Is This Thing On?

Wow, has it ever been awhile since I've hit these blog walls.

The year has been going well so far. Nothing major to report on. I am still wading through the curriculum, trying to get comfortable with it. I'm doing the best I can, and I know that next year will (hopefully) be a lot better.

I have nothing more to add right now. I hope that everyone is having a fun and successful year so far!

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.