Teacher Time Update

Enough about love and it feeling like spring in Texas (which is coming to a screeching stop with temperatures in the 40s for the rest of the week). It's time to focus on things in or around my classroom.  I'm not even going to try and count the number of weeks we've been in school, but I do know that we are in that loooong stretch between Christmas and Spring Break. The kids are getting tired, the teachers are getting tired, and we are all trying our hardest to hold on.  So here are some updates:

Budgets
Turns out we have less money than we need to run the school. Go figure. So what are we to do? Cut back on our printing/copying (duh), and call in less substitute teachers (ouch).  Since I've been singing the praises of recycling since I was in 1st grade in Ms. Polschneider's class, I know a thing or two about conserving resources. But now I must be even more creative in my copying and try keep my pages to a minimum.  As for the subs, I've only been absent two days this year (!!!!!!!). I was hoping to take a day off to head to Portland sometime soon, but I'll just have to make that an "A" day Friday or Monday so other teachers can cover my two classes. No biggie.

AIDS
I don't know what I was thinking, but I have assigned my students a persuasive essay where they must choose a way to prevent/stop HIV/AIDS in Africa. They could choose from the following preventative methods:
I. Educational Programs
II. Distribution of Condoms
III. Needle Exchange Programs
IV. Abstinence
V. Medication
Many students chose abstinence and medication, and many more chose educational programs and distribution of condoms. Since then, I've read many detailed hooks about AIDS, condoms and sex. Wow. But I will say this. I am incredibly impressed by the ability of my students to stay mature when talking to their teacher about such topics. It's rare when someone gets all giddy or embarrassed when talking about condoms. In fact, the most uncomfortable moment for me came when I read one student's hook, thesis and supporting details that pretty much said that God was punishing people in Africa because of lust. I have to try and find a way to tell her that even if you only have sex with one person, a person you're married to, you can still get AIDS if your partner is not faithful.

Breakthroughs
There were several students that my entire grade level team were concerned about last semester. They were failing many classes and seemed apethetic about their work. Since we've returned from break, many of these students have shown a new attitude towards their work and behavior in school. I could be the multiple failing grades on their report cards and the all-too-real reality of repeating 9th grade next year, but they are finally pulling themselves up and getting to work.

Interior Decorating
My classroom looks like crap. I'm a social studies teacher World Geography teacher, and there is not a single map in my room. What am I doing? I need to get my browser over to a post site and order some colorful, up to date, posters. Money, money money. It's also time to put up new bulletin boards which means I need to find some new fabric and borders. The problem is that my classroom is painted this impossible golden yellow/split pea soup color. What color goes with THAT? When will I have the time and energy to go to the teacher store to buy all of this?

Laptops
The Social Studies department now has a functional laptop cart thanks to donations to and through Donors Choose. It's such an exciting event that my students can now work on papers, projects, presentations and research. I'm so excited. Thanks to those who donated to my projects - this is worth more than you know.

Teacher Joke
A teacher died and was waiting at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. St. Peter gave the teacher a tour of Heaven and showed were people from different professions hung out. When he got to the place where the teachers should have been, none were there. The teacher asked St. Peter where all of the teachers were and St. Peter replied "They're all in Hell for Professional Development".

Hahaha.

OK, so most of this was written last week. It's now Monday and I'm in my first of two prep periods for the day. My alarm didn't go off this morning so I woke up at 6:30 with 15 minutes to get my ass out the door and it's Monday. Let me repeat that one more time. IT'S MONDAY. Eew. God help me.