Short Week.. Yeah right.

This week has been very interesting. And I feel like I start on my blogs that way, because it's actually true every week. Monday was a planning day, Tuesday was supposed to be a regular day back to school, which turned into a three hour delay, which then turned into a closing day due to snow. Teaching in the south requires flexibility and adaptability to change and change that happens quickly.

By the way, I would say we're at a 7 out of 10 this week. 

Waking up at 5:45 in the morning never feels better than when you add a head cold runny nose sore throat and upset stomach with it too. When you're not feeling well, kids get on your nerves faster, you lose energy rapidly and it just seems that you are moving at a turtle's pace. Which is already a problem for me.

I had some excellent constructive criticism from my CE. She sat me down after school on Thursday and we talked about my lessons from the day, we talked about my classroom management, we talked about my pacing during lessons, and we talked about my overall tone when instructing. She usually is full of compliments but this was the hard truth that I have to learn by the end of my fourth week of student teaching.

We finally recognized what's been obvious since I first started teaching. And that is my classroom management skills. I came into the classroom in the fall and wasn't in a position of leadership or in a teacher position really. I came in as a friend. And ultimately that has messed me up the semester. I think it was very beneficial in plenty of ways, but if I'd simply come in and asserted my authority from the beginning, I would have as many problems with behavior as I do now. For example, a student called me Brittany to my face at lunch the other day. This got under my skin skin more than I thought it would. It was a blatant disrespect for my authority and when I asked her to stop she just giggled and said "well, it's your name." This shows me that they're trying to get away with what they can and I've been letting them, so why would they not? My leadership in the classroom (NCPTS one) need some help.

Also, I have had a hard time with teaching to one of my students. He just doesn't understand. And on days he doesn't take his meds, he is out of control. It's unmanageable and it is frustrating for all those around him. I had full classroom control for almost all of today. My teacher had to leave due to family issues that came up around 10:15 and she left for the day. 

I had mixed feelings. 

So a pro was that I got to try out the strategies she suggested yesterday.
And a con was that I got to try out the strategies she suggested yesterday.

In many ways, what I did today was effective. The students and I had a come to Jesus meeting. TWO TIMES. Both times, I had their attention and I was even called a strict teacher (behind my back of course, later told to me by one of my "faithful" students). Not that this was the goal, but it was about time that I maintain control over them. I asked them to get in line quietly and THEY DID. One of the 4th grade teachers said she walked by my class and checked on me and she was shocked by their compliance and quiet of the room. I WAS PUMPED. I was excited to know I was capable of creating an atmosphere good for learning (NCPTS 4).

I study my content more and more everyday and I try my best to get ahead.

Oh and how does that fix my stack of papers? Well, good question. Those papers that need to be graded are at an annoying high... As usual. I feel like I constantly have papers to grade and things to do, no matter how proactive I have been. 

Another thing I have noticed was my quickness to complain. Next week, I will begin my transformation of becoming my happy, bubbly self again. Can't wait!

To the old me, 
Brittany Kertesz