A De-Coffeenated Day

So, today I was at school from 6:30 until 8:30. I had a lot to do. Kids taking tests, a post-conference with my principal (affirming that she thinks I'm good and I get to keep my job) and scrambling for a lesson. I seriously thought I wasn't going to make it through the day. I missed my coffee this morning because I was late. Then, I still didn't have a lesson plan and I thought and thought and researched and changed things all morning. Nothing. I went to proctor the second half of the WASL and, lo and behold, I came up with a pretty darn good lesson. In fact, I was quite impressed with myself. My curriculum coach was dumbfounded when I told him what I finally figured out (I had begged him for help earlier but he couldn't help much becuase I'm the only one who knows any of the content behind my curriculum, since it's so weird). Anyway, it didn't work as well as I wanted, but the lesson part was still good. Those darn kids are stressing me out. They don't read!!! ARGH!!! They need to read their homework!!! They won't pass the test without it!

I don't think a lot of the kids are going to pass...mostly because they still can't get the basics. They can discuss the countries, but their background knowledge is so weak. I couldn't believe how little they were able to give me today in terms of what Mexico's political institutions are (bicameral, President, etc...). I was so dissappointed in them. I lectured them (not the educational kind) and I think I shamed them a little bit. But seriously, it's 3 weeks from the test, we spend 4 days on Mexico...THEY CAN'T GET EVERYTHING JUST BY LISTENING IN CLASS (even WHEN they listen in class)!!!

Anyway, lesson actually went alright after we got past their lack of knowlege for the first part. It basically comes down to...class will be difficult until the test because they're such slackers. They'll all cram before the test and a few will scrape by with passing scores and the ones who do what they're supposed to may score well. WHATEVER.

My kids got back from Turkey. They have examples of illegitimate government actions. They got sick. I wanted to hear their stories...but I was a mean teacher and made them work. I'll probably ask tomorrow.

I have a class audit that I forgot to do...it's due May 1...blech. Grades are due tomorrow too...double blech. Still am not positive what I'm doing tomorrow...but at least I have an idea...sortof. I used a blow dryer for really the first time tonight. It was ok.

Reflection: Glad things worked out today, with everything that was going on, and without coffee. Irritated at how my students blow my class off. I sure hope they're studying more than I think they are...or at some point they're planning to...so they can actually learn what they were supposed to have learned...argh.

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