The Students Are Coming! The Students Are Coming!

Well, it's now late August. My roommates have almost all returned, those of us who were here have played so many games of quizzo we may actually be sick of it now, Charlie's party is this weekend, and TFA has started weekly Thursday blasts again- all of which can only mean one thing: It's just about time for school to start again. And underneath the sadness that summer (and thus my lazy days of sleeping until 9am instead of 6am) is almost over, I keep feeling something weird, something unexpected. It took me a long time to put a finger on it, but I think I might be able to call that feeling...excitement?

Excitement was not the feeling I was expecting to feel on the eve of my second year of teaching. Not after last year's numerous bouts of crying, minor depression, anger, frustration, and general terror about the path I had chosen for the next two years. However, as I walked into my new classroom, having moved down the hall now that I am Duckrey's only social studies teacher (and my new classroom is bigger!), and as I begin working through my incentives and management plan and my unit plans for the beginning of this year, I'm finding that I am kind of looking forward to having students again. This year, hopefully at my mercy, rather than me being at theirs. I am excited to teach social studies, a subject which, in previous years, has been neglected and left to a teacher who seemed less-than interested in his subject, and to teach it so that my students can have as good a social studies education as I had (thank you, Mr. Traester), and so that they leave me with a much better sense of their world than they had before they entered my room this year.

So overall, I can seriously say, I'm ready to head back to the classroom. Well, almost. I still have to finish 3 unit plans, make 587 posters, and spend ridiculous amounts of money on classroom supplies... But after that, I will be ready to make this the best year it can be.

School's Out For Summer

I know, I know. I fail at keeping up with this blog lately. It's amazing how busy the end of the school year ended up being (considering grades were due on June 1)- but I guess that was probably because I took on an extra job with TFA.

It's official, though- summer is way more awesome as a teacher than as a student. My students are already calling me because they're bored, and I'm sure not bored yet :) The year ended well for me too- PSSA scores came in, and although we didn't make AYP, half my 8th graders scored advanced or proficient- up from 21% scoring in that range when they were in 7th grade. Not quite what the government cares about for AYP, but exciting for me all the same.

Once school was out, we began Induction for the new TFAers in full force, and I have to say, it's much nicer being on this side of things. They had so many questions, and still seem so naive- it's nice to at least seem like we're the ones who know what we're doing. Plus, the 2009 crew are a pretty good bunch- I think we'll get along with them really well. They began Institute this week, and I hope its going well for them- although I guess they haven't started teaching yet, and that's when it all comes to a head.

It's nice to know that, even though a year ago I was beginning the hardest 5 weeks of my life, this year I'm kicking back and enjoying life. I still have stuff to do this summer- after all, I have to learn 6-8 grade social studies and take my Praxis test to be sure I know it- but I feel way more prepared for next year already, and I'm taking things easy for now. Plus, it's my birthday tomorrow, and I go to Canada in a few weeks, so at the moment, it's summertime, and the livin is very very easy.

End of Year Awesomeness

We officially have 2 days of school left. I don't know if anyone thought we were actually going to make it here, but we have, and it's wonderful, despite the fact that Philadelphia keeps kids in school 2 weeks or so past the point when grades are due, so its been a struggle to get kids to do anything in my room. We've been playing a lot of Apples to Apples, which I like to play off as educational, even though my Program Director says it's not.

What's making the end of this year even better for me is the number of kids I teach who scored advanced or proficient on their PSSAs! It just goes to show what they can do when they really buckle down and try. Even though these kids have driven me crazy, and probably will continue to drive me crazy on Monday when we have their moving up ceremony, I will miss them- after all, I think all teachers probably think back with a mix of fondness and horror on their first class :)

It's the Final Countdown!

It's time. 2 (and kind of a half) weeks of school left. We can do this. We can so do this.

Grammar Mastery- Check!

Yesterday morning in my 7th grade class, as we were beginning our daily edit, one of my students announces:

'Guess what, Ms. D? Because of you and this daily edit thing, I got grammar master on the facebook grammar quiz! It was like, thirty questions!"

It's good to know I'm having an impact :)

Lunchtime at Duckrey

For the past couple of weeks, I've had a group of kids in my room at lunch rehearsing for their dance in our school's field day performances on June 12. They're currently teaching 2 new kids the dance, and I am continually amazed by how talented and quick to learn these students are when it comes to dancing. As a teacher, I think we often forget how talented our kids can be in ways outside the classroom, and it is nice to be reminded every once in awhile. It better be one of the better acts on field day, because they have worked damn hard on making it look good.

Its June!

And yet, life is still crazy! Grades went in yesterday, and the assistant principal made the mistake of announcing this over the loudspeaker during the end of day announcements yesterday. So of course, today:

"What happens if I don't do this project, Ms. D?"

"It hurts your grade."

"But grades are already turned in..."

And here, I had to fumble to lie (I'm not great at lying) that they could be changed at a later date, when in reality I know that only the assistant principal can change them, and she will only do that for a small number of students. And I very much doubt she will change them down.

I can only hope that I make it through the next 15 days alive and sane. Today was clearly not a great predictor of this, but I'm just going to keep the finish line in sight...