*Sigh*

It's been a tough couple of days. One of my coworkers had her baby this weekend (exciting!) but that means I am now teaching her calculus class. (We can't let just anyone teach calculus!) So, needless to say, the last few days have been crazy. I know how to do calculus... I'm good at it and I even think it's fun (I know, you think I'm nuts)! But it's not easy to give up my class once a day to someone else. So far he (the sub/my ex) hasn't had a chance to teach them anything new, since we had a test today and all this craziness just started yesterday, but it's still weird. I don't like leaving them. I like the calculus class a lot, but I don't know them yet, so we'll see how things go.

I do have a funny anecdote about the first day though! (Yep, that's anecdotes are kind of my thing.)
As I checked the homework the first day, I walked around and looked at the students, and as I got to each one I said, "name?" and then marked their 5/5 on the correct spot. Well, one of the calculus students is the son of another one of our math teachers. So when I got to him, I said "Oh, so you're [insert his name here]..." The kid next to him blurts out, "It's never good when the teachers say it like that!" (You have to imagine the tone of voice.)

Anyway, I gave a test in Algebra I yesterday, a test in Geometry today, and an Algebra II quiz today. And yesterday I didn't finish grading because I was buried under the weight of the calculus and everything else going on. I had started one class yesterday, so I finished those during night school tonight, then brought home the whole pile of the rest of my papers (it's huge!)... I finished the other class of Algebra I but I think the rest are going to have to wait.

I am, however, caught up and even a little ahead with the calculus! I'm really enjoying it, even though its' a lot of work. I like the challenge.

Oh, and I was observed both of the periods I taught Algebra I today, if there wasn't enough going on already! One period by my vice principal and the other by my mentor.

I Told You It Was Bad...

See! My desk is a horrible mess!

Wednesday:  In the bottom left corner of the picture (the upper left corner of the desk) you'll see a pile of extra papers. These are additional copies of tests/quizzes that have already been finished or class handouts that I ran a few extras of... I probably don't need any of them! Then there's a stack of binders. And then another one. I see 4 total. There's also a blue file folder (Algebra II) and a red one (Algebra I). I see my travel mug, regular mug, and a can of Cherry Coke. The yellow folders standing up are my attempt to stay on top of make-up work for kids. (The black planning book has been a huge help with that.) The little slips of paper in front of those are reminders for kids who signed up to sell pop at the volleyball games.

There's also 2 remotes, a plethora of sticky notes, a form that I need to finish filling out tomorrow and turn in, and a pile of papers (make that two piles) that really should be sorted through to throw away, actually deal with, or file.

And of course, 2 math books and a name tag my cousin felt the need to make me last year.