The Week in Review
I managed to get my rear in gear after that spell of unmotivation and really hammer out all the things necessary to start the school year. Tuesday did come way too fast though...I found myself at Bill and Alan's on Labor Day thinking to myself, "Wow, I really have to go back to work tomorrow and pretend to be a teacher again!" Having the whole summer off made it exceptionally hard to get back into the swing of things. Speaking of having the summer off...
A big article was run in the Desert Sun (our newspaper) just this past week about all the elementary and middle schools in the PSUSD potentially moving to a year round system. I guess from the teacher talk I've heard it is in fact going to happen as it is one of the goals of our new superintendant. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this though... on one hand it would be great for our ELL population in developing solid language skills without such a long break of no exposure to English. Another plus is that there is not as much teacher and student burn out we would have 3 months on and then 1 month off. This is awesome for people who like to travel and such as peak times are generally in the summer months so airfares would be cheaper. However I really wanted to do a Masters program that was during the summer only so that I wouldn't have to juggle school and teaching at the same time. This system would totally ruin that for me and I'd have to find a new program and I don't want to do it online (Aunt Pam, you'll have to let me know how that goes). So...enough of that.
As for my first week back to school, it was flawless! The second time around is SO MUCH easier! I really am enjoying having two grade levels and two different things to teach, it is a little more work, but it is so much more enjoyable for me. I also am really excited about our new textbook adoption and so far it is working really well. I think that the book itself is a little "dumbed down" for lack of a better phrase, but for the student population I work with it is wonderful! We have all these great tools and materials to do investigations with and I think the kids are really going to do well with the help of this adoption.
As for students this year, no famous names:( But I do have some crazy ones to pronounce: Ixchelt, Montecerrat, Braulio, Arnulfo, and many more. Get ready to hear hilarious stories about Pedro Rodriguez (my new favorite student) and Juan Carlos, who wants to be called Mike Jones (like the rapper for those of you who don't know). They already are showing their entertaining faces and making me laugh.
I had lots of my old students come to visit this week. It made me feel special that they took the time to come and see me. They all hate high school right now, I told them they just need time to adjust and then it will be great. Cat City High is the biggest hs in the valley and apparently it is overcrowded, they don't like this either.
Well I'm off to grade papers, do some planning, then pool hang...I know you are all jealous, especially of the paper grading (I have over 200 this year)
A big article was run in the Desert Sun (our newspaper) just this past week about all the elementary and middle schools in the PSUSD potentially moving to a year round system. I guess from the teacher talk I've heard it is in fact going to happen as it is one of the goals of our new superintendant. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this though... on one hand it would be great for our ELL population in developing solid language skills without such a long break of no exposure to English. Another plus is that there is not as much teacher and student burn out we would have 3 months on and then 1 month off. This is awesome for people who like to travel and such as peak times are generally in the summer months so airfares would be cheaper. However I really wanted to do a Masters program that was during the summer only so that I wouldn't have to juggle school and teaching at the same time. This system would totally ruin that for me and I'd have to find a new program and I don't want to do it online (Aunt Pam, you'll have to let me know how that goes). So...enough of that.
As for my first week back to school, it was flawless! The second time around is SO MUCH easier! I really am enjoying having two grade levels and two different things to teach, it is a little more work, but it is so much more enjoyable for me. I also am really excited about our new textbook adoption and so far it is working really well. I think that the book itself is a little "dumbed down" for lack of a better phrase, but for the student population I work with it is wonderful! We have all these great tools and materials to do investigations with and I think the kids are really going to do well with the help of this adoption.
As for students this year, no famous names:( But I do have some crazy ones to pronounce: Ixchelt, Montecerrat, Braulio, Arnulfo, and many more. Get ready to hear hilarious stories about Pedro Rodriguez (my new favorite student) and Juan Carlos, who wants to be called Mike Jones (like the rapper for those of you who don't know). They already are showing their entertaining faces and making me laugh.
I had lots of my old students come to visit this week. It made me feel special that they took the time to come and see me. They all hate high school right now, I told them they just need time to adjust and then it will be great. Cat City High is the biggest hs in the valley and apparently it is overcrowded, they don't like this either.
Well I'm off to grade papers, do some planning, then pool hang...I know you are all jealous, especially of the paper grading (I have over 200 this year)
posted by Melissa R. Forgacs at 8:14 AM
3 Comments:
It sounds like a great week and that you're back in the swing. I don't think I'd like going year round. I like having time to wind down and then get excited for the new year. I don't think a month is long enough for that. Keep those blogs coming! Love ya!
I should move to California I like year around school. Enjoyed reading your blog and visiting with you on the phone. Miss you and love you
I knew you would think of something... and I'm sure it was brilliant!
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