The Vortex

I have been trapped for about a week now and the only reason I seem to be free at the moment is because I am actively blowing off papers that need to be graded. I haven't posted here in 10 days and I haven't touched my book in two weeks. I need some me time.

The beginning of this school year feels like the craziest one I have ever experienced in my whole career and frankly that's saying something. I had mentioned previously that I anticipated chaos on the first day of school and that was what we got. There was a reporting room for the students that wasn't remotely related to homeroom. There was no communication about when to hand out emergency cards and other forms. The id cards were not available, nor was the code of conduct. Hell, we still don't have those. It took two days to distribute lockers to students.

Without id cards, students are unable to obtain textbooks, so who knows what the math teachers are doing. I don't cleave to the textbook, but I do use it as a handy reference tool, so I don't have to make copies, which of course I am now doing. We have science classes with more than 40 students. We have kids showing up for the first time during week two. Who knows what they've been doing for the past week. I have had a new student or two every hour foe the past week. Those kids have missed two or three assignments in my class already.

I just had to vent. Thanks for listening

It's almost here

Shhh, don't tell anyone, but I'm really excited for Tuesday to roll around. I know that I said earlier that I'm nervous and I am, but I think it's a good nervous. I just can't wait to stand in front of my students and start the year.

First of all, the start of the school year has given me a reason to go clothes shopping. I know it is a completely superficial reason, but after dropping 25 pounds in the last year, I need a whole new wardrobe. Yesterday, I did a power shop through the mall and bought a suit, a skirt, a jacket, and a new fall outfit from Jones of New York. I found a pair of shoes. Last week, I finally replaced my old, fat jeans that I could pull on and off without unsnapping or unzipping.

Secondly, many of my AP students are in Student Council or on Facebook. They have been talking enthusiastically, to each other, about the summer reading they had to do. They had to read Frankenstein and Oedipus Rex. They all went out and immediately got the books and promptly read them. Many of they e-mailed me or wrote on my Facebook wall (unprompted) that they really liked the stories. A few of them have helped me in my class and have seen the books we'll be studying and I could see the excitement on their faces. Even one of them furtively put the books to her nose and inhaled deeply. That class will be my last class of the day and what a way to end the day.

I just can't believe how much I've missed adult company on the last year. I knew that I went through a pretty extensive bout of the blues while on leave, but now I know one reason why. During our two days of meetings this past week, I just couldn't shut up. Of course, many people were interested in how Andrew is doing and some remarked on my weight loss, but other than that, I just chatted with anyone who would listen.

The communication for our opening day procedures has been abysmal and I am anticipating nothing short of chaos. I can't wait.