music: Frank Zappa- Apostrophe
First Sunday of the school year: some serious planning and grading ahead. The Someday calls. Or maybe the Diesel. They say your second year is easier than your first, and in some respects I’d disagree: in my case I have second class to prepare, and one with very little precedent. But in other ways I agree: the first two days went much more smoothly than last year. I know most of the kids, I know what has to be done as far as setting a tone and climate before kids get comfortable enough to challenge it, I know the school and the surroundings. I, apparently, also have a reputation now.
In explaining some of the class policies and expectations last Friday, a kid raises his hand, and with a completely straight face asks: “so if we use the force to do our homework, is that considered cheating?” It was the first think I ever heard him say.
I only stumbled for half an eye-blink. “Only if you don’t use the Dark side of the Force.”
But my kids were working in unison, and half a step ahead. From the back of the room: “What if we’re conflicted, like Anakin in the third movie?” A good question, by all rights. I think that as long as they don’t turn into Darth Students we’ll all be ok.
My big poster of Yoda should be here some time this week. It will go up right over the board.
The new course I’m teaching seems to be the buzz class at school. Every junior and senior is coming to me demanding entrance to psychology, but I’m out of chairs and out of books. As it is there will be some pretty wild conversations in there-kids are already throwing stuff out from their own personal experience that are making other kids do double-takes. But everyone seems to be respectful and seems to listen. I’m most thankful for that.
So the school rollercoaster has finished climbing that big hill and is at the brink of swinging into a triple corkscrew. But when I ask about students’ pet peeves and get answers like “girls who act like they don’t like me when they know they already caught the fever” I know it’s going to be quite a year.
But not wtihout some preperation. Sundays still are swallowed by preparation for the torrent of ridiculousness to follow on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…if I ever get to the point where I can minimize the planning and grading to a couple hours after school during the week and keep weekends free I’ll really have the best job in the world. Someday.
Posted by davidtaus at September 11, 2005 09:06 AM | TrackBack