Educational Orgasm.

That's the only way I can explain the field trip I took my modified Am. Lit kids on today.

We went to see a stage production of Of Mice and Men which we read earlier in the semester. Overall, the kids loved the book, but LOVED the play even more. I've had some issues with this class - the boy who skipped and went to the ag-shop and got hurt - yup, he's in this class.

Generally speaking these kids are the "freaks and geeks" of my school. Most of them have failed one or more English class somewhere along they way, are too lazy to take regular Am. Lit or are special education students. Most of them hate (HATE) to read either because they are lazy or just plain can't read well. Because of this they are rowdy, obnoxious, don't turn in their work on time (or at all) and are a big pain in my ass most of the time.

But that's why when one of them says something like "you told us that we'd all see a bit of ourselves in Huck and I wasn't so sure. But now, I see that was right - there is a little bit of Huck in each of us" I get all sappy and tell them I've got goosebumps. They think I'm nuts, but believe it or not, those moments are coming more and more often as the semester goes on.

However, when I had a sub on Wednesday (because I had to spend 3rd and 4th hour having a meeting with all of hte other English 10 teachers about how we're going to get the kids to pass the absurd state standard tests), I was embarrased and irate when I returned to my classroom and bumbed into the sub. I was angry because I know this sub well and she told me, verbatim, "that 4th hour is a shitty class." I request her every chance I get because she knows what she's doing, is tough, and is a retired English teacher. She can take a lot of crap; that's why I request her. I've never had a bad sub report before, period. And I've had a lot of subs with Mock Trials always being held during school plus quite a few sick days.

I had the "I'm very disappointed in you and now I don't really know if I want to take you on the field trip" talk with them yesterday. I threatened that if even one of them stepped one pinky toe over the line at that play that I would not hesitate to march each and every one of them out of the theatre, while the play was still going on, get back on the bus, and head straight back to school. I was convinced that there would be issues. I was so sure. But they proved me utterly, completely, and totally wrong.

It started as I counted before the bus left. They were so quiet! I commented about the lack of jabbering, hollering, etc. and they told me that they didn't want to get in trouble. I chuckled and made my way to the front of the bus to settle in for the 45 minute ride up to St. Paul.

I've had quite a few bus rides in my few years of teaching with coaching both speech and mock trial, and I know how kids are on the bus, even the 'good kids'. But my kids today, they were so amazingly good! Unfortunately, I had been worried about traffic when I'd scheduled the bus, but there was none at all, so we arrived in the city about an hour early. What to do? This is where things could get dangerous in the misbehavior department: bored kids.

So we stopped at a BK for breakfast. They were so civilized, both my EA (who I brought as a chaperone) and I had a great time with the kids. Many donned BK crowns and chatted respectfully with the patrons. They got my EA coffee, and when she said she needed sugar, suddenly packets of sugar appeared on the table.

Once we got to the theatre things didn't get any worse - in fact they got better! I actually ran into a friend who I went to college with who also teaches English, and as we chatted my kids were of course convinced that I'd had an affair with him. They teased me and it was quite funny. My group of boys who are most at home under a car sat quietly at the other end of the theatre from me, and every time I glanced in their direction they smiled and waved at me. My heart was welling up with pride.

At intermission, the boy who has given me the most headaches in class (the one who disappered into the shop and got his hand cut) actually commented that there were quite a few disrespectful kids at the play from other schools. He even said that he knew how to behave because his good teacher knew how to control her kids. Sigh...

At McDonald's on the way home I exclaimed that I'd forgotten to grab come ketchup, and within seconds 20 packets appeard in front of me. The kids gobbled their food and came and sat with my EA and me while we finished our food. It was clear that they'd had an amazing time.

Finally, as we got off the bus they all said thank you to us and the bus driver. I couldn't believe what an amazing day we'd had. They all had great things to say about the actors, the production, and the trip. Many of these kids have never been to a play before, and may never get the chance again.

The thing that stuck out in my mind the most is the fact that my students from Somolia, who have escaped war in their country to come to the US for a chance at an education and a new life, and who had never been to a play before, had grins on their faces from ear to ear to match those of my other students - they had a common experience that I hope will stay with them for a long time to come. I know I'll remember today as one of the best I've had as a teacher yet. It's just too bad all days can't be like this!

