Friday!!

Every Friday is wonderful.  But Friday leading into 10 days off...seriously, can it get any better.  The kids need a break from us, also.  I will miss them, but I need some R&R.  A little less routine is good for the soul on occasion.

Wednesday

Half way to Thanksgiving break.  It will be nice to have the break, but some of the students are anxious about being at home so long.  I had that feeling when I was their age, because of my home.

Trouble will be back today

But I won't see it until Tuesday.  Hopefully it comes back calm and cooperative, we shall see.

Lots of learning

There has been lots o' learning in my class.  I'm seeing improvement.  I'm seeing motivation.  Is that not sweet?

Learning curve

Being back on a campus has been a real learning curve.  My primary lesson this week, keep quiet about minor issues.  Not everything has to be addressed and I forget that sometimes.  So, less is more in the talking arena.

Still it was a good decision, bumps and all.

What a week

All kinds of new technology has been added to the classroom repetoire this school year in our district.  First a new lesson planning gizmo and for us Special Ed teachers, an electronic IEP program.  We have all been struggling to learn everything, while using the programs "live".  Teaching has to happen, as well.

All the kids are already sick and sniffling, meaning the adults are falling (include me in that) also.  It is still in the 90's here during the day and there is nothing more miserable, IMO, than a hot weather cold. Ugh.

Having said that  I have gotten my kids through 2 full short stories, English II had a round with Poe, twice and English I has worked through O Henry and now, Gary Soto.  Getting them to write is a challenge and we haven't even started revising and editing in any real way, YET.

I can't wait to see what happens this week and that is why I made the change back.  While at Central I had lost that curiousity.  I just wanted Monday to get to Friday, fast.  Now I want to savor the week, even with some horrendous challenges.  I want to see the students change, because they ALL do.

Best decision I've made in years!

Another week

My room is finally shaping up.  All the "walls" are in order: Data wall, word wall, student wall and lesson wall.  Lessons are flowing out.  We just finished The Masque of the Red Death for English 2 and are starting on Gary Soto's "Broken Chain" in English 1.  I'm getting my "land legs" again and starting to fall into a rhythm.

It is so weird, we are only 2 weeks into school, but this Labor day break was much needed and appreciated.  My grading is caught up and my planning is getting there.  I have some IEP's to write next week, but, all in all, things are going well.

I've said it before, this was a great decision.  My sanity and humor are back on track, for the most part.
Going back to my nap........

Well, it's been a week

Wow, and what a week it has been.  Delightful, busy and amazingly less stressful.  I park my car at the beginning of the day and I stay at one campus.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  I can say this is the best decision I've made in years.  Financially it will be quite a hit, but sooooooooooo worth it. 

The kids at this campus are, for the most part, pretty mellow, which says volumes about the community.  The staff and faculty is equally pretty mellow.  There are naysayers in every building, but at this campus surprisingly few in number.

My room is shaping up and after been in a rabbit's warren of cubicles, having a door and space to retreat to is such a help during the day.  My inclusion classes have such good teachers that they don't really need me, but I'm learning tons from each of them.

The biggest surprise:  the students and their compliance.  Yes, they also moan at every assignment, but usually get right to work.

What can I say, I'm in love with my job!

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is my first day of inservice at my new school.  In the morning there is a huge shindig at one of major venues in town to welcome everyone back, then on to our campuses.  Can't wait to get to my campus and see my room...maybe rooms.  Meet the faculty, etc.

Butterflies are multiplying....here we go...weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

It's official

I'm a veteran high school teacher who took an administrative position at the district level for three years and has decided to simplify life by going back into a high school classroom, voluntarily.  This blog will serve as my journal of that transition back to what, I hope, will be a richer job experience.

My goal is to post regularly about this adventure.  The trials, the tribulations and overall experience.  I know there will be highs and lows.  I will have to relearn some skills, EEK.  I will have to unlearn some unnecessary habits of mind.

I found out today, around noon, that I had been recommended for a position and I start at the campus on Wednesday, August 18.  I'm excited and scared, in a good way.  We shall see how this plays out.

Welcome!