Apples to Apples

I’ve been real negative about my school year so far. I’m just having a very hard time adjusting to my new life as a junior high special ed teacher in the ghetto. It is so vastly different from my cozy 4^th grade position in an affluent community. I had finally felt like I was getting my feet under me at this whole teaching thing and now I find myself with the same “first year” thoughts I had in 2002.

          I put a lot of pressure on myself to try to remember the multitude of things that are important when running a classroom and planning lessons. Then, when I can’t, I feel worthless and doubt that I should even be a teacher. It is usually then, that like earlier this week, I will receive an email or phone call from an unknowing friend that changes my perspective and motivates me to give it my all.

          I am happy to say that my first experience in a public school district is also as encouraging. In my district, teachers meet in a team everyday. They also have a personal plan period. On top of that, I am required to be in Special Ed meetings with the coordinator once a month PLUS I have to attend a meeting for all new teachers in the district once a month. Add in to that the mentoring program and in service presentations and I am feeling completely supported at my new job. It sounds like a lot. Veteran teachers hate all of the meetings and would probably like the time just to catch up on classroom stuff. And while I would love that time, I am finding it unbelievably helpful to have reminders every so often to help me push through to the next week. I really believe that my district (not necessarily my school) is doing all that it can to make better teachers out of each of us. I respect the people in charge and feel comfortable going to any of them if I need anything – even the superintendent.

          I am not entirely pleased with my position, the school, or some of the teachers, but I really do like the whole image of public school that I am getting. I think my district is on the right path and I’m happy to be able to help achieve their goals – because I think they are dedicated to helping me achieve mine.

I have been teaching a unit called Too Good For Drugs in my classroom for a few weeks now. One of the first lessons was 6 different strategies the can be used to avoid peer pressure. One of the six is to “make a better excuse”.  I think this is brilliant and I enjoyed helping my students come up with beliveable things to say to people who ask them to do things they don’t want to do. The best one I came up with started as a way to get my kids to attention, but quickly became the first thing I’ve ever taught that I can GUARANTEE each student present that day will not only use, but remember and share with friends for years.

I told my class that if someone offers them drugs or alcohol and they don’t want to do it, they should simply say “Oh, I can’t. It gives me diarhea” Of course, you can imagine the laughter that ensued. Once it stopped though, I explained that this was the perfect excuse because it would cause the person offering you whatever it is to be caught off guard and laugh. Then, not only will the person think you are funny, but it will change the mood enough for you to be able to say no for real.

I was so happy inside today when we reviewed the 6 strategies today through role play and one of my favorites (who I think will be president someday) played it cool and said “Nah man, I can’t. I’ll get diarhea.

See, I do teach them something