decision

Ah, I've bet you've been restless ever since you heard I'd journal my experience of first-year teaching. Boom, I cast my lots today. I'll reveal on down the entry.

Today I borrowed Ron Clark's The Essential 55 and started reading. It's fifty-five rules that he (winner of the 2001 Disney Teacher-of-the-year award) used in his classrooms. So far it's worthwile: good, solid common sense. I like that he's from NC. It's upbeat but not too, too cheesy. And, I'm taking notes on Harry Wong's The First Day of Teaching. And, I've been reading my teacher's manuals. After all my yapping, they're actually pretty good. I liked some the short stories in the LA one and the SS is covering such great material.

I must look ridiculously stupid and ignorant: after having somebody question my ability to teach 7th grade Language Arts and Social Studies (Do you know anything about Africa, Asia and Australia?), I decided to take the mature route (shocking) and say, "I think I can manage." While thinking, Dude, I took some world geography, Africa and nonwestern lit courses and I have lived in Asia. Plus, I'm smart. Therefore, I'm probably as qualified if not more than most people who teach it around here. So, here's the party line on my qualifications to teach 7th grade SS. I'm not defensive or hyper sensitive.

And, I've started exploring ideas to decorate my classroom. My sister suggested age-appropriate learning centers. I really like the idea, but it's going to take a lot of work. Maybe have a sports center (what sports are hot in Nairobe, Sydney, Bangkok, etc? What sports do people play and what sports do they watch?), a fashion center (fabrics, styles (kimonos, hats, etc), a music center (a pentatonic scale is used in Asia and Africa-- not to mention a different philosophy of music), food center (have pictures of dishes, jars of food, recipes), religion center (have different icons from the different religions some Buddhas, Ishtar, Jesus, etc-- maybe prayers from the different religions and different concepts of piety), a pop culture center. Centers on national holidays, Flags, distinct architecture, Languages, pets, names, sayings from other English speaking countries. I love the idea and have kids make connections. Dear reader, if you have any nifty ideas or concerns, please share.

I went to a cloth store to look at international material available. And, I fell in love with the faux fur; I have to do something with the faux fur. And I went to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby tracking down a terrarium. They've sold out. If you know where to find one, lemme know. I think it'd be a lot of fun... and educational to try to grow some international flowers in my class.

And, I got some school marm clothes yesterday-- four deeply discounted washable, cotton blazers. They do ratchet up a notch my wardrobe of khakis, skirts and t shirts. They'll contribute to me standing up straighter.

I'm so excited and overwhelmed.

Oh, for the decision of HOW to journal my splendiferous ideas: I bought 5 notebooks for fifty cents at Target. I'm gonna journal the old-fashioned way. Cheers. So, hopefully this will be one of the last entries with these kind of exciting details. If you made it down this far, WOW. You deserve a candy bar or beer.

P.S. I'm dogsitting two chill small dogs, Maggie and Murphy. They're low energy, low maintenance or maybe I have a calming effect on poodles.