Finals!

So tomorrow starts the last week before holiday break. Ever since we returned from Thanksgiving Break, I've been working 6-7 days a week 12-16 hours a day. I've never been so worked. Preparing my finals and reviews while trying to ensure my students know their exact grades is cumbersome.

I did have the joy of reading some great projects from my third year students, however. It was refreshing to read the dreams and hopes that these young adults have for themselves, our world, and others. Many of them have hopes of traveling, and I hope they all follow through. The single most rewarding experience I have is traveling.

I'll next be traveling back to the mitten for the holidays! Or well, at least the last half of Christmas day as we arrive in Detroit at 2:30 pm on Xmas day. I'm really excited to see my family and Gus' family as well. I'm disappointed that we won't have time to really visit with everyone we'd like, but at least we have this opportunity to go home together.

I'm really excited to have this first semester under my belt. I'm getting a lot of positive feedback from my students and my colleagues, which is great to hear. I've learned so much, and I'm looking forward to tweaking a few things to improve the quality of my craft. I really can't imagine a better job. I can't imagine a job where I'm not constantly challenged by others and myself. I just hope that the "system" doesn't take from this wonderful profession any more than it already has.

Well I'm off to enjoy my first finals week! Hasta pronto.

First (half) snow day of the year!

So I didn't think I'd ever get a snowday as a teacher, but here I am! We were the only school in Metro Denver in session today, but we got let out early at 12:30. I was just really scared to drive home. It only took me an hour to drive home, and the roads were ok.
I'm bummed because now all my classes are messed up. Blah. Half of me hopes we have school tomorrow so things aren't more messed up and the other half of me hopes that we do not, so I can take a mental health day w/o taking one :) We'll see, I guess I'll be happy with either one!
The snow just keeps on coming though. It's NUTS!
I can't wait for the ski areas to start opening. I'm getting antsy!
Well, I should get down to work so that I wont have anything to do when Gus gets home...

disillusionment

That's what they call the stage of teaching that I've just sunk further into. I'm trying to straighten things out with my fourth period class which has gone haywire, and not be so tough on myself at the same time. I just need to remember that I will not let down those students who come each day to class to learn.
It's been a tough couple weeks. I'm expecting it to follow suit in the next few weeks. It's just that time of year: we've been teaching for three months straight and I swear if anyone tells me "it's not that bad, you get summer's off" they'll find themselves in a very uncomfortable position: bent over with my foot up their...
Anyway, I've done some grading tonight and I have a good feel about tomorrow. I just need to make up an exam and review for Spanish I and figure out what we're doing for Día de los muertos. ¡Uy!
Well off to bed, so I can not feel like I've been hit by a train.

What a difference...

A three-day weekend makes in the morale of a first year teacher. Maybe it was the fact that a colleague approached me because they were concerned that I may be burning myself out, but I've really felt like I've got a different take on things now.
I am so thankful that someone saw what I was doing to myself and decided to speak up. All I've heard since I started was good things, but the best thing so far has been the criticism of working too much. And they're right. I was burning myself out. I didn't look forward to going home, or to the weekend (except that it offered the "escape" from being at school... but that didn't mean that I stopped thinking about school). So I relaxed this weekend. I did nothing school related. And I feel wonderful.
I really feel like I'm starting to have fun again in class. I'm starting to enjoy the students. I have patients. I have creative ideas. I want to make progress again, not just survive. But the best thing of all is that I've realized that I owe it to myself not to burn out. I love my job. I can't love it to death because then I stop enjoying, evolving, inventing and creating.
Yep. Today was a good day. More to come.

9 weeks and counting...

Well, it's been a screaming fast, crazy ride so far. I've made it through 9 weeks with some compliments and some challenging situations. But I think I've handled it well.
I'm really looking forward to the beginning of next semester so I can structure my classes a bit differently than they are now. I'm going to have the kids make up their own rules and punishments. I had my fourth period do that today, and I hope it makes a difference. They're my little guinea pig group. woo.
But it's the weekend. Time to relax and forget about all that I do during the week. Which is tough when I wake up during the night fretting about what I messed up or didn't do. I'll learn to cope though. It's a tough job. A lot tougher than anyone that hasn't done it before knows or can appreciate. But I'm greatful for my internship which I feel prepared me pretty well and as well for my long-term sub position which gave me a taste of what it is to have my own classroom.
I'm excited to start knitting more as it gets colder out and spending more time outside. I just don't really like the hot like I do the cold. It's something about how it feels when you breathe in the air.
Well I've gotta go hit up the gym a bit today and open a savings account... so off I go.

One month down...

Well, I've been at school for a month now. It's been quite an exciting time. I had my first sick day, my first meeting with my instructional coaches, went to the Homecoming bonfire and assemblies... etc.
It's such a dynamic school with tons of pride. I'm loving the challenges thus far. I feel like I've had some great triumphs and failures, and the learning curve is HUGE. Every day it's something new.
My first year classes are going great. I really feel like my students are successful so far. I really feel like I finally reached my third year classes this week too.
I've had numerous compliments and a few criticisms as well... but those are from those students who chose "New Staff" as the instructor over anyone else because they figured they had a chance that I would be easy. They've figured it out though.
We did a neat project on Friday with my first year classes performing weather forecasts. I got out the flip video camera, and we caught all the action. For the most part, the students did really well... but as always, there are a few that didn't study the vocab as I had instructed.
A couple weeks ago we did our first "Charla de mesa" in my third year class, and it seemed to go well. The students were all using Spanish to chat about a few prompts that I had given them and finding commonalities in between them in Spanish. I think it was a big milestone for a lot of students because they've never just used Spanish to chat. It was good!
I'm really enjoying myself now. I just hope I can hold on to my health because that is really what determines whether or not I enjoy myself.
Tonight I'm chaperoning the Homecoming dance... oh boy. It's going to be the latest night I've had in some time.

I keep pinching myself...

because I can't believe how great my new school is. Honestly, I'm very impressed with everyone from the help I've received from the custodial staff to the words of encouragement from the principal and the offers of activity ideas from others in my department. My instructional coaches and mentor have been wonderful so far as well.
I even felt compelled to call my mom and tell her how supported I feel. I really hope that the first day will go well because if that does, then all I'll be able to be more focused and successful the rest of the year. Oh the excitement and pressure!
My students arrive Tuesday, although I won't have the majority of them until Wednesday because we don't meet TR. All I know is that this week will go by fast, and I'll be exhausted!