So far, so good!

So far the year’s off to a great start ~ although I was sickened to hear about the high school shooting. I’ve spent a fair amount of time teaching procedures & guidelines this year (I feel like a Harry Wong drone), but I haven’t even mentioned our lockdown procedure. The recent shooting was a wake-up call ... I don't know why I thought lockdown was any less important than a fire drill. Our admins haven't even really mentioned it either. I have a feeling kids would be more responsive & orderly during lockdown, b/c they'd probably be scared. They don't take fire drills seriously, even though last year we did have a real fire. Anyhoo...

I was leaving school today & noticed a helpless 6^th grader who was looking rather distraught outside. He’d been waiting nearly 2 hours for his ride, and was obviously upset. Poor kid didn’t know he could’ve gone inside to make a phone call, so my coworker & I escorted him inside to the office (now locked, of course), tracked down an adult for him, and waited until his ride showed up. He was holding it all in, trying to be so brave, until he got inside, and then the tears flowed. Poor little guy. I’m so used to 8^th graders who are too cool for school.

Speaking of 8^th graders, this year our kids are so different. Or maybe I’m different? I’ve only dealt with one real attitude problem so far. The only major problem (other than Attitude Girl) has been talking ~ I can handle that … at least I think I can. We changed Attitude Girl’s schedule, and then she moaned about being in my 4^th period, “Man, this class be dead!” I couldn’t help but laugh. I’m not really used to the diligent students who work without talking either. They’re great, though. They keep me laughing, which is a must in this job.

Somehow I feel like I must be in some sort of honeymoon phase. I think I’ve had more donations from our Wish List this year than I did the entire year last year! I’m sure we’ll have our fair share of girl fights, unruly kids, and defiant attitudes, but for now, I’m enjoying the captive audiences ~ 4 times a day, even!