The past week has been insanely busy. I haven't really thought about it much, but I've been arriving home at 7pm every night. The tree has been up since Saturday but it's undecorated. The dishes need to be done, our room is a mess, the bathroom needs to be cleaned, and I have no idea what I'm going to wear tomorrow. But, at school, I'm nearly caught up on grading, my to-do list is constantly getting shorter, and Mock Trial is in full swing.

It's been a bit of a struggle again this year with the beginning of the Mock Trial season - the problem I'm having is that I have 8-10 too many kids on the team. This is a good problem to have, but if I'd just registered for 3 teams for regions to begin with I wouldn't have such an issue - and I'd then have a 3/12 chance at sending a team to state versus the 2/12 chance I currently have. Also, the thought of cutting kids right before regions is making me sick. Already, this Saturday I had two kids crying because they either didn't get a spot on one of the two teams for the first invite or they were demoted to the B team because they have missed too many practices. I can't handle the crying! Just man up and get your rears to practice and you won't have any issues.

The video club recieved the grant today from Student Council so now we're set to finally purchase equipment, our editing program (Sony Vegas) and other assorted stuff like mics, etc. I'm wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into, but also stoked when I look at what the kids have already done with just their equipment at home and a less than high-end editing program.

Check out the preview we showed at the pepfest at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVwstcziLus. There is another video that was shown this Monday in advisement, but they haven't posted it yet at youtube. I've got some highly talented students involved in this who are bound to teach me a thing or two (or a million) about editing and film.

I've had a lot of questions about the organization and if it is mostly video broadcasting or film oriented, and the best answer I have is that it will involve a bit of both. This is all new to school, to me, to the students - so it is going to be what we make of it. I am committed to providing a quality experience based on First Amendment rights and a journalistic experience, but I'm also willing to let the projects be based largely in an artistic mode. It will be interesting and I get the feeling that none of us will be able to predict where this will take us in the long run.

We are going to test out our production schedule on a project for the area chamber of commerce and Explore Minnesota - there is a contest out there asking MN schools to create videos that capture a list of favorite things/places in the state. Our local chamber has asked us to produce a video for them and has even offered to give us some funding to do some travel if ncessary. As cool as this opportunity is, I have no idea how this guy even heard about our organization starting up. We've done no advertising outside of the school and we've had one official 'pre-production' planning meeting. I fear this will get out of my hands and I won't have time to keep it all in check. But damn it, I'm going to do my very best because how cool will it be to be a part of something that can produce videos like the one on youtube? And, if that is what was put together just to advertise, as a preview, what is to come, can you imagine what these kids are capable of with more resources and time? That's enough to keep me going, even without pay for the time being.

Well, no one has said boo about the student accusations as of late. I'm willing to move on, and as far as I know, so is the student. Good.

Mock Trial as started, and I think we're past the craziest parts - assigning roles, collecting money and signed slips, schedules, etc. The only problem now is that I have too many students and only so many slots to fill two teams for regions. I should have registered for one more team, but our school has always had two, never three. Looks like I'll be doing some cutting later in the season. The good news is that I can bring three teams to all of the invites and then decide who I'll need to cut down to two teams. But I'm not excited about that in the least.

I'm home sick today with what I'm assuming is the beginning of a sinus infection. I ran to school, made sub plans (most times it's easier to just go to school sick than to make sub plans) at 6:30am, came home, and proceeded to sleep until noon. You can't tell me I didn't need that.

Now I'm biding my time until I'll need to jump in the shower and head back to school for a 2:45 video club meeting. I couldn't cancel that. The flyers have been up for 2 weeks! It always seems like when I am out sick I need to run back to school for some meeting that I can't cancel. I guess I'm just that committed!

In other news we went to an auction last weekend (before T-giving) and totally scored on a bunch of old art prints, vintage advertising items, a two straight-back caned seat chairs, and an amazing cane-seat rocker. We ruled that auction, plus it was at a VFW about 45 minutes away and we had cheese curds, which we usually only get during fair season in the summer. It was a blast. Oh, and we also got 10 old wooden fruit crates with the cool adverts on the ends for $1! I *heart* auctions. If I could pick another occupation it might be "Auction Commentator." There are so many characters at these events, the auctioneers are always a hoot, and we find the most amazing deals. At the one we went to about a month ago I scored a signed turquoise and sterling cuff bracelet and from what I've seen it is likely worth upwards of $200-300 based on the artist's other pieces. Plus, it's a fun way to spend a non-school related weekend.

