New School Year @ MindSay 
school year
- I have now met 2 of my 8 students. Li and M. Guess I'll have to get used to the new abbreviations; I'm going to have another D, but I think I'll call him D(M) since his real name starts with an M but is being changed to D. And I'm going to have another A, but I won't call him that, since I've already had an A. That abbrev is already claimed in my heart. Either way, they were both really cute and sweet, and I know, honeymoon period, but if I can grab everyone before it gets bad, I have a shot at a good year. Not perfect, will always have some issues (they're in my class because they can't yet navigate a typical classroom), but a good, controlled-ish year.
- My room is starting to come together. The bookshelf has dried, and though yesterday's paint color was greyer than the day before's, it dried to be the same. WOO. Not the world's greatest paint job, but I'm satisfied. Setting up my rug area, realized I could have a second, now must go buy another rug. Sucks in that respect, but once I have it ... yay another rug! And another space kids can go to!
- I move into my apartment (technically) in less than one week.
- I loooove the custodial crew at my school. The female, Milly, isn't overly friendly (but she's also probably not loving the fact that she's doing so much work), and I haven't seen Mike in a few days, and Ed, the big guy on campus (he's clearly the boss) is mega-busy and only gets to deal with me when I want/need something/to have something taken away... so I guess really, I love Mark and Dylan. They're just fun and hilarious. I had a bit of a faux pas today when I thought Dylan was 17 years old and just helping out for the summer and he's not. He's actually 25 and working there full time (though going on vaca for a month first). So Oops, he's actually 7-8 years older than that. But it's also kinda good because ... he's very cute. Now I'm allowed to think that without having to get registered on some kind of Sex Offenders list :-P.
This journal's title is no longer accurate, as I will be a SECOND year teacher instead of a FIRST, but I've decided people will forgive me if I keep writing this. For all the THOUSANDS of people who stop by to read about my life as a teacher, please let me know if it's offensive.
ANYWAY, regardless of offense, the start of my 2nd year teaching is rapidly approaching. Yesterday I signed the lease on an apartment in Northampton, MA, around the corner from my new school (okay, a little further, but an honest 10-minute walk or 3 minute carride in the winter!, closer than my past job somehow). We had a meeting at school as well. I thought it was a Special Ed meeting about team-teaching. It was ACTUALLY how some Spec. Ed teachers are going to be coming in to co-teach either Math or Reading for the 1st and 2nd grades. BASICALLY, it didn't really apply to me... but then it sort of did.
Scheduling is A NIGHTMARE. Honestly, we sat at the table for an hour, and got NOTHING done. Some Support Staff want teachers of the same grade level to be teaching the same subject at the same time, so they can go to each room and pull kids of the same needs level and then they won't be missing anything. But OTHER specialists, the ones who are going to co-teach the lessons, NEED them to be staggered, because if three teachers are having math at the same exact time, and ONLY that time during the day, how are they going to get to all of them to co-teach. Very unproductive.
MEANWHILE, I have a kindergartner, a 1st grader, two third graders, and a 5th grader. HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME? Only slightly; because apparently, each of my students is also assigned to another, general Ed class. So eventually, when they're more in control of themselves, they're going to be going to Math with THAT teacher during that teacher's Math time.
Basically, I'm fucked. All of them have different lunch periods, and while we'll all be eating together at first, they'll all be spreading out that way, so that will be a scramble, and they've also got to go to specials at different times with their other class, so THAT will jump around a whole fuckload, and THEN there's that little issue of teaching lessons to 4 different grade levels, one of which I'm TECHNICALLY not licensed to teach. Suffices to say, I'M SCARED.
Hmm - this entry was started with the intent of being positive, so I'm going to swing back that way. My room is big; I want to change the layout a bit, try to fit a break area (I am going to MISS the break room!), and I don't want my desk right in front of the chalk board. The staff all seem friendly, and classrooms connect to each other, so when I need help, I can yell next door and get it. The principal, Gwen, seems SO much more helpful than what I had at BSE; already less stressful.
Now, to get myself motivated to go drive an hour to work on my classroom so I can be set up (ish) by the time Sept 2nd rolls around (SOO SOON! ACK!).
