Creepy

This week has gone so smoothly it is eerie. My kids seem way better this year then last. I don't know if it is just a better bunch or if I have my act better put together. I've been asking around and everyone seems to think that they are okay kids but they are not as enthusiastic as I am. I actually thought today in the middle of my third block, "If every day were like this, I'd love this job!" I even had to boot a kid out of my room today and it still was a great day. Everyone is reminding me that this is the honeymoon stage and by the end of next week the kids will start showing their true colours but I recall struggling already at this point last year. I am trying not to count my chickens before they hatch but I think this may be a better year for me!

One thing I've really enjoyed this week is having all the students from last year greet me in the halls, tell me they miss being in my class and asking about my summer. It is fun to see kids treat me like they actually have good memories and a fondness for me. I've never actually experienced this kind of first week before. It is great to feel like I really fit in. The students and staff know me and I have my place.

I did, of course, tick a few people off today in the staff meeting. Our principal showed us our staff survey results which were quite low. He asked us to discuss what we think is causing our staff to respond so negatively. I addressed one concern on the list that talked about teamwork and said I don't think we do enough as a department and that teachers who have been in the school for a while don't seem to want to work cooperatively with new teachers. I also said that there is a lot of negative talk and I think that can poison the attitudes around the building. I got scraped over the coals for that one. I was informed by one of the negative staff members that "holding in your complaints is what festers and poisons. You need to put your concerns out there or it will destroy you." I didn't get to defend my comments but my thought was that I'm all for venting. I'm a big venter/ranter when things drive me crazy but there are numerous staff that I have heard the same complaints from over and over and over. They rant, hang on to their anger and months later they are still ranting about it. That is poison. I always want to shout, "Let it go, man!" We'll see if my vocalness will come back to bite me later.

On another note, today I met with a few church folks and agreed to co-teach an adult Sunday School. A lady named Jane and I are sharing responsibilities. I'm teaching the first seven weeks and Jane is taking the next seven which gets us to Christmas. After Christmas a third woman may join us. I'm excited about it. I really like teaching the adult sunday school. They are attentive, responsive and supportive. I also like feeling that I am contributing to the church.