It's been a really tough week. There have been accusations made against me by a student, which I can't really discuss much here, but let's just say that according to said student I:

• made fun of the student for lack of skills
• wrote mean things about him on the board
• never helped him
• am an a** and need to be fired

The list goes on. If you don't know me or have not read this blog before, none of these things could be farther from the truth, and they really hurt. This student was suspended by an adminstrator for making some statements about me in writing. I had nothing to do with the suspension, besides providing the administrator with the writing because that's what you do when comments like that are made, especially on paper with the kid's name signed at the top.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that this student has been left behind since elementary school in our district, although it seems like he has had a large part of not being able to read: he refuses the services continually offered to him in my class. I can't force anyone to learn or to get help with reading, but I tried for a while, and for that, I am apparently an ass. And that is OK, but when you and your parents begin to make completely false accusations about me and my career, even going so far as to attack the level of investment and care I have for my students, is where things get emotional for me. The other issue is that this is not a reading class. It is an elective, and it was never the right class for him, but that wasn't clear until it was too late because I didn't know him, although my co-teacher did and never made any moves.

This is my team-taught class, a class I don't get totally to myself. The other teacher and I have quite different teaching styles, and most days it feels like he plays good cop while I am forced to play bad cop. I play bad cop because it's the only way I can get the kids to find success, but the kids don't seem to want it and other teacher does not make much of an effort to help bring it out of the kids. This is not an issue when I am alone with my kids in my own classroom. I make that clear from the get-go: if you have not found much academic success before, and you are willing, this is the place where it will happen.

I also get that this will probably happen again. I get that I shouldn't take it personally, but it's hard not to. I admit to getting emotional about this, but not in front of my students or co-workers, just in front of my best friend at school, a fellow English teacher. She was right about my being most comfortable around her, so comfortable that I could let my guard down and turn on the waterworks, which I hate. It makes me feel weak and powerless, but as soon as those kids walk into my room I remember why I'm there and that I am good at what I do and that I care so much, it's OK to cry.

Man, so much drama over the past few weeks. Our levy didn't pass, so that means I might not have a job next year. I think I should weather the storm this time, but maybe not again next year. I'm getting the resume ready and asking for letters nonetheless. Better to be ready to jump if something good comes up. I don't necessarily mind leaving, not that I WANT to, but the issue is that we've gone and bought a house. There are other places we could have gone last year, including Forest Lake or back to Bemidji, but we chose to stay here. That's what gets me - we finally decide to settle down and now we might be screwed for it.

Other drama: big shakeup in my department. There was a swap between two people, with one being sent to an undesirable and illogical place, while another gets what (as it appears to some) she wanted. It's weird, and it has brought someone down to my plaza who I don't quite know what to do with.

Long story, but still sort of crazy to have someone who you wrote off (for a number of reasons, not the least of which is snubbing me, and others, in favor of those with more $ and power) working in close proximity to you after not really speaking for 6+ months. It's just weird.

There have been ups and downs with the team-taught class. We're ironing out the details of our teaching style differences (I'm apparently far more type A than I'd ever imagined, especially in comparison to someone who is so highly abstract/random...which I always thought I was...). We've basically given up on those who don't care about the class, which is evidenced by their lack of work being turned in, bad attitude, disruptive behavior - need I go on? It's funny that I don't really have these major of issues in my own classes. I think the inconsistency between our different styles is responsible for some of the issues, but honestly, these kids just don't give a shit about their grades in our class, let alone if they will walk at graduation or not.

I don't get it - passing is so ridiculously easy - you just have to show up and do some of, if not all of the work. You don't even need to do it well. You can do it half-assed, or even less than in some cases, but if you do NOTHING, I cannot help you. Even when you lie to your parents about me and my class, so that when I call them to see if I can get them to help set their kid straight (shouldn't it be the other way around???) they yell at me because, according to their kid, I am not doing one or even possibly all of the following:

• not modifying enough or at all (even though I modify the shit out of most everything and even do so when THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS LEGALLY IN PLACE!)
• telling them their grades frequently enough,
• giving too much homework (when in truth I technically don't give any - they have TIME IN CLASS!), etc., etc., etc.

