Why did I sign up for a 3rd year?
I have been asking myself this question a lot these last two weeks (because as you know, even though the first day of school isn’t until tomorrow, it took over 2 weeks of unpaid work to get ready for it). I’m already tired, super-stressed, and EXTREMELY overwhelmed. Is it June yet?
But seriously, even with the jarring sensation that the abrupt halt of summer and intense rush of the start of school brings, I was reminded this week why I am here again, even after I successfully fulfilled my 2-year contract. The kids.
Tuesday was open house at my school. Since I am moving up a grade, I knew all these kids from last year, even if I didn’t teach them, I know their names and/or their faces. I was immediately reminded of why I love these kids, and maybe don’t love the teaching part, but love the mentoring and relational part of my job. As my students from last came in and were either super excited to have me again, sad to have been put in another math teachers class instead of mine, or even older kids that I taught 2 years ago (and have since moved on to high school) were with their younger siblings and still stopping by to say hey to “C-Beza”, I remembered how much I care about them. Hearing their deeper voices and looking just a little bit more “up” at them because they have grown up over the summer is like getting to watch younger siblings or cousins grow up. I was greeted by several of the ones that I have mentioned in this blog before like an old family friend. I know this year will be a challenge just like the last two, but I’m excited about experiencing a 2nd year with a lot of the same kids and getting to see them develop more and grow even more intertwined with their adolescent lives.
Here are a few pictures of my room this year (Room 809) as it has been set up so far…
The back wall of my room. Basically the same setup with a few tweaks. This is where their data tracking will go, along with student work!
Behind my desk. Obviously it's got UGA stuff, and also you might notice those painted wood carvings from last year! 
Front of the room. Mostly the same setup as years past. One thing you'll notice is NO SMARTBOARD! However, I will be getting one in like 4-6 weeks.
Information section. Definitely stepped this section of my room up from before. This has unit information, a list of assignments, calendar, birthdays, absent work, etc. Very functional right there!
A closer look at the data tracking wall, complete with a chart to track mastery on standards, a place for pre-test and post-test class averages, a Top 5 board, and a chart to make a bar graph of growth through the year. I want my kids to be very knowledgable about their learning!
