All right.

So today was a decent day overall. Last week, I started tracking "Y" or "N" each day on my home calendar. A "Y" means that yes, I would go back to school the next day if given the option to stay or leave An "N" means that no, I would not go back. Last week, I had 3 Ys and 2 Ns. So far this week, I have one Y. :)

Today I decided to adopt the outward attitude of the teacher next door to me. Mr. Soraio* is EXTREMELY mellow. This is his 40th (yes, 40th) year of teaching, and he is usually calm, cool, and collected. His sense of humor is quiet and sly, and I assume his teaching follows a similar pattern. Today, I tried to emulate some of Mr. Soraio's characteristics. I also kept in mind a mantra that my high school biology teacher told us: "Be a duck. Let the drops of stress roll off your back like water off a duck's." I usually get really irritated with my 2nd and 5th period classes. Not today! No, thank you. I was generally calm, cool, and collected. I ignored more minor misbehaviors, and was much more mellow than usual. I even tried my best to laugh once or twice with each class. It was refreshing.

My counterpart in the other sixth grade hallway has proved helpful as well. Last week, we went to lunch (as we do on occasion), and I asked him how to work with the students who WON'T do anything. He gave me an analogy that went something like this:

"Imagine that you're a conductor of a train. Some students will be on board with you, and some won't. For those who aren't, sometimes you've gotta leave them at the stop and come back around and get them next time. Sometimes you need to lay off a kid for a week or two or three, let him fail, then come back around to him when he's ready or when you're ready to try again." That alleviated a LOT of stress! I used to think I had to be on EVERY student, EVERY day for everything. It got tiring. Today, I let some of the students slack off, as long as they weren't bothering anyone. I realized it'll show on their grades and test scores, but I didn't feel so guilty about it today.

Finally, I'm debating (as always!) if I want to stay in this crazy profession or not. This morning, I worked on the Peace Corps application I'd started 2 years ago (last time I taught!). I'm not sure what next year holds, but I'm trying to decide what will be best for me.

Also helpful this week: I don't have morning bus duty (hallelujah!!!), there are only 2 more days of school (!!), AND I only have one more day of tutoring this week. Additionally, one of the other newbies and I are trying to form the "Yet Club." Since we both aren't liking how after-school tutoring is set up, we're thinking of having homework/classwork assistance available after school. The kids can come in on an as-needed basis. No formal lessons. No mandated attendance. They can take the 5 o' clock after-school bus home. I hope this club works (even if we don't get paid for it), because I think it'd help our students WAY more than the tutoring we're doing now. Finally, my counterpart/informal mentor (the one who explained the "train" analogy above) actually USED an activity I made!! :) I found it in the teachers' lounge trash, but he had had his honors kids complete something that *I* made. I was very honored and flattered, but I don't think I'll tell him. I put a copy of the work in his mailbox last week, and I was thrilled that he actually used it!

Okee, for now I plan out the next two days, then head to the YMCA again. They have treadmills that are to die for. Cheers!