6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

I used to work a lot in college. But never like this. My hours are unreal. I am up by 5 a.m., and at school by 6:30. My computer busted, so I have been staying at school to catch up on work and type lessons until 10 p.m. I'm not complaining; this is for my survival during the school day. It's a good thing I live where I do, because I don't feel like I am missing out on much at the Mustang gas station when I'm holed up in my classroom until the security guard, Vincent, asks me, gently, when I am going to finally leave.

Highlights of the week:
- Derrick and Natalia, my two tough eighth-graders who are usually arm-in-arm covering for each other, sticking up for me when my other students get out of hand.
- Having Natalia's mother tell me that her daughter was finally being inspired by someone.
- My most unruly student writing pages and pages of journal entries responding to my short questions. He won't listen to me or anyone else most days, but I have little ways to calm him down. I can truly say I am afraid of him, but I can expect some sort of coherent response when I ask him what 2 times 2 is.
- Receiving a package from a neighborhood in Raleigh, N.C. Total strangers caught on to my call for books and sent a care package of things for my classroom. I sat in front of the post office and cried. No joke.
- Receiving two care packages from Jenny and my former professor Phil Nash. I was truly grateful to get things for me. And it's about time I have an "APA Sisters Unite" T-shirt!
- Getting seven clipboards for each of my classes.
- Almost everyone turning in their homework each day after I installed a no-homework-equals-lunch-detention policy
- Having my kids think it's OK to hang around my classroom. They drop their stuff off here in the morning, stop by in between classes, borrow my books, crack jokes with me... For the first time, they're OK admitting that they're in Special Ed. What can I say. This is why I put on eyeliner, mascara and heels every morning.
- Yeah, that is it.

Low lights:
- Being called stupid and ugly by one of my students. Woohoo.
- Reams of paperwork, unfinished
- My kids' bad grades in all of their other classes. Oops.
- Graduate school starting.
- My printer running out of ink
- My computer no longer working
- 16-hour workdays
- Kids talking back, attempting to hit me, etc.
- Seven lesson plans a day. 'Nuff said.
- Meetings, meetings, meetings
- Class size swelling from 8 to 15.
- Not covering ALL 10-million of my job responsibilities

I love this. I'm just tired. But my M.I.A. boyfriend is coming to see me this weekend for the first time in four months!

Comments

[Dianne]

I clicked on the teacher magazine blog site and found your message. I really enjoyed your writing style and ambition. So, I read a bit further. I hope you don't mind me writing to you, but I quite admire you for the job you have set out to do.
I am currently a middle school librarian (much easier than Sped, but I do miss the classroom sometimes) in my 30+ year.
We had 25+ international students over the years. Japan, Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, Korea, Denmark, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. I enjoyed my Asian children so much that I feel hurt when I see an Asian person and he/she won't speak to me. Silly, eh?
We were in New Mexico this summer. We enjoyed Sante Fe, but we love Taos. Way too expensive to live there, unfortunately.
I used to dream about working in a Native American school. I am part Mohawk; perhaps this makes me more interested.
If you are willing to write to me, I would be glad to send some books or something for your kids.

[dennis]

whoa, some attempt to hit you?? tell them im on the national chinese martial arts team and i'd be happy to fly over there to teach someone a lesson if they lay a hand on you.

[Dianne]

Dennis, were you talking to me? They didn't hurt me, just hurt my feelings when they don't smile or speak! But thanks for the offer. You are very gallant! Are you really a martial arts guy?
Or were you joking about the whole thing? That is the trouble with computers--you can't see facial expressions and body language. Of course, that is also the good thing about them--you can chat in your jammies!
Dianne