Things I have been schooled on at school
At the beginning of the year I thought I had been handed the easiest most well behaved students ever. My rose colored glasses broke about a month ago. All of my classes really go just fine until I get to 6th and 8th period. Holy cannoli. I thought I had good classroom management, but I honestly have no flipping idea what to do when it comes to 8 (yes 8) BOYS who all gang up on me and act ridiculous. They truly seem to have no respect for adults. It's not just me they are like this with, their others teachers deal with it too. I have lost my patience with them, which a teacher cannnooot do. But I did. You have to be an actor and be "on stage" all the time. They have seen my weakness and now exploit it. Oh Rachel why did you do that.
I'm slowing getting back the reigns. Luckily I have an empty classroom co-joined with mine through my storage closet. Each day this week I have made one of the lucky students go sit in there by himself the whole class. Finally...peace. Well "peace" is a loose definition for that class. But I'll take what I can get.
On Tuesday I had an inner meltdown at the end of class. My first year of teaching I never even had one. This week I did. I wanted to kick them in the rear as they left my room. I was literally on the verge of tears in front of them. But I kept my cool. When I got home however my mind was racing with all the things I wanted to scream at them. So angry! Arrrrrggh! Plus it didn't help that my house was a total wreck.
Thankfully I have sweetest husband ever.
On Wednesday he took SUCH good care of me. He says he didn't do it for the thanks he'd receive and shushed me when I tried to thank him. So I won't go into all that he did for me. Just that it completely and utterly changed my attitude. I felt like I could breathe normally again.
Classroom management is seriously more than half the battle with teaching. If you've got a good plan, things will run like clock work.
Yep this week I got schooled. I pray for patience.
