The Primitive Nature of the Modern Man....and Teenager

Last week was spirit week, with all that entails. We had dress up days and activities during lunch. And of course, the dreaded activity, the Pep Assembly.

I try not to be a grumpy gills when it comes to these things. I mean, we get out of class for a good chunk, the kids have fun, we build school spirit, it's fantastic. I remember pep assemblies from my youth very fondly.

The problem is that there is so little structure. Give middle school students an inch, they take a mile. Without strict processes and rules in my classroom I wouldn't be surprised if one day I ended up hogtied in a corner with a gag in my mouth.

So pep assemblies aren't my favorite thing. Anything that changes the routine isn't my favorite thing. Especially when, as a teacher, I feel like I know absolutely nothing about whats going to happen. These days sound like "No, I do not know when they will call us down for the assembly. No, I have no idea what they're doing at the assembly. Yes, we have a seating chart. No, we cannot sit by Ms. Peterson's class. Yes, you have to sit with us. No, you cannot just leave because you don't care about it." There are a lot of questions and I have a lot of answers that sound like I don't know anything.

Typically, on an assembly day, I end up cranky and rude. I have to go home and take a bath to release the anxiety of all those questions and all my not real answers.

But last week I realized something. Middle school students, given an iota of freedom, will descend into absolute chaos. We're talking primal behavior, savage behavior. They say and do things they would NEVER in their right mind do. But they do them because they can get away with it.

It is because they are testing limits.

Middle school students, as well as most adolescents, are still learning how to operate within a system. They are learning appropriate behaviors and how they personally fit within a structure, such as society. This is why people give me the "You are SOOOOOO Brave!" when I tell them what I do. Middle school students are still at that crucial age where they are trying to understand the system and so act out in the most absurd ways.

Now, when we take away any semblance of a structure they descend into a feral state. Some of you are thinking "Oh Goodness! I am so glad I do not work with kids!" but you do!

Picture Black Friday Shopping. Picture Saturday's at the super market. Picture football stadiums and hockey rinks across the world. These are all things that operate outside the normal standards of society. They are all free range zones.

Give anyone the leeway to exist outside of the normal constraints of society and they turn feral! Yes, my work has a higher concentration of this behavior but that doesn't exclude you from dealing with feral beasts who do not care whatsoever about you or the rules.

Mankind is still an animal. We can dress ourselves up, build homes and streets and monuments but given a little freedom, given the opportunity to operate outside of the system, we are just a bunch of animals again.

Update!

Well, 2 years and 3 subjects later here I am! I survived my first year of teaching. It was a doozie and I haven't had a year that has been quite that difficult again.

Last year they switched me over to half time English, half time Earth Science. That was an interesting combo. I taught Honors 7th Grade English....and Earth Science. I'm going to drop an honesty bomb on y'all. Earth Science kids are not the most well behaved. It was odd to have the duality of kids who legitimately did not care about school and kids who would cry if I gave them a B. Add on top that I had moved into a room that still had a bunch of stuff from the previous teacher and I was running in between two classrooms and it made for an interesting year.

We made it through though! And this year they decided to make me all English. I now teach one class of Honors 7th, one class of 8th Core and four classes of Honors 8th. This leaves me with a lot of repeat students. This is both a positive and a negative. I have a really good rapport with the majority of my kids, which in all honesty has never been a problem. On the other hand they think we're pals. We are not pals. I've had to be much stricter than I typically like because they can't see boundaries.

I also got to move classrooms again! I now have windows that look out onto a friends classroom and our small shared courtyard. I enjoy the light and the air but they are distracting sometimes. This classroom is also smaller than my other two rooms which is proving to be difficult. I am all about separating sections of the classroom for different things. That is not possible in my current room. At the beginning of the year they tried to cram 41 kids into one of my classes. At maximum capacity my room holds 38 desks. We sorted it out but there were a few tense moments.

Overall this year has been great. I have less stress, more free time and more control. I found a great group of friends over the summer who have been super helpful in me learning to take control of my life. I want this blog to get up and running again. I want it to be funny and insightful. Today I am not funny nor insightful but I am writing.

So come back soon. I promise to include funny stories from my kids and any insights I happen to stumble upon.

