Ever have a day...?

[queenmab75]

Have you ever had a day when you wish you could travel back in time to say, 6 AM (or whenever your alarm goes off) and tell your past self "Today will be horrible. Don't go to school. Stay in bed."?

I had that kind of day today. I really wish I had just stayed in bed...:shootme:

[Brit]

what if every day is like that?

New teacher here. the job should come with at leat 100 minor do-overs (like when you say something and want to take it back or re-word it immediately) and 50 major do-overs (like when a whole unit flops, and you don't realize how badly until you're nearing the end of the reporting period).

I would choose to re-do term 2, with an extra month's worth of planning time to prepare for it -- rework every single language unit, and re-schedule the whole of my science unit.

I guess that's what next year's for, huh?

People say it gets better. I think last year was better than this year. Dear lord, it`s all so scary, all the time!

[teacher5]

:shootme:I know every one has a story that can top the last one, but I have one I must share. Last week I gave the New York State Fifth Grade Math Test. My math classes were so ready for this experience. We did every old test, pulled apart the wrong responses, talked and demonstrated all possible strategies, worked in small cooperative test prep groups with an adult monitor, etc. We did test prep every day since the end of January. Then we took the test. There are 26 items on Part 1. Every kid got 20 or more correct. 75% of the classes got 24 or more correct. I was thrilled that my teaching strategies and the constant test prep had paid off in big dividends. Even on Part 2, where there are only 7 problems each with an A and B part, where the student read, interpret, show their work, and explain in words and numbers how they did it; went extremely well, too. So, for all this hard work, what is the reward? We are definitely having a make your own ice sundae party this Friday afternoon. The other reward (Ha! Ha!) is the state of New York had selected my classes to take a field test next week. This means they have to take another NYS Math Test Part 1 and Part 2 with examples/problems the state is testing out on normative groups for future 5th graders. I was so peeved. They couldn't wait until late April or early May to do this? One of my classes felt persecuted when I gave them the news. They responded, "Why us? What did we do wrong to deserve this?" The other class was angry and argumentative. All I could do was be honest and I told them I had no control over this, I just need you to do your best, it doesn't count except for a group of unknown people who sit in an office bldg. in Albany who need to make up future tests. The last point one student asked was, "Do they ahve the power to take away our ice cream sundae party, too?" I told this kid, if they ever showed up at this school we would make a sundae and throw it at their face and then make them eat the test booklets. They laughed, and next week we take another test.

[Dhe Poet]

I awoke one day last week and could not lift my head from the bed. Sinuses were acting up and what I had to do. The coffee pot wasn't set and I burned my bagel! Oh how that gets me down. I felt the same way, I just wanted to stay in bed. Alas I got the children up and ready for their day never leading on.

[queenmab75]

My day mostly consisted of a lot of time-outs, several kicks to the shin, and a few chairs thrown at me. And THAT was just within the first 15 minutes of the school day.

I teach special ed for any of you wondering where on earth *I* work at lol!!

It was after the day was over that I kinda wished I had just stayed in bed all day. Seriously, had I known how my day was going to be, I WOULD have!

[Clearly Canadian]

Bad days like these are usually followed by a full moon...and oh look there's one tomorrow night! Go figure! I think queenmab75, your day was worse, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyway. :waving: I'm sleep deprived because of the time change 2 days ago (daylight savings) At 12:30 this morn I was still looking at the clock, despairing the mere 4 1/2 hours of sleep I was going to get if I instantly fell asleep. Not so lucky. After getting myself ready for school, and my 5 year old son ready for kindergarten we left, running only 5 minutes behind. That's pretty good for Tuesday. Then when I dropped him off at the out of school program, I realized I had forgotten his backpack and lunch at home. Back I went. When I finally got the boy and his stuff sorted, I was running now 15 minutes behind. We have had a couple of very wintery days, and the roads are lousy. 'Nuff said.
My grade 8's were slightly comatose this morning, like pulling hen's teeth to get them to participate.

