Now something familiar - 5 classes of around 25 teenagers! Same desire to test out the new teacher, same keen interest in the world, same fears about being embarrassed in front of their mates......... What a day. First class is at 7.30AM, four classes before lunch break at 11.09, then two more before the class empties at 2.30ish phew! Lots of talking today. I introduced myself with some relish and asked them to do the same. Lots of questions about Stingrays, Sport & Ayers Rock, Three students in my 140 knew what the little island state of Tasmania was called, one student thought it was Madagascar. Ben- the cultures teacher's offer of a world map may be more important than I realised...... Most classes were exceptionally well behaved and polite and interested. one group had a few loud mouth boys in it but they were just excited. Figure there has got to be a few amongst 850 11 to 13 yr olds! Students are VERY motivated by grades! I just had to mention the word and there was engagement. At one stage I had a visitor when I was outlining 'How to get A+ with Ms Pallant' and it was the class that eagerly reminded me where I was up to. I teach between two rooms but mostly in the Digital lab (room of Mac's) so it is GREAT having the kids come to me, mind you there is only minutes between classes and they are on time - a new phenomenon for me....... I have the same group at the same time each day. On the attendance roll there is a spot to indicate 'Tardy' so I figure lateness is stomped on! Made for more effective use of time. After school one little guy came in to scratch chewing gum (I called it Chewy and he didn't know what I had said) from under the desks because he had been caught chewing gum in class. We will get through a lotta curriculum content! They loved my stories about Dudley the dog and his training and rounding up sheep and campfires. There was more questions about kangaroos after I was informed about bears. They all responded to the 'inform the Aussie' request when I told them my stereotype image of an American was that they all wore baseball caps, drove big truck utes and spoke loudly.
My favourite part of the day... well there was a few. But little American-football-loving (who could not believe Australia had its own football game!) Yr 8 Brian sitting with his mouth open the whole time I spoke and told stories, just thoroughly amazed.. he had thought it was funny to enter the room saying 'G'day mate' and was astounded to hear me respond with 'Gday'. Another student - Gerry astounded the class by mimicking my accent in about 5 minutes! me too! Lots of kids said 'Hey are you the new Australian teacher' in the hallway and introduced themselves after I had. Its like being a celebrity!I met Summit Ridges School Resource officer Dee while she street-hugged a bunch of kids, She was a dinki-di Sheriff with the star badge and everything! We discussed the urgency for me to get ID considering the incidents in the area. If you hadn't heard there was another hostage/shooting incident in Bailey (about an hour) away last year. Littleton(the suburb Summit Ridge is situated in) is also famous for the Columbine High School Massacre where two teenagers held large groups of students hostage and shot over 12 including a teacher. HOWEVER, It is a lovely, safe and moderate school community, far from some of the cagey, ill prepared schools I have taught in. Lots of support offered again today and Woody, Ben, Beth, Derek, Deb popped in again to answer questions and encourage me. Seems a lot of dedicated and diligent professionals. I think it will make for a rewarding professional experience - when I catch up on my sleep!!! I was interested to hear Susan - the other Special Ed teacher say that she 'loved Australian movies, people and felt Australia had done a lot for America.' Ernesto, Debbie & one other history teacher and I were the only ones in the staff room at lunch - a far cry from the 40+ talking, cackling, rowdy Hamilton Secondary college staff room. They talked about the other Australian exchange teacher Peter who had taken one of them the the AFL grand final on a large screen at a Denver Pub. He had also endeared himself by asking where the booze in the staff room was - asking where the stress cabinet was!..... Seems he was a great guy so that made it easy for me.
Met the rest of the carpool Laura, John, Wendy & James. It was great to be able to ask more questions(the real ones!) on the drive home. Car Pool is cool! Great little chat to and from school to get my head around the American Education system and the nuances of a district run system. Great chat about unions and teacher conditions this morning. How awesome to experience another system. one LOOOng Training & Development.Feel more relaxed now I know what I am in for. Feel some of my classes will chew up my curriculum in a few weeks. End of Trimester in Feb 9th ish. not sure how long i have these mobs for. some in the middle of tasks, some not...... one day at a time. Betta get some sleep - Laura is collecting me round 6.15am egad!
Great talking to you. Enjoy your holidays if you are still on them!
Cowboy in the snow
Preparing for CITEL's cowboy poetry.
