Tuna fishing at Woodcrest (back in the frey)

So I got busy and stopped blogging for a bit... that in and of itself tells a little bit about how teaching is sometimes.  You just can't do it all!

I think I am going to take some space here this year in the blog and allow myself some entries that are just getting some of the tangles from the day out.  It can be really helpful just to get down what is happening in my life and in my head... maybe gain some perspective.  Life is really busy right now.  I am looping with my first graders from last year along with about 8 other kids to make up my second grade classroom.  30 kids in my room.  I was with them for 2 days and then went out on paternity leave for the birth of my daughter.  (really great!)  She came about 2 weeks early so I was not completely set up with plans and a sub for the whole time.  So, they had sub 1 for one day, sub 2 for two days, and then back to sub 1 for another two days and then back to me after my paltry 5 days of paternity were up.   I got back in with them Thursday of last week.  ...  I love tuna fishing.  I went on a trip this last summer with my friend Justin.  There is a moment in tuna fishing where you have hooked a big fish and then it makes a run from the boat.  You let it run until it tires and then you start cranking it back up towards the boat.  After a bit it will usually make another run away from the boat and you let it go and then start cranking again... that is what I am doing with my class right now.  They were doing really well at the end of the year last year.  But, knowing each other and feeling comfortable in my classroom along with subs and inconsistency with systems and behavior, they are on the run away from the "boat" of where I want them to be with behavior.  Life is just a bit messy there right now.  I am feeling like the micromanaging over-lord and I am sure they are feeling like a wet blanket has been thrown on them.  Just not too fun.  There is also the wildcard of student G who had severe problems with open defiance last year in first grade to the tune of being sent home maybe 20 times.  He has had one episode this year so far and the team responded ... admin., mom, uncle, me ... and he fell back in line.  With all this tension and struggle in the room there have been multiple stomach aches and head aches that don't seem to have a real medical cause other than kids trying to get settled into a classroom with a lot going on.  Having said all of that, it is really fun to be back in the saddle with this same group.  We have a good relationship and although a bit bumpy with at least three boys with ADHD and student G, I am feeling optimistic about the year.  I am thinking that we will need to find some celebration time here at the end of this week and have a cookie or something to balance out the yen and the yang of reeling the class in as we start this new school year.