But I can still write. Gallagher reminded me that I could vent about my day and tell of the student teaching woes on my blog.
But first, some good news we hope. Even though I screwed up my cover letter (I caught a mistake in it last night that had occured during the corrections), I received an email from a school district to let me know my information was received and they'd be looking for me next week at the Education Job Fair. I'm going to take this as a good sign. It might just be a nice response that they send out to people...but I have my hope.
On to other news of the day. Yes, I really have lost most of my voice. Rather I used up what little I had on my ninth graders. I feel a lot better than I did two days ago overall, except my voice has been progressively going and going...probably a combination of the allergies and congestion from allergies making it hard to breath through my nose....Anyways.
So the life of a teacher is has lost her voice and must yet still teach. First period actually went better today than normal. I think it helped that I gave them some dire warnings about turning in assignments at 9:00 and I'd grade them no matter how much was done. They have a tendency to talk instead of work, so I decided to see how serious they were about their grades. I think it mostly worked. And since they did so well for me, and the majority had gotten all but a few problems done, I said they'd have a few minutes to finish it tomorrow.
But then came second period. They are usually good. I don't think it was necessarily as much that Mrs. Saunders was gone so they acted up more than usual. Mrs. S. left for a funeral (actually, the funeral of the lady she herself student taught under). We had a sub, but he knew that he'd be there mostly to help me keep them in line. Unfortunately, that left just me for being able to go around and help them with their work. We did the lesson first, and this was where my blood pressure whent up. There are these two students I have in the class. One of them had a bad attitude and figured that was an excuse not to pay attention in the lesson. I told her I was sorry she was having a bad day but I needed her attention. She told me to leave alone. I told her to pay attention. I went on with the lesson. But oh no. I look over and she has her head down and she is all teary-eyed. Ah, we're going to play this game I see. I ask for her attention. The sub goes over and than tells me that she needs to go to the counselor's office. My own personal opinion was not to let her go, however, I also realized that it might be best in some ways--as in not disrupting the rest of the class further. at least, her be disruptive. So off she went. She at least came back the last half of class. I just hate that she uses this sort of thing to get out of class. It's becoming a habit.
But she was only one of two students I was struggling with during the lesson. The other, who is rather a buddy to the other, was pulling an attitude game with me too. Once when I called on her to retain her attention, she replied with a snotty answer. The others laughed. I raised my voice as much as it hurt me (literally) to do so. and told them how I demanded their respect and stuff. *sigh*
and on we went. It went better during seatwork, but as I said earlier, the sub couldn't help the students with math. It was only me. and I had two students who needed some make-up one on one time with me.
I had a nice lunch and conference period. and than thankfully received enough voice back to teach the 8th period lesson and get them through the class. and off they went. I got some stuff to make out the reviews for the test and came on back to school. Lily was in a chatty mode, so my voice was basically gone by the time I got to Saga for dinner. and now I am ready for some quiet and hot tea. Although I do have to get that review done....
thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!
Posted by Anna at February 24, 2005 05:56 PM | TrackBack