Learning...

I'm convinced during the first year of teaching the teacher is learning more then the students.

The third week of school is coming to a close and I think I'm finally learning how to manage things a bit better. Today I would say 3 out of 4 classes went well...and I really question how accountable I can be held during my last hour. I have no special education training so I just don't feel nearly as bad when lessons go a bit awry.

Things I learned today:

1) The teacher who had her students stand in a straight line in a hall before letting them is not crazy. She is a genius. If I let my kids have two minutes to chill in the beginning of class my life is a nightmare. We stand in a line now.

2) It is possible to ask your superior what to do about kid x and get the response "I'll call the parents to check on meds" three times in one day...how medicated is this generation

3) Conversations like this will happen:
Me: "Are they always this loud?"
Other staff: "Yes"
Me: "Do they get more quiet as they mature?"
Other staff: "No, this is the hood. You're not from the hood are you? It's loud." hahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

p.s. My new nickname by my female students "Ralph Lauren"...at least I know they look at me sometime during the hour.