5 down, 175 to go.

Adam was pestering me for this update, and it is probably overdue. I mean when I was doing my student teaching I posted about my first day on the first day. Needless to say this last week was overwhelming and emotional. I am tired, exhausted, and all other words that mean the same. I have a stress rash and a stress headache. I have two weeks of lesson plans to plan over the next few days- but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Riverton High is probably the best place to work. The staff is so kind and supportive. There is just a vibe about the school which energizes me.

My first day of school I spent the first hour running around like a mad woman trying to get my computer and projector to work. I was so grateful I thought to bring my laptop to school. I finally got that working and then the students came.

The first day was kinda a blah day. I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't stellar either. The classes were okay, nothing to write home about. The activities went okay, though I ran out of things to do and had to pull in from the rest of the week. In fact it worked out better as I had over planned for the rest of the week and needed to move other things around anyway. I think my favorite moment of the first day was when the principal walked into my first period of the day. He just slipped in to observe, as if I wasn't already nervous. We were doing an activity that involved yarn and learning about one another and of course the moment he walks in the yarn snaps and I have to tie it back together and the class moves off topic. It wasn't horrible, and I am sure it was fine but I kept thinking 'why couldn't you walked in five minutes ago when this activity was working fairly well?' I did finally get a computer after three and it took them till Thursday to actually connect me correctly, but it works now so I am not complaining.

Since Riverton is on the block schedule the second day of school was like the first all over again. The day was going swimmingly, though I learned I need to get a sub for next week to attend a new program training at the district on Wednesday, apparently I am the tech savvy girl in the department so I get to learn all the fun things. I had cute sophomores today that were to scared to say anything (yes, I know this will change) and we were having a grand time. I had some cuties that got lost, showed up at the wrong class, took the wrong lunch, and all other things that make me love sophomores. Well at lunch I emailed my friend Heather and said "I love my B day classes so far. Of course I probably just jinxed myself and 8th period will be hellions." So yeah, guess who has a class of 38 EVIL HELLIONS? Yup, you guessed right. I hated it. I spent most of my time trying to get them to pay attention. Finally, I chucked all the fun things I had planned and had them write an essay. I guess my unhappy tone, unsmiling face, and general pissed off air, made them realize that I mean business. I explained that I don't want to do this, but if they insist on acting the way they do English class won't be as nearly as fun for anyone. I hope it got the lesson across and I have learned for that class I need to be tough, and not my happy go lucky self that I am in the others. Stupid evil hellions.

So the rest of the week was much the same. I had some great highlights. Several students said they love my class as we get up and do things, one other said that the first day activity that we did was the most fun he had ever had in school (okay, he has been home schooled for his entire life, but that is not the point). I am still worried about how I will handle a few things, 8th period to be honest, but it will work out.