And We're Back ...

I should be excited, right?

After a somewhat restful summer, it's back to steady pay again.

Is it just me or does it always seem that once you're back, it's like you were gone for a long weekend and nothing more. I suppose that's a good thing. I couldn't imagine still being on vacation mode while trying to convince the students that it's time to buck up and get back to work!

I've survived my first week teaching a new grade that I've never taught before. So far, I'm way too busy wrapping my mind around the curriculum and trying to jog my memory of it from back when I learned it to think about anything else.

I'll be diving into curriculum moreso next week. I think we're all in honeymoon mode, but before I know it, I'll need to write up report cards, and I'll need some proof of their grades. Like with assignments and stuff.

I'm glad to be back but it's strange knowing that I need to re-learn stuff. Now I understand why teachers never want to change grades. Nice and cushy to teach the same thing over and over again.

Annnnnnd SCENE!

The year is finally done. The summer is finally mine.

I will see you all in September ...

It's Crunch Time Dammit!

What do you do when your report cards are due and you realize that a student missed a question in a test?

Well, if you're me, you put your self into the shoes of your student, and answer the question as you think they would.

Luckily for me, this is grade one.

Even more luckily is that there was no writing involved (seriously, this kid's writing is atrocious - and even my fake atrocious writing would be too need to resemble his). He forgot to colour to show an ABB pattern for a math test, and since it was only worth one mark (and only colouring was involved) and I knew he KNEW it, I grabbed an orange and blue and started to scribble the ABB pattern, colouring outside the lines and everything.

You do what you gotta do!

9 days left!

10 Days Left

Not that I'm counting.

Now that I'm changing rooms, I need to start packing up my shit. Thank goodness the school has an elevator, because I don't think I'd be able/willing to carry boxes up stairs. Just not happening.

Of the two room available, I apparently got the room that has the better set up and doesn't have any awkward aspects to it.

Oh and the part I love the most? I'll be moving from a room that had NO sinks, into a room that has THREE sinks. Is that not awesome or what?

And! My classroom has included a second smaller room that I can use as a workroom or a place where I send students when they behave badly and I don't want to look at them. I already am mentally dividing up the space ... figuring out where things can go. I already know that I will be moving the teacher's desk because I don't like where that teacher kept it. That space would be perfect as a centre of sorts. I just need to figure out what that could be.

So yes, I'm gearing up for next year and this year hasn't even ended yet! My reports are due "tomorrow" but I will most likely have them done by Monday. I still have some marking to do and I keep putting it off. I should just suck it up and do it!!!

Breaking Through The Surface

There are 5 weeks left of school.

Can I get a "yee-haw!!!"?

Man, I remember this time last year. Not fun for me. I was taking this killer course for my Master's program while trying to finish up the year. Everyday, I felt a little bit more like shit. Not good times. Not. I had the summer to look forward to in which I would be taking TWO courses (the final two) right up until the end of August. This meant classes every effing day. NOT FUN.

But that's over with now. Man, what a difference one year can make. I'm slowly starting to feel better about myself. I'm gearing up to teach a new grade next year. I'm gearing up for another course this summer, but one which will only last for part of July and will be more fun, since I'm taking it with friends. I'm gearing up for a summer of outdoor activities. Yoga classes. Taking care of me.

Last year at this time, I was drowning. Now, I'm treading water. Next year at this time, I expect to be equivalent to a professional swimmer.

No, really. She's a teacher.

Sometimes teachers act just like their students ... IF NOT WORSE.

There was a teacher at my school who actually threw a TEMPER TANTRAM at work. This is a grown woman who has children of her own. I don't know why that is relevant, but it just is.

She yelled and bitched about how she hates the grade she's teaching and hates being there and bla bla bla, whine whine whine, wa wa wa, blubber blubber blubber.

Seriously, who the FUCK does that??

But more importantly ... who does that TO YOUR ADMINISTRATION??

Umm can you say unstable? Can you say ticking time bomb? Can you say CUCKOO!

I hate this place. I'm sure that the new admin loved to hear that, especially seeing as this is their first year at the school and she didn't admit to this in prior years.

I'm also sure they know that she freaked out because she didn't get what she wanted for next year. Grow the fuck up! GROW. UP.

Did she really think that by having that little episode, she would be handed the position? I don't know how she was able to come to work after that day and act like nothing happened.

Someone needs happy drugs.

Meme-alicious

Tagged by Mister Teacher ...

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

Finishing up my first year of University ... realizing that "the sciences" was not my forté and switiching majors to psychology.

2) Five things on my "TO-DO" list for today?

One - Go to my last class for the course I'm taking.
Two - Finish my reflection paper for that class.
Three - Wrap my niece's gift for her communion tomorrow.
Four - Make sure my outfit for tomorrow isn't dirty/wrinkled/all of the above.
Five - Workout

3) Snacks I enjoy?

Healthy or unhealthy? I'll go the healthy route ... hummus and pita, veggies and dip, crackers and cheese, popcorn, cookies, chocolate ... oh crap, I'm venturing into unhealthy territory. Oops.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire?

