Enjoying the break!

One week down and one to go on the holiday break. I have done more than I thought I would but know that I will still not be ready to go back when school resumes. Things have been very busy since my last post. I am finally feeling a lot better, had a birthday, celebrated 3 different Christmases with family, and have spent a lot of the time cleaning around our house.

The return to school is partially stressful because of problems with my principal. She came in to talk to me on the Monday before school got out and informed me that I just don't seem to be teaching the same as I have in the past. This year our district has gone to a new curriculum that we are to follow almost to the letter (even though we were told we could vary it some in the beginning). As I have mentioned before, I have had a revolving door class this year. At last count I have taught a total of 28 different kids this year. My class is currently at 19 students but only after removing a major problem child from my classroom. I am hoping that things will be better after she gets a break as well. I know my students need more help than I can give on my own. Maybe now that she sees the way things are, I will get more of the help that I need.

I am excited for my class to start on the 20th. I will spend 4 days on campus for the class and know that will keep me busy. Maybe I will get to meet some new people who live nearby and make a few new friends. More to come soon about this.

Settling down

As of Monday my class has begun to settle down and act normal again. The principal finally removed one of the boys in the class who was causing a lot of the sexual innuendo going on in the room. Things were great all day Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday things got a little shaky at the end of the day when students started reporting to me that there were 3 students calling me the "B" word. I started some questioning and found out that at least 2 of them were really using the word. My principal doesn't want to do anything other than suggest I discuss with my class our Social Contract again. We did after students wanted to tattle today to let me know another student was calling me stupid. Hopefully the seriously bad language will end and the tattling will end. I am trying to put it back on the kids and remind them that we want kindness, honesty, and respect in the classroom for everyone and from everyone. We decided that students should try talking to each other and reminding them that we need to use positive words and that they don't like it when those other words are used. We will just have to see if tomorrow is any better.

On another note, the late and missing work from the kids just may kill me. I seem to constantly be asking for the work and being told they will have it tomorrow. I guess with all of the failing grades last six weeks and the same ones headed that direction this six weeks the parents will be in for a rude awakening. It is very hard to pass for the school year if they have 2 six weeks of failing grades. Once again we will just have to see what happens.