I finished my coursework at the University of North Texas in May 2008. I was running out of time to get a job. My housing was about to be pulled out from under me. I couldn't see a better option locally. I figured that if I was going to move out of the house I had lived in for eight years, I might as well really move.
I took a job in central Florida teaching art in middle school....again.
I figured that I'd done it in Texas, why not do it again in Florida until I get something else going. The school had a great art classroom that was well stocked. The previous teacher had been let go due to a lack of classroom management.
I thought....hey, I've taught college students, preschoolers and I even taught teachers when I worked at that museum, I can get that classroom managed.
I was only somewhat correct. I've managed the classroom, but I have no life outside of my job. I leave my house at 7:30 for the commute, arrive by 8:15, kids pour in at 9:00. I teach seven classes, 45 minutes each. I have a 30 minute lunch connected to my one conference period. That's one hour fifteen minutes in theory. I never get that time, though. I have to walk the 3rd period kids to the cafeteria (that's 5-10 minutes from my building fighting foot traffic) and I have to pick up my 5th period kids (another 5-10 minutes gone). I made a new year resolution to leave by 5:30 every day. I've already violated that five times because I got hung up making parent phone calls. I have to exhaust every in classroom/parent contact method in discipline before the office will even touch the kid. The kids want to go to in-school-suspension because they don't have to complete classwork there. The girl who said she'd shoot me in the back got 4 days of out-of-school suspension. Her friend screamed in my face a few weeks later that she hated me. She got one day of ISS. I work with some pretty crazy kids. I am happy when I get home by 6:00 p.m.
At least my colleagues are good people. Having conversations with adults for those 30 minutes of lunch is probably the only reason I haven't quit. Oh yeah, and my son loves the music program there. He gets to play cello and upright bass. Except that his amazing band teacher, a young woman only 25 years old, had to quit the first week after school was back in session this January due to health concerns. Her doctor told her the job was far too stressful for her. Sounds like a smart doctor, huh?
So that's how to make seven months disappear.
It's not that magical, really.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
How To Make Seven Months Disappear
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1 comment:
Love your entry. I am middle school art in Georgia. Nice school, but I am feeling like a gerbal. 47 minute classes, longer break inbetween 4th and 6th, then 7th come in tired but I in essence am holding them so 6th grade teachers get their second planning period. I just interviewed for a highschool position (teacher leaving) and I'll know today.... I will probably not get it because I am too accomplished. Seriously. All I can say to you is that you do have to think about yourself. And that schedule seems to be a bit much. My connection teachers where I am say they don't care about us... I am finally understanding. I had an advance class taken away for this year due to the numbers. I hate the fact that I cannot build constructively over time and I feel as though I am trying to squeeze it all in 9 weeks. That is not a good plan for learning! We are being furloughed here in Fayette County Georgia for 7 days this school year so far. One down, several to go. Gotta run to school for early duty... would like to chat more.
Sincerely, victoria artist01@comcast.net I'll give you my blog...later in a Master's program presently on line... tech. in the classroom, love it.
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