Getting back into the routine of things has been difficult these past two weeks. Snooze button...a must! Being productive at night...not really happening :) I've found my kids struggling with the same thing. Coming back from break was like starting school all over again. Rules, expectations...what are those? A positive change at school is the addition of our new 6th/7th grade English/Social Studies teacher. This fall one of our teachers left unexpectedly. She was a favorite of the students and my "partner in crime" with the 6th grade. The students have had to deal with the inconsistencies of substitute teachers and I often feel like I am the only constant for them (aka the only one keeping them accountable) So, having someone to crack the whip with me and work to mold them into responsible students is a huge gift.
Something you should know about my 7th graders is that they are a tight bunch and can gang up if they don't like something. After their first encounter with the new teacher (he is quite strict...which they need, but don't like), they came running to me about how they didn't like him. In this conversation they shared about playing tricks on teachers they didn't like and indicated plans to do something similar to him. I sat them down and told them they needed to give him a chance because I thought they would really like him (He's a funny guy with a quirky sense of humor). Next day in class..."Miss, he's so cool!" Success :)
Another new activity in our lives is weekly Arabic lessons. Over these past months we've developed a relationship with an English-speaking Moroccan. She has become a friend and offered to tutor us. Sarah and I are both excited about learning the language and all the new doors that will open with being able to communicate with people.
One final funny story about this week... My last period is a math assistance course for 11th grade students. It was near the end of class and I was not being as strict about working. I was at my computer entering in grades and all of a sudden the girls started to scream and were running to the other side of the room. What scared them you may ask...a tiny bird that decided to join us :) SO I have the girls huddled in one corner and one of my boys trying to capture it! After a few tries I was able to get the bird out. What a way to end the day! BUT the story doesn't end there. Two days later another bird rams into my window, almost knocks itself out, and then flutters away...crazy. There must be something about my classroom that is attractive to the birds...or maybe they just like math ;)
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