(These are some pictures of my classroom I took on my phone a few minutes before school started last Monday. Notice my THREE laptops I have in the classroom this year. They are going to be great to have for the students. I will try to get more pictures of my room, or a video, once we get some student work up on the walls.)
Some of the ease of my second year could be chalked up to experience and the fact that I actually have an idea of what is going on this year. I have a better knowledge of my students, the community I am working in, my school, and my colleagues. The bureaucracy that is education doesn't seem to bother me as much any more either. Although, the way schools are run (very poorly I might add) still frustrates me a lot (and as I begin to think about it stresses me out) I have begun to realize what I have control over at this stage in my life. I have, for the most part, control over what goes on inside my classroom, and at this time I am going to take that and run with it. I am going to continue to work relentlessly to make sure the students that am able to work with everyday are given a fair shot at life and the abilities to have the choices that come with a good education. I hope to build off of the success I was able to have in the classroom last year and have an even better 2010-2011.
Some of the ease of my second year might as be from my new students. My classes are a little bigger than last year (21 and 22 - which is still small compared to the rest of HISD), but their behavior seems to be much better. It might be that I am better at behavior management or than they genuinely are just better behaved students, but either way, I am enjoying the change.
My biggest struggle so far this school year has been trying to get my students who are new to the district to return their paperwork. I especially hope to come to school tomorrow and have three students turn in their completed blue, free and reduced lunch forms. Since these students are new to the district they are not "in the system" for the food service and I have been eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk all week. I don't think PB & J is bad (I actually bring BP & J for lunch about three days a week), I just know that these students are embarrassed to be singled out as students who can't afford lunch because they are eating something different. (In HISD no student can be turned away from lunch so they are given two pieces of bread, peanut butter, jelly, and a milk if they do not have lunch money or are not enrolled in the Free and Reduced Lunch Program). Currently, I believe over 97% of my school receives free and reduced lunch.
Since school started I have also gotten a membership at the YMCA and started working out with my friend, and co-worker David. We are going to try and go to the gym three days a week, if possible. I have been really sore this week. I guess that is what happens when you return to working out after a long time off. haha
On Saturday I went with some friends to Surf Side to relax by the ocean. I still have only been to the ocean a few times in my life (even though I live 45 min away from it now) so that was a fun experience for me. I think I will try make it there more often. It was nice to just hang out and relax.
My sister's son, Colton Thomas Richards, baptism was on Saturday as well. I am his Godfather and it was hard for me to not be able to be there for his baptism. One of the hardest things about living so far away from you family is not being able to be there for special events. I am fortunate I am able to make it home as often as I do, but I still wish I was able to be home for all of the holidays, birthdays, and special events that I have to miss.
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