So it's been awhile. I'm finally breating again. Volleyball season was insane, but it was insane in a good way. What a way to start out my first year teaching. No curriculum, 6 plans, varsity volleyball to coach and a general feeling of being overwhelmed. I've now made it successfully through 2 weeks without being called into the principal's office. Yay me!



I don't even know how much has happened since I last posted, but I know for sure there has been a lot of stress. I think Mrs. Gregory (my principal) is feeling better about my abilities though, and that's nice. I know for sure that I feel more comfortable. You know, I don't think it matters how much classroom experience you get as a student teacher or substitute or whatever, I think no matter what you'll feel like you have NO idea what you're doing.



I know for sure that I'm going to be applying for other jobs (the money is so horrible where I am now), but I could also see myself staying at Chilhowee for another year. I like the people, the kids are, in general, a good group of kids. The biggest problem in Chilhowee is the amount of LAZY kids. It's just crazy. You can't believe how many excuses they come up with. So, this week I've started a new discipline plan concerning homework. If kids don't turn in their homework when it's due they have to fill out a "pink slip" that tells me why they didn't (they have choices such as I forgot, I chose not to, I didn't have the materials, etc). If they don't fill one out, it's a detention. If they don't turn in said homework the next day it's a homework period (meaning they get 20% off and they have to stay after school to finish it). Automatically when they don't turn it in, it's 10% off. Now, to me, this seems stupid. The fact that they don't turn it in in the first place that is. Because I would have never forgotten, and if I did, I would have known that it was an automatic zero. My fault. NOT THE TEACHERS. You try telling these kids that. Argh. Irresponsibility. Ridiculous.



The amount of special ed (ie. LAZY) kids, is amazing, as well. It's stupid. There are 2 boys in my 10th grade class who are in OSS half the time, meaning they can't make up the work. Out of the other 50% of the time, 25% of that time they decide not to come to school. The other 25% you ask? They talk in class and sleep. I'm so sick of it. So today I gave one of them a detention for sleeping/not turning in work



I also gave the principals daughter a detention and homework period today. I was worried about it because everyone has warned me against getting on to the principal's daughter (and I do mean everyone, "tread lightly" they say). But, it was pretty funny. I told Mrs. Gregory and she wanted an explanation so I gave it to her. About 5 minutes later Mrs. Gregory and her daughter marched into my room and her daughter said "I don't remember any of this!" I simply said, "_________, I told the entire class 5 times that if they didn't turn in their homework and didn't fill out a pink slip explaining why it would be a detention." She said something extremely mouthy (I don't really remember what) and her mother was shocked that her daughter had talked to me like that so she yelled at her. It was all I could do not to laugh. So, Mrs. Gregory realized that the detention was necessary and didn't make a fuss about it. Yes! That would've been the last thing I needed. I just don't want her daughter thinking she can get away with stuff, and I know that the only reason she does stuff like that is to see if I will enforce the rules with her. Sorry chica, I will. Dang, it's hard being a hardass. But kinda fun, too.