I couldn't write in the blog yesterday. If I did, my title would have been "I got this! Wait, no I don't... but I will."
I taught two classes yesterday. My first one was amazing. I'm teaching a dear sweet Year 7 class called Newton. There are some really awesome kids in there. The lesson went as planned, and I was really encouraged by the whole thing. Then, during the period after lunch I had my Year 8 class. Jeez. I felt like I was in the Stand and Deliver movie. It was the complete opposite of my Year 7 class. The kids just wouldn't stop talking. Even when I had their attention, it only lasted for a couple seconds and then I would lose it. To paint a picture of the whole scene though, you have to realize that it was 100 degrees F, no air conditioning, two ceiling fans going, and it was the last class of the day right after lunch 1:30-2:30, so sitting right in the hottest part of the day. Mix that with 29 hot, sweaty, exhausted, not-listening 8th graders, and a rookie-to-Australia-schools teacher, and you have a hot mess! I made it through the class, and got back to my TAL faculty room and started picking brains. I knew I could do this - teach these kids. I've been teaching long enough. I just had to figure out how. All I can say is that I love my faculty. I talked privately to two of them (you know, don't want to cause a scene), and one even stayed late to give me tools for this new teaching 'tool box' that I'm building. So... I decided one of the biggest issues was that all the kids were sitting by their friends. Then.... they need a seating chart. But... there's one problem. I meet my Year 8 class in 11, I'll spell it out for you E-L-E-V-E-N different classrooms. Before I left school I visited all the classrooms. And you probably have guessed another problem. They are all arranged differently. Some are tables. Some are desks moved together to create three big groups, some are paired up desks, and some are in lines. How do you make seating charts for that? And honestly, I still haven't figured it out. To finish up on yesterday, I walked home, dripping in the heat, and got to work with my lesson plans - I wanted to make sure I was on top of them to better my odds of success. I got them done in time for dinner, a glass of wine, and to put the kids to bed. I just kept repeating to myself that I could do it... They are just 13 year olds. I can do this. Tom and the kids had a good day too. Tom just tried to stay cool. He's not adjusting to the heat quite as well as the kids and me. He also researched where to buy quality skateboards. Olin received some Aussie money from my mom for Christmas and he has been earning some money from chores and has decided that he wants a skateboard. So after school yesterday Tom took the kids to the skate shop and Olin made his big purchase! So today I walked to work in the mist. I was so anxious that I woke up early, left the house early, and was the first to sign at school. (We sign in every morning.) I was scared. I kept hearing the school's cow and sheep out in the garden area and repeatedly thought how much easier it would be to just work with livestock! My first period was my Year 8. And... They were amazing. I had so much fun with them. I made them get in a seating chart according to alphabetical order and I did my lesson and it went beautifully. They even admitted that they were just testing and having fun with me yesterday. 3rd period was next. It was a class I was really nervous about because it is the Year 10 Coastal Management class I was feeling a little out of my element. I haven't taught 10 graders in 11 years! And... It was amazing. I actually had more fun with them than the 8th graders. I had one girl that I almost wanted to laugh at (I didn't though), with her attempts at delinquency. The first thing she did in class was put her phone to hear ear and make a call. I told the class my rules on phones and she kept at it. I specifically told her to put her phone away, so she did and less than one minute she had it out again! So I moved her, let her know that if I saw it again it was mine until the end of the day and she knocked off her phone game. Year 8 was 4th period, and I moved to a class with 3 large groupings of desks.... Not able to reproduce what I had 1st period, I definitely had more problems, but not as many as the day before. One final thing that I want to mention. In addition to having classes in really random orders and having multiple classrooms (I think between all my classes I use all the A, B, and C classrooms- there are about 12 of them for each block), the schedule times change too. I was actually late to my 5th period class today because I had no idea that Wednesday's time schedules are different. Instead of starting the day at 8:30, it starts at 8:15 which then throws everything else off. I asked one of my co-workers after school today if there were any more hic-ups like that in the schedule and he said that on Thursday, the schedule changes even more. The break times are longer, and 4th period is after lunch. Friday's schedule, as far as I know, goes back to the Monday and Tuesday schedule. What I've learned is that you have to be on your toes. The kids keep you on your toes, the schedule keeps you on your toes, and the room assignments keep you on your toes. Good thing I'm walking so much. My toes are going to be ready! Walk-to-Work Tally: 30 miles
3 Comments
Naomi
2/1/2017 09:47:44
My Fitbit told me that in January I walked enough to do the March of the Penguins. Over 70 miles. At least I wasn't walking on ice, although it is really slushy and slippery up here. I keep thinking about what it must be like for you down there in the heat while we finally have a snowy winter.
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Naomi
2/1/2017 10:01:25
Wow, what a challenge your days are. Switching class times is one things, but different rooms as well is such another dimension. I am curious to find out what the rationale is for doing things that way. I hope I can spend some time shadowing you at school. Maybe Quin could go with Olin or Alta for a day. Do they allow that in Australia?
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Myla Liljemark
2/3/2017 02:01:04
I have no idea but I can find out! Nice job on the walking!
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AuthorThe Liljemark's enjoy exploring the world. This blog chronicles our adventures. Archives
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