First Week was a Success!
So, week 1 has ended. The first day was better than I had expected. I learned all of my homeroom kids by the end of the day, of which I was very impressed of myself. I had a questionnaire, fake grade breakdown presentation, real outline, mini bio of me, new year's/beginning of the year resolution (they each had to write on what they wanted to work on for the year), and than a mad minute sheet. I was totally prepared this time. I had backup activities unlike my first day of internship. I'm so glad I got to work out the kinks in internship.
Either than that, every class went pretty much like that. I totally freaked them out when I told them 90% of their grade were exams and 10% was homework. Their faces turned white. Muhuhauahahahah. Some of em were thinking about dropping the class. They were so relieved when I revealed the truth.
So the rest of the week, I've been planning my days on a night by night process. Sleeping by 12:00am. I knew I should have planned more during the summer. I thought I could get something done today, but managed to just relax instead. I will work tomorrow, promise! I have so much stuff to do and remember to do. Plus all the administrative and other school stuff. I wish I could just focus on teaching math. Now I have to somehow incorporate english writing in math?? I have to fill out a PGG thing for the division. I have to prepare my grades 6-9 for some standardized based test. I have to write out a whole unit to hand in. I have to take care of the magazine campaign. Oh yeah.. and teach. God.. I wish there wasn't so much other stuff I have to worry about.
I need to plan my calendar to make sure I'm hitting all of the outcomes I need to teach, or I'll run out of time.
The kids are still warming up to me. It's a small and tight community, so most of the kids have a solid relationship with the other teachers. I feel like they don't want to get to know me. Maybe it's just me. I'm not as sarcastic as the other teachers. The principal is kind of intimidating. He asked me how my first week was and I told him "it went really good, although the grade 8's are a bit rowdy sometimes." He directly responded, "well you have to make sure that they can't get away with anything or they'll walk over you". I was like, gee thanks. His comment made me feel incompetent. I don't know why. Sure his point is valid, but it offered no help. I dunno.. some of the things he says troubles me sometimes.
The school strongly pushes for good behaviour and that learning is essential. But so far, my impression is somewhat muddled. The school/division seems very grade driven, which is irritating. It's just weird that the division/school doesn't practice what they preach. There has to be another way to "collect data" to measure students' learning.
But overall, I enjoyed my first day. You know what sucks? I can't logon to the wireless school network with my laptop. Come on! I hate internet explorer! So week one done! Check.. Only 39 weeks left. Oh geez.. I'm outs.