the first 2 days

Well, life as a 4th grade teacher really commenced yesterday. 22 students showed up yesterday morning and they year began. As a whole, the class is good. I am glad that I have them because they are kids that have personalities. A few times, you run into a class that has the personality of a rock, and others have personalities of pit bulls (one of my kids has one, and he is mighty proud of it). My class has a personality similar to mine... they just like to have a good time. They get their work done, but they are always up for some fun. Normally, their desire for fun doesn't present too much of a problem... however, one child brings out the worst in everyone. If he wasn't in the class, the class would be PERFECT. He's always out of his seat, ALWAYS off task, and ALWAYS bugging someone. I sent him out twice today. It's so bad that none of the kids want him in their group. A lot of them say that he's the reason why they can't learn or hear or concentrate. I really need to nip that one in the bud right away, 'cause I'll be damned if one kid ruins things for the whole class.

Now today, even though our little problem child was being as bad as he could, the kids got THREE compliments while they were walking in the hall. It was so ironic for several reasons. First of all, if they get a compliment from another teacher in the hall, they get a link added to their chain, and when the chain hits the floor, they get a party. Secondly, I threatened them and told them that we wouldn't go to the big playground if they didn't behave in the hall. Thirdly, even though they behaved well, they voted NOT to go to the big playground when they saw the rest of the 4th graders on the small playground (peer pressure at its finest). Fourth is just the fact that they got THREE compliments... not one, not two, but THREE... right after I fussed at them. Now they think they are like the best class in the school when it comes to walking in the hall. LOL. They did make me proud though.

The only thing I HATE about school is dismissal... and that is no problem but administration's. Goodness, it is the most unorganized 45 minutes of the day. I mean, I have gotten around my weird specials time (and got it worked out so I DO have planning on Monday) and I can even make my fun-loving class calm down in the halls, but I can't do anything to assist in that mess they call dismissal. Ooh, I hate it. BOO! Isn't it funny how the time of day that the kids are getting out of your hair is the worst? LOL. Please do better, ENSA.

Other than that, stuff's good. I did the walk through at the townhouse this afternoon... They showed me how to work the air and stuff... checked the appliances, made sure the windows were good, went through and made notes of where touch up painting needs to be done, and learned which light switches work for which lights. It was fun... not really, but interesting I guess. Sometime before next Tuesday I have to get the utilities turned on. What good is a new place with no utilities?

Alright, time to plan for next week... and then go to sleep ASAP... I've got duty at 7 am tomorrow.