If any parent happens to be reading this - do not always take your child's word for everything that happens at school, if you have a question - call/e-mail the teacher and ASK, make sure your kid is doing their work in school - if they are not, take something away!

Sorry for the rant. This is just an iota of what I've got inside right now, but you know what? I still love my f-ing job.

Mock Trial has begun: I have far too many freshman, although they appear motivated and bright, if not annoying. We'll have to whip them into shape - a nice haircut and a suit jacket does wonders on pubescent boys who love science and debate.

The video club has recieved initial funding - enough to buy us a sweet Sony 40g camcorder, some accessories and our editing program. The 'preview' showed at the pepfest, and it seemed to have gone over very well. We just need to have our meeting scheduled and our advertisements go out in the form of flyers, announcements, and another video during advisement and we should be golden to begin holding meetings, which should prove to be interesting. We're going to work up some type of constitution, mission statement, offices, etc. I shall be the "Executive Producer." Isn't that cute? My boys are so excited, and I'm excited for them. I just hope that we can be somewhat organized in this venture so I can remain sane, what with Mock Trial absences coming up, and a new semester just around the corner.

As Borat would say, "Wa-wa-wooie!"

Here's to hoping Thanksgiving comes quickly!

Whoops, so I sort of forgot about that vow to keep this updated on a regular basis. It's been a busy few weeks filled with meeting after meeting after meeting. We're having meetings about when to hold the next meeting, I swear.

Apparently the LA department is totally to blame for kids not passing their state mandated tests. Because the kids don't read anywhere else in the school besides in English class. I love the responses from the other departments when we try to tell them that there are ways that they can help prepare the kids for the tests by utilizing reading strategies which they learn in our classes. You'd think that we just asked them to cure cancer or melt the polar ice caps.

So, it's all our fault, and we, apparently, are the only ones who must fix it. Oh, and did I mention that funding, jobs, and our school's reputation all ride on this? Yes, it'll be a fun year.

We must motivate the unmotivated, spark interested in the disinterested, and perform miracles on students who have none of the following: support from home, "time" to do homework, no place to do said homework, computers to do homework on...do you get the point? I'm probably preaching to the choir here.

There is a list of all the kids who did not pass these tests last year. I can say that very few of my kids were on that list. Is it because I'm a great teacher? Probably not. I think it's because the vast majority of my kids had higher reading scores even coming in to my classroom in the first place. Is the same true this year? No, not really. So, it is now my job to not only teach to the test while attempting to jam the rest of curriculum into their heads, but also bring certain kids up multiple reading levels in one semester.

The kids are like baby birds, most of them have their hungry mouths open, ready to accept the food, and I'm the mama bird, coming with 50 giant grasshoppers which they cannot possibly digest in one sitting, let alone fit into their mouths. But I'm still going to cram it into their eager waiting mouths because IT IS MY JOB. Sorry, a pretty bad metaphor.

In other news, I had my very first write-up today. A gentleman from my modified Am Lit class "forgot" his folder out in the Ag-shop. I fell for it, gave him a pass and 3 minutes to get back to class. 20 minutes went by. Then, he comes back with a bandaged hand. He "brushed up against some rebar" in the shop and had "spent most of the 20 minutes getting bandaged up in the nurse's office." Yeah right, and I'm the pope. The nurse confirmed that he was there for just a few minutes at the end of the 20 minute time span.

My friend was dinking around out there for 20+ minutes, got hurt somehow (not sure where Ag-Shop teacher was during this time...that's another issue altogether), and lied right to my face. When I called him out on it, he began verbally abusing me (another first this year - yay!).

I told him to get out, and he left my room in a huff, saying that it was okay because he needed to go and get stitches anyway. Fan-friggin-tastic.

He needs to go away. He is the only student in that class who I do not have under my total control. I say jump, and these kids ask how high? They are invested in me and I in them - all except for my bloody-gashy friend. Even though he's got buddies galore in class, they tell him to shut up all the time, and despite a new seating chart, in which my friend is seated RIGHT NEXT TO MY PODIUM, he still not shut the frick up.

