right through lunch. I basically haven't stopped since I woke up this morning.

Corny Jokes

Workday - 7:30am-5:30pm

Ok, let's try this topic again.

We have these math worksheets that come with little riddles on them. They're probably quite popular, and I'm betting most schools have the binder in their math departments somewhere. Each question usually corresponds with a letter and, after you solve all of them, you match things up to reveal a little joke. The jokes are almost always terribly corny, but at least it offers some motivation to complete the exercises. In fact, I think the students are even more motivated because they're always hoping that this will be the sheet with a joke that's funny!

I've also found that, because English isn't the first language for many of these kids, corny jokes are the ones they're most likely to understand. Good jokes are usually lost on them.

Yesterday, for example, I was explaining some problems involving calculating simple interest. Near the end, these two girls couldn't stop giggling. I had no idea what set them off, but the fits were becoming louder and more uncontrollable.

After I finished the lesson, I finally said "all right, what are you girls laughing about?"

Silence.

"Is there something funny about interest? I mean, I know it's interesting and all. Har. Har."

Ok. That was just terrible, I know (it actually came to me the very second I said it). Yet a few kids still chuckled at that. It got a better reaction than anything I've said that was actually clever.

Today, the students were working on some logic problems. These were problems where you use deductive reasoning to find out what goes with what. For example, the question we discussed in class was:

A cat, dog, monkey, and elephant are named Snow, Wags, Boots, and Trixie. Use the clues to name each animal:
- Trixie is a friend of the cat and the elephant
- The dog and Boots enjoy popcorn.
- Snow and Boots play golf with the monkey.
- The elephant does not play outdoor sports.

Feel free to work this problem out yourself to add a bit of excitement to your life!

Of course, I had to explain things to them right away such as not to assume things. I told them not to assume the dog would be "wags" because that's a good name for the dog. I also told them not to use the picture (that went with it in the textbook) as any sort of guide. One girl had said "look! The dog's arm is around the cat in the picture, so the dog must be Trixie!". They had to learn that the written clues were their only hints.

And so, I worked through the problem together with the class on the chalkboard.

At the end, as I always do, I asked "does anyone have any questions?"

Silence.

"No? No one even wants to know how a cat, dog, and monkey can play golf? I mean, I know that's what I'm wondering."

Corny Jokes

Workday - 8:15am-8:00pm

I had something to write about today, but I don't thi... I.. urghhh...zzzzzz.

...And Then It Was Crossed

Workday - (none)

Well, no sooner than I post about the student who has my cell phone number and sends me text messages and how I don't think that's crossing any teacher-student line does this happen:

This afternoon I get another text message from her saying she's in a thrift store looking at some pants she thinks I'd like. She asks if I think she should get them for me! That's just not done. Nope. Sorry.

...and even if I were her peer and not a teacher, you can't just buy someone a pair of pants that they haven't tried on! She told me the size, too, and fortunately it's a larger size than I wear. I'm not even going to reply to that message. If she brings it up on Monday, then I'll explain to her why you can rarely buy clothing for people in their absence.

Crossing The Line

Workday - 8:30am-1:00pm*

When you're a teacher, there's a line you have to keep between you and students. I think I've talked about this before. At my last school, that line was very defined -- and very wide! I certainly kept my distance. I just taught them the material, and I almost never shared personal stories in class, or had fun with the kids, or anything human whatsoever. I was a teaching robot!

Now I'm in a school where students have a closer relationship with the teachers. So close, in fact, that outsiders wonder if we've gone too far. At this point, the line between teacher and friend is getting blurred.

Many students know the home and cell phone numbers of some of my colleagues. Of course, they don't call them just to say 'hi', but they have them in case of any emergency. One teacher in particular certainly fancies himself a sort of counsellor when any of his students don't feel comfortable talking to their parents or other adult. I don't see the harm in a teacher taking that role.

Another colleague has at least a dozen students on his MSN contact list. Several of them message him often and they have conversations about anything under the sun (sports, music, television, etc.). He also text messages most of the same students and it goes back and forth.

Each of us in the department draw our own lines. One staff member may cross the line that another one of us has set for ourselves. It's really all over the place. The counsellor teacher would probably never exchange MSN or text messages with students. Though he always has the graduating class of kids over to his home at the end of the year for a barbeque. While the "MSN guy" says he'd never have anyone into his house.

