Why?

Why do people have to be so mean to each other? Why am I in a profession that requires me to be a constant authority figure? I don't like having to police the students every 2 seconds. I don't enjoy confiscating every little thing from the students (e.g., today the students started folding paper into sturdy slinghots for rubber bands... they've been declared "weapons" by the vice principal).

I don't like that the kids are mean to each other, sass me, are disrespectful, messy, rude, and so forth. Of course, that's not all my kids. But there are a healthy number of students who just piss me off for kicks. I try not to let it get to me (they're eleven years old!!), but sometimes a full day of that gets draining.

Invariably, when I get a few peaceful moments in the classroom (with a class there), it's interrupted minutes later by a student who HAS to shout out something insipid. Then they go and say stuff like, "I'm bored," or, "This is stupid!" I should take it as a challenge to be a better teacher, but right now, I'm still pretty overwhelmed and tired. I'm just tired. And when the kids don't appreciate the efforts I take, it's incredibly frustrating. Bleh.

Aaaaanyway, that's it for now.

Funny (??) story

So last Friday, I was wrapping up my last class of the day. This is usually my favorite class, because a.) it's at the end of the day, and b.) the kids are mostly honors kids, so I can move at a faster pace and have a bit more fun with them.

Anyway, we were working on an in-class review of the week's concepts. I told the students to try their best to finish it in class (I didn't want to give homework on a Friday!!). One girl, concerned about time, asked, "What if we don't finish it in class?"

I don't know why I said it, but my weird response was, "I dunno. You'll probably die in your sleep."

...

The whole class froze, looks of confusion across their faces.

"What?" the student queried, suddenly worried and slightly panicked.

"Oh... I mean, we all have to die sometime... I'm just saying..."

Whoops.

"I shouldn't have said that, huh?" I asked, more to myself than the class.

"Probably not," a helpful student replied.

And there you have it, folks: I'd come undone. :P

Popcorn and dry-erase markers

So my classroom often has two distinct aromas: (usually burnt) popcorn and dry-erase markers. During my last class of the day, a lot of students will generally remark, "Who always eats popcorn in here?" (Um, duh, it's me!) :)

Anyway, this week has been pretty decent overall. Granted, it's only Tuesday, and this is testing week, but still... I am INCREDIBLY grateful for the other 6th grade math teacher. He's been a true mentor, giving me resources and advice whenever needed. He'll frequently send a student over with the work they're doing in his classes. He told me today (as he's said a few times) that I remind him a lot of himself. This is incredibly flattering, as I think he's an intelligent, talented and effective teacher. (Heck, I've even observed him a few times to get some ideas!) Anyway, he's excellent, and I feel very fortunate to have such a professional, awesome coworker.

Next, I've shifted my attitude a bit. I have told myself that the "first" year will probably not be the best. (I've also resigned myself to being essentially a first- year teacher all over again. It's a different subject, different grade, school, area, etc.) Since I've admitted that this will be a fairly rough year, I've just decided to make the best of it. I try to laugh in every class if I can. I try to banter (appropriately) with the students. I try to let my enthusiasm make up for what can be dry material. I figure the methods and resources will be built, but for now, I've only got my energy as a way of making school more interesting.

I also can't help but think that maybe, if I stick with this for a few years, I might get better at it!! Next year, the entire state of Arizona is changing its math standards (just when I'm getting the hang of these!!!)... We're trying to keep up with California, so we're upping our standards a full grade level. That means next year, I'll pretty much be teaching 7th grade math. And the jump from 5th to 6th grade math is proving difficult for the students... We'll see how they handle the 5th to 7th grade jump next year... eek!

Okee, for now, I finish up stuff here and head home before 8pm!! Score.