Okay, I've gotten it out. I hope that this incident will be enough to get him kicked out of class, but we'll see. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about reacing those who seem unreachable, but I have an entire class full of those, and he's disrupting their learning and my ability to remain in control of my class.

I'm done.

Recently overheard in my classroom:

• "Mrs. ******, you don't miss a beat, do you?"
• "Mrs. ****** - you own!"
• "I just finished the book - wow - I didn't expect that. I feel kind of weird."
• "Do a wheelie on your bike, Mrs. ******!" (it's Tootsie Roll day = Biker Day. I went for the little-kid biker look complete with helmet and bike with bell and streamers...photos coming soon, hopefully)
• Me, to a group of AP studnets noisily working outside my room: "Hey guys, you wanna see what learning looks like? Check out the students in my room right now!" (all my Comm I kids are toally engrossed in Of Mice and Men)

We scared the crap out of the those failing in the team-taught class. We even brought in the principal to talk to them about pulling their heads from their rear-ends. I loved it. They hated me for a few minutes, but when they realized that I was giving them a second chance of sorts (re-do their crappy journals for 1/2 credit) they seemed to like me a whole lot more. Not that I'm in this to be liked. I'm here to educate, but being liked sure makes the education part so much easier.

In other news, today was P.J. day for spirit week. LOVE P.J. day - wore the Adidas pants and robe. Can't go wrong. Tomorrow - Western Day.

How to Burst My Bubble:

Grade journals for team-taught Great American Stories class. Nearly 1/2 the class is failing due to NOT TURNING IN THE DAMN WORK. Is it too much to ask for 6 1/2 page journal entries since the beginning of the year? That's 3 weeks, folks. Maybe this team-teaching thing isn't as great as I thought. In my regular classes the kids are nearly all passing, with a total of 4 failers between two classes. They're turning in their work.

Time for a marathon mommy and daddy-calling session. I want so badly to treat them as adults, but can't - so they need to be tattled on.

If you are into young adult lit, love Sherman Alexie (Smoke Signals) have an interest in Native American culture, or are looking for a fun, quick read, check out The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.

Alexie has a great voice and a cutting wit that could be construed as flippant and or offensive, but it's right up my alley. He is a Spokane Indian and writes from a point of view which is hard to argue with. He has written numerous essays, scripts, short stories and novels that all deal with the difficulties of living as a Native American in a country that seems to have forgotten what was done to their land's original inhabitants.

Yeah, the book'll be banned for some subject matter and language (naughty words like "shit" and some things sexual in nature,but not at all out of the realm of most normal teens), but for anyone who has worked with Native students, it's an important book. I read this little wonder in one night - a school night.

This is what bliss feels like:

So we're reading Of Mice and Men in my Communications I class. The thing about this class is that it is supposed to be a modified version of American Literature, although very few of the kids actually need the mods. Most are there simply because they failed Am Lit due to excessive absences and or poor choices. Don't get me wrong, I have 5 IEP students who have pretty low reading levels, but overall these kids are capable. When I started at my school last year the class had been taught from the standpoint that most of these kids are going to go on to do one of three things:
1. Go on to tech school
2. Go on to work as a mechanic
3. Drop out

Not a good way to approach an American Lit class, in my opinion.

Most of these kids don't belong in a class where they are coddled, and most have been told they're not smart for far too long. The book was called Literature for Work and Life and it included sorry-ass, watered-down versions of stuff like the Constitution and chopped up crap adaptations of stories about runaway teens, mechanics and farmers. It was a serious slap in the face to not only the teachers (in my opinion), but also the kids. According to the curriculum the only thing we "have" to teach them is Huck Finn, which is arguably one of the most difficult pieces taught in our entire curriculum.

I taught the course in this manner for 1/2 the semester last year, and then I decided to try out Of Mice and Men just to see what would happen. The kids ate that shit up, and so this year I decided from the get-go that I was going to change the way this course it taught, and that if it went well, that I'd re-design the entire curriculum for next year.

