workshop

Yay for good Fridays! I think my Friday was so sweet because I was "off" yesterday and had a nice breather from the craziness of the kids. It was so great to get back to my room this morning and find a good positive note left from the sub, which made me feel like I've done an OK job teaching my kids about respecting adults.

My workshop yesterday was quite good. I carpooled to Ogden with a fellow teacher and enjoyed sitting at the table with a total of 3 other English teachers from West Lake. I've realized that these types of things are much more fun with people you know. It was quite funny, however, when we were doing some group work. We had to write some higher level questions about a fairy tale. I don't even remember the question, but we wanted to say "effect," or "affect," but between the 4 English teachers at the table, we couldn't agree on which one to use. We kept going back and forth and scribbling the word out to change it. Only English teachers argue about something like that, I think! I get to spend tomorrow at another workshop that is for my whole school at the district...the nice thing is that I get paid $25 an hour. Whoot!

Here's a few funnies (and some not so funnies) from the week:

Earlier this week I was teaching my students suffixes. One of the suffixes they have to know is - ism (like vandalism). I was showing them how you could add this suffix to religions and get a word that kind of meant the study of that religion. One of my most intelligent students in 5th period raised his hand and asked me what -ism I am. I chuckled. I said I'm a "Mormonism." They all got a good laugh out of that one.

The student who was leaving money on my desk moved to another school yesterday. I was so sad when I saw that notice on my desk today. She was a slacker but I really liked her and I felt bad I could say goodbye. The funny part comes in where I felt so bad about spending the money she left on my desk that last night I bought her a big Gatorade. I brought it to school today, waiting to give it to her, but of course, she never showed. So, I had this huge Gatorade on my desk all day with no one to drink it. Luckily, Ben offered to gulp it down when I got home.

The school recently came out with a new reward system. Teachers received 6 Front of the Line passes to hand out, one per class, for students who showed positive behavior. This pass allowed the student to butt in front of the lunch line. Apparently all week it's been causing major confusion and chaos in the lunchroom. Supposedly the students are supposed to use the pass the same day they return it and then I am to get all my passes back. That hasn't happened all week and I have no passes to give ou. Either they are stockpiling them for their friends, or I have some major theft going on in my room.

We had a committee meeting today. The committee I'm on is in charge of the big awards night. Essentially, we give awards out to students from each department, club, activity, etc. We calculated today just how many awards we're giving out....it's up near the 300's. Yeah, that's gonna be one freakin' long night!

I do have some exciting and shocking news to share, but still can't let the gigantic cat out of the bag to all my readers for one more week. No, I am not pregnant. It's something HUGE though, so you should be paying attention sometime around next weekend and I'll let you know my HUGE news. And Ben's HUGE news, too.

I've gotta get to bed earlier than normal on a Friday due to my workshop tomorrow. Happy weekend, campers.