First of all, I had an interesting experience the other day. I got a new student. And I got his mom. She dropped him off (late) and then ended up staying for the day. The whole entire day. She was in my classroom all day.
Maybe this doesn't sound like that big a deal, but I don't think I've ever had any adult in my classroom for the entire day (since student teaching), and it really made it hard for me to teach and act in a usual way. I was mad at myself pretty much the whole time for not kicking her out, but then she kept doing nice things like offering to donate a CD player for my class (which I can't wait for!), saying she wants to help with marketing and fundraising for the school (both desperate needs), and offering to donate and science curriculum and teach social studies lessons about places she's visited. So I felt like I couldn't kick her out. All in all, it was OK, but I was thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day. I felt like when the kids misbehaved (which a couple of them did a lot more than usual), I had to act really positive and upbeat afterward. I am really hoping she doesn't try to keep staying in the classroom, because that will be an uncomfortable confrontation.
I think I've pinpointed the biggest difference between my first year of teaching and my second so far. I'm still not sure why this is, but the biggest difference is that last year the majority of my brain space was taken up thinking about behavior and how to deal with certain behaviors. I'd wake up in the night sometimes thinking of strategies I could try and replaying situations in my head. It wasn't fun. But this year my brain space is occupied thinking about teaching and how to best teach these kids how to read and do math and to love God. Wow. I don't think I even though about that last year till maybe March! Sure, I'm still stressed about things, but this year it's things related to kids having trouble with their letters and sounds and not kids cursing me out and throwing chairs. So praise God; I don't know if my poor brain could have handled another year like last year. But I'm still really interested as to why this is. The overall theory I've heard is that I'm more confident and that's the reason that my class is better behaved and I'm less stressed. But I'm not convinced. It probably has a little to do with that, a little to do with the group of kids, and a little or a lot to do with something else. I'll report back if I have any epiphanies about this.
I've had to outlaw talking about Michael Jackson, singing Michael Jackson songs, and doing Thriller dance moves during school. But once the clock strikes 3 and the last few kids are waiting to be picked up, I don't object to hearing them sing ALL the words to "Man in the Mirror" or trying to do the moonwalk. One kid last week for Show and Share brought a sequined glove his grandma made him to wear when he impersonates Michael Jackson. Which apparently he does somewhere in public. One problem with this is that I don't do Show and Share. The Pre-K teacher last year did, and even though I've told the parents in person and in a letter that I don't, the kids still all seem to show up with toys on Fridays. And of course I outlawed Michael Jackson talk. But this particular Friday we'd had a really good day and had some free time in the afternoon so I let him show it. And it was fun.
That is all for now. I am trying to write my first ever support letter/newsletter, and I should get back to work.
Maybe this doesn't sound like that big a deal, but I don't think I've ever had any adult in my classroom for the entire day (since student teaching), and it really made it hard for me to teach and act in a usual way. I was mad at myself pretty much the whole time for not kicking her out, but then she kept doing nice things like offering to donate a CD player for my class (which I can't wait for!), saying she wants to help with marketing and fundraising for the school (both desperate needs), and offering to donate and science curriculum and teach social studies lessons about places she's visited. So I felt like I couldn't kick her out. All in all, it was OK, but I was thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day. I felt like when the kids misbehaved (which a couple of them did a lot more than usual), I had to act really positive and upbeat afterward. I am really hoping she doesn't try to keep staying in the classroom, because that will be an uncomfortable confrontation.
I think I've pinpointed the biggest difference between my first year of teaching and my second so far. I'm still not sure why this is, but the biggest difference is that last year the majority of my brain space was taken up thinking about behavior and how to deal with certain behaviors. I'd wake up in the night sometimes thinking of strategies I could try and replaying situations in my head. It wasn't fun. But this year my brain space is occupied thinking about teaching and how to best teach these kids how to read and do math and to love God. Wow. I don't think I even though about that last year till maybe March! Sure, I'm still stressed about things, but this year it's things related to kids having trouble with their letters and sounds and not kids cursing me out and throwing chairs. So praise God; I don't know if my poor brain could have handled another year like last year. But I'm still really interested as to why this is. The overall theory I've heard is that I'm more confident and that's the reason that my class is better behaved and I'm less stressed. But I'm not convinced. It probably has a little to do with that, a little to do with the group of kids, and a little or a lot to do with something else. I'll report back if I have any epiphanies about this.
I've had to outlaw talking about Michael Jackson, singing Michael Jackson songs, and doing Thriller dance moves during school. But once the clock strikes 3 and the last few kids are waiting to be picked up, I don't object to hearing them sing ALL the words to "Man in the Mirror" or trying to do the moonwalk. One kid last week for Show and Share brought a sequined glove his grandma made him to wear when he impersonates Michael Jackson. Which apparently he does somewhere in public. One problem with this is that I don't do Show and Share. The Pre-K teacher last year did, and even though I've told the parents in person and in a letter that I don't, the kids still all seem to show up with toys on Fridays. And of course I outlawed Michael Jackson talk. But this particular Friday we'd had a really good day and had some free time in the afternoon so I let him show it. And it was fun.
That is all for now. I am trying to write my first ever support letter/newsletter, and I should get back to work.
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