Both of these teachers have been known to drive students home. While a third
one says that's far too risky, and thinks it's never a good idea. The list goes on and on, here. At first, it was all strange and unsettling for me. Later, I began to think maybe I was the strange one for finding the situation "wrong" -- for keeping myself at too much of a distance from my students. In the end, it's made me wonder what should be acceptable and what is definitely not.

Now you're probably wondering where I fit in all this. Where's my "line"? I don't even know, myself. I suppose it's ever-changing.

I bring this up because I do have one student on my MSN contact list. She also has my cell (but not home) phone number, and text messages me at it from time to time. This semester, she has a co-op placement downtown and is determined to run into me at one of the (central) transit stations if she can (as we cross it going opposite ways). Today she sent a text message to say she was approaching the station and asked where I was. Luckily for her, I too was nearing the station. I told her I'd meet her at the subway level. I even missed four trains to stop and chat a bit. She told me about her day, and how co-op wasn't going very well for her. In fact, she's leaving the placement after only two days there and needs to find another one. I sent her off with some of my trademark words of wisdom, and caught the next subway home.

I don't believe any of this should be seen as unacceptable.


* I only arrived that late because I was stuck on the train for 20 extra minutes. There was some "security incident" at one of the stops. And look! I managed to leave at 1pm!

A Fun Day

Workday - 8:15am-4:15pm

I anticipate fewer updates to this blog in the near future. I just don't have the time to write a story each day. Work is ever-increasing.

Today was fairly fun. I did the scavenger hunt game in the other math class, and they also got into it (and they also tried to tamper with the answers. I don't know why they thought this was such a great idea. It just meant everyone would get it wrong). In both classes I conducted a "math race" with review questions. The first one to get it right got a fruit candy. The kids also really got into this game. I'm glad they're gung-ho. I also learned I have quite a few speedy math geniuses in them! After 10 questions with a few ties (and a couple of 'pity prizes'), everyone got at least one candy. I told you I was fair! Although some may argue that's actually not fair (and communist). Hahah.

Tomorrow is going to be back to busy. Fortunately, it's Friday -- plus I'll be done early. What are the chances I'll actually leave school when I'm finished? I'd like to get out of there by 1pm and go home and nap. It's Friday, why stick around? Hmm. We'll see.

Tomorrow Is A Write-Off

Workday - 8:00am-3:00pm

I had a nice afternoon off, hanging out with my sister. Nothing too exciting to talk about today. I only got the chance to do my "exciting activity" in one of my math classes. It actually went very well, and the students got right into it. Basically, it was like a scavenger hunt around the classroom. The kids had to find different percentages stated on the worksheet (like the percent of chalk that's coloured, or how many students in class were wearing their I.D. tags). There were some flaws with the exercise (i.e., students could change the numbers themselves as they were going around the room. Some broke chalk to make more pieces, others took off their I.D. tags, etc.), but overall it was still fun and educational.

Now I can look forward to tomorrow. About a quarter of the school population will be away on trips. The number was originally supposed to be higher (in fact, the entire school was supposed to be participating in trips or in-school activities, but it couldn't get organized in time). I'm going to pop in a movie for the careers class, and then do some fun worksheets with my math classes. Although I might do the scavenger hunt with the other math class, since it will be significantly smaller.

I'm just glad tomorrow won't be at all intense, because I don't think I'd be able to survive it. It's becoming increasingly difficult to last through five days. Mondays and Tuesdays take it all out of me, and then I'm just sleepwalking through the rest of the week. Mmm... sleep.

Tuesday Miscellany

Workday - 7:30am-5:15pm

I don't know if I'll ever get those damn math quizzes marked. Although I've vowed to get them done tonight, no matter what it takes.

---

Tomorrow I have something fun planned for my math classes, and I'm actually a little excited about how it will go. It's not even that great of an activity, but it involves them having to get up and walk around the classroom a bit (and a change of pace is always refreshing). I'm just hoping they'll get into it and not be lazy!

---

Also tomorrow, I'm expecting my sister to come visit me at work. She's never been to this school, so I'm happy to show it off. It's too bad I don't think there's any way for her to sneak in and observe my last class. With that fun lesson, she might enjoy watching it in action. Actually, I've never really had any friend or family member "watch me teach". I think that'd be a little weird. Still, it might be interesting sometime (if I could ever get away with it).

---

Chattanooga's coming along nicely. The quartet was one short this afternoon, but it still sounded great. Definitely much cleaner than last time.

