Rockets, and Thanksgiving

Yesterday was so much fun. We had a Jr. Engineering fair at the school during they day. The teachers got to pick what they taught and then they had activities for the lesson. I picked rockets. I taught the kids about air pressure and how the rockets work. Then they built rockets with pop bottles. We launched rockets after that. It was so much fun! I had a headache by the end of the day, but it was a blast, literally. I would do it again, maybe not tomorrow, but next year I am all for it again. The other thing, next week. . . three days off of school. I am so ready for the break. I feel like I am burning out a bit. I also feel like I do the samething everyday. Next week, I will be gone half day on Monday to see some other teachers teach and on we are finished with school for the week on Wednesday. I can have some fun and relax for a couple of days. My whole family will be together for Thanksgiving and I am excited to see them all on Thursday. It is the first time everyone has been together for Thanksgiving in six years at least that is my calculations. . . It might be longer than that. I get to play with my family for three days. I'm very excited. Here are pictures and video of the rocket launch:

My First Parent Teacher Conference

Well, this week was a lot of fun. I had Parent Teacher Conference. It was really nice to meet some parents I didn't know, and to be able to talk to my students one on one a little bit. There weren't too many problems, just a couple of parents I wasn't prepared for what they had to say, but I let them know I have their child's best interests in mind and they calmed down quickly. I think the best part of this week is today. No conferences and my students left two hours early. I should be planning something, but I haven't.
Over all things are going great. I had a good talk with my principal today about things, and it was nice to do that. I like the fact I get along with my principal. It is nice to have that support.
My kids have been tough this week. They want things their way and it isn't how it is supposed to be. But, at PTCs I told the main ones they needed to shape up or they would loose an opportunity they got. And in the past two days my class is so much better, I can teach and not have to stop every five minutes just to get them ready to learn. Hopefully this will keep up. I was also able to have some fun with them today, and that makes everything better. I love what I do, and I love the kids I work with. I am so glad this is what I have chosen to do with my life.

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.

I need a break!

And happily it is coming this week. Friday is teacher work day, Monday and Tuesday is UEA. I am so excited. It has been a hard week. We had ribbon week and everyday there was something going on, and NOTHING got accomplished. So, I have to test like crazy this week so I have something to show parents as Parent Teacher conference comes up. I don't know what is going on though. I am struggling with getting my class to act as they are supposed to. Sometimes they think what they have to say is more important than what I have to say. I need to figure something out. I also have made a new seating chart, and it is kind of exciting. I think I might have gotten my students sitting by some one they haven't sat by yet. We will see what their response is on Monday when they are changing it.
I just need to figure out what is going on. I meet with my principal and mentor tomorrow. Not scary at all because they both LOVE me. So, I just have to go and get a quick boost. . . I really like the days I see my mentor. I really feel like I have someone on my side when that happens. I also have a class this week I am going to, I am excited for that. So, my week is kind of extra short. It will be nice. It is time to go to bed, I need to be ready for tomorrow.

Contract time? What is that?

Okay, here I sit, I was in at least 20 minutes before contract time began, and it is now 30 minutes after it ended. The other teachers in my grade were at a cummunity council meeting and I feel bad I want to leave. When I leave I will go home take at least two hours for myself, then I will go buy the fish tank I should have bought yesterday, go get baby food, and food coloring. Go home and read for Social Studies so I can explain about what we are learning. And go to bed to wake up and start all over again. I really do love my job. I just wish I had it in me to say, "No more, I'm done." And actually I do. I am leaving if anyone else has a problem with it, too bad for them. I need to go away for two hours and then work on school stuff. I am not gettign anything accomplished here.

Yelling. . . Voice Level

Sometimes I feel that all I do is talk on a yelling level. I know that it isn't good becuase the kids keep getting louder until they meet my level and it starts all over again. What is the definition of insainty? "Doing the samething over again expecting different results."
I enjoy my class and I am enjoying them even more now that I see them all day. But, I feel that some of the things I am doing aren't working. I walk past the other sixth grade classes and the classes are quietly working my class is working noisely. However, my class is actually having more fun than the other two classes. So, I guess it is a trade off. I would rather have my class enjoy school than dread it. But I want them to behave while they are here. I just need to keep working on it and see what happens.

Stress Level

Well, my stress level has kind of balanced. I thought this was going to be so hard. But in reality it is so much better for me and for the kids. I am not fighting with the other teachers about issues. I have more time. I've also spent a lot of time thinking about what I need to do to make things work the way I want them to work. Nothing has really changed. I can do this. I just need to keep my focus on the right thing, the kids.
Yesterday was kind of scary being up there and doing nothing but reading. . . I was bored the kids were bored, so today I tried to make it more learning on their own and not from the book. I hope the kids have enjoyed it. I also spent over $200 to get a classroom set of a book, so we can start reading it next week. Like I said it is going to be different than what the rest of the grade is doing. But, I am excited to see what happens in the next few weeks.
My class overall likes the change. I like the change. I am glad it was good for us.