See, I never really wanted to teach mod classes - I LOVE my Pre-AP 10 classes (which I totally lucked out in even having as a 1st year teacher last year, and which I have again this year as well). The lit is just so great – we’re talking Catcher, Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies (not Am Lit, I know, but still taught in the Am. Lit course, weird), etc. and since it's mostly the stuff the Am. Lit kids get as Juniors, I decided to simply transfer much of the stuff I do in Pre-AP 10 into Communications (mod. version of Am. Lit). I think I raised a few eyebrows when I declared this at the last department meeting of the year, but they let me and my idealistic ways skip off into the never-never land of summer. These kids deserve to read great literature, too!

So, fast forward back to my classroom yesterday, Friday. It is difficult day to teach much because the homecoming pepfest was after 1st hour - everyone knows the rest of the day is pretty much shot and that next week, Spirit Week, is a lost cause, too. Our school has an INORDINATE amount of school spirit. Seriously.

Anyway, so the kids, 25 boys (mostly corn fed gear-heads, who are a ton of fun to work with, BTW), and 6 girls, know that their assignment is to finish chapter 4 by Monday. This is a pretty big assignment for most of them (around 60 pages), considering over half of the class has admittedly never technically finished a novel. Since the block was cut short by about 10 minutes due to pep fest, I told the kids that after the reading minute that they'd have 40 minutes of SSR and if they were on task and reading/working on study guides, that we'd have a surprise for the last 1/2 hour of class (watching the most excellent film version of OMAM). I told them that at 2:00 we'd come back together for the surprise if all went well.

Expecting whining about 40 whole minutes of SSR, constant vigilance on my part, and about 15 bathroom break requests, I settled into prowling about the room and the plaza area just outside my room where kids were sprawled about with their books open wide. After a few minutes, things seemed decently under control, so I let my Para do the prowling while I sat down to send a few e-mails, do attendance, and key in some grades.

At quarter till 2:00 things were still totally silent. I was in shock. I continued to work at my desk, and my Para ran upstairs to make copies of her weekly reports. I became engrossed in a long e-mail and when I looked up at the clock, it read 2:05. I scanned the room for signs of packing up, but the kids were all reading silently, wrapped up in George and Lennie's mishaps on the ranch. I got up, called in the few kids reading in the plaza area and grabbed the film, ready for a rambunctious response to a film on a Friday, but was instead shocked when about half of the class moaned that they wanted to keep reading instead of watching the film!

H, a beautiful Somali girl asked, "Is it alright if I keep reading while the movie plays?"

A, the IEP student who has been a big problem in the past, but who has totally shaped up since I made him sign a contract for me, asked "Do you mind if I work on my study guide while the movie plays?"

I can barely keep the grin off of my face.

I tell them both that I don’t mind at all and pop in the film.

Twenty minutes later I stop the film and ask them what they think so far, and they shout out various comments that tell me they are really soaking up the lessons on plot and character we've studied so far.

WOW.

They’re comparing and contrasting their ideas of character and the actors’ versions of Lennie and George.

Then comes the kicker, that orgasmic teacher moment:

I tell the kids that I'm going to ask them to do something that an English teacher will probably never ask them to do again: not to read ahead. See, I have this sweet station activity that we'll do on Monday that requires that they do not know the outcome of the book. They can't know what happens to Candy's dog or Lennie. It simply won't work.

When I ask them not to read ahead I hear another set of moans. What the hell is going on here?

J says "But I already started chapter 5! For once I'm ahead!"

M asks, "Is it OK that I just read ahead, like, 10 pages?"

WTF? I smile, and tell them to enjoy their weekends and to be ready for the quiz on Monday. I let them go a minute early, which I NEVER do.

As they flood out, I wonder what is going on here? These moments are supposed to take years of practice. These moments are not supposed to take place in the classroom of a 2nd year teacher. These moments are reserved for master teachers, not me.

But, do you know what? I'm going to take it and run. I'm going to remember that moment when the going gets tough and I'm being shit on, because it will surely happen, but I'll always have this moment.

Thanks, 4th hour.

UPDATE:

1. Video club is a go - just waiting for final funding ok from Studnet Council. Hope this will be up and running by November
2. I finally got my noodle-drenched laptop fixed!
3. I have only smoked 3 cigarettes in the last month - thanks bronchitis, for helping to rid me of my bad habit.

