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Sep. 5th, 2007 03:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
candylandToday is the longest day of my teaching career thus far.
So I was a couple minutes late to school today. Whoops ^^;; Then I had to stop in the main office and ask about something, and while I was there I saw the English teacher I work with first period jogging down the hallway. I got to the class...and they told me she'd A) left, B) would be right back, or C) [insert miscellaneous other thing here]. So I started the movie we're watching--Dead Poet's Society--and kicked back.
Sprinted back to choir. We started a Latin piece today...WITH ONLY MINOR COMPLAINTS, WHEE!! So that went well. Then during third hour I learned how to do orders. Once I get the signature of approval (which should appear tomorrow), I can put in the order. MY FIRST MUSIC ORDER ZOMG YEY!!
Did around half a dozen lessons today--they are to come in for three lessons a quarter--and then I did some Very Important Paperwork and THEN...I prepared my little speech for the middle school choir.
...figures that today would be the day I am running uber-late and get there with only ten minutes to spare before class x_x But I got the chairs set up, got the new seating chart in order, and waited. I had several kids walk up with a pass to go to the computer lab, and I told them that they could go after I was done. Everyone found their seats and sat down, and when the bell rang, I started.
That is the quietest that class has ever been. And it was WONDERFUL. They seemed...stunned. I started by holding up my two typed pages (size twelve font, Times New Roman) and informing them that I was holding the new classroom rules and some announcements. That got a gasp. Then I went through everyone, one point at a time. And they were silent.
I think I surprised them, too, when I asked them if they'd ever thought about how much time and effort teachers put into preparing and teaching their lessons, or how much stuff it is that teachers really do. Judging by a few of their expressions, I'd say the thought never crossed their minds (I know I hadn't thought of it when I was that age). And they also looked surprised when I told them that it can be very hurtful when teachers put all that energy into preparing a lesson to teach them something important...and the kids act out like that.
So I think they understand that they are now under some pretty strict rules, at least until they can show me that they can handle some small freedoms. A few of them looked rather bewildered when I informed them that just about anything they do in that classroom (talking, moving around, standing on their chairs while they sing) is a privilege, not a right. They have to earn it.
But I was pleasantly surprised when I announced that we were going to do a unit on reading music, and no one freaked. I told them to please hear me out, and I explained the entire deal. Monday will be a short discussion and introduction of the concepts; at the end of class on Monday, they will get their assignment. On Wednesday, they may either turn their completed assignment in OR ask questions (if they have any). And all assignments are due on Friday. So long as the assignments are turned in on time, there will not be weekly tests.
I then asked them to think of how many assignments they got per week in their math and science classes, and then compare it to the one worksheet a week they'll get from me. When I asked if this all seemed fair to them, most of them nodded.
We then went on to have the most productive rehearsal we've had yet in there. And we did manage to have a little bit of fun when I asked the sopranos to stand up, put their music on their chairs, put their hands on the sides of their faces...and scream. When I had them sing next, the sound doubled. It was wonderful.
So I think it'll be okay there. I think they realized that I'm serious and that it really is on them as to what kind of class we get to have. I'll know for sure on Friday, but if I have to do another read-through of The Rules at the beginning of the class, I will.
Anyway, I'm tossing this post up and then I'm off to my mentoring meeting. I have no idea what we'll be talking about or doing in there, but it's supposed to last from four until five-thirty or thereabouts.
...and then at six, we're carpooling over to a neighboring town for a conference meeting. If I understand it correctly, we'll be picking the music for the conference choir or something like that. I have that marked down as lasting about an hour or so...and then carpool home, which should get me back to the school around eight. I'll be home then.
So if I'm not online until later tonight, that's why. PASSING OUT FOR THE WIN, YO!
Okay, gotta run. Bye!
So I was a couple minutes late to school today. Whoops ^^;; Then I had to stop in the main office and ask about something, and while I was there I saw the English teacher I work with first period jogging down the hallway. I got to the class...and they told me she'd A) left, B) would be right back, or C) [insert miscellaneous other thing here]. So I started the movie we're watching--Dead Poet's Society--and kicked back.
Sprinted back to choir. We started a Latin piece today...WITH ONLY MINOR COMPLAINTS, WHEE!! So that went well. Then during third hour I learned how to do orders. Once I get the signature of approval (which should appear tomorrow), I can put in the order. MY FIRST MUSIC ORDER ZOMG YEY!!
Did around half a dozen lessons today--they are to come in for three lessons a quarter--and then I did some Very Important Paperwork and THEN...I prepared my little speech for the middle school choir.
...figures that today would be the day I am running uber-late and get there with only ten minutes to spare before class x_x But I got the chairs set up, got the new seating chart in order, and waited. I had several kids walk up with a pass to go to the computer lab, and I told them that they could go after I was done. Everyone found their seats and sat down, and when the bell rang, I started.
That is the quietest that class has ever been. And it was WONDERFUL. They seemed...stunned. I started by holding up my two typed pages (size twelve font, Times New Roman) and informing them that I was holding the new classroom rules and some announcements. That got a gasp. Then I went through everyone, one point at a time. And they were silent.
I think I surprised them, too, when I asked them if they'd ever thought about how much time and effort teachers put into preparing and teaching their lessons, or how much stuff it is that teachers really do. Judging by a few of their expressions, I'd say the thought never crossed their minds (I know I hadn't thought of it when I was that age). And they also looked surprised when I told them that it can be very hurtful when teachers put all that energy into preparing a lesson to teach them something important...and the kids act out like that.
So I think they understand that they are now under some pretty strict rules, at least until they can show me that they can handle some small freedoms. A few of them looked rather bewildered when I informed them that just about anything they do in that classroom (talking, moving around, standing on their chairs while they sing) is a privilege, not a right. They have to earn it.
But I was pleasantly surprised when I announced that we were going to do a unit on reading music, and no one freaked. I told them to please hear me out, and I explained the entire deal. Monday will be a short discussion and introduction of the concepts; at the end of class on Monday, they will get their assignment. On Wednesday, they may either turn their completed assignment in OR ask questions (if they have any). And all assignments are due on Friday. So long as the assignments are turned in on time, there will not be weekly tests.
I then asked them to think of how many assignments they got per week in their math and science classes, and then compare it to the one worksheet a week they'll get from me. When I asked if this all seemed fair to them, most of them nodded.
We then went on to have the most productive rehearsal we've had yet in there. And we did manage to have a little bit of fun when I asked the sopranos to stand up, put their music on their chairs, put their hands on the sides of their faces...and scream. When I had them sing next, the sound doubled. It was wonderful.
So I think it'll be okay there. I think they realized that I'm serious and that it really is on them as to what kind of class we get to have. I'll know for sure on Friday, but if I have to do another read-through of The Rules at the beginning of the class, I will.
Anyway, I'm tossing this post up and then I'm off to my mentoring meeting. I have no idea what we'll be talking about or doing in there, but it's supposed to last from four until five-thirty or thereabouts.
...and then at six, we're carpooling over to a neighboring town for a conference meeting. If I understand it correctly, we'll be picking the music for the conference choir or something like that. I have that marked down as lasting about an hour or so...and then carpool home, which should get me back to the school around eight. I'll be home then.
So if I'm not online until later tonight, that's why. PASSING OUT FOR THE WIN, YO!
Okay, gotta run. Bye!