My first day as a classroom teacher...

My first year of teaching was very interesting:

Before my first day of teaching I could not get any sleep (I still get a little excited the day before school starts.) It was so exciting, that I would finally get my own classes after working so long! I was also nervous because I did not have any class roll sheets yet. I got to the school early that morning eager to look in my box for my roll sheets. There was nothing in my box! So I asked around and the veteran teachers did not know where their roll sheets were either. Eventually, the front office did an all call. “Teachers please come to the library for a meeting, NOW!” Well it turns out that we had a first year counselor and an experienced counselor. The experienced counselor had some kind of break down and quit her job, with the schedules undone! The new counselor was lost and had been struggling to put the kids into the system and get schedules all weekend long. So what they decided to do was divide up the alphabet and have teacher what overt the kids until the schedules were finished, printed and delivered to the students.

I was a little disappointed! This was really going to interfere with my wonderful lesson plans. And what exactly to you do with a group of strange kids that are not even going to be in your class? Well the plan was to go over general school rules and the student handbook. It sounded like a good plan.

The bell rang and the kids showed up in my room about 36 or so total strangers frustrated and angry (like the teachers) at the situation we were in. I took roll and began my discussion of the handbook and school rules.

That took about 20 minutes.

Then we sat.

We sat and sat some more.

Waiting for news on our schedules.

It seemed like it took all day to get those schedules done. But it really was not as bad as it seemed, it actually only took two and a half-hours.

I learned a great deal more than I ever wanted to know about the habits, customs and nocturnal activities of the students at that school. I also learned the importance of having emergency backup plans and activities because you never know when things are going to happen to mess up your day.

Our psychology teacher became the new second counselor on our campus. She was a big help once the year got going. I talked with both of them a few summers ago at a conference. They are still there trying to keep the lid on that crazy place.

Keep smiling

Helping a student get through school…

Many years ago the early 90's, I had this senior High School student; we will call him Chris that really loved to avoid work at school. He would try to come in tardy, not do class work and be a general disruption to the educational setting. He and I had regular chats about his behavior and eventually he would get to work. I made an attempt every time I saw Chris in the hall to say hello and get to know him better. He slowly began to arrive earlier and work more diligently for me. My classroom was not the only place that Chris had been less than successful. His other teachers asked me how I got him to work. I shared my plan. Over time he became a good student, not stellar student but not a classroom nightmare.

Well second semester Chris informed me that he was moving to the Colony. It was with mixed emotions that I said goodbye to Chris. A few weeks later Chris comes walking into my classroom in the middle of the day. I said, “Chris I am glad you moved back!” He said, “Oh I didn’t move back Mr. Cromis I’m skipping school. I really don’t like it in the Colony. You can skip, not turn in your work and sleep and nobody will say anything to you. They just don’t care about me over there!”

Chris and I had a long meeting out in the hall. I let him know that I cared and expected him to be much more successful than he was and to get his butt back to school. I told him to visit with me and let me know how he was doing. For years Chris would come visit and catch me up on his life even after graduating form the high school.


The funny thing is all he wanted was someone to care.
Does he remind you of one of your students?

Institutional vs. de-institutional

Creating a positive culture for the kids within the institutional structure of a school building is challenging at times. In an effort to "de-institutionalize" the building we are conducting some painting projects in the building. We started last summer with a falcon head added to the LMC.



This summer the obligatory "Falcon Pride" in several places along with some inspirational quotes aimed at the kids. So far added to the 8th grade wing:

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Losers have excuses. Winners have results.

Next I'll be moving to the 7th grade & 6th grade wings...

SUCCESS

"The road to success is always under construction."

Summer is a time to re-tool and prepare

for a new year and better achievements.

TIER II

TIER II thus far has given many students the opportunity to be successful. I could not be more pleased with the investment in kids!

"The road to success is always under construction."

For Educators: Something to Think About!