Three Days

So, I have been teaching my my new school for three whole days.

While it feels like three whole years (it is absolutely crazy how time passes inside of a school building), I actually find myself having some really positive things to say! But, then again, in comparison to the atrocity that was my first year, I don't think it is physically possible for another school to reach that level of bad.

This year, instead of going nonstop from 8:20 until 2:45, I am teaching two science classes (Physical Science and Earth Science) with two sections each and monitoring a study hall filled with a whopping three students. That's five class periods for those of you doing the math ... Five class periods out of a seven-class day! That means I have two planning periods where I can diligently plan ahead for the upcoming weeks, or kick back and enjoy the moment (as has been the case the past couple of days). Who would have guessed that normal teaching jobs actually include some down time!?

Also, as I mentioned a couple of posts back, all of my fellow teachers and administrators are absolutely great to work with. No one is domineering or scary, and, most importantly, I am able to do my job with very little interruption or unnecessary scrutiny. In the two or so times that the principal has come into my classes to make sure all is well, she has not made me feel like a child. If anything, she is more concerned over my needs than she has to be: Always asking how things are going and/or if I need anything. Instead of making me frustrated, this leaves me feeling supported ... And valuable.

But, probably most amazingly, the kids have been very well-behaved and cooperative. It was actually sort of unnerving on the first day when I was going over the class rules and noticed, to my complete shock, that I had eyes on me. Just about every kid in the room was looking at me ... It made me feel a bit paranoid ... Was there something in my teeth? Did I have toilet paper trailing from the back of my pants or something? Was my fly down!? Nope, they were just actually listening ... You could have heard a cricket in the room, they were so quiet. Being that I'm much more used to shouting over multiple conversations and seeing the backs of heads (certainly not the fronts), I was almost at a loss for what to do. Let's hope it continues!

Overall, I'm just happy that my leap of faith (and holding out and vowing not to go back to my previous school) actually paid off. Thank you to those of you that encouraged me and kept me going during my summer of solitude! :)