Surviving 9th Grade

After staying home sick all day yesterday (yuk!), I am finally on the mend. And the good news is that I was well for Football Thursday! Not Friday Night Football - Football Thursday. So, here's my day: Make my kids do work, eat dinner, grade papers, go to the Wando B-team game, the JV game, and then head for the Kickin' Chicken to watch USC almost beat Auburn.

My throat is sore and my voice gone, but it has truly been an incredible day. I couldn't be any prouder of all my football players (I'm kind of falling to the USC side these days) if, if... well, ya know, I just couldn't be prouder.

Anyway, I'm beat and we're headed to N.A. tomorrow after a whirlwind day of more Invention Projects at school. I'll write a real post soon, but for now, this girl's got to get some sleep!

Go Gamecocks!!! :)

After my students bombed their first test, I was worried. Was I just a bad teacher? Was I asking too much of them? To be honest, I'm pretty sure my co-teacher thought (maybe thinks) I was, but today I was so impressed.

My kids lived up to my expectations. When I said jump, they soared. I was tough, they came out strong. I was excited and so were they. Sure there were a few who were unprepared, but for the most part the great invention project day went better than I could have dreamed!

I had posters of the new Microfreeze - You have melting ice cream? Just pop it in the microfreeze for 10 seconds! Or the Waffle Shoes for the busy girl who wants waffles on the go? Or the more practical pool pill that helps keep kids from drowning?

For three blocks, they presented, I graded, they laughed, we laughed, and everyone had fun. My kids soared today, I'm am on top of a mountain. Plus, if they can make these happen, I'll never drown, always have cold food, and eat waffles everywhere I go! :)

Everyone loves me today! :)

I received kudos from my administrator who watched me teach the other day. My kids did this rockin' Socratic Seminar thing, and I was oh so impressed (a.k.a. relieved)!

I got props from my mentor who watched me teach today, and the lesson was honestly not my favorite. I figure if my ickyish lessons are good, then I must be AMAZING the rest of the time!

And no one insulted me for being a young white girl - last week's major hurdle.

Plus, my kids laughed at my stories today. I'm not a great storyteller, but today, my friends, I did something right! :)

You know how when you grow up, you discover that there are secrets adults never tell you? You know like how the bathtub doesn't actually clean itself and cars don't magically keep running? The adult world isn't nearly as cool as it looks? Or, my favorite, romance in real life is NOTHING like the movies? Well, I had another discovery along those lines.

What could it be, you ask?

It's two things really. One, I never get off work early, and I haven't posted since August because I simply haven't had the time, energy, or motivation to participate in even one extra activity in my life.

No one and I mean NO ONE ever told me that once you start teaching, you can't get it out of your head. My student test scores and their crazy questions and their lapses of good behavior all circle in my head like vultures waiting to pick apart my quickly atrophying brain. Honestly, I feel like one of those moms, old or new, that just can't stop talking about her perfect children all day long.

I have a feeling Josh will kill me for this soon...

SOOOO, if you know how to make it stop, PLEASE let me in on your secret!

Oh, and if you know how to get 9th graders to study for a test so they don't fail miserably, I could use a little help there as well.