Two Days Down

We've now completed both an A day and a B day! I've met all my students, and they are delightful. Today in class I took "mug shots" of all the students: each student wrote his or her name on a piece of card stock and then held it up so I could get a photo of the face with the name. Hopefully, I'll be able to learn their names before Christmas!! I have a very difficult time learning every student's name. It turns out that people generally dislike having their photos taken. I thought it was just me who disliked it so intensely!

We also did "disclosure documents" to the point of nauseous repetition. I'm sure students dislike these as much as teachers and parents, but they are necessary to protect the students from not knowing what a teacher's policy is. Mine are posted on my website, and the administration also has a copy of them!

Despite being very tired, I've enjoyed these past 2 days. Being in front of the class reminds me why I love my job. It's all about the energy and ideas that the students have. They are so unique and clever. The future of America's so bright, I might have to wear shades!!

A New Year

Today was Sophomore Day at the school. It's always wonderful to meet the students for the first time (and even better, they were wearing name tags! If I could convince them to do that for the next 3 weeks, I'd be SET). I got to meet 115 of my 142 sophomore students; that's a good turn-out!

Sophomore year is huge: the students move up to high school, they attempt the BSCT (80% of them will pass the first time!), and most of them both date and drive this year. I remember vividly being a sophomore, the excitement of the year and how every event was new and wonderful. I hope my students have that same experience, that they enjoy each moment that the year brings.

The day ended with ice cream and t-shirts for the sophomores. The student council was wearing all blue, which leads me to guess that the sophomore's color is blue. They will get to wear blue as their color until they graduate. Isn't amazing that in only 3 years this will be the graduating class of 2010?