My first full week of teaching is done, just like that. I'm so glad I have this week under my belt as I am finally feeling like all of my classes are heading in a direction rather than just random English assignments. As I may have mentioned before, I have one "tough" class, which is 8th period. All boys except for three girls and there are two boys whose attitudes seem to affect everyone else in the class. Meaning, there are kids in that class who would do really well if they weren't influenced by the others. Their minds are on inappropriate activities for their age. I gave my first detention to a kid in that class this week he tried to bargain of course, but his acts left me no choice. My principal informed me that several of them are smokers too, so they are extra agitated during the last period of the day.
The way 8th period is set up for the school is rather inconvenient for the teachers. On M-Th 8th period is about 62 minutes rather than the 50 minutes of every other class. On Friday, 8th period does not meet at all. It would be okay if you only had one section of that class, but when you have three sections of that class (as I do) it almost becomes another class as they will always be ahead or behind and will require different planning than the two classes that remain 50 minutes long M-F. Veteran teachers are planning to voice their opinion to simply shorten every class next year on Fridays so that all classes can still meet. Obviously there are a lot of other factors involved, but those are the ones that affect me.
On Friday the Jr/Sr high held a short pep rally for their first home football game. It was fun and the cheerleaders did a great job of organizing it. Ella (a first year science teacher from Doane) and I went to the football game. After originally sitting in the student section we relocated to a better spot haha-oops. We met a fun couple whose daughter is a senior. We beat Southern Valley 20-0. Gorgeous gorgeous night! I am really impressed with the football field and track...it's a very nice facility and yes, it is surrounded by a corn field on two sides. :)
Yesterday (Saturday) was a pretty big day for the "village" of Hershey as it was Hershey's annual Fall Festival. In the morning there was a 5k race, numerous street vendors, craft shows, breakfasts, etc. At 10:30 there was a parade, which I walked in and handed out Popsicles with the Hershey Education Association. There were some pretty awesome floats people created! (I will try to post pictures later). Then there was a BBQ in the park (gorgeous park as well) complete with burgers, brats, hot-dogs, corn on the cob, chips and watermelon. There was live music, bounce houses for kids, an antique car show, and ice cream and shaved ice trucks. That afternoon we (Ella and I) went to watch the water fight where the fire trucks turned on hoses and let the kids run through them. Then firefighters put on their gear and split into 2 teams and "fired" their hoses at a keg suspended on a long rope and tried to push the keg to one side or another---like tug of war. After they did it, anyone could enter an open class to play as well. Then we went to the high school to the dance competition. Surrounding schools competed, but our girls did not place. Though we did not attend there was also a tractor pull, and irrigation tube setting contest.
After the dance competition Ella and I worked in our classrooms for a while. We had planned to stay until 6:30 or 7:00, but Jane Davis (our technology coordinator) stopped by to pick something at the school and invited us over to her house as they were having a party before the street dance. Couldn't pass up a free meal so we went and it was so fun! Pulled pork, lots of salads, yum yum. Met quite a few people including parents of students and Marci who own's the beauty shop right next to my apartment. Those of you who are reading who know the Dillards from Lex, I have decided the Davis family are the "Dillards" of Hershey. Anyone and everyone comes over, there is amazing food, and complete with 'man cave.' We've already been invited to their Husker football party. I get the impression people go over there every weekend. After hanging out there for a while we went to the so called street dance. I couldn't believe how many people were there....I'm guessing up towards 1000. I say so called street dance because there was a live band, but probably 20 people dancing haha. Everyone else was standing around talking. It was pretty fun, glad I went, but didn't know many people there.
Today I will be doing laundry and some cleaning (sure hope to find my camera!!) Hmm...I wonder if it's in my car? Then I have some grading and planning to due. Pretty motivated to get a lot of planning done for this week and beginning part of next week as I am going home for Labor Day weekend. I think I'll be ready to just get away for a while. Oh! My landlord decorated the fence next to my apartment with leaves and scarecrows, it's really cute. As soon as I find my camera I will take a picture and post it.
UPDATE! Found my camera in my car :) Here's the picture of my place and the decorated fence and freshly painted Husker N's.
I will leave you with one of the funny student quotes of the week. Me, "Everyone knows what a peso is, right?" Students, "Yeah, money from Mexio, Puerto Rico, etc." Me, "good" 7th grader, "Wait, I thought peso was cheese!" haha. Have a great Sunday :)
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