Because it gets better.
Because the first year is insane, finding your rhythm time.
Because, I swear, in a week, you will have some kids you love.
Because you know that you can make someone love, or at least be less fearful, of math.
Because you wanted to make a difference.
Because teaching is a more societially acceptable form of maschocism than sporting 24/7 bondage tape and a flogger! (If a wee bit less exciting sartorially...)
I do post in here! And I say GO TIVO! 180 hours, dual tuner, AND wireless? I'm jealous! (Though, um, don't let my DVD-burning TiVO hear me say that, lest it decide to implode or something)
Aww. Em. Hugs. May things get better, or at least may the weekend come soon, and last long.
And tell, Em. Really. I had the class from HELLLLLL last year. Awful.
Was there blood? Fire? Weapons? Then it's fixable.
What Erin said. Also {{{Emily}}} Also, middle school kids have to do a lot of testing.
Happy birthday meara!
And JenP, should you happen to see this!
Poor Emily. You should listen to Erin though, because she is wise.
So I should watch Supernatural, this year? Boy. Smell nice.
Yeah. Boy smell very nice and look very pretty. Dean still woobie. Sam still broken. Car still shiny.
{{{Emily}}} Want to do something this weekend?
Hee, it's JenK's birthday, so I hereby thank you and transfer your good wishes on to their rightful recipient.
Just a drive-by to say thank you for the birthday wishes! And also to wish meara a wonderful evening.
Was there blood? Fire? Weapons? Then it's fixable.
Just the sinking sensation that I wasn't giving consequences consistently, that I was letting them get away with stuff, that... you know. That I'm one of those teachers who can't control her classroom.
I gave a couple of detentions that the kids didn't show up to, which tells me I need to give them detention cards or something. It's too easy for them to forget (and I know that because it's so easy for me to forget -- one kid showed up after school today and I couldn't for the life of me remember what he'd done). I called security to take a couple of kids out of my room, which I feel kind of good about because I'm not ALWAYS letting them get away with stuff -- but I think it happens often enough that it didn't really bother them. Maybe it'll bother their parents.
I just still feel lost -- another teacher came by to help out a bit today, and he said to the kids, "She's not going to repeat herself. She tells you once, and then counts down from three. If you haven't stopped, she calls Zack." And I made a "Yeah, what he said!" face, and thought, Who's Zack? I don't know how to write referrals, I don't know who anyone is...
It's only the second day. Yesterday was all "getting to know you" stuff, today was mostly getting them in their assigned seats (and attempting to start a packet which turned into an organizational nightmare)... it might get better. It's just, seventh period I found myself really thinking for the first time, "Maybe I don't want to do this." It WILL get better. It has to. It's just that the first week is so important for setting routines, and I'm not ready for it, so I see the opportunity slipping by.