So I’ll probably fall off the wagon on day 2 or 3 but right now I’m claiming I’m going to blog every day in November. What do I have to tell you, my pretties? Well, let’s see. I’m teaching 7th grade and MAN ALIVE it is a tough grade, maybe even moreso after having been teaching 5th graders for two years. I’m used to having one or two students in the room whose goal it is to out sass, out speak, and out anything me, not ALL OF THEM. I’m teaching social studies and writing which has also involved some adjustments as I actually need them to learn specific social studies content (esp as 7th graders in Illinois have to take the constitution test and they cannot graduate from 8th grade unless they’ve passed it) versus just learning to become better readers, although surely they should ALSO be learning to be better readers in my room, not just with their reading teacher. I spent too many weekends getting not enough done and now we are entering week 9 of the 10-week quarter and I’m SO behind on grading so instead of getting to have a single weekend day for my own solitary self as I usually try to do, this is the second weekend in a row that I have spent the entire day Saturday grading, as well as my usual Sunday of doing at least 75% school stuff like preparing all my materials for the week and gathering up all my loose “Oh this might be a fun supplement for that” ideas. I was at work until 6 pm every night this (past) week except Wednesday…when I was at school and didn’t get home until 9 anyway. I’m tired, people. Very very tired.
That said, I have gotten more positive feedback in two months at this school than in three years at my last one and gee doesn’t that tell you something about the toxic environment I left behind (and not of my own choosing, but definitely of my own thanking now looking back). I am back to a public transit hour-long commute so I have been doing a TON of reading, OMG does it ever feel good to have my reading time back, even if I have lost all my gym time right now with being so overwhelmed at school and in life.
And that is all for now. More tomorrow, supposedly. We’ll see. 😉
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Sorry school is so crazy for you, but I’m so glad you are in a better environment!
It is great to hear from you, however many of the days you have time to blog. I really don’t know much about the joys and trials of teaching and I think the stories you tell are really interesting. Plus, of course, just more of YOU is a good thing.
Yay for you trying to blog everyday (though that strikes me as crazy pants). I remember 7th grade as being hard as a student – you’re not a kid (because you’ve suddenly got big tatas) and not an adult (because you don’t know what to do with them).
Buena suerta amiga!
SOOO glad to have your voice back here! I was going to tell you how long I’ve been following your blog but it’s so long I can’t recall. Definitely from waay before teaching days.
You’re inspiring me to revive my long-languishing blog. Glad life is better now for you.