Having said (or typed) all that, the day is done. Who knows what treachery conspires against my tidy little schedule for tomorrow. :idontknow:

[Kase]

I'm having that kind of WEEK! I have a co teacher that doesn't help in disciplining the kids and has her back to them all the time. Before she came the kids would go down for nap by themselves, stay on their mat till it was time to get up. Now they're up walking around, they won't go down by themselves, and they won't stay on their mat quietly. She doesn't get what the problem is. I want to tell her it's because of her because I'm usually on my lunch break when all of this unfolds. When I come back they're in her lap, talking, playing with toys. I can't wait for the original teacher to come back. Plus I have a 5 day weekend coming up since my mommy is coming. I just want this week over. :(

[queenmab75]

I'm sleep deprived because of the time change 2 days ago (daylight savings)

I really think this was part of the problem!!!! I was so tired, too, and let me tell you, autism and daylight savings time DON'T MIX! And I noticed the full moon myself last night...they say there's no proof that a full moon causes behaviors, but I tell you what, every teacher I know KNOWS it does!!!

[Boxcar]

My kids were ... not so good today. No one seemed to have thier "listening ears" with them! I found myself hollering at Circle to get thier attention. I had to continually stop and re-direct, admonish, and resolve conflicts. It was like the studnets just couldn't help themselves. It wasn't the same nature as when they are testing you or bored. It was more like they were possessed by the need to just be naughty and couldn't control it.

I attribute the behavior to the time change and the inability to go outdoors.

[queenmab75]

I attribute the behavior to the time change and the inability to go outdoors.

It's funny you say that because it was warmer outside today and we had recess at the playground, and we had a MUCH better day today. I think we all have cabin fever!

[Boxcar]

Ooooh! I'm so jealous!!!

I think I'm not think either. I shared something I really shouldn't with someone. I'm just hoping they forget it!!

[Clearly Canadian]

Holy Boxcar, were you in my class today? I could hardly get a word out, before they were asking questions, that were on the tip of my tongue to answer. And then when I did give the instructions, they were in la la land, and missed them. Truly, they couldn't help themselves!! All I wanted to do was tell the grade 8's to shut up!!! And that's the pg version of what I wanted to say. The rated R subtitles that ran through my head because of frustration would have definitely gotten me fired! LOL! Ahhh...tomorrow is another day. We'll try again tomorrow. Hope springs eternal. :laugh:

[queenmab75]

I think the cabin fever thing is completely relevant, because today it was back to being cold and miserable, and MAN what a day we had.

Things you should NEVER have to say at work: "I don't want to see your private parts in my room ever again. They stay in your pants where they BELONG."

Hope does, indeed, spring eternal. Either that or I'm just crazy!

[Boxcar]

I hear that! I've had to explain that we only pull our pants down in the bathroom when we are at school! Also, that we don't lick each others faces or wipe our hands on teachers. One of my little gilrls also took her shirt off at the table because she thought it would get dirty. Sigh.

[Clearly Canadian]

Things you should NEVER have to say at work: "I don't want to see your private parts in my room ever again. They stay in your pants where they BELONG."

Hope does, indeed, spring eternal. Either that or I'm just crazy!

I'm okay with crazy. Your post made me laugh! Which is a great thing, because this week seems to have lacked a sense of humor. Could we just finish this week, call it a right off, and move onto next week? Perhaps next week, I will be able to reclaim some sanity in my classroom.

I want to run around like George Costanza from "Seinfeld"..."Serenity Now!!" Somehow I don't think that is going to help.

[queenmab75]

... because this week seems to have lacked a sense of humor. Could we just finish this week, call it a right off, and move onto next week? Perhaps next week, I will be able to reclaim some sanity in my classroom.


I had a hard time this week finding any humor, either. I usually say "If you don't laugh, you cry." Well, this week I was closer to tears than laughter.

Here's to hoping that next week will be better for all!

[David]

My day got off to a bad start once when I got dressed for school in the dark, I didn't want to wake anybody. When i got to school I found I was wearing one brown and one black shoe.

[queenmab75]

My day got off to a bad start once when I got dressed for school in the dark, I didn't want to wake anybody. When i got to school I found I was wearing one brown and one black shoe.

Oh man!! And that's the kind of "bad start" that never goes away because you have to wear two different shoes all day!

[Boxcar]

That is when you dig out a silly book, wing some lessons, and tell your class you are all having a crazy day. Have them turn things inside out, put them on backwards, ect.