Today a 14 year old boy called me Miss Piggy

Backstory: I’m 23 and overweight because of my own choices combined with my genetics. This boy called me this back in September I pulled him into a classroom, explained that it was rude and disrespectful to me as an authority figure, and thought that was that. I also don’t have this gentleman as a student.

So today I was walking down the hall between classes. This student walked past me and then after I was halfway down the hall he said “Heyyyyyyyyyyyy Miss Piggy!” in the most teasing and condescending tone a 14 year old boy could muster.

And you know what?

I am confident, I am young and you know what?

MISS PIGGY IS THE BOMB!

She don’t need no man. She’s strong on her own while still being feminine.

So I’ve decided to make this boy my project. He hangs out outside my door every morning and I see him most days. So I’m going to learn his name and say hello. Every day. I will get to know him.

I will show him that there is no way that a 14 year old boy calling me fat is going to make me angry. Because its true but fat doesn’t make me a bad person.

So I’m going to stick with my theme song. Me and Miss Piggy

Survival of the Longest Suffering

I did it. Another week under my belt. And let me tell you! It was a week that nearly sent me screaming from the school.

Monday was Labor Day. I spent my day prepping for the week.

Tuesday and Wednesday were tolerable. They were alright. I was alright.We were getting along and headed in the right direction.

Thursday: Overall decent.

And then 7th period. My 7th period has 41 students. I have 38 desks. A student from 7th came into 3rd saying he had transferred. When he showed up in 7th I asked to see his schedule. HE HAD DITCHED 3rd BY COMING TO MY CLASS

Then today. Friday. Lovely lovely Friday. We had district testing so all of my classes went down to the computer lab and took them.But 7th period, that pesky 7th period, was just out of control. Talking and disrespectful. Not listening to directions. All of the things that at the end of a long week you just   can't handle. They even kicked around an orange on the floor while I was talking to them. I was just so frustrated.

But you know what? I didn't break down. I didn't let them see me cry. (That was in the gas station parking lot). And hopefully next week will be better. I talked wit my mentor.I talked with my vice principal. I'm not letting those kids win. 

The First Week

Well here I am. Thursday night of my first week of teaching. I have survived 4 days that would make strong men crumble.

My first day was 

awful.

I'll be honest. I thought I was going to die and I would never come back to that place and it would be over.  I have the Earth Science students and unfortunately that is where the remedial students end up. You can lie to yourself all you want but remedial students are more likely to be troublemakers. So here I am. Brand new teacher facing down 150 troublemakers a day.

But I faced them down. I had one student who ditched (or as it is called here in Utah, sluffed) my class on the first day by walking around in the halls. All the veteran teachers then proceeded to warn me about her and her brother. Another student called me fat under his breath. Yes, first day. Yes, teenagers can be awful human beings. I had a bit of chaotic day, tried to lay down the law and refused to back down. But at the end of the day my feet were tired, I needed a nap, and the thought of coming back the next day made me want to cry.

But I did come back,.

           And you know what?

                          Tuesday was better!

\

I knew it wasn't perfect and that we would have a long way to go but I didn't almost cry, my feet weren't almost falling off and I felt like I could come back Wednesday and do it again.

Wednesday was not the day I had planned. Well...it was but I wasn't being smart. I tried to have my students make lab safety posters. The students I student taught would've handled it well because we had a rapport and an understanding. These new kids and I were nowhere near ready for the experiences of Wednesday. 

And when I left the classroom on Wednesday afternoon/near evening I knew we needed to make changes. I knew what those changes were. And I knew that I wouldn't be able to do everything I wanted to do with these classes right away.

So that brings us to Thursday, today. Today. 

Awwwwww yeah. Thursday. One day away from Friday. And guess what? I HAD BACKUP PLANS! In the event that the class was good we'd do a cool right brain vs left brain quiz and watch a pixar short at the end. If the class did not do well we'd do some book work.

The reason I had to create such black and white consequences was because we did a practice fire drill. Some classes did not do well. We attempted to fix behavior. Unfortunately 2nd and 5th both ended up with bookwork. They were VERY unhappy about it but quickly fell into the mandated silence. I also expected 7th period to be troublesome. They were not PERFECT in the hall but when we got into the classroom they were absolutely silence. I almost CRIED from joy.

