Am I teaching Middle School?

The other day I asked my fifth period if they were confused and thought that they were still in middle school because that is how they were acting. I just don't understand why some students think that the things they do is a good idea. Maybe the problem is that they aren't thinking. I told them that I wanted to treat them like they were adults and like they were in high school then they needed to act like it but until then, they act like they're 12 and I'm going to treat them like they're 12. Today I am happy to report was MUCH better. I think that they are trying to earn some respect and privileges. How things have been going lately they are pretty much aren't allowed to do anything. They can't get up without asking, can't work with partners, can't go to the bathroom without giving up a pass which would turn into extra credit if they didn't use it (I have only had to do this with 2 of my classes), can't talk during the warm-up or it turns into a quiz, basically they have to sit there and only speak if they raise their hand or I call on them. I really hate teaching like this and hate myself when the period is over but it is the only thing that brings any sense of organization and calmness to the room. I am hoping that eventually I can lighten up and be myself around them.

I feel like I only write negative things on here so here is something good! I really like my job! I never find myself looking at the clock wishing it would go faster so that I could go home. I like most of my students. I still think that high schoolers are hilarious. It is fun watching how much maturity the seniors have compared to the freshman.

I have a student I am going to call Annie (this isn't her real name but since I haven't asked her permission to write about her I figure I shouldn't use her name.) One day a week or two ago when one of my classes was working on their assignment. There was a group of students sitting in the back corner that wouldn't stop talking and do their work. I gave them their one warning that if they didn't stop chatting and start doing math they would have to move. Well, they didn't stop so I told Annie to move to a seat in the front of the room. After a minute of her trying to figure out if I was serious she finally moved but then she realized I didn't make anyone else move. (the reason I didn't was because she was really the one that was talking the most and by removing her the others got to work) She asked why no one else had to move and I explained it to her. She then proceeded to tell me that "that's bull". I told her we could talk after class. Now, you have to know that in my classroom there is basically one rule and that is to have respect. After class I explained to her that how she was talking to me was not respectful and it needed to change. She just stood there and said ok over and over. I wondered if I was going to have problems with her for the rest of the year. Well, since then she has had some problems outside of my classroom (including being suspended for drinking orange juice and vodka DURING CLASS!) I am the only teacher that gave the office homework for her while she was suspended and since returning has been quite pleasant. She thanked me for caring enough to take the time to give her the missed work and asked if there was anything else she needed to do. Needless to say, I like having her in class for the most part now. I honestly think that she has respect for me now because that is what I expected from the beginning and I have shown her respect as a student. I just wish she wouldn't make such bad choices.

Well, that's all for now. I could write forever but that's just what I've been thinking about lately.

Tired

I am tired today. Yesterday was a struggle and I think that it wore me out for the whole week. I had to re-lecture my crazy 5th period class both yesterday and today. So much for the victory with that class. I think that I am going to have to start assigning more work or giving quizzes or something because just talking to them isn't working so far. I don't want to be a teacher that yells at their students. Usually I try to go the route of they need to be more responsible/respectful and stuff like that but so far, no permanent change. One of my students told me today that she feels sorry for me having to teach that class. I told her it was ok, not all of my classes are that crazy. I actually really enjoyed the other classes today. Mostly I just had them work on worksheets and stuff so I was able to spend most of the period just going around and helping students more one-on-one which is really nice. I think that once I am done teaching and doing the mom thing (someday right?) I will try to tutor kids on the side.

I feel like I am getting into more of a routine which is nice. I am figuring out how I want to do things and stuff like that. I changed the way I am grading homework now and it is going to save me tons of time I think. And, I think that the students will like it a lot better.

Teachers sometimes complain...a lot. I have realized I don't like this about the profession. Keep your moaning to yourself or do something about it.

I started going with a carpool today. So now instead of driving 70 miles a day, I only have to drive once a week! Yay for me and my car and my money!!!

Whew, I made it through the first week.

Well things have been going well. My friend Nick reminded me tonight that I haven't put a second post on here so I guess I'd better do a little more updating. Today marked a week since the first day of school. I think that things are going pretty well so far. I am starting to feel like I am getting settled in. I still don't know all of my student's names. It is by far the thing that I struggle with most as a teacher. You'd think I'd get better at it because I do it so often but I think I'm getting worse. Everyday I think that I have it and then they walk out the door and their name's leave with them. It is like I am re-learning about 175 names every day. Believe it or not, I think that it is harder than it sounds.

I think that I have had my first victory. Last week my 5th period class was a little out of control. They are the only class that have lost the privilege of choosing their own seating chart. On the third day of class I put them where I wanted them to be. Even with the new seating they still NEVER stopped talking. Well, Friday I decided I was tired of it so at the end of the period I had them pack all of their stuff up about 5 minutes before the bell so we could have a discussion about how class was going and how things were going to change. My goal was basically to instill (is that the right word?) the fear into them. I am against yelling at students. I don't think that it helps and I think that it teaches them that to get what they want they have to be mean. I just told them that how things had been going so far was completely unacceptable and if they didn't realize that they needed to be more respectful of me, their peers, and themselves then I would have to change the way that class was run. If they wanted time to work on assignments in class they would need to actually work and stay on task otherwise I would just teach the whole time and they would have loads of homework everyday. So what happened this week? Well, I am happy to report that yesterday and today they were one of my best classes! I don't think that it was only because of our talk though. I think that it is because this week we are actually in the book and have a routine going and they know what is expected and they are a little more settled into the school mentality. But still, I feel pretty good that I didn't have to do anything more than just tell them that what was happening needed to change and it happened.

So overall things are going well. I don't feel as lost as I was feeling last week. I am starting to figure out more about how the school is run and how to do all of the teacher things I have to do other than actually teaching my students. I think that I might even start having fun at work soon! I just wish I could remember their names!