---

In my math class, two different students (on separate occasions) whispered to the persons beside them that I had neat writing. I don't know why I found this all that flattering, but I guess I'll enjoy a compliment from a student any way I can get one. I think the kids just found this refreshing. The other teachers in the school must have comparatively awful penmanship.

---

My careers class spent the last half of the period on the computers completing an online quiz. The test was your basic skills/interests -> workplace inventory. In the end, they're given a suggested list of careers that match their interests and abilities. They had some fun with that. It was especially fun to watch their disappointment when the list came back! I understand how they felt, though, because teacher and musician were nowhere to be found in my list. My top suggestion was "gambling casino worker". Hahaha!

I had gone around checking out what everyone was getting. One pouting student asked if there was a way he could change his answers. He wanted to pursue something in astronomy (I believe).

I looked at his list and replied, "what? You mean you don't want to be a midwife?? Or a podiatrist? Why not?". The girls beside him began to giggle.

"You must have selected that you're a hands-on type of person. These are hands-on careers! There's a reason why they suit you!" The kid got more depressed.

Of course, the whole point in the exercise was just to show them options. We're supposed to stress that this isn't pigeon-holing them into a specific career path, except it was more fun to freak them out.

Marking Insanity

Workday - 8:30am-8:00pm

I can't post much again today. Being Monday, I just don't have the time or the energy. Right now I'm swamped with marking. The 60 (or so) math quizzes are taking far longer to mark than I'd anticipated. After they're done, I need to mark about 30 collages from my career class.

As usual, I have to be gone by 6:30am tomorrow. I better get some sleep!

My First P. D. Day

Workday - 8:30am-3:30pm

Today I experienced my first P. D. day. For those who don't know what that is, "P. D." stands for "professional development". It's a day the students get off, but teachers have to come in to learn something. Sometimes what we learn is a total write-off, apparently. I heard about P. D. days of yore where teachers had been to juggling and feng shui seminars. Some people pick the most pointless ones so they can just sit in the back and sleep. Today, however, we got a pretty meaningful bag of stuff. The morning (and one of the afternoon workshops) was dedicated to promoting trades and apprenticeships.

It's an important topic, although mostly lost on the kids that go to my school. These kids are going to university to be doctors, or their parents will kill them and that's that! Much of the question period during the panel discussion (in the second half of the morning) was dedicated to how we can convince parents that it's "okay" for their kids to pursue these fields. No one had any real answers.

Still, I would strongly encourage the word to get out about apprenticeships at most other schools. Schools with higher drop-out rates and kids with no plans for after graduation. I don't think people realize how much money you can make at a career in some trades. In one of the tech schools I worked at, I had seen a poster comparing beginning salaries of most of the careers out there. It also listed the salaries about 2 and 10 years down the road. I talked to another staff member about this poster to make sure we could track one down for our school. It's a very interesting read.

Just to recap, though, most of the day was still pointless. That morning panel was crap! It had people who either didn't know what they were talking about, or only knew about one thing and just came to promote this, or were very poor public speakers. Although I do feel bad about one of them. One of the teachers forced her husband to be one of the panelists and talk on behalf of his field (in carpentry). He was not the public speaking sort, and was visibly nervous. During his short spiel it sounded as if he was going to cry! Another panelist (who, I must add, arrived late) had answered a question at the end by promoting the exact opposite of what the discussion was about! Sad.

Is it needless to say we engaged in another liquid lunch? It's a proud P. D. day tradition. We kept some composure during the afternoon workshops (I should specify that "we" consists of three members of the music department. The two usual lushes, and myself. I'm really not a drunkard, but I can appreciate the use of being in such a state on the occasion). I even learned a couple of important bits of info in both sessions.

The second session happened to be about teaching sensitive issues, though. I knew they were going to get giggly. Sure enough, the tables were stacked with a variety of "controversial" library books. I grabbed Moby Dick off of one pile and turned to my colleague:

"Look! There's certainly sensitive issue in this one!"

"*snicker* It says 'dick'. *giggle*"

Yeah. No one said we were a mature bunch. Of course, then I found the novel Sexing the Cherry.

"Oh my GOD!" as I tossed it beside me.

"*snicker* Ooh. I think I read this, already." He was joking, of course.

I actually have no clue what that book was about.