It was amazing. Students were actually shushing the talkers and helping keep control. I felt on top of the world. Absolute top of the world. But we have tomorrow. Thankfully our school has short classes on Fridays and we have very set plans for tomorrow. We will see how 2nd, 5th and 7th act tomorrow.

I know the best way to create a respectful classroom is to treat them with respect and follow through with consequences. It is working....I just wish it worked faster. Hopefully next week will be even better.

Sorry I haven't updated

I deeply apologize for my lack of posting. How very unprofessional of me. But seeing as it is the summer, and I have yet to actually get into school, I think I'm doing alright.

A few weeks ago I met with my department chair. She suggested I read "The First Days of School" by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong. I just finished it, as in a few minutes ago.

The book describes the proper way to start the school year, a teaching career, and life in general. At first I was completely unreceptive. I did not enjoy the writing style and the almost holier-than-thou feeling. (I can be a bit stubborn)

By the end of the book I was underlining, writing down ideas, and considering my own career as a teacher. My whole life I have been a bit of a protective person. I wanted the most amount of vacation and money for the least amount of work. Recently I've become a maintenance person. I've been through some very difficult situations in my life and I just had to survive. But I have dedicated myself to being an enhancement person. I want to be a better person. I want to change lives and not just dream of it.

That means I need to get started on things. Next on the checklist?

WRITE A SYLLABUS!

I'll admit I'm a bit nervous to write one. I have some very good ideas from my cooperating teachers (student teaching) but I know I won't think of everything the first time go 'round. So I am going to start my syllabus, think of a million questions, bug my department chair with them, amend said syllabus, think of a million more questions and continue this circle till I feel confident.

I'll admit that I can be timid and shy but I am determined to make a difference in these kids' lives. I want to be a force for change, good change. So here comes Hurricane Shoeless Schoolmarm! Nothing can stop her.

Except maybe the nitrogen cycle. (IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND!)

The Road Thus Far

I decided I wanted to be a teacher when I took mythology for an English credit as a senior in high school. I had a great teacher, who was quite easy on the eyes. I'd been an avid reader since....well, since birth and I loved English classes. So I asked Mr. Cuny (everyone called him Mr. Cutie) one day what it would take for me to be an English or mythology teacher. He was extremely excited. I had good teachers previously but none of them had ever so exuberantly believed in me the way Mr. Cuny did. I decided then to become a teacher.

I attended BYU-Idaho, mostly because it was cheap. I entered the English Education program pretty much immediately. Halfway through my sophomore year I had to decide on a minor. To make me more marketable I decided to get a minor in science. I didn't want to take physics and pretty much every science education minor besides Earth Science required me to take physics. So being the lazy goat I am, I decided to minor in Earth Science Education.

I finished my student teaching at a middle school half way through November. I taught both English and Earth Science. Though Earth Science was harder because it required more factual knowledge, I found I had a great time teaching science. I finished out student teaching and started looking for a job. Anyone who is aware of school district hiring time frames knows that November was NOT the best time to graduate. So for the last 7 months I've essentially sat on my butt and applied for hundreds of jobs. 

Literally, hundreds.

I applied all over the continental United States. And on June 19, 2012 I hit pay dirt. It was the day I turned 23, as well as interviewed at 2 separate schools in the same district. My first interview was at 9 AM. Because I had interviewed at dozens of schools previous I was not nervous, or all that confident I would get the job. I got out of my interview at 10 AM, felt positive, and headed home to make myself a special birthday lunch.

At 11:50 AM I got a phone call from the school asking if I wanted the position. After months and months of applying I was being offered a job....ON MY BIRTHDAY! It was the most fulfilling moment in the last 6 months.

And that is how I became an 8th grade Integrated Science and 9th grade Earth Science teacher at a middle school in Utah. This blog is meant to document my foray into teaching. I know there are THOUSANDS of blogs discussing teaching and first year teaching. Unfortunately, most science teachers do not blog. I think it is the English nerd in me making me write all this. I will attempt to update this blog once a week with teaching, science and life tips for first year teachers. I plan to spend my summer prepping and organizing for my first year of teaching so I don't get too stressed out. 

And that, folks, is all for now! I will update with whatever teaching type things I do next week. 

Have a GNEISS Day!