this seems to be my common mantra lately. just get to friday. i feel the desire to do more, get ahead, what have you, but i’m so drained. i need a personal day or something. hopefully, it’s just because this week is homecoming. homecoming week is always harder with all the interruptions and what have yous. i’m just riding out the rest of the week, and hoping to make it to friday without incident.
my 1st and 2nd periods concern me. more 1st period than anything else. i have a student in that class who continuously makes borderline racist remarks that are starting to cause more and more disruption. i probably antogonized the situation today in my reaction to one of his remarks, but i need to have a little chat with him, and the girl who acts like it’s her job to be his mother, before things get even more out of control. it makes others in the class uncomfortable, and causes me stress. and really, it will only help him if he learns when to quit. i don’t think he means anything by it most of the time, he just hasn’t learned when it’s ok to joke, and when it’s not.
in 2nd period, i haven’t had as much problem, but mostly because the student who causes a lot of the problems has been out this week for fcat retakes. the entire atmosphere in the class has changed. but when she is there, she likes to pick fights with another boy, who, bless his soul, has no idea what in the world he has done.
what is it about my teaching style that makes people feel so free to give their opinion in such a rude way. have i made them too comfortable? probably. i think part of the problem is that because this is a second language class, we have to converse, and the best way i know to promote fluency, is to talk about everyday things, and get them immersed, and in the process, their opinions eventually ooze out. i guess i need to spend some more time going over what is ok, and what isn’t, rules for classroom discussions, and eliminating rudeness. how do i stop people from being rude and unkind to one another though? create some sort of rude people assignment? i suppose i could do that. just have a folder labeled “rude student assignments” and give it to a student when he/she is rude in class and tell them to work on it in the backroom and not allow them to return to class unless they can participate kindly and appropriately in class discussions. we’ll see.
i am, however, excited about starting a new chapter. this first one seems like it has taken forever and a day to complete in level 1 (we’re STILL not done in level 2, but i had to do more review with them). i just got 2 movies with my lead money, maria full of grace, and el norte, and i’m thinking of doing a unit on immigration, citizenship, and racism. i think it’s time, considering the problems i’ve had in 1st period.
o well, i need to get finished with my plans for level 2, i need to write a few assignments, and then hopefully i can plan out the rest of the chapter. hopefully, we’ll be able to fit another test in before the end of the nine weeks (next friday).