At 3 o'clock, we wrapped up the day with a little ice cream social. That was an awesome sundae bar. Still, probably not a good idea after what I had for lunch. Owww.

In conclusion: P. D. days are good fun. I got the best of both worlds. I had drunken silliness and learned quite a bit!

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day, folks!

Lightheaded

Workday - 8:15am-2:15pm

I thought of a better entry for today, but I'm feeling too lazy to write it. I think I lost a few million brain cells this afternoon, actually. I spent the last hour of my day at school hanging out in the music office. My coworker was out in the hallway spraypainting numbers on the new instrument cases. The fumes became increasingly intolerable. By the end of the lunch period my head was severely hurting.

I'm just having a hell of a time making sentences that work, right now. I think I did get stupid, there. See? The quality of these statements is declining at a ... fast... time. Come back, brain! Me... need... smarts. Duhhhh.

Math Tests Made Easy

Workday - 8:15am-5pm

I love this assessment bank program. It's put out by the makers of the textbook, so it has questions just like the ones students are working on for homework. I'd always made my tests and quizzes up from scratch, before now. Suddenly I hear about these great applications out there! The program not only has different kinds of problems for each section of the text, but most of the questions also come with a "change values" option for even more variety! I was able to make two different math quizzes for my period 3 and 5 classes (knowing some of them would "talk" to the others during a period 4 lunch period). It just took a click of a button for each question, and *boom*, new values!

Too much time is wasted making up tests, because I think my effort is better spent on other things. I'd rather focus my energy on the lessons and more interesting assignments.

It's nothing that interesting to other people, I admit, but I'm quite excited about this discovery.

Safety

Workday - 7:30am-5:15pm

Another long day. I volunteered to stay later after choir to help a group learn "Chattanooga Choo Choo". These four girls will be singing the piece with the stage band at the spring concert, and it's a difficult song (lots of tight harmony). And so, on Tuesdays I'll be at school even later than usual.

Plus I couldn't score a ride to the station after choir practice, which makes the commute home even longer. It also means I have to walk across the mall parking lot at dusk to get to my bus stop. The neighbourhood isn't all that safe. I felt okay about making the trek since it's not quite dark at 5:30, now. As I'm leaving, I walk out of the school with a student and make small talk. I had verbalized that safety perception, to which she replies "well, actually some women were stabbed recently around here at about this time at night".

Gee. THANKS, kid.

That was good to hear. Fortunately, I don't often have to make the walk quite as late. I usually get a ride on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the rest of the week I try to leave by 4:30. At least, I will now! It's funny, the neighbourhood doesn't seem bad either. I don't see trouble anywhere I look, that is. There are gangs, however. I think they hide. Also, they're around more during night school evenings (those being Mondays and Wednesdays).

In conclusion, don't worry about me, folks. I'll try not to die on my way home from work or anything. Really.

Ugh.

Workday - 8:00am-8:00pm

Well, I finally made it to school for 8am one morning! That made my workday a nice, round 12 hours long. Then I went out for a drink for another hour. Damn these Mondays! I have to be up in a little over 8 hours, so I think I'll go to bed without a story!

Schoolyard's Alternate Purposes

Workday - 8:15am-1:15pm

I finally teach in a classroom with windows. While my math class worked quietly, I peered out into the yard behind the school. For the first time, I noticed that there's a ravine back there -- with a path and bridge and some woods just beyond that. So I say out loud, "wow, I didn't realize there was a ravine behind the school! And there's a little bridge. How cute!". I knew this comment would also start up something interesting. Right away one student exclaimed "yeah! That's where (his friend sitting beside him) lives! Under the bridge. You have to answer his questions correctly to pass". Of course, I have to give my Simpsons two-cents to that, and replied (to the other kid) "oh no! You have to live under a bridge like a common troll?".

Then I pointed out the window and informed the class that those woods were where teachers took students to hunt them for sport. I think they got excited about that. I have fun students.

Homework Is God

In my math classes, the daily homework questions are written at the side of the blackboard. Students who sit on the opposite side of the room have trouble seeing what I wrote, and most of them come up closer to copy it down after the lesson. At the beginning, they would just crowd around the board and block the other students' view. Eventually, I mentioned to them to "watch where you're standing, so that you're not blocking the board". All at once, the students got on their knees to duck out of the way. I found this gesture the most hilarious sight I'd seen in a long time! Behold! My students kneeling before the almighty homework assignment.

