Well that didn't go well

Well the first classroom party of my teaching career is in the books. Today is the first time I have said to myself that I wish I could have done that over. The entire afternoon actually, but I would take just the Halloween party. I was too focused, should have been keeping my eyes and ears open. I beat myself up over not being able to structure things well enough. Often I will not pay attention to that little voice in my head; I really should start listening to it, it hasn’t been wrong yet. I wish I had been more social to the parents who came to help out. It’s a good thing I have till February to improve my classroom management before we have to do that again…

Highlights or lowlights

10/24/2008

Ever just had one of those days? Here is a quick over view of my Friday.
-At lunchtime, a student with Autism starts to have a bad day. By the end of the day he had sat in a cardboard box, threw a pitcher of cherry juice onto the wall/sink/floor, unwound a roll of paper towels onto the floor, and climbed a window.
-Another student had once again sat in the sink as well as playing the great ping pong game between the automatic sink and classroom door.
-Student not feeling good, enough said. And not enough pull ups.
Thank goodness it was Friday.

Oh my goodness

10/17/2008

If today had happened a month ago I think I would have just cried. I had the sub aid that was in my classroom yesterday again today. Plus a sub aid for my classroom aid. I had stocked up on fun activities and went into today not expecting much. By the time the day was over my female student had been sitting in the sink twice. Feet, rear end, and all. The first time the two sub aids were standing inches from her talking. I looked up, said please remove her from the sink, and went right back to what I was doing! It was just one of those days. I have a better appreciation for my aid after today, as I was both the teacher and aid. How does that happen when you have two aids in your room you ask; trust me it does! To top it off, I forgot duty twice this morning...

Ups and Downs

middle of Oct.

I can feel that I am on a downward slump. Had my first IEP meeting yesterday and today had a parent meeting. We are in the process of getting a second classroom aid for the class and today we had a random sub aid that was more work than he was help. He will be back tomorrow and my classroom aid will be gone in the morning. So that means two sub aids, me, and nine kids on a Friday. Kinda guessing not a lot productive will get done. I do not like the feeling that I have in my gut from the parent meeting today. I wish I could scream - I am new, I am trying, I am getting better every day. (ask me for what use to be written here...) Urgggg. I sure hope working 13 hours this weekend at my other job is a good way for me to relax and refocus...

Why are you stressed again?

10/8/2008

So I have had a few people not understand why I am stressed and overwhelmed. Being a first year teacher can't be that stressful, can it? Lets just say the state of Iowa and I need to have a talk. I am a beginning educator, aka a first year teacher. This means I have a few extra meetings to attend each month and projects to do for it. Yes, it is helpful but at the same time I get to spend the next two years doing this for a whole five graduate credits. Which leads me to my other 37 graduate credits. I am not certified to teach what I am teaching. I have a strategist level one degree and I am teaching in a level two classroom. The state of Iowa says I have two years to get my certificate of endorsement, possibly three if I beg :-). So I have the chance to reach one of my goals right off the bat, getting my masters. Some say, but you don't need to get your masters. A certificate is only a few credits short, so why not keep going. Oh, and I am moving this month from a not so great place to a nicer one.