Saturday, September 20, 2008

BTSN

As if it's not been hard enough to adjust to 150 different students and their needs in the classroom, I must now adjust to the needs of their parents as well. Thursday night, I experienced my first Back To School Night (BTSN) at my school, where a surprisingly large amount of parents and grandparents came to see what their child's classrooms looked like.. although for a new teacher like myself, it felt more like a judgement. So after a very long, yet successful day of teaching, we basically were asked to stay and do it all over again, but in the much shorter 10 minute class periods. 
It went very well I think, considering I had no idea what to expect... was 10 minutes going to drag out? Be too short? When that 15 hour work day came to and end (and no, you don't get paid for that extra time), parents were nice, excited about their child's classes, and I felt successful, relieved, and exhausted.
Stay tuned... next week is my first fundraiser for my yearbook class which involves the teachers (including myself), students, and projectile water balloons???? Ugh... the things we do for our kids.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

I have survived 2 weeks

I know, I know... it's been way too long since my last post. Hey! Leave me alone! I have been incredibly busy. I am barely keeping my head above water in my new career change.... I knew becoming a teacher would not be easy, but I was not prepared for how hard it would be on me physically. In addition to the many hours I spend outside of class on preparation for the next day or week, I am finding myself extremely fatigued and sore each night... so any free time and energy I have goes to my studies towards graduation (only a few more months!!!). 
It has been a tough transition and roller coaster of confusion being a new teacher, not accustomed to my school's routines and procedures. But all in all, I like it (so far). Although... check back in about a month when I have begun the evaluation process by my both my Masters program professor and my Principal! Yikes! Talk about pressure!