Week One Down...

So my very first week as an official teacher has come and gone, and it has been a rather interesting one to say the least.

After the first day fireworks that I experienced, the rest of the week almost went off without a hitch. I have a great group of students. There is only one class right now that is trying as hard as they can to test the waters. It's like no matter what I do, they are not going to do what I ask of them. I don't want to react...I want to be proactive with this group, but that is becoming rather difficult.

Friday night we had a welcome back to school dance. I went to help out and had a good time. Let me just say that i went "Low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low" and then it was hard to get back up. Some of my students were excited to see me there. And the entire night went without a hitch and every student was picked up on time.

Hoping that this week is just as great as my last one!!!

A Very Peculiar First Day

Too say that this day went off without a hitch would almost be a lie.

Today was my first official day as an 8th grade math teacher at TMS. I was a little nervous about actually having my own classroom, but I was also excited and ready. My classes are amazing. I can't wait to see how we are all going to mesh this year. There are very strong personalities, and very humbles personalities. After having each student fill out a 'Get to Know You' questionnaire, I realized that I have some very unique individuals in my classes.

Like I said, my classes were amazing and I had an awesome first day of school, at least is was until I went to leave.

At 4:30 I headed to my car, but my things in the back seat and got in the drivers seat. I put my key in the ignition and it went "ch ch ch ch ch ch ch" but didn't start. So I turned the key again "ch ch ch ch ch' was the sound I heard, yet again it wouldn't start. SO I got out of the sauna and called my grandfather. He asked me what it was doing and I said "ch ch ch ch ch ch" but it wont start. Some how our communication was misinterpreted because he thought automatically that the battery was out. However, that was not the case.

He stood there and looked under the hood for awhile (really just looked, we had no clue what to do). He asked me how much gas I had. I knew that I had over a quarter of a tank, but he went and got gas anyway to put in the tank. That wasn't the problem either.

So we went home. He kept saying over and over again, "Some how fuel isn't getting to your engine" So he called a tow truck. After relaying the make and model of my car on the phone, to guy says "I know exactly what's wrong, meet me at your car in 5 minutes"

Drum Roll........................................

It was my anti theft system. It turned itself on which disables the fuel injector. No fuel, no start. 10 minutes later he had the car running. Any my grandfather and I were perplexed.

What a way to end a great day!

A Whirlwind of Information

On July 19, 2011 I was offered a wonderful opportunity. I was given a position to teach 8th grade mat at Texas Middle School.

Since that day I have been on information overload. Workshops for math, instructional services, Aware, TEAMS/Gradebook, Instructional Technology, IEP's and ARDS, Orientation, Benefits, and many more. Not to mention those workshops that all the teachers go to during our campus instructional planning the next week.

Any down time I have between all those workshops is spent getting my classroom together. Bulletin boards, student desks, teacher desks, rules, procedures, making sure each student will be able to see the board...it is so overwhelming.

I made a comment to my grandmother yesterday that I never want to be a first year teacher in another district for the rest of my life...there is just too much to learn. Hopefully all those notes and handouts will be repeatedly reread and looked over (because I won't remember everything).

I have a great team and a great mentor teacher.

Bring on those kids!!!!!