More adventures in teaching!

I took my advisory class on a field trip to visit Westminster College. Our school has introduced a new 'program' (really, it's more like a philosophy) called No Excuses University. Among other things, we are trying to talk more about getting ready for college and planning for college. As part of that, each advisory represents a different college or university. Being a recent Westminster Alum, of course, I called dibs on Westminster. We were lucky enough to get funding through GEARUP and got to take a group of about 45 students to learn more about Westminster. It was a pretty good day and I think the students enjoyed themselves. There was a brief incident on the bus about five minutes from school, but other than that, it was a pretty good day.

This is Ms. Buie gangsta style...as requested by my students.

Even the mighty fall

After battling a horrible cold/flu/chest thingy all week, I admitted defeat. I went to school long enough to get my afternoon classes covered then came home. I'll be the first one to admit that I'll call in sick when I can. Yet, there is something about being a teacher that makes you NOT want to call in sick unless absolutely necessary. I woke up Friday morning feeling like I had been hit by a train but still went to school. It was in between coughing fits that I realized; I need to go home. I spent most of the weekend in bed or on the couch. I even missed going to Boise with Lisa to see Les Miserables. Now you know just how horrible I was feeling! AND, I don't think my fellow theater goers would have appreciated all the coughing and phlegm...just sayin'. However, I am feeling much better and sound semi-normal. Which means...I'll definitely be heading to school tomorrow!

My first month of teaching in my own classroom has definitely been an adventure! I come home most nights with a whole host of funny/frustrating/weird stories about my students. I keep saying that I'm going to write them all down. Perhaps I will, eventually...when I'm caught up on my grading and planning and all the other things I need to so. So that means probably not ever. It's too bad...they're really funny.

And because I didn't get to see Les Miserables this weekend...




Ah man...that note at 1:31...chills my friends, chills.

Week one of the rest of my life...

Last week was the first full week of the new year. It's been so great to start from the beginning and set up my expectations from the get-go. I also have had time to set up my classroom, physically, the way I want it. I have no illusions that this upcoming year isn't going to be difficult, however, I am really going to enjoy it.

I've spent the week getting to know my students and we started our first unit by the end of the week. I'm teaching 8th and 9th grade this year. It's been a challenge to plan two different curriculums (what's the plural of curriculum? Curriculi? Curriculea??) and transition between 8th and 9th grade students. I have found that I can't be quite as laid back with my 8th graders. They need a bit more structure than I need with my 9th graders.

I'm tough and I expect a lot from all my students. At first, I'm not sure they knew what to do with me, but I'm pretty certain that by the end of the week, they realized that we'd all help each other and they'd be fine.

By the end of the week I was absolutely exhausted and was ready to sleep the weekend away. But, I did come away from it so excited and thrilled that I have a job that I love!

My classroom!