Will take Before-And-After pictures to show 'progress'.
I hae been thinking hard about my resolutions, since it's that itme of year again. i know it's a stupid thing, but I like to do it. Last year (I think, or maybe it was the year before) I made a resolution I am quite proud of it because I actually did it all year. It was to be more fun and worry less abut what other people thing, like for dancing at a party. And I did! Anyways this year's resolutions are:
1) To get good grades at uni (I've had this same resolution ever year i went to school since I can remember, but nw I'm reaching for a goal & I know what I want so we'll see.)
2) To finish te novel I've been trying to write for the last 4 years
3) To have a better relationship with God. I do already have a great one with him, but this past years he has done miracles for me, so I want to be closer with him.
There we are, my 3 resolutions that I wasn't quite sure of until I wrote them down. pray that I fulfill them. I hope you guys all have an amazing 2009
Love
Jodie
I think ever since I've started blogging, about 3 years ago, I think every summer I've written one of these. My semi-traditional Back to School Blog. Here I'll descibe my hopes, dreams, goals, and fears about the upcoming year. If you aren't a huge friend of mine, there's a good chance you won't give a damn about what it is I'm going to say. If you are my friend, you might notice that there are some subtle changes about me and what I'm looking for in life. Or maybe I'm full of it and just feel like blogging. Idk. You decide.
My Goals
1. Organization- By the end of the first semester I want to have figured out how to properly utilize a daily planner, and I will do this by remembering to write stuff down in mine, and not just stuffing it in the back of my locker or using it just for passes. My locker will stay clean, and I will be able to find whatever it is I need in my Binders.
2. Sports- By the time basketball season rolls around, I want to be in better shape than I have ever been. I will accomplish this by competing in cross country, where I will increase my ability to run 3.1 miles in 30:39 to being able to run a mile in at the most 9 minutes, preferably faster.
Ok, those are my two most immediate goals. Some long term goals are to keep my confidence up. I don't want to be as passive, and I don't want to be taken advantage of in school anymore. I want to know when to say no. I've decided this year is going to be about what makes me happy. I'm generally a nice person, but I'm not going to inconvenience myself to make someone else's life easier. I spent way too much effort trying to please people.
Romantically? I'm not looking for anything. No, really. I've been single since May, and it feels great. If you know me, you probably realize how long a time that is for me. It's the longest I haven't had a boyfriend since I started dating. I've been doing a lot of thinking this summer, reflecting, and I've come up with this- I don't need one. The trouble I've had with boyfriends makes it so I barely even want one. I like being able to flirt, and right now I can't think of a guy I'd be willing to date. Or I can, but he's not here so nothing can happen. I've had enough fun over this summer to last me all year, and I don't plan on continuing it. Weird, huh? For me to not want a boyfriend?
So, for now, I think I'll just wait it out, wait for the right guy to come to me. Instead of me chasing a fairy tale. Plus, I have a lot more standards, now. No more settling for me. No more dating a guy because he likes me, so I think I want to get to know him, only to find out he's totally wrong for me, which I would have already known if I'd have got to know him in the first place. No more liking a guy just because he likes me. I realize now, that's just plain stupid. If he's out there... he'll find me.
I don't have a whole lot of fears. No, "Omg I'm totally worried about failing sophomore year or not having any friends." School is school, it's supposed to get harder. I have all the friends I need, althought I won't object to more, if they aren't the kind that are friends only while they can get something from me. I've had plenty of those. I don't want to mess anything up with the friends I do have, because they mean the world to me. I don't want to do anything stupid because everyone else is doing it, I've been close to that before. I really don't want to drop the ball in leadership, again. Those are really the only things I'm worried about.
My attitude's a little different now. I'm curious to see if it stays with me throughout the school year. I hope it does... I like this little piece of confidence I picked up. Feel free to comment on this... I wrote it mostly for myself, but it's nice to know what other people think. See you all soon.
there were so many more people on the team this year than there was last year, so the place was packed. BUT. good job Welton. we still have the shortest banquet at Elko High School.
i didn't letter this year. got DAMN near close, but didn't letter. but. you know. Cross Country is a harder sport to letter in than a bunch of others. actually like all of them.
whatevs. i'll letter next year.
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