23 August 2005

My first day of teaching is now history

It's history unraveling. I've just completed my first day of teaching, and I am e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d. From 8:20 this morning until 12:05 we were with the same twenty students without a break doing community building exercises, reviewing rules (including our unheard-of NO CELL PHONES ON CAMPUS policy), learning names, etc. It was hard to believe that by the time lunch rolled around I still had not met with my other three classes; the day was still ahead. The good news is my class of seniors who are signed up for a class I'm teaching called "Theatre Workshop" but which is really Poetry Writing in the fall and Film Studies in the spring were really attentive and interested. I had expected to be hazed a bit by the rulers of the school. My first class of freshman also were wonderful: wide-eyed, helpful, and kind. One of them even said, "So, tell us about you!" I did not expect that. And then it was time for my last freshman class, right before the end of the day. How much of it was me being tired, needing a break, and feeling overwhelmed, and how much of it was them, I'm not sure, but I was definitely tested by this class (or a few members of this class). While the earlier ninth grade class was quiet and did not interrupt, the other was testy, talkative, and impatient. I called one particular student on it and asked him to stay after school. I was hesitant about doing this because as he said in protest, "It's my first day of high school!" That was exactly why I decided I better do it. Whether our few minutes together after school had any impact or not, I don't know, but I do hope to be making an impression that I don't put up with nonsense in my class. Sounds tough, but it is such an act!

All in all, I can't really complain about the first day. It went as smoothly as possible considering our rosters were all wrong, our freshman were confused, and we have no bells. After spending 11 hours here on campus getting ready for the first day, I'm determined to get myself out of here by 5:30 so I can go home and lesson plan for tomorrow. I can't promise I won't work another twelve hour day, though. If only...