adventures in 21st century teaching.

We had a bit of an adventure last week. The type of adventure that teaching school and even a few years under the belt can't really prepare you for. Lockdown!

Apparantly there was a bomb threat written on a box which was found in the stairwell outside my classroom. So it was lockdown, a scenario that we'd practiced as grown-ups on a curriculum day but apparantly this was the real deal. The kids handled it like troopers. Lock the door and hope they don't have blasters was all I could think. Actually I thought it was another drill, a factor that perhpas added to my calm demeanor. The whole situation lasted about an hour and then we were back to business as usual.
A false alarm happily of course. The kids took it all in stride, and even today were surprised that they were making such a big deal about it on the news and over the PA.

Through the fire

Well, we did it. 3 evil weeks of tests, term exams and now we're into what is ironically called 'spring trimester'. Ironic this year because we got nearly a foot of snow on the mid trimester curriculum day and another couple inches look to be coming down tonight.
So I bid adieu to my young charges whom I brought through the wonders of Biology, some of whom had been with me for 2 straight years. It's funny to think that I'm half of the high school science experience of nearly 100 kids at this point, frightening really. But it's nice to have that bond, to really know the kids, what works for them what they like, who they like, how they work.
But now I'm back to the beginning, to a new set. To a new set of 80 faces. None that I have any experience with before short of passing in the hallways. I got through day one today and there's some potential. There are some that need some work, we shall see.
With luck I may see some of these through biology as well and the cycle will continue.
The first application to teach elsewhere is out, the first of who knows how many. The budget still looks grim and it'll be weeks before the person I'm covering for has to give her return notice. Hopefully not too many applications will need to go out.
Will I continue being half of my student's science experience? Stay tuned.

Today's activity: "Prove the RENT song right"

Other Duties as Assigned

Ever notice that when it rains it pours?
In one three week period we will have had a department meeting, a faculty meeting, another faculty meeting (they mushed the first into the department meeting time so it was a double whammy), a professional development day, end of term final exam week and MCAS testing!
Oh, and a change of term in all that. ICK!
How am I supposed to: a) wrap up one term, and b) start another
with all this stuff going on! Where's the Me time people!
I suppose I'm stressing because my teaching load goes up from 3 to 4 classes, I go from a comfortable 54 kids (36 of which I've had since september) to close to 80 kids, none of which I know at all! Different grade, different subject, different classroom.
I suppose I should look at it as 13 weeks to go but don't know how easy that will be. I also know that it will be all good in about 3 weeks once we settle into each other.
Still it's a lot of kids to manage.

Top 3 best Science movies for Biology class:
Cane Toads
Hemo the Magnificent
Strange Days on Planet Earth