Teacher Observations

1. Ya'll the A/C is out in my entire hallway. Texas is not experiencing the polar vertex and it is particularly balmy. Pray that we all make it during this trying time. 1a. I always tell the kids to tell their parents about these issues so they can complain. Do they? NOPE! But as soon as they take something out of context here comes mom with with all the emails and phone calls. 1b. Hell, I should get my mama to call! 2. My students have an odd issue with attention and personal space. When I was in school I left my teachers alone. Beyond the general curiosity, gossip and the fact that people lived next to my teachers, had siblings that could tell you stories AND we would go as groups to our teachers houses....anywho...I really didn't care enough but these kids? Parents love on your children! 2a. They have to say hi, every time you see them. If you tell them to leave you alone, the more they try to get in your space. 2b. You tell them not to touch you. They try to hug...

1. First of all...Happy Black History Month! 2. So a follow-up from my special guest visit was a handwritten note from the Superintendents Office. Personalized. Which is kinda cool and nice to be acknowledged in that manner. 3.No matter where you are there will come a day where...all the teachers take a day off and it is sub-city and all hell breaks loose. Today was one such day... 3a. I also had a sub...but I was on campus doing school business and baby...it was stupid. 4. Girl drama is the worst...still not messier than boys...but they will instigate the shit out of something! Screenshots, showing other people, confronting each other all the while pulling others into it, NOBODY having any self-esteem to MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS rather than get pumped up by the hype women who would never fight a day in their lives.... 4a. Boys instigate just as much... 4b. Ok so fine no abstinence only but can we at least do some sexual harassment lessons. 4c. What kids do in middle sch...

Today was...a wild one... 1. Kids were caught vaping and a young drug dealer was almost apprehended. I swear they are like Carmen San Diego. You have them and then you don't. 2. The Superintendent came into my classroom during the last period...last 20 minutes. I had been forewarned about this but still... 2a. My kids were doing what they were supposed to...for the most part. 2b. Of course he spoke with the worst possible student...BUT THEY HELD IT DOWN THOUGH! 2c. He was pleased and that is really all that matters. 3. Education is real wasteful if you think about it. We never truly stay with any one thing long enough to get what we need from it. It's like 'oh you're not using it, so we're (THE MAN) is going to take it away." When really it takes time to incorporate a new system into your curriculum. I understand wanting results but make a pilot program before you get to throwing things away. 4. I strongly dislike when people send me emails abou...

1. I see all those snow days happening in the North while Texas just got a cold front. 1a. I don't think we need a weather day this early BUT I may very well need one at some point. Just one since that wouldn't require a make-up day. 1b. February should be the month for one... 2. Speaking of cold weather...why does maintenance do the absolute most with the thermostat? It's cold outside, they crank it up to hell on the inside. It's hot outside, they send you to Antarctica. Just give me a well ventilated 75 and I could make it. 2a. I have a work jacket that I change into like Mr. Rogers just to stay warm. 2b. Then I'm sweating during the winter wearing just a T-shirt... 3. There were visitors on campus today. I don't really get all paranoid about visitors like I did when I first started teaching and it was like you'll be fired if some strangers see some thing they don't like. Now I'm like you're going to get this authentic teaching and ...

1. Mondays are trash. So much so that I have figured out the plan to a four day work week that alternates between Mondays and Fridays off. Don't worry those days when teachers are "off" the kids can come in for extra duty pay and watch your kids do extracurriculars or study hall. This is just a fantasy, but the more I think education is done so wrong in K-12. 1a. "When you grow up you have to work five days, so schools should be five days a week." Completely negating college, community college or vocational training where your schedule is how you make it, totally disregarding a five day work week. 1b. Again fantasy but any education reform should consider these things. 2. The fact that I have the freedom to create my own pacing guide and moved the "easy" things to the second semester has made my life so much easier in regards to teaching and planning lessons. 2a. The fact that spring semester is a clusterfuck of shit however is not helping my z...

1. So the Friday this-is-the-weekend energy came and went today after 10 minutes in the building. It be like that sometimes. 2. Parents, y'all kids are telling on y'all at school again... Dry Snitchin' Children: Mrs. Washington, what is that alcoholic drink for breakfast? Me: Idk. I don't drink. DSC: Well my mama be drinkin' them every morning.... Me: Please stop.New topic. DSC: This one time I had Patro... Me: *staring in please don't say anything that requires me to anything other than teach* DSC: A Patronus. Harry Potter. Me: I love Harry Potter. Thank you for that. 3. A student had a crab leg in my class. ( from passing period) Smelled like a crab legs and musty boys. I was pissed. I had to let them know that although 'tis the season, cut the shit or else I would throw away the whole bag no matter how much it cost. 4. My students are doing their course selections and I am enjoying getting to impart knowledge of high school, college and thin...