I DISLIKE YOU VERY MUCH, READ180 PROGRAM

FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I cannot figure out why I can't get Read180 to work for me!!! This is by far one of the most frustrating programs to work with!!!

Today I'm just going to have them do either Rosetta Stone or Study Island. They can just play with that all week until I figure out what in the heck is wrong with this stupid program.

If those guys installed it wrong, I'm going to shake my tiny fist of fury at them so hard their CHILDREN'S CHILDREN are going to feel it!!!

RAWR!!

Shauna.

Mistakes abound

I know that as a first teacher, I'm going to make mistakes. I'm not sure if today was one, but boy... I feel like I just jumped headfirst into the deep end.

I had to call security for the first time this semester. I know there were plenty of times where I should have done it, but I am a firm believer in people changing themselves... even though that's the last thing I need to believe in right now.

Deonte, Peaire, Poncey, Alyse... they were all horrible today. They came into my room ranting about how it's a free day and they should get to play on the computer the whole hour. When I informed them that they did not deserve a free day due to their behavior on Thursday, they completely mutinied. It should also be mentioned that Walker's students were in my room today due to him not calling a sub (suprise-surprise, huh?), and Deonte decided to egg them on as well by trying to say that if you slapped a girl, they wouldn't be knocked out; Peaire and Deonte decided to ask one of my old students, Amanda, if she could come over there and be slapped. She said firmly back, "You best be turnin' around and mindin' your own business." Of course, since Deonte has absolutely no control over himself, he muttered something under his breath. Amanda, though, was smart enough to ignore it. I loved her all the more for it.

Poncey wanted a pen to write, but I wouldn't give him one until he asked politely. Alyse was pissed that I wouldn't give her a pencil that she kicked across the floor. I've got a lot of parents to call tonight.

Poncey got so incensed that he walked over to my desk and knocked my egg timer off the desk. That's when I called security. You do not destroy my shit, no matter how ticked off you are at me because you refuse to be polite and ask for a pen in a nice manner.

Mrs. Brown came down to my room and set them straight just by sitting in my room and watching. Now, why in the hell can I not have that power!?

After they left, Brown and I had a heart-to-heart. She told me that she'd come down and have a behavior plan for that class. I mean, my other classes are rambunctious and mischevious, but they do not insubordinate the way they have been. I was so pissed off at that classroom. And Mr. Walker's kids were the best-behaved out of the whole damned bunch!

Sigh. Is it awful that I think that some people shouldn't have children if they can't seem to control the little shits that pop out of their bodies? I almost want them to be released--like in The Giver. If you've read that book, you know what I mean, if not... then you'd have a very different idea of what I want.

I wish that two of those boys would just go to a different school. My life would be so much easier.

Gimme just a little more time, and our love will surely grow

Today one of my students, Prince, remarked, after I announced that there was a minute before the bell was to ring, "Wow. Class is over already? This class always goes by so fast."

When something goes by quickly, it means you're enjoying it, correct?

I still have my share of issues. Not all of my students are showing up, so my numbers--other than my second and third hours--are relatively low. And a lot of my students are incredibly hard to work with due to their behavior issues and low functioning. But I think I'm getting to know some of my tougher students better, and I'm doing my best to appeal to the ones that are quiet and do everything I've ever asked of them (I always want to say to them, "I'm so sorry that you're so awesome and your classmates are like zoo animals out of their cages.")

If I don't have grey hair and look aged thirty years by the end of this year, I'm going to mark it as a success.