One of the many things I don't like about teaching...

...is moving classrooms. After being in the same room for 7 years, my school has decided to relocate my classroom to be near the other teacher that is teaching Aquatics. Normally I enjoy moving because you can weed out things that you no longer use. However, moving a classroom is a totally different story. I am not looking forward to moving 20 fish tanks ranging between 30g- 5g. And then of course is my big monster tank of 150g. I tried to explain my hesitation with the principal but it was a no go. Well, there goes my dream of actually checking out early this year. I will definitely be spending the week after school gets out moving my classroom. I was offered the help of the custodians. If I boxed, they would move. However, knowing the history of breakage with the custodians. I don't trust them with my tanks!!

Not Fair

Why is it that good teachers get punished and bad teachers get rewarded??? All this year, there has been a constant issue with the other teacher who was assigned to teach Aquatics with me. I don't know if it is lack of ability to relate to teenagers or poor teaching style. But the majority of the students that have her as a teacher do not like her. There has been constant complaints by students and parents alike to the adminstration about this. This really should not be my problem but it has become my problem because if the parents complain so much the student will get transferred to my class. At this point, we both teach the same amount of classes but I teach 43 more students than she does. Her biggest class is the same size as my smallest class. And she has 3 classes that only have 15 students. In conclusion, to get back to my title and my opening sentence I feel like I am being punished by being a better teacher. And the unfairness of it all comes to play right now as I am grading. Because 43 more students times each assignment we have to do is exponentially more papers to grade. Ok, now that I got this ranting done back to grades I go.

Kids in the Candy Store

Every year as part of my class, my students get to set up and maintain a fish tank. Every year, I get to play the mean parent and reign my students in from their grandiose ideas for their tanks!! This year is no exception. My students are like kids in a candy store. I have lost track of how many times I have had to say NO!! (i.e. No piranhas, No sea horses, No sharks, No octopus, No electric eel, No lionfish). And then I have students that want a bigger tank than what I have to offer and so they want to bring tanks in from home. I even have some students that are buying their own fish tank to bring to class. I had to put a stop to this because pretty soon I will have nothing but fish tanks in my classroom and no place for my students to sit!!! And then you should see all the things they want to decorate their tank with. Updates will definitely be following of how many tanks I finally end up having, fish they end up buying, and of course pics of the tanks. ;o)

Free at Last

I know most parent's right now are dreading the beginning of summer but I am looking forward to it. Summer is my time to spend with my girls and make memories. Even though, I have to work I am glad that I have a job that I can have two full months off during the summer to enjoy with my family. And let me tell you I earn my two months. Whoever said teaching is an easy job has never actually taught. In fact, during the school year it was not uncommon for me to show up to work at 6 in the morning and then leave school at 5 or 6 at night. Make dinner at home, take care of my girls and then stay up till midnight grading papers or planning activities for the next day at school. So I will spend my next week recuperating from my long school year and then plan to spend the rest of my summer making memories with my family and scrapbooking them.