SECONDS

I was again not very strict with my classes today. But, alas, it is the weekend. And I, for one, am glad of its arrival.

One good note: the problematic student from yesterday's 6th period did not show up today. Apparently he assaulted a custodian after school. He thought that no one would see him, but a teacher just happened to be walking by and witnessed the incident. Good job.

FIRST DAY

Today was my first day back to work. And let me just say, it was a doozy. I arrived to school about a half hour later than I had anticipated. When I got there, my payroll sign-in card was missing. Wondering what had happened, I went to ask one of the ladies in the office, and she informed me that they needed a copy of my newly signed contract. I pulled out a certificate and handed it to the woman. However, what I had just given her was a copy of my credential, not my contract. The night before, one of my AP's called me at home. But I didn't get home until about 11 o'clock at night. I'm still not certain why he did not call my cell phone, as the number is listed on my school contact card. Apparently, this little piece of paper is very important. Not important enough for the office to tell me that I needed to bring it in (except for a message the day before school starts). They wouldn't allow me to enter the classroom.

Now, I've signed my contract, and I'm allowed in the classroom. I talked to this woman, who said maybe I could leave during my conference period to go find the paperwork. Otherwise, maybe she could get it the next day, seeing as I did sign the missing paper. I was ecstatic. However, when I went to obtain my room key, another woman asked if I had given a copy of my contract to the previous woman. When I said "no" she refused to hand over a key. When I asked what I was to do, she said she had no idea, but that I needed to bring in the copy of my contract. Aargh. Then I asked about my classes and what would happen to them. She informed me that they already had a substitute.

So I left the office, got in my car, and headed back to my house in morning traffice. A few miles away from school I remembered that I had picked up the program cards for my homeroom students. Students use these cards to sign into class and to know their classes/teachers/classrooms. Knowing that this was a necessary part of their first day, I had to turn around and drive back to school in order to drop off the cards.

I finally got myself home, picked up the contract, and brought it to school. They gave me a key, and I was there in time for second period. Everything seemed to be fine, except for the fact that my new room is like a mile (literally) away from my last room. As far as I knew, I was supposed to stay in the room (or at least move to one next door). The department has been pushing "shared" rooms, so that teachers have easy access to their stored supplies and materials. Needless to say, my current location is anything but convinient when it comes to obtaining access to my materials. I am out in the boonies, in a bungalow. Yet not just any bungalow. I am in a small building which is completely separated from any other. It apparently used to be an herbology room, and it smells like a mixture of gas and manure. Wonderful. Moreover, it only has 31 desks, and I have 41 students on my roster. Good grief.

At the end of the day, I was not nearly as mean or strict as I should have been. I anticipate problems later. However, I still like 11th grade and still abhor 10th grade. There is one student in my 6th period who is a nightmare already. The whole class is already teetering on the edge.

Let's see what happens, shall we?

ANXIETY

Can you feel my pain?? 

Class begins tomorrow, and I'm not ready. I haven't really prepared anything, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The week will only be two days long, and full of administrative things, so hopefully things will be alright, but still....what if I can't be mean again? What if I don't do the rules correctly, or my kids kill me on the first day (figuratively speaking, of course)? My 5th period is going to have 41 students, and that number will only grow before the second or third week is out. I'm sure that I won't even have enough desks. I hate that. When the kids have no place to sit, disorder begins right away. I don't know where to put them, I don't know who is sitting where, I can't learn names, and I never know who is absent and who is present. I don't like calling out roll for 41 students every day. It takes a thousand years. But maybe that'll be helpful for the first week. Just call names for half an hour and everything will be good. :) I just plan on going over rules the first day. I'm trying to decide whether I want to give them a homework assignment, or whether I want them to write in class on Friday. If they write on Friday, then that gives them something to do. But what if they don't do it, or it's not enough. Some will say they don't have enough time, and others will waste it away because it's too easy. I wanted them to write me whatever they want (within reason -- no profanity, no drug or sex references, etc.), because I'm tired of reading the same thing, and I want to know what they want to tell me (about their families, lives, likes, dislikes, vacations, etc.). Alternatively, I could give them the assignment for homework tomorrow. But then what will we do on Friday? Life is just too difficult, isn't it?

I'm extremely nervous about going into my second year of teaching. I mean, on some level, I should be more secure. I have a whole year under my belt, and I've learned so much from experience. Yet, there is one distinct difference. There is more riding on this year. Last year I was new. I KNEW that it was going to be hell and that I was going to suck major ass. I was prepared for things to go wrong (well, not as wrong as they did, but hey...I like surprises, right? Right??). This time around, however, I should have improved. I SHOULD have a better handle on the class and the material. I should actually be able to teach. This year I'm assessing whether or not this is the profession for me and whether I will stay with this line of work or consider other alternatives.

Dessert anyone?

No more buffet....bluh! 



Why do I eat so much at buffets? I go there and think "I'm going to seriously get my money's worth" and then I just feel lousy later. I think I ate enough food in Vegas this weekend to feed three starving countries. Literally! :(

Lisa Sandwich!

It's a Lisa sandwich!!! What nice buns....mmm, tasty! 

My two Jen(n)'s are so beautiful. We had a nice time this weekend, eating and walking all over the place. Gelato is awesome. Kiwi gelato is like nectar from the gods! I know I said this about chai like a thousand years ago, but kiwi gelato kicks chai's arse! Mmmm.. I wish we had more of that down here, but whenever I go to a gelato place, they only have more traditional flavors. :(

Day Off~!!

Diego and I at the smelly water fountain in front of the California Space and Science Center. Looks nice though, doesn't it? 


Diego and I are taking a shady rest at the rose garden. 

Diego took a day off from work, and we went to the California Space and Science Center. Let me just say, it is not at all what I remembered. Don't get me wrong. I still had fun and all, but it wasn't as interactive or full of activity displays as it was when I was a kid. Maybe things were just bigger then or something. Or maybe I was just smaller. We were going to walk over to the airplane part (what's it called?) but they were doing construction and it looked closed. Instead, we walked around the rose garden and got sprayed by the nasty water fountain. The water in this fountain was truly disgusting, and it followed us everywhere, because the wind was blowing so much!

Afterwards we went to eat at Sanamluang in Hollywood and got dessert across the street. We went to Hustler and saw some REALLY big instruments of pleasure. I told Diego to buy me one for Christmas, but he didn't seem too thrilled at the prospect. Anyone else want to fulfill my Christmas wishlist? Later we went to pick up pictures at Sav-on and then went swimming at my house. Dang, it was cold. I haven't been swimming in years. Mostly because of insecurities I have about my body. It was fun though, and I had someone to help keep me warm. :)