First Day Back

Today was the first day back to school and what an exhausting day!  While I am always excited about returning, I really don't like the first day back for several reasons.  First: I have to do homeroom.  It only lasts 2 days and creates a lot of unnecessary stress for me.  Second: I don't actually get to teach my subject!  I spend the day acting like some strict person barking rules at my students. 

But the funny stuff has already started.  I'm a little worried about a few students who seem to already have horrible attitudes and don't seem to care/realize that they are making really bad first impressions on me.  Today,the students filled out info sheets and also wrote a few paragraphs explaining what they expected from the class and how they would teach the class if they were in charge.  Here are a few choice quotes:

"What are your other interests?" male student: "Chillin'" Another male student: "Females"
 

 "I would teach things about slavery and the Holocaust.  I would read books that are funny and have allot of comedy in it"  

I'll get right on finding a comedic Holocaust book for ya.  Genocide is hilarious!
 

"[I would like to learn] how to sleep with my eyes open and speed reading."  

Methinks this little one fancies himself a comedian.  I've got my eyes on you.  And you've earned an assigned seat right up front next to my desk.  Enjoy! 

"[I want to learn] how to write lyrics." 

Sounds cool--but you know what English class is right? 

"I would also try to get other people from England to teach us real English." 

And Americans teach fake English? 

"No [I don't like this subject] because it requires a lot of thinking." 

... at least she spelled "a lot" correctly. But she does enjoy "music, drawing, sleeping, eating, parties." 

"No [I don't like this subject], I took it too many times." 

Well you could, ya know, pass the class... 

I am looking forward to getting to know these kids beyond this craziness. It's funny how well I get to know all my students through the semester and can barely remember this time when I was worried about who they really were and missed my students from last year who all seem like well behaved little angels in comparison.

But soon enough, these students will also be well behaved and familiar to me and I will be missing them when my next new group comes in.