Yesterday was no good, but today was better. I had a good day at school and realized that it was a good idea to do poetry with all the kids (except for my advanced kids). So far it doesn't quite have the "magic" that it did last year, but I don't think that the magic happened right away. Yesterday when I started things off, I was getting frustrated at the kids. I hate it when I'm trying to talk and they are having side conversations and I have to stop, and wait, and stop, and wait. So it went like that here and there, and the activity is sort of an "outside of the box" activity so they feel all weird about it. Not to mention that we were in a circle instead of our usual rows, so that always adds to the disorientation. But I just felt sort of like yesterday (part of it was being Monday) was no good. I had some negative attitudes, and felt in general that feeling like, "GEEZ, I am SUCH a nice and sweet teacher who loves you all, and you are giving me no love right now. You are acting like I am just any old teacher and you don't feel you have to be excited or happy or respectful to me." I don't know if that makes sense, but I guess sometimes I feel like they owe me something, which isn't really completely fair.
But I DID have a good day today. My advanced class went perfectly today. We discussed the first chapter and they were everything a dream class should be (and they are not always a dream class). Even my rudest child was insightful and funny. We discussed it as a roomful of intelligent adults would discuss a book. I was also able to mention the background information about the book and author very casually without sounding like a boring lecture. It was the best.
Day two of poetry went very nicely. Reading aloud the kids' poems has a tendency to bring them together around the whole idea, plus makes them feel more confident (I think) about writing poems. I read those that said it was okay, and then most got right to work on their second poems. I'm already seeing a few attitudes changing. The freshmen started by doing a class poem, and that went even better than I expected (that was actually yesterday, so they were the exception to my funk). I'm telling you, my freshmen are so great. Another teacher came in to talk to me about "the freshmen problem" today (they have had a "freshmen problem" every year I've been here, and I tend to think it is because they forgot how the freshmen were because by the end of the year they have matured a bit). Anyway, I was like, "Well, I don't really have a problem with mine." Maybe I'm just lucky. I may go to the meeting anyway, just to see what's up.
I couldn't fall asleep last night until about 3 AM or so, so I am hoping that I will be able to tonight. I hate not being able to sleep. Obviously, it makes for a grumpy Ms. B.
I finally figured out the whole downloading mp3 thing. Apparently I had some corrupt file that made it so I couldn't download the two programs that I knew of to download mp3s. Well, I had to do this whole thing in MS Dos to fix it, and I bravely managed to pull it off. I was afraid I might wreck my whole computer, but apparently I am not as bad with technology as you would expect. So I downloaded some of my current favorite hip-hop songs. I don't know what I was thinking but I downloaded the most offensive Eminem song "Superman." I am such a sell-out. I actually put it on my mix CD I made. However, I put it on the end, so I wouldn't have to skip over it in certain company. I actually listened to all kinds of offensive gangsta rap in high school, so I'm not sure why I am feeling like such a sell-out over this. I've always been a sell-out in that regard. Oh well, this is not the time to self-analyze.
I have the best new pictures of my current classes. I took a class picture of each class recently because most of my pictures on the wall are of kids from the last two years. Seriously, they are such cutiepies.
I haven't seen Mr. Jerkface. He actually had some sort of injury and has been out. I felt like it was weird karma. I actually feel guilty about thinking that that is in any way connected.
Not that we didn't know that there is a double standard when it comes to women in the entertainment industry, but this is a huge example of how messed up things are. While watching Making the Band with Mr. Daddy, I noticed that he was talking about one of the women competing for a place in the group. Mysterious is a bit overweight and he said that he was, "Worried about her look, and her weight, but if she was willing to work on it then it could work out." Well. That's all well and good (what about Missy Elliot before the weight loss? She didn't have any problems succeeding!) that the group should be attractive. However, have you SEEN the latest video with Puffy? It is some guy called Baby aka #1 Stunner. Well, the main guy, and his little friend are so unattractive(Or is it a group? Who knows?) I do not lie to you, this is the most unattractive person I have seen in my entire life. His ugliness even rivals my original #1 ugliest man in hip-hop: Craig Mack. But P to the D has NO PROBLEM with helping this guy become a famous star, because since he's male, it's no big thang how ugly he is. I am outraged every time I see that video. By the way, I hope Missy lost the weight for herself and not because some stupid record people told her to. She looked just fine before.
Well I really had better go grade papers. I brought home more than I can possibly get done tonight, but I should try. At least when I bring papers home I can watch TV at the same time (although I get less done that way).
