Definitely Out Of Shape

And I Don't Mean for Riding

I mean for teaching, or at least working all day. The drive is a bit longer than I'm used to, the traffic a little trickier, but acutally not a whole lot more challenging than the most annoying drive to my old school.

But add the morning drive, a day full of classes....sort of although only a portion of my old teaching schedule...and some very sweet kids who really do want to communicate with their teacher and I am exhausted.

However, while I am at the school, I have plenty of mental energy and a good amout of physical energy to match. I am however, trying to organize both the classroom and the teaching materials to my liking, almost as if I were starting off a brand new year in my own classroom. I rearranged the student desks--the kids seem to like it--and am still working on setting up the grade and attendance books so I can keep records. And then, there were a few general rules for running the classes that needed some discussion with the Principal and, eventually some of the other teachers involved.

This school's discipline and general rules for students are very different from what I am used to in both good and bad ways. The new principal is trying to tighten things up a bit and I am in total agreement. It is not a matter of the kids' misbehaving or anything at all like that. Instead, it is a matter of keeping better track of where kids are at given times and assuring they are safely being "watched out for" by teachers and supervisors. At any rate, the Principal visited my senior study students this morning to explain some of this to them, and afterwards, I set down some rules they will need to follow. Later, one of the other teachers involved in that senior program came to see me so we could coordinate enforcing the rules as a team.

It will all work out just fine and the students seem quite accepting, so that's good too. I am trying not to make too much of a fuss about it all, but I do seem to be in the thick of things.

I am really looking forward to studying the literature I have chosen with my classes. I think they will really appreciate the ideas and information I have to share with them. They are really wonderful kids--interested, engaged, serious about school, but with great senses of humor and the ability to laugh and enjoy learning. I want to do everything I can to make my class enjoyable.

And I can hardly wait to start teaching Shakespeare! It's going to be a lot of fun!!

All this is because when I finally got home tonight I was far too tired to do any work with the horses and to work on my continuing tale of horses I have known.

I need a nap.