Friday, August 26, 2016

Day 57 - The First Days of School


First Days of School

I admit it, I don’t sleep very well the first day of school.  I am lucky to sleep 5 hours because I am rethinking everything I need to do, things I need to say, how I will come across to the students, and other junk like that.  Except for the year I woke up with my eyes almost swollen shut because of poison ivy and the day Nash had no electricity, my first days have all been pretty good.

Today started off with my taxi driver arriving late.  Well, not really late, but later than he has been coming.  Most mornings I am setting three alarms, 5:00, 6:00, and 6:45.  The first is to get me started and sometimes I hit the snooze a time or two.  Usually I am on my iPad reading my bible, or checking social media.  I also admit to being addicted to social media.  The second alarm is to warn me it is time to take a shower and prepare a bite to eat.  The third one is to tell me it is time to go.  Usually my taxi driver arrives about the same time as the 6:45 alarm.  Today he arrived at 7:00.  So that caused a little twinge of panic.

Soon though, I was at school being greeted by the cats and discovering that the night cleaning crew had not cleaned the dusty desks.  I asked the day cleaning lady to clean the desks.  She did, but complained that the night crew was getting lazy.  I made sure everything was ready for my classes and then looked over my first day spiel.  And nervously I awaited my students.

Before my first class started I discovered that my class list for British Literature had changed since I left school the day before.  Several names were gone from my list and a few added.  For British Literature I had only 6 students, one of whom is in the States for another week, and later in the day, another boy transferred to that class.  I like the class, though today they were kinda quiet.  I asked a few questions and not one said “I don’t know.”  They all gave the best answer they could think of for the first day of school.  They seem to be an intelligent group, so I will have to be on my toes to give them a quality education.

My second class kinda exploded into the room.  It is my biggest class with 17 10th graders and 2/3rds boys.  Several of the boys aren’t shy at all and I had to be forceful to get them to not talk so much.  I discovered right away that it will take a little more work with them and they won’t get as much accomplished as the other two classes.  I did not finish what I planned for that class.  But this I know about this group, because I have had lots of kids like them in the past, once I win their hearts I will also have their minds.  I am looking forward to many good days with them.

The third class started off a bit confused.  My schedule showed there was a 10-minute break before the class, so I let them go buy a snack.  While half the class was gone, one student showed me his schedule and I realized theirs was different from mine.  I lost a few minutes at the beginning of class, but they cooperated well and we did everything that was required.  I am really going to like this class.  They participated well and seemed interested in everything I had to say.  If they stay like this, and I was told that is their personality, I expect it will be a good year.


That class starting earlier meant it ended earlier.  This year I am only part time, so my school day ends at 10:28!  I can’t imagine that now, even though I was home a few minutes after 11:00 today, had lunch by 12:00, and enjoyed a nap till 1:30.  Once the routine is settled, I will have lots of time to write and to explore Santa Cruz.

Day 2 was even better.  The students seemed relaxed, but the talkative ones were less so.  I did a getting to know you essay.  That meant that most of the period they were writing.  I have just started reading them, but am discovering I have an impressive group of students. 

The light is not good in my classroom, but you can get an idea of a few of my students.  All of these pictures are from day 2, when most were writing essays for me.

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