That day has finally come, and hopefully gone. The day that is talked about by all teachers, the day where the newbie finally is hit by reality and the honeymoon period of teaching is dented just a bit. Today was "that day" for me.
Up to this point in my teaching career, of a whopping 2 months, I had been going pretty steady. Overly positive, constantly feeling somewhat capable. Today I was served humble pie.
I had my first evaluation today and though it did not go as perfectly planned as I had hoped, the lesson went well. Moving on to the next period, I could feel the frustration of unplugged Chromebooks, late students, and a case of the "Thursdays" building within me. On top of that, my students must have had a major serving of hater-ade this morning because they were all angry with each other and life (or maybe that is just teenage-hood).
Lunch came. Luckily I am in a community where I have the opportunity to express my frustrations (and joys!) and I did just that during our lunch meeting. But as my dear roommate Halie in college once pointed out, I tend to get more agitated and upset the more I talk about something, and that is exactly what happened.
I left the meeting and walked to my room, unlocked the door, and could feel that no-so-pleasant feeling bubbling up again. 6th period was likely not the nightmare I remember it to be today, and likely they probably did not deserve some of my sarcastic remarks, but I must admit, I am human and I make mistakes. Upset sarcasm is one of them. The whining in 6th period had pushed me to my wits end.
The bell rang, I sent them out, and then I shut my door, which I never do. Luckily, my aide was in the room to help me through my semi-meltdown and help me get my crap together before all my 7th period kids came in. Oh 7th period... the last period of the day and the time when the students least want to be in school.
I composed myself, walked outside of my closed door, looked at all of my kids and said to them in the most serious (and probably slightly terrifying) tone, "I am warning you all now, I am in a terrible mood, and I don't want to take out my frustration from other periods on you, but it will happen if you don't do what you are supposed to do."
And then something wonderful happened. My 7th period kiddos were angels (well, as angelic as teenagers can be at the end of the day...). After school, I even got an email from one of my kids wishing me a better day tomorrow.
So, yes, the time had arrived for me to lose my cool, I mean it is October, but I am thankful that the dreaded day has come and gone. I am thankful that I scared my 7th period a little bit. Any mostly, I am thankful that I am showing a movie tomorrow.
So tomorrow, my fellow teachers, I wish you a happy day before Halloween and may the sugary-hyperactive-odds be ever in your favor.
Up to this point in my teaching career, of a whopping 2 months, I had been going pretty steady. Overly positive, constantly feeling somewhat capable. Today I was served humble pie.
I had my first evaluation today and though it did not go as perfectly planned as I had hoped, the lesson went well. Moving on to the next period, I could feel the frustration of unplugged Chromebooks, late students, and a case of the "Thursdays" building within me. On top of that, my students must have had a major serving of hater-ade this morning because they were all angry with each other and life (or maybe that is just teenage-hood).
Lunch came. Luckily I am in a community where I have the opportunity to express my frustrations (and joys!) and I did just that during our lunch meeting. But as my dear roommate Halie in college once pointed out, I tend to get more agitated and upset the more I talk about something, and that is exactly what happened.
I left the meeting and walked to my room, unlocked the door, and could feel that no-so-pleasant feeling bubbling up again. 6th period was likely not the nightmare I remember it to be today, and likely they probably did not deserve some of my sarcastic remarks, but I must admit, I am human and I make mistakes. Upset sarcasm is one of them. The whining in 6th period had pushed me to my wits end.
The bell rang, I sent them out, and then I shut my door, which I never do. Luckily, my aide was in the room to help me through my semi-meltdown and help me get my crap together before all my 7th period kids came in. Oh 7th period... the last period of the day and the time when the students least want to be in school.
I composed myself, walked outside of my closed door, looked at all of my kids and said to them in the most serious (and probably slightly terrifying) tone, "I am warning you all now, I am in a terrible mood, and I don't want to take out my frustration from other periods on you, but it will happen if you don't do what you are supposed to do."
And then something wonderful happened. My 7th period kiddos were angels (well, as angelic as teenagers can be at the end of the day...). After school, I even got an email from one of my kids wishing me a better day tomorrow.
So, yes, the time had arrived for me to lose my cool, I mean it is October, but I am thankful that the dreaded day has come and gone. I am thankful that I scared my 7th period a little bit. Any mostly, I am thankful that I am showing a movie tomorrow.
So tomorrow, my fellow teachers, I wish you a happy day before Halloween and may the sugary-hyperactive-odds be ever in your favor.