Since then, the students have done the same after each lesson. I quite enjoy watching this ceremony.

I Know My Students Like Me

Workday - 8:15am-3:45pm

... because they come visit me in my other classes. Actually, two of them weren't ever my students. Music students just get to know the whole music staff (and vice versa). I had one senior student (from my keyboarding class last semester) come and talk to me for 10 minutes before first period. The other two students just happened to pass by my math classes and wandered in. One grade 11 student came in during third period, was all excited to find me in that wing of the school, and vowed to visit more often (third period being her lunch break). Then a grade 10 student peered in after fifth period and asked what I was teaching in there. I told her, "grade 9 math". She replied with "oh WOW! Cool!". That must be the only time anyone would find teaching math "cool" -- when they know you only as a music teacher.

In fact, that's the second time I shocked someone with this today. One of the vice principals came into the math office and exclaimed "what are you doing here?". When I told her that I also teach math, she said I was eclectic. Yup, that's me.

Morning Rush

Workday - 8:15am-3:45pm

Hm, I really want to get to school for 8am in order to accomplish the things I need to get done (and without being in a mad rush). Try as I might, something always delays me. And something generally = transit. Today one of my trains just sat there, going nowhere, for about 10 minutes. Although this morning I was also later getting out of the apartment because I was severely (and strangely) nauseated. It brought back a lot of scary memories, too. I remember when I always had nausea for the first hour or two of the morning. It's been years since, though.

Well, I really have nothing interesting to report today. And since this week has really been wiping me out, I might just call it an early night.

More First Week Chaos

Workday - 7:30am-5:30pm

Ugh. Tuesdays are so tiring.

Today my careers class got kicked out of our classroom mid-way through the period. Another teacher came to reclaim his room, and while the students started packing up and moving towards the door I had to rush to stop them. We had nowhere to go! Fortunately, this other teacher (who didn't have any students to move in there quite yet) then left to talk to the vice principal about which room my class could have. Well, that ordeal ate up some time. Plus the new classroom had the exact same layout as the old one, so I didn't even have to make up a new seating plan! Then after school I finally got a key to that room, and now I'm set.

Then in one of the math classes, a new student showed. That, in itself, wasn't unexpected or unusual. Unfortunately, the department has run out of textbooks for that course. I was actually lucky to get the ones I did! I knew they had ordered more, but I wasn't sure if we'd see them within the next two weeks. After class, I went and photocopied about five sections out of the book for the guy (and after he took those, I stayed and photocopied about five more). When I went back to the math office, I found two of the grade 9 textbooks sitting on an empty desk. I asked the math head if they were claimed, and he told me I could take them! Sheesh. I wish I'd known they were there before I spent 20 minutes at the photocopier.

Tomorrow I teach all three classes in a row right from 8:45, so I have to get this prep work done now or never. This day just gets even longer!

New Beginnings

Workday - 8:00am-4:00pm

Now that I have a first period class, I'm going to have to start coming in earlier. Leaving home at 7am is pretty rough, but I'll get used to it. Tomorrow I have to leave at 6:30am to make it to early band practice. The only reason I wasn't at school until 7:30pm tonight is because I had to get home to do laundry before the room closed. Mondays and Tuesdays are going to be just painful.

Well, the first day of second semester went well enough. While I'm still dreading teaching that damn careers course, I really like the class I have. We already get along great and had a fun time this morning. It's just a shame this is the group I'm only going to have for half the semester! The math classes went well too, but those grade 9s are far more humourless. Oh well. If they don't want fun in their class, I can just scrap it!

Right now things are going to be a little unstable and hectic. I can't wait to settle into a nice routine. Today I had to deal with not having a key to my first period classroom, handing out textbooks that were brand new (not stamped, no numbers) which I was not warned about, and the usual issue of students who were in my class but needed to transfer out. Plus, the careers class will be learning without textbooks until about Friday. To be honest, though, these courses have far less chaos in the beginning than the music classes.

Tomorrow the math classes will already be fairly settled with a straightforward lesson and then homework questions. Again, I worry about that careers class. The whole curriculum is so wishy-washy. I have nothing against class discussions and reflection writing (well, mostly) but it's not as concrete as other activities. It's so hard to time that sort of class. You might allot 15 minutes for free chat, but then find no one wants to talk! Maybe I should stock up on some "just in case" time-fillers (like word searches or other activity sheets). Good idea, Smartypants. Thanks, I thought so.