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.

Oh, and I gave the kids assigned seats today but said if they had a real problem they could write me a note and I would consider moving them. One of the notes says, "I don't fill rit here let me move". Move where? Who knows. As it happens, it's exactly the seat she was in yesterday.

ETA: While another one has a well-written request with reasons, signed "Sincerely" with her name, and has a stamp drawn on the front with the word "Persanol" written on it. Too cute.

Oh dear. Just realized I have two people complaining about sitting next to the same guy because he talks too much. Guess I need to be concentrating on him.

Just the sinking sensation that I wasn't giving consequences consistently, that I was letting them get away with stuff, that... you know.

Oh, I know that feeling! The 2nd year is SO much better than the first, believe you me.

I was too easy last year. I lost my temper a lot. I yelled, a lot.

Tomorrow, try to explain your procedures. For EVERYTHING. I have a powerpoint I can email you that you can attack and tweak, if you wish.

Problem is, I don't really have procedures yet. I'm willing, I'm just not sure what they should be. Feels like I keep stuffing things in my head, and they don't stick. Email away! Thank you!

Oh, and assigned seats in classes with more than 10 seats? In general, a must. If they complain, pretend they have moved you, and say "Ok...LEt's compromise. We'll have the seats till the end of quarter. Then, if your behavior has been good, we'll revisit non-assigned seats. So, if you earn them, you'll get them. Sound fair?"

If they say no, not fair, then be all "Well, you have two choices. Assigned seats all year...or we'll check in at quarter. You guys can choose."

They'll choose quarter. Give 'em choices...but choices YOU control.

It WILL get easier.