Joy to the World

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

I rarely have a plan for the POTD, but this morning I thought I would take a picture of some of the artwork my 10th graders have done in the past couple days. Their assignment was to make a “tapestry” showing the reality of different aspects of life in the Renaissance. I was very impressed with all of them and thought it would be fun to share.

But I forgot. I even showed off some of the artwork to the 11th graders during last hour – they were duly impressed – but I never once thought of taking a picture.

Since I had already thought Joy to the World when thinking about my classes, I just took a picture of Keith cooking dinner, because that is also JOY!

So, back to my classes. I say my, because my co-teacher has decided she needs to not work at all. We started the year by splitting the time evenly – WThFMT (because chemo was every other Wednesday). Then I started working all the Wednesdays, because she was still low a week after chemo. Then I added a couple Thursdays. Then a Friday. She decided coming only two days (and having to have 5th hour with the 9th graders) wasn’t worth it. She is scheduled to be finished with chemo in mid-February and then she will be back. Second trimester started last Monday and I am the only one teaching them. Huh.

I have ninth grade Human Geography, tenth grade World History (starting with the Renaissance), and eleventh grade US history. Human Geography is the same class from last trimester, with new ninth graders. New spectacular ninth graders. They come in, sit down, and stare at me. I randomly did a seating chart and the only two people who ever speak are in the back two corners – kinda funny. I got a new student in that class today. He is the 37th kid in that class. I only have 36 desks. The room is kinda on the small side, and I literally did not know where I would put another desk. I was naive enough to think if I went to the office to say, “Whoops! Too many kids. He won’t fit,” they would say something other than we’ll get you a desk. Figure it out. But that is what happened.

My exceptionally small (22!!!!) 10th grade class came and I told them about my predicament. They immediately jumped into action. There is not a quiet one in that bunch, but they do the work!! They shifted a few desks, considered some arrangements, then found a spot for a single desk that works without moving any other desks. I don’t think my brain was into solving the problem – it was just saying TOO MANY KIDS IN ONE CLASS!! (7 English learners and 11 Individual education plans among the 37, just to make it more interesting) – but I sure didn’t see their solution. Way to go, 10th graders.

I have two 10th grade sections: the tiny group of 22 that is full of life, ready to ask good questions and keep me on my toes and the group of 35 that a bit less studious, but will dig in and get things done when it’s time to work.

My two eleventh grade US history classes are primarily the same kids I had first trimester, but they have been slightly stirred. There are 35 in both classes, but 5 or 6 flip flopped between 1st and 6th hours which is endlessly confusing to me. I think I have 4 new kids between both hours, and they are hanging on tight because these classes have camaraderie. They work, they talk, they laugh, they ask questions. I love them all. One student from first tri got transferred out to a different history class and has personal finance. He comes in every day during passing time before 6th hour, looks at me, and says F**K. He is kidding, but he is also disappointed to be missing out on the fun class. I told him today our relationship is inappropriate. He has to stop swearing and I have to stop laughing. He agreed. We’ll see about tomorrow.

Now that behaviors are NOT a problem at all (hence JOY TO THE WORLD), working is fun. Planning three different lessons every day keeps my brain overly full. I am teaching from my co-teacher’s lessons, but not everything is available to me and not everything works anymore, etc., so I have to figure things out every day. They have posted the position, looking for someone licensed in social studies, and hope to interview and hire someone to start in January. Part of me says NOOOOOO! I get it now. I know what I am doing! and another part says OK! I can sleep in now and then and not worry at 3am that my printing is not going to come back. It is best to be rooting for both sides (like the US v Wales soccer game).

Keith is picking up the slack – meaning I figure out what is for dinner and a lot of time I fall asleep after school and he actually cooks the food. He is much better at going to work every day than I am (okay, we all know he is better at most things than I am).

I hope some JOY found you today!