Small victories

I have taken this long to write because I didn't want to write until I felt I could post something positive.  And as I sit here in my classroom on my 7th day at the new job I'm finding that for the first time so far I'm excited for the kids to come in.  Finally.

It was a rough first week.  I started a job in a building where I didn't know procedure, curriculum, my students, expectations, or anyone else.  Couple that with a few super challenging classes who are pushing boundaries after a month of school with substitute teachers and I found myself in tears over a glass of wine a few evenings last week.

Since then, I have had some small victories.  My difficult class was quiet for a whopping 20 seconds yesterday and about 50% of them completed their assignment.  Again....small victories.  Considering that in that same class a random condom appeared on the floor on my second day and I'll take it.  I have found some wonderful supports in my fellow teachers and am finally starting to feel a little more at home in my classroom.  I am amazed at how quickly you get rusty!  I've always been a natural teacher....my personality flows into my classroom, but I realized mid last week that I seemed to have forgotten how to do that.  Luckily, I have since remembered and my students are noticing that.

I'm seeing glimmers of interest.  We watched a news story last week about the NASA satellite that was falling back down to Earth and on Monday I had at least one student from each class ask me if it fell.  Yea for engagement (even if it wasn't totally on topic)!  I'm seeing a routine start to settle in.  We're not there yet, but we're getting there.  For those of you that teach, you know that there's a "honeymoon" period the first few weeks of school where its easier to lay the groundwork for your rules and expectations.  I missed that honeymoon period and inherited classes with no rules and expectations in place.  I have to keep reminding myself that today is only day 7....and that's a small amount of time to already be seeing improvements.  Small victories....here we come....