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm waiting to stick my foot in my mouth. I'm waiting because thus far, I have amazing kids. I fully realize that this is only my second year doing this, and that I'm probably doing a good deal more in terms of being a good teacher this year, but I have very few tardies, everyone is coming to class on a regular basis, and for the first major assignments of the year I'm only missing THREE from all three of my classes. Total. Compare that to last year, and pfeewww, we're talking a difference that would probably take my fingers and my toes. Seriously.

What am I doing better? I think a great deal has to do with confidence and with the fact that I feel that I don't have so much to prove. I'm still holding myself to a high standard, and my kids to even higher standards, but for some reason they seem to be buying in right off that bat, and that didn't happen immeadiately last year. I spent the better half of the first semester proving myself at this new school. Now kids know me, even if I don't know them. They know I'm not full of shit and that I'm fun. They know I'll teach them something in a way that they would have never thought about before.

I'm sure in a month or two I'll be moaning and griping here, but for now, I'll just bask in the glow of the honeymoon period, which was far over by this point last year. I'm going to enjoy it whilst it lasts, dammit.

I don't cook often (unless you count toacos, mac-n-cheese or those yummy meal-in-a-bag creations), but every once in a while I get the urge to whip up something, well, adventurous. This time the urge was prompted by the purchase of a giant eggplant at the farmer's market. The in-laws were visiting (with 2 days notice) and we were trying to come up with things to do with them since Grandma was along for the ride. Grandma is great and all, but she is 98 and has a tough time hearing and an even harder time seeing. She pretends she can still see, we all pretend she can see, but she can't see anything besides giant things like trees and the sun.

So, anyway, I get this giant eggplant. The only thing I know to make with eggplant is this rather complicated dish from Greece called Mousakas. It's not excatly complicated, there are just many things that need to be prepped/cooked prior to being assembled in the final product, which is then baked. It's about an hour of prep and then 45 minutes of cooking in the oven.

I get the potatoes fried, the eggplant softened in the oven, the meat sauce simmered, and the bechamel sauce sufficiently thick. I assemble it all together in the giant glass Pyrex dish and insert it into the oven. I fry up the remaining portions of the eggplant and throw in the bread to get crunchy.

After about 30 more minutes, I check the food to see how it is looking, and it isn't doing much. I wait another 10 minutes and check again. The oven seems cooler than when I last checked it. Hmmph. I check again in a few minutes and realize that my oven has shat out on me. The light indicating the oven is on will not illuminate, but the burners still work.

I haul out the giant glass Pyrex dish and heave it onto the counter where I stare at it for a few moments before kicking the stove and saying a naughty word. I rummage through the cupboards before finding the medium sized covered Corningware dish that will fit into the microwave because I know that the damn Pyrex won't even come close to fitting in our tiny countertop unit. I punch in 10 minutes and wait. I sit down and begin writing.

I hear the ding and get up 10 minutes later. More frustrated and slightly angry, I punch in another 5 minutes and continue writing. Now, I will surely eat the ruined meal, check out Craig's List to see what a 'new' oven will cost us, and will fall asleep wondering when the next time I cook will be.

Okay, so that last post didn't include my video - which stinks. Maybe I'll try it again later, but for now, I need to vent.

I just got out of a 2 hour long IEP meeting. An IEP is an Individual Education Plan for kids who have special learning needs - ie. Special Ed. This particular kid has some issues, not the least of which is his MOTHER. She cried throughout the meeting and basically told us in the end that she would continue to enable him by not making him come to school for 1st hour, which is when I have him. Grrrr. I could go into further detail, but honestly, it won't do me any good and it certainly won't solve the issue. I'll just use this analogy/simile:

This kid and his mom are like a dog and his owner - if I let my dog shit on the floor and don't reprimand him for it, he'll continue to do it because he doesn't know any better. Then, I send my dog to puppy school and expect the trainer to teach him everything he needs to know, which she does, but then when he gets home I still let him shit on the floor. He'll still be shitting on the floor in a year or two or three, regardless of what happens with the trainer at puppy school.

I've got a couple more analogies that work too, but I'll spare you the bitching. Seriously, teach your kids not to shit on the floor at home AND at school, thank you very much.

