it's been too long

Sorry I havent been keeping up with my blogging. So much is happening and I don't even know where to start. Let's not talk about the negative, for starters.

We finally have an AP at my school. I feel like things are constantly changing as far as staffing goes, and it's kind of nuts. But, the AP is a really really nice woman, who is really supportive and clear about what I need to do to succeed. This is exactly what I need. It's weird that instead of being nervous and anxious about my upcoming formal observation, I am excited and relieved. My principal just doesnt know how to give a real observation. I'm not going to get into it, but I am really really not happy with her.

Besides this, there really isn't much to say. I'm falling into a nice routine and everything is starting to get easier, with the exception of a few bumps in the road, typically caused by the principal.

Trick or Trick

Last week was very trying. The week before I had been absent on Thursday and Friday due to a conference in Atlantic City. I came back to my classroom, and was greeted by complete chaos. Posters ripped from the walls, whiteout covering brand new desks, chairs and desks overturned (which I think might actually been the janitor pissed off at cleaning up after the crazy kids). Needless to say, all of my students received detention. I wanted to kill them. Even more, I wanted to kill my principal. I gave her and the substitute the work I wanted to be done in my absence. Of course, not a damn thing was done, and the kids were left to have free time. So of course they acted like animals... they had nothing else to do. Then my principal has the nerve to blame me for their misbehavior when she was only one room away the entire time, and coincidentally did not hear or see a damn thing. I was PISSED.

But, this week has gone much better. Sometimes I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of losing control of my class, but I usually gain it back momentarily. Sometimes I give up a little too easily, and I let them take control. Still, I'm not feeling too bad about it all right now. It's just my fucking administration. They need to get their shit together, and soon.

In good news, I am now MATH COACH for the mathletes in my school. How exciting?!!?!?!?

So, I'm well on my way to becoming a real teacher now. I've hit a sort of plateau in my creativity, and I am looking forward to the weekend (and it's only monday). Wednesday night my coworker and I are heading to Atlantic City for a NCTM Conference where we will be inspired to teach math in a creative way. (hopefully). I need some inspiration right now. That's for sure.

I convinced my Principal that the students NEED to have Math on Fridays and that the poetry class that I was teaching is a real waste of time. She kind of agreed, and is letting me teach math instead. I am going to use it as a review / further exploration day. She wants my kids to have some sort of product from this class that may be performed on Friday's at our "Cafe" a.k.a. bullshit excuse for my Principal and her boyfriend (who is also the music teacher) to show off their talents and make people think that we are going such a wonderful job with our students. Meanwhile, the math scores are in and every student fell at least one level. We have NO level 4 students, when we used to have about 10. I made sure to mention this when persuading my principal to let me teach ONLY math.

Anyway, this little trip should be refreshing. A nice break from reality, and hopefully I'll come back with a better outlook and a better strategy!