The countdown begins...

Less than a month until we return to school! I'm excited about the start to a new year, new students, new classroom and a new fresh and positive outlook on my 2nd year of teaching. I'm going to miss summer though... I hate waking up early. *pout*

I've been pretty busy doing non-school related things. One of my best friends from college got married on Saturday, so I was playing host to some of my other friends who came into town for that reason. We had a blast. Just reminds me how much I miss college! :( This week I've got some math workshops that I am attending, one because I want to, the other because I have to. You know how that goes... gotta get in the required hours. Friday I'm packing up the suitcase one more time and heading out to the West Coast to see my dad and stepmother before school starts up again. I cannot wait! On the agenda while I'm there: catch a baseball game w/ the padre, maybe a movie or two with the parentals, lay by the pool, hit up the practice range and relax. I mean, does it get any better than this?


No, it doesn't.

The portables have FINALLY been delivered to our campus, although it's a little disconcerting to see exactly what holds portables up. I'll be stepping lightly knowing that it's basically just propped on a bunch of cinder blocks. Yikes. I tracked down one of our AP's to find out when exactly I can get in there to either start getting stuff organized or at the minimum, move out of my old room so the new tenant can get his stuff set up. But of course, my school is the black hole of no communication, and no one knows anything. They don't have the keys yet, they don't have any desks, boards, projectors, electricity connections, etc. Fantastic. I know they'll get it all in there before school starts, otherwise our parents will pretty much storm the office with torches and pitchforks but my worry is that I'll be up there the weekend before having to rush to get everything the way I want it, instead of doing a little at a time like I would prefer. I don't like not having control over my own time.

I've also come to the conclusion that I am going to be much meaner this year. It'll make my life so much easier. No one is leaving to go to the bathroom, to their locker, ANYWHERE! This portable stuff may not be too bad! If you forgot it, you might as well be late, because you aren't leaving to go get it. But don't worry, you'll still sign the book for being tardy too. This year we will be using textbooks (Texas finally got their crap together and we now have a version aligned with our testing) so that will be a big change for the students. Bring book, paper and pencil EVERYDAY! Don't have it? Sucks for you. Sit there, close your mouth and don't disrupt my class because you can't remember those 3 things. If you are lucky (and can ask quietly) maybe someone next to you will see you have nothing and take pity on you. One thing I was really bad about last year was allowing students in my room to "do homework" in the morning. Tutoring only this year.. I have stuff to do. That is my goal this year.. to be meaner! GRRRRR. We'll see how that goes. LOL.

A conversation from last year....

(H came into afternoon tutoring to finish a project she did not turn in.. when not tutoring I have music playing on the system in my room)

H: Who is this singing?

Me: Huey Lewis, I doubt you'd know him...

H: Do you know who (John Doe) is? I think he is so hot.

Me: Hmmm, haven't heard of him. What type of music does he sing?

H: Screaming.