Overhaul

UGH. I am really starting to doubt if I have the energy for this profession. SERIOUSLY.

So it's the start of a new quarter, but I had been under the impression that nothing would really change, because most of the course taught here are semester classes. Um, wrong. Apparently there are so many behavior issues with kids being in certain combinations, plus credit issues, plus whatever that the ALC does a complete redo on each kid's registration for 2nd quarter. PLUS, even though I'd planned my curriculum for all my classes through the END of 2nd quarter (thinking of it as a semester class), Jane decided it was really time to get the Read180 program up and running (which was supposed to happen starting in 3rd quarter). So that gave me less than a week's notice to a) Learn the entire Read180 curriculum, b) Figure out if there were new kids I'd have to bring up to speed in 5th hour, who are in the middle of writing a paper, and c) Attempt to contemplate my existence. GAH.

So I'm kind of sort of managing. What was once two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT classes 1st and 2nd hour has turned into a 90 minute course for the 14 students who are most behind in reading. I have not heard the end of the fact that it's TWO HOURS LONG. Suck it up.

So it's clear I have no idea what I'm doing. There's this whole software component that I'm absolutely not willing to attempt until I'm sure it's functional and I can use it. Which is not now. Despite the fact that Jane is constantly offering help, it's just not something I can do yet. So I'm trying to plan 90 minutes of instruction for these kids, and it's hard, because it is a lot of sitting and we can't do rotations yet because Bernie's out sick this week and I don't know how to use the software.

Blech. Not to mention my 5th hour is completely different now and I'm afraid I'm just confusing kids with this paper assignment instead of teaching them how to write a paper.

Yesterday I had to run night school and Mock Trial practice SIMULTANEOUSLY, which was ridiculous. Also, we closed lunch so I had to use my lunch and prep time to pace the hallways with a walkie. And 4 kids ended up "escaping" anyway.

Plus it seems like there's a whole group with major upheaval in their lives (as in, two of my favorite girls' mom just up and left them with a house full of toddlers and hasn't showed up again and another boy told me his dad left a note kicking him out and now he has to move back to Ohio). I just hate everything. It's really too bad there's an expectation of teaching and learning to happen around here, because I don't know where or when it's happening with all this other crap.

I do love the kids (most of the time) and love teaching (most of the time), but I'm still waiting...when is it supposed to feel easier?