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So I am loving my second year. It is SOOOO much easier than the beginning of last year. This blog is essentially a heads-up for people who teach ninth graders.
The hardest part of this year has been STARTING OVER.
If you teach (or have taught) ninth graders, there is a drastic improvement between the beginning of the year and the end. Besides developing some sense basic maturity and confidence, by the end of the year students are able to do things on their own. They understand your routines, grading system, etc. and have learned how to live in your classroom. It's great at the end of the first year.
Then reality sets in the next August. A whole new group of knuckleheads. Ninth graders are clueless (I'm sure you've discovered this). The hardest part, then, is going through it all again. Teaching them how to act towards each other. Teaching them how to look up page numbers. Teaching them that fighting is dumb. Teaching them that what they found in the book really is the correct answer and they don't need to call on my to check it every three seconds.
It's exhausting, but I know that they will get better. The satisfaction of seeing them grow up is what makes it worth it. The difference between the beginning and end of ninth grade is greater than any other high school year. It's nice being a part of that.
Go Irish!
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I can’t say that I’m the most organized person. I try to be. Believe it or not, I’m actually a neat freak who just can’t keep up. Here are my tips and tricks:
- Buy a plastic organizer with one section for each class so that you can keep your papers organized until they are handed back
- Keep binders. Just as you may make your students keep binders with worksheets and notes, do the same with your worksheets/notes/answer keys/tests/lesson plans. Keeping this stuff organized will make your next semesters much easier (especially if you teach a one semester class).
- Eliminate the clutter. Have students clean up in your last period. Have certain students clean up paper and others put books, etc. away. Straighten desks when you leave for the day so that it doesn’t look disorganized when you come in the next day. It’s a small thing, but it’ll make you look forward to the day rather than dread it.
And finally…
- THROW STUFF AWAY! If you haven’t gotten around to grading something from the second week by now, the students will have forgotten. Just toss it. I can promise you they won’t know the difference. It’ll make you feel better too.
That’s it.
