Crossing My Fingers

Okay, folks. I know this is going to seem very strange, but I , SingingPig, have a lot of really positive stuff to report! Normally, this blog has become my place to vent my frustrations, particularly those about my school. I was actually looking forward to Meet the Teacher night a little bit, as it is always a great source of writing material. But things went great!

First, I have to redeem my poor guy teammate who I ridiculed shamelessly a few days ago for not having his room together. It turns out that a) he works tremendously well under pressure, and b) he really enjoys watching my blood pressure soar and considers it something of a game. His room came together perfectly just two hours before Meet the Teacher in a masculine/kid friendly/well-decorated, but not girly/actual theme. It's fabulous.

Meet the Teacher actually went really well! I have four or five repeat parents that I taught their siblings a couple years ago. I have several requests for me because of my world-renowned writing teacher rep. [snicker] There are parents in my class who are so far extremely friendly, involved, but not obnoxious. I am happy to report that I finally have some real, true diversity in my room this year which I've missed so much the last couple of years. Several kids told me that they liked to read and write!! A nine year old conversated with me at length about the new Harry Potter book. (WOW.) I only have one student who doesn't speak English, but he's polite and sweet and kind and didn't laugh when I spoke my slow, awkward Spanish to him and his mother.

I had only a few red flags to be reported. I have a definite heavy boy count. This will be very beneficial in the spring when all the girls are becoming catty and mean, but will mean more challenges at the beginning of the year. I have one entertaining family. Mom has six kids, most with different dads. Child can't exactly read, but shared his instructions for fighting with me.

Me: Are you ready to come back to school yet?
Rocky: No, but my mama tole me not to get in any fights this year.
Me: Well, I think that's a great idea! How about we try to make this year a good one!
Mom: When I was young, my mama always tole me to let the other person throw the first punch.
Rocky: She tole me to do the same thing. (stare)
Me: Well, I bet we won't need to worry about that here, will we? (smile)
Mom: 'Cept my mama tole me that after they threw that first punch that I should beat the shit out of 'em. I tole Rocky not to do that.
Rocky: I'm not spost to get suspended this year.
Mom: If you get suspended, it better be for a real good reason 'sall I got to say.
Me: Heh, heh....

So, Rocky's not really a stellar academic case, but he's got his plan ready at least. They seem to be expecting a brawl to arise, so I'd better keep my guard up. I hadn't realized previously that we were under attack.

But, really, overall it was great! I'm going to post my disclaimer here that there were 8 kids of my 20 who were no shows, so there are no guarantees. I'm certain that later in the year, I may regret being so positive, but for right this moment, I'm feeling darn skippy about starting school. Maybe the 8th time's a charm.