The First Full Week

Where to begin, where to begin...

I think I'll start with my favorite story from teaching thus far.  A teacher dropped off a class to my room and didn't tell my why this kid was crying bawling out loud.  Apparently, he missed his mom.  Then about 15 minutes into the class, one other girl goes "I miss my mom, too!" and also starts bawling. Then 5 minutes after that, a third child goes "They're crying and it's making me think about my parents and I want to see them, too!" and so now I have 3 children crying out loud. I decide to do the Hokey Pokey as a review (because it was too ironic to sing "If You're Happy and You Know It") from last week and while all the kids are having fun, between versus all you hear is "WAAAAAAHHHHHHH".
I try to find one thing to make me laugh in every day so I don't go nuts and this incident has provided me with a good chuckle each time I think about it (but obviously I didn't laugh at the little ones). 

What I learned this week...

dealing with difficult students

I have a student who has been having a lot of issues in school - this student is disrespectful, destructive, won't listen to anyone, shows no real emotion/remorse when they do something wrong.  I was speaking to my mentor teacher about it and she said that I should write everything down that this child does during my class that is inappropriate so that if Special Services needs facts from each teacher, I have written documentation.  

when you have a problem, provide a solution

Okay, that's super vague so I'll explain. I teach in four schools, as I have mentioned before.  In 2 schools I teach the students in their classrooms, in one school I teach in the general music classroom while the full-time teacher is on prep time, and in the fourth school I teach some classes in the general music class while the full-time teacher is on prep and in the instrumental music room while the string and instrumental teachers are not in the building.  In this fourth school, we discovered that there is a scheduling issue - the full-time general music teacher, string teacher, and I all have classes at the same time but only two rooms in which to teach. It doesn't take a math major to realize this is an issue. Since, as I said, I spend a lot of time teaching in not-a-music room, I went to the principal and asked if I could teach the two conflicting classes in the classrooms to clear up the space issues. The principal said "Sure! It's very easy when you come in here with the solution to the issue you are bringing up." My supervisor had the same attitude when I brought it up to him. So, if you have a problem, don't go to your supervisor/principal and complain without first thinking through the options. 

Tales of a travelor

I have to be on top of the procedures for 4 schools, which can be confusing sometimes.  For example, on Tuesday, I accidentally ended a class 10 minutes early because their "bell schedule" is different than the other schools.  By the time I realized it, the teacher had already moved on to the next activity so it's not like I could have run in and said "Time for more music!!" I just chilled in the hallway until the art teacher was done with my next assigned class. I felt kind of dumb, but now I'm sure I won't forget the time again!  My name still hasn't been on any of the 4 lists typed correctly (in some places not typed at all).  All issues aside, I like my travel time because I can get some fresh air, eat my "lunch" (food bar), and listen to the classical radio station.  It keeps me on my toes. I think the second week will be a little easier (especially because it's only a 3 day week)!

 

Gettin' paaaaaid

My school districts split up each person's salary into 20 equal paychecks, received every two weeks. It works out well; some weeks you get "overpaid", some "underpaid" but at least it's a reliable check each payday.  Today's check was definitely one of those overpaid checks because we've only had 7 school days instead of 10 in this pay period. But hey, I liked the number I saw! Getting that check made it all real. Today was especially real because as soon as I celebrated my paycheck, my dad brought up the things I need to start paying for, being a salaried woman and whatnot. Kind of a buzzkill for my big moment, but whatever.

Onward and upward!