2nd day of school = bad; 3rd day... much better

so my second day of school was terrible. There is a particular class - 28 students, lots of rowdy boys, chatty and disrespectful kids who decided (and told another teacher this too) that since I was a first-year teacher they could get away with everything. My other classes weren't quite as bad but they wanted to test me as well. I think I handled myself ok but I was not happy at the end of the day (slight understatement).

I stayed at school until 11:00pm (I went home for supper though) and prepared for today - seating arrangements, desks in rows instead of groups, extensive and different lesson plans (no more fun things until they behave) - when the kids asked why it was different I told them it was a test and they failed. Today was much better. I still had fun, but with that one large class... they will be taking notes until they learn how to behave and participate appropriately in class.

Just a little bit of planning and set up for tomorrow and then time to relax. Tomorrow will be a great day - only Chemistry (which has been going very well) and Biology 12 (a small class of great students).

Ah, the first year teaching. Nothing anyone told me really described it. The amount of work didn't surprise me, it's the other things.

First day of school

I had my first day of school. And I think it went great!

I wasn't nervous at all - maybe for less than two minutes before any of the kids arrived but that was it. Once I saw the kids, I put on my happy welcoming face... and I was a teacher.

I asked my students a lot of questions and had them tell me about themselves and I think I have a great bunch of kids. It'll be a good year.


I'm a teacher now! Wow, I'm kind of grown up.