Success

Today went very well.  I'm so glad that I took Dr. Isbell's HY 437 last summer because I really know late-1800s industrialization.  I wrote a lot more notes on my PowerPoint notes page this time so I could fill in the blanks more and ask better questions.  I was prepared the last time, but this time I had an extra boost of confidence.  I used humor more effectively this time and felt much more at ease with the classes.  I think they were more receptive to me too.  Our challenging student in fourth block was here today, and although she was a bit of a pain, she was okay.  At least she didn't get to me.  She's a button pusher but I wasn't biting. I had the camera set up behind Mrs. F's desk, so it should give me a good perspective.  Hopefully it wasn't too dark with the lights off...I hadn't thought of that. 

Oh, this morning was exciting!  The sub and I took the kids to the library this morning so the librarian could teach them how to use AVL.  While we were in there the principal announced a Code Red Lockdown drill.  We had to crowd into the library's computer room, turn the lights off, and keep quiet for ten minutes.  Some of the girls got noisy occasionally, but otherwise they were alright.  I've done fire and tornado, but never invasion!  I guess it's a good thing I forgot to put the "gone to the library" door hanger on when we left because if it were the real thing, the bad guys would have known exactly where we are.  So I guess, theoretically, I might have saved all of our lives by doing that.

I have a big chunk of Chapter 15 section 3's PowerPoint done.  I think I'll do 3 and 4 this weekend just in case.  We're going to have the Chapter 15 test next Thursday, I believe.  This is cool...I really feel like I know what I'm doing.  Mrs. F called me "awesome" and "a lifesaver" in her email last night.  What a great confidence booster!  I am so very glad that we were paired up for both of our sakes.  I'm happy to be able to help her and her students...she gave me the easy option of showing the class An American Tail today, but there was no way I would let the class get behind.  They would have liked the movie, especially on the Friday before the long weekend, but I don't want to waste their learning time.  Besides, it won't really make sense until after they have the contextual background.  It's like the picture book that I read to them...it makes perfect sense AFTER you present the material, not before.  I did show a movie to the Human Geography class (or "AP HUGE," as she jokingly referred to it), but it was a documentary that she asked me to present, Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond.  It's going to be on the exam.

Wow, I'm worn out.  I've been up late every night working on lessons and research and up early every morning before the alarm.  It reminds me of when I was taking Spanish and I found myself thinking and dreaming in Spanish.  This is much the same...my first thoughts in the morning revolve around what I'll be doing at school, as are my last thoughts at night.  It's kind of hard to get to sleep when you find yourself getting really excited about something you want to do with the class.  I guess if I'm going to lose sleep, though, this is the very best excuse.  This is a sink-or-swim exercise and I am proving to myself that I really am a swimmer.  A sleepy one, perhaps, but a swimmer nonetheless.