Changes. . .

New quarter, new things coming. In my determination to become a better teacher, I am changing the way I do some of the things in my classroom. Right now my class is buzzing with the thought of "banana bucks" or "Duncan dollars" which ever I choose. They are also designing them. I'm such a nice teacher. I've also been working really hard on getting a new vocabulary program started in my class. I worked for ten hours on my prep day, and yesterday I was here until 5:30 and the Janitor kicked me out. So, today I am thinking of those blasted vocabulary books that need to be finished, and my sanity. Which do I value more. I think I am choosing the vocabulary books over my sanity. Only because they should be done by Monday so we can start using them, and my sanity I have a lifetime to gain back. I also have about another ten billion things to do.
Parent teacher conference starts next week. Exciting and scary at the same time. I just had the first one. By my last conference I should be a pro. I've been learning more and more the only way I will grow and learn what I am supposed to do is to do it. I would love to hide in a hole next week, but it won't help me when it comes down to it all. I just keep thinking, what do these parents think when they see me as a teacher? Is it just they trust that I really know what I am doing? Or do they wonder what the 18 year old is doing teaching their kid? If it was me, I would probably be worried about the very young looking teacher teaching. However, I have paid my dues, I am not as young as I look, and I think and hope they all know, I am a first year teacher.
The other thing. Even though my class talks non-stop sometimes. . . and I have to get mad, and strict. I look out at them and just think, "I couldn't be in a better place right now. I couldn't be doing anything better with my life at this moment. I have some of the best kids." I really do, I am very grateful for it all.