The first day of the year with students, and I'm freaking exhausted. Thank God I didn't have soccer today or it would be been an incredibly useless training session. The day just completely wore me out; so much so that my body physically hurts. I'm not sure I am stressed, or just didn't sleep well last night, or just am not used to teaching all day, but I need a nap (which I don't have time for).
Despite my present conundrum involving said nap, totally went fairly well. We had some issues with our new bell system, which reminds me of dying on Space Invaders, and I need to readjust to block type classes, but my classes went well. I went over the expectations and syllabus, managing to scare the crap out of roughly 75 seniors, did a short getting to know you activity involving 2 truths and 1 lie, passed out their writing journals, and ended with a short writing assignment. I gave them each a journal in the hopes they will not lose it throughout the semester and that at the end of the semester, they will have a collection of writing. I also want them to see a progression in their writing from beginning to end. The writing assignment was extremely encouraging, and the feedback I received from some of my students made all the stress and frustration of this first day more than worth it. I told them that where we are from and how we grew up shapes who we have become, and I wanted them to write about their lives in a different, creative way. I shared a poem (posted below) titled "Where I'm From" which is basically me growing up in a nutshell. I told the students they could use my format, or any other format they wanted, but the goal is to write about where they came from that makes them who they are. I was a little apprehensive about sharing my writing because there is quite a bit of vulnerability in sharing writing, but I decided it needed to be done. One of my students actually asked if she could copy it down because she thought it was really good and she wanted to do one of her own. I was a bit shocked, but told her she was more than welcome to copy it. Another student had me reassure her twice she didn't have to tear out the pages to hand in what she wrote because she wanted to keep all the writing together. They actually wanted to write! I think my enthusiasm for writing showed as I spoke to them about writing, and maybe showing them a different way to write about themselves opened up a few doors in their minds about writing. Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but as Andy Dufrane says, "...hope is the best of things." I'm extremely excited for this year, and I can't wait watch my students grow as writers.
With our new schedule, tomorrow I have one class that I haven't seen yet, all my English 12 classes from today, along with my Read 180 lab. Tomorrow is also my day from hell. I'm sure as as I walk into the building, I will see "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" etched in the concrete over the door. I teach every period, have no prep, get a short 30-minute lunch, and then have the privilege of attending professional development for 50 minutes immediately following school. With my level of exhaustion today, the over/under for dozing headbobs during PD is set at 5...I'm taking the over.
Where I’m From
I’m from a sleepy Midwest town, and many far off lands
I’m from Sherwood Forest and the 100 Acre Wood, Sleepy Hollow, and Gotham City,
I’m from Metropolis and Wonderland, Never Never Land, Narnia,
I’m from Middle-Earth and King Arthur’s realm, Tatooine and Coruscant
I’m from sandbox and swingsets, and bike rides and neighborhoods
I’m from sheet tents and couch forts, and nerf guns and G.I. Joes
I’m from sandlots and soccer pitches, hardwood courts and driving ranges
I’m from drive-in movies and ice cream trucks, church pews and Sunday school
I’m from planting gardens and mowing lawns, swimming pools and endless summer days
I’m from hay rides and bonfires, s'mores and piles of leaves
I’m from homemade ice cream on the 4th and pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, Christmas before sunrise and football on New Year’s Day
I’m from snowball fights and snow forts, shoveling driveways and falling on ice
I’m from English books and math formulas, science experiments and history lessons
I’m from lockers and homerooms, cafeterias and recess
i’m from small classrooms and close friends, big dreams and hopeful potential
I’m from soccer matches and basketball games, parties with friends and fights with siblings
I’m from college dorms and early classes, late nights and early mornings
I’m from writing papers and reading books, afternoon naps and late dinners
I’m from class projects and sports labs, weekend movies and Sunday football
I’m from good grades and hard work, fear of failure and the joy of success
I’m from all these places and times, events and adventures
All of where I am from, has shaped me into who I have become
No comments:
Post a Comment