Monday, August 27, 2007

Science and Pro-gress

They're starting to get comfortable!!! Haha...I've definitely noticed in the past couple of days that the kids are starting to feel more at home in my class. Don't get me wrong; I want them to feel comfortable. The only thing is we don't want to get too comfortable. I gave my highest amount of consequences today. I still don't feel that stressed about it, but I also feel like this is a good warning sign that I need to jerk back on the chain. I say that in a sensitive tone. I hope my writing didn't leave the reader with the conclusion that I was like, "If any of these kids freak out on the classroom....I get to take them down." (any 'Old School' fans...c'mon) Please, that's not what I'm saying. I know how sensitive Zarandona is about disciplining children. But seriously, I need to make a couple of calls tonight and set up some meetings for tomorrow.

This year already seems like it's going by faster. Christmas will be here before you know it, and all of a sudden I've got a feeling like I really want to step up my game in the classroom and extra-curricular setting. It's so hard to predict what most of us will do next year; but just in case I decide education isn't for me, I want to "leave it all on the field". I'm also starting to see how you can get really, really attached to your community, the people you work with, and the kids. It's so much more fun right now, because they already know me. There just can't be enough said about "showing up". I'm blown away by how much progress you can/will achieve by just showing up every day. I think it's even more impressive when you show up every day in the after-school setting as well. I've taken a short break from that so far this year, but I can't wait for basketball season. I'm even more excited about the two other guys that are going to assist. I think the kids are going to get so much out of it. October can not get here fast enough!!

Monday, August 20, 2007

So what exactly would you say you do??

Alright, let's see....I'm sitting at Cups right now in Fondren (is it in or at 'The Fondren'), and I'm starting to get looks from the people behind the pastry shelves. "This bastard isn't even gonna purchase one thing." They don't actually say that, but the eyes...ooooo...you can tell everything from the eyes. My response....NOPE!...HAHA. That'd be awesome if I started pulling out homemade muffins and store-bought juice, and I just started feasting. Alright, alright, I'm not actually blogging to tell about my abuse of free wireless internet. My first two weeks of school....ahh yes....they were so much better than last years!! I mean last year wasn't THAT bad, but there was just this feeling about not knowing the culture, the staff, the surroundings, what I could and couldn't enforce, etc. This year it's my show. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is.

Now, I've definitely still had to give out plenty of detentions and I'll bet I've made around 30-40 phone calls to parents just trying to 'nip it in the bud' already. The biggest difference by far though is that students for the most part aren't trying to test me. They know me and they know what is expected of them. One of my best moments this past week was when I was taking my class to the cafeteria for lunch. I've been so much more strict on this procedure so far, and it has paid off in a big way. So back to the story...we're walking through the cafeteria, we were just 'on fire'. I say that in a good way. We weren't talking, we were in a single-file line, and we were pretty much the only class that was accomplishing this at the time.

Anyways, there were two girls from another class in the corner talking, and I could hear one of them saying, "Oooo, that class quiet." She really did leave out the word 'is'; that's not a typo. Then the other girl chimes in with, "Yeah, they better be; cause they know Mr. Taylor gonna get that ass." I wanted to smile so bad and maybe even turn and wink at the girls, but I kept the game-face going. If they're going to say it, then I've got to back it up. I was pumped.

One other thing that I've noticed about myself is that I'm not near as concerned about being liked by the students right off the bat. I just want my classroom to be have a work-centered environment that fosters good habits. If that happens, then I am pleased. So to close this out, my advice to first years that are having a hard time right is to not judge teaching by your first-year experience and especially not your first-week experience. If these first two-weeks are a correct indication, then the second-year is so much better.