Was I born into this money? Because if that were the case then I'd probably do nothing except embarrASS myself on the social scene and take up an "acting" career because I was bored. If this money came to me by some random fluke? I would invest most of it and donate most of it. If I'm that rich, then I could probably donate to a lot of different causes without having to pick and choose. I would buy houses for me and my family and friends in different parts of the world. I'd buy a jet so I could visit these parts of the world whenever I'd please. I'd make sure that every city in every world had a fully stocked library of all the classics. Oh the possibilities are endless ...

5) Three of my bad habits?

One - Picking at my face.
Two - Eating as though it were my last meal when I get really hungry.
Three - Being paranoid that there is something stuck in my teeth.

6) Five places I have lived?

One - Big City, Canada.
Two - Not So Big City, Canada.

That's about it.

7) Five jobs I have had?

One - Receptionist at a Chiropractor's Office.
Two - Deli Girl at a Grocery Store.
Three - Sales Associate at a Department Store.
Four - Tutor/Daycare Worker
Five - Last but not least ... but definitely last ... Teacher.

8) Six peeps I wanna know more about?

I can't pick. Do this meme if you'd like and I'd be happy to read it!

:)

I Need ...

... to learn how to be more tolerant.

... to stop jumping to conclusions.

... to walk a mile in other's shoes.

... to let things slide.

... to be more understanding.

... to never stop learning.

... to ...

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

A recent comment by damned_cat reminded me that I have this blog. And that I should probably update it. If you have to think really hard about when you last wrote a post, then chances are it's been too long.

So I'm no longer a grade 1 teacher for next year but am moving to a grade 8 class. Thank you God. I am counting down the days (months ... cries!) that I have to spend being next to the most selfish woman alive. I hate her. She's manipulative and acts all dumb so that people will do things for her. She can kiss my ass. Bitch.

That's all for now.

Anecdote

"My nose burns. I think I blowed it too hard."

"You blew it too hard."

"What did I say?"

"Blowed."

"Jesus. I need to get the fuck out of grade 1."

Volunteers

Hmm .. what does this teacher have to hide?

Could This Year Go Any Faster PLEASE

So today was "family day" which meant I got a holiday ... yippee! 3 more weeks until March break.

I'm going through a really weird situation at school that I don't know what to make of. I feel like I should ignore it and turn a blind eye but at the same time I want them to know that I know and that I think they are disgusting.

I know that I'm not giving a whole lot of detail here but I need to be careful with what I put out there.

I'm wondering how tomorrow will be after what happened Friday ...

February already?

Wow this blog has been taking a blow. I haven't been posting much at all. Most of the reason is I just feel like every post I write about work will just be littered with complaints about how I hate working with one of my teaching partners.

She acts dumb so she doesn't have to do anything.

She takes stuff from us (tests we make, etc.) and will not bother "lending a hand" and doing something herself without having to be told.

She never takes initiative.

She doesn't share any resources she does with her students. I walk in on her class (unfortunately we share a sink which happens to be in her room) and will see her kids working on stuff that I've never seen before. Hence no sharing.

No sharing yet taking what we've got = selfish bitch.

Even though I would like to teach grade 1 again, I'm asking for a grade change. We're allowed three choices. Grade 1 will not make the cut.

She just makes me feel all GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

She ignores me unless she needs something = bitch

And these are my days. Hence the lack of posting. I hope that your years are going better than mine is.

Back At It

Two weeks into it and I already feel like an old lady. I don't know what it is but I can't believe how tired I can get (so easily too) throughout the day. Nevermind the fact that my sleeping patterns are off. Or that I don't make my lunch the night before so I rush to get it done in the morning.

My new year's resolution was to get to school before the bell rings. Preferably an hour before. I've been doing alright with this but have slowly (actually not slowly at all) crept to the 8:30 mark. Must do better with this because I hate feeling rushed in the morning before the kids get there.

Teaching neighbour is at her best. She ignores me until she needs something and then acts all sweet. Fuck her. If you don't want to talk to me then don't talk to me EVER. I hate that she's my neighbour and she's the one reason why I'd want to ask for a different grade next year even though I'd like to teach grade 1 for at least one more year. Gah!

I have some kids who are acting up. Kids who have the potential of acting up but were doing so well before the break are now irking me to no end. And the attitude is something that I won't tolerate. Little fuckers.

I'm enrolled in two courses that start soon (boo!). Reading part 1 and Religious Education part 2. Reading is on-line through Queen's and Religion is through my board and is on-site (2 nights a week from 5:30 - 9pm). Yippee. Whatever ... it has to be done. I might as well get everything I need to get done for admin now (in terms of courses) and be done with it. By the end of the summer I'll have my Religion Specialist, I've just graduated with my Master's and I'm completing my 5th year of teaching and have 3 certified divisions, which technically means I can take my Principal courses if I want to. I think I'll hold off on that for another year or two. Get even more involved with school committees, voice my intentions to my principal and v-principal. All that fun stuff.

Yay for having no life and being able to do all this stuff at such an early age!