Don't judge without knowing them!

Unfortunately, there hasnt beena whole lot of action this week at school. I find that hard to believe, but I pin it on only being the 2nd week of school. I am still waiting for a really, really good story from one of my students. For the most part, I am not having any trouble. I am not in any power struggles or students that lash out at me (whew!)..

Oh, wait! I just thought of a story, though it is about a teacher - not a student. Okay, so we had this long term sub (hopefully not permanent) while our regular math teacher (not me but the other one) is out on medical leave for 1st quarter. Well, he keeps comparing our students to students at Menomonee Falls or Brookfield, etc. Those of you who have read my blog know that these students are not Brookfield students. Hello, they are not even successful in the MPS system. That is why they are here, at an alternative high school. So, the teacher comes and talks at me (not to me) after school or before school. . I hate talking to him - why you may ask? Because he calls our students stupid and says how they are slackers. He was in a meeting last week and said to the rest of the teachers "you know, this school is know in MPS for the place that students go to get an easy diploma when they cant get one anywhere else". What the nerve! I mean come on!!

First of all, when MPS (Milwuakee public school system) gets one of these kids, they cant handle them. That is why they are expelled or fail. They kick them out, and they come here. Think about it.. MPS cant handle a class with 1 or 2 of our students in it.. Yet, we are expected to handle a class of 20-25 students. And, they say we arent doing our job. We have students that havent been in school for 1-3 years, and when they have, were passed without being taught so the teacher didnt have to deal with them. Here, if you dont do your work - you dont pass and I hate to tell them, we have a high graduation rate (65 is a good class for us - our total enrollment for high school is 250)... and it is becuase we push these kids, and we love the shit out of these kids.. These students get a lot of what they should be getting at home from us...

Back to the teacher - he says to me "I had the lesson planned I had to make it easier, and they still didnt get it, and then I had to dumb it down some more". And he pulls out the "the mexicans have a language barrier, and thats why they dont get the assignments" I hate to tell him, I looked at one of his assignments and i didnt even know what he was asking them to do, instruction wise. Some of the students at this school - speak better than I do.

He just always degrades the students - and I have heard from teh studnets that when they answer something incorrectly he laughs in class. Now, there are some students I would not believe when they say this, but the ones I have heard it from - I believe it. Every time I talk to him - its always negative stuff about the students - nothing ever positive.

Oh, and then he questioned my about my grading policy and whether it was good or not (like I even care what he thinks about how I grade my students). My students can earn 5.5 points a day for participation, the warm-up and attidude. If you are on time and do the warm-up you start with 5 points. If you are 8 or less minutes late, you start with 4 points, 9-20 minutes late you start with 3 and miss the warm up completely you start at 2 points (that is like 25 minutes late). So, if you show up at all to class you get 2 points.. If you are here on time, but not doing to warm up (or skills review as I sometimes call it) i take 1 or 2 of those points away.. I got critized from him for giving the students 2 points for just showing up... Attendance here is less then wonderful usually. A lot of times the student doenst have money to get ot school, or cant leave because their parent is drunk or high and they dont want to leave little ones home alone with the parent, or however many other circumstances. If a student is here, great - 2 points for you!! I hate being questioned about what I do when I know Im doing the right thing and he has no idea about these students.

I just hope the normal teacher comes back after this quarter because this isnt the right place for her fill-in. He doesnt understand these students and doesnt seem to really want to!

It just makes me want to scream!!!!

Finally Friday--

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday

There really isnt a whole lot to write about.. The weekend, was busy and productive.. I worked a bit on Saturday and a bit on Sunday.. A 3 hour shift on each of the days.. Monday, Steve and I did a ton of stuff around the house - not in the house - just around the house.. I did about 1000 loads of laundry... Steve did a ton of stuff in the garage and I helped him with what I could..

Today was the first day we had "regular" classes.. ie: classes that are 80 minutes.. Last week both days were just 1/2 days. My day has gone really well.. 3 classes down and 1 more to go.. 5th hour. I am hoping for the best.. I have decided that I have really good kids this quarter - at least they are really good students up to this point. I guess we can only see what will develop in the future.. The first week most are well behaved anyway.

I had one girl in class today who I am anxious to meet.. She wasnt here at all last week.. I have heard stories about her, and wanted to see what was or was not true.. She was said to have a major attitude.. and has a tattoo on her arm (really big, im talking about her ENTIRE lower arm - on both arms.. ).. One arm says "Fuck The" the other arm says "Police". So, when she folds her arms it says... "Fuck the Police".. Isnt that nice. Well, needless to say she is required to wear something on her arms whenever she is in school.. But, I got to meet her today, and she tried really hard for me.. No disruptions, did everything she needed to and some stuff from last week that she missed.. I was impressed..

Okay, Im off to lunch.. more later

Im Back..

I doubt anybody will even look at this, because its been forever since i have last written.. But, over the summer I have not really had a computer.. It took a crap on me, and i havent taken it in to get it fixed yet. I have to back it all up and have just been way to lazy.. Now, I am back at school - well I have been for over a week now and have my classroom computers. . .what a wonderful thing. I plan on writing regularly again - seeing that I can do it during my preps and after school. Which is when I did it all last year. .I am hoping to share some more pics with you all. I have a ton to show..

I have a new puppy.. Her name is Zoey and she is adorable. The little thing turned 10 weeks old today. .. She is a miniature Pinscher. .. We brought her home from South Dakota to join out 7 year old MinPin, Tido. What a pair. She is a little devil, that Zoey. I spent my summer doing a while lot of nothing.. Spent a week in South Dakota.. That was the highlight. Stayed with Steve's(the boyfriend) mom. Did all the touristy stuff (Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc) as well as shops, seeing some of his old friends and just putzing around. .I had a blast.

I am excited about this year. For those of you who keep up- I have a new job --- sorta. I was working for a Title 1 company last year and was contracted into my school for title 1 work. Well, at the end of last year, I got a call from the principal offering me the full time, regular high school math teacher position. OF COURSE I took it... So, I quit the other company and am now a "regular" member of the teaching staff here.. I love it.. I live having 20-30 kids in a class.. I love their tough attitudes. . I love everything.. I hope the year brings good.. It is time for me to go home.. I will write more after the holiday. HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY EVERYBODY!!!