The Ongoing Goes Go Go

When I started my practicum 6 weeks ago, I was a little bit apprehensive. Well, maybe not apprehensive, but maybe a little daunted. I told myself that I should just buckle down (and buckle up, too, for safety) and make it to spring break, and then I'd be fine. Well, spring break started today, and everything has been peachy keen dreamy, with cheese. I thought I would enjoy it, but it is actually even more fun than I thought it would be. The time I spend in the classroom is more or less a blast: I joke around with kids and give them nicknames and try not to scar them for life. The hard part is the planning, the unit preparation and lesson planning, etc. This I am not so good at. It seems like I've been up 'til midnightish about 2-3 times a week recently, just because things take longer than I think they will. But I think this is normal for a newb. When I get more experience under my lapel, I mean ... collar? Some kind of a fastening device anyway. When I get more experience under my cuff, then it will all come more easily. I was much relieved the other day when one of the socials teachers lent me two huge binders that basically have everything I need to plan for the English Civil Way and The French Revolution, which are the units I will be teaching in SS9 after spring break. That guy is cool. He has a sleeve tattoo with all the characters from Where the Wild Things Are on it. So, yeah, it's all going well. 7 more weeks of teaching after spring break, and then I'll be a (paid) teacher (hopefully)! It's nice to be getting my feet wet (not cold, mind you). I get along quite well with all of the staff and kids, as far as I can tell. Some of them even throw friendship eggs at my car--thanks guys!

P.S. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention a happy event with one kid. I have an unnamed student in an unnamed class. He is a bit of a handful because he has ADHD--not borderline ADHD, he's actually been diagnosed. He's a nice kid, he really wants me and Mr. K to like him, and he tries to behave well, but he's still disruptive. He can't focus on his work much without 1-on-1 help, so he doesn't get much done in class. We keep him in at lunch sometimes to work in a distraction-free environment, and we works really hard then. Anyway, we had our first report cards the other week, and he was at a B level. This was a coup. I went to find him in the schoolyard to tell him a day early, and he was really happy. He said: "I've never gotten a B before, my mom will be so proud."

This is why I'm in teaching.