5 days down, 175 days to go...
School has started and we've hit the ground running! Everyone advises you that your first year will be the hardest, and I kind of shook it off and said, "Self, it will be hard, but you can handle it!" Well, the time to handle it came on day three. These kids are going to keep me on my toes! I've already begun to loose my voice...now I'm not a shouter, I don't believe in it. I feel a quiet, stern voice can be more effective, and of course, using the Responsive Classroom methods, I utilize the "I notice" approach and as much encouragement as possible. But what are you supposed to do with children with attitudes who bicker and argue everything with everyone...and how about the little girl who sings "Teach Me How to Duggie" and booty pops in front of the whole class?!?!
Oh, and did I mention that my 16 students exploded into 21 students? A few showed up unannounced the first day of school...
I have two major concerns right now. The first is how to manage the behavior in my class. The second is what I'm teaching. I've been told that the Literacy curriculum is not very good, so right now I'm working with two teachers who teach from the book and a principal who told me she hired me to not teach from the book, but to do the Literacy program better justice. I have a meeting Monday with the Literacy director, who assures me that with her help, we can turn the program around. Bring it on!
So, after the first six days in my very own classroom, I'm exhausted, stressed, overwhelmed, and hopeful. I'm hopeful that I can get the behaviors under control. I'm hopeful that I will figure out what I'm actually going to teach. And I'm hopeful that I can help make a difference in my school district that is struggling.
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