ARGH...

A day like today makes me wish I was back at Patrick Henry, a day like today makes me wish I was back in Duluth and a day like today makes me wish I was an accounting major (no actually screw that).

This was my second week taking over 3 of my CT's classes and sort of was a culmination of assignments for the 7th and 8th graders. Reviewing a written piece for the 7th graders and an geographical advertisement for a region of Spain for the 8th graders. In each class a healthy proportion of the students did not finish the assigned task and many others put forth a real cruddy effort. Holy crap I never expected stuff like this to piss me off so much, but I really had to express my disappointment to each class. Almost every student had a bullshit excuse that I had to shoot down over and over again. I'm beginning to see the challenges of bring the students back to a structured class when they are so entrenched in the chaotic bitch your way out of assignments style that my CT has. At times like these all I can do is appreciate all the things that I've learned in my previous placements that help me everyday and to those teachers who let me into your classroom I thank you. Hopefully the students realize that I'm not messing around, my expectations of them are a lot high and I'm not going to take any of their crap. I think their grades on these projects will help reflect this. Wow, just writing this is making me feel different, its like I'm becoming a teacher or something.

Besides the classes I taught I observed my CT teach each grade the period before I took over and having him in front of the class before me just gets them all agitated. 7th grade had a test and I don't think I've ever observed more cheating in my life, hidden sheets, talking with their neighbor, passing the sheet around and probably a few others. All I wanted to do was take the students work tear it up and throw them out, but its not my class and all I can do is follow what my CT does. Between the blatant cheating, complaining that they never learned something when they just were not paying attention and bullshit excuses for HW I've spent the last few hours thinking back to if I attempted these things while in school and if so shame on my teachers for putting up with this shit because damn is it obvious.

I'm still don't fully get it, but I'm starting to see that students really do want to learn, but they want to see that they are learning and if you cannot help the students to see their learning they won't accept your teaching or respect you and when you loose that its hard to bring the student back.

Its frustrating and tiring, but I hope that if I can stick to my guns and keep the pressure something will click with the students and they will begin to match up to the expectation that i set for them. Fingers crossed eh...

Besides the 7th and 8th graders I also taught the 6th grade (preparing for a debate on the fall of the Minoans) and 5th grade (recycling). Both seemed to go really well the 5th graders are an awesome group and its fascinating to watch and listen to them. The 6th graders a great group, extremely motivated and interested in history, but we will see how they do with the debate (my expectations are high, but after 7th and 8th IDK).

We went on a field trip yesterday with the 6th, 7th and 8th grade to a coal mine museum. the Museum was located 200 meters below the earth in an old coal mine (next to the new one) and it showed a history of the life of coal mining and the people involved. It was interesting learning about the mines, but it was way more interesting watching the interactions of the students outside of the classroom. Its like a social interaction experiment, watching the interaction between the grades as well as the interaction between the boys and girls, totally hilarious. I'm going to bullet a few things now

- Middle school kids run funny (growing into their bodies I guess)

- There is a village in the town call Kunta Kinte in honor of the character from roots (Not sure what to say about that)

- The country side is crazy beautiful (pictures in one of my next posts)

- Teachers who think they can drone on on a microphone the entire bus ride about random stuff are completely insane and must just enjoy listening to their own voice

- All students can think about is eating (they are like hobbits, breakfast, snack, second snack, 1st lunch, second lunch and they still want more food)

-Middle School gossip is ridiculous

-Field Trips should not take place on Thursdays

Long week, but its all worth it because in a few hours I will be on a bus to one of the best places on Earth... Munich, for the Strong beer festival. WOOP WOOP! I've watched BeerFest multiple times this week in preparation for the weekend. Good people, good beer and Polka what else could someone ask for?

We have began planning for our 10 days of travel and here is a sneak preview of where we will be going at one point in time. CHEA CHEA CHEA!

http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/eng/index.php
(Scope the gallery)

Make the most of your weekends people! Peace and Love!

Michael D