3 things that I have no control over: Technology, Air Conditioning, and Scheduling

I wish I could say the first week of school was perfect.

Three things stand out to me that are not my friends.

1.       Technology

2.       Air conditioning

3.       Scheduling

Technology = Not my friend. As for the technology bit, these were the very same things that bothered me last year. (Printers not working, computers not working, drives for students that should be there but aren’t.) These are the things that I really have no control over, and have to refer to a higher power, i.e., put in a Technology Work Order, and pray to God that they see the work oder and come to my rescue. Usually it takes them about 2-3 days to come in, but I have become friends with the guys in the Technology Department, so if I label something URGENT, they try to get to my room the next day. Or so I like to think.

I did forget how much fun it is to “teach” 6^th graders how to log into their computers for the first time in their school careers. I also forgot that they know nothing when it comes to finding “stuff” on their computers. I have to walk them through where to find various programs like PowerPoint (Go to the green start button, click on programs, go to Microsoft Office and find PowerPoint—that’s PowerPoint, NOT Publisher) and teach them how to navigate the internet. I really don’t mind teaching them the big stuff because those are skills they will need in their future careers. But, I will say, after the first day of teaching 4 classes where to go STEP by STEP, I was really wishing I could have a strong adult beverage.  

Total Work Orders Put in to fix random computer problems in the first week of school: 15.

Air conditioning = Not my friend. Air conditioning in a computer lab with 29 not so energy efficient computers is a joke. There were two days when I was giving instructions to my kids and it was 84 degrees in my classroom. I kept hitting that over-ride button but with no luck.

Total Work Orders Put in to fix A/C: 3.

Scheduling = Not my friend. I love the conference period I have off…4^th, which is when all of the lunches are. So if I play my cards right, I can be extremely efficient and still eat lunch. On the other hand, the downside of being at a “new” school with brand new curriculum is that somehow, someway, approximately 20 kids got put into the advanced class that I teach who haven’t taken the basic class. I can see that they probably got coded wrong because they are all 7^th graders, but I really don’t think it will be possible to move 20 kids schedules. This is really frustrating because a) I take my job of teaching my elective class extremely serious and b) these kids need about 10 weeks of curriculum that they should know and would get if they were in the basic class.

Total Children that need Schedule Changes =  20 (and increasing as kids are still enrolling in school) and emails I have sent to my admins and counselor: 7.

But, the students have been really good this first week. I like my students a LOT. I am hoping I can sit down a little more this next week, but I did lose 2 pounds from all the walking and sweating I have done.

That is not too bad. It will get better. I know it.