After School.
Well, the first week is over, I've just checked my pulse, and you'll be happy to know it's still there. It was a short week, just 3 days. And one of the days I only had 1 class, due to our block scheduling. But to be honest, it's been A LONG TIME since Wednesday. I think it's to do with special relativity.
It was a fun week, in many ways. I got to blow up a can, shoot miniature rockets in the classroom, and play with colorful chemicals. And I got to know my kids just a bit. And as annoying as I'm sure they're going to be from time to time, I still must say, that's why I'm here. The kids are great. But oh man am I tired. So so so tired.
After school is great. When in a span of ten minutes, the halls are suddenly empty, the classrooms are quiet, and I can sit down in my office to simply breathe.
Here We Go.
This post would perhaps better be titled, "Here They Come," as that's the real kicker!
School starts tomorrow, and I can't help but reflect on this crazy journey I've taken to get here. Actually, I can. It can wait until this weekend. Right now I'm just praying that the paint can doesn't blow up before I want it to and no one gets injured in my classes. Ah, the life of a science teacher. :)
My cixelsyd Apartment
I moved into a new flat in Tacoma recently, and it's been fantastic fun getting it outfitted. It's been a tremendous distraction from other things I ought to have been doing, and perhaps that's part of the reason it's been such an illicit pleasure. Of course, I noticed a couple of funny things after I'd been there for a couple of days. First, the bathroom light was burned out, probably because it had been left in the 'on' position for God knows how long. Not normally a problem but the ceilings in this place are enormously high (seriously, I was considering building a loft in my entryway). Second, the tap water in the kitchen NEVER got cold. That one was annoying.
But things seem to be working out. First I decided to turn 'off' the bathroom light, and discovered that it began giving off light. Hm, nice. Then I decided to wash dishes and the water was shockingly cold. If you haven't figured it out by now, the second word in the title is DYSLEXIC spelled backwards. And due to the abnormally hot temperature of the dryers downstairs, I inadvertently shrunk my new khakis to EXACTLY the length I wanted to attempt to hem them to. So things seem to be working out.
And what, you may ask, are my top ten favorite things about my new place? Since we're all so fond of top ten lists, let's try!
10) It's got picture rails. I'm a dork, but that's cool.
9) It's got cupboards so high up that I can barely reach them standing on a chair.
8) I can see Mount Rainier on a clear day.
7) I can see boats, yes BOATS. On the WATER. Every day.
6) My kitchen is the cutest kitchen you'll ever see.
5) It's walking distance to four of the most important places: the grocery store, the church, the pub, and the used book store. Note that those aren't in any particular order.
4) I have the fridge to myself. A whole huge fridge!
3) I have the most beautiful gray walls, perfect for hanging all of the art I'll have to spend a lot of money to have framed. Hmm, wait.
2) I can afford it on a teacher's salary.
1) It's got gas! I mean in the kitchen! No, not really, I'm joking. But it can't be PERFECT, after all. If it were perfect, I'd worry too much about losing it. :)
Here are some photos I took of the place and the view!
Top 10 New Teacher Preparation Tips, (from a new teacher with very little real experience).
It's nearing August, and teachers who had all buggered off to the riviera or the peninsula begin to drift back. Anticipation starts to fill the halls of the school, as the expectation of the new life of a new school year builds. New teachers, like myself, sit back and try to take it all in, but what (you may ask) does a new teacher think about? How will the new teacher prepare his or herself for the coming chaos? Let it be known that through the accumulation of wisdom, acquired during daydreams, evening dreams, nightmares and hallucinations, I have prepared a list of important steps to take, before embarking on a new school year. Though I have yet to take all of the steps, I am fully confident in their immense utility.
10) Sweet-talk the IT department to get in points before asking them to fix your computer and help you print up your day's lessons at 7:59am come October.
9) Organize your classroom the way YOU like it. Stash snacks for yourself around the room, install electronic "shockers" in various students' chairs, and hang things from the ceiling for easy access.
8) Build secret "whiskey drawer" in office desk.
7) Fill office drawer with easily-forgettables, like ties, extra shirts, socks, belt and superman cape.
6) Create extra "all-purpose" lesson plans. Great ideas are things that will stump students for a full hour, allowing you time to grade their homework. Check into Einstein's puzzle, special relativity, and translating The Iliad from the Greek in class.
5) Prepare emergency demonstrations, such as the explosive Thermite reaction, the ping-pong cannon, smoke generator, and liquid nitrogen ice cream maker. They will be handy when a student asks a question you don't know the answer to and you need to distract them.
4) Learn your way around the school with eyes closed. In case of a chemical emergency, this skill may be useful.
3) Install false wall in office, a la "The Hiding Place." Installation of a bed is ideal, but packing peanuts will do in a pinch.
2) Take lots of photos of excess of hair and lack of wrinkles. This will be good for posterity and will also help family and friends to recognize you after the school year is over.
1) Never forget that the classroom is not an exercise in democracy -- NO! It is an authoritarian regime, and not only that, it is YOUR authoritarian regime!
Look for a post around Christmas time of how these are working out for me. :)
