2006....already!!

The year has begun.

The Year 9 alternative program has begun.

And I'm damn tired!

So far everything has happened quite well. Things are going smoothly. I'm struggling a bit with being tired and exhausted but most people would after 6 weeks of lazing about (watching Desperate Housewives and reading) having to come back to 53 students in one classroom with three teachers. Silvers circus comes to mind :) I've already had the ipod out to give myself a break at lunchtime. Otherwise there is constant noise- from teachers, students, bells etc. It is nice to block all that out and just relax for a bit. Afterall, I've gone from an office with 8 people, to an office with 18 people. Different! Noisy!! Thank god I don't drink milk or I'd be on the milk roster too.

I felt the activities we did today were a biy babyish so it will be nice to get stuck into it properly and the activities next week. So far, my create group seems to be really going in the right direction. We are led by a very powerful, assertive leader who does things really well in my opinion and totally gets what the program is all about. The think group has been a bit prescriptive this week, so hopefully things ease up with that.

A few concerns I guess I would rather off my chest than on it are:
- having to rationalise all decisions about teaching and how to do things- THIS TAKES FOREVER!!
- working with the same teachers (and students) so often...tiring...stressful...I like change.
- work being prescriptive
- running out of things to do in a lesson and not knowing what the other teachers are up to
- the organisers being overly glorifying with their self praise because things work for them (it's only day one people, don't get too excited yet!)


So this blog turned out to be a bit negative...I'm glad to be back. My year 8 class look lovely and I think that they will be a great group. I just feel like going home to read, rather than toasting glasses of cola and eating chips to celebrate our day one successes.

Ahhh, it's so good to be back blogging.

Bye for now,
M x