Success!

Well, I took my principal's advice. I worked really hard all evening and into the night. I almost slept in, but thankfully that second alarm wakes everybody. The class actually went okay. No stupid or derogatory comments. They shared. They stayed on track. I didn't have to reprimand anybody! I'm still soo tired and there's definitely too much to do before Sunday (because I want that day off for once)! Ah well - my fault for not setting aside specific time over the break. Better get to work tho - those marks are due 9am on Monday!

Evaluation

Tomorrow my principal is going to sit in on a class for the first time. I had asked her to help me out with the Grade 8/9s and she said she'd come in. I figured it was mostly to keep the kids in line and maybe offer me some advice, but it's going to be an evaluation. Crazy. I don't know if I'm ready for this (even in any other district I'd probably have had a couple by now). I was at school until 8:30 just trying to put this unit together (because it's not just about the lesson) and I'm still not done. I think it looks a little too bare-bones, but it's not like I haven't told her that I'm struggling. We'll see how it all goes. She gave me a TON to think over tonight. The unit does have good potential - it needs more flushing out. The problem is spending all my time on this thing when I have 50 hours of grading to do and I haven't planned for any of the other 5 classes tomorrow. Unfortunately those are the classes that rarely get their due. What a gong show.

Well that's my vent - I gotta go. Dishes are done, but there are clothes to pick up, notes to type, a shower to take, a plan to get down on paper, and who knows what else!

Please pray for me! Oh yes - I'm still a little sick, but it's mostly a nose that won't quit and some unexplained forehead sweat.

Sick Sucks

Okay, so I did make it back to Edam. ~sigh~ Veritas was mostly pretty good in the car, let out a couple mewls, but then she cried all the way from North Battleford to here. I mean, give me a break - I wanted to cry! I already didn't feel well on Sunday, but I wanted to go to church and I'm so glad I did because Bethany was there and it was fabulous. It was also nice to hug my aunt good-bye. Lunch was lunch, but the dining companions are always a joy ;) And of course I didn't do anything useful Sunday night.

So Monday I'm feeling yuckish, but I write it off to back-to-school/haven't-planned-anything blues and slooooowly walk to school. Everyone tells me how awful I look and convince me to ask for a sub. I'm so glad I did. I slept for hours when I finally made it home. Everytime I woke up my baby was either by my side or on my chest, suffocating the life out of me. Just her way of showing she cares. I was impressed, anyway.

So today I'm mostly feeling better except that my nose is extremely stuffy and I feel like I lost half of my brain or something odd up there. And my voice sounds really off. However, I still haven't managed to get anything accomplished and now have only a few days to get my marks done. Which brings me to the question of the day - what would you do if someone took your tests and the paper you recorded most of them on? One of my colleagues figures they'll turn up, I'm hoping it's before report card day, or else I don't know what to do. Whatever. I still have to mark their papers anyway, and I do have those.

This really is a procrastination post - I'm sure you can tell by the length. I'll really have to force myself to make sure that I get enough done during the day tomorrow before I even let myself turn my home computer on. I'm so baaaad.

Not Ready to Go

When times are hard I sure miss living at home. There's food, tv, and Mom. Veritas likes the extra space. I get that things are supposed to be difficult and I don't mind some of the hard things. It's that attitude where no one cares if anyone does well because no one fails and there aren't any real consequences. I also don't have the background knowledge I need to teach things well. I honestly thought that the year would be mostly planned out and I would just need to tweak it to my preferences. I guess good teachers are hard to find. I really feel like a bad teacher - even though it's my first year and I shouldn't expect to be good yet. Guess I'm just envious of the friends who seem like they've got it made.

There's still a ton of work to do before I go back tomorrow. Guess I should quit hugging the computer and get to it. I sure could use an assistant. Pray for me, please!

So Good!

I loved my trip to Edmonton with Mom. I didn't find everything that I wanted (as if I could afford it all anyway), but I did get the desk I wanted and some dishes. I also found quite a few tops and a new pair of jeans. Mom did really well in the clothing department too. It was nice to just get away and I'm looking forward to spending the rest of the week at home. I just want to finish my grading tonight and get in a little rest. Oh yeah - I really need to do laundry as well :) And I have to clean up everything from setting up my desk ;) At least it worked out and I'm pretty happy with it.

TGIF :)

I'm so excited. Mom's coming tonight and tomorrow we're off to Edmonton!!! I'm going to buy out IKEA and maybe a couple malls. I don't want to forget Education Station or anywhere else I might go ;) I'm also excited to meet up with some old friends. I'll get to meet baby Allen for the first time and see a little prego belly. Funfun! It'll also be nice to spend some quality time with Mom. There just isn't enough time in the world to do everything you want. At least I get the chance to do some things.

Flying high XD

2 More Days

Thursday and Friday are going to be sooooooo long. I'm really just ready to give up on the whole lot. I don't know what to do with them. It's not any one thing, but it is everything. I can't seem to focus on anything. There's so much to do and I can't seem to decide where to start. I have tests to make, lessons to prepare, grading to do, and I could probably use a good cry. There's also marks to prepare and after-winter-break to plan. If I stay here for next year - I'm switching to part-time. I will do Home Ec and I will do 2 elementary classes (more if the others are computers, preferably not both science) and I will even do the RBLs, but I will not do Health. I can even make a full-time schedule out of that. Ah well, we'll see what God does.

Here's looking forward to a good winter break!

Another Week Begins

and I want it to be over already. I'm going to be worse than the kids this week. I am so excited to go to Edmonton with Mom and get a new desk and some kitchen stuff. Just totally absolutely STOKED! Also exciting is a whole week without students. Yay! I can't believe it! I'll get a couple days to work at home and then there's a giant teachers' convention in Saskatoon. Apparently it only happens every 5 years or something so I got hired at the right time. It should be pretty good. I'm looking forward to it anyway.

If anyone has ideas to help me get through this week without wasting the students' time - I'd sure appreciate it. I'm just too excited to plan or grade (even though there's a million hours of each to do).

Another Tough Day

Yesterday's meeting was pretty good. They went over some elements in unit planning and some really great technology integration stuff. It doesn't help me feel like I've got a grip on anything, though. My students don't think I'm a good teacher (one said so today) and I don't think I am either. There's just so much to do. I started and bam I was behind. Now that I've been here a month I'm a month behind. I knew it would be tough, but I didn't realize that Home Ec and Junior High (and even the elementary) would be this tough. Maybe I'm just not actually cut out for this field. I have good ideas, but no ability to carry anything through (or do any proper planning).

I just want to hide away and never come out.

Lost It

Well I think I've quite lost my mind. I'm having brain farts all over the place. I'm finding it harder and harder to figure out what's going on and when. I found the year plans I'm supposed to be following and I'm quite behind in a class or two. I'm not ahead in anything ~sigh~. I'm frustrated with myself and this job. I'm realizing just how precious it is to have a single classroom that you're in charge of (or even two) rather than having two thirds of the school. You have to know everyone and you don't get a chance to get to know anyone. I'm frustrated that I don't know what I'm supposed to be teaching - not just what I'm supposed to teach, but the knowledge that goes with it. I don't know the curriculum guides or the informatin I'm supposed to be passing on. I don't want to regurgitate the internet to the students and I really don't want them to regurgitate that back to me. I guess I need to learn stuff - I really hope that next year I have less students to focus on and more time to prepare.