Check out the video I shot using my little digital camera at the Dave show - it's great until this dude walks in front of the camera at the end - ignore that part. Enjoy!

Okay, I stink at keeping up to date on my posts.

Things I've done recently:

• Had our housewarming party during the floods - our basement stayed bone dry, thank you
• Got bronchitis/pnenomia
• Went to DMB at Alpine Valley while on meds for above conditions
• Worked my ass off getting my room in order
• Developed a filing system that works for me (instead of PILES of papers on my desk)
• Planned the entire English 10 semester out - complete with calendar
• I've been experimentally teaching a team-taught class (which is going great, BTW)
• Spilled a cup of noodles all over my laptop
• Was asked to be a special guest at a swim meet because I've positively influenced one of the girls on the team
• Working on starting a video club
• Thinking ahead to Mock Trial
• Obtained THREE project pass kids (when I couldn't even get one last year)
• Pissed and moaned about not having info on special needs kids when I need it
• Had an awesome discussion in said team-taught class
• Got a sweet riding lawn mower
• Got screwed by our old landlord who bounced the deposit check they gave us, thus causing us to be $800 in the hole
• Screamed at the old landlord regarding the bounced deposit check
• Decided that we need a budget so we don't end up like the landlord and his homeschooled ditz of a wife who is now having their fifth child, which they obviously cannot afford

Okay, I now sound like a complete maniac, which may or may not be true. I just want to teach kids the best that I can, pay my bills, and enjoy my house, my husband, and our pets. Is that so much to ask?

Parents, aunt and uncle...gone. Along with their four dogs, which when added to our two becomes six.

That makes six dogs and six people. Plus 2 cats - makes things interesting.

I took a $270 shower today, thanks to the plumber guys with the giant stinky hoses they stuck down our plugged sewer pipe. Peee-eeeewww.

EEEEwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...backed up sewer in the drain the laundry room - can't run any water and we have company. Effin grody.

I got very little sleep last night - I tossed and turned laying awake with anxiety over the coming school year, my husband's job prospects, and Great American Stories: This is a class I'll be teaching this year, and it's a team-taught class with a History teacher.

Despite the fact that a friend of mine who teaches history wanted to take the history portion so we could teach together, someone else pulled rank on her and took it. I was apprehensive to work with this person because the simple act of getting together to talk this summer has been basically impossible (he is all over the place and expectintg a child on top of it all).

We need to basically revamp the curriculum for the class since it is a elective and has not been taught in 4 years, and with 65+ kids currently registered, it seemed like a daunting task. We had to not only rework curriculum, but also figure out how to deal with nearly 70 kids taking one class together! However, after finally hooking up today, we came up with some really great stuff as well as a solid schedule in our school's forum (auditorium seating and large projection screen system, very cool) and in the library for reasearch.

That takes away some of the worry, and as we head north for the next few days to visit old friends in our old town, I hope that I can let go of stress before the school year even arrives. I've just cleaned the house in a fever while hubby is at a work meeting because my parents and aunt and uncle will arrive shortly after we get home from up north on Friday to visit for the weekend.

This time of the year is always busy with celebrations, and this year is no different, although we have landmarks to clebrate: my (yikes) 30th birthday, my mom's 56th, my parent's 38th wedding anniversary, and us finally settling into our new house. Next weekend is the actualy housewarming, with lots of out-of-town guests, and the week after DMB at Alpine Valley. Then, it's back-to-school!

So for now I'll do my best to enjoy the last few weeks of freedom...

I've been playing with this for what seems like hours, trying to create a cute header pic, but I have literally no photo software. I finally got something visually pleasing together, but since I had to use word, it got all pixely in the translation. Oh well, I could play it off like I meant it to look that way, right?

I'll just jump back in...
1. New house in town where I teach - love it. Just had a great neighborhood get-together for National Night Out; met great neighbors and heard history of area from neighbor born and raised in his home.
2. Electric dog fence - love it.
3. Still love my job, teaching pretty much same stuff again.
4. Went to Greece for Spring Break - loved it more the second time with hubby.
5. Still gonna coach M.T. again this year - can't be as bad as last year.
6. Feeling pretty grown up, going to be 30 next week, don't know how to feel about it.
7. I swear I'm going